Category: Swords and Spaceships

Happy Friday, archivists and archangels! Today includes reviews of Not So Stories and Before Mars, book news from Jacqueline Carey and George R.R. Martin, a djinn round-up, theoretical ancient civilations, and more.

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This newsletter is sponsored by The City of Lost Fortunes by Bryan Camp.

Jude has been lying low since the storm, hiding from his own power, his divine former employer, and a debt owed to the Fortune god of New Orleans. But his six-year retirement ends abruptly when the Fortune god is murdered and Jude is drawn back into the world he tried so desperately to leave behind. A world where he must find out who is responsible for the Fortune god’s death, uncover the plot that threatens the city’s soul, and discover what his talent for lost things has always been trying to show him: what it means to be his father’s son.

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In continued ASoIaF news, we won’t be getting Winds of Winter this year, but we WILL get a prequel about the Targaryens.

Where my Joscelin fans at: Jacqueline Carey has announced that she’ll be writing a retelling of Kushiel’s Dart from the perspective of everyone’s favorite Casseline. Sharifah and I talked about my fan-feelings on this week’s SFF Yeah! episode if you’re curious.

Wish fulfilled: I finally wrote that djinn book round-up I promised! You’ve already seen reviews of some of these in this newsletter, but there might be a few I hadn’t gushed about already. While there are others out there (and definitely leave your thoughts in the comments!), these were my top favorites.

QUILTBAG classics update: The on-going Tor.com series is talking Jewelle Gomez’s The Gilda Stories.

Haven’t dived into the McGuire/Grant universes yet? We’ve got a reading pathway for Seanan McGuire a.k.a. Mira Grant! For what it’s worth, I started with Into the Drowning Deep and regret nothing.

If there were earlier civiliations on Earth, would we be able to tell? I love this thought-experiment from NASA director Gavin Schmidt, especially since it ties into the solarpunk discussions I’ve been following. Someone write me a Paleocene sustainable high-tech novel please!

Reminder time: We’re doing a mystery book giveaway! You could also win Lit Chat (which is an a+ bookish card game if we do say so ourselves). And last but not least, you can get a two-week free trial to Book Riot Insiders until April 30th.

And now, reviews! This week, it’s folktales and space tales.

Not So Stories, edited by David Thomas Moore

A whole short story collection dedicated to decolonizing Kipling, you say? Sign me up! I was incredibly excited to see this book announced, in large part because I went through an enormous Kipling phase as a teen. I (like many kids) was gifted Just So stories, and read Kim several times over. It would take me til college to really understand the problems inherent in Kipling’s framing of India and other lands east. I’ve since read a lot of great works of folktales from indigenous authors, but to see a book that acknowledges Kipling’s work while reframing and deconstructing it makes my heart sing.

And the stories are so good! While each author takes a slightly different angle on the prompt, there are some through-lines, particularly the use of “Best Beloved” to address the reader. Some stories stick with the folktale structure, while others are set at specific moments in history. The opening story, “How the Spider Got Her Legs” by Cassandra Khaw, sets the tone beautifully — it’s a beautifully done origin myth, dark and brimming over with righteous anger. Other favorites include “Best Beloved” by Wayne Santos and “Serpent, Crocodile, Tiger” by Zedeck Siew, but it’s hard to pick — each story has its own particular strengths.

While I would not recommend this to actual children (under a mature 12, let’s say), I definitely want to give it to teenagers and other adults who grew up on Kipling. I do think it’s most effective if you have some familiarity with his work, but if you have somehow managed to escape school without reading “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi,” I also believe it stands on its own.

Before Mars by Emma Newman

Every now and then I will see a galley up for grabs and neglect to check if it’s part of a series or not, and that’s what happened here. I’d been hearing buzz about Emma Newman, I saw a galley available, and I clicked. I was a third into the book when I realized it was #3 in the Planetfall series. Woops! But I’m here to tell you that it stands alone just fine, and did indeed make me want to go back to read the first two. So if a copy falls in your lap, feel free to dive in.

Anna Kubrin is a geologist and artist, and both of those things have put her on a flight to Mars. Contracted by the colonizing corporation to both expand the previous geological surveys and to produce one-of-a-kind paintings (to be sold for jillions of dollars of course, since this is a private enterprise), she arrives shaken and disoriented from months of solo space travel. The experience of deja vu she has is surely just from that — but then she finds a note in her new room, written in her own handwriting, telling her not to trust the colony psychologist. What follows is both a psychological thriller — who is sane and who is lying? — and an exploration of what private space enterprise might look like. Newman also looks at the difficulties of motherhood and post-partum depression, rocky marriages, and healing from family trauma. If that sounds like a lot that’s because it is, but Newman handles it all with a fairly light touch.

I’ve been thinking more about these psychologically oriented, private enterprise space stories — recent others include The Wanderers by Meg Howrey and Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty. The concerns of current sci-fi writers are moving in an interesting direction, and I’m curious to see where else this trend takes us. In the meantime, I’ll be backtracking to read the other Planetfall books, which have promised me cults in space.

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and my co-host Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. For many many more book recommendations you can find me on the Get Booked podcast with the inimitable Amanda.

Long days and pleasant nights,
Jenn

Happy Friday, my fellow booknerds! Today in reviews I give you The Unquiet and Her Body and Other Parties, and in news we’ve got adaptations, a Middle Earth sorting hat, and a variety of punks.

