BATWOMAN

WARNER BROS HOME ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDED ME WITH A FREE COPY OF THE BLU-RAY FEATURED IN THIS POST. OPINIONS I SHARE ARE MY OWN.

The CW Network, Channel 50 here in Detroit, is broadcasting a number of exciting television shows based upon DC Comics' super heroes. While these shows would seem to be right up my alley it seems like I always have something else going on when what has been nicknamed the Arrowverse is airing. And once I've missed a couple of episodes it really isn't that fun to dive into a show mid-season. So I've been missing out on watching Arrow, The Flash, Super Girl, Legends of Tomorrow, and the newest Arrowverse show Batwoman.

Now that the complete first season of BATWOMAN is available on Blu-ray and DVD time to catch up on what I've missed when it originally aired on The CW Network. Time to do some binge watching. Think I can crank out watching all 20 one-hour episodes in a weekend?

In addition to all 20 episodes from Batwoman's first season, the home entertainment release from Warner Bros also has bonus features that include The Best of DC TV's Comic-Con Panels San Diego 2019, deleted scenes from the show and a gag reel. The Blu-ray also includes a bonus disc with all five episodes of the DC Crossover Event Crisis on Infinite Earths which unite characters from all the Arrowverse TV shows in a multi-verse spanning super adventure. There is a whole lot to geek out about when it comes to adding BATWOMAN: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON to your home's video library.



2.1 million viewers per week tuned in during the season to follow the adventures of Kate Kane, a woman who never planned to be Gotham's new vigilante. After Batman disappeared, Gotham was in despair...until she returned to town. Armed with a passion for justice and a flair for speaking her mind, Kane soars through the shadowed streets of Gotham as Batwoman. But don't call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior she must first overcome her own demons before becoming a symbol of hope.

Batwoman: The Complete First Season is available on Blu-ray and DVD from Best Buy. Holy Dad Bloggers Batwoman! If you purchase this collection of Batwoman shows through a Geek Daddy affiliate link this dad blogger will receive a small commission at no additional expense to your purchase.

GLOW BATTLE

Under a canopy of fireworks, my kids had a Glow Battle in our front yard as the sky grew dark on the Fourth of July. With the city's fireworks show cancelled due to the pandemic, some of our neighbors went all out lighting up the night sky on our block with some professional grade pyrotechnics. While we enjoyed the impromptu holiday show in our neighborhood, my kids had some fun running around outside playing the newest product from Starlux Games → GLOW BATTLE

This glow-in-the-dark game has players battle one another in a variety of competitions. Up to 10 players can play a game of Tag. Two teams run around a field trying to tag the opposing side's players with light swords. You have to dodge getting hit by a sword or block an opponent with your own light-up foam weapon. If a player gets hit they have to go into their opponent's holding pen. If someone on your own team runs into your opponent's holding pen without being tagged they rescue all the tagged players. If all a team's players get tagged, they lose the game.



When you just have two players like we had in this case, Gladiator mode is another option. Players protect their castles, designated by creating the layout of a box on the ground with LED lights included with your Glow Battle kit. Keep your opponent from entering your castle by jousting with him or her using your foam light up sword. Another option is to use the LED lights to create a battle arena space and you try to force your opponent to step outside the ring to get a win.

These are just a few examples of variation of games that can be played with a Glow Battle kit. A set of card describing the rules for different games is included in the box. Of course you can also make up your own rules if you like too!



Kids will love playing with the glow-in-the-dark accessories and having an excuse to play outside at night. Parents will appreciate that Glow Battle will have children and teens wanting to get outdoors, interact with others and get some exercise. Starlux Games' Glow Battle is a great entertainment alternative to television and video games and is a great way for family and friends to have some summer fun.

The Glow Battle Light-up Sword Game comes with 10 game variation cards, 8 LED space markers, 10 light swords and 10 glow bracelets. Game accessories are evenly divided between green and blue coloring. Starlux Games recommends Glow Battle is for ages 8+ and for 2-10 players. Replaceable batteries that power the glow-in-the-dark accessories are included in the Glow Battle kit. The batteries provide a light duration of 6-10 hours.

This game would be awesome to play with a big group of friends. Unfortunately due to the coronavirus pandemic while they have been having fun my kids have just been playing it amongst themselves. They are really excited about at some point getting a bunch of kids from the neighborhood to come over for a GLOW BATTLE.

