Jana: This week I read Rebecca Roanhorse’s Black Sun, which was really enjoyable, and I’m excited to see what direction Roanhorse takes for the first planned sequel, Fevered Star. I’m now reading Shelley Parker-Chan’s debut novel, She Who Became the Sun, described as “Mulan meets The Song of Achilles,” which sounds weirdly perfect for me. It’s got a killer first chapter, and my hope is that it only gets better from there.
August 22nd, 2021. Tim Scheidler | Status Update | 2 comments |
Eden by Cullen Bunn (writer), Dalibor Talajic (artist), Valentina Briski (colorist), & Marshall Dillon (letter)
Eden by Cullen Bunn and Dalibor Talajic is a fun, suspenseful comic book with a surprising, disturbing ending. Bunn quickly introduces the main characters and plot in the first four pages of this one-shot: Niles is a tattooist who has been mourning the loss of his wife and young child for a long time, we are led to believe, because when a beautiful and mysterious woman walks in, Niles’s friends and colleagues immediately start trying to set them up,
August 21st, 2021. Brad Hawley´s rating: 4.5 | Comics | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Star Rangers (1953) (aka The Last Planet) is the second of Andre Norton’s stand-alone novels included in Star Soldiers, an omnibus released in print by Baen Books in 2001 and in audiobook format by Tantor Media in March 2021. Star Soldiers also includes the novel Star Guard (1955). These two novels are collectively known as the CENTRAL CONTROL stories and,
August 20th, 2021. Kat Hooper and Bill Capossere´s rating: 4, 5 | Andre Norton | Audio, Young Adult | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Time for another “Rename This Horrible Cover” contest.
We like Isaac Asimov‘s The Gods Themselves, but wonder if you can come up with a better title for this particular cover? (Click to embiggen.)
The creator of the title we like best wins a book from our stacks.
Got a suggestion for a horrible cover that needs renaming? Please send it to Kat.
August 19th, 2021. FanLit | Giveaway!, Thoughtful Thursday | 17 comments |
The Rookery (2021) is Deborah Hewitt’s sequel to her debut novel, The Nightjar, which I described in my review as having many of the issues one expects in a debut novel but that also left the reader eager to see what she did next based on her “imaginative content and writing style.” The sequel has its own issues but does improve on its predecessor. Some inevitable spoilers for book one to follow.
August 19th, 2021. Bill Capossere´s rating: 3.5 | Deborah Hewitt | SFF Reviews | no comments |
CONvergence is reporting that someone who attended has notified the Con Committee that they now have Covid. (Thanks to File 770.) If you attended the in person events you may want to get tested.
The Dragon Award finalists have been announced.
DragonCon is requiring proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test done no more than 72 hours before admittance to the Con.
Jon del Arroz has been permanently suspended from the Twitter platform.
From File 770,
August 18th, 2021. Marion Deeds | World Wide Wednesday | no comments |
Da Vinci’s Cat by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Catherine Gilbert Murdock offers up a solidly charming Middle Grade portal story involving travel through time and space, the painting of the Sistine Chapel, shifting timelines, feuding Renaissance artists, and of course, a cat. With a quick pace, high stakes, and two comically mismatched young protagonists, Da Vinci’s Cat (2021) will probably satisfy most young readers, despite some issues.
In 1511 Rome, 11-year-old Federico Gonzaga is a “guest-hostage” to Pope Julius II, ensconced in the Pope’s sumptuous villa to ensure the loyalty of his aristocratic family,
August 18th, 2021. Bill Capossere´s rating: 3 | Catherine Gilbert Murdock | Children, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Star Soldiers (2001 Baen Books, 2021 Tantor Media) contains the two related stand-alone stories Star Guard (1955) and Star Rangers (1953) which together are known as the CENTRAL CONTROL novels. I’m reviewing them separately since that’s how they were originally published. I’ve read more than 20 Andre Norton novels and these are some of my favorites. Like most of her work, they’ll be enjoyed most by teenagers, especially those new to science fiction.
August 17th, 2021. Kat Hooper and Bill Capossere´s rating: 4.5 | Andre Norton | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Agatha H. and the Siege of Mechanicsburg by Phil & Kaja Foglio
The GIRL GENIUS novels are so much fun! When I picked up the first of these (Agatha H. and the Airship City), I assumed that a novelization of a web comic wouldn’t work very well. Boy, was I wrong! Though the Foglios’ artwork is fabulous, and I urge you with all the force of my will to take a look at it online, I find that I enjoy the story just as much with the novels.
August 16th, 2021. Kat Hooper´s rating: 4 | Phil and Kaja Foglio | Audio | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
A few weeks ago I finally finished with revisions to my dissertation and rewarded myself with a read of The Goblin Emperor, the first book published under the name of Katherine Addison (the pen-name for Sarah Monette, accomplished spec-fic author).
It’s been a while since I experienced such pure undiluted reading enjoyment. I was thrilled on every page that this book even existed, and even more excited that Katherine Addison is a young writer so that,
August 16th, 2021. Kate Lechler, Tadiana Jones and Jana Nyman´s rating: 5 | Katherine Addison | SFF Reviews | 3 comments |
COMMENT Was I hinting that? I wasn't aware of it. But now that you mention it.... 🤔
So it sounds like you're hinting Fox may have had three or so different incomplete stories that he stitched together,…
It's hardly a private conversation, Becky. You're welcome to add your 2 cents anytime!
If the state of the arts puzzles you, and you wonder why so many novels are "retellings" and formulaic rework,…
I picked my copy up last week and I can't wait to finish my current book and get started! I…