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This newsletter is sponsored by Tor.

Three Queens. One crown. All out war.

The king’s erratic decisions have drained Innis Lear of its magic, leaving behind a trail of barren crops and despondent subjects. Enemy nations circle the isle, sensing its growing vulnerability.

The king’s three daughters know the realm’s only chance is to crown a new sovereign. But their father won’t choose an heir until the longest night of the year, when prophecies align.

Refusing to leave their future in the hands of blind faith, the daughters of Innis Lear prepare for war—but regardless of who wins the crown, the shores of Innis will weep the blood of a house divided.

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I talked about reading Samuel Delaney on the SFF Yeah! podcast, and heard from a number of folks that they weren’t familiar with his work and didn’t know where to start. Here’s a reading pathway to fix that!

We built a LOTR Sorting Hat thanks to comics writer Greg Pak’s A+ suggestion, and here it is. I got Rohirrim which is super correct, so can attest to its accuracy.

How punk is cornpunk? Are we running away with ourselves naming subgenres of SF/F? Maybe, but I confess that I’m kind of enjoying it.

Alert alert alert! Ann Leckie is writing a fantasy novel! I have so enjoyed seeing her play with the tropes of science fiction and breathe fresh air into the vacuum of space (see what I did there), and I can’t wait to see what she’ll do with fantasy.

In equally exciting news, Ken Liu’s short story “The Hidden Girl” (collected in The Book of Swords) is getting an adaptation. I live in hopes of this getting developed and picked up by anyone other than Amazon (who are snapping up SF properties voraciously).

Reminders! We’re doing a crazy awesome mystery giveaway and you should enter. And if you’re not already a Book Riot Insider, you can get a 2-week free trial!

And now: child assassins and even more short stories.

The Unquiet by Mikaela Everett

Trigger warning: eating disorders, harm to children

This dark, strange YA novel has stuck in my brain and won’t be shaken out. “I liked it” feels like the wrong phrasing — I was drawn in by it, provoked by it, a little confused but also compelled by it.

We first meet Lirael when she’s very young, being trained in a cottage alongside other children her own age. As we quickly learn, they’re being trained to kill. There are two Earths, one a mirror of the other; while they used to have friendly and positive diplomatic relations, including people corresponding via satellite with their doppelgangers, things have broken down. One Earth is dying, and it’s secretly sending its inhabitants to the other to take over. When Lirael comes of age and passes her final test, she’ll be sent out to find her duplicate, kill her, and take over her life without anyone knowing.

The methods by which these children are trained are, inevitably, inhumane and traumatizing. Lirael knows that she’s being used, but she also is fully committed to fulfilling her duties as part of this underground army — mostly because it’s the only thing she knows how to do, and the consequences of failure are grim. She in turn damages herself, restricting her eating and separating herself from those who might befriend her. And as the secret war escalates, Lirael has to choose again and again where her loyalties lie.

When I put this book down, I had to sit for a minute. It’s not about the triumph of good over evil, or about choosing to stand up for what’s right at any cost; it’s more of a meditation about how trauma and programming shape us, and how impossible it can be to feel like we have choices. If that’s an exploration that appeals to you, pick it up — we can have thoughts together.

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

Trigger warnings: body horror, violence against women including rape and domestic violence

I talked about this recently on SFF Yeah!, but I need to talk about it some more, so here we are. BECAUSE WOW. The collection has been getting rave reviews, it was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, and it won the National Book Critic’s Circle John Leonard Prize. Clearly you don’t need me to tell you that it’s good, but I’m going to tell you so anyway. It’s really good.

What makes it good? For a start, the range of styles and genres Machado is utilizing. Magical realism would apply, as would horror, dystopia, and fairytales. Alongside bashing through genre boundaries, Machado is also exploring sexuality and feminism. What does a wife and mother owe, and what is she owed? How do our beliefs about our bodies haunt us? How do we grapple with the narratives that others try to sell us? What powers our fascination with violence against women in pop culture? How can we recover from trauma?

“Especially Heinous,” which riffs on Law & Order: SVU, is one of the most frequently mentioned stories. But I am a person who cannot watch crime procedurals with any regularity, and while I appreciated the brilliance of that novella, it was “Inventory” (which you can read here, courtesy of Strange Horizons) that was my favorite. The way that Machado is playing with the therapeutic techniques of anxiety, coupled with a dystopia story and a woman’s contemplation of her sex life, absolutely blew me away. The whole collection is stunning; get it, read it, tell your friends.

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and my co-host Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. For many many more book recommendations you can find me on the Get Booked podcast with the inimitable Amanda.

Your fellow booknerd,
Jenn

Happy Friday, sirens and Cylons! Today I’ve got two novellas for you, Waiting on a Bright Moon and A Dead Djinn in Cairo, plus queer classics, disability in science fiction, a new Tolkien book, and more.

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This newsletter is sponsored by Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.

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Need some queer classics? I’m looking forward to this post series on QUILTBAG+ Speculative Fiction, and the first book to be discussed — Jewelle Gomez’s Gilda Stories — has long been on my radar. Time to bump it up!

Remember Beren and Lúthien? We’re getting another “new” Tolkien book in August, this one called The Fall of Gondolin. As far as I can tell from the details released it will be a similar format — various drafts of an unfinished work, annotated/edited by Christopher Tolkien. Excited? Meh? I can’t quite decide yet.