Starlux Games GLOW BATTLE gets a Geek Daddy nod of approval for being an easy to set up and exciting for kids, teens and adults to play outside. A great way to get all ages to play together outside in a cool way with glow-in-the-dark accessories. Glow Battle and other Starlux Games such as Wizards & Werewolves are a great way in this dad blogger's opinion to get moving while having a good time. Check them out at starluxgames.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas from my family to yours! Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season from ageekdaddy.com

STAR WARS STARFIGHTER MANUALS

When watching a sci-fi movie do you ever wish you knew more about the mechanics and layouts of the spaceships featured in them? If so, you'll appreciate these two Star Wars books from Insight Editions: Haynes Owner's Workshop Manuals for Imperial and Rebel Starfighters. Insight Editions have taken the format of Haynes Manuals which are renowned by diy enthusiasts in assisting with automobile maintenance and repairs and applied it to Star Wars spacecraft. Haynes Manuals now provide specifications, statistics and schematics not just for more than 400 real life vehicles but also a variety of starfighters from the Star Wars movies.

REBEL STARFIGHTERS

This book delves into the various starfighters utilized by the Rebel Alliance in the original Star Wars trilogy as well as the updated vessels used in the Disney sequel movies. Learn all about A-Wings, B-Wings, U-Wings, X-Wings and Y-Wings from both a pilot and mechanic's perspective. Haynes Star Wars Rebel Starfighters Owners' Workshop Manual is chock full of photographs from the movies as well as television shows such as The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels showing these spaceships interiors and exteriors from a variety of angles. Plus there is a special section devoted to pilot training and gear that provides an overview of the components of a flight suit.

Rebel Starfighters is also filled with blueprints and illustrations showing the inner workings of these crafts. Blueprints provide specifications for the different starfighters used by the Rebels and Resistant and show where different components are located within them. These are formatted like you were looking at the details of a modern day fighter plane making these fantasy vehicles appear as if they were real.

For example looking at the blueprints for a T-70 X-Wing divulges the starfighter has a length of 41 feet and maximum acceleration of 3,800 G. The blueprints also pinpoint the locations of equipment across the starfighter ranging from deflector shield projectors to its subspace radio antenna.

Blueprints for the A/SF-01 B-Wing Starfighter highlight a number of components for this blockade buster that are details most people wouldn't think about when just watching it fly across the screen in Return of the Jedi or the episode of Star Wars Rebels it was featured in. Yet going through the details in this book really bring the starfighter to life showing details a mechanic would want to know such as pointing out the S-foil wing actuator system and reactor excess-plasma vent. Plus highlighting the layout of the cockpit's flight controls makes it feel as if a reader is being prepped to be able to fly one of these themselves.

The book also has lots of diagrams such as different configurations of starfighters or combat maneuvers. One diagram shows how Y-Wing cockpits could be adapted for a variety of mission uses ranging from bombing missions to patrol flights. Another diagram show a basic combat maneuver X-Wing pilots trained to do when engaging with TIE fighters in aerial combat.

TIE FIGHTER

Speaking of TIE Fighters, Insight Editions has also produced a Haynes Owner's Workshop Manual for Imperial and First Order models of this starfighter as well.  Learn all about the various models of these starfighters including Darth Vader's unique specced out TIE Advanced x1 and Kylo Ren's TIE Silencer. The book is full of photographs of all these starfighters taken from the movies and animated tv series showing close up views from all sorts of angles.

Blueprints show all sorts of interesting details about these starfighters portrayed as if they were real vehicles. Wonder why TIE Fighters have those huge wings on them? Want to learn how a twin ion engine works? What are those giant wings on their sides for? You'll find out by reading this book!

Learn how TIE Fighter pilots train in simulator pods and about the flight suits they wear. Compare the differences between the flight suits of the Imperial Navy and a First Order pilot.  Also learn about the maintenance and technical support required to keep TIE Fighters operational. Plus the book diagrams the battle maneuvers TIE Fighter pilots are feared for conducting with precision.

A GEEK DADDY NOD OF APPROVAL

I've been geeked flipping through the pages of these books from Insight Editions. This dad blogger has really enjoyed learning all the details and inner workings regarding the ins and outs of these starfighters. Must read content for diehard Star Wars fans! Science fiction lovers who like to delve into the technical aspects and backstories of the genre will also really appreciate reading these Haynes Manuals of Star Wars starfighters. I give both books ageekdaddy.com nod of approval!

HATCHIMALS DAY

 ** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review**

Happy Hatchimals Day! We received a mysterious egg the other day from Spin Master Toys with a "Hatchimal" inside and my kids have been anxious all week to find out what will emerge out of the shell.  Today's the day for the big reveal! My son and daughter have been rocking, petting and holding the egg to keep it comfortable, safe and warm.  Before your egg will hatch you must nurture and care for it to encourage the Hatchimal inside to break out of the shell.

