Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: truth

  • Artificial Wisdom

    Artificial Wisdom

    Chilling and able to be considered as our reality moving into the future, Thomas R Weaver has, in his debut novel, Artificial Wisdom captured what comes next, as our World grapples with the all too real issue of Climate Change.

    Set in the year 2050, ten years after a massive heatwave hit the Arabian Gulf killing four hundred million people, changing the world irrevocably, bringing wide spread hardship and suffering to every country, the effects of climate change are now extreme.

    Marcus Tully, a journalist noted for telling the truth, lost his wife and unborn child in the devastation and now, in the weeks leading up to one of the most powerful elections to ever take place world-wide, a whistle blower contacts him, asking him to seek out the truth behind what really happened and why.

    A former US President and a powerful AI, Solomon, are vying for role of Dictator, a position created to try and stop the horror of the World slowly burning up, destroying itself. The populace has two weeks before they cast their votes. Corruption is rife, control is the prize, people everywhere are suffering.

    Mired in a world of pain and grief, Tully can’t resist the challenge; the Whistle Blower knows just how to get at him. He sets off on a journey that will have horrific consequences both for himself, as well as those he works with and cares about. The truth is becoming illusive, but what is the truth?

    He slowly begins to realise that the past is perhaps in the past and maybe, there is a future to be considered. Or is there? Who can he trust, who or what is real and who is not, is the question he begins to ask himself.

    Weaver has captured what could be the future World with care and insight in a story which will resonate. Slow to begin it picks up the pace as the levels of deception are revealed, the layers of confusion increase, the death toll continues to mount.

    Ending in a bit of rush and some bewilderment, there are many loose ends. Perhaps, that is the point!

    Artificial Wisdom is a Sci-Fi techno-thriller thriller with a wide appeal.

  • The Truth Detective: How to make sense of a world that doesn’t add up

    The Truth Detective: How to make sense of a world that doesn’t add up

    If you are a curious, critical thinker and interested in figuring out what is true and what is not, why not become the perfect Truth Detective?  What is a Truth Detective you ask? Instead of catching murderers or thieves, a Truth Detective hunts for the truth.

    Author of nine popular books, Tim Hartford, has created a colourful, easy to read manual, which will teach you how to become an outstanding Truth Detective.

    If you apply the ten simple rules, you will sharpen your skills and soon you will be finding clues and solving tough cases. Although numbers are an important tool for discovering clues which lead us to the truth, this isn’t a book about math’s.

    By applying great real world examples and interesting stories about past and present heroes, he methodically explains and illustrates his ten simple rules. He lets you see what is really going on, so that you can see past the tricks often used by the media to bamboozle you!

    In order to help you become a thoughtful, imaginative Truth Detective, who looks beyond the obvious, Mr. Hartford has ended each chapter with ‘Tricks, Tactics, and Tools’ which summerises the main points of the chapter.  

    By combining historical anecdotes, personal observations and research, the author has created an entertaining must read for not only inquisitive 10-12 year olds, but also for older readers, who want to make sense of a complex world.

  • Arelhekenhe Angkentye – Women’s Talk, Second Edition

    Arelhekenhe Angkentye – Women’s Talk, Second Edition

    Poems of Lyapirtneme from Arrernte Women in Central Australia

    Women from throughout the arid dessert regions of Australia gathered in Alice Springs in February 2019 to attend a festival with the theme of Lyapirtneme, an Arrernte word meaning growing back, to talk ‘women’s business’, share company, food and participate in discussion, to take some time out from their busy life caring for their mob and create poetry.

    Out of that came this powerful collection of simple words from the women, Arelherkenhe Angkentye Women’s Talk, from many whom had never placed words on paper to tell about their life, their struggles, healing, culture and the world around them. Many of the pieces were written on small pieces of paper, some round, some square, not large pieces of paper at all, just enough for a few words.

     For many it took great courage to write how they felt but in the doing they have created a lasting memory, a gift of understanding of reaching out with words from ‘their country’, their culture and their life.

    The work was never intended to form a book, but such was the flow of words, the rich telling of the poems that a crowd funding was done with the end result, Arelherkenhe Angkentye Women’s Talk, which begins with a beautiful piece from a mother to her son My Little Turtle.

    Words Unsaid from Sylvia Purrurle Neale pays tribute to a grand old gum tree that offered shelter, comfort and shade but had reached the end of its time, leaving behind ‘a huge hole, a memory, a sadness that will never go’, which is poignant in its simplicity and also has so many layers to the grieving felt.

    Inside knowledge comes to light in We Share, the many gifts the bush passionfruit has to offer, along with Witchetty in tribute to the delicacy of Witchetty grubs and honey ants.  When we were kids captures the easy going nature of children out looking for a treat; bush tucker; little wild cherries, bush bananas and oranges, Yum.

    Two Strong Blokes makes you chuckle, Two old men make you weep a little. Brothers makes you stop and ponder, such is the power of words.

    Divided up to into sections, slowly browsing the pages is simply a journey into another world; a world of ancient people, of timeless rhythm, of fun, laughter, hard times, healing and the gift of giving.

