This work of ecofiction follows the adventures of Andrew who teams up with Ham, an alien from a vastly advanced civilization who assumes the guise of a housecat. They first meet when Ham makes a detour to Earth to enlist Andrew's help to rid his Mothership of a dangerous creature that has hitchhiked on board. This mission requires Andrew to travel back to ancient Egypt with Ham. As a practice run, the pair travel forward in time to 2099 only to find that Earth is imperilled by plastic pollution. Andrew realises that before he can assist Ham and the Mother apprehend the creature, he needs their help to save his own planet Earth from a disaster of mankind’s own making.

This work of ecofiction follows the adventures of Andrew who teams up with Ham, an alien from a vastly advanced civilization who assumes the guise of a housecat. They first meet when Ham makes a detour to Earth to enlist Andrew's help to rid his Mothership of a dangerous creature that has hitchhiked on board. This mission requires Andrew to travel back to ancient Egypt with Ham. As a practice run, the pair travel forward in time to 2099 only to find that Earth is imperilled by plastic pollution. Andrew realises that before he can assist Ham and the Mother apprehend the creature, he needs their help to save his own planet Earth from a disaster of mankind's own making.

Winner of the Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize A New York Times Notable Book of the Year Winner of the Whiting Writers' Award A Seattle Post-Intelligencer Best Book of the Year Catfish and Mandala is the story of an American odyssey--a solo bicycle voyage around the Pacific Rim to Vietnam--made by a young Vietnamese-American man in pursuit of both his adopted homeland and his forsaken fatherland. Andrew X. Pham was born in Vietnam and raised in California. His father had been a POW of the Vietcong; his family came to America as "boat people." Following the suicide of his sister, Pham quit his job, sold all of his possessions, and embarked on a year-long bicycle journey that took him through the Mexican desert, around a thousand-mile loop from Narita to Kyoto in Japan; and, after five months and 2,357 miles, to Saigon, where he finds "nothing familiar in the bombed-out darkness." In Vietnam, he's taken for Japanese or Korean by his countrymen, except, of course, by his relatives, who doubt that as a Vietnamese he has the stamina to complete his journey ("Only Westerners can do it"); and in the United States he's considered anything but American. A vibrant, picaresque memoir written with narrative flair and an eye-opening sense of adventure, Catfish and Mandala is an unforgettable search for cultural identity.

One of the Ten Best Books of the Year, Washington Post Book World One of the Los Angeles Times’ Favorite Books of the Year One of the Top Ten National Books of 2008, Portland Oregonian A 2009 Honor Book of the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association “Few books have combined the historical scope and the literary skill to give the ­foreign reader a sense of events from a Vietnamese perspective. . . . Now we can add Andrew Pham’s Eaves of Heaven to this list of indispensable books.” —New York Times Book Review “Searing . . . vivid–and harrowing . . . Here is war and life through the eyes of a Vietnamese everyman.” —Seattle Times Once wealthy landowners, Thong Van Pham’s family was shattered by the tumultuous events of the twentieth century: the French occupation of Indochina, the Japanese invasion during World War II, and the Vietnam War. Told in dazzling chapters that alternate between events in the past and those closer to the present, The Eaves of Heaven brilliantly re-creates the trials of everyday life in Vietnam as endured by one man, from the fall of Hanoi and the collapse of French colonialism to the frenzied evacuation of Saigon. Pham offers a rare portal into a lost world as he chronicles Thong Van Pham’s heartbreaks, triumphs, and bizarre reversals of fortune, whether as a South Vietnamese soldier pinned down by enemy fire, a prisoner of the North Vietnamese under brutal interrogation, or a refugee desperately trying to escape Vietnam after the last American helicopter has abandoned Saigon. This is the story of a man caught in the maelstrom of twentieth-century politics, a gripping memoir told with the urgency of a wartime dispatch by a writer of surpassing talent.

Adam Jones is just another broke scrapper combing his little slice of space for the semi-valuable trash that litters its dark corners. He spends most of his days inside his junker, the Asteroid Jones II, drinking beer, watching ancient horror movies, and evading debt collectors. But life for Adam gets a lot more complicated when he discovers a mysterious object that attracts the attention of powerful and bumbling forces from around the universe. With the help of his wily grandfather and a mysterious feline stranger, Adam risks life and love in pursuit of financial freedom, even as the rest of the universe threatens to reduce him to space dust.

In 'Airship Andy; Or, The Luck of a Brave Boy' by Frank V. Webster, readers are transported into the thrilling world of airship adventure. The book follows the courageous and resourceful Andy as he embarks on a series of daring escapades aboard an airship. Set against the backdrop of the early 20th century, Webster's vivid descriptions and fast-paced narrative style keep readers on the edge of their seats. The book is a classic example of children's adventure literature, appealing to readers of all ages with its blend of excitement and heartwarming moments. Webster's storytelling shines through in his attention to detail and well-drawn characters, making 'Airship Andy' a timeless tale that continues to capture the imaginations of readers worldwide. Frank V. Webster, a prolific writer of juvenile fiction, drew inspiration from his own love of adventure and travel to create this captivating story. His background in journalism and knack for engaging storytelling are evident in the book's seamless plot development and colorful descriptions. Fans of classic adventure stories and historical fiction will thoroughly enjoy 'Airship Andy; Or, The Luck of a Brave Boy'. With its gripping narrative and charming protagonist, this book is a must-read for anyone looking for an exhilarating literary escape.

Reviews originally appeared in the Chicago sun-times.

Roy Rockwood's 'Through Space to Mars; Or, the Longest Journey on Record' is a science fiction novel that takes readers on a thrilling adventure across the cosmos. Written in a vivid and imaginative style, the book explores themes of space travel, alien encounters, and the limits of human exploration. Set against the backdrop of the early 20th century, this novel provides a fascinating glimpse into the speculative fiction of the time, offering a unique blend of scientific accuracy and fantastical storytelling. Roy Rockwood, a pseudonym used by various authors, was known for his contributions to the popular Stratemeyer Syndicate series of juvenile adventure novels. His background in science and technology likely influenced his writing of 'Through Space to Mars,' as he expertly weaves together scientific theory with exciting narrative twists. Rockwood's ability to engage young readers with his adventurous tales has cemented his legacy as a beloved author of early science fiction. I highly recommend 'Through Space to Mars; Or, the Longest Journey on Record' to readers interested in classic science fiction and the origins of the genre. With its captivating storyline and imaginative world-building, this novel is sure to captivate both young and adult audiences alike.