Esperance hooked me from page one and didn’t let go. I mean, how could it? It opens with an impossible murder - a father and son drown in seawater insEsperance hooked me from page one and didn’t let go. I mean, how could it? It opens with an impossible murder - a father and son drown in seawater inside their 20th-floor Chicago apartment (with no water tank around, floors dry, and nail scratches on the ceiling). A dead barracuda is just lying there next to them. For me, that’s the kind of opening that demands attention, and trust me, Oyebanji knows exactly how to keep it.
All of this somehow ties to a woman in Bristol who dresses and speaks like she walked out of the 1930s Nigeria, has and builds tech that shouldn’t exist, and is on a very specific historical scavenger hunt. Yeah, I’m in.
The pacing is perfect - the short chapters told from two points of view (Detective Ethan Krol and Abi) fly by quickly thanks to the right mix of action, mystery, and those oh-crap moments where everything shifts. The sci-fi elements are there, but Oyebanji doesn’t over-explain them, which somehow makes them even cooler. I found the twists top-tier, but your mileage may vary. Anyway, just when I thought I had things figured out, nope. With that said, it’s possible some readers won’t be crazy about police procedural elements, but since I love them, I had no issues here.
I also loved the dynamic between Hollie and Abi. Hollie is basically most of us. Abidemi, on the other hand, is an enigma - charismatic, dangerous, and inhumanly brilliant. Their relationship had the odd but interesting energy, and I loved how their interactions went from trust and suspicion and back.
Even the antagonist had motivations that actually made sense. There’s logic to their actions, even if their methods are, let’s say, a lot.
By the time I hit the final act, I was all in. The twists come fast, the revelations hit hard, and the ending is equally satisfying and unsettling. I feel it’ll stick with me. If you’re into Blake Crouch-style thrillers, Neal Stephenson-esque tech mysteries, or just a smart, fast-paced story that refuses to be predictable, Esperance is absolutely worth your time.
Zelu Onyenezi-Onyedele doesn’t fit in anywhere—not in her high-achieving Nigerian-American family, not in academia, and definitely not in the literaryZelu Onyenezi-Onyedele doesn’t fit in anywhere—not in her high-achieving Nigerian-American family, not in academia, and definitely not in the literary world. She’s broke, disabled, and stuck in the shadow of siblings who actually listened when their parents said “doctor, lawyer, or engineer.” So when she loses her job and another one of her books gets rejected, she does what any loner with nothing left to lose might do: she writes for herself.
What comes out is Rusted Robots, a gritty sci-fi epic set in a post-human Nigeria, where robots and AI wage existential war in the ruins of humanity. Against all odds, this weird, raw, wildly creative book becomes a bestseller. Zelu finds fame and money, but she remains an outsider.
Death of the Author walks a fine line between literary fiction and Africanfuturism. It’s also a nice example of the book-within-a-book format; we follow the events through Zelu’s life and excerpts from her sci-fi book. I liked how Okorafor shifted between the two genres. And I loved the surprising ending that connected both parts extremely well. But, you know, spoilers.
Cultural complexities of Zelu’s Igbo-Yoruba family and the pressures of being a first-generation immigrant influence her story and development. Her relationships—with her family, her work, and herself—are toxic and difficult. Meanwhile, Rusted Robots features solid worldbuilding, even if its chapters sometimes feel too brief.
There’s also another layer to the story, the one I rather enjoyed. It contains a sharp commentary on the publishing industry, internet fame, and who gets to tell which stories. While it doesn’t dominate the book, it’s important to the story, especially as Zelu’s rise to fame forces her to confront personal and cultural expectations or social media outrage.
Death of the Author is a good story with an excellent ending. It’s not perfect -won’t appeal to everyone—but it’s bold, heartfelt, and entertaining. Bonus points if you’re a fan of robots or literary drama.
