Upstream Reviews Presents…!

More works for you to enjoy!

Artwork by Caroline Furlong

Another day, another promotion post. What can I say? We are busy as bees here at Upstream Reviews, and we must squeeze the reviews in between writing and promoting our own stories. Thus, on days like today, we simply list a few books and sites for you to check out yourselves.

So, what is in store today? Well, let’s see….

YouTube Channels

Ha! You did not expect the post to begin with YouTube channels you may enjoy, did you? Surprise! Now you can find a channel and get a preview of their work at the same time!

If you haven’t seen Villain Support, you are missing out:

Fire Department Chronicles is another YouTube channel you need to follow. It’s hilarious!

Then there is Dan Vasc, who re-covers various songs in POWER METAL versions:

Next is Danny Labelle, a comedian whose short films are elaborate but so much fun.

If you are a Kaiju fan and enjoy AMVs, definitely swing by BobTanaka’s channel for some great videos, including this one:

TV Series

While we are on the visual aspect of the entertainment medium, here are a few older shows to get you primed for some fun:

Anyone else remember Get Smart?

How about Chuck?

The Orville would also like to put a word in:

And before we say good-bye, here’s I Dream of Jeannie to round out the pack:

Children’s Books

Hey, the theme today is visuals, right? I am doing the best I can with what I have. Some guy threw me this list out of the back of a passing Cadillac (thanks, Johnny Carson!).

Marymae and the Nightmare Man by A.M. Freeman (reviewed here)

Marymae is a little girl with big problems! First, no one will believe her imaginary friend is real...

And then he goes missing!

Marymae must set out to find her friend. But she soon discovers something scary is happening in the Forest of Make-Believe. Those that were noble are now hiding. Dangerous creatures lurk in the shadows. And a growing darkness threatens to engulf even the bravest heart. If Marymae and her friends can't stop it in time, the nightmares will spread across all the worlds, including her own! Enjoy the journey with her as she discovers how to be a light to inspire courage in those around her, and how to love even the most broken heart.

Pick up this illustrated novelette and join the characters on their journey as they spring from one challenge to the next. A refreshing light to illuminate a mundane day, or to enjoy reading with your children.

Grandfather Twilight (Paperstar Book) by Barbara Helen Berger

When day is gone, and shadows begin to deepen, it is time for Grandfather Twilight to close his book, put on his jacket, and go for a walk through the forest.

Little birds hush as he walks by, and the rabbits and other small creatures watch in silence as he performs his very special evening task and returns to his house among the trees. Small readers and listeners, too, will sense the serenity of this poetic story, and will be comforted to learn that the twilight is a gentle, friendly time.

Exquisite pictures extend and illuminate the text, to reveal the nightly miracle so faithfully performed by Grandfather Twilight. Perfect for reading aloud and for sharing at bedtime, this beautiful and reassuring book will be cherished by old and young alike.

Cat and Bear by Carol Greene

Bear arrives in a big red box for the child's birthday, and the child loves him immediately. Cat, used to coming first in the child's affections, is unimpressed, and tries all sorts of tricks to stop child loving bear. Then one day, bear disappears and only Cat can help.

The Trellis and the Seed: A Book of Encouragement for All Ages by Jan Karon

The little seed spent the winter in a jelly glass on the top shelf of a chinacupboard. It was only a seed and very, very small. How could it ever be a vine with sweet-smelling blossoms? When spring came, the Nice Lady made a hole for the seed and planted it in her garden at the base of a trellis. It felt soft in the hole, but also cold and dark. Don't worry, said the Earth. God has planned something beautiful for you. The little seed did not believe it. But as time passed, and the sun shone, and the rain fell, the little seed began to feel something.

Comics and Graphic Novels

This is always a tricky category for me, since I don’t read as many comics regularly as I would like. Still, hang on tight and here we goooooo!

Shivae! Vas by Mrs. Tiffany C. Ross

Vas has experienced a lot of loss in his short life. He lost half of his family to newcomers. He still has his father and brother and they are fleeing to another land where they will be safe.Life has other plans for Vas as he is separated from his remaining family and on his own in a world that isn’t kind to the inexperienced. A lone shivae chick isn’t likely to survive long without help and that help may come from unexpected sources.

