That’s What I’m Talking About reviewed Strange Soul Mates and gave it a 3.5 (B+). I’ll take it! The review touched upon the retro, Twilight-Zone vibe in the story and the unlikable character that Steven is. Check it out here.

Enter now for a chance to win a copy of Strange Soul Mates for your e-reader! Discover George Packard's terrible secret and follow Steven as he embarks on a devious and drunken mission to save his failing relationship! 

 

 

Giveaway ends 9/9/2013 and two copies are available. Enter, I say!

I read David Brin's "[b:Reality Check|12332819|Reality Check|David Brin|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1354033396s/12332819.jpg|17311878]" right before Eric Liu's "[b:Re: union|12102228|Re union (Free Science Fiction eBook Short Story)|Eric Liu|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339176280s/12102228.jpg|15277681] ". They both deal in ways with human transcendence to a virtual reality, a topic that even in 2000, when Brin's story was published, was not really innovative. Liu, in a longer story, does much the better job of humanizing the topic and the personal choices it raises. Brin's story, by contrast, is a more intellectual exercise that ends up being mildly interesting, but not exactly gripping.

I got them both for free, and they're a decent read at that price, if you're a fan of the author. If not, neither of these stories will convert you, though Liu's story might tempt you to more.

Gives new meaning to 'alternate reality' when the apocalypse strikes and the only mode of survival is to have one's consciousness 'scanned' into a simulated environment, while the physical body succumbs. Quite a good read, actually.