Geek Grotto: Star Wars Edition

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Welcome to the Geek Grotto where we find the coolest, geekiest stuff out there. For our first edition, we're celebrating Star Wars. We'll start with a bit of science and then some fun potential additions to your home. (In case you have stacks of money just waiting to be spent on Star Wars-themed furnishings.)

These stormtrooper wood-burning stoves are available from BurnedbyDesignLtd on Etsy.

Did you catch the Mandalorian? If not, you may want to skip this article, but if you were also wondering about that final showdown at the end of the season, Wired applies science to the question that leaped into many of our minds:

Mandalorian vs. TIE Fighter: Who Would Win?

An article from a few weeks ago talks about what goes into the puppets and creatures of Star Wars to make them seem real on the screen:

Star Wars: How filmmakers made alien creatures believable

As far as geeking your man cave (or woman cave) goes, here are a few fun finds from around the web:

From the same outfit that offers the stormtrooper wood-burning stoves (pictured above), you can pick up your very own Darth Vader barbecue. It's clear that steaks and hot dogs cooked using the Force will be superior (at $700, we certainly hope so):

Darth Vader is prepared to grill your steaks to medium-rare perfection!

Like what you're reading?

If you're enjoying this top 10 list, why not join the DSF community for more awesome content? You'll get to be notified whenever a new top 10 list, or any other articles of interest goes up on our site. It's free to sign up and you'll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

For those with the urge to cook but with a little less to spend (say $70 instead of $700), Williams Sonoma has you covered with their line of Star Wars instapots. Your significant other definitely won't complain about having such a convenient and practical appliance on the kitchen countertop.

BB-8 is ready to cook your stew!


Lastly, for those not fully ready to commit to something as large as an appliance or a BBQ grill, here are some Star Wars shot glasses that would fit nicely in your cabinet:

May the Force be with… your booze.

That's it from the Geek Grotto this week. Do you have any Star Wars decor around your house?

Lindsay has early memories of convincing childhood friends, pets, and stuffed animals to play the roles of characters in her worlds, so it’s safe to say she’s been making up stories for a long time. 

When she’s not writing, she’s usually hiking with her dogs, practicing yoga, playing tennis, or eating entirely too much dark chocolate (she only does one of those things truly well, and she will let you guess which it is). She grew up in the Seattle area and still visits the Pacific Northwest frequently, but after realizing she was solar powered, she moved to Arizona and now lives in the mountains north of Phoenix.

She's written several sci-fi series: Fallen Empire, Sky Full of Stars & Star Kingdom.

You can follow Lindsay on Facebook, Twitter and her website.

Ten Scariest Aliens

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Space. It’s dark. It’s unexplored. Let’s face it, it can be scary.

Space is like the darkness under our bed. Like a closet door ajar in the night. Like a shadowy cave where a predator might lurk.

We humans evolved to fear the unknown darkness. Is it any wonder science fiction is full of scary aliens?

Today we’ll look at top scariest aliens in science fiction.

10. Ferengi

We put the Ferengi at number 10 because, let’s face it, they aren’t too scary. Originally, the guys at Star Trek wanted to create a formidable antagonist. An alien race that would strike some serious fear into the heart of the Federation. They designed aliens they thought would be demonic. The result was . . . less than terrifying. Thankfully, with Deep Space Nine, Star Trek pivoted and began to humanize the Ferengi, creating a much more interesting race.

9. Sarlacc

A pit full of tentacles and teeth is pretty scary. Especially when it will digest you over a thousand years, keeping you alive throughout the process. We’re gonna give these guys a wide berth. The Sarlacc from Star Wars clocks in at our 9th scariest alien.

8. Starship Troopers Bugs

The Arachnids from Starship Troopers are brutal. With their vicious mandibles and claws, they love nothing more than ripping humans apart. They can inflict serious damage even upon the bravest space marines. We’ll never forget the Battle of Klendathu.

7. Killer Klowns from Outer Space

Aliens and homicidal clowns? Okay, that’s a double dose of evil right there. These terrifying aliens star in a cult 1980s horror film. They’re Pennywise meets Predator. No thanks. We’re staying far away from that circus.

6. They Live aliens

The aliens from They Live are particularly scary because they live among us. They disguise themselves as humans. Only with special sunglasses can you see their true, hideous forms. Could they be living among us right now?

Like what you're reading?

