Thursday, June 12, 2025

The Whisper that Replaced God Part II: Silent Almighty Book Review

You might want to first read my review of Part I, so I provided that link to my previous post. Unlike most of the book-related ideas that occur to me when I wake up at 3 in the morning, I remembered that one. The review this blog entry’s title promises will now commence.

The Whisper that Replaced God Part II: Silent Almighty (A Silent Duology Book 2)The Whisper that Replaced God Part II: Silent Almighty by Timothy Wolff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With Part II, Timothy Wolff takes advantage of the story’s split release by letting his MC and narrator Muse comment on some of the reader reactions to Book I. Not surprisingly, it gives this fast-paced volume a level of meta cleverness that makes the pages turn even more quickly.

The story takes unexpected turns, with Mute venting frustration at how so many people follow his new rival, Deaf. Mute resorts to increasingly dark choices and justifications, but the humor keeps the narrative itself from becoming bleak or depressing. Some of the lines work as simply funny, while others reflect clever commentary on human nature, power, storytelling, and social media—even if social media might not exist within Mute’s world. I’ll avoid spoilers and say Mute takes readers on a rewarding journey.

Readers who like fantasy with exciting action and outrageous humor should add Timothy Wolff to their reading list.


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Thanks for visiting my blog! Please read about my books, including the small-town fiction collection The Acorn Stories and my free eBook Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure.

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

The Whisper that Replaced God (A Silent Duology Book 1) Book Review

The Whisper that Replaced God (A Silent Duology Book 1)The Whisper that Replaced God by Timothy Wolff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Whisper that Replaced God (A Silent Duology Book 1) works as an entertaining fantasy, but the first-person narration adds some much-needed levity. Mute remains aware of readers, not wanting to bore, insult, or trouble them with superfluous or unpleasant details. All of it reveals much about his personality and past, thus adding to the richness of the story.

We even get commentary that evokes the art of storytelling and the frustrations of contemporary writers. While such inclusions might become whiny and self-indulgent in less skillful hands, Timothy Wolff uses playful observations about the struggles of storytelling to make the story itself even more fast-paced and intriguing.

Of course, we also get the story itself, with Mute’s tragic life revealed in action-packed sequences and emotional betrayals. Mute’s experiences give him the insight and determination to survive it all.

In just over eighty pages, Wolff captures a lifetime of strife and pain that may or may not lead to a sense that Mute’s fate will justify his journey. One still needs to read Book 2, after all, but this satisfying read makes Book 2 irresistible.

View all my Goodreads reviews.

Thanks for visiting my blog! Please read about my books, including the small-town fiction collection The Acorn Stories and my free eBook Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure.

Monday, June 09, 2025

Same Sex Book Review

Same Sex: Gay SF Clone EroticaSame Sex: Gay SF Clone Erotica by J W Steed
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Author Peter Schutes introduces two tales of clones and gay male desire. Schutes offers an introduction that shows a love for science fiction and concerns about oppression.

That introduction also explains the unlikely genesis of this unique collection. Despite similar concepts, the stories differ in feel and setting, both going in unexpected directions while both delivering an enjoyable read.

In “Journey’s End,” author J. W. Steed brings readers to a terraformed planet. Jeremy still harbors feelings for Benny, but Benny falls for one of Jeremy’s clones. Complications arise, with Jeremy worried about his obsession with observing that new relationship. It affects his job and his interactions. The tone becomes whimsical at times, thanks to Jeremy’s observations and quirks.

“Billy Club,” by Frank Slater, takes place in a different future but a more down-to-Earth setting, with a crooked system of cloned cops. This story features much rougher characters than the first one and focuses much more on desire. The officers, all known as Billy but with different badge numbers, become entangled with local gay men in a way that might expose corruption. The first-person narrator often sounds like he belongs in an old detective movie, but he takes the story into racier territory.

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Thanks for visiting my blog! Please read about my books, including the small-town fiction collection The Acorn Stories and my free eBook Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure.

Thursday, May 08, 2025

Books Written or Cowritten by Duane Simolke

Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure. An Iroquois family gets caught in a battle between two oppressive worlds. Free eBook!