The Kitchies Winners have been announced! You can find the full winner list here. Shout out to Book Riot contributor Alex Acks, who won for ze’s debut novel Hunger Makes the Wolf!

I am here for all your Octavia Butler pieces, and this one is great because it delves into her life and work in ways that are interesting both for longtime fans and those new to her work. Bonus for Janelle Monae mentions!

Speaking of contributor Alex AND of Octavia Butler! Here’s the latest pairings of SF/F books and beers, and it has some of my favorites of each included.

Alas, poor Yorick: An adaptation of Y: The Last Man has been in the works for. ev. er, but it looks like it’s finally moving forward; FX has ordered a pilot episode!

Speaking of adaptations! If you’re in the UK, the mini-series of China Mieville’s City and the City should already be on the air. And if you are in the UK and have watched it, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The SF/F version of Dear Abby: Daniel Mallory Ortberg did an advice column for Tor.com and it is GOLD.

Let’s talk about disability in SF/F, specifically in the Vorkosigan Saga. There’s a lot of great food for thought here, and I’m specifically thankful for the way Grace discusses the range of representation within one series.

Today in reviews, we’ve got a space story with magic and a supernatural story with clockwork. Both happen to be from Tor.com, who are killing it in the short fiction game.

Waiting on a Bright Moon by JY Yang

Read it online.

You might recall me gushing about Yang’s Tensorate novellas and I’ve been on a short story/novella kick lately, so it was with great pleasure I stumbled across “Waiting on a Bright Moon.”

Set on an outlying colony of a far-flung interstellar empire, the story follows Xin, a human ansible. Using her magical talents and syncing via music, Xin opens transport portals with the rest of her cluster, each located on a different world. When a dead body comes through, it ruins her day; when it appears that the body is connected to an underground rebellion, it could ruin her life. As Xin contemplates her past and present, she’s also becoming closer to an intimidating starmage named Suqing.

Yang is exploring colonization, queerness, and magic, and doing it in 40-odd digital pages, and this is one of those stories that feels much bigger on the inside. I would happily read a series of books set in this world, but I also found it satisfying as a stand-alone. It’s a beautiful, tiny gem of a story, and I continue to follow Yang’s career with interest.

A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djeli Clark

Read it online.

In the course of doing research for a djinn/jinn/genie stories round up (that I will link to as soon as it’s up online), I stumbled across this novella and fell in love. An alt-history story set in Cairo in 1912, it’s both a supernatural story, a romance, and a police procedural.

Special Investigator Fatma gets called in on an odd case: a djinn has committed suicide under very strange circumstances. Unfamiliar glyphs are carved on the site, and there’s no blood at all. The only witness is a prostitute who doesn’t want to talk to law enforcement. As Fatma starts to peel back the layers surrounding the incident, she finds herself working with an enigmatic woman named Siti who seems as likely to be a foe as a friend. On top of it all, she’s navigating gender politics alongside local political alliances.

Creatures abound, and the humans aren’t all that trustworthy either. Then there’s the clockwork technology laced through-out, which mixes and melds with the magic in interesting new ways. Clark’s vision of a Cairo teeming with magic and mayhem is compelling, and this is one of those stories that leaves me craving a sequel — I definitely need more of Fatma’s adventures.

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and my co-host Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. For many many more book recommendations you can find me on the Get Booked podcast with the inimitable Amanda.

May the odds be ever in your favor,
Jenn

Happy Friday, friends! This week I’m reviewing Company Town and Heart Forger, and we’re talking about the Hugo Award nominees, time travel, adaptation news, and more.

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This newsletter is sponsored by Shattered Roads, first in a brand-new series from Alice Henderson.

In a future laid waste by environmental catastrophe H124 has one job: dead body removal. She keeps her head down and does as she’s told, until one night H124’s routine leads her into the underground ruins of an ancient university. Buried within it is an alarm set up generations ago sharing a terrifying warning of an extinction-level asteroid hurtling toward Earth.

But H124’s warning is not only ignored, it’s considered treason. H124 is hunted—and sent fleeing beyond the shield of her walled metropolis. In the weather-ravaged unknown, her only hope lies with a rebellious faction of survivors. She has no other choice: the end of the world is near.

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The Hugos are coming! Or rather, the finalists have been announced. You’ll recognize a lot of the titles from the Nebula nominees. And this could be the award season that makes SF/F history! The first and second books in NK Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy won Hugo Awards for Best Novel in 2016 and 2017, respectively. If The Stone Sky wins this year’s award, it will make Jemisin the first author in history to win the Hugo Award for Best Novel three years in a row. I probably don’t have to tell you that I’m rooting for this, for so many reasons but most of all because The Stone Sky is one of the best third books in a trilogy I’ve ever read.

Neil Gaiman adapting Mervyn Peake: Gormenghast is coming to TV! I still have not read these. Adding it to the pile of SF/F books being adapted that I will get around to when I have a chance…

Let’s talk about time travel. I really enjoyed this explainer video that explores the different mechanisms in SF/F, including Time-Turners and Back to the Future.

Did you see A Wrinkle in Time? Many of BR’s contributors did, and they’ve got feelings about it. I also saw it and while I have some quibbles, I really enjoyed it overall — and if there’s any justice in this world, Storm Reid will be the next Emma Watson.