If you're enjoying this top 10 list, why not join the DSF community for more awesome content? You'll get to be notified whenever a new top 10 list, or any other articles of interest goes up on our site. It's free to sign up and you'll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

5. Doctor Who's Weeping Angels

Opening our top five are the Weeping Angels from Doctor Who. They terrified a generation of Whovians, and are largely considered the scariest alien from Doctor Who. And that’s saying something. When you look at them, they appear like weeping angel statues, the kind you see in graveyards. But if you so much as blink, they transform into something hideous … and attack. Don’t blink!

4. Predators

The Predators are among the most fearsome aliens in the galaxy. This race of spacefaring hunters won’t only kill you. They’ll save your skull as a trophy. A single Predator can wipe out an entire platoon of elite human commandos. If you see one, cover yourself in mud and hide.

3. Xenomorphs

The Xenomorphs from the Alien franchise terrified a generation. Even if you’re not a big science fiction fan, you probably know them. And fear them. We first saw one burst out of John Hurt’s chest in 1979. We’re still traumatized.

2. Grays from Fire in the Sky

They might not have claws like Xenomorphs or fangs like Predators. But the aliens from Fire in the Sky are terrors from your worst nightmares. They will strap you down and perform sadistic medical experiments on you. Honestly? We’d rather face a Predator’s jaws than these guys’ scalpels.

1. John Carpenter's The Thing

Our scariest alien is the Thing. We’re not quite sure how to describe it. Maybe because it can take so many forms, each more hideous than the last. Jon Carpenter’s film took science fiction and drenched it with body horror.

Honorable Mention: Mac

We had to include a little bonus alien. Mac from Mac & Me. This 80's children’s film attempt to rip off E.T., following the plot almost exactly. But its version of E.T., named Mac, was anything but cute. He was slimy, stretchy, and to be honest, pretty damn creepy.

What do you think of our list? How would YOU rank the top ten scariest aliens? Let us know in the comments, or by joining in on the debate in the DSF Reader Group on Facebook.

Daniel Arenson is a bookworm, proud geek, and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction. His novels have sold over a million copies. He's written over sixty novels in multiple series.

He is best known for Earthrise, the story of Earth struggling to rise after a devastating alien invasion. The Earthrise universe is explored in three series: Earthrise The Original Series, Soldiers of Earthrise, and Children of Earthrise.

In addition to Earthrise, Daniel has written the comedic sci-fi trilogy Alien Hunters.

He's also written several epic fantasy series: Kingdoms of Sand, Moth, Requiem.

You can follow Daniel on Facebook, Twitter and his website.

The Top 10 Sci-Fi Quotes of All Time

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What a close call!

Eric Hoffer said "action is a unifier," Jacques Cousteau said the great unifier was the sea.  While both of these may be true, we have found that a great quote is also a powerful unifier, and united you were in deciding your favorites!  While the top spot was ultimately decided by a margin of only one vote, those top two choices blew the others out of the water.  Curious to see which ones came out on top?  Read on!

As always, these top ten lists are not meant to be all-inclusive or definitive, but give a great finger on the pulse of our communities interests and favorites. Want to see who missed out? Here's the original nomination list from the blog.

Without further ado, based on the combined nominations and votes here on the Discover Sci-Fi blog and the Facebook group, here are your top choices for the best quotes from science fiction books.

10. “It is I, Skippy... The Magnificent!” – Craig Alanson, Expeditionary Force

Skippy the Magnificent, or simply Skippy, is an advanced artificial intelligence created by the Elders millions of years prior to the series' beginning. Skippy really brings the "I" in AI and is known for having a quick and biting sense of humor which has earned him a legion of fans.  Skippy is central to Alanson's wildly popular military sci-fi series Expeditionary Force.

Start the Ex-Force series with book 1, Columbus Day here on Amazon

9. "Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so." – Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

It should be no surprise that this quotable classic made the top 10! You'll never read funnier science fiction; Douglas Adam is a master of intelligent satire, barbed wit, and comedic dialogue.  The Hitchhiker's Guide is rich in comedic detail and thought-provoking situations and stands up to multiple reads. Required reading for science fiction fans, this book (and its follow-ups) is also sure to please fans of Monty Python, Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, and British sitcoms.

Read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy here on Amazon.

8. “He who controls the spice controls the universe.” – Frank Herbert, Dune

This endlessly memed quote can be dropped into all manner of conversations so it's no wonder it's a favorite.  The uninitiated among you may be wondering "what is 'the spice'" (and where can I get some!) Read on...

Set in the distant future amidst a feudal interstellar society in which various noble houses control planetary fiefs, Frank Herbert’s Dune tells the story of young Paul Atreides, whose family accepts the stewardship of the planet Arrakis. While the planet is an inhospitable and sparsely populated desert wasteland, it is the only source of melange, or "the spice", a drug that extends life and enhances mental abilities. As melange can only be produced on Arrakis, control of the planet is a coveted and dangerous undertaking. The story explores the multi-layered interactions of politics, religion, ecology, technology, and human emotion, as the factions of the empire confront each other in a struggle for the control of Arrakis and its spice. From thus comes this infamous quote repeated by sci-fi fans the world over.