Nothing special, to be honest. I’m planning to read all six Philip K. Dick Award nominees, but after finishing three, I might reconsider. So far, I’m Nothing special, to be honest. I’m planning to read all six Philip K. Dick Award nominees, but after finishing three, I might reconsider. So far, I’m not impressed....more
The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain is fine. It’s not bad, but it’s not the life-changing novella the accolades had me expecting either. It has aThe Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain is fine. It’s not bad, but it’s not the life-changing novella the accolades had me expecting either. It has all the makings of something great: a stark critique of capitalism, a mining ship setting with a rigid caste system, and the promise of revolutionary change. And yet, it left me feeling... well, not much.
The story opens with “the boy,” a chain-gang worker in the depths of a mining ship, and “the woman,” a professor who plucks him from the hold through an academic scholarship program. What follows is a mix of bleak realities and hopeful attempts to “humanize space” through education and art. It’s a noble premise, but the execution felt heavy-handed. The book often seemed more interested in delivering a lecture than telling a story, with its metaphors about labor exploitation and societal hierarchies spelled out in bold, underlined, and highlighted for good measure.
There are moments of beauty-Samatar sure can write-but sometimes I felt elegant sentences masked the thinness of the plot. The worldbuilding is subtle, sometimes to a fault. Details trickle in, but not enough to ground me fully in the setting. Psychic powers tied to physical chains? Sure, why not. But with little explanation or buildup, it felt like a narrative shortcut. Or, to be more blunt, the world-building feels like a teaser rather than the whole package.
At 128 pages, it’s a quick read. And it’s not bad, just... fine. Maybe worth a read if you like your sci-fi dense and with a side of moral philosophy. ...more
The Fourth Consort promises an entertaining mix of alien diplomacy, political intrigue, and humor, but it ends up being less of a thrill ride than I sThe Fourth Consort promises an entertaining mix of alien diplomacy, political intrigue, and humor, but it ends up being less of a thrill ride than I signed up for.
Dalton Greaves, an ex-soldier turned reluctant emissary, is stranded on a bug-filled planet and awkwardly crowned as consort to the alien queen. That setup sounds wild, right? It is, but the book doesn’t really lean into the absurdity or go deep into the politics. Instead, we get surface-level world-building and a main character who’s just kind of… there. Dalton isn’t terrible, but he’s so passive it’s hard to root for him.
The alien culture and political drama are cool in theory but undercooked in practice. The translator chip, with its snarky potential, barely gets a chance to shine. Some reviewers compare it to Ray Nayler's excellent "Mountain at The Sea", but it's nowhere near.
On the bright side, it’s fast-paced and has its funny moments, even if some of the jokes feel a little forced. Overall, it’s an okay read-not awful, not amazing. ...more
Hexagon Bridge is a total visual stunner. Richard Blake’s art is beautifully weird, full of floating buildings, impossible geometry, and a cool vibe (Hexagon Bridge is a total visual stunner. Richard Blake’s art is beautifully weird, full of floating buildings, impossible geometry, and a cool vibe (a mix of futuristic and Victorian). It’s the kind of comic book that makes it easy to lose yourself just flipping through the pages.
How about the story? Eh, not so much. The whole “rescue mission through a parallel dimension” setup is cool in theory, but it doesn’t go deep enough. The characters don’t really evolve, and the plot feels kind of thin.
That said, if you’re in it for the great art, you won’t be disappointed. ...more
Adrian Tchaikovsky functions at a level of productivity most of us can only envy. A good thing for us, readers. I always thought he excelled at a noveAdrian Tchaikovsky functions at a level of productivity most of us can only envy. A good thing for us, readers. I always thought he excelled at a novella format and Saturation Point proves my point. Fans of a climate apocalypse and existential dread - here’s your next fix.
In a near-future Earth humans are the architects and victims of environmental collapse. Dr. Jasmine Marks guides readers into the Zone, a no-go territory where nature thrives, but humans can’t exist without their hazmat suits.
Told through her fragmented audio recordings, the story starts with a routine expedition but quickly spirals into a Lovecraftian nightmare. Marks’ former mentor, Dr. Elaine Fell, may have engineered a new, hyper-adaptive branch of humanity that thrives in the Zone. The Zone itself is spreading and no one knows if it will stop. Then we have Glasshower, the corporate bad guy who leads a team of red-shirts disguised as experts to investigate (and neutralize) this ecological insurgency.