Today in tabletop gaming: I’m only familiar with Critical Role from the many gifs of it I’ve seen on Tumblr, but this post might finally push me to watch it.

Looking for good and cheap ebooks? The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula Le Guin, my personal favorite starting point for her work, is on sale for $3.99 this month. Also on sale for $2.99 is Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, which Robin Sloan memorably declared America’s great sci-fi novel on Recommended.

Today in reviews, we’ve got serial killers and necromancy, but thankfully not at the same time.

Company Town by Madeline Ashby

Company Town was my first introduction to Ashby’s work; consider me intrigued. It’s a dense, multi-layered, action-packed novel with a near-future premise that feels completely possible as well as original. I originally picked it up because it was a Locus Award finalist in 2017, and I can see why.

The book follows Hwa, one of the last people in the community living on an offshore oil rig to remain genetically unaltered. She was born with a syndrome that has disfigured her face and left her with a large birthmark and a seizure disorder, and while bio-modification might benefit her she has turned it into an asset. Her lack of engineering means that she’s basically invisible to her city’s surveillance systems, which grants her certain advantages. She works as a bodyguard to the sex-workers in the community, until a corporation purchases the rig and hires her to protect the owner’s teenaged son Joel. Not only is Joel in danger, but someone is murdering her old clients.

Company Town is both a whodunnit, an exploration of vulnerable and marginalized populations, and a science fiction story that gets stranger as it goes along. Months after reading I’m still trying to decide how I feel about the ending, and I’m not the only one; if you look up reviews, you’ll see that everyone has thoughts. It’s an ambitious novel, and one that I wish I had read with a group; maybe try to talk your book club into reading it along with you.

The Heart Forger (The Bone Witch #2) by Rin Chupeco

You might recall my gushing about The Bone Witch when it came out last year; I’ve been eagerly awaiting the next installment, and I am here to tell you that I was not disappointed.

Tea is a necromancer in a world that both needs and fears her, and The Bone Witch inhabited two timelines: Tea’s present attempts to build an undead army of demonic creatures, and the road to how she got there. The Heart Forger continues with this structure, as Tea takes her army on the road and begins to reveal her plans. While we’re still finding out exactly how things have come to this point, the alternating chapters play off each other in new and interesting ways. Heart Forger also continues the world-building of Bone Witch a bit but focuses primarily on plot, and the pacing moves along much more quickly. Those who loved Bone Witch for its lush details may miss the exposition; those who wanted more action will get it, and how.

There were a few bits of character and plot development that left me scratching my head, but overall the series continues to be inclusive, compelling, and readable. And while a few major questions are finally answered, there are miles to go before we get to the end. So now I’m left hungrily awaiting Shadowglass; join me, won’t you?

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and my co-host Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. For many many more book recommendations you can find me on the Get Booked podcast with the inimitable Amanda.

Your fellow booknerd,
Jenn

Happy Friday, Ents and aeronauts! Today we’ve got reviews of My Soul to Keep and The Merry Spinster, plus scary stories, elves, Ready Player One looks, and more.

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This newsletter is sponsored by Baker Publishing Group.

Vulnerable and weakened by grief after a terrible loss, Hyam has been struck by a mysterious illness that threatens to claim his life. Seeking to help Hyam and restore the realm, Queen Shona travels to Hyam’s remote hometown to find answers.

Dally has always had abilities far beyond those of a normal human—far-seeing and magic come naturally to her. Before the arrival of Shona and her army, Dally had always kept her abilities secret. But with an ancient evil bearing down on her village and the fate of the realm hanging in the balance, the orphaned servant girl steps forward to do what no one else can. Will the battle claim more than Dally is willing to give?

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Happy 50th birthday, Saga! Or more correctly, happy 50th issue. I am just one of many readers for whom Saga marked a return to reading comics, particularly in issues. And while I’m not currently caught up, this is a good reminder to pick up where I left off and continue the rollercoaster that is Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples f***ing with our emotions.

Put it in the freezer! Or, if you like horror, take it out — here are nine SF/F books to scare you. Despite being a total horror wimp, I have read most of these and can cosign their inclusion.

Let’s talk about elfpunk. Is it a thing? Abby makes a strong case, and I too can remember the desperate library searches for anything similar to War for the Oaks. And to be quite frank, I’m a fan of any list that includes that bonkers Gael Baudino cover.

Ready for Ready Player One? I myself have very mixed feelings about it (and this Vox article does a great job breaking them down), but I know lots of fans of the book. And for you, I give you this round-up of gear to get ready for the movie!

I did not know when the Gondorian New Year was before reading this post but now I definitely want to make this A Thing.

And last but not least I absolutely ADORE this post about what a wizarding school in South Florida would be like.

And now, onto the reviews. They are both dark and twisty, just like this spring’s weather. Heyo!

My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due

Trigger warning: harm to children

I have finally read my first Due! And through the grace of “this one is available from the library now,” I managed to pick the perfect one for me. My Soul to Keep is hard to classify — a little horror (it opens with a murder and goes on from there), a little science fiction, a little fantasy. Paranormal is probably the label that fits it best, but you can decide for yourself. Regardless of where you shelve it, it belongs on your bookcase.