Get your copy of Dune here on Amazon.

7. "Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right." – Isaac Asimov, Foundation

The aptly named Foundation is a science fiction novel by American writer Isaac Asimov.  Aptly named as it has been the gateway for so many to the world of science fiction, and not only that, but its influence can be seen in so many works that have come after.  

Foundation is a cycle of five interrelated short stories, first published as a single book in 1951. Collectively they tell the early story of the Foundation, an institute founded by psychohistorian Hari Seldon to preserve the best of galactic civilization after the collapse of the Galactic Empire.

Find Foundation here on Amazon.

6. “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.” ― Isaac Asimov, Foundation

Leave it to Asimov to deliver the truth with brevity, artistry and precision.  Among one of the most powerful works in science fiction is the quotable masterpiece Foundation and Empire by American writer Isaac Asimov. Originally published by Gnome Press in 1952, it is the second book in the Foundation Series, and the fourth in the in-universe chronology. 

Continue the series with Foundation & Empire here on Amazon.

5. "A generation which ignores history has no past — and no future." – Robert A. Heinlein, Time Enough for Love

A deep and weighty quote by one of the masters of the genre takes the fifth spot in our poll. Time Enough for Love by New York Times bestselling author Robert A. Heinlein follows Lazarus Long through a vast and magnificent timescape of centuries and worlds. Heinlein's longest and most ambitious work, it is the story of a man so in love with Life that he refused to stop living it; and so in love with Time that he became his own ancestor.

Get your copy of Time Enough for Love here on Amazon.

4. "I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." – Frank Herbert, Dune

A book deemed quote-worthy enough to make the list twice—this time eking closer to the top spot—is  Frank Herbert’s classic masterpiece, Dune.  Dune  is a triumph of the imagination and one of the bestselling science fiction novels of all time; definitely a book you'll want to read (and quote!) again and again.  

Dune explores the multi-layered interactions of politics, religion, ecology, technology, and human emotion, as the factions of the empire confront each other in a struggle for the control of Arrakis and its spice.

Get your copy of Dune here on Amazon.

3. "TANSTAAFL: There ain't no such thing as a free lunch." – Robert Heinlein, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

While the origin of the adage is unclear, there is no doubt it was popularized by Heinlein's magnificent work The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress . 

Widely acknowledged as one of Robert A. Heinlein's greatest works The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress rose from the golden age of science fiction to become an undisputed classic—and a touchstone for the philosophy of personal responsibility and political freedom. A revolution on a lunar penal colony—aided by a self-aware supercomputer—provides the framework for a story of a diverse group of men and women grappling with the ever-changing definitions of humanity, technology, and free will—themes that resonate just as strongly today as they did when the novel was first published.

Get your copy of A Moon Is a Harsh Mistress here on Amazon.

2. "Joe you are very much not going to like this ..... HOLD MY BEER" – Craig Alanson, Expeditionary Force

Your favorite AI, Skippy the Magnificent, made our list twice, this second quote just barely missing the top spot.  Skippy keeps the laughs coming as he keeps US Army Specialist Joe Bishop on his toes—and as Alanson keeps readers on the edge of their seats—in the wildly entertaining military sci-fi epic, Expeditionary Force.

Start the series with book 1, Columbus Day, here on Amazon.

1. "In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." – Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

And finally, in first place—by the narrowest of margins—comes another quote from Douglas Adam's satirical novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It follows the adventures of Arthur Dent, a hapless Englishman, following the destruction of the Earth by the Vogons, a race of unpleasant and bureaucratic aliens, to make way for an intergalactic bypass.

Read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy here on Amazon.

"Seasons change feelings change..."

In keeping with the theme of our post, we close with a quote; not from science fiction, no, but some wise words nonetheless from the 1980s pop trio, Exposé. There is no doubt that the quotes that came out on top this poll will have staying power—some having passed from page to popular use decades ago and still firmly entrenched in our culture present day—but seasons and feelings, well, they do change and a year from now or maybe ten, this list could look very different.  For now, visit us  here in our Facebook group to chime in on the debate, and then check out our most recent poll while you're there. Don't have Facebook? Feel free to add to the comments below.

*All book-related copy in this post was pulled from Amazon & Wikipedia, unless otherwise credited.