Kamen America, Vol. 1: Stars and Strife by Timothy Lim

Charlotte "Carly" Vanders was just a girl-next-door with dreams of being a fashionista. Her world was suddenly transformed one day after being impacted by cosmic debris! Shedding her corporate and media overlords and imbued with the American spirit of self reliance and self determination, she is the patriotic paladin now known as KAMEN AMERICA! Collects the original, full Kickstarter version of the indendent graphic novel sleeper hit!

Soulfinder: Demon's Match by Douglas Ernst

People have wondered for ages: "Why do bad things happen to good people? "

That is exactly what Father Patrick Retter, a Catholic priest who was wounded in combat during his youth, is asked at the start of Soulfinder: Demon's Match — and it is the question he must grapple with after he becomes involved in a series of supernatural events.

Retter is the parish priest in the small, quiet town of Steepleton, Maryland. Assigned to the tiny locale despite his expertise in demonology and the occult, Retter is often called upon by county authorities to advise on matters with religious significance.

Things don't stay quiet for long, as a series of related deaths imply that a great evil has been residing in Steepleton, waiting to arise. Father Retter isn't alone. He is aided by a young detective and ultimately mentored by a mysterious figure who introduces Retter to an ancient, high order of exorcists known as the Soulfinders.

Retter is reluctant to accept his calling, but the evil he encounters in his investigation — a sinister cult and the demons it worships — may convince him otherwise. There are many tales to tell about this band of brothers and their clashes with evil. Soulfinder: Demon's Match gives readers, by the last page, a taste of the vast and unexplored spiritual battlefield that these men face.

Darius by Mrs. Tiffany C. Ross

Darius is 15 years old today and eagerly looking forward to the future as an adult. And all the freedoms it brings with it. Unfortunately, freedom also brings more responsibilities. The wrong choices have dire consequences. Rama, an evil wolf with a vendetta against the Akaelae family has returned. He is set on recovering his son from the Akaelaes and getting revenge along the way. Turning the youngest generation of Akaelaes against their elders would fit his goals perfectly. Separated from his friends due to his carelessness, Darius could be the key to their rescue. Or he could blunder into something else that has powerful ramifications for the future. Darius, always the wild spirit, must choose between being a member of his pack, his family, or a lone wolf.

Bass Reeves: No God West of Fort Smith by Kevin Grevioux

Faced with anarchy, a desperate judge finds a reluctant hero in the lawless frontier. A legend is born. Includes 24 story pages!

The Saints: Kyoto by Mike Baron

Save the Past. Rescue the Future.

On the cusp of a discovery that would rewrite history, world-renowned archaeologist Jean Marc LaPointe finds himself in the crosshairs of dark and dangerous conspirators that will go to any length to keep their secrets. LaPointe, now an international fugitive with nowhere left to run, is recruited by The Saints, a covert society tasked with saving the world from an ancient menace and guarding secrets too terrible to be known. Includes 27 story pages!

God's Dog: Monster by Jonathan Pageau

Wander into the margins in this loose and epic exploration of the legend of Saint Christopher, the dog-headed warrior.

God's Dog marks a shift in storytelling, in which the end becomes the beginning and the monster carries the king into a new world.

Anthologies & Collections

These are “visual” in the sense that a writer is basically painting a picture with words in each short story. They are challenging (and fun) for that reason. Here are a few of the anthologies and collections trending right now:

Postcards From Mars (Postcard Stories Book 1) by Cedar Sanderson, Dorothy Grant, and 8 other authors

A collection of illustrated micro-fiction.

During MarsCon 2023 the three Moms of the Apocalypse handed out images to anyone who wanted to enter the contest. The rules were simple: write down a complete story in fifty words, and then send it to us. These are the winners of that challenge!

Swords and Maidens: Eleven Tales of Chivalry and Valor by N.R. LaPoint, Declan Finn, and 9 other authors

From magic battlefields where horses fear to tread, to flying fortresses, fantastical otherworlds, a planet infested with eldritch abominations, and lands ruled by fear, heroes will fight for what is worth fighting for. Knights in gleaming armor, soldiers, Middle Earth’s most deadly Elvish assassin, hunters, and kings. All will risk their lives to defend the defenseless, to destroy monsters, to preserve the lives and honor of fair maidens.