My Soul to Keep follows Jessica, a reporter who is also a wife and a mother, and her husband David, who happens to be a millenias-old immortal. Not that she’d know! They met when she was in college and he was just her Spanish professor. She knows that he’s a devoted husband and father; almost too devoted, always wanting more of her time. She thinks her biggest problem is balancing her work ambitions with the demands of family life; little does she know! A series of murders surrounding Jessica attract the attention of other immortals, and she starts to learn the truth about her marriage. David, in the meantime, has to decide what he can and can’t tell her — and what he’s going to do next.

My Soul to Keep plays with many of the same questions as the previously reviewed Eternal Life by Dara Horn: how do you reconcile immortality with religion? What does family mean to an immortal? But Due is also examining what it looks like to be a black man who cannot die, who lives through slavery, through the rise and fall of empires. She also injects a hefty does of action and gore. This book is a page-turner and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next in the series (although you could read it as a stand-alone).

The Merry Spinster by Mallory Ortberg

Note: Ortberg has recently announced his transition to Daniel, but the book is published under Mallory. 

If you’re a fan of retold fairytales, twisted fairytales, the Brothers Grimm, Ortberg’s “Children’s Stories Made Horrific” series, Kelly Link, Karin Tidbeck, or all of the above, you need to pick up The Merry Spinster immediately. With stories that reference everything from The Bible to The Velveteen Rabbit to Donald Barthelme (with a helpful guide in the back!), Ortberg takes us to dark and twisty places that some of us might prefer not to visit, but that are so worth it.

I say they’re dark, and I mean it — I had to skim “The Rabbit”, because body horror is really and truly not my jam. But they’re also slyly funny, and very heartfelt. “Fear Not: An Incident Log” which is based on the book of Genesis had me laughing out loud. Her take on The Little Mermaid made me want to stand up and applaud, and “Good Fences Make Good Neighbors” had me tearing up. Ortberg is also exploring sexuality, gender and gender roles, love, family, abuse, gaslighting, obligation, and friendship. There’s a lot going on here, and in less than 200 pages, which means there’s a lot to love.

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and my co-host Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. For many many more book recommendations you can find me on the Get Booked podcast with the inimitable Amanda.

These might be the droids you’re looking for,
Jenn

Happy Friday, jumbies and Jaegers! Today I’ve got reviews of Beasts Made of Night and the Paradox series, The Kitchies shortlist, Harry Potter cakes, historical fantasy, and more.

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This newsletter is sponsored by Epic Reads.

From bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima comes a fantasy series full of dark magic and unforgettable characters.

Ash has a gift of magic—and a thirst for revenge. He’s on a quest to kill the cruel king of Arden. Jenna Bandelow was told that the magemark on her neck would make her a target. But when the king launches a search for a girl with a mark like hers, she assumes its due to her role as a saboteur. As their paths collide, Ash and Jenna are united by their hatred of the king. But the hidden truth of Jenna’s mysterious magemark could risk not only their mission, but their lives.

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Need to wear your love of genre? We made a shirt for that. I’ve already ordered mine!

Love history AND fantasy? We’ve got a list for you! And here I thought I knew them all; glad to have Bohemian Gospel to add to my stack.

In awards news: The Kitschies (which is tentacle-themed, in case you didn’t know) have announced their shortlist, and personal fav The Black Tides of Heaven has made the cut!

Not just for kids, not just for grown-ups: I’ve been reading more SF/F kids’ books, possibly because of all the buzz over A Wrinkle in Time (it’s as good an explanation as any) and Priya has an interesting take in this short story round-up.

Here’s a deep cut: A firefighter contemplates the best way to fight dragons. This is my kind of nerdery, y’all.

Eat your fandom with Harry Potter-inspired cakes! BRB I need to make some Snitch cakepops.

Find your fairytale avatar with our handy quiz (also, everyone go read The Merry Spinster). I got the Little Mermaid and I am still not sure how I feel about it.

Today in reviews, we’ve got sins made manifest and space mercenaries.

Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi

Do you love scrappy, snarky teenagers with magical powers? How about royalty and their power struggles? How about fantasies inspired by Nigerian culture? Have I got a book for you!

Our hero Taj is a disillusioned street urchin, who also happens to be the best aki (sin-eater) in the city of Kos. The upper classes hire mages to manifest their sins, which are then battled and eaten by aki like Taj, and he’s survived longer than any other in memory. When he gets called to the palace, he thinks maybe he’ll actually get a decent payday. What he actually gets is landed smackdab in the middle of a struggle for the throne, and no one is to be trusted.

While plot and action rule the day in Beasts Made of Night, it’s also a detailed, immersive reading experience. Onyebuchi gives us cuisine, adventures through the many different sections of the city, and a look at the daily lives of its citizens. Readers of Nnedi Okorafor and/or familiar with Nigeria will recognize many elements, and Onyebuchi plays with them in fun and magical ways.

Fair warning: this book ends mid-battle, on one doozy of a cliff-hanger, and the sequel Crown of Thunder isn’t out until October of 2018.

The Paradox series by Rachel Bach (Fortune’s Pawn, Honor’s Knight, Heaven’s Queen)

For all y’all also feeling snow-bound and brain-dead, I’ve got your escapist sci-fi right here. It’s a military space opera whodunit with a romance and lots of mech-armor-enhanced punching!