The Top 10 Multi-Book Sci-Fi Series of All Time

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“Freedom is not the absence of commitments, but the ability to choose - and commit myself to - what is best for me.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Zahir

With so many books available to us and so little time on this planet, it's no small thing to choose to commit to a multi-book series. To be sure, many series on this list have been published over the span of decades—a span of time longer than many modern marriages. If an author is going to appeal to a reader to choose their series, to stay invested—to commit—they are going to have to put everything they've got into it to make the commitment worthwhile. If the series on this list are any indication, the writers we love, well, they are doing their job, giving us the gift of their imaginations and the power of their words, churning those elements into truly epic stories worth showing up for and worth recommitting to with every new work in their particular universe. 

As always, these top ten lists are not meant to be all-inclusive or definitive, but give a great finger on the pulse of our communities interests and favorites. Want to see who missed out? Here's the original nomination list from the blog.

Without further ado, based on the combined nominations and votes here on the Discover Sci-Fi blog and the Facebook group, here are your top choices for the best multi-book sci-fi series of all time.

10. Ender's Saga by Orson Scott Card

Is anyone surprised to see Ender's Saga on this list? The wildly popular Ender’s Saga by Orson Scott Card is cited by many as having been their gateway into science fiction. Ender's Game, the Hugo Award winning first book, is excellent as a standalone, but once you dive in, you're definitely going to want to devour the entire series.  

The first book, Ender's Game, follows the story of a boy, Ender, who is selected to go up into space for a the training program, Battle School. He, and other boys, are put through a variety of technically challenging “games” during which Ender's prowess as an analyzing and creative leader is revealed. Battle School prepares them to fight the war against the “Buggers,” an undergoing war which they might be close to losing…

Read the first book Ender's Game  here on Amazon.

9. Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan

In ninth place on our list is the much beloved Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. One of the best-selling series of all time, readers are sucked into a richly detailed and compelling epic filled with magic. Originally plotted to be six books, the series ended up spanning fourteen volumes.

The series takes place about three thousand years after "The Breaking of the World", a global cataclysm that ended the "Age of Legends", a highly advanced era.  

Read the first book, The Eye of the World  here on Amazon.

8. Expanse Series by James S.A. Corey

As of 2019, The Expanse is made up of eight novels and eight shorter works – three short stories and five novellas by James S. A. Corey, the joint pen name of authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. The first novel, Leviathan Wakes, was nominated for both a Hugo Award and a Locus Award, and the series as a whole was nominated for the Best Series Hugo Award in 2017. Further speaking to the popularity and truly epic nature of the series, it was picked up by Amazon and brought to life on the screen as a Prime Original series.  

Leviathan Wakes introduces Captain James Holden, his crew, and Detective Miller. When they are confronted with a case of a single missing girl they realize it leads to a solar-system-wide conspiracy.

Get your copy of Leviathan Wakes  here on Amazon.

7. Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold

The compelling epic, the Vorkosiagan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold is a series of science fiction novels and short stories set in a common fictional universe. Works in the series have received numerous awards and nominations including five Hugo award wins – one being for Best series in 2017. Fans of the series cite the comprehensiveness of the work and the fine hand with which McMaster Bujold has drawn and developed her characters, as well as the grace and perspective she has when touching on topics like politics and religion—staples themes of multi-book sagas—as being what makes her work stand out.

At present there are sixteen books plus six short works in the series. There is a little bit of debate about the best order in which to read them, however the author recommends reading the books in order of the internal chronology so we'd suggest that is what you do, too! 

Get your copy of Free Falling, the first book in the internal chronology of the Vorkosigan Saga, Here on Amazon

6. Dune by Frank Herbert

Barely edging Vorkosagian Saga out of 6th place, is Frank Herbert's Dune . Dune  is a forever favorite, making an appearance almost every poll we put forward, and almost always placing in the top ten. And as if the stamp of approval from Discover Sci-Fi readers isn't enough, Dune has won both Hugo and Nebula awards, solidifying its status among the best works of science fiction.  Should it be any surprise it made this list?  

Herbert wrote the first book, Dune, and five sequels before his death in 1986; his legacy is carried on by his son Brian Herbert and science fiction writer Kevin J. Anderson, who have continued to add to the Duniverse.

Dune explores the multi-layered interactions of politics, religion, ecology, technology, and human emotion, as the factions of the empire confront each other in a struggle for the control of Arrakis and its spice.

Get your copy of Dune here on Amazon.

Like what you're reading?

