Night Sky Almanac 2023 - Storm Dunlop and Wil Tirion

A beautiful gift for anyone interested in the night sky.

Follow the progress of constellations throughout the seasons with this beautiful companion to the night sky from Astronomy experts Collins.

With the aid of easy-to-understand monthly calendars and maps, you will chart the rhythm of the lunar phases, discover events that light up the sky for brief periods, and explore the rich tapestry of characters that adorn the starry canvas overhead.

• never miss a night sky event wherever you are in the world with this month-by-month guide
• go meteor spotting, track the phases of the moon and explore the constellations
• worldwide coverage – with details for both the Northern and Southern hemispheres
• discover fascinating celestial facts and notable astronomical anniversaries

Written and illustrated by astronomical experts, Storm Dunlop and Wil Tirion, and approved by the astronomers of the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

What did I think?

I’ve always been interested in the night sky but this is the first almanac I have ever had; I expect it to be put to good use throughout the whole of 2023.

The hardback has a beautifully illustrated cloth bound style cover and it’s a really handy pocket-sized book to slip in your bag if you’re going out stargazing.  The month by month guide to the night sky has some handy features to quickly and easily select the correct month: each month is highlighted on the page edges and there is a very useful ribbon marker too.

There is a lot of information at the start and end of the book for novices and accomplished stargazers alike, including: introduction, some interesting objects, major events in 2023, the moon, map of the moon, the circumpolar constellations, world map, dark sky sites, twilight diagrams, glossary and tables, and an index.

Each month contains a wealth of information to devour as well as charts and diagrams to peruse.  I found some of the small fonts on the diagrams to be a little hard to read, especially as they are white words printed on a black background so you might need a magnifying glass if you don’t have good eyes.

It’s very good value for money and incredibly giftable for anyone interested in looking at the night sky.  I can’t wait for January so I can improve my knowledge and further appreciate the night sky.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Rose Gold (Gaia Trilogy Book 2) - David Barker

Rose Gold is the thrilling sequel to the bestselling Blue Gold.

In the aftermath of a world war for water, geopolitical tensions remain high and terrorism is a daily fact of life in the 2030s. But a mining base on the moon offers a rare example of international co-operation and a possible solution to the world's energy problems. Yet not everyone on Earth is keen for this endeavour to succeed...

Sim Atkins and his wife are desperate to start a family. But a shocking message from the moon base tells Sim that he is already a father and that his son's life is in danger. The mining station is full of suspects and, worse, the woman who fathered his child. Can Sim rescue his son and save his marriage?

Gopal and Rabten - the Gurkha and monk who helped Sim on his last assignment - are on the trail of terrorists and a giant airship. What the agents discover in the cargo hold makes Sim's mission even more vital. When they get trapped, Freda Brightwell - Sim's old partner in Overseas Division - is called out of retirement for one more mission.

Once again, corporate greed threatens the lives of millions. Overseas Division s finest are back at the sharp end. And this time, the stakes are far more personal.

What did I think?

I'm not a fan of science fiction but David Barker's novels intrigue me as he has one foot in the sci-fi genre and one foot in the thriller genre, making Rose Gold a completely believable futuristic thriller.  Where Blue Gold was a story about a world war for water, Rose Gold is a thriller set on the moon where minerals are mined.

As with many books in a series, you could read Rose Gold as a standalone but it would be much better to read Blue Gold first to understand the dynamic of the characters.  In Rose Gold, it's the year 2034 and Sim is married to Rosie but there's a strain on their marriage when they struggle to have children.  To make matters worse, Sim is called up to investigate a murder on the moon and finds out he has a son on the moon base.  Sim doesn't think twice about accepting this mission to go to the moon, not only to save the earth but to protect the son he didn't know he had.

The danger levels are really ramped up when a thriller is set on the moon; not only are you looking for a killer but one false move and your oxygen supply can be cut off.  Breathing is something we take for granted; it's our invisible necessity that we have in abundant supply.  Thanks to the thrilling writing of David Barker, I can imagine the panic when you're in an environment that isn't oxygen-rich and you rely on other sources of oxygen.  One little nick in your space suit and you're dead.  Yikes!

I have to give a special mention to the printed pages in the book.  Each of the three parts of the book are separated by pure black pages with a stage of the moon printed on it and every single page is printed with a watermark of the moon.  I love little touches like this; it makes a book special and unique.  Full marks to independent publisher, Urbane Publications, for this extra-special touch.

It's really something when I enjoy a book that isn't in my preferred genre and I'm delighted to say that Rose Gold is another great (not too distant) futuristic thriller from David Barker.  It's completely believable set not too far in the future with strong lead characters (although I would have liked a bit more Freda, but I suspect she'll have a bigger part to play in White Gold, the final part of the trilogy).  For me, Sim Atkins is a cross between Jack Bauer and Flash Gordon with only 48 hours to save the earth in this high octane thriller.  If you're looking for something different to read, you might just have found it in Rose Gold.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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