Deviana Morris is a mercenary, and a good one at that. She’s been climbing the ranks as quick as she can, aiming at a coveted position as body guard to the Emperor. To further her ambitions, she takes on a job on one of the most dangerous ships in the galaxy, to load herself up on experience and cred. But (SURPRISE) the crew of the Glorious Fool are not who they appear to be, and Devi has to reconsider what she knows about her world. And shoot/stab/punch/kick a lot of people while doing it!

To tell you anything about the plot of Honor’s Knight and Heaven’s Queen would be to spoil things, so I won’t. Instead I will say that those who have drawn parallels to Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, and other found-family space opera are not far off. There’s a reason this trope is so popular, and Rachel Bach clearly loves it as much as the rest of us. I lost a weekend to this series, and I wasn’t sad about it.

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and my co-host Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. For many many more book recommendations you can find me on the Get Booked podcast with the inimitable Amanda.

So say we all,
Jenn

Happy Friday, intrepid adventurers. This week includes reviews of Blake, or The Huts of America and The City of Brass, a primer for solarpunk, complete fantasy series, Afrofuturism, and more.

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This newsletter is sponsored by The Glass Blade, the first book in the brand new Hunters of Infinity series from Ryan Wieser.

The Hunters of Infinity, an elite brotherhood of warriors, have protected the galaxy for as far back as anyone can remember. When a fierce and enigmatic young woman named Jessop saves Hunter Kohl O’Hanlon, the brotherhood breaks tradition for the first time in their history and invites a woman into their elite training facility. But Jessop is hiding dark secrets and a mysterious past that may threaten not just the Hunters but the entire Daharian galaxy…

If you’re looking for a Sci-Fi space opera with a fierce female warrior then you can’t miss Ryan Wieser’s The Glass Blade!

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International Women’s Day has passed, but this list of women writing in speculative fiction is still a great one! I’ve read eight of the 19 and hope to get to the rest ASAP.

What is solarpunk and should you care? I started seeing references to solarpunk for a few months ago, mostly in reference to international literature, and the LARB recently did a piece on it, so it looks like it’s gaining traction. The short version is that it is art, including fiction, that imagines sustainable futures; no dystopia here. There’s a reference guide on Medium that goes back to 2008, and has lots of interesting links. I’m hoping to dive in soon; I’ll keep you posted.

More South Asian speculative fiction: This post series continues, and I’m so excited! I’ve read a handful of these writers, but can’t wait to dive into more.

Let’s talk about Afrofuturism: Tochi Onyebuchi (author of Beasts Made of Night, which I thoroughly enjoyed) discusses the history, present, and future of Afrofuturism, including Black Panther, Janelle Monae, Nnedi Okorafor, and more.

Enough with cliffhangers! Looking for a series that’s already done? Here are some YA fantasy series that you won’t have to wait for.

Do you love Zelda? You might also love these Zelda-esque books.

Unicorns, unicorns, everywhere: And they can be yours! I’ll be over here drooling over those gorgeous prints.

Today in reviews, we’ve got a pair of cliffhangers. Sorry not sorry!

Blake, or The Huts of America by Martin R. Delaney

I’ve been working my way slowly (VERY slowly) through Nisi Shawl’s Crash Course In the History of Black Science Fiction, and the first book on the list is Blake. I read it along with a group, albeit one in which everyone went at their own pace, which I highly recommend. It’s not an easy read, but it was a fascinating one.

Blake follows an escaped slave named Henry Blake through the southern United States and Cuba as he plots a massive insurrection and works to bring others into the cause. Originally published serially by Anglo-African Magazine and the Weekly Anglo-African, it was collected into book form in the 1970s. The writing style reminded me of nothing so much as The Count of Monte Cristo — it’s a very classical style, and one in which philosophical musings are given as much weight as the plot. Delaney also captures the various dialects of the time among the Southern inhabitants, which can take a bit of getting used to but is so effective at evoking the characters and settings. The planned ending is lost, which means that the book ends on an eternal cliffhanger: we’ll never know Henry’s fate, or that of his planned insurrection.

Delaney was an extraordinary person: born free, he was an African American abolitionist, the first black field officer in the US Army, and one of the first black nationalists. What makes his novel science fictional is its context: he started writing it in 1859, two years before the Civil War, and continued publishing it until 1862, well into the war. Envisioning a massive uprising of African Americans, as well as possible futures for them post-uprising, at that time in history, makes Blake a classic example of near-future fiction. For anyone looking to learn more about African American sci-fi, the history of slavery in America, and/or black literature in general, it’s an essential read. It’s also an engaging one; I was drawn in completely, and immediately went hunting for scholarship on possible endings as soon as I turned the last page.

The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy #1) by S.A. Chakraborty

One of these days I will get to a round-up of all the djinn/jinn/genie books that have come out in recent years; there are a bunch of great ones. This is one of the most recent, and definitely belongs on your TBR — it is a bona fide page-turner.

Our protagonists are Nahri and Ali. Nahri lives on the streets of an alternate 1700s Cairo, making her way by her wits, her thieving skills, and a touch of healing magic. She’s smart, full of moxie, and very disillusioned with life generally, but she does have a dream: to save up enough to go to Istanbul and become trained as a full doctor. Her plans are interrupted, however, when in the course of faking a healing ritual, she accidentally summons a djinn. What’s more, the djinn believes that she’s the last scion of a murdered family and part djinn herself, and spirits her (heh) away to the city of Daevabad. This is all compicated by the evil ifrits pursuing them, of course. Ali is the second son of the king of Daevabad, a devout warrior raised to be his brother’s right hand. But he loathes the way that half-blood djinn are treated in the city, and trying to do something about it lands in him a heap of trouble. When their paths collide, it might bring down the entire kingdom.