If you're enjoying this top 10 list, why not join the DSF community for more awesome content? You'll get to be notified whenever a new top 10 list, or any other articles of interest goes up on our site. It's free to sign up and you'll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

5. Honor Harrington by David Weber

We've reached the top five! In fifth place, we have  David Weber's cult favorite, the military sci-fi epic, Honor Harrington, also known by fans as The Honorverse. Most of the more than 20 novels and anthology collections cover events between 4000 and 4022 AD. Much of the series' political drama follows that of Europe's political scene from the 1500's to 2000's.

The series is centred on the space navy career of the principal protagonist Honor Harrington, following her through her life and career, during a time of extreme interstellar change and tension.   

The series opens with Commander Harrington exiled to the Basilisk, humiliated, her crew disgruntled. This posting was meant to be punishment, an out of the way assignment intended to send a message, but that outpost soon proves to be a powder keg, and it's up to Harrington and the Fearless crew to thwart the aggressive plans of the Haven Republic. 

Start the adventure with book one, On Basilisk Station here on Amazon.

4. Pern by Anne McCaffrey

Anne McCaffery made history with her series, Pern, when she became the first woman to win a Hugo or Nebula award. Well deserved wins they were! The series is broad in scope covering over two and a half millennia. Multiple stories feature the same events from different viewpoints. Some stories feature travel between times, even across centuries. Indeed, it is a masterpiece, a true example of the kind of masterful storytelling that not only gets readers interested, but keeps them invested in a multi-books series; no small feat for a series of over two dozen books.

The first book, Dragonflight takes place in the far future in a beautiful world called Pern where an ancient way of life is about to come under attack from a myth that is all too real. Lessa is an outcast survivor—her parents murdered, her birthright stolen—a strong young woman who has never stopped dreaming of revenge. But when an ancient threat to Pern reemerges, Lessa will rise—upon the back of a great dragon with whom she shares a telepathic bond more intimate than any human connection. Together, dragon and rider will fly . . . and Pern will be changed forever.

Get your copy of Dragonflight  here on Amazon.

3. Expeditionary Force by Craig Alanson

Perhaps one of the most sure signs of the quality of a series is the passion and loyalty it inspires in its fans; by these metrics, best selling author Craig Alanson's Expeditionary Force is a sure standout. Alanson's legion of fans of turned out to vote for his outstanding series, earning Exforce a place in the top THREE!

From book 1… We were fighting on the wrong side, of a war we couldn't win. And that was the good news.

The Ruhar hit us on Columbus Day. There we were, innocently drifting along the cosmos on our little blue marble, like the native Americans in 1492. Over the horizon come ships of a technologically advanced, aggressive culture, and BAM! There go the good old days, when humans only got killed by each other. So, Columbus Day. It fits.

Pick up the first book, Columbus Day here on Amazon

2. Liaden Universe by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

Here in second place, we have a series that is notable because it almost failed to take flight, and probably would only be three books long had it not been for the Internet. Sharon Lee and Steve Miller had written the first three books (Agent of Change, Conflict of Honors, Carpe Diem) but were told that sales were not sufficient to justify continuing.  Regardless, the books caused quite a stir on a science fiction related Usenet group, and upon gaining internet access, the authors were surprised to find so many people looking for the next book in the series.  They set to work and the rest is history.  

The series is ongoing as of 2019, with twenty-one novels and numerous chapbooks and short stories, and a number of new novels contracted to be written.  It can be intimidating to drop into such a big story, but fans will tell you, it is well worth it.  Ready to dive in?

Start with book one, Agent of Change, here on Amazon

1. Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov

And finally, in first place—the series you voted the best multi-book series of all time—we have Isaac Asimov's Foundation.  For over 70 years Asimov's Foundation series has set the standard by which everything after has been judged, so it should be no surprise to see it at the very top of this esteemed list. 

Foundation won the one-time Hugo Award for “Best All-time Series” in 1966, and has clearly stood the test of time.  The focus of the books is the trends through which a civilization might progress, specifically seeking to analyze their progress, using history as a precedent.  It’s a marvellous read in it’s own right and, some might argue, an essential series for any serious science fiction fan.  

Discover the book that started it all, Foundation, here on Amazon

But that is not the end of the story...

As discussed in a recent  blog post by Discover Sci-Fi Author Jay Allan, it sometimes seems as though the multi-book series is taking over, and there are a multitude of reasons for that, perhaps the most important being—as Jay points out—because most readers love them. Due to a flood of new talent contributing to this trend, a decade from now, this list could look very different. That said, many of these series have held up for decades, and with good reason: knocking one of these masters from the top ten will be no small feat. Only time will tell. For now, visit us  here in our Facebook group to chime in on the debate, and then check out our most recent poll while you're there. Don't have Facebook? Feel free to add to the comments below.