My kids took caring for the egg so seriously that I even talked my son into sitting on it for awhile like a bird.  It turns out though that my joking him into doing that was the final touch to activate the Hatchimal to start pecking its way out of the shell.  We rushed it into the dining room to sit back and watch as holes began appearing in the shell.  Whatever was inside was ready to get out!



A beak began to poke holes through the shell.  After about five minutes it had cracked an opening around the egg allowing for the creature to crack out of the top.  We're about to get our first glimpse at what is inside the egg!



Well my daughter guessed it would be a penguin and my son thought it would be a dragon.  It turns out that they were both right as the Hatchimal that emerged was a combination of a penguin and a dragon. Meet our Hatchimal the kids have named -- Flappy.

While hatching the toy from the egg was a neat experience, the fun really begins now the Hatchimal is out of its shell.  You know the toy is ready to play with after it hatches when it sings HATCHI BIRTHDAY - a very nice touch! Now let the fun begin!



These interactive, animatronic creatures develop through three modes -- baby, toddler, and kids -- advancing to each level as they spurred on by your attention and imaginative play with them.  Each new mode opens up new features to interact and have fun with your Hatchimal.  Baby mode focuses on caring for the Hatchimal.  Toddler mode allows you to teach your Hatchimal to walk, talk and dance.  You can start playing games with your Hatchimal when it becomes a kid.

There are four games the Hatchimal will play with you: SILLY SOUNDS,  PSYCHIC HATCHIMAL, TAG, and HATCHIMAL SAYS.  In "Silly Sounds," your Hatchimal will tap  a pattern and you need to try to repeat it back. You can ask your Hatchinal YES or NO questions and it will answer them when playing "Psychic Hatchimal".  "When your Hatchimals eyes turn red you need to tap it on the head when playing "Tag."  Complete an instructed task -- pat its head, squeeze its belly, turn it upside down, before your Hatchimal gives another order to win at "Hatchimal Says."

My kids are just discovering all the great things they can do with their Hatchimal but it has already proven to be a toy that has excited and entertained them.  Because it combines an element of surprise by actually hatching from a shell, interactive robotic tech that engages children to participate in creative play, and a cuddly animal toy that boys and girls will adore, Spin Master's Hatchimals have earned A GEEK DADDY nod of approval.

CLICK HERE for more information about HATCHIMALS from Spin Master Toys.

Mystery Egg -- Spin Master Toys Hatchimals

**A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review**

I found a mysterious egg left at our front doorstep today that had been delivered by Spin Master Toys.  My kids were anxious to discover what was inside but a note with the egg asked us not to peek until Hatchimals Day on October 7.  The note encouraged us to keep the egg comforted while waiting for it to hatch by rocking, petting and tapping it and we might just be surprised by what happened when we did that.

What could it be?  A penguin? or platypus? is it a dinosaur? maybe even a dragon? My kids had plenty of guesses but we'll just have to wait until Hatchimals Day to find out for sure.



My children are taking turns nurturing the egg by holding it and keeping it safe.  When they started spending time with the egg something extraordinary occurred -- the creature inside actually began interacting with them.  As they rock the egg you can hear its heart start to beat.  Tap on the shell and it taps back.  Petting the egg might even gets it talking ... I swear it sounds like it is mimicking the words you are speaking around it.  Once the creature inside feels comfortable around you its eyes even begin to glow through the shell.



So what do you think will emerge from the shell on Hatchimals Day? Make sure to swing back and visit us on Friday to find out!

Robotic Aquabots provide fun of a fish tank without the hassle and mess - A Geek Daddy Toy Review

 ** A Geek Daddy received the featured products for free to review **

My kids have been begging me to get some new pet fish since their most recent ones passed away but one thing I realized from the last go around is they really aren't up to the responsibility of feeding them nor keeping the gold fish bowl clean.  I didn't want to be the one taking on the responsibility of a second go around with pet fish but also my kids nagging was starting to wear on me.  The problem may have been solved with some AquaBots™ from Hexbug® that are part-toy, part-pet.  These robotic little critters provide the fun of watching an aquatic creature swimming around under water without the hassle and mess of taking care of a live fish.  Of course learning responsibility is an important part of growing up so when my children get somewhat older and a bit more mature we'll give real fish another shot - but for now these AquaBots™ will do just fine.

