Leviathan '99 by Ray Bradbury

Leviathan '99 by Ray Bradbury, 100 pages

This novella by Ray Bradbury was quite interesting with an opening similar to Moby Dick.  There were undertones eluding to Herman Melville's Classic.  The year is 2099 and Ishmael is one astronaut on the Cetus 7 along with Quell and a blind captain hoping for the "giant whale" to not devour the world.

Hidden Figures (Young Reader's Edition) by Margot Lee Shetterly

Hidden Figures (Young Reader's Edition) by Margot Lee Shetterly, 231 pages

I love that the author wrote a young reader's edition of this book.  Hidden Figures is the true story of four incredible African American women who worked for NASA and helped launch our country into space.  Hidden Figures takes a look at the lives and careers of  Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christie Darden.  These women were called computers because of their awesome abilities to calculate math and engineer problems that the men could not solve without their help.  It is incredible what these woman had to endure during the 1950s and 1960s in the American workplace where not only was it a challenge to be a woman in a man's field but to also be struggling with regards to what was going on with the civil rights movement at the time.  Despite what these women experienced in their lives, they continued to persevere and achieve great success.  This book should be inspirational to all young women.

Where Is Our Solar System? by Stephanie Sabol

Where Is Our Solar System?  by Stephanie Sabol, 106 pages

Though I thought I knew everything about our solar system, I discovered there was a lot more to learn by reading this book.  I always found our solar system fascinating, and I learned that ours is not the only one out there!

Who Was Stephen Hawking? by Jim Gigliotti

Who Was Stephen Hawking?  by Jim Gigliotti, 106 pages

I saw the movie on Stephen Hawking and of course became familiar with Stephen Hawking by watching the Big Bang Theory, so this book was just an added bonus.  Stephen Hawking was a professor of math and cosmology, relativity and quantum gravity.  The famous author and physicist suffered from ALS but lived an incredible life!

Who Was Galileo? by Patricia Brennen Demuth

Who Was Galileo?  by Patricia Brennen Demuth, 112 pages

These children's biographies are not only very informative for children but also for adults.  If you don't know much about Galileo, I highly recommend this book.  Not only did he discover the sun to be the center of the universe he also invented the telescope!

Who Was Neil Armstrong? by Roberta Edwards

Who Was Neil Armstrong?  by Roberta Edwards 105 pages

Most people know who Neil Armstrong is, but these children's biographies are very informative.  Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon.  A fun fact is he got his pilot's license before his driver's license!

Master & Apprentice (Star Wars) by Claudia Gray

Master and Apprentice (Star Wars) by Claudia Gray-330 pages

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi as Master and Apprentice before the events of The Phantom Menace. It was fascinating to read and learn about their relationship as Master and Padawan and how each grew throughout the mission to Pijal in this novel. Additionally, it was fascinating to read about Qui-Gon as a Padawan to Count Dooku and to learn of a new Jedi named Real Averross. I have enjoyed all of Claudia Gray's Star Wars Disney Canon novels thus far (Lost Stars, Bloodline, Leia: Princess of Alderaan, and this one). I would recommend this to any Star Wars fan.

The Galactic Whirlpool by David Gerrold

The Galactic Whirlpool by David Gerrold - 223 pages

The Enterprise comes across a huge, antiquated vessel floating in space and carrying a colony of primitive human beings who have been lost in space. While the colonists are in perfect health, they must deal with the culture shock of learning that a world exists outside of their spaceship. Their initial reaction is fear, as they believe the crew of the Enterprise to be "demons." And their fears are heightened with the belief that Captain Kirk and his crew are unaware of an outside force pulling them into a whirlpool of death.

Dynasty of Evil (Star Wars: Darth Bane #3) by Drew Karpyshyn

Dynasty of Evil (Star Wars: Darth Bane #3) by Drew Karpyshyn-306 pages

I finally finished the third and final novel in the Darth Bane trilogy. I enjoyed reading this because it is from a different perspective than most Star Wars stories. It is from the perspective of the Sith and explains the origins of the Rule of Two. I am more of a light side fan, but it was nice to read something from a different perspective. Overall, the trilogy is entertaining and sustains one's interest, especially if one is a Star Wars fan. 

Doctor Who: The Missy Chronicles by Stephen Cole (Editor)

Doctor Who:  The Missy Chronicles by Stephen Cole (Editor) - 224 pages

Know your frenemy.

‘I’ve had adventures too. My whole life doesn’t revolve around you, you know.’

When she's not busy amassing armies of Cybermen, or manipulating the Doctor and his companions, Missy has plenty of time to kill (literally). In this all new collection of stories about the renegade Time Lord we all love to hate, you'll discover just some of the mad and malevolent activities Missy gets up to while she isn't distracted by the Doctor.

So please try to keep up.

Combat Magicks by Steve Cole

Combat Magicks by Steve Cole - 272 pages

The TARDIS arrives in Gaul in 451AD, on the eve of battle between the forces of Attila the Hun and those of the crumbling Roman Empire. But the Doctor soon finds that both sides are being helped by sinister, supernatural creatures.

While Graham makes allies in the Roman camp and Ryan is pursued by the enigmatic Legion of Smoke, the Doctor and Yasmin are pressed into service as Attila’s personal sorcerers. But the Doctor knows there is science behind the combat magicks- and that the true war will pit all humanity against a ruthless alien threat.

Clara and Clem in Outer Space

Clara and Clem in Outer Space
by Ethan Long
31 pages


When Clara and Clem build a robot out of blocks, they have no idea where the robot (and their imaginations) will take them. Soon enough they are in outer space.....

Mousetronaut: Based on a (partially) True Story

Mousetronaut: Based on a (partially) True Story
by Mark Kelly
40 pages

Astronaut Mark Kelly flew with “mice-tronauts” on his first spaceflight aboard space shuttle Endeavour in 2001. Mousetronaut tells the story of a small mouse that wants nothing more than to travel to outer space. The little mouse works as hard as the bigger mice to show readiness for the mission . . . and is chosen for the flight! While in space, the astronauts are busy with their mission when disaster strikes—and only the smallest member of the crew can save the day. With lively illustrations by award-winning artist C. F. Payne, Mousetronaut is a charming tale of perseverance, courage, and the importance of the small!

Living in Space

Living in Space
by Katie Daynes
32 pages


An Illustrated description of how astronauts live in space, especially on board the space shuttle.

Legends of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

Legends of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke - 220 pages

I thought this was the first book in the graphic novel series having misread the title as "The Legend of Zita the Spacegirl".  I was wrong.  It is the second book.  While I wasn't sure how Zita became lost in outer space it was a fairly easy story to pick up.  This volume tells of a robot who tries to take over Zita's life and how Zita becomes a space criminal because of it.

I found the book fun to read.  In fact, I think I will probably go back and read the first book and then the third before waiting for the fourth to be published in two years.