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The climactic conclusion to N.K. Jemisin’s THE BROKEN EARTH trilogy, The Stone Sky (2017), has expectations erupting into the stratosphere since both the previous books, The Fifth Season (2015) and The Obelisk Gate (2016), captured the Hugo Awards for Best SF Novels of 2015 and 2016, and these wins were well deserved. Having just finished it, I think THE BROKEN EARTH trilogy is one of the most intelligent,
October 20th, 2017. Stuart Starosta, Jana Nyman and Marion Deeds´s rating: 5 | N.K. Jemisin | Audio, Locus Award, Nebula Award | SFF Reviews | 5 comments |
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
At seven minutes past midnight, Conor O’Malley is visited by a monster. But it’s not the monster he’s expecting. This monster is wild and ancient. This monster comes in the form of a yew tree that usually stands atop the hill Conor can see from his bedroom window, in the middle of the graveyard. Except that now it is here, outside his bedroom window, and it wants something from Conor.
Conor O’Malley started getting nightmares after his mother got sick. In them he has terrible visions,
October 18th, 2017. Ray McKenzie´s rating: 5 | Patrick Ness | Stand-Alone, Young Adult | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
In this column, I feature comic book reviews written by my students at Oxford College of Emory University. Oxford College is a small liberal arts school just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. I challenge students to read and interpret comics because I believe sequential art and visual literacy are essential parts of education at any level (see my Manifesto!). I post the best of my students’ reviews in this column. Today, I am proud to present a review by Jacob Brummeler:
Jacob Brummeler is a sophomore at Oxford College of Emory University and is pursuing a double major in Playwriting and Media Studies.
October 14th, 2017. Brad Hawley´s rating: 5 | Alan Moore | Comics | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
Superhero Comics by Chris Gavaler
Superhero Comics (2017) is my second Chris Gavaler book looking at the genre (I read On the Origin of Superheroes: From the Big Bang to Action Comics No. 1), and considering how impressed I was with both of them, I will gladly pick up a third if there is one.
The book is part of the Bloomsbury Comics Study Series, which aims for the sweet spot between the academic and the lay reader in creating a text that can especially be used in the college classroom,
October 11th, 2017. Bill Capossere´s rating: 5 | Comics, Non-fiction | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
A bit of classic magical realism today. First published in 1989 in installments, Like Water for Chocolate was a bestseller in Laura Esquivel’s native Mexico and subsequently around the world. A popular film version earned the story a place in yet more hearts (if you are tempted to watch it, don’t watch the version with the English voice-over, stick with the Spanish). The story is a heady combination of love, passion, family drama, food, recipes, and magic, all set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution.
September 6th, 2017. Katie Burton´s rating: 5 | Laura Esquivel | Edge, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Vintner’s Luck by Elizabeth Knox
In many ways this is a strange book in both content and format, but once you read the first few chapters and get used to the way in which the story is told, The Vintner’s Luck (1998) is a compelling, page-turning read from an author whose style reminds me of a slightly more refined Joanne Harris.
Sobran Jodeau is a young vintner in early nineteenth century Burgundy; lovelorn and a little drunk when he wanders into his vineyards one summer night.
August 30th, 2017. Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 5 | Elizabeth Knox | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
The Crowfield Demon by Pat Walsh
In The Crowfield Curse (2012), young William and his friends and allies righted a long-ago wrong at Crowfield Abbey and faced down the terrifying Unseelie King. But now another evil is rising at the abbey — one that has even the Unseelie King running scared.
The Crowfield Demon is even better and spookier than The Crowfield Curse. I didn’t realize how familiar the abbey had begun to feel after one relatively short book;
August 29th, 2017. Kelly Lasiter and Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 5 | Pat Walsh | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
Anna Smaill’s debut fantasy novel The Chimes won the World Fantasy Award in 2016. It became available in the USA in 2017. The Chimes is a dark and beautiful fantasy that is filled with music.
After the death of his parents, Sebastian leaves his home and travels to London. His mother has sent him, with her dying words, to find a woman named Molly. Sebastian has the clothes on his back and a knapsack filled with objectmemories.
August 28th, 2017. Marion Deeds´s rating: 5 | Anna Smaill | Stand-Alone, World Fantasy Award | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert
The Dosadi Experiment is part of a series on Saboteur Extraordinary Jorj X. McKie consisting of two pieces of short fiction, A Matter of Traces (1958) and The Tactful Saboteur (1964), and two novels. The first novel is Whipping Star, which appeared in 1970. It was followed seven years later by this book. The books and stories can be read independently — in fact, that is what I did first time around —
August 23rd, 2017. Rob Weber´s rating: 5 | Frank Herbert | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Changeling by Victor LaValle
“How do we protect our children?” Cal said quietly.
Apollo watched the soft little shape in his hand. “Obviously I don’t know.”
Victor LaValle’s novel The Changeling (2017) is a five-star book, one of the year’s best. I predict this thoughtful modern dark fantasy novel — or it might be horror — will be shortlisted on several awards and Best Of lists.
LaValle takes the tropes of traditional middle European fairy tales and blends them perfectly with a view of modern living,
August 17th, 2017. Marion Deeds and Ray McKenzie´s rating: 5 | Victor Lavalle | Locus Award, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 5 comments |
Thanks for the kind words, Ira! Much appreciated!
Fine review
What a fascinating exploration of Edwige Fenech's contributions to the giallo genre! I love how the post highlights her unique…
Pretty challenging book. Cut by half, speed up the cadence. Trying to figure out the plot, the main point of…
Thanks for the kind words, Marion! Coming as they are from a professional writer, they are much appreciated!