Previous SFF Author: George Mann
Lisa Mantchev has been involved in writing, acting, directing, and producing theatre since the fourth grade. She studied drama at the University of California, Irvine. After graduation, Ms. Mantchev taught English at the Lycée Internationale de Los Angeles and created their Drama After School Program. She lives in Washington state with her husband, daughter, and four dogs. Learn more at Lisa Mantchev’s website.
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Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
I confess, I’ve been put off by YA books a lot lately. The trends seem to lean towards dark and “edgy” books (many of which sound depressing) and Twilight clones and wannabes. I can deal with the former, but the latter isn’t my thing. But while I was browsing one day, the cover of Eyes Likes Stars caught my attention (not surprising, since it’s gorgeous). I read the blurb and decided I had to get it; it sounded fresh,
Beth Johnson Sonderby (guest)´s rating: 4.5 | Lisa Mantchev | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | 4 comments |
Spicy Slipstream Stories edited by Nick Namatas & Jay Lake
Slipstream, for me, is a type of fiction that is bizarre and confusing and defies expectations. That’s not a bad thing, mind you, but to quote a passage from the introduction of the book, “You don’t write slipstream, you read it.” And so it was a big surprise when I started reading the stories in this anthology. They’re actually — gasp — readable, or at least accessible to lay people without needing literary degrees or geeky credentials. In fact, the selections impressed me because they all stood out,
Charles Tan (GUEST)´s rating: 3 | Carrie Vaughn, Ekaterina Sedia, Jay Lake, Lisa Mantchev, Nick Mamatas | Short Fiction | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer
Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded is the second steampunk anthology edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer, following 2008’s first installment. It contains about twice as many stories as its predecessor, but unlike the first collection the quality is more uneven here, resulting in a less impressive but still fascinating anthology that should please fans of the genre.
While the first anthology only contained one story I was less than happy with, there are at least four or five in Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded that I could have done without.
Previous SFF Author: George Mann
Sounds fun!
I guess my benchmark is whether the feistiness and sarcasm are done well. After all, chocolate is ubiquitous in our…
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Aren't smart, feisty, sarcastic protagonists pretty much the default in genre fiction nowadays? From that baseline you move up to…
COMMENT My highest recommendation!