Top 3 Book Series

The top 3 book series I've read would have to be "The Tomorrow Series," "The Bartimaeus Trilogy" and "A series of Unfortunate Events." I loved reading all these series and often had trouble putting them down or waiting for the next book.

The Tomorrow Series has always been great to me and I've read all ten books almost three times. It's written by John Marsden, who lives in Australia, where the books are based. The books are about a group of teens that go camping in the Australian wilderness, and when they get back their country has been invaded and their families captured. They must survive off the land and fight back against the invaders. I love this series so much because it is so realistic and even though the teens are living on their own in the bush they still have problems any other teen would have. they have to learn to love each other and stay friends throughout.

The Bartimaeus Trilogy was one of the most difficult but well written series I've ever read. The series is full of quick-witted humour. It takes place in London at a time when magicians summoned spirits from another world to do their bidding. I love the storyline in this book because it is so complicated and interesting it forces you to go back to read parts and get a full understanding of the book throughout the series and the three main characters; Bartimaeus the djinni, Nathaniel the magician and Kitty, who is a member of a resistance against the magicians. The book is written form the point of view of these characters and offers a lot of insight into their lives. A challenging read I'll never forget.

My third favourite series is A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket(Daniel Handler) this series is one of the greatest I've ever read and is full of surprises and adventure. The story is about three orphans, whose parents died in a house fire. The orphans are sent to live with their various relatives, all the while being chased by Count Olaf, an uncle trying to steal their family fortune. The children are constantly on the run and trying to stay one step ahead of Olaf but are always met with misfortune. Lemony Snicket's use of dark humor and sarcasm makes this an awesome read. There is never a moment when the orphans aren't in action and his abstract ideas and witty writing puts the series in my top 3.

My Superpower

If i could have any superpower I would be able to alter genetic and molecular matter. This would mean I could change my or someone else's DNA coding or molecular structure. I could make my self stronger or heal injuries faster. This would also be a great power because i could find cures for diseases like cancer and aids by changing altering the immune system to fight them. My power would be much better then other powers because it has so many different uses. Other powers like tele-porting or mind control only have one or two solid uses. If I wanted to go places quickly for free I could make my legs stronger and my body lighter so I could run across water. If wanted someone to do something for me I could change the structure of their brain to think I ruled them. These things along with many other uses of my power would make it the best superpower ever.

Journal #1: "Wizard's First Rule"

Wizard's First Rule is a book full of many passages that give insight and make connections to real life but I believe the one I chose is very strong and connects to my life. "People rarely believe the truth when they see it and, less so when they don't want to." This quote is so powerful and makes you think about how people's minds work. It made me realize that people tell lies so much that often the truth is lost. Even if there is truth most of the time people try to ignore it or hide from it because it scares them or its not what they want it to be, so they change it. In history the people that changed the truth to their liking ruined things for the people of today. We will never know half the things that actually happened because how will we ever know the the information we have recovered or that was passed on from generation to generation, is true. When I read this quote it made me stop and think how the truth is powerful but rarely seen and how words that are spoken in truth can bring down empires. This is why the truth is changed to peoples liking, they think that unless lies are told other people will be hurt or bad things will happen to them when actually life would be so much more simple if nobody lied. When I thought of this it made me think who was the first person to lie? Is lying a human impulse or did someone invent it. Truth is and always will be a human impulse; people take things literally most of the time. They want the truth, but often they want it to benefit them so they turn it into a lie. I think this is probably how lies were started. There must have been a time when lies weren't told. Everyone told the truth because they didn't know how not to; but someone decided that maybe if they told someone something that didn't happen it would help person lying and the lie was spawned. Nowadays because of how easily lies are told, just like the quote says, people rarely believe the truth. Honesty is so hard to come by sometimes and if you can find it at home, the government is lying to you or its the media, sometimes it's even Searcy. ( Had to be said :P) 

To conclude, I think the truth is a something that should be sought out and not hidden behind lies, just because the truth isn't what is people want heard. Without the truth there would be no real structure just a pile lies that would come crashing down at the first mention of truth. Life in a world void of lies would be so much easier, for me and I'm sure for many other people.

PS3 Review: Uncharted 2 Among Thieves

Uncharted 2: Among Theives is the sequel to Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, a game that defined the PS3. Uncharted 2 had many expectations to live up to and Naughty Dog, the creator came through making the game even more amazing then the first.



Like it's prequel, Uncharted 2 is a fast paced adventure full of challenging puzzles, high-octane gunfights and interesting locations. The game-play is excellent with a singleplayer campaign that makes putting your controller down very difficult and multiplayer games modes that give you variety away from the campaign. The stunning visuals that rival most of todays video games, along with the fantastic storyline make the game so much more belivable.

The Good:
The reason Uncharted 2 is such a great game is that unlike the first game, the singleplayer campaign travels through many different and exotic locations; whereas Drake's Fortune is only based on one island. Along with the great locations, Uncharted 2 has easy to learn controls and the puzzles are hard enough to make you think, without making you throw your contoller through the t.v. The gun battles are much more diverse then the fights in Drake's Fortune where you would hide behide cover and pick off your enemies. Now you can climb to higher ground for an advantage or sneak around, dispatching your enemies with stealth. These factors along with some of the best graphics in the business make for a game you'll spend hours playing.

The Bad:
Lke the first game, Uncharted 2 is in 3rd person unlike most action games that play in 1st person. This isn't all bad, but if your new to 3rd person it can take some time to get used to. At times the game also gets a little bit repeatitive, but usually by the time you notice you are changing location and that helps keep you on your toes.

I give this game a 9/10 All in all this game is exciting and fun and will give hours of intersting and challenging gaming.

The Planet that Ran Out of Sugar

The people of Kermac were not worried at first when they heard that the transports carrying supplies to their off-world colony would no longer be bringing sugar. Earth could no longer produce enough sugar for all the colonies scattered through the solar system while supporting its own citizens need of sugar. Even though earth was sending out some of their sugar, Kermac was one of the smallest colonies and had no chance of receiving any. When the Kermacians heard this grim news they were not worried. They believed the could ration the remaining supply of sugar and when the finally ran out the could do without. They were so very wrong...

A week after the sugar had run-out bands of looters began attacking government buildings in search of sugar. the government retaliated by posting a curfew enforced by the small army and police forces; looters started to be executed. The scientists of Kermac frantically searched for a substitute to the much needed sugar but after three months with no results it was looking hopeless. Much of Kermac was in ruin; rebels had taken over the army and the entire planet was at war. At eight months anyone who could buy their way off Kermac was gone, while the rest of the population was left to fend for themselves. At a year the colony couldn't support a population  and when  the nearest planet went out of contact earth began to worry. Kermac had stopped contact with the other planets almost six months before but that didn't explain the sudden loss of contact with Plutin 6. Earth sent a team to investigate. The team was gone for 5 months and earth had given up. One day a space craft came into Earth's orbit and was identified a the investigation team's ship; the problem was that only one life form was present on the ship. Earth being so paranoid  shot it out of the sky thinking nothing of it. The ship was full of high power explosives and was to close to Earth. It took out much of Earth's defense system and suddenly Earth's orbit was filled with pirate ships from Kermac. Earth had chosen it's fate when it stop sending sugar; the Kermacians were going to get what they deserved...