    Arelherkenhe Angkentye Women’s Talk reaches out, crosses barriersand offers a priceless peep into a world little known and often misunderstood, through the eyes of women, who world-wide are always there to care, comfort and share the knowledge.

    Truth talking, healing, sadness, life, vitality and beauty are all encompassed in this anthology of poetry created by the Arrernte women of Central Australia.

  • Drugs, Guns & Lies My life as an undercover cop

    Drugs, Guns & Lies My life as an undercover cop

    Policing is difficult at the best of times; in Queensland in the 1980s and 1990s it was more so. It was both challenging and frustrating, as the police were dealing not only with villains in the community but also with criminals within their own ranks! In his book ‘Drugs, Guns & Lies’, one of Queensland’s most decorated police officers, Keith Banks exposes both the many short comings of this state’s policing and also the political corruption existing at this time.

    As an idealistic 18 year old Banks passed out of the Police Academy and was sworn in as a proud new policeman ready to help make the world a better place. Within a few years and little actual training, he became an undercover officer in the Drug Squad, traversing Queensland to outwit the dealers and keep drugs off the streets, thereby minimizing the harm to the population. Looking back, Banks now believes the undercover agents were just cannon fodder sent into the front line to integrate with criminal networks, buy drugs and organise busts for the more senior detectives to take the credit!

    This committed young policeman soon discovered that the 1980s in Queensland and its police force was a time of contradiction and ambiguity; there was little respect from the general public for the police. With Terry Lewis and his cronies at its head, there was statewide corruption; the author began to question the motivation and competence of some senior officers – he didn’t trust many policemen.

    Although, the Fitzgerald Inquiry exposed a high level of corruption, the author points out that there were many committed and honest police who diligently undertook their daily job and that it’s a great shame that post this inquiry, the general public had an even greater distrust of the police.

    True Crime readers will find this an interesting and compelling read as Banks gives the reader an insight into the day to day operations of the Drug Squad and its undercover agents. By reflecting on the policing procedures and practices of the 1980s and 1990s, he gives the reader a real understanding of the trauma and sacrifice which these agents made to do their job successfully.

  • Truths I Never Told You

    Truths I Never Told You

    Family relationships are at the heart of Truths I Never Told You which is narrated by three women. Kelly Rimmer has cleverly crafted a story spanning three generations which will resonate with both women and men. We are shown political and social changes which have only been brought about by intense pressure and courage. Abortion and contraception are two topics which are elaborated in a family setting.

    Another topic dealt with is Post-Partum Depression. Although Beth, who narrates the story from 1996, is a psychologist, she is unable to see that her anxiety is much more intense than normal. After all, she has a new baby: a much- loved father who has dementia and has to be moved into Care. Of course, she is going to be anxious! It takes a great deal of love and support from her family to convince her that she is unwell.

    All of this begins to unravel as Beth starts to sort out her Father’s home. She finds notes from her Mother and her Mother’s Death Certificate showing when she died. Beth and her siblings remember their Mother fondly.

    Turn the clock back to Beth’s mother, Grace, who narrates the story from 1957. She has a similar condition, but has had no contraception and no family support. With four children under four years, a pregnancy now would destroy her. Grace married Patrick, who was a thoughtful man, but found it difficult to cope with the chaos at home and lack of money. It became easier for him to stay later at work and then go to the pub with his mates for a few drinks before coming home.

    While drawing attention to attitude changes over the generations, the Rimmer examines each topic enmeshed in the family story. She does this with thought and “What- ifs.” We read this with a sense of gratitude that times have changed, although many still are uncomfortable when addressing mental health crises within the family.

    This is a personal look into a caring family and shows how important it is to listen to each other and look after each other. It is saved from being a dark tale by the closeness and love of the family, and the mystery that needs solving.

  • Truth Bombs: A Party Game by Dan & Phil

    Truth Bombs: A Party Game by Dan & Phil

    This explosively funny party game, suitable for those over 14 years of age, created from the minds of the popular BBC1 radio show The Dan and Phil Show or otherwise known as The Radio 1 Request Show with Dan and Phil, comes packaged in a sturdy, colourful box, contains 140 Truth game questions, 160 target sheets, 7coloured mats and 8 truth pencils. To play the game, you need a group of eight players or less all with a zany sense of the ridiculous.

    To begin the game, the coloured mat is laid out on the table, and a matching coloured card is placed upon the mat. Each player is then given an answer sheet and a pencil. The player writes their name on the Target box, and then passes the sheet to the player on the left. The game is now ready to start. You look at the name on top of the sheet, and then choose one question for that person. You need to make sure that you have written the answer in the correct coloured box.

    When everyone has written their answer, you pass your sheet to the left again. The players continue to do this until all questions have been answered. Then you read out a question on the table, and everyone gives their answer. The target person decides which is the best answer and then tries to guess who wrote it. Points are scored for correct guesses. The winner is the person who guesses correctly, the names of the people who answered the questions.

    The questions are quite innovative, and include things like, “What is their hidden talent, what is their greatest fear, which actor would play them in a film, and in one word, describe their taste in partners.”

    As the answers are read out after the sheets are filled in, there were a great many laughs around the table at the creative and interesting answers that were produced.