See a soldier fight to rescue a besieged princess from marauding, magitech barbarians, an immortal knight fight for a farmstead, a husband and wife fight for the honor of a fallen comrade against a deadly dragon, a hunter seek to recover a maiden’s stolen soul, an elf defend a woman from assassins, a deposed king fight for his kingdom, and more!

Sidearm & Sorcery Volume One by Bryce Beattie, Jay Barson, and 7 other authors

In the modern world, paranormal dangers lurk all around. When there is no chosen one to be found, no altruistic half-vampire around, and no superheros flying overhead, it's up to average people to do the business of defeating evil. They have no powers, no prophecies, and all the odds are stacked against them. 

In this short story collection, regular folk find themselves up against nightmare creatures, conniving warlocks, and all manner of supernatural dangers. All set in contemporary environments. Read these nine new tales of magic and adventure today. 

Stellar Stories Vol. 1: Science Fiction & Wonder by David Skinner

Eight stories of rockets and robots, monsters and Martians, fistfights and beauties, wonders and awe...

A young man's blind date is kidnapped by Martians and he is drawn into her secrets. A brotherhood outside of time seeks to mend a Solar System devastated by lunatic machines. Men from a Plutonian research base confront metaphysical chaos on Charon. Two runaway sisters resolve to rescue the implanted helper-sentience of a deceased warrior. And more!

Ghosts of Malta (Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 1) by Lawdog, JL Curtis, and 10 other authors

Malta. Alchemists, Saints and Heroes have all made their way to this place, defended its walls, and added to its ranks of ghosts and lore.

Besieged, battered, and bombed, this archipelago has seen every tide of war, turmoil, and more than a few bits of piracy. It's also been the land of courage, resilience, and grace under fire.

Ten authors have set out to bring you tales of the ghosts of Malta past, present, and future. Open the pages and meet the ancient guardians, ghost cats and inter dimensional spies that will be your guide...

Non-Fiction

Let us round out this visual list with some illustrated non-fiction for your viewing pleasure:

Faith and Liberty: The Economic Thought of the Late Scholastics (Studies in Ethics and Economics) by Alejandro A. Chafuen (quoted here)

Most people think that free-market ideas and theories were first substanially developed in the eighteenth century by figures such as Adam Smith. In this revised edition of Faith and Liberty, Alejandro A. Chafuen illustrates this misconception by examining the sixteenth and seventeenth century writings of a group of Catholic theologians and philosophers. The Late- Scholastics, as they are called, were the first to engage in a systematic moral analysis of the ethical issues associated with trade and commerce. In doing so, they arrived at solutions that are in many senses indistinguishable from the ideas of many modern free market commentators. In this revised ediiton, Chafuen blosters his case by including recent and pertinent material which gives rise to new questions and concerns. Reading this book will force to consider what they understand to be an authentiaclly Christian approach to economic questions.

Fantasy Treehouse Art & Architecture by Cedar Sanderson

What would you do, if a sketchbook from another world showed up on your doorstep? The pages of this book are filled with wonder, curious houses, and ideas for design that are truly unreal!

Contains more than 50 sketches of treehouses, with highly detailed renderings of their architecture. Marginalia gives hints of the world surrounding the houses, from inhabitants to the peculiar flora, fauna, and fungus. Meant to inspire creativity and influence designers.

A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II by Adam Makos

December, 1943: A badly damaged American bomber struggles to fly over wartime Germany. At the controls is twenty-one-year-old Second Lieutenant Charlie Brown. Half his crew lay wounded or dead on this, their first mission. Suddenly, a Messerschmitt fighter pulls up on the bomber’s tail. The pilot is German ace Franz Stigler—and he can destroy the young American crew with the squeeze of a trigger...

What happened next would defy imagination and later be called “the most incredible encounter between enemies in World War II.”

The U.S. 8th Air Force would later classify what happened between them as “top secret.” It was an act that Franz could never mention for fear of facing a firing squad. It was the encounter that would haunt both Charlie and Franz for forty years until, as old men, they would search the world for each other, a last mission that could change their lives forever.