Tomorrow, the Killing by Daniel Polansky
Tomorrow, the Killing (2012) is the second book in Daniel Polansky’s LOW TOWN series, a noir-flavored fantasy set in the grimy underbelly of a fictional city. Tomorrow, the Killing takes place three years after the events of Low Town (UK: The Straight Razor Cure). You don’t necessarily need to read Low Town first because the stories stand alone,
June 11th, 2020. Kat Hooper´s rating: 3.5 | Daniel Polansky | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence
The Girl and the Stars (2020) is the first book in Mark Lawrence’s BOOK OF THE ICE series. It’s about a society that lives in an extremely harsh icy climate. They have a spiritual leader called “the regulator” who looks for children who are “broken” — children who are too weak or who have character traits that will not benefit the survival of their tribes when they become adults. Every few years, to cull the herd,
June 9th, 2020. Kat Hooper´s rating: 3.5 | Mark Lawrence | Audio | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
The Book of Koli by M.R. Carey
Koli lives in a far-future post-apocalyptic England. He has never been beyond the walls of Mythen Rood, his tiny village, because outside are wild animals, vicious plants, and who knows what other dangers. The leaders of Mythen Rood are the Ramparts, a small group of people who have magic that allows them to work the salvaged technology of the ancient humans who used to be masters of the Earth (that’s us).
When kids in Mythen Rood turn 15 years old, the Ramparts test them to see if they have the magic to work the technology.
June 2nd, 2020. Kat Hooper´s rating: 4.5 | Mike (M.R.) Carey | Audio | SFF Reviews | 4 comments |
A Song for a New Day by Sarah Pinsker
Luce Cannon was a rising rock star, traveling with a new band and doing live shows all over the country, until a rash of deadly terrorist attacks, and the threat of more to come, caused the American government to criminalize large public gatherings.
Now, instead of live concerts, musicians and their fans meet virtually, with the fans wearing hoodies equipped with technology that allows them to safely experience the perception of being with others at a show. But Luce and like-minded artists never bought into this concept and aren’t willing to sell their souls to StageHoloLive,
May 18th, 2020. Kat Hooper and Marion Deeds´s rating: 4 | Sarah Pinsker | Nebula Award, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
Readers who enjoyed Carlos Hernandez’s Nebula-nominated Sal and Gabi Break the Universe are likely to also enjoy the sequel, Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe (2020). The story picks up where the previous one left off. Sal’s “magical” abilities have left holes in the universe and his father (Papi) is building a machine (in the living room) that he hopes will fix the holes. But Sal notices that the machine makes him feel sad when he’s around it… and it might be developing consciousness.
May 15th, 2020. Kat Hooper´s rating: 3.5 | Carlos Hernandez | Audio, Children | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City by K.J. Parker
Anything written by K.J. Parker is a must-read for me. I love his work and recommend it to anyone looking for exciting stories with unique, intelligent, and often unreliable, heroes. Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City (2019) is no exception.
Orhan is a master bridge builder who’s slightly corrupt (you have to be if you want to get anything done on time and within budget in this city). He arrived in the city when he was a child after his parents were killed and the enemy enslaved him.
May 14th, 2020. Kat Hooper´s rating: 4 | K.J. Parker | Audio, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
Blood of the Heroes by Steve White
Tantor Audio is publishing Steve White’s JASON THANOU (TEMPORAL REGULATORY AUTHORITY) series in audiobook format, so I tried the first book, Blood of the Heroes, originally published in 2006. It’s not great literature, but it’s diverting and even educational (which I can appreciate).
Jason Thanou is a retired agent of the Temporal Regulatory Authority (TRA), an organization that, among other things, monitors and protects academics who use time travel in their studies.
May 13th, 2020. Kat Hooper´s rating: 3 | Steve White | Audio | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
“This whole alien abduction thing isn’t the worst thing that has ever happened to me.”
Ann Aguirre’s Strange Love (2019) isn’t the type of book I normally read, so keep that in mind. I picked it up because the publisher of the audiobook, Tantor Media, offered me a review copy of their recently released edition (April 2020) and I thought it would be nice to try something different.
The story is about an alien named Zylar who wants to marry but has been unsuccessful in the marriage challenges and is about to be relegated to a life of bachelorhood doing a menial job for his tribe if he doesn’t succeed in the next annual Choosing.
May 12th, 2020. Kat Hooper´s rating: 3 | Ann Aguirre | Audio | SFF Reviews | 4 comments |
Seven years ago, previously unknown aliens attacked and destroyed the crew of a human spaceship. The brutal event was recorded, so all of humanity has seen it. Ever since, Earth has been at war with these “Salamanders.”
The latest war ship to be developed and deployed against the salamanders is the Providence. It’s equipped with artificial intelligence that takes care of most of the shipboard tasks but is crewed by four humans who’ve been appointed after an arduous selection process. To keep the public support,
May 8th, 2020. Kat Hooper´s rating: 3 | Max Barry | Audio, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin
Note: N.K. Jemisin’s short story “The City Born Great,” free at Tor.com, is the opening chapter of this novel.
New York City is in danger from eldritch horrors. We’ve seen these things before, originally, and most notably, in stories by H.P. Lovecraft. These beings come from outside our universe. They are ancient, powerful, and merciless, and there is no negotiating with them. They want our planet and they’re looking for a way into our world to destroy us.
May 7th, 2020. Kat Hooper´s rating: 4 | N.K. Jemisin | Audio | SFF Reviews | 3 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.