Saturation Point is a pulse-pounding survival thriller where death lurks behind every fern. In the Zone humanity’s hubris meets its deadly match. But it’s also a story that looks at what happens when evolution leaves us behind. The bio-engineered “natives” of the Zone are creepy, yes, but they also force us to confront the uncomfortable question: what if nature really is better off without us?
Dr. Marks is an excellent protagonist. Her internal conflict and ethical dilemmas drive the story forward. She starts out relatable, becomes increasingly unlikable, and somehow remains fascinating throughout-a refreshing inversion of typical character arcs. Glasshower, meanwhile, is a coldly logical villain with just enough nuance to make you wonder if he might have a point.
Sure, Saturation Point leans a little hard on familiar tropes (corporations bad, humanity doomed), but it also twists them just enough to keep things fresh. And while some readers might squirm at the colonial undertones of the Zone’s “natives,” the novella ultimately earns its place as a sharp, thought-provoking piece of speculative fiction.
Verdict? Tchaikovsky delivers a fast, furious, and deeply unsettling eco-thriller that’s worth checking out. It’s short on pages but big on ideas.
Completely bonkers. This sci-fi classic, first published in 1965, takes place in a future where Earth is way too hot, humanity is fleeing to off-worldCompletely bonkers. This sci-fi classic, first published in 1965, takes place in a future where Earth is way too hot, humanity is fleeing to off-world colonies, and everyone’s drugging themselves to escape their miserable lives.
The main fix of choice is “Can-D,” a hallucinogen that lets colonists step into dollhouse-like fantasies, but then along comes Palmer Eldritch with his new drug, “Chew-Z.” It’s marketed as the ultimate escape. But is it really freedom, or is Eldritch pulling everyone into his creepy, god-like control? Spoiler: it’s the second one.
Barney Mayerson, a stressed-out, insecure “Pre-Fash” consultant (basically a guy who predicts trends before they happen) is great at his job but terrible at life. When he gets tangled up with Chew-Z and Eldritch’s freaky omnipresence, things get... weird. Time bends, reality fractures, and suddenly you’re not sure if anything—or anyone—is real.
Dick throws a lot at you: questions about free will, God, reality, and the commodification of pretty much everything. The book is stuffed with ideas, some of them genius, some of them half-baked. The writing is chaotic but hypnotic, like Dick himself was on some Chew-Z while writing it.
I loved the audacity of this story. It doesn’t care if it’s confusing or if the ending leaves you with more questions than answers. And that’s the point, I think - Dick wants readers to feel as disoriented as his characters. It’s also slyly funny, with plenty of digs at religion, capitalism, and humanity’s endless need to escape.
Is it perfect? Nope. Is it a must-read? Absolutely, if you’re into sci-fi that messes with your head. ...more
Moonbound was engineered in a lab specifically to boggle my mind. It opens with a 12-year-old boy named Ariel de la Sauvage, who stumbles upon a graveMoonbound was engineered in a lab specifically to boggle my mind. It opens with a 12-year-old boy named Ariel de la Sauvage, who stumbles upon a grave and who lives in a post-apocalyptic, dragon-wrecked Earth where animals talk, wizards run the show, and nothing is as it seems.
The story has a truly unique narrator: a sentient, symbiotic fungus known as the “chronicler” designed to archive human memories. After lying dormant for 10,000 years in the remains of a long-dead warrior, the chronicler bonds with already mentioned Ariel.
Chronicler’s perspective gives the personal feel of first-person, the suspense of limited third-person, and the big-picture view of omniscient third-person, all in one. Not bad. And yes, it’s weird. But somehow, Sloan makes it work.
The story itself is a classic coming-of-age quest. Ariel, fleeing the wrath of the Wizard Malory, travels across the planet, gains allies (like a talking elk with a symbiotic beehive or a very chill hive-mind robot) and learns about himself and the world.
