The Origin of the Exiled Rogue 2^nd volume of a trilogy published copyright and written by Sandeep Adana.

This volume opens with acknowledgements followed immediately by “About the Author” explaining that he is the “Amazon #1 Bestselling Author of ‘The Codes of the Exiled Rogue’” and that “he nurtured this metaphysical and transformational fiction idea for over six years before finally publishing it in 2019.” A Prologue offers that the tale is based in the year 2038 and follows the characters introduced in the first volume from the end of that book. Further, for those readers for whom this is the first they have read of the series: “When the truth was revealed to Aurora, Tristan and Sid, it brought with it a bigger confession of a larger reality, which will form the foundation for this part. The codes guided The Host, Matthew and Zhang Wei to share truths, who made it their life’s purpose to do so with all those who were ready to receive it.” This volume then opens with Chapter 25 on August 1st, 2039: Mid-levels, Hong Kong.

The story teller comes awake in a strange but beautiful place, starts walking, and sees a male sitting on a bench. They lock eyes and the man speaks through mental telepathy. He is there to welcome this newcomer because no one else is. He informs the new arrival that they don’t use speech in this place, have no concept of time and there is no day or night, birth or death, no gender or identity. Everyone is alone here but are a connected kinfolk that manifest randomly and disappear. You can communicate with anyone or no one as you choose. We don’t know where we came from. The ground speaks to you, the wind whispers, plants and flowers murmur secrets. You become acclimated eventually. Go anywhere you want, choose what you want to do and when. The planet ensures your survival; you just leave it to her.

From this initial introduction, the reader is taken to Hong Kong in 2039 where close friends Zhang Wei and Matthew, characters apparently from the first volume in the series, are introduced and we gradually discover that The Host, who was the newcomer in the previous exchanges, now is the disseminator of a dimension of knowledge on Planet Earth they had not previously seen when considering and discussing life’s existence and problems therein. His mission was to provide groups with aspects of life from a less toxic viewpoint than he had encountered on the previous Planet Mother that seemingly were established to confuse and divide the ordinary people and establish power by bigotry. The plot continues with shifts from Earth back to Planet Mother and introduces additional characters of Tristan, Sid and Aurora who also were carry overs from the first volume, more groups are established, and the importance of the existence of love in the world of Earth is brought forth. Eventually, to fulfill a prophecy, The Host must return to Planet Mother where he prepares to leave to fulfill the prophecy of which he was unaware that he had been designated as its principle player. The enactment of the prophecy is assumed to be the subject of the next volume.

Discussion: Of most prominent importance – this is NOT a book that ‘can stand alone’. It is most strongly recommended that one read the first book in this series before continuing with the others. However, with respect to this volume. Once a reader becomes oriented into the subject of the matter presented, he/she will discover a thoroughly interesting metaphysical discussion that offers a fascinating concept of ‘what happens after death’. The main flaw encountered is the author’s explanation of the ‘thought processes’ manifested by descriptions and statements provided by individuals in the latter part of this volume versus the description of reasons The Host left Planet Mother in the first place; i.e. “His mission was to provide groups with aspects of life from a less toxic viewpoint than he had encountered on the previous Planet Mother that seemingly were being established to confuse and divide the ordinary people and establish power by bigotry” [from 3^rd paragraph. above]. Reappearance of The Host on Earth planet is another point of interest that perhaps could use a little further explanation. But to reiterate, this reviewer’s comments must be considered from the perspective of a reader whose introduction to the series is the 2^nd volume.

3* Fascinating metaphysical discussion; rating explained in discussion.

Loose Threads: Cool Assassins in ISBN: 9780994070807 Creator/Distributor: Psignologic Services copyright written by J. O. Quantaman.