I mentioned cliffhangers above, and this book ends on a steep one. But Chakraborty does a good job of balancing the introductory world-building and the action in this first installment, giving us a compelling mix and keeping the story moving. And speaking of world-building: the book is inspired by Muslim mythology and religion, and the author herself is a Muslim convert. This interview lays out both her inspiration and the writing process, and is worth a read.

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and my co-host Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. For many many more book recommendations you can find me on the Get Booked podcast with the inimitable Amanda.

Wakanda Forever,
Jenn

Happy Friday, friends! Today we’ve got reviews of On A Red Station, Drifting and Year One, some complete fantasy series, the Lambda nominees, Sandman news, and more.

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This newsletter is sponsored by EpicReads.

Perfect for fans of Illuminae and The Martian, this action-packed YA novel set in the near future will take readers out of this world and on a quest to become one of six teens sent on a mission to Jupiter’s moon. When Leo, an Italian championship swimmer, and Naomi, an Iranian-American science genius from California, are drafted into the International Space Training Camp, their lives are forever altered. After erratic climate change has made Earth a dangerous place to live, the fate of the population rests on the shoulders of the final six, who will be scouting a new planet. Intense training, global scrutiny, and cutthroat opponents are only a few of the hurdles the competitors must endure.

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The Lambdas are coming! The Lambda Literary Award has announced this year’s finalists, and several personal favorites have made it to the LGBTQ Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror, including Amberlough, An Unkindness of Ghosts, and The Prey of Gods. So many congratulations are in order!

Beat the post-Black Panther doldrums: We’ve got a list of books that might scratch that same itch! I can personally cosign The Killing Moon, Zoo City, and Akata Witch.

Calling all dreamers: New Sandman comics are coming, with brand new creative teams.

Internationally fantastical: Here are 10 fantasy series with inspirations that span the globe. Regular readers of this newsletter will recognize Forest of a Thousand Lanterns and Sorcerer to the Crown, and there’s some overlap with the Black Panther list (hello again Akata Witch!).

It’s coming from inside the house: If you like to be creeped out by sentient architecture, have we got some books for you.

A new take on the Hero’s Journey: Rachel Hartman wrote a lovely essay about mythologizing your experience while writing. Author personal essays are a thing that I love, and this one is both insightful and provides some interesting context if you’ve read her books (I did love Seraphina).

From the Weird Cover Archives: It is perhaps not surprising that Philip K. Dick’s novels inspired a lot of bonkers cover art.

And now: space and the apocalypse, those classic SF/F standbys.

On A Red Station, Drifting by Aliette de Bodard

There’s a new book in the Xuya Universe: The Tea Master and the Detective, currently available in a limited, signed hardcover, ebook coming March 31. This was an excellent reminder that I’ve been meaning to talk about On A Red Station, Drifting, my first intro to the Xuya Universe, for basically as long as I’ve had this newsletter.

Set on a generations-old space station, the novella follows Station Mistress Quyen as she struggles to deal with an influx of refugees and the aging of the sentient AI that runs the ship. The Dai Viet empire is at war, and many of the station’s personnel have been called away by military service. Quyen is frazzled and cranky (and I do love a cranky protagonist), and her mood is only made worse by a high-handed relative, Linh, who shows up with other refugees. Linh is fleeing her own demons (and the law), and this novella follows Quyen and Linh as they try to find their footing in the upheaval that accompanies war.

On A Red Station, Drifting reminds us that no matter how far you are from the action, no one is left unscathed; it also gives us a window into a fascinating and vibrant, beautifully detailed new world. This was also the first book I ever read by De Bodard, and it made me a lifelong fan. Her ability to world-build is immense, and her prose is rich and vibrant with details. She also happens to be an excellent book recommender, as evidenced in her guest appearance on our Get Booked podcast.

De Bodard has a full history and chronology, with links to all the stories and novellas, on her site. Go forth and dive in!

Year One (Chronicles of The One #1) by Nora Roberts

It’s the end of the world, and a Chosen One will be born. While Nora Roberts has written paranormal romance before, this is her first foray into genre fantasy, and I enjoyed it. If you’ve read Roberts before, particularly her Circle Trilogy, you’ll recognize her style immediately. If you haven’t, you’ll find what many of her longtime readers rely on: her prose is accessible, her plotting is solid, and she loves to hop from character to character.

I’ve been describing this first installment in her new series as Stephen King’s The Stand except with magic and by Nora Roberts, and I stand (heh) by it. The world has been decimated by a magically-unleashed killer flu, and some of the survivors have discovered they possess strange new powers. Inevitably, some choose to use their powers for good — and some for evil. Starting in New York City, Year One follows a few of the survivors as they fight to find safety and protect themselves and their loved ones whilst dealing with crumbling infrastructure, evil sorcerers, and murky prophecies. This one goes on the “popcorn reads” shelf — it’s an immersive read, perfect for a snowy weekend.