What’s the vibe of the story? Mainly whimsical and occasionally bewildering. Also, it feels fresh when it puts Arthurian legend, far-future sci-fi, and a healthy dose of talking beavers to the mix. Ariel’s rebellion against the sinister Wizard Malory is almost accidental, and it sets the stage for a game of seek & hide.
Sloan’s worldbuilding is wildly inventive. The Earth Ariel inhabits is a place where animals talk, robots roam, and wizards hold power - an anachronistic blend of medieval fantasy tropes and high-tech relics. At the center of this world’s history are the “dragons,” AI creations turned apocalyptic overlords that destroyed humanity’s aspirations for the stars. These dragons remain an omnipresent threat and shape the course of the novel as Ariel sets out on an epic journey.
What sets Moonbound apart is its playful approach to genres and ideas. It’s as much about environmental stewardship and the ethics of artificial intelligence as it is about heroism and destiny. The chronicler’s voice is sometimes detached and sometimes deeply empathetic, and it provides a great commentary on the layers of civilization Ariel’s world has built—and lost.
If there’s a downside, it’s that the ending feels rushed, and some questions are left unanswered. This is a small tradeoff - Moonbound is entertaining and not afraid to ask BIG questions. If you like speculative fiction that challenges conventions, Moonbound should appeal to you. ...more
It's undoubtedly a clever and well-thought-out book with plenty of hard sci-fi elements. There's also a layer of personal and family drama that g3.5/5
It's undoubtedly a clever and well-thought-out book with plenty of hard sci-fi elements. There's also a layer of personal and family drama that gives someone / something to relate to to less science oriented readers. While I appreciated the science (and let's be honest - I probably missed/didn't fully understand most of it), I found the characters somewhat flat, and the ending left too much unresolved. Without a sequel, it doesn’t work as a fully satisfying standalone book....more
That was something. Creation Lake is essentially an espionage thriller that somehow combines spying with existential inquiries and the psychology of NThat was something. Creation Lake is essentially an espionage thriller that somehow combines spying with existential inquiries and the psychology of Neandertals. It offers no straightforward answers and remains ambiguous throughout. The story follows Sadie Smith, a hard-drinking, enigmatic 34-year-old undercover agent, whose mission takes her deep into the remote Guyenne valley in France. Hired by shadowy entities (who cares as long as the pay is right), Sadie’s tasked with infiltrating and destabilizing a radical anarchist collective accused of sabotaging the construction of massive water reservoirs that threaten the local environment and farming communities.
Sadie is a great example of a flawed character - a master of disguise with a cold approach to her work and people she meets and uses. She’s an excellent manipulator, unable to form a genuine human connection. The mission will, of course, make her question her empty and transactional life. All thanks to Bruno Lacombe, an elderly philosopher who advocates a return to pre-industrial living. In his view, modern society is on the path to extinction. Initially, Sadie takes him for a lunatic, but with time his beliefs force her to reconsider a lot.
The tone of the story is tense and on the bleaker side. Kushner writes precisely and concisely, and it makes the oppressive atmosphere palpable. Her philosophical musings and social critique won’t appeal to everyone, but I found them interesting (idealism vs. human nature.) Despite dark tone, we get welcomed moments of deadpan wit and dark humor.
In all, Creation Lake is a book worth trying. ...more
Fishflies has its ups and downs. It's definitely worth a shot if you're into small-town gloom, dysfunctional families, and a side of magical real3.5/5
Fishflies has its ups and downs. It's definitely worth a shot if you're into small-town gloom, dysfunctional families, and a side of magical realism. Set in yet another sleepy Canadian town, the story follows young Franny, who finds and helps a giant humanoid bug. Naturally, this isn't just any overgrown insect, but one linked to local tragedy and Franny’s own desperate need for connection.
I'm a fan of Lemire’s muted watercolors and expressionistic art and the somber mood they create. I also enjoy his usual take on friendship, guilt, and redemption and a touch of magical realism. Longtime fans will find themselves right at home. With that said, I found the ending underwhelming and bland....more
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh is a fast-paced, character-driven space opera that won the 2024 Hugo Award for Bes3.5 or 4. And I still don't know.
