Book Reviews

  Book Review: "Soleri" by G.R. Holton
There is nothing better that the world being graced with a new author to bath our senses in stories of mind expanding fiction. And, we have all been blessed with just that as a wonderful new storyteller, G.R. Holton, has made his appearance to all of us. Holton's first book, the colorful science fiction yarn, "Soleri", is a book all of us should pick up. It is simply, a fun ride. Soleri delivers a fascinating mixture of science fiction, adventure, family and an extraordinary set of circumstances that I beleive most of us secretly want to have happen to us - an accident of sorts that catapults us to another world and everything that experience would have to offer. It deals with old school noir where cultures mix, meld and find solutions. It is a story of pure imagination. For anyone who enjoys fantastic stories of outer space, other planets or the possibility of alien encounters, then Soleri is a book to add to your collection. It's simply good clean writing. Beware the science fiction literary world. G.R. Holton is here and it is a name that we shall all grow to know - and us all the better for it.

Derek K. Milton
(Director, Writer, & Producer of the up and coming supernatural feature film, "Death Keeps Coming")

I have read two of G.R. Holton's books Journey to the Edge and Soleri. I am looking forward to reading Guardian's Alliance. His writing is easy reading for all ages and enjoyable for them also. So if you enjoy Science Fiction about space travel and other planets, you need to read his books. Thanks so much.  Heidi Coates

When the universe expands, so do the opportunities for evil. "Guardian's Alliance" tells the story of the Guardian's Alliance, a unity of planets throughout the Heledrium galaxy who unite to fight the piracy and cruelty that reek throughout the lawless outer space. A fun science fiction adventure, "Guardian's Alliance" is a fine read, well worth considering for science fiction fans. Also from G. R. Holton in Science Fiction and in his Heledrium universe, are "Soleri", and "Journey to the Edge". Midwest Book Review

“Soleri” is a wonderful science fiction adventure into the unknown universe around us. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and  I look forward to reading other adventures from G.R. Holton. “Soleri” kept your attention from beginning to end at the suspense and imagination take over. Just imagine the possibilities an author can have with the vast universe as his starting point! I know G.R. Holton will continue to stun us with his wonderful and quite literally out of this world stories. Stephanie Martin

I work In retail and do not have a lot of time to read. Yet I highly recommend Guardian's Alliance. Not only is it a truly well written and imaginative book. It is also an entertaining and fun adventure. The planets are well defined as well as the characters. I enjoyed reading this book very much and highly recommend it. Tim Ahrens Author.

 Squazles

Author G. R. Holton

Reviewed by Fran Lewis

Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone got along and no one judged people by their appearances or the way they look? Wouldn’t it be great if everyone realized that your outer cover or appearances help to tell you apart from everyone else so that we can put a name to your special face it does not define who you are inside? Meet Jordan and Turlo and enter a special land called Squazleland and learn the true meaning of understanding, what dreams are made of and friendship.

Jordan hears a noise coming from under her bed and is afraid. Wouldn’t you be if you heard a noise and saw three purple spiders? One of them comes right up to her and tells her he’s afraid of the big furries. She tells him she’s afraid of him. How would you feel if there was a whole other place right under your bed filled with great things to see, beautiful houses, unusual creatures and a special machine where wonderful dreams are made? Imagine how exciting that would be and right under your own bed. Jordan is amazed and Turlo wants to be her friend so he invites her to come and visit his home. But, she doesn’t know how she can do that being because she’s too big. But, this is a special story and magic that is good magic can make wonderful things happen.

Close your eyes and come with Jordan and me and enter a land so beautiful you might never want to leave. Imagine a place with pink castles; trees, bushed and a factory where dreams are made and special characters come out of the smoke stacks. What a wonderful place filled with some many special and amazing things to see? But, what is really endearing and special is the friendship and bond that is formed by one little girl named Jordan and one special Squazle Prince named Turlo.

Jordan is invited to visit the factory where dreams are made and what she sees you won’t believe and the amazing things she does so fantastic. Riding on a special Ferris Wheel and watching the Squazle children fly their colored kites and the seeing the beautifully colored houses and much more. But, the ending will definitely make you smile as one little girl and one special Prince learn many of life’s lessons. I can’t tell you how she returns or how she gets back to normal size. I can’t tell you anymore about this magical place because it’s a special place and you have to find out all about it yourself.  Creatures that are purple and orange with six arms are and one little girl with only two who teaches the Prince not to judge a creature or furry by its cover. One little girl who learns that friendships come when you really try hard and understanding differences is one way to start.

