Jon Moss Reviews "The Hobbit" (Book)

Book Review by Jon Moss

Title: The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R. Tolkein
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Reviewed by: Jon Moss
Star Rating: 5 out of 5

A delightful introduction to the world of Middle Earth. Follow the adventures (or misadventures) of a respectable hobbit turned burglar, a wizard and a baker's dozen of dwarfs in their quest to slay the dragon, redeem the lost treasure and restore peace and prosperity among dwarfs, elves and men. Along the way, the young audience will learn the pitfalls and consequences of greed, pride and arrogance, tempered with a hobbit's good sense, good cheer, compassion and self-sacrifice. 

(Editor's Note: With Peter Jackson's movie The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug out in theaters since Dec. 13 and with his earlier movie based on this book, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey now available on DVD and Blu-Ray, this seemed an apt moment to publish this review from our intrepid reviewer friend, Jon Moss.)
HOBBIT MOVIE REVIEWS GLADLY ACCEPTED! 
Email to Jan S. Gephardt.

IMAGE CREDIT: Many thanks to School Library Journal's A Fuse 8 Production blog, for the classic book cover image.

Remember, No SF&F Literati Meeting in December!

SF&F Literati Meet Again January 27, 2014
Meanwhile, if you haven't started reading the January selection, get going!
Save the date:
When: January 27, 2014, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Oak Park Mall
11323 W 95th Street, Overland Park, KS 66214 
On the 2nd floor by the windows 

Book of the Evening: Ack-Ack Macaque
Author: Gareth Powell

Overview from 
Barnes & Noble:

Startling, fast-paced SF from one of the most striking new voices. A cigar-chomping monkey, nuclear-powered Zeppelins, electronic souls and a battle to avert Armageddon.

In 1944, as waves of German ninjas parachute into Kent, Britain's best hopes for victory lie with a Spitfire pilot codenamed 'Ack-Ack Macaque'. The trouble is, Ack-Ack Macaque is a cynical, one-eyed, cigar-chomping monkey, and he's starting to doubt everything, including his own existence.

A century later, in a world where France and Great Britain merged in the late 1950s and nuclear-powered Zeppelins encircle the globe, ex-journalist Victoria Valois finds herself drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the man who butchered her husband and stole her electronic soul. Meanwhile, in Paris, after taking part in an illegal break-in at a research laboratory, the heir to the British throne goes on the run.

And all the while, the doomsday clock ticks towards Armageddon.

IMAGE CREDIT: Book cover image is courtesy of Barnes & Noble Booksellers. 

KaCSFFS Meeting Postponed!

Winter Storm Cancels KaCSFFS Holiday Party!
 Due to icy conditions, the KaCSFFS meeting scheduled for 12/21/2013 is postponed.

The management of The Writers Place has advised us to postpone the meeting because "we cannot guarantee your safety on our sidewalks and in our parking lot during an ice/snow storm."

And, quite frankly, we were leaning that direction anyway.

Stay safe, everyone! And HAPPY Holidays, everyone!

IMAGE CREDIT: Thank you, Alpine Daily Planet, for the "Road Conditions" image.  It captures our situation today pretty well!