Hearing about my goldfish predicament, the good folks at Hexbug® sent A Geek Daddy a few Aquabots™ to try out with my twins. We received an AquaBot™ Jellyfish and AquaBot™ Seahorse which my kids couldn't wait to open up when they came in the mail.  To describe them as excited would be an understatement as they anxiously watched me unpack the toys and fill up the included fish tanks with water.  What is really nice is you can just drop the toys right out of their package into water and off they go!  The AquaBot™ Jellyfish and Seahorse have an automatic on and off sensor activated by water.  Once they are submerged in water the toys begin to swim around but pull them out of the water and they stop...pretty cool! To maximize battery life after several minutes of swimming a Hexbug® AquaBot™ will go into sleep mode as not to wear out its batteries.  When you are ready to play with the AquaBot™ again thanks to high-tech sensors and patent-pending technology there are 3 easy ways to wake it up:  run your fingers through the water, touch the toy, or tap on the side of the fish.  Plus because Hexbug™ knows parents hate to go out and buy more batteries for toys, each AquaBot™ comes with a spare set of button cell powers - I really like that!

The Hexbug® AquaBot™ Jellyfish come in 5 different colors: Pink, Purple, Orange, Blue and Green.  We received a pink version that just thrilled my little girl.  The Jellyfish uses its 18 tentacles, powerful ducted impeller and 15 pre-programmed swimming routines to spin and slide through the water.

We also received a blue Hexbug® AquaBot™ Seahorse that was also a real hit with my kids.  The Seahorse has a selection of 5 translucent colors to choose from (blue, purple, green, red & orange) and by using smart fish technology and powered by electro-magnetic propulsion its curly rubber tail and back fin steer itself through the water.


My kids are at an age where they still like to play in the tub but many of the bath time toys out there are too babyish for them.  These toys worked just as well in the bath tub as they did in the fish tanks they came with.


The Hexbug AquaBot Jellyfish and Seahorse get A Geek Daddy nod of approval because my kids had a lot of fun with them and these aquatic creatures kept my children amused without my having to worry about feeding them or picking up poop. In addition to the Jellyfish and Seahorse, Hexbug® also produces a variety of sharks and fish AquaBots™ to choose from.  You may want to consider picking up the AquaBot™ Tri Pack which includes an Angelfish, Jellyfish, and Seahorse that retails for approximately $29.99.

One thing consumers should be aware of is that while on the Seahorse switching out the batteries is as easy as unfastening a screw it is a bit more complicated with the Jellyfish involving a special tool (that if you aren't looking out for can easily be thrown away with its packaging) which needs to be inserted into a special groove to open up the water tight seal.  Don't worry though because the Hexbug webpages for each product include a video with instructions on how to change the batteries on each of these Aquabots if you find yourself stumped.

For more information, visit hexbug.com/aquabot

Fifth Sun T-Shirt Review & Giveaway

 ** This post was made possible by Fifth Sun.  I was provided the featured products for free but all opinions expressed are honest and my own **

When the weather heats up and my kids are out of school, I want to be casual and comfortable so a few good t-shirts are a mainstay of my summer wardrobe.  With two young children at home, I want to make sure I'm donning clothes that can weather outdoor adventures and childhood messes with a sense of geek chic.  Being a dad doesn't mean you have to lose all your sense of style. So I always have my eyes out for a good comfy & stylish t-shirts that I can sport during the summer months while doing outdoor chores, playing with my kids or working out.

Fifth Sun, a leading supplier of graphic apparel for the retail industry for the retail clothing industry, generously provided my son and I some samples of the t-shirts that can be purchased from their web site www.fifthsun.com.  They design and produces unique t-shirts for well-recognized brands including Angry Birds, Star Wars, and Nintendo. Of course they caught my attention when I found out about the large selection of Star Wars gear they have available. You can find Fifth Sun apparel in over 3,500 independent stores, retail clothing chains such as Hot Topic, Urban Outfitters, and Old Navy, in addition to most major national chains such as Target, JCPenney, Kohl’s, and Walmart.  Understanding that many consumers appreciate the convenience of shopping online, Fifth Sun is selling some its most popular retail designs in addition to exclusive t-shirts unique to its website through www.fifthsun.com.

You have to admit it is a thrill to get a fun package in the mail.  The t-shirts we ordered from fifthsun.com were delivered very quickly and nicely packaged.  My son picked out shirts featuring Batman, the Justice League, and his favorite video game character Sonic the Hedgehog.  I'm always nervous about ordering clothes online because you don't want to get them and they don't fit, but all his t-shirts were a good fit...and they didn't shrink in the wash!

