I really thought this was going to be a four or even five star book for me with how fast and fun it started. I’m okay, for books like these, with the I really thought this was going to be a four or even five star book for me with how fast and fun it started. I’m okay, for books like these, with the science being pretty light, but it’s functionally nonexistent here. I could’ve let that slide if the economics (which are thoroughly explained) worked or if the plot just weren’t so convenient and shallow. There was just a lot of handwaving over what could’ve been really interesting challenges to delve into.
That said, it was still fun, and it was by no means a slog. I was just kind of giggling and rolling my eyes throughout....more
You can always count on Adrian Tchaikovsky for interesting alien life, but the hard thing about this one was it was so hard tProbably really 4.5 stars
You can always count on Adrian Tchaikovsky for interesting alien life, but the hard thing about this one was it was so hard to picture in my head the world Tchaikovsky built. It wasn’t his description—it was the true alienness of Shroud, and that also made this book groundbreaking for me.
I don’t want to say too much for fear of giving things away, but I can safely say that if you liked Tchaikovsky’s books like Children of Time and The Doors of Eden, you’ll like this one.
I’d give this a full five stars for the first and last 25% and then four for the middle half which started interesting but became a tad repetitive.
Wow. Okay. I’ve read a few of Okorafor’s books before, and while I enjoyed them, Death of the Author is in its own category. It’s more complex, more lWow. Okay. I’ve read a few of Okorafor’s books before, and while I enjoyed them, Death of the Author is in its own category. It’s more complex, more layered—both in terms of storytelling and writing.
It took me a little while to settle in. The dialogue in the first couple of chapters felt a bit stilted, but once I got into the rhythm, I was in. Okorafor seamlessly weaves together two narratives, and when they finally clicked into place, I literally gasped.
This book tackles big themes—belonging, autonomy, the tension between personal identity and public perception—while delivering a story that’s thought-provoking and immersive. It has a lot to say about who gets to tell their own story and what happens when that control is taken away.
It’s also a book that can appeal to a wide range of readers. Sci-fi fans will love the book-within-a-book concept, but it’s just as compelling for those newer to the genre.
Death of the Author is sharp, compelling, and totally unlike anything I’ve read before.
I absolutely loved The Ancients. It’s the story of a world ravaged by climate change, where civilization has been set back thousands of years. The intI absolutely loved The Ancients. It’s the story of a world ravaged by climate change, where civilization has been set back thousands of years. The interwoven stories of survival and hope kept me hooked from start to finish.
None of the characters were purely likable, but they were all compelling in their own ways, forcing me to stay invested in their struggles.
I loved the messages about sustainability and hope in such a bleak future. My only minor gripe was how neatly everything wrapped up in the end, which felt a little too tidy given the harshness of the story. That said, it didn’t take away from how incredible this book was overall—highly recommend!
I was super into this in the beginning: it was like reading Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy for the first time, but a little more modern and less BriI was super into this in the beginning: it was like reading Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy for the first time, but a little more modern and less British.
But then nothing happened. And nothing kept happening. And then I was 30% of the way through and still nothing had happened.
So, because I started this without knowing anything about it, I thought it’d be a cute YA SF book about an AI and a group of internet friends. This is actually a THRILLER. And it gets kind of intense.
I enjoyed it, loved the diverse characters, and thought the writing was solid.
So, because I started this without knowing anything about it, I thought it’d be a cute YA SF book about an AI and a group of internet friends. This is actually a THRILLER. And it gets kind of intense.
I enjoyed it, loved the diverse characters, and thought the writing was solid....more
This one starts with a great premise but quickly loses its way. The setup—driving a mysterious woman and her black box across the country with a ton oThis one starts with a great premise but quickly loses its way. The setup—driving a mysterious woman and her black box across the country with a ton of odd rules—was really intriguing at first. There’s also some smart commentary on internet culture and conspiracy theories, which could’ve been interesting. But the characters just fell flat for me. I couldn’t connect with them, and honestly, I didn’t really care what happened to them.
