Hive Blog Tour: guest post, excerpt, review

Sci-fi is on tap today at Reader Girls. We are today's stop on the Hive Blog Tour hosted by Reading Addiction Blog Tours. Author Marc Davies has written a guest post on why he likes to write sci-fi and fantasy and we have an excerpt from his exciting YA novel. Don't forget to enter the giveaway.

Hive by Marc Davies
Sci-Fi/Paranormal *Publisher: Champagne Books Date Published: 8/6/12

Purchase: Amazon | Burst Books (Imprint of Champagne Books)

For centuries the Hive has waged a secret war, pitting psychic powers against the monstrous appetites of the Silencers. Now its visionary leader has an ambitious plan to tip the balance, and the conflict threatens to boil over onto the streets of modern dayLondon.

Nineteen-year-old Luke is thrust into the conflict when he foils an assassination attempt on the charismatic Dr. Jean-Paul Lysayer, a world renowned expert on telepathy. Down on his luck, and torn between an old flame and blossoming desire, the last thing Luke needs is to be used as a pawn in the eternal conflict.

But the Hive needs Luke's unique abilities, and when he uncovers evidence of a conspiracy it will take all his street-smarts to stay alive long enough to separate friend from foe.

GUEST POST
Why I love sci-fi and fantasy

Science fiction and fantasy are genres that you either get, or don’t get. They are often seen by the non-converted as childish, whimsical, or silly, best placed next to cartoons and computer games in the department store. If I had a penny for every time someone asked me why I read or write “that stuff”, I’d be rich.

So let me set the record straight. There are many reasons why I read and write these genres, but here are a few:

• Normal people read sci-fi and fantasy too. We’re not all Trek nerds making in-house jokes and speaking in Klingon. I don’t wear baseball caps inside, and I manage to shave most days. Even if I tried, I don’t think I could drop a scientific reference into every conversation. And I find needlessly pedantic behaviour as annoying as the next person. 

• I love these genres for the same reason that non-converts want to put them next to the children’s section in the department store--they allow me to unshackle my imagination from the constraints we adults unconsciously impose on ourselves. There’s nothing like the thrill I get when I stumble upon a vividly realized, detailed creation right out of someone’s imagination. Or better yet, when I create my own. My debut novel HIVE stars a number of bizarre creatures that are sure to make your jaw drop. Don’t believe me? What about glowing, semi-intelligent mushroom creatures that have caps which swim upside down in the air like jellyfish and which can record your thoughts and play them back to you? Bizarre enough for you? 

• Genre fiction is uniquely placed to explore serious topics as well as fun or amusing ones. Sometimes you have to use a far-fetched or imaginary scenario to ask those “what if” moral questions that are too hard to tackle in real life. Sci-fi and fantasy have explored issues as varied as medical ethics, artificial intelligence, euthanasia, abortion, slavery, racism, sexuality, fascism, socialism, capitalism, gender reassignment, and religion to name a few. It’s important that society continues to ask the hard questions on these issues, otherwise we may as well revert back to the dark ages. Genre fiction is a great forum to do it. 

• When the world gets you down or you’re stressed out, all you want to do is escape reality for a while. Everyone has their own method of doing this, but for me there’s no better way of escaping reality than to visit another world, time or place (even if only in your head). I think it’s fair to say no other genres have devoted themselves to this task than sci-fi and fantasy. 

• And the best one: everything that is good about other genres can be incorporated into sci-fi and fantasy! Want romance? My novel HIVE has that. Want thriller, or adventure? It has that too. Science fiction and fantasy are incredibly diverse, and you only have to look hard enough to find a book that ticks all your boxes.

About the author:

Marc Davies

Website | Facebook

Marc started writing as a teenager, and has always been obsessed with science fiction and fantasy. He has a soft spot for books with fast plots, unusual characters and twisted humor. The more unusual, the better. He predominantly reads sci-fi and fantasy, depending on mood.

Marc is an active member of several writers groups, including the Online Workshop for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror, and maintains a blog at www.marcdavies.net. He lives in an old house owned by a Golden Retriever and a Labrador, with a mountain of books, an impressive collection of half-finished wine bottles, and the occasional ball of drifting dog hair.

Review:

Science fiction is one genre I should read more of. Signing up for this tour helped me begin that need. Marc Davies literally tosses the reader into the engrossing opening scene where we're meeting teen Luke and watching him in action as he tries to stop the murder of someone. His reaction suddenly casts him into the fray of a longtime battle between fighting factions and because his special talent of telepathy is then discovered, is just the beginning of a story full of mystery, intrigue, creepy aliens, and lots more action. With the author's steady eye for detail and nuances of conflict and characterization, my interest remained steadfast throughout my reading. I liked Luke and telepathy is not something I frequently read about in YA (and it's a fascinating ability.) 

The setting of London was definitely cool but I did have some moments when I didn't fully comprehend the English lingo. Otherwise, the fast pace, the gripping action and likable characters kept me reading late into the evening. The world Davies created in Hive is unique, fully realized, and one I wouldn't mind visiting again if this became a series.

Rating: 3

Cover comment: Kind of cool

Book source: I received a promotional ebook in return for my honest review during a book tour.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

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