Growing up in the Motor City of course I have an appreciation for classic cars and auto racing, so it was impressive to see the automotive related apparel that Fifth Sun has to offer. I picked out one of their Shelby Cobra t-shirts to race around in while chasing after my kids.  They also have a large selection of designs featuring my father-in-law's favorite television show, Gas Monkey Garage.  For those of you who haven't seen the show, which I actually watch a lot myself too, they take neglected classic cars and fix them up into super charged hot rods.  If you have an appreciation for hot rods, than you'll also want to check out Fifth Sun's selection of officially licensed NHRA drag racing gear. Plus they have some cool Chevy stuff too!

Of course, I also picked out for myself a few t-shirts from their extensive Star Wars collection.  I like having a retro flair to my t-shirts so these Boba Fett and Star Wars Fan Club selections were perfect for me.  Like my son's shirts the ones I received were a comfortable fit and didn't shrink in the wash.

I can vouch from from all the boo boos that I've cleaned up over the years that yes like this t-shirt says my son does do his own stunts.  What kid doesn't attempt a wide variety of stunts while playing super heroes with their friends on the playground? So this obviously was his favorite t-shirt from www.fifthsun.com. What's yours?

A Geek Daddy Blog will be allowing one lucky reader to choose his or her favorite t-shirt (up to $26 in price) from Fifth Sun and get it for FREE.  For your chance to win just follow the instructions below to submit up to 2 entries before 11:50pm EST on Sunday, June  7, 2015.  You must be over 18 years old and a United States resident to participate.

Congrats to Jerry from Detroit who selected a Gas Monkey Garage t-shirt from Fifth Sun as his winning entry.

 EMAIL (1 ENTRY) - Email thegeekdaddy [at] yahoo [dot] com with your full name, mailing address, t-shirt size, name of the t-shirt you would like to win, and the url of the page for your favorite shirt that you would like to receive from www.fifthsun.com with the subject line SUNNY SUMMER TSHIRTS.

BONUS ENTRY (1 ENTRY) - Include in your email the name of the Star Wars creature that was featured on A Geek Daddy's Facebook page's Mothers Day post for a bonus entry.

Disclaimer & Rules:

A Geek Daddy Blog will select a random winner on  Monday, June 8, 2015 ( 1 winner will be selected from a random draw of all eligible entries - each submitted entry will be assigned a number and a random number will be drawn to select a winner based upon total entries ).  By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with this promotion. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.  A Geek Daddy Blog is hosting this giveaway as a benefit to our readers.  Information for this post was provided by Fifth Sun.  A Geek Daddy Blog did receive items and services of value in exchange for writing this blog post and review.  A positive review was not required of this blog and the views and opinions expressed are my own. Fifth Sun is responsible for the delivery of the prize in this promotion.

Mission: Red Planet - Board Game Allows You to Role Play the Conquest of Mars

I've always enjoyed role playing and strategy games except for that they often take way too long to play out so I often pass on them because of time constraints.  An exception to that complaint is a great board game by Fantasy Flight Games called MISSION: RED PLANET that allows players to engage in the planetary exploration of Mars in a Victorian Steampunk universe that takes approximately 45 - 90 minutes to play out.  That's long enough to have plenty of fun but a short enough span that the game doesn't drag on too long.

In the game, you take control of mining corporations competing to occupy Mars and harvest its invaluable, newly discovered natural resources.  Players launch their astronauts into space, station them in the most profitable zones of the planet. and mine for minerals and ice, all the while cunningly undermining their competition. 

MISSION: RED PLANET was originally released in 2005, but Fantasy Flight has just announced that an updated, revised edition of the game is coming out this fall in collaboration with its original designers Bruno Faidutti and Bruno Cathala.  The new edition allows astronauts to land in a new zone, the moon Phobos, and now the Soldier can can convey astronauts from Phobos to anywhere on Mars.  Missions and Discoveries have been fine-tuned and new Action Cards join the Event deck.  The game's Victorian Steampunk aesthetic has also been refreshed with an all new graphic design for a more contemporary look. If you don't get the gist of these changes it is probably because you haven't experienced the original game yet but once you give MISSION: RED PLANET a shot you'll quickly get a grasp on the game play.  Trying to keep a family game night going once your kids have hit those teenage years? MISSION: RED PLANET is a great game for an evening of family fun!

MISSION: RED PLANET is suitable for ages 13 and older and can be played by two to six players. The updated version also will include special rules for a new two-player variant of the game. For more information, visit www.fantasyflightgames.com.