The pacing was also all over the place. What starts as a potential page-turner turns into a long, drawn-out adventure. The initial tension fizzles out, and the story ends up feeling more absurd than thrilling. I found myself struggling to keep going. For a book with such a wild premise, I was surprised by how uneven and slow it felt overall. I really wanted to like it more, but it just didn’t click for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press!...more
If Cebo Campbell set out to write an uncomfortable read, one that pushes boundaries: mission accomplished. This book is such an interesting thought exIf Cebo Campbell set out to write an uncomfortable read, one that pushes boundaries: mission accomplished. This book is such an interesting thought experiment, and the writing is so good I was hooked the whole way through.
The premise is wild: one day, all the white people in America walk into the nearest body of water and disappear. A year later, Charlie Brunton, a Black professor and ex-convict, gets a call from his daughter Sidney, who’s been isolating herself in Wisconsin ever since the event. The two of them—estranged and carrying plenty of baggage—set off on a road trip through a world that’s completely changed. Along the way, they face what it means to be Black in this "post-racial" America while trying to figure out their own complicated relationship. It’s equal parts heart-wrenching, thought-provoking, and totally unique.
I know some reviews have slammed the ending, but I liked it. I’m all for open-ended stories that make you think, and this one felt like it ended exactly where it should. That said, my one gripe is Sidney. She felt a little flat at the beginning, more like a caricature than a real person, and that made some of the more emotional parts of the book miss a beat for me. But it’s a small thing in an otherwise great book.
And a note: some of the reviews I’ve seen are just baffling. Did we read the same book? People saying the author is spewing hate or calling for genocide: no. That’s not what this is. This book is about race, identity, and what happens when power structures are flipped on their heads. It’s supposed to make you uncomfortable. That’s the point.
In the end, Sky Full of Elephants is a book that sticks with you. It’s sharp, original, and packed with heart. I’m looking forward to whatever Cebo Campbell writes next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster!...more
Space opera is one of my favorite genres, but it’s also known for long, sometimes meandering works that can feel like a slog to get through. I loved tSpace opera is one of my favorite genres, but it’s also known for long, sometimes meandering works that can feel like a slog to get through. I loved these quick hits, and I’m impressed by the caliber of author.
Like any anthology, there were some highs and lows here, but what was particularly impressive is that even the lows were good; they just weren’t really for me. But the writing was great across the board, some stories just resonated with me more than others.
A handful of these stories were not new to me, but it was fun to reencounter them anyway.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tachyon Publications!...more
This is like if Blake Crouch wrote Annihilation and maybe had a background in zoology.
You can always count on Tchaikovsky to bring an interesting biolThis is like if Blake Crouch wrote Annihilation and maybe had a background in zoology.
You can always count on Tchaikovsky to bring an interesting biology angle, and Alien Clay did not disappoint. Four rather than five stars from me because this didn't have the same philosophical/introspective vibe as my favorite Tchaikovsky books, and for a book with some thrilling parts, the pacing felt a little slow at times.
I enjoyed this, but I’m worried it’s not going to find the right readers who will love it. I’m worried Keanu Reeves movies fans are going to pick thisI enjoyed this, but I’m worried it’s not going to find the right readers who will love it. I’m worried Keanu Reeves movies fans are going to pick this up, and it’s not the most accessible speculative fiction work. And then on the other hand, China Miéville fans might pick it up, and especially at the beginning, the premise seems super pedestrian (a supersoldier who is pretty much invincible is part of a team with regular, mortal soldiers). So you start out the book with a fairly lowbrow story but with highbrow writing, and I think lots of folks will abandon this after the first chapter or two.
I do think this is worth sticking with for weird lit lovers: the story grows much more complex over time, and when you’re about a quarter of the way through, it really gets interesting with lots of smaller narratives weaving into the story of Unute. There is very little telling and lots and lots of showing, and the authors haven’t made this one easy to digest. But I think it’s worth it, and I’ve found myself telling kind of a lot of people about this book even if I’m not sure they’ll love it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House!...more