*All book-related copy in this post was pulled from Amazon & Wikipedia, unless otherwise credited.

Disclaimers, Caveats, and Excuses

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First, a slightly exaggerated story—I have a friend who semi-recently went ape-shit angry over a rating he saw on Rotten Tomatoes. He FB-posted a scathing rant directed at the obviously corrupt reviewers, who’d mortally sinned by having published an aggregate rating that differed significantly from the audience rating, which btw, matched his opinion. Tens of his followers hopped onto his little rant wagon with their pitchforks and torches in hand, and they proceeded to stalk their way through the underbelly of the FB village hunting for the vile Frankensteins of disagreement.

It bothered me that my friend saw the need to funnel his anger into something as unimportant as a collection of movie reviews. It bothered me more that he seemed to be bubbling with so much anger that it spilled out over such a trivial thing. I did not, however, engage. I mean, who really needs that kind of shit in their lives. On the other hand, I will say here, something inspired by that pointless drama.

I decided to write movie, TV, and book reviews for Discover Scifi because:

I thought it might be fun.

NOT because I’m a troll.

NOT because I want to tear people down.

As a guy who makes his living as a writer, I spend a lot of time thinking about why stories work and why they don’t. Writing a review helps me crystallize my thoughts on the subject. It’s a way to help me become a better writer.

And, if you find that you tend to like the same movies/books/TV shows I like, then hopefully my reviews will help you cull through the flood of entertainment opportunities pouring across your internet connection so you can find something fun to fill your me-time need for happy escapism.

On the other hand, if you find you disagree with me, then look at me as a reverse barometer. If I like it, you probably won't. If I don’t like it, you might. Seriously, we all have people like that in our lives, right?

Everybody’s different. We live in a big world with an endless supply of movies and books. If social media has produced any good in this world (and I’ll happily make the argument that it hasn’t), then it’s shown us that the world is full of people with different opinions, and that we’ll never unanimously like the same things. So please, allow me to have an alternative opinion.

– Bobby Adair

Bobby is a former programmer, with a long-lived passion - and only recently fulfilled desire - for writing.  He is the author of the Freedom Fire series, the Slow Burn series and the Ebola K series.

Want Bobby to review a book, movie or TV show? Let us know by adding it to the poll below, and/or voting on your favorites.

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What are the best multi-book sci-fi series of all time?

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“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”
― C.S. Lewis

We can't help but think that C.S. Lewis, he himself having published one of the most popular multi-book series of all time, would approve of the smorgasbord of options available to science fiction readers these days when it comes to multi-book series.  

The multi-book series has the power to absorb us like nothing else. Authors have the freedom to play the long game: to build out worlds with detail and richness the likes of which they simply couldn't if restricted to the length of a standalone or even a trilogy; to build characters of epic proportions that over time, we readers come to know better than our own friends. You ache for it never to end, and no matter how long it is when it does conclude, it will always leave you wanting more.

This week's poll asks for you to ponder multi-book series' containing four books or more, either completed or evolving. Which ones might be considered the very best?  Add your nomination(s) below and then vote on your favorite(s).

We base our lists on the votes and nominations from this blog and our Facebook Reader group, and we want to hear your opinion!


What Are the Best Multi-Book Sci-Fi Series of All Time? (Four BOOKS or more, completed or evolving)
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Review—Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

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Bobby’s Rating - 3 out of 10

Currently playing at a theater near you.

I know 3 out of 10 is a terrible rating, so go ahead, let the hating begin. I thought Star Wars, episode 993 (or whatever number we’re on now), sucked a hairy ball sack. On the other hand, the special effects were impressive.

Before you Google my home address and come to my house to defile my dog, let me say this: When I was 16, way back in 1977 (yes, I’m that old), I saw the first Star Wars movie in one of those giant pre-multiplex theaters on a big-ass 200-foot-wide screen—lightsabers, tie fighters, star destroyers—OMG! The special effects were revolutionary, for the time. I don’t exaggerate when I say, at that point in my life, Star Wars was the greatest thing that had ever happened to me.

Mind you, at 16, I’d experienced no carnal activity with a woman. That wouldn’t come until a few years later, when a spectacularly beautiful girl seemed to have tumbled out of the pages of a Playboy magazine and onto the fold-down backseat of my Mustang fastback. That night was as wonderful as it was awkward, with lots of nervous fumbling in between, but it ended well. Of course, that event made it directly to the top of my Best Things That Ever Happened to Bobby list, but in the long run, the first Star Wars held onto a respectable ranking, and the loss of my virtue slipped slowly down.

So why do I tell you all this? Because I want to demonstrate how big of a Star Wars fan I was.