Tomorrowland is SciFi Flick You Won't Want to Miss

This year has quite a few selections to choose from at the movies for Science Fiction fans ranging from comic book fantasies like Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron and The Fantastic Four to the post-apocalyptic adventures of Mad Max: Fury Road and Terminator: Genisys to the space opera Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  If you are a fan of SciFi keep an eye out for Disney's Tomorrowland which while it hasn't had as much exposure as some of the other upcoming films that are hitting theaters appears to be an interesting movie in the genre.  So far Disney has been a bit mysterious about the plot and aspects of the film but is beginning to open up and promote it more as Tomorrowland's May 22, 2015 release date approaches.

In Disney’s riveting mystery adventure “Tomorrowland,” a jaded scientist and an optimistic teen embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space.

Disney's Tomorrowland features a screenplay by “Lost” writer and co-creator Damon Lindelof and two-time Oscar® winner Brad Bird, from a story by Lindelof & Bird & Jeff Jensen and stars Academy Award® winner George Clooney. The plot of this SciFi mystery adventure seems interesting enough: Bound by a shared destiny, former boy-genius Frank (Clooney), jaded by disillusionment, and Casey (Britt Robertson), a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity, embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space known only as “Tomorrowland.” What they must do there changes the world—and them—forever.

If Tomorrowland has peeked your interest, there will be an exclusive six minute trailer with an introduction by director Brad Bird which will screen exclusively in IMAX® theaters in the United States and in select international markets beginning May 1. This extended first look of Tomorrowland will screen directly prior to Marvel’s AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON and will play for the duration of that film’s run in IMAX.

For more information about #Tomorrowland you can also visit the film's website: 
www.Disney.com/Tomorrowland  This PG rated film looks to be a nice option for a family outing to the movies that I'll absolutely be considering going to with my wife and kids.

A SciFi Book Review: STAR WARS - HEIR TO THE JEDI

I recently read Star Wars: Heir to the Jedi by Kevin Hearne which was an ok read probably more suited for teens and young adults than 40 something adults like me; but still worth flipping through by "more mature" readers looking for a book to amuse themselves with on a plane ride, while being lazy on a vacation or maybe stuck in bed after a medical procedure.  It's not that it is a bad book just that the main character is a wild and bit reckless teen who tells his story in first person perspective which is probably much more relatable to people closer to the age of the nineteen year old hero - Luke Skywalker - portrayed in it than me.

Heir to the Jedi is an adventure novel that takes place in the Star Wars timeline between the movies Episode IV A New Hope ( aka "Original Star Wars" ) and Episode V The Empire Strikes Back ( aka the best of the Star Wars movies made so far - we'll see how Episode VII The Force Awakens pans out in December ).  The premise of this story is that a brilliant cryptographer named Drusil who is renowned for her ability to breach advanced communications and security systems is being detained by the Empire and it is up to the Rebel Alliance's number one asset to come to the rescue before her skills can be corrupted by Imperial agents.  Luke Skywalker races to Drusil's aid with the help of a team that consists of his ever-resourceful droid R2-D2 and a new Rebel recruit named Nakari Kelen, who has a personal score to settle with the Empire after Darth Vader killed her mother for writing and performing a hit song that mocked him to a galactic audience of music lovers.  Nakari, with the support of her biotech mogul father who found his riches couldn't save his wife from the power of the Empire, provide much needed assistance to the Rebellion and a really nice space yacht which transports the team on their mission to rescue Drusil.

What really stands out in this novel is just how alone Luke Skywalker is after the Battle of Yavin.  In A New Hope, his only family that he knows of Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen Lars were murdered by Imperial storm troopers on Tatooine; Ben Kenobi was cut down by the light saber blade of Darth Vader, and childhood best buddy Biggs Darklighter was shot down attacking the Death Star.  As Heir to the Jedi begins Luke finds himself known by everyone as the hero who destroyed the Death Star but himself hardly knowing anyone.  In this novel, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and even C3P0, are off on other assignments leaving Luke with just R2D2 to keep him company and watch out for him.  Nakari steps in to fill that void and we see both characters develop and grow throughout the story as they work together to rescue Drusil from the clutches of the Empire.

With having seen Return of the Jedi and taking consideration all of the Expanded Universe materials that have been published it can be easy to skip over the fact that Ben Kenobi really abandoned Luke Skywalker at the end of A New Hope with no understanding or training on how to be a Jedi.  Without any knowledge of Yoda or any other Jedi to teach him, Luke finds himself frustrated in Heir to the Jedi as to whether or not he'll ever be able to master the Force.  He ponders if destroying the Death Star may have been his one and only encounter with utilizing the Force.  Having this book written in first person narrative really highlights the frustration of this young adult who has accomplished a great feat but now finds himself alone and unsure of himself.

