Machine Learning by Hugh Howey
Odds are good that you’ve heard of Hugh Howey — whether you’ve read one of his novels or short stories, or even if you’re just aware of the runaway success of his SILO trilogy, which began with Wool. Machine Learning (2017) is the first collection of his short stories (and one novelette), most of which were published elsewhere in various times and places, and it’s an excellent display of his range,
June 25th, 2018. Jana Nyman´s rating: 4.5 | Hugh Howey | Short Fiction | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
The Robots of Gotham by Todd McAulty
The Robots of Gotham (2018) is the debut novel from Todd McAulty, and though it’s chock-full of robots, only one of them seems to actually be from Gotham, and the entirety of the book’s nearly-700 pages take place in Chicago. So it’s a slightly misleading title, but there are more than enough explosions, stealth missions, and metal-clad behemoths to make up for it.
In a nutshell, there are humans — mostly part of the Venezuelan army,
June 22nd, 2018. Jana Nyman´s rating: 3 | Todd McAulty | SFF Reviews | 6 comments |
The Freeze-Frame Revolution by Peter Watts
Having never read one of Peter Watts’ novels before, I thought a short novel like The Freeze-Frame Revolution (2018) would be a good place for me to start. After all, I like science fiction, generation-style ships, rogue AIs, and solid narratives about mutinous crews. Watts delivers on those elements and many more, but the story never really coalesced for me, and I had trouble connecting with the narrator.
Over the last sixty million years, Sunday Ahzmundin and the rest of the Eriophora’s crew have been traveling the galaxy,
June 22nd, 2018. Jana Nyman´s rating: 2 | Peter Watts | Short Fiction | SFF Reviews | 4 comments |
Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman
Neal Shusterman follows up Scythe, which introduced readers to a mostly-perfect futuristic world in which death isn’t permanent (until it very much is) with Thunderhead (2018), the second installment in his ARC OF A SCYTHE trilogy. Regrettably, I won’t be able to discuss anything about Thunderhead without spoiling some of Scythe’s details, so consider yourself warned and/or prepared.
Rowan Damisch and Citra Terranova are no more — at least,
June 13th, 2018. Jana Nyman´s rating: 3.5 | Neal Shusterman | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
At Fantasy Literature, we love fearless women!
Women are shining in every genre of speculative fiction, and it is no longer enough to say “Women are here.” Instead, #FearlessWomen everywhere are taking a stand to say “Women will thrive here.”
Highlighting major titles from bestselling authors V.E. Schwab, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jacqueline Carey as well as titles from acclaimed and debut authors such as Mary Robinette Kowal, Tessa Gratton, Sam Hawke, and Robyn Bennis,
June 12th, 2018. Jana Nyman | Jacqueline Carey | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
With Guardian (2018), A.J. Hartley brings his STEEPLEJACK trilogy to a triumphant close. Readers who savored the voyeuristic thrill of soaring along rooftops and bringing evildoers to justice alongside Anglet Sutonga in Steeplejack and Firebrand are sure to cheer as she tackles an even more daunting task: gathering allies both near and far to protect the city she calls home. The STEEPLEJACK books (and reviews of said books) need to be read in order,
June 12th, 2018. Jana Nyman´s rating: 4.5 | A.J. Hartley | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
The Overneath by Peter S. Beagle
It must be hard to be a literary icon, late in your career. You’ve ascended the literary heights and amassed an adoring following who still expect you never to repeat, and even improve upon your previous genius with each new work. But I’m not sorry for Peter S. Beagle, nor his latest short story collection The Overneath, which came out in November of 2017.
Most striking, to me, is that Beagle manages each new tale with a distinct,
June 8th, 2018. Taya Okerlund and Jana Nyman´s rating: 3.5 | Peter S. Beagle | Short Fiction | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
Luna: Wolf Moon by Ian McDonald
Luna: Wolf Moon (2017) continues the saga Ian McDonald began in Luna: New Moon, which explored the power struggles between the Five Dragons, five powerful families controlling certain areas of influence on Earth’s moon. Each family, in turn, adheres to a national identity which dictates how they do business, what sort of business they do, and who they’re most likely to (figuratively and literally) stab in the back at the nearest opportunity while simultaneously marrying their offspring to one another in attempts to gain influence or construct gossamer-thin alliances.
June 7th, 2018. Jana Nyman´s rating: 4 | Ian McDonald | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Claire North brings a haunting and all-too-realistic vision of the near-future to life for her most recent novel, 84K (2018), in which an already-existing real world injustice is pushed to its natural limit: every possible crime and infraction are assigned a monetary value, from murder to petty theft and everything in between, and wealthy citizens escape punishment by simply paying the appropriate fine. Those who cannot pay their fine are, at best, interned in working penitentiaries known as “the patty line,” making cosmetics and frozen dinners and shiny baubles that they could never afford,
June 1st, 2018. Jana Nyman´s rating: 5 | Claire North | Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 6 comments |
At Fantasy Literature, we love fearless women!
Women are shining in every genre of speculative fiction, and it is no longer enough to say “Women are here.” Instead, #FearlessWomen everywhere are taking a stand to say “Women will thrive here.”
Highlighting major titles from bestselling authors V.E. Schwab, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jacqueline Carey as well as titles from acclaimed and debut authors such as Mary Robinette Kowal, Tessa Gratton, Sam Hawke, and Robyn Bennis,
May 29th, 2018. Jana Nyman | Victoria (V.E.) Schwab | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
Do it! One of the best things I've read in recent years.
This reminds me. I want to read Addie LaRue.
We’re in total agreement David!
I felt just the same. The prose and character work was excellent. The larger story was unsatisfying, especially compared to…
Hmmm. I think I'll pass.