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H. G. Wells Classic Collection II

H. G. Wells Classic Collection II is a beautiful hardback omnibus collection of Wells’ four novels: In the Days of the Comet, Men Like Gods, The Sleeper Awakes, and The War in the Air.

From the promotional synopsis:
In the Days of the Comet is a 1906 story in which the vapors of a comet bring about a profound and lasting transformation in the attitudes and perspectives of humankind. The 1923 novel Men Like Gods features a journalist who finds himself in a utopian parallel universe, and as the utopian attitudes begin to have their effect on him, he finds that he and his fellow travelers may be having their own effect upon the utopia. The 1910 dystopian tale The Sleeper Awakes centers on a man who sleeps for 203 years, waking up in a completely transformed London, where he has become the richest man in the world. Lastly, The War in the Air, from 1907, is notable for its prophetic ideas, images, and concepts, in particular the use of the aircraft for the purpose of warfare and the coming of World War I.

This collection is another fantastic gathering of Wells’ science fiction works that fans of the author should enjoy. These are not his most popular works (see Collection I for those), so I wasn’t as familiar with them. In the Days of the Comet and The War in the Air contain more of Wells’ political ideas than the feel of science fiction. Though, Men Like Gods deal with a parallel universe, and The Sleeper Awakes gives a futuristic view of London. Wells’ writing flows well and makes for easy reading for all ages. And of course, his creativity is inspiring whether you’re a science fiction fan or not.

BATTLESHIP - In theaters May 18th, 2012

Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Brooklyn Decker, Alexander Skarsgård, Rihanna, Asano Tadanobu and Liam Neeson
Directed by: Peter Berg
Writers: Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber, Brian Koppelman & David Levien
Based on the Hasbro Game: “Battleship”
Produced by: Scott Stuber, Peter Berg, Sarah Aubrey, Brian Goldner, Bennett Schneir, Duncan Henderson, Jeffrey Silver
Official Site: http://www.battleshipmovie.com/
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Synopsis:
Peter Berg (Hancock) produces and directs Battleship, an epic-scaled action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force. Inspired by Hasbro’s classic naval combat game, Battleship stars Taylor Kitsch as Lt. Alex Hopper, a Naval officer assigned to the USS John Paul Jones; Brooklyn Decker as Sam Shane, a physical therapist and Hopper’s fiancée; Alexander Skarsgård as Hopper’s older brother, Stone, Commanding Officer of the USS Sampson; Rihanna as Petty Officer Raikes, Hopper’s crewmate and a weapons specialist on the USS John Paul Jones; and international superstar Liam Neeson as Hopper and Stone’s superior (and Sam’s father), Admiral Shane.

Berg directs this epic action-adventure also produced by Scott Stuber (Couples Retreat), Sarah Aubrey (The Kingdom), Brian Goldner and Bennett Schneir of Hasbro (the Transformers franchise), along with Duncan Henderson (Master and Commander) and Jeffrey Silver (300). The film is written by Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber (Red).

The battle for Earth begins at sea.

Merlin – Airs – Friday, February 10th at 10/9c on Syfy
‘A Servant of Two Masters’ – Sneak Peek

Being Human – Airs – Monday, February 13th at 9/8c on Syfy
‘Addicted to Love’ – Sneak Peek

Lost Girl – Airs – Monday, February 13th at 10/9c on Syfy
‘Dead Lucky’ – Sneak Peek

Courtesy of A&E, I have a DVD copy of Frozen World: The Story of the Ice Age for one (1) lucky winner.

Contest is open to US residents only. To enter, just fill out the form below. Contest ends March 2. I’ll draw a name on March 3, and notify winner via email.

Good luck!

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The Darkening Dream is a chilling new dark fantasy novel by Andy Gavin is FREE for two days only on Amazon Kindle (February 7th to 8th)!
Download your FREE copy here: http://amzn.to/yTvZPG

About The Darkening Dream

Even as the modern world pushes the supernatural aside in favor of science and steel, the old ways remain. God, demon, monster, and sorcerer alike plot to regain what was theirs.

1913, Salem, Massachusetts – Sarah Engelmann’s life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand.

With the help of Alex, an attractive Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes. What can Alex’s elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah’s own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah’s continuing visions reveal?

No less than Gabriel’s Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be her very soul.

Pure by Julianna Baggott

In the years following the apocalypse, Pressia lives with her grandfather in a former barbershop. Pressia dreams of life before, because her current reality is filled with horrors. During the Detonations, everyone outside of the Dome was either killed or left horribly scarred and mutated, fused with whatever was nearby. Pressia has reached the age where she is required to join the military, but she decides to face the unknown and flee instead. Meanwhile, inside the Dome, people are whole and trained to be the best they can be. Yet Partridge is not happy. He constantly thinks of his mother who was left outside the Dome during the Detonations. And when Partridge receives a clue that his mother may still be alive, he’ll risk the shelter of the Dome for the dangers of the Outside.

Pressia is a sympathetic girl who, despite her creepy disfigurement of a doll fused to her hand, quickly becomes captivating. Partridge is naïve, but it’s easy to get caught up in his story as well. The massive worldbuilding of this dystopian scene is both disturbing and imaginative. The setting is dark and intense. Full of adventure, suspense, mystery, and a bit of romance – Pure is a much darker young adult, dystopia than others. With an incredibly climactic and dramatic escalation of startling events, this original and gritty story has a satisfying ending that will leave readers wanting more.