Heir to the Jedi also shows off the young and reckless side of Luke Skywalker similar to the scene in A New Hope where the teen arrogantly challenges Han Solo about the quality of the Millennium Falcon and pilot's skills as they attempt to escape the Imperial blockade over Tatooine.  In this new adventure you witness Luke as the 19 year old kid who sometimes doesn't really think out things as much as he could or should.  During his escapades in Heir to the Jedi, Skywalker finds the tomb of a Jedi that was killed in Order 66 and is able to recover a light saber.  Curious about how light sabers work, he takes it apart to "study it" and accidentally breaks it which shows how the character can be impulsive and further highlights his lack of knowledge when it comes to the ways of the Force.  In another scene, Luke puts his mission at risk when he engages Imperial war ships that don't have any obvious connection to his assigned goals and objectives because he's in the mood to pick a fight.  As you read through this book, you join Luke Skywalker in wondering if maybe there won't be any heir to the Jedi after all.  And that's the rub...this story really delves into whether or not Ben Kenobi was the last of the Jedi or if Luke Skywalker is the heir to the Jedi.  Of course any Star Wars fan knows the answer to that, but this story is told from Luke's perspective and he has no clue what the future holds for him.  Joining him on this journey is what makes this novel an interesting read.

If you are looking for a literary masterpiece this isn't the book you are looking for; but if you are just searching for an amusing way to pass the time I believe readers (especially teens and young adults) will like Heir to the Jedi as an easy to flip through, fast paced SciFi adventure that takes place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. 

DISCLAIMER:  I received limited access to a digital edition of  HEIR TO THE JEDI for this review from its publisher. The views and opinions in this review are my own.  I was not required to post a positive review for access to this book.

Granite City Food & Brewery Rocks!

Alcohol and children aren't a combination that tend to go together when many parents think of taking the family to dine out, but Granite City Food & Brewery proves to be an exception.  To promote the April 8th grand opening of its new Northville, Michigan location, Granite City invited my family to have lunch for free while participating in its mock service staff training the weekend before its opening so that it could put an emphasis on highlighting its food offerings and showcase itself as a kid-friendly destination to eat out.   Our experience showed that just because its a brewery doesn't mean you should leave your kids at home.

Granite City Food & Brewery is a casual restaurant with a comfortable atmosphere that pays homage to its Midwestern roots with its decor of dark wood and stone accents that provide both a modern and an "up north" vibe to the place.  Granite City began as a local brewery in the granite mining city of St. Cloud, Minnesota and has expanded over the last 15 years to 33 locations in 13 states.  The 10,200 square foot restaurant in Northville can seat approximately 300 guests and features an open kitchen with a central wood-fried pizza oven and an on-site brewery.

Granite City has developed a reputation for the brew-pub's handcrafted beers which are moderately priced and offer unique styles and flavors not typically produced by major breweries.  It has patented a brewing process, known as Fermentus Interruptus , which allows it to replicate its signature beers with the exact same taste throughout all the Granite City Food & Brewery restaurants.  Granite City's are The Duke, an India Pale Ale; The Bennie, a German Bock; The Northern, an American Lager; and The Broad Axe, an Oatmeal Stout.  Plus in addition to creating their signature beers onsite, special seasonal brews are featured through the year also.   If none of these wet your whistle, the Northville location's large three-sided, full-service bar also has a selection of other locally-produced Michigan beers available and an extensive wine list.

Broad Axe Stout - a thick creamy head sits atop the opaque blackness of this oatmeal stout.  Roasted chocolate and coffee notes make this beer a great treat!

The Bennie - carries a brownish color, a medium body, and a mouthwatering smoothness from the wonderful malt and sweet caramel flavors.

The Duke - the rich color of this pale ale hints at the bold malt character used to balance the huge hoppy flavors and defining bitterness of this classic English style beer.

The Northern is a classic American lager with a creamy, smooth taste.

Granite City isn't just about the beer though.  It also features a great menu of made-from-scratch recipes that make it a great destination for a family meal.  Granite City Food & Brewery's menu has selections that will please everyone from the most sophisticated palate to the child who is the pickiest eater.  My daughter has a very severe peanut allergy and we were very impressed that the staff was very educated and concerned about food allergies. Without prompting the knowledge that not just ingredients but allergen contamination is an issue to be alert to when preparing and serving food was communicated to us which gave us peace of mind that this restaurant knows what they are doing when it comes to dealing with this issue rather than just trying to provide lip service to appease a customer.  Also for those readers that may be interested, Granite City has a special gluten free menu.