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh is a fast-paced, character-driven space opera that won the 2024 Hugo Award for Best Novel. Not too shabby.
The story combines high-stakes action with deep emotional and political arcs. It follows Kyr, a fiercely loyal (and brain-washed) soldier on Gaea Station, whose entire life revolves around avenging Earth’s destruction by alien forces. Her intensity and single-mindedness make her difficult to like, and her initial arrogance is frustrating. Like, you rarely meet someone so resistant to counter-arguments or logic. That changes, obviously, when spoilerish events shake Kyr’s worldview.
I liked how Tesh approached the transformation of a soldier so fiercely committed to the cause but faced with painful truths about her society and herself. Her radical unlearning and moral reappraisal packs a punch. With that said, some parts of Kyr’s arc feel repetitive, especially in the middle sections.
The novel’s world-building is ambitious, but not fully explained or logical. The multiverse mechanics and reality-altering technology play a key role in the narrative. I had the impression these elements sometimes felt overly convenient, particularly near the climax, where a deus ex machina resolution (of sorts) weakens the otherwise strong narrative tension. I won’t lie, I felt that the stakes, built up so well throughout the story, were undercut by the ultimate solution.
While its fans praise the book for its critique of militarism and patriarchy, the intensity of its political messaging felt somewhat heavy-handed to me. Tesh’s writing is sharp, and she delivers a strong commentary on systems of oppression, but the characters can feel more like vehicles for these ideas than fully fleshed-out individuals. That said, I understand those who appreciate Some Desperate Glory’s subversive edge and rather fresh take on classic space opera tropes.
Overall, Some Desperate Glory is a bold, energetic novel with plenty of thought-provoking ideas, but its flaws—unlikable characters, a somewhat repetitive middle, and a too-neat ending—decreased my enjoyment. Still, it’s a noteworthy entry in modern sci-fi that combines thrilling action with larger social critiques....more
Nothing says fun summer read like a mysterious, remote Arctic research station with a rising body count. I loved the setting—an isolated Arctic researNothing says fun summer read like a mysterious, remote Arctic research station with a rising body count. I loved the setting—an isolated Arctic research station surrounded by ice, snow, and more secrets than a politician’s diary. From the moment the characters step into the Arctic, the tension ratchets up and never really lets go.
As gripping as the story is most of the time, there are a few moments where the plot feels a bit by-the-numbers. Seasoned thriller readers will guess some twists before they happen. It’s like watching a horror movie and knowing exactly when the jump scare is coming. But that doesn’t mean the ride isn’t enjoyable, mind.
Colony is a solid, edge-of-your-seat thriller that delivers on atmosphere, tension, and scientific intrigue. While it doesn’t reinvent the genre, it’s highly entertaining and well paced.
The Family Experiment is an engaging sci-fi thriller with a Black Mirror-esque vibe. Overpopulation and economic crises have hit the UK hard. StartingThe Family Experiment is an engaging sci-fi thriller with a Black Mirror-esque vibe. Overpopulation and economic crises have hit the UK hard. Starting a family became increasingly unaffordable for most. But there’s a solution - desperate couples/single parents can now subscribe to a service allowing them to raise a virtual child through the metaverse and VR.
The company behind Virtual Children launches a reality TV show where ten couples raise a virtual child from birth to age eighteen in just nine months. The prize is either keeping their virtual child or “deleting” it all for a chance (and money) at a real baby.
The pacing is good, characters reasonably distinct, but not really developed. While I enjoyed listening to the book, I feel Marrs overuses “convenience” to make his plot tighter. The story jumps in time to reveal something whenever it’s needed. Here’s a deep dark secret, shocking, right? Boom, here’s another one. And now you have all the pieces! And so on, and so on. It makes for a quick read, but not for a great narrative IMO.
Still, I enjoyed the book and can recommend the audiobook version narrated by a full cast of voice actors to anyone looking for an engaging and quick read....more