On tour with Prism Book Tours.
Lol... you'll love this. Please welcome Matthew Kadish to Colorimetry...
5 Things That Make A Sci-Fi Novel Worth Reading
Science Fiction is a lot like pizza. Even when it’s bad, it can still be enjoyable. But there are a few things which make some science fiction truly great. As a sci-fi author myself, these are the top 5 things I look for when reading science fiction and fantasy novels, which lets me know that what I’m reading is going to be great…
#5: There’s a memorable bad guy – Lots of novels in the sci-fi genre tend to fall into the “Chosen One vs. Dark One” trap, where you have a hero that can do no wrong, and a villain who’s so evil, even Hitler would be like “Whoa, that guy is bad.” Admittedly, a hero is only as good as the villain he’s up against, so it’s important to have a strong bad guy in the story. But bad guys who are unique, have reasonable justifications for doing bad things, and are essentially just “good guys” for the opposite side, are always far more fun and interesting to read about than Professor Evil McEvil.
#4: There’s a certain level of realism – Admittedly, sci-fi and fantasy don’t have to be realistic. But nothing takes a reader out of a story quicker than characters or technology which just doesn’t behave in a way that is believable. Would someone really shrug off their whole planet being destroyed like nothing happened? Would a guy really find a woman with three eyes and a tail attractive? Are the laws of physics really that important that the main character can’t go for a space-walk naked? When a story respects realism, it just makes the whole tale more enjoyable.
#3: There is a fleshed out universe to explore – a huge part of good sci-fi and fantasy is “worldbuilding.” You want the setting in which a story takes place to feel like it could really exist. This means having details which build the world and make it feel real. Things like topography, geography, governments, laws, vehicles, technology, religion, media, etc. are all vital to having a great setting for a story. If a sci-fi story is set in an advanced future and no one is watching TV or movies, playing games on phones, and locations/environments are all exactly the same, then something is wrong.
#2: Characters have names you can pronounce – One thing that immediately takes me out of a story I’m reading is a character whose name is so off-the-wall, there’s no way I could ever figure out how to pronounce it. These names typically feature lots of apostrophes (because what’s more alien than apostrophes, am I right?) and an abundance of consonants like “Y” and “Z”, and maybe even the occasional odd character like an upside-down question mark. Just because an alien is an alien doesn’t mean he has to have an alien name. (I’m looking at you, Xaghhh’I’k’luyyy’zchacha.)
#1: There’s some cool magic or science – Part of the fun of sci-fi and fantasy are the futuristic/mystical elements a reader gets exposed to. Stories with space ships, quantum physics, time travel, faster than light travel, magic, and all that neat stuff are always more enjoyable in this genre than stories which are so based in reality, you feel like you’re reading more of a biography than a fiction novel. This genre is about letting one’s imagination run wild! So let it!
If you’re a fan of science fiction and fantasy (like me), be sure to check out my sci-fi/fantasy series Earthman Jack. Reviewers say it’s like “Harry Potter meets Star Wars,” and Kirkus Reviews called it “A veritable carnival of geeky sci-fi delights.” It’s a book written for sci-fi fans, by a sci-fi fan. Don’t miss out!
About The Author: Matthew Kadish is a Renaissance man, certified evil genius, and novelist. Much like Scottish cuisine, the bulk of his creations are based on dares. He is the most talented writer ever. His mother tells him so every day. Get a free copy of his book Earthman Jack vs. The Ghost Planet at www.EarthmanJack.com. His latest novel, Earthman Jack vs. The Secret Army, is available now.
Earthman Jack vs. The Secret Army
(The Earthman Jack Space Saga #2)
by Matthew Kadish
YA Sci-Fi
Paperback & ebook, 663 Pages
September 15th 2015 by Twelve Oaks Mediaby Matthew Kadish
YA Sci-Fi
Paperback & ebook, 663 Pages
After his heroic battle against the Deathlords on the Ghost Planet, Jack Finnegan is looking forward to arriving at Omnicron Prime, the capitol planet of the Galactic Regalus Empire -the largest and most advanced civilization in the universe.
Things are looking bright for Jack. He has his unconventional group of friends, his mystical spaceship, and the girl of his dreams -Princess Anna. Not to mention a secret mission that could save Earth and everyone he cares about.
But things get complicated when he arrives at Omnicron. Not only is Jack uncomfortable being thrust into the spotlight for his courageous actions to save the universe, but he soon finds life in the Empire isn't everything he'd dreamed it would be.
His friends abandon him to pursue their own interests. Greedy and cunning politicians conspire to steal his spaceship. Even his relationship with Anna is strained now that she's gone from being "the girl next door" to the most powerful woman in the universe.
But beneath all that lies a new and terrifying threat from the Deathlords. A threat that grows in secret, slowly spreading throughout the Regalus Empire like a plague, and it threatens to destroy from within the only thing powerful enough to stop the Deathlords and their malicious rampage throughout the galaxy -the Empire itself.
Worst of all -Jack is the only one who knows about this new threat, and no one will believe his warnings.
Suddenly, the Empire is no longer safe for Jack and his friends. Even the people they've come to rely on the most can no longer be trusted. As those he's sworn to protect turn against him, how can Jack hope to save the day?
Fighting the Deathlords was one thing. Fighting the "good guys" is quite another. Will Jack be able to find the strength to be the hero the universe needs?
Or will he finally be defeated by this Secret Army?
Amazon - Book Depository
Also in the Series
Earthman Jack is like Harry Potter meets Star Wars. A sweeping, epic space opera full of adventure, humor, magic, and coming of age. Fun for readers of all ages!
Matthew Kadish is an independent author and world-recognized evil genius. When he isn't writing or being evil, he enjoys relaxing at the beach and videos of puppies. Much like Scottish cuisine, most of his literary works have been based on dares. He currently lives in Las Vegas and always bets on black, because Westley Snipes has yet to steer him wrong in life. He is the most talented author ever. His mother tells him so every day.
$20 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
3 copies of Earthman Jack vs. The Secret Army (Print to US entrants, ebook to International)
Tour Schedule
9/20: Launch
9/21: Coffee Books & Art & Mythical Books
9/22: Teatime and Books & Colorimetry
9/25: MichaelSciFan & deal sharing aunt
9/27: Grand Finale
Tour Giveaway
$20 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
3 copies of Earthman Jack vs. The Secret Army (Print to US entrants, ebook to International)