The restaurant really went all out to demonstrate how kid-friendly the establishment can be for families.  The waitress noted that they just didn't have a nice selection of beers but also plenty of chocolate milk on tap as she provided our children with activity placemats and crayons.  Our twins were than served an appetizer of these huge carrot slices that were cut to appear like potato chips or waffle fries with ranch dressing to dip them in.  They were pretty impressive.  The kids menu contains the four staple items that every parent with a picky eating child looks for Grilled Cheese (Golden Grill), Chicken Nuggets (Chicken Bites), Mac-N-Cheese, and Pizza (Pepperoni Flatbread).  We've been to plenty of restaurants in the past where we've looked at the adult selections and been thrilled than perused the kids meals and frowned knowing our kids won't eat anything on it.  That won't be the case at Granite City Food & Brewery.

Granite City actually has a pretty extensive kids menu that also includes Quesadilla, Saucy Pasta, Grilled Salmon, Steak Burgers and Grilled Chicken Breasts.  They also provide a variety of sides to select from to go along with the meal that include apple sauce, french fries, mashed potatoes, and broccolini to choose from.  Our kids kept it simple with my son asking for a Golden Grill and my daughter wanting Mac-N-Cheese with both ordering apple sauce for a side.  They must have enjoyed what they got because both children devoured their meals.

My wife ordered the pulled pork waffle sandwich which she said was "delicious." It was made up of slow roasted hand-pulled pork topped with BBQ sauce and crispy onion strings sandwiched on waffle buns.  She herself can be a very picky eater at times so "delicious" can be considered a rave review.

I tried out the Bison Burger and it was a decent meal though in the future I'll probably stick with a traditional hamburger just based on my own individual taste.  the burger consisted of a buffalo meat patty topped with Pepper Jack cheese and tarragon mayo on a pretzel bun.  It also included lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles.

What will really keep me coming back to Granite City Food & Brewery though is its Cheddar Ale Soup.  Simply put ... it's AWESOME!!!  If you enjoy creamy cheese with a hint of pale ale flavoring you will really enjoy this great soup.  It's worth a trip to Granite City just to get a cup or bowl of their Cheddar Ale soup. The soup is on the daily menu but they really don't tout it so make sure to ask for it.  I enjoyed a bowl of it myself before digging into my bison burger.

The atmosphere of Granite City really is all about enjoying a beer with a meal so you won't find a rowdy or obnoxious crowd at this establishment that would make families want to steer clear of the place.  In addition to a decent kids menu, the establishment also caters to people with children by offering a family rest room, you don't see that very often at a restaurant, and kids 6 and under eat FREE at their Sunday brunches.  We really enjoyed our experience at Granite City and appreciated the opportunity to help their staff get up to speed and ready to go for their newest Metro Detroit location's grand opening.

To allow one of our readers to also enjoy a great free meal too, Granite City Food & Brewery has also provided a $25 gift card to award to one lucky person from A GEEK DADDY blog.  For your chance to win just follow the instructions below to submit up to 2 entries before 11:50pm EST on Sunday, April 12, 2015.  You must be over 18 years old and a Michigan resident to participate.

EMAIL (1 ENTRY) - Email thegeekdaddy [at] yahoo [dot] com with your name and mailing address with the subject line GRANITE CITY.

FACEBOOK (1 ENTRY) - Leave a comment on this Facebook post sharing which of Granite City's four signature beers you believe you'd enjoy the most and using the hash tag #GCnorthville

UPDATE: Congrats to Adam from Northville MI who won the gift card giveaway!

The brand new Northville restaurant is located at 39603 Traditions Drive.  There is also a Metro Detroit location in Troy, Michigan at 699 W. Big Beaver Road plus another upcoming opening is planned in the near future for Detroit's GM Renaissance Center.

Granite City gets A GEEK DADDY nod of approval because I really love their Cheddar Ale soup and because we found it to be a nice family-friendly establishment where we enjoyed a good meal with our kids.  For a list of all of Granite City's locations or more information about it, visit www.gcfb.net

Disclaimer & Rules:

You must be a Michigan resident to enter the gift card contest over the age of 18. A Geek Daddy Blog will select a random winner on  Monday, April 13, 2015 ( 1 winner will be selected from a random draw of all eligible entries - each submitted entry will be assigned a number and a random number will be drawn to select a winner based upon total entries ).  By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with this promotion. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.  A Geek Daddy Blog is hosting this giveaway as a benefit to our readers.  Information for this post was provided by Granite City Food & Brewery.  A Geek Daddy Blog did receive items and services of value in exchange for writing this blog post and review.  A positive review was not required of this blog and the views and opinions expressed are my own.