I know that puts me in the camp of curmudgeons who say things like, the old movies are better than the new ones, that band’s first album is better than their latest crap, they don’t make <any consumer product> like they used to, and get off my lawn, you whippersnapper!

And I’ll be honest, if the first Star Wars movie came out today, for the first time, I don’t know that I’d be such a devotee. 

Because one thing you learn as you age, is that your tastes change through the years. But it’s more than that. Each of us, whether we can see it or not, is a product of our culture, everything we’ve lived through, and everything we’re currently experiencing.

Back when the first Star Wars movie came out, the culture I’d spent my entire life in was in turmoil – the Vietnam war, demonstrations, riots, assassinations, the Arab oil embargo, Watergate, rising inflation and unemployment, not to mention the continual threat of nuclear annihilation. It seems to me, that many of the big movies in the early to mid-1970s were a reflection of us. They were introspective, and at times, brutally dark. I was part of a culture that had lost its understanding of its identity and was trying to figure itself out. In the early ’60s, I think all Americans believed we were the good guys, the cowboys in the white hats. By the mid-’70s, we weren’t sure anymore. We didn’t trust our government, our police, or our parents. In my lifetime, we’d gone from certitude about who we were as a people, to questioning whether we were even good.

And then Star Wars came out.​

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I’m not going to claim that it totally changed the direction of our culture, but it did give us a story about a hero we could all believe in who fought against a villain who was 100% evil (at least in the first movie he was.) 

Pure good, versus absolute evil, set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. It was the kind of story all of us were starving for, though we barely knew we had a hunger until we saw it in the theater. And for me, a kid who’d taken to spending most of his spare time reading SciFi books to escape a very ugly world, Star Wars was magical, fantastic, and pure, a reflection of all the crazy stuff I was reading about in those books, and quite literally, the best thing that had ever happened to me.

So maybe, what I’m really saying about the latest Star Wars, is that it didn’t make me feel the same way the first Star Wars made me feel.

In fact, ever since the first trilogy ended, I’ve watched each Star Wars movie with the highest expectations, but until I sat down and attempted to write this review, I don’t think I truly understood what those expectations were—I wanted that 1977 feeling again, what I felt when that screen flashed the giant Star Wars text and the fanfare blasted me out of my seat, and Luke overcame his obstacles and blew up the death star, and they all lived happily ever after—until the Empire Struck Back.

So, I guess what I should have said to start this review, was—my expectations are so colored by my history with these movies, that there’s no way I can give the latest Star Wars any kind of unbiased review. You might like it. My daughter, who watched it with me, fuckin’ loved it. Me, not so much.

But the special effects were pretty fan-fuckin’-tastic.

Bobby Adair

* If you feel like I’ve been unnecessarily harsh on a masterpiece, or too easy on a terrible POS, please read my Disclaimers, Caveats, and Excuses page before you flame me.

​Bobby Adair is a former programmer, with a long-lived passion - and only recently fulfilled desire - for writing.  He is the author of the Freedom Fire series, the Slow Burn series and the Ebola K series.

One of Bobby's favorite quotes:

“It’s not just about me and my dream of doing nothing. It’s about all of us...Michael, we don’t have a lot of time on this earth! We weren’t meant to spend it this way. Human beings were not meant to sit in little cubicles staring at computer screens all day, filling out useless forms and listening to eight different bosses drone on about about mission statements.”
- Peter Gibbons, Office Space

You can follow Bobby on Facebook, Twitter and his website.

What’s your favorite doomsday scenario?

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Post-apocalyptic and doomsday fiction and non-fiction has been popular since the first written words. Today, it’s one of the hottest sub-genres in publishing. Some might argue it has become a genre of its own.

I’m one of those people, although I’m biased—apocalyptic fiction is my bread and butter. For the past decade I’ve written all sorts of end of the world scenarios. Alien invasions, viral outbreaks, EMPs, civil-wars, and now I’m about to embark on a new scenario, and I want to know—what’s your favorite apocalypse to read about? 

For me, I think the best stories are those that are the most realistic, the kind that scares the reader and inspires them to prepare to survive such an event. 

Natural disasters, a viral outbreak, terrorism, nuclear war are all scenarios that have happened on some level or another. Wide-scale events that could potentially wipe out the entire human race. 

There are also doomsday stories that are complete science fiction. 

Think Doom, the video game that has inspired novels and movies. In the scenario, scientists on Mars open a gate to Hell that disgorges demons and horrendous beasts that eventually make it to Earth and kill off a majority of humanity. World War Z and the Walking Dead are popular modern day zombie stories that have the same premise. While there is some science in these stories, there is almost zero chance either of them could ever happen. 