With drawings are that really outstanding, colorful and help the reader young or old to fall in love with the characters, illustrator Michelle Izmaylov really gave the book that special added touch. The faces of the characters are very expressive and the colorful pictures and places really bring the story to life for young readers.

So, what happens to Turlo and Jordan? Will they see past their differences and become friends? Will she want to return to see more of this special place? Will Turlo become friends with the Furries and realize they won’t hurt him?

You have to read this Five Squazle Book to find out and let’s hope Jordan and her friends will come back for more adventures and bring more kids to this special place to learn the true meaning of friendship.

Would you like to visit and see how dreams are made? I would and hope that Turlo will invite this reviewer to get a closer look at this special place.

This is a great book to teach children how to deal with differences in appearance, friendship, fears and understanding. Teachers can use this during story time lessons, character education and guidance counselors when kids need to learn how to get along with others. Great book for parents to read at bedtime and imagine if writing teachers had kids create their own special dreams for Turlo to create and have come out of his special smoke stack. What would your dream be and what would you like to see coming out of the stack for you? Read the book and you definitely will love it as much as I did.

Fran Lewis: reviewer

Deep Screams

Author: G.R. Holton

Reviewed by Fran Lewis

Everyone needs a safe place to live. But, what would happen if the Earth as we know it was no longer inhabitable, too overcrowded and our daily existence questioned? What would happen if groups of people were chosen to find another place or another Earth for people to live? What would happen if the places they found were dangerous, deadly and would put lives at risk? The crew of Omega Space Station and her crew have been commissioned to find another planet to replace Earth. Able to reconcile their differences they set off on this task hoping to find a replacement for Earth. But, what they find will forever rock the inner core of their ship and when they finally land you won’t believe what happens as author G.R. Holton takes Science Fiction to a whole other level. 

 As the team prepares to go out of their Solar System and make history the Commander gets married, the probe brings in little in the way of life forms and the crew seems to be in getting themselves in place but then something strange happens after being on their mission for over 6 years. The head navigator Chou sees a strange cloud out in space about to overtake the ship. Sending one of their engineers to repair it should have been routine. But, this is space and what is found out there is not what you would have found 100 years of years before. As engineer David Simpkons makes the repairs the red cloud envelopes him preventing him from being able to reboard the ship into safety. When he does he is covered with red dust and particles that for some reason are not totally removed upon reentry. Resuming his duties a strong headache overtakes him and the events that follow alert the Commander and the Doctor that something serious is wrong with David. When the doctor does his primary exam a red particle falls on him causing him to fall prey to some of the same symptoms as David. David goes to his quarters, begins to see things, screams deep within him and the end result is horrific, as one man cannot control his actions and takes his own life. When the suicide comes to light we begin to realize that something dangerous and awful, namely spores imbedded themselves within his brain and the horrors and screams have just begun. There is much more that remains to be seen as the Doctor too just might fall prey to this too.  

As the Commander tries to assess what is really happening one man goes on a murderous rampage. The spores infected his brain, delusional, demented and dangerous the Doctor cannot be stopped as the spores overtake his mind and body and the end result you won’t believe the deep and loud screams that went unheard. When the coalition finally realizes that something is wrong and the Omega Station is running on autopilot what will be their next move? Should they send more people to investigate? Should they send another crew? What happens next you have to read for yourself and the events that transpired before are so graphically depicted, violently explained that you feel as if you are there with the victims and can see the evil face and hear the shrilling laugh of one sick doctor. But, the spirits of one man named Simpkons and one Doctor just might haunt this ship forever.  

Then it is decided to send another crew from the Argo to investigate what happened to the crew on the Omega Station and hopefully get it back on track. As the crew is assembled and you meet the new cast you learn much about them but they have no idea what they are about to encounter. Meeting the new crew you learn about the relationship between the Commander and the Doctor. You also learn that there is no love lost between the Commander and his new Captain. But will their past relationship hamper their mission? Why is this being kept a secret and what will the end result be?  