Sons of Taldra: A Science Fiction Adventure. In an alternate reality, an Iroquois scientist and her twin gay sons battle shapeshifting aliens.

Taldra: Degranon and Sons of Taldra together in one volume.

The Acorn Stories. “A lush tangle of small-town life branches out in this engrossing collection of short stories.” -Kirkus Reviews.

The Acorn Gathering: Writers Uniting Against Cancer. Join the fight against cancer by purchasing this fundraising fiction collection.

Free Story: Fat Diary: Humor.

Holding Me Together counters homophobia, promotes equality, and celebrates life!

Selected Poems eBook.

The Return of Innocence: A Fantasy Adventure blends humor and romance with exciting fantasy action.

Stein, Gender, Isolation and Industrialism: New Readings of Winesburg, Ohio examines the best-known work of the influential American writer, Sherwood Anderson.

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Discover unity, courage, and love as Taldra fights for humanity’s survival.

PromoCorner created this video for Sons of Taldra: A Science Fiction Adventure and posted it on social media.

"Refreshingly different, and at its beating heart is some much needed diversity that slots in effortlessly and with purpose." –Doctor Who Online

"The most intriguing aspect of the story is controlled by emotion as relatable characters grow and brave it all together, selflessly helping each other." –Enas Reviews

"A quick fun read for anyone who enjoys sci-fi and adventure books. The plot was compelling and the characters were engaging." –Fiction Flock

"An explosive book that will mean different things to each reader. The familial love and romantic love that shine make it even a deeper read." –N. N. Light's Book Heaven

"I recommend this book to science fiction readers and those who like complex storylines." –Review Tales

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

JP MacDougall's Indie Author Features

JP MacDougall, author of The Pangean Chronicles, has made the following announcement about free book promotion on his website. Authors looking for more exposure should visit now.

About The Pangean Chronicles

Millions of years ago in the time of Pangea, when the continents were still as one, there existed the demon world. A race known as the Sanctorians reigned over a peaceful existence until the mysterious and unsettling birth of a dark demon cast a long shadow over this peace. Following the rise of this dark lord, who became known as Satanicus, a terrible war ensued, with Sanctorians leading a resistance against this new tyranny. By the end of the catastrophic war, with Satanicus incarcerated within 'The Book', the super-continent of Pangea was shattered into its separate continents and human existence, as we know it now, came to be.

Now the human race faces a threat greater than ever before. Lord Masshawus has spent millions of years in the shadows, raising an army and now plots to unify Pangea. It is down to Michael Shaw and his allies to stop the unification of Pangea and to recover 'The Book'. The future of civilisation is in the balance and there are very few who can be trusted.

Saturday, March 22, 2025

Growing Slowly Nowhere Book Review

In his memoir Growing Slowly Nowhere, Iwan Ross writes about growing up in apartheid-era South Africa. His life throws readers not only into a world of injustice but also into one with a manipulative mother and brother.

Despite the troubling contents, which also include abuse and a local criminal hierarchy, the narrator manages a friendly, inviting tone. In fact, the narrative feels much like a weekly blog or newspaper column, with the end of each chapter teasing what lies ahead. It even manages a good deal of optimism.

Initially, that first-person style seems playful to the extent that the narrator sounds somewhat unreliable, even implying with a Mark Twain flair that what he says might not stick with the truth. As the story unfolds, Iwan Ross reveals a unique style that captures the human tendency of not wanting to grapple with too much pain and loss at the same time. His glimpses forward keep hinting at just why he keeps giving more chances to loved ones who only seem determined to hurt him. Somehow, the narrator’s life remains vibrant amidst an atmosphere of injustice. Rather than avoiding reality, he reveals it in gradual steps as his painful life experiences make him more insightful and resourceful.

With Growing Slowly Nowhere, Iwan Ross delivers a creative work that provides both entertainment and hope to the reader. The charming style and vivid descriptions will make readers glad they joined him on a sometimes painful but never boring journey.

I posted the above review at Goodreads, BookBub, and TheStoryGraph. Read more about the author at IwanRoss.Com.

Thanks for visiting my blog! Please read about my small-town fiction collection The Acorn Stories and my free eBook Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure.