Review: Hullmetal Girls

Posted on by

This is a book that did the impossible: it made me wish my metro ride was longer so I could keep reading. Twice.

Hullmetal Girls by Emily Skrutskie is the sort of book that I’ve been wanting for ages. Two young women undergo a literally life changing procedure that turns them into mechanically enhanced soldiers who aren’t exactly human anymore, each for their own reasons. Aisha Un-Haad volunteers for the procedure in a last ditch attempt to help her family while Key Tanaka has nothing but a blank space in her memory when she tries to remember why she would give up her life of privilege to become a Scela especially since many don’t survive the modification process. Aisha, Key, and the two other members of their squad have to learn not only how to live in their new bodies but also how to work together. If they excel, a top placement would mean that Aisha’s siblings wouldn’t have to worry about money. If they fail… To make matters more complicated, there’s a rebellion brewing in the fleet and Aisha and Key find themselves swept up in it, whether they want to or not. Continue reading →

Review: Kill the Farm Boy

Posted on by

A sense of humor is mandatory for reading this book.

Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne is delightfully absurd and laughs in the face of how one would usually expect a Chosen One fantasy story to go. Every last trope is engaged with in a way that flips it on its head and makes it hard for readers not to laugh out loud. (Unless you hate puns. Don’t hate puns when you read this book.) When Staph the Pixie tells the farm boy Worstly that he’s the Chosen One and also makes his goat talk, Worstly does what any Chosen One would do and finds a quest. But when his quest doesn’t go quite as planned, it’s up to a motley crew to try make things right and save both him and an entire enchanted castle worth of people. Continue reading →

Holonet Blast #67

Posted on by

Lando’s not a system, he’s a character in Star Wars  Episode IX.

At least, that’s the rumor that sent shock waves through Star Wars twitter this week when The Hollywood Reporter… well… reported that the one and only William December Williams will be back in the galaxy far, far away next year (and, it’s only fair to note that Fantha Tracks had this rumor nearly a month ago). Normally, we take rumors like this with a grain of salt, but when the second unit director of the movie itself tweets about it, well, that feels like a confirmation to me.

Lando isn’t the only returning fan-favorite we heard about this week, as StarWars.com and Del Rey Publishing released a new excerpt of the upcoming Thrawn: Alliances featuring the one and only Senator Padmé Amidala (not to mention a fantastic poster of her that will be featured in the Barnes & Noble edition of the book). Alliances is due out next week and, based on this excerpt, it seems like Padmé will be a major character in the flashback portions of the book, the first time we’ve seen her in a big role since Disney took over the franchise.

Speaking of the Clone Wars era, StarWars.com also announced the panelists on this week’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars 10th anniversary panel at San DIego Comic-Con, including showrunner and hat aficionado Dave Filoni, composer Kevin Kiner, producer Athena Portillo, and a few familiar voices from the cast. In other Star Wars animation news, the fourth and final season of Star Wars Rebels was nominated for three Emmys this week, including Outstanding Children’s Program. (You know what would have been more outstanding? If KANAN DIDN’T DIE -Kate)

Finally, the whole bunch of book and merchandise news rounded out a surprisingly busy week in Star Wars, led by the announcement of Star Wars: Droidography, a deep dive into everyone’s favorite mechanical characters told from the perspective of LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures’s Roger. Hasbro announced their San Diego Comic-Con exclusives (porgs!), EA announced what’s coming up for the Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes mobile game, and Fantasy Flight Games released one expansion set for Star Wars: Legion and announced two more. (Side note: if any readers in the Washington, DC area play Legion… let me know. I need more friends.)

That’s (finally) it for this week! Be good to each other, drive trolls off Twitter, and as always, may the Force be with you.

TSR #193: Down with Hyphens and Underscores

Posted on by


Logo

Download

This week on TSR: We say good riddance to hyphens and underscores, Indiana Jones will wait another year, an old scoundrel returns for Episode XI, and ants with wasps. 

TSR is the flagship show of the Tosche Station Network. If you like what you hear, subscribe and leave a review on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play. For more great shows from us, you can also subscribe to the Tosche Station Network mega feed on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play. We can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Nanci and Brian are the co-founders of ToscheStation.net and the Tosche Station Network. You can find Nanci on Twitter with the handle @Nancipants and you can find Brian with @LaneWinree.

This podcast has been brought to you in part by your support on Patreon!

Vongcast Episode #6 – Balance Point by Kathy Tyers

Posted on by

Logo

 Download

All hands, tentacles, and claws on deck! The Vongcast is back with their next episode as Rocky, Megan, and Bria discuss Balance Point by Kathy Tyers.

You can find Megan on Twitter with the handle @blogfullofwords,  Rocky with @ladydarthcaedus, and Bria with @chaosbria. This podcast has been brought to you in part by your support on Patreon!  If you like what you hear, you can subscribe to the Tosche Station Radio Megafeed for more episodes and all of our network’s great Star Wars and geek culture content. We can also be found on Facebook and Twitter. 

The Mouse Droid #6: Personal Park Challenges

Posted on by

Download

This month on The Mouse Droid, we catch up on the news, talk about Parkeology and personal park challenges, and answer some questions from listeners.

Brian on Twitter: @lanewinree

Nanci on Twitter: @nancipants

The Mouse Droid on Twitter: @mousedroidshow

The Tosche Station Network on Twitter: @Tosche_Station

Email

The Mouse Droid is a part of the Tosche Station Podcast Network. If you like what you hear, subscribe and leave a review on iTunes and Google Play. For more great shows from us, you can also subscribe to the Tosche Station Network mega feed on iTunes and Google Play. 

Brian and Nanci are the co-founders and writers of ToscheStation.net and The Mouse Droid.

This podcast has been brought to you in part by your support on Patreon!

Logo art provided by Heath Williams.

Book Wars Pod, Episode 55: *THE CHILD Intensifies*

Posted on by


Download

This week, we’re continuing our journey through CATALYST by James Luceno! Join us as we discuss kyber crystal lore, how the gems should be used, and the beginnings of the Empire’s totalitarian rule. Plus, even more Imperial mining projects!

This podcast covers chapters 15-21 and is NOT spoiler-free. It also mentions plot points from Rogue One and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. 

Book Wars Pod explores the Star Wars universe through the franchise’s non-screen media: the canon novels, comics, and video games. Check out our guide to past episodes, and subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and wherever else you cast your pods. You can also subscribe to the Tosche Station Radio Mega Feed on iTunes or Google Play for more great shows from our podcast network.

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr for episode updates! Hosted by Kristen Sereci, Chris Sedor, and Kate Sedor. Art by Joe Butera. Music by Podington Bear.

This podcast has been brought to you in part by your support on Patreon!

The Most Dangerous Game? Reading Jay Schiffman’s Game of the Gods

Posted on by

A judge who has lost faith in his government. An uneasy global political climate. A world on the brink of all-out war.

Jay Schiffman’s debut novel, Game of the Gods, has all the ingredients to be the action-packed, sci-fi political thriller for our times. Wrestling with huge, fascinating themes, the story pits religion against science, individual against country, and one man against a prediction that he will destroy the world.

In the Earth’s far future, Max Cone is the High Judge of the Federacy, one of the nations carved out of the post-apocalyptic wasteland that was once North America. A former war hero and current arbiter of Federacy citizenship, Max is renowned for, well, being a really good guy–honest, responsible, and strong of both body and morals. All of his best qualities are tested, however, when he is drawn into a global conflict in the most personal way possible: His family is kidnapped by foreign government, propelling him on a revenge tour that takes him through nations run by rogue military factions, independent cartels, and a mysterious pope-like figure who is not as holy as he seems. Continue reading →

Holonet Blast #66

Posted on by

Commander Cody… Execute Holonet Blast #66

Hilariously enough, there’s uhhh basically no news this week? I mean, we’ve got a new URL which is news for us. (Look Ma! No hyphen!) Aside from that though… There ain’t much. (And no, we’re not counting that Resistance art or the Keri rumor as news because… they’re not.)

What we do have though is the announcement of the Star Wars Fan Awards! Lucasfilm announced this week that they are expanding their traditional fan film awards to also include categories for Photos and Visual Art.

Aside from that… yeah, I’ve got nothing so please enjoy this picture of John Boyega on a horse.

Happy Sunday ❤

A post shared by John Boyega (@johnboyega) on

Vorkosicast Episode #6: Brothers in Arms

Posted on by

Logo

Download

This month on the Vorkosicast, Robin and Nanci discuss Brothers in Arms, the sixth book in the Vorkosigan saga.

This podcast has been brought to you in part by your support on Patreon!  If you like what you hear, you can subscribe to the Tosche Station Book Club on iTunes or you can subscribe to the Tosche Station Radio Megafeed for all of our great Star Wars and geek culture content. We can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.