Hear the Wind Sing by Haruki Murakami
First published in 1979, Hear the Wind Sing is Haruki Murakami’s debut novel (or novella, depending upon where one draws the line). An unnamed narrator tells the story of what happened to him over the course of eighteen days when he was a university student. He spends most of his time either drinking beer with his friend, “The Rat,” or else in a confused relationship with a woman.
To be honest, I did not enjoy Hear the Wind Sing,
December 22nd, 2015. Ryan Skardal´s rating: 2 | Haruki Murakami | Audio, Edge | SFF Reviews | 3 comments |
Station Eleven Emily St. John Mandel
“Quiet” and “lovely” are not usually words one reaches for when describing a post-apocalyptic novel. Not with the reverted-back-to-savagery cannibals; the road-raging-mohawk-sporting highway warriors; the gleeful told-you-so rat-a-tat of survivalist gunfire, or the annoying mumblespeak “braiiinnnnss” from the shambling zombies. But quiet and lovely are exactly the words I’d use to describe Station Eleven, the post-apocalyptic novel from Emily St. John Mandel that is happily missing all the above and shows the modern world ending with neither a bang nor a whimper,
December 22nd, 2015. Bill Capossere, Ryan Skardal, Ray McKenzie, Marion Deeds, Tadiana Jones and Stuart Starosta | Emily St. John Mandel | Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 10 comments |
The Wild Shore by Kim Stanley Robinson
Kim Stanley Robinson’s debut novel, The Wild Shore, was first published in 1984 but its story begins decades after nuclear bombs were set off in America’s cities. Now, in 2047, Californian survivors in San Onofre dedicate their days to gathering food and maintaining their shelters rather than filming movies and computer programming.
Hank Fletcher, our narrator, is angry at the world. Unlike some angst-ridden teenagers, Hank has good reason to resent the world as all the other countries of the United Nations have agreed to prevent the American survivors from rebuilding.
December 18th, 2015. Ryan Skardal´s rating: 4 | Kim Stanley Robinson | Audio | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
The Walking Dead, Volume 1: Days Gone Bye by Robert Kirkman & Tony Moore
In his introduction to The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman explains that the best zombie stories feature waves of blood but also come with strong undercurrents of social commentary. If the back of this graphic novel is to be believed, Kirkman will explore how “in a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally start living.”
Kirkman mentions George Romero’s zombie movies in his introduction, but his take on the zombie is more than homage to Romero’s movies.
November 28th, 2015. Ryan Skardal and Skye Walker´s rating: 4 | Comics | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
To all our American readers: Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it invites us to take stock, to reflect, and to be grateful. As a big fan of SFF, I’ve had a great deal to be thankful this year, including new novels by Robert Charles Wilson, China Miéville, and Neal Stephenson. However, perhaps this year will be remembered as a great year for SFF films, including Mad Max: Fury Road,
November 26th, 2015. Ryan Skardal | Giveaway!, Thoughtful Thursday | 19 comments |
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
I have just finished reading Haruki Murakami’s What I Talk About When I Talk About Running for the fifth time. I love this book, and although I wouldn’t say it’s the greatest book ever written, it may be my favorite book ever written.
At the title suggests, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is a series of essays and memoirs, mostly centering on running.
November 18th, 2015. Ryan Skardal´s rating: 5 | Haruki Murakami | Edge, Non-fiction, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 9 comments |
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R.R. Martin
“Are there no true knights among you?”
Dunk, a hedge knight, is burying his former master, Ser Arlan of Pennytree, in the soft spring ground. He has little, besides a sword and a horse. Though he is neither well trained nor especially well educated, Dunk is an unusually large man and he has a good heart. Looking at his former master, buried anonymously in a random hillside, Dunk decides to risk it all at the tourney in Ashford.
November 13th, 2015. Ryan Skardal´s rating: 4 | George R.R. Martin | Audio | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
Distrust That Particular Flavor by William Gibson
Distrust That Particular Flavor is William Gibson’s non-fiction compilation album. These entries, which are arranged neither chronologically nor thematically, touch on a variety of subjects, ranging from Japanese culture to Steely Dan to how recent technologies will evolve.
Gibson begins the work explaining how he learned to write fiction. He further admits that many of his non-fiction works were done primarily because Wired and other publications offered to fly him abroad if he’d comment on his experiences.
August 20th, 2015. Ryan Skardal´s rating: 4 | William Gibson | Non-fiction | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
A Tolkien Bestiary by David Day
David Day’s A Tolkien Bestiary may be the greatest companion book ever. Even if it’s not, it’s still my favorite. Day provides an overview of people, places, races, and Middle Earth’s history. Although Day explains why he refers to the work as a bestiary, I usually think of it as an awesome encyclopedia.
In A Tolkien Bestiary, readers can lose themselves for hours at a time. I have encountered this book in many places — classrooms,
August 3rd, 2015. Ryan Skardal´s rating: 5 | J.R.R. Tolkien | Non-fiction | SFF Reviews | 7 comments |
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
In The Years of Rice and Salt, Kim Stanley Robinson uses the Black Plague to remove the Europeans, leaving the Old World to the Chinese, Islam, and the many cultural groups that end up in India. The Chinese discover the Americas, their diseases spread through the Native American populations, and their armies plunder the Incans. The novel begins with the Plague, but its vignettes move from one period of history to the next until it reaches the end of the 20th century.
June 30th, 2015. Ryan Skardal´s rating: 4.5 | Kim Stanley Robinson | Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
Thanks for the kind words, Marion! Coming as they are from a professional writer, they are much appreciated!
Wonderful review, Sandy.
The "body count" bothered me a bit less because being dead seemed more like an inconvenience than anything else... unlike…
Detailed, thoughtful review, Bill. I'm going to read it for two reasons. First, Karen Russell wrote it, and second, it…
this sounds like a fun one