This story follows a number of members of the “Cool Assassins Series” – Cool Assassins 1. Hot Wheels: Cool Assassins 2 (in 2019. Soar Down: Cool Assassins 1 & 2 (in 2019)’ with a Cast List of members of the Dog Breakfast Co-op, an organization composed of seemingly well-trained martial arts specialists established to fight underworld organizations such as the Japanese Yakuza; Mishima Security members for the area, and others. The world described is an intergalactic one containing earth, as well as other parts of the all-encompassing universe. The story opens with a young girl, Jenna Marov whose love of adventure and amazing acrobatic ability leads her to a professional life as an aerialist and fearing burn-out, a move to Kuala Lumpur 17 years later. However, the main plot centers on Nyssa Person, a teen enticed into acting but eventually arriving under the control of a powerful Yakuza overlord from whom she escapes with aid from the Dog Breakfast Co-op, which as described above, but also is a well-organized training facility producing assassins loosed upon members of organizations such as the one from which she had been rescued. She joins the Co-op and begins training and continues for several months before earning an R&R trip to the nearby metropolis, TCP, a large city complex, with its residents and/or workers, endless shops and entertainment. Here she becomes involved with several ensuing adventures. In a somewhat unexpected manner, the reader encounters a second plot that one eventually learns involves Nyssa, in ninja-like activity that seemingly occurs a few years later. The tale continues with more varied activity.

Discussion: This is a sci-fi story set in 2073 and years following. It is a tale that no doubt will find readers who are devotees of the genre who will enjoy the tale as long as they understand that sexual innuendo and/or activity, whether intersexual or within the same sex and loose language are basic to the presentation. There also are numerous ‘new’ words for which the author has furnished a glossary. Regrettably, this reader found that although several of the characters were interestingly described, as well as some of the scenes, the action and individuals involved were combined in a quite confusing manner that provided frustrating moments that detracted greatly from any flow of enjoyment.

3* or less for this reader who prefers to enjoy rather than search for clarity.

SLAM DUNK The true Story of Basketball’s First Olympic Gold Medal Team assumed published, copyright and written by Beth Fortenberry,

The book’s format is a bit unusual in that directly upon opening it, the reader is presented with a note from Carter DeHaven, producer of ‘Hoosiers’, stating “Soon to be a major motion picture”; then the book title/author pages; a picture of Joe Fortenberry, the Slam Dunk originator, finishing such a shot in the 1936 Olympics; a dedication page; Table of Contents; Praise of Slam Dunk by DeHaven; acknowledgements; and ultimately a prologue followed with 32 chapters and abundant reference material. The narrative describes and follows the life of James Naismith, the husky young Canadian-American graduate theologian, who invented the game while attempting to devise a game to keep athletes fit while in the employ of Dr. Luther Gulick who was charged with preparing teachers-in-training so they could be instructors and coaches in the Y.M.C.A.’s throughout the world. From this simple beginning in the late 1800’s the story unfolds the early beginnings of this game, the people who played and developed it, and how it was brought into the 1936 Olympics. Here, the group that included some prominent Jewish team members, along with the thrilling field athletics’ black Jesse Owens, walked off with their respective golds to effectively destroy Adolf Hitler’s desire to demonstrate to the world the supremacy of the Aryan race.

Discussion: The author has provided a gold mine for readers interested in the historical background of sports. Not only has she disclosed little known facts about the origin of basketball and details of the players involved in these early endeavors – Fortenberry, “Tex” Gibbons, ball hawk Francis Johnson, Sam Balter, the first of the Jews on the Olympic team and others, but has included largely unknown or often overlooked features of prominent people associated with the Olympics and other sports; e.g. coach Jimmy Needles, Phog Allen, Gene Johnson, the mercurial Olympic politician Avery Brundage, Maude Sherman Naismith organizer of the first women’s basketball team as well as earlier having devised the first usable football helmet noted by Amos Alonzo Stagg (the legendary football player/coach long association with the Y.M.C.A.). The descriptions of Hitler and Goebbels activities and that of the German people of the era are most appropriately portrayed. In all, this is an interesting book and must read for sports aficionados.

5* Interesting for all; a must read for sports enthusiasts.