PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
"Amanda Dubin is an author, who currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia. She attended film school at Boston University, and then won a grant for a short film from Miami Light Project, available for viewing on YouTube. Amanda has worked on many blockbuster films. Assassins Wall was her first novel based on her original screenplay. Last Stop, Earth, is her first children's science fiction novella. Universe Olympics: Heat 1 is her third novel and writing adventure.She offers a new perspective on science fiction: ""I wanted to write a fresh take on science fiction and what is expected of the genre. I wanted to appeal not only to people who already know they love sci-fi but also to a broader audience through sport.""As an avid reader of science fiction, it was important for Amanda Dubin to bring to life realistic contemporary protagonists who deal in the real world, yet are faced with an extraordinary challenges. As a female sci-fi lover of both books and film, Amanda had noticed the huge gap for female authors and main characters in a conventionally male genre, and she is working diligently to remedy that situation."
"""Plot: Dubin's unique sci-fi story is set in a near-future world in which humans learn that they are far from the most highly intelligent or evolved species in the universe. The plotting is quickly paced and quite straightforward, with finer subplots slow to emerge. With engaging and unexpected twists, readers are sure to find the story deeply memorable. Prose: Dubin's prose is clear and driven, constantly pushing the narrative forward. Voices are distinct, but at times, certain characters' dialogue falls into an overly quirky style that can detract from readability. Originality: This entertaining novel blends traditional first contact sci-fi elements with wildly creative, adventurous Olympic matches against contestants from across the Milky Way galaxy. Dubin carries off the clever premise with panache. Character/Execution: Despite having an eighteen-member Olympic team as the main cast, each character emerges as an individual with unique motivations, fears, and goals. Alien lifeforms are described convincingly and evocatively. ""This entertaining novel blends traditional first contact sci-fi elements with wildly creative, adventurous Olympic matches against contestants from across the Milky Way galaxy. Dubin carries off the clever premise with panache. - The BookLife Prize"" ""Phenomenal book that combined sports and sci-fi flawlessly! A fantastic journey into an uncharted and unparalleled literary genre, taking sci-fi by storm."" ""It's Star Trek meets Harry Potter. If you like either, you'll really enjoy Universe Olympics!"" ""Maybe it's the time we're going through but this book actually brought a tear to my eye several times and made me proud to be a human being."""