The crew is ready the training completed and the mental and physical exams prove everyone fit. The weapon’s training is done and all qualify and the next step is to begin the mission. Only the navigator and the commander remain awake the first nine months of the mission while the rest are asleep in stasis chambers the doctor awakened first. Next Kellog and Saunders when a problem is realized and they are headed for an asteroid belt. Will they survive and go through it or lose more time and go around? As the decisions are made, the General informed they begin to bear down and hopefully will make it through. But, in the back we learn more about Dr. Piers and the Commander and the relationship they hope to rekindle when all is said and done.  

When the team that is awake finally gets past the asteroid and the rest of the crew is awakened the next step is to find Omega. Assessments and calculations must be made and there is no room for error as the crew and both teams work together to get the job done and hopefully find the missing crew. But several things go wrong and one Corporal is injured but for the most part the mission seems to be going well but they have yet to find out what really happened to the crew and as the title states there are many more Deep Screams that will be heard.  

Author G.R. Holton takes the reader on a ride in space filled with bumps, the unexpected, space exploration and the feeling that you are right there with these men and women trying to find this missing crew and hopefully a new home for humans to inhabit. The author also brings to light what happens when two men put aside their differences to work together for the common good. Protocols followed, procedures outlined and one Commander Named Derrick on the line for the entire mission. What will be the fate of this second crew? What will happen when they learn the truth and will the ghost of the doctor haunt them? Is Vlasizk really dead? What about Simpkon’s spirit?  

When the connections are made and they find Omega the site they behold will stay with them forever. But, there is no time for remorse, reflection or dealing with the deaths in an emotional way as one young Specialist fall apart for a short time, and the rest of the crew rally around to get the jobs done. The General states that the Earth Coalition wants the crew of the Argo to become the new crew of the Omega and continue the mission to find a new planets for humans and they will remain in space for at least 15 years in order to get the job done. One general that seems to be more concerned with the mission than the crew and leaves no room for questioning his authority or his command as the Commander of the new Omega and the Captain and his security team take on different roles.  

The vision of the dead is nothing compared to what the author has in store for the Omega crew or is it those deceased whose work has not been completed and whose message to the new crew, well they have their own way of transmitting. As Specialist/Navigator Kellog needs some rest, the Commander is returning to his quarters and Lieutenant Saunders about to retire for the night, each experiences a different kind of coldness, apparition or strange feeling. But, what about Nurse Long? Who locked her in the refrigerator and would not let her out? Just what or who has taken over the Omega just when they think they might have found a new planet? The end is definitely close at hand but the result and what happens just might make astronauts think twice about signing up for another mission.  

As the mission continues some see things, others experience dangerous situations and two spirits will not rest. One needs to be sent off into space and the other has taken over more than just the ship. What happens as the end you just won’t believe as the haunting continue, the strange occurrences frightening and the Deep Screams: Well: You decide if the danger is over. Author G. R. Holton brings a touch of Star Wars, Star Trek, Babylon 5 and his own brand of Science Fiction in this unique novel that will make the reader wonder: Just what is in outer space and do you we really want to find out? Will the Omega crew survive?  How they try to solve the problem and rid themselves of the spirits? I can’t tell you that! You need to read if for yourself. Will they ever finish their mission? Paranormal or Para Evil?  What’s next? Only the author knows that and he is keeping the next mission a secret! World Castle: You have a definite winner here!

Fran Lewis: Reviewer

Wonderful Read / A Lesson That We Should All Abide By!!, January 27, 2012

Squazles is a wonderful, entertaining story any child would enjoy! I truly admire the neat concept and how the author conveyed his worthy message. Your child will want you to read it over and over again. Holton has a unique and wonderful way of portraying each character. Not only does the book cover catch one's eye, but the illustrations within the book are bright grasping your attention. The story is very well written with a message we should all abide by. Thank you G R Holton!

Review for Deep Screams

4.5 Stars

I'm not really a Sci-Fi fan, but this book was good enough to convert me. Based in deep space aboard an amazing ship.... suddenly and without expectation... things go very very wrong. Well written and obviously researched. Author G.R. Holton writes professionally and captivatingly. Drawing you into his alien-like setting, intoducing you to some very realistic characters, and also giving you the creeps! Great book! I suggest you read it!All these reviews are my own honest opinions. By: Book Lovers United