Science Fiction on The Techno Scholar Chronicles

Book Review: The Wild Robot Protects (Volume 3)

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0600

The Wild Robot Protects is the third book in the series. The first book focuses on survival on the island where Roz, a robot, finds herself. The second book follows Roz as she escapes from the mainland and returns home to the island. The third book centers on protecting the island from a poison tide that is killing life in the ocean and threatening the island itself. Throughout all three books, the common themes are family, home, and helping others.

Book Review: The Wild Robot Escapes (Volume 2)

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 20:00:00 -0600

The Wild Robot Escapes continues the story of Roz, the wild robot, in this middle-grade science fiction story. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but as the title suggests, Roz must escape. The story follows her adventure as she breaks free from human civilization and attempts to return to the wilderness island where she spent the first year of her life. That island is truly her home, where her animal family and friends live—especially her goose son, Brightbill. Her life is there.

Book Review: The Wild Robot (Volume 1)

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 19:30:00 -0600

The Wild Robot is a middle-grade science fiction book about a robot shipwrecked on an island and forced to survive among the island’s wildlife. Interestingly, it is about survival, community, and family. I first watched The Wild Robot movie and really enjoyed it. However, the movie ended on a cliffhanger, and I wanted to know what happened next. When I looked into it, I discovered that The Wild Robot is actually a trilogy, so I had to start reading the books!

Book Review: At the Speed of Mind (Book #3 of the Astral Alliance series)

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 19:42:00 -0500

Megan says, “I’m always troubled when I hear about people dying.” This is one of the reasons I love this book—and the Astral Alliance series—so much. At the Speed of Mind takes on the evil of child trafficking with love, mercy, and resolve. Megan is determined to fight for the kids without compromising her moral compass. This third book brings fast-paced action, deep strategy, and a lot of heart.

Throughout the series, Megan and the other kids grow into a strong team. As captain, Megan earns loyalty through love and sacrifice. Her teammates follow her freely because she helped free them. Yet, she’s often reckless, doing what they call her “hero thing.” That begins to change in this book. Crystal has a hard conversation with her, insisting Megan needs someone to watch her back—“on her six.” Megan listens, and Crystal repeatedly saves her, helping her grow into a better leader.

Book Review: The First Starborn (Book #2 of the Astral Alliance series)

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This is another good book and a very enjoyable read! I must say, I’m perhaps even more hooked on this series now than when I first started it. The story is pretty action-packed. You know that saying about real-life events where all you can say is “You can’t make this stuff up!”? Well, that’s exactly how this series feels right now. These books are like a mystery that has to be unraveled and discovered piece by piece. The plot thickens in ways that really keep you engaged.

Book Review: Across Astral Realms (Book #1 of the Astral Alliance series)

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0600

This story takes place in space and weaves an intriguing narrative around the main character, Megan, who is branded a pirate. She fights for survival and strives to do what is right, especially after learning about child trafficking and making it her mission to free the enslaved children. Although still a child herself, Megan was raised by her parents—both branded as pirates—and taught a sense of moral right and wrong, even if they didn’t always practice it. She dedicates herself to living by the principle that all life is sacred. This principle becomes her moral struggle as she fights oppression, rescues enslaved children, and faces numerous life-and-death situations in which she must defend herself and others. I’m reminded of the Bible quote where God says, “Vengeance is mine,” which suggests that we should not seek revenge, but leave justice to a higher power. Megan shows mercy several times, and we witness a sense of divine justice unfold.

Book Review: Lord of the World: A Novel

Sat, 05 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Lord of the World was written by Robert Hugh Benson, a Catholic priest, and published in 1907. Benson himself was a convert to the Catholic faith. He wrote this novel about a dystopian society centered around an anti-Christ figure, Julian Felsenburgh. This is a very packed and well-written novel! It shows one way that the Book of Revelations in the Bible and the loss of Christian faith could happen. The central theme is a growing belief in Humanism while denying Christianity and belief in God.