But there are science fiction ideas like artificial intelligence that could transform into reality. AI, in my opinion, is one of the biggest threats to the human race aside from a virus or asteroid.

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In my four-book series Trackers, the end of the world comes from a North Korean nuclear and EMP attack. In my four-book Orbs series, natural resource thirsty aliens arrive on Earth to take one of our most valuable resources.

These stories were two ways I believed the world could end, but there are plenty of ways humanity could meet its doom. 

So what do you think? What’s your favorite type of doomsday story? Let me know in the comments.

Nicholas Sansbury Smith is the USA Today bestselling author of the Hell Divers series, the Orbs series, the Trackers series, and the Extinction Cycle series.

He worked for Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management in disaster mitigation before switching careers to focus on his one true passion—writing.

When he isn't writing or daydreaming about the apocalypse, he enjoys running, biking, spending time with his family, and traveling the world.

He is an Ironman triathlete and lives in Iowa with his wife, their dogs, and a house full of books.

You can follow Nicholas on Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Goodreads, Tumblr, and his website.

Have Series Taken Over Fiction?

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Series to the left of me, series to the right.  Every book seems to be part of a series today. Readers who prefer standalone novels are faced with what must seem like endless series books, from trilogies to never-ending sagas with 20, 30, or more volumes. I’ve contributed to this trend myself, with the nine books of my Crimson Worlds series and the fifteen (on the way to eighteen) for my Blood on the Stars series.

Why so many series?  

Well, there are a couple reasons. We’ll hit the obvious one first. Series make more sense for a writer from a business perspective. From built-in readership for subsequent installments to the ability to promote multiple books at once, authors find it far easier to build true careers writing series.

That’s a little mercenary, perhaps, but it’s far from the only reason. Series wouldn’t be more lucrative without one unavoidable fact: Most readers love them. There are a lot of advantages to longer stories, narratives that unfold gradually over a larger number of books. The ability to more deeply develop characters and storylines is vastly increased over a longer series. It’s hard to imagine if Game of Thrones would have become the cultural phenomenon it did if it had been a single book and one two-hour movie that came and went.

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Readers become attached to characters, and they want to see their stories completed.  

They want to learn more about settings and fictional universes. It’s a lot easier to dive right into a new story that also has some familiarity, some understanding in place when the eyes settle on page one.

Series are nothing new, of course. From the early days with things like the Lensman series through the years to Poul Anderson’s Technic series (and its James Bond in space hero, Dominic Flandry) and beyond to David Weber and the lengthy and beloved Honor Harrington epic, series have always been with us. The move in recent years to faster publication and reduced wait times for new books has enhanced the appeal of these longer tales, eliminating in many cases the wait of a year or more between volumes.

Many stories go on because readers still want more, even years after an author believed a series was finished, and in some cases, even after the original creator has passed away.  

Classic stories like Isaac Asimov’s Foundation and Frank Herbert’s Dune have continued decades after the original books were written.

The series juggernaut isn’t going away anytime soon, so dig through the books that cross your path, find a story that grabs your attention, and settle in for a long and wild ride.

Jay Allan

Jay Allan is a USA Today bestselling author of roughly 30 science fiction and fantasy books, including the bestselling Blood on the Stars series, Crimson Worlds series and the Far Stars trilogy published by HarperCollins Voyager.

A lifetime northeasterner, Jay currently lives in New York City, where he writes from his apartment…and continues to fill small notebooks with ideas for future books.

He has been a voracious reader of science fiction and fantasy for many years, a writer of the same far more recently. His tastes are varied and eclectic, but most often he will be found reading military and dystopian science fiction, space opera, alternate history, and epic fantasy. He is also an avid historian, and is as likely to be reading non-fiction as a novel.

Jay writes a lot of science fiction with military themes, but also other SF and some fantasy as well. His works tend to feature complex characters and lots of backstory and action, always with an emphasis on world-building and extensive detail.

Join Jay's reader group on Facebook to keep up with the latest in his work.

Time to Choose: What are the best multi-book sci-fi series of all time?

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Last week's poll asked for you to ponder multi-book series containing four books or more, either completed or evolving and ask yourself which ones might be considered the very best? We asked for your nomination(s) and votes and you delivered with over 1,000 votes on more than 75 nominations! (Click here to check out the complete list of nominations)

It's time to decide.

We narrowed down the list of your nominations to the ten most voted for. Now let's figure out what the best ones are out of this group!

*This list is made up by combining votes from this blog and our Facebook group.

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What is the best multi-book series of all time
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