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Star Wars: Thrawn

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Star Wars: Thrawn
Author: Timothy Zahn
Format: Adult Fiction
Who it’s for: Adults

Our novel begins with the discovery of an alien, unknown except to legend and myth, a Chiss. Agents of the Empire find themselves completely outmatched by the strategy and capabilities of a single castaway, leading to him making his way into the ranks of the Empire in short order. Thrawn is a character well known to fans of the Star Wars universe, a book series in the 90’s. He takes a page from characters such as Honor Harrington and Horatio Hornblower in that the future Grand Admiral is not a character of great action, but more of plans and tactics. He possesses the keen gift of being able to analyze a society through it’s artistry, giving insight on tactics and processes of his opponents. The novel details the beginning of his imperial career and his feats of prowess, while dragging Ensign Eli Vanto along for the ride becoming one of the only ones capable of understanding and learning the intriguing man’s ways. Interestingly though he is an antagonist in other novels and in the Star Wars Rebels tv series, the books show that he lacks the cruelty and ambition of other Star Wars villains, instead doing the minimum to ensure victory and going out of his way to minimize losses. Thrawn is a fascinating character and the other two novels in the trilogy show an adventure of his and Darth Vader while exploring their shared past, and the third bringing involvement of his species into the fray where he’s pulled on opposite sides of his loyalty. I think if you’re looking to get into the newer Star Wars materials, Thrawn is a fantastic place to start and gives a look at the Empire and all of the background struggles between characters and politics of the setting.

Find it in the catalog.

The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas

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Twilight Zone Radio Dramas
Hoopla Audion
For Teens and Adults

Over the past month or so, I’ve been hooked on The Twilight Zone “Radio Dramas” a radio series featuring adaptations of actual episodes of the classic TV series The Twilight Zone.  The stories are often expanded and updated to reflect twenty-first century technology and society, but the scripts remain fairly close to the original television broadcast. All 29 volumes are available for instant download with Hoopla Digital.  These are indeed top-notch productions featuring voice performances from some notable celebrities. Its like listening to some old-time radio theater complete with the thrill and all the spooky feels.  If you’re into audio dramas, these might be worth a listen.

Find yourself in The Twilight Zone on Hoopla Digital.

The Late Show

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The Late Show by Michael Connelly
Overdrive Audiobook
Narrated by Katherine Moennig
Who it’s for:  Adults

Fans of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch Mysteries, will love this book.  The Late Show is the first in Connelly’s new series called the Renee Ballard Novels.

After filing a sexual harassment complaint against her supervisor, LAPD Detective Renee Ballard has been reassigned to the night shift.  Protocol requires her to give her cases to the day shift each morning.  But two new cases, the death of a young woman in a nightclub and the brutal beating of a prostitute left for dead in parking lot, have her so intrigued she refuses to pass them on.

While secretly searching for justice for these two victims, against her partner’s wishes and department orders, Renee Ballard finds her courage, determination, and intuition tested.  Her career and her life are on the line.  As fear mounts and the cases become more intriguing, Harry Bosch, who never seems too far removed from the most notorious cases of the LAPD, steps in to assist.
Find it on Overdrive

The Institute

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The Institute by Stephen King
Format:  Audio Book on CD
Who it’s for:  Adults

Stephen King fans will be happy to hear he has a new audio book for your listening pleasures!

The story opens with Tim Jamieson surrendering his seat on the Delta flight from Tampa to New York for a refund and a hefty sum of money, so a federal officer could make the flight.  We follow Tim on his slow journey north, at least as far as South Carolina where he takes a job in the small police department as a Night Knocker.

The story then jumps to the outrageous kidnapping of Luke Ellis, a very intelligent 12-year-old boy, and the murder of his parents in their room down the hall.  Luke is loaded into the back of an SUV and eventually wakes up thinking he is still in his bedroom, except there isn’t a window.  He finds several other kids, each of whom have some very special talents.  Some with telekinesis and others with telepathy.  Luke learns the ropes from these other kids who got there in the same manner he did.  He discovers that you need to “go along to get along”.  If you do, you get tokens that allow you to purchase items from the vending machines.  Such as snacks, drinks, cigarettes, and even some brownies with a special ingredient.  If you don’t go along, you are punished brutally.

You’ll have to listen to find out how the character of Tim Jamieson comes into play with the other characters at “The Institute”.

Find it in the catalog

The Last Namsara

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The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli
Format : Book
Who it’s for: Teens

This fast paced, world building novel draws you in at the very start of the story. We meet Asha, an Iskari and the most feared dragon slayer in Firgaard. Between chapters, the author lays out the deep history and myth of the world, explaining not only Asha’s backstory but that of the belief system of the characters who inhabit the world. Ciccarelli does a wonderful job of keeping these sub-chapters short to the point and immensely enjoyable.

Asha has the ability to give dragons their fire, which is poisonous, by telling them the Old stories. Such stories were banned generations ago when the dragons betrayed the inhabitants of Figaard. Yet Asha uses these stories to lure and kill the dragons, presenting their heads to her father, the Dragon King of Figaard. Though she is greatly feared, she is betrothed to the sadistic commandant, who has little regard for her prowess. Only by defeating the most powerful dragon, the one who scorched the side of her face with his fire, can Asha find her freedom. In her quest, she discovers there is far more truth in the ancient stories than she ever dreamed.

Find it in the catalog.

Claymates

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Claymates by Dev Petty, Illustrated by Lauren Eldridge
Format:  Book
Who it’s for:  Children

This fun children’s book is recommended for younger children.  It is also available as a VOX book, which means that a headphone can be plugged in to it so the child can listen as it is read to them or listen with others without headphones.

Two balls of clay, with eyes, are transformed by the artist into a gray wolf and a brown owl.  The sculptor spends a lot of time creating them to be just perfect and then she leaves the room.  It isn’t long until the two creatures become friends and then they start goofing off.  They stretch and pull at themselves to become many other different critters.  They look totally weird, with lots of sculptor’s tools sticking out of them.  Suddenly they hear the artist returning.  Oh, no!  What will they do?  They try to fix themselves but they just can’t.  Find out what happens next to these two  crazy claymates.  Find it in our catalog.