Ugh, I hate to say this. I thought I was a Naomi Novik fan, but this collection of short stories made me reconsider that. I loved the Scholomance seriUgh, I hate to say this. I thought I was a Naomi Novik fan, but this collection of short stories made me reconsider that. I loved the Scholomance series, but *what if* I just really loved El? What if it's that I loved this specific world that Novik created rather than her writing itself?
I was so excited to pick this up, and I just kept putting it back down again. The only story I read through in once sitting was, of course, the one that took place in the world of the Scholomance. And now I'm just feeling so guilty.
Maybe I need to come back to this collection in the future; maybe I just wasn't in the right place for it.
“Remember, sustainability is about achieving a good standard of living for everyone alive today, as well as those who come after us.”
I like that Ritch“Remember, sustainability is about achieving a good standard of living for everyone alive today, as well as those who come after us.”
I like that Ritchie acknowledges that our environmental situation is serious and must be acted on, but it’s not hopeless. And because it must be acted on, we can’t give up. She took inspiration from Hans Rosling (which is kind of funny because Rosling said that everything was better than we thought it was…except climate change).
I thought this was a practical book with a bit of a capitalist (or at least not socialist) bent: she puts a lot of hope in the free market and how our individual choices (from purchases to voting) can drive change. Ritchie dives into the data and lays out why there’s hope for the future and what specific actions we should take (and which don’t make an impact or could be harmful). She moves the locus of control back to you as an individual, as a member of society, and it is refreshing....more
Ooh, okay, this one is *brutal*. Clytemnestra’s story is one of the Greek myths I’m most familiar with, and even knowing what was going to happen did Ooh, okay, this one is *brutal*. Clytemnestra’s story is one of the Greek myths I’m most familiar with, and even knowing what was going to happen did not diminish how hard this was to read, especially as a mother.
I love this retelling from Clytemnestra’s perspective: her challenges being a clever woman in a man’s world, the trauma she faces in her life, being a mother to children who never quite feel like hers. This was really well-written and well-researched, and I’d recommend this to others.
"...the very act of trying to look ahead to discern possibilities and offer warnings is in itself an act of hope."
I rThis was a beautiful little book.
"...the very act of trying to look ahead to discern possibilities and offer warnings is in itself an act of hope."
I read Parable of the Sower years ago, and it has stuck with me ever since. I find myself thinking about it at random times, how bleak that future is, what led to it, what parallels there are to our world today. This essay by Octavia Butler gave the book new meaning for me, colored it more hopefully. There is action required to prevent that future from being ours, and if we look ahead with no hope, we won't take those actions.
I would recommend this essay to anyone who read and was impacted by the Earthseed books.
Thank you to Netgalley and Chronicle Books!...more
I’ve always been a fan of Murakami, though not all of his books have been home runs for me. His writing, especially when he leans into magical realismI’ve always been a fan of Murakami, though not all of his books have been home runs for me. His writing, especially when he leans into magical realism, resonates with me, but I haven’t loved his more absurdist books.
The City and Its Uncertain Walls really hit the mark for me. It's more introspective, with just the right amount of mystery to keep me intrigued the whole way through. The story begins with a nameless young couple, but it quickly becomes more than a love story.
The porous boundaries between reality and an imagined world blur, exploring themes of memory, loss, and truth.
I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoyed 1Q84. It has that same elements of mystery and surrealism, but it’s a bit more introspective and emotionally grounded.
I requested this immediately when I saw “cozy debut science fiction” and was imagining something like The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. Then I reI requested this immediately when I saw “cozy debut science fiction” and was imagining something like The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. Then I read the first chapter and thought it’d be A Gentleman in Moscow but in SPACE. But then I kept going, and it wasn’t quite either of these things. There’s a crew of misfits, yes. And there’s a hotel and its innerworkings, sure. But just under the surface is dystopia that permeates the story in an unnerving kind of way.
It is awesome.
I wasn’t sure about this for chapters two through maybe five because I couldn’t see where it was going and I felt thrown off that it wasn’t “cozy”, but then I was in it and I loved it and I thought it was both disturbing and heartwarming. Both tragic and uplifting.
I generally try to go into books knowing as little about them as possible. I picked this up because the cover and title are awesome, and I’ll read preI generally try to go into books knowing as little about them as possible. I picked this up because the cover and title are awesome, and I’ll read pretty much any sci-fi.
But there is one thing you need to know upfront is that this is a horror novel. A bleak horror novel. And if that’s not your jam, move on.
Temple (he/him) and London (they/them) are part of an exploratory expedition to terraform planets to make them fit for humanity after we destroyed Earth: Temple leads a group of terraformers while London is stuck alone in a small, sterile outpost. Their love is strong, but the distance is wearying.
In both of their worlds, things start to slowly go wrong, and Temple tries his best to support London while dealing with his own nightmares.
I don’t want to say more than that for fear of giving this away.
In a book that really focuses on two characters and their relationship, Davidson manages to cover big themes like environmental stewardship, living in a world you’re not suited for, and corporate greed and coverups.
I was initially going to give this three stars but had to round up because the concept and world-building were so well thought out and unique.
Thank you to Book Sirens and Timber Ghost Press!...more
What an excellent afrofuturist short story collection! I thought these were fantastic: profound and moving and engaging. Sure, some were stronger thanWhat an excellent afrofuturist short story collection! I thought these were fantastic: profound and moving and engaging. Sure, some were stronger than others, but on the whole, this was wonderful.
These tackle some big questions about the future, about art and science, and about love and loss. They are deeply human while examining AI and technology. They are beautifully written and riveting.
My favorites were Debut, Saturday’s Song, Lights in the Sky, and A Dream of Electric Mothers.
I think my challenge with some of the newer books is that I just love the original characters so much and want to know more about them and their worldI think my challenge with some of the newer books is that I just love the original characters so much and want to know more about them and their worlds. These short stories are wonderful to me and feel more like “home” than the newest books.
Jack is one of my favorite Wayward Children characters, and while this was a little corny, it was also warm and horrifying and pretty much exactly whaJack is one of my favorite Wayward Children characters, and while this was a little corny, it was also warm and horrifying and pretty much exactly what I want out of these stories.
Wow, this was excellent. It’s a retelling of the life of Xishi from Ancient China—I wasn’t familiar with the original story, but this book was compareWow, this was excellent. It’s a retelling of the life of Xishi from Ancient China—I wasn’t familiar with the original story, but this book was compared to *She Who Became the Sun* (which I loved) so I picked it up right away. It definitely had similarities: the writing was top notch, we had an amazing female protagonist, and the characters were all complex and interesting.
I couldn’t put it down.
I do want to note: I’m seeing this shelved in lots of places as fantasy or romantasy, and while it is the retelling of a legend, there aren’t really any fantasy elements. Don’t let that stop you, though! It certainly *reads* like a fantasy book in terms of scope and pacing.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press!...more
It’s always hard to rate memoirs: this three star rating is not a rating of the author’s life or work (both of which are amazing). I had a hard time gIt’s always hard to rate memoirs: this three star rating is not a rating of the author’s life or work (both of which are amazing). I had a hard time getting into this and kept putting it down and picking it up again—not because the story wasn’t interesting (it was!) but purely because I found the writing hard to lose myself in. It was written like it was intended as a script for a talk on stage in front of people and that didn’t really work for me. I’m sure it’ll work for others, though, and I’d still recommend this one.
Dr. Wynn-Grant has a great story, and I enjoyed following her on her adventures and as she made tough choices in her life. I’d love to see her speak live some time; I’m sure it’d be fantastic.