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and my co-host Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. For many many more book recommendations you can find me on the Get Booked podcast with the inimitable Amanda.

Your fellow booknerd,
Jenn

Happy Friday, friends! Today we’re talking After the Flare and the Call of Crows series, plus Fahrenheit 451, Octavia Butler, fantasy comics, and more.

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This newsletter is sponsored by The Philosopher’s Flight by Tom Miller.

In an alternate history where only women are strong enough to practice a dangerous art of magic and science, a uniquely talented young man goes where none has gone before. Joining the ranks of powerful, flying women, he takes to the sky to fight prejudice, injustice, and the men seeking to destroy their world.

In the tradition of Lev Grossman and Deborah Harkness, Tom Miller writes with unrivaled imagination, ambition, and humor. The Philosopher’s Flight is both a fantastical reimagining of American history and a beautifully composed coming-of-age tale for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.

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Having trouble keeping track of what SF/F books are being adapted? Me too. But Tor.com is keeping track for us. This list, it is long!

Speaking of adaptations, have you watched the trailer for Fahrenheit 451 yet? Michael B. Jordan is metaphorically and almost literally fire in this.

Speaking again of adaptations, I was initially doubtful about anyone adapting Ursula Le Guin’s The Telling but then I saw Rekha Sharma’s name and now I am FULL SPEED AHEAD excited.

The anniversary of Octavia Butler’s death was on February 24, and I love this post of facts about her. Fans will recognize some of her jobs as the inspiration for certain moments in her book (potato-chip sorter shows up in Kindred, for example!).

Need some more fantasy comics in your life? There are titles on this list that I hadn’t heard of, which is always delightful.

Cheap ebook alert! The Reluctant Queen (sequel to The Queen of Blood) by Sarah Beth Durst is only $2.99 from Kindle, and I really loved it. You could read the series out of order if you were feeling really eager, but I do recommend the first one as well.

And don’t forget, we’re running an Instagram giveawayand you could win $500 worth of the (gorgeous) Penguin Clothbound classics.

Today in reviews, we’ve got Afrofuturism and a way more diverse take on Norse mythology.

After the Flare by Deji Olukotun

Friends, you should probably read Nigerians in Space first. In fact I am almost positive that you should do that, even though I did not. But I am here to tell you that if, like me, your library is taking forever to get a copy of the first book for unknowable reasons but After the Flare is easily available to you, you should definitely read it.

A huge solar flare has hit the Earth and wiped out technology in most of Europe, North America, and Asia — and there’s an astronaut stranded on the international space station. The newly formed Nigerian Space Program is determined to get her back, and Kwesi Brackett, former NASA employee, is lucky enough to find himself a head engineer in the program. But between political shenanigans and resource issues, he’s struggling to to make his deadlines. Then some workers discover an ancient artifact on site, triggering a chain of supernatural occurrences. On top of it all, Boko Haram is on its way to take over the program’s perceived riches.

Olukotun is exploring so many things in this novel — colorism, the space race, the vagaries of love, the fall of current First World powers, religion and politics, and of course the supernatural occurrences mentioned (but no spoilers here). The ending of this book has me craving another installment; I sincerely hope there is more coming, and in the meantime I impatiently await my hold on Nigerians in Space.

The Call of Crows series by Shelly Laurenston

Sit back and get ready for the premise of this paranormal romance series: the Norse gods have warriors on Earth, who act on their behalf — which includes warring with other clans and finding stuff the gods keep losing (why DO they lose so many godly artifacts??). Most of the gods pick the descendants of their original worshippers — so, largely white and blonde. But the goddess Skuld finds her warrior Crows from the descendants of the women that the Vikings enslaved, and their motto is “Let rage be your guide.” What you end up with is a diverse, kick-ass group of women who are very ready to wreak vengeance — and have wings and talons to get the job done.

The books follow three different Crows: Kera, Jace, and Erin. Do not make me pick between them, I love all my romance heroines equally! But, of course, for different reasons. Kera, heroine of The Unleashing (Book 1), is a military veteran with a pitbull, and she could not be more surprised than when Skuld shows up to give her a second chance at life. Adjusting to the riotous lifestyle of the Crows, however, is something else. And then there’s this pesky goddess who wants to destroy everyone, and a big beefy Viking hero named Vig to fall in love with. Kera’s love of her pitbull and her clipboard made my pet-owning, organizer-loving heart sing, and Kera’s trip to Valhalla is one of my all-time favorite romance plot points.

Then there’s Jace, heroine of The Undoing, who just wants to be left alone THANK YOU VERY MUCH. A survivor of a cult, she’s got a lot of baggage that people just don’t understand. When Ski Erikson hires her to translate some ancient texts, it turns out she might find someone who gets her — and who she can fight ancient evil with.

And then there’s Erin, heroine of The Unyielding, who is a tormentor of one and all throughout the series. She’s the hugest jerk to everyone, but it’s just — if you ask her — because they take themselves too seriously! She swears! Her adventures with hero Stieg add a ton of world-building to the series, as well as hilarity.

These books are so fun, occasionally very silly, and enormously heartfelt. I can’t think when I laughed so much while also celebrating the power of righteous anger, especially in regard to women. If you need a palate cleanser that will also gear you up and get you going, get these immediately.

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and my co-host Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. For many many more book recommendations you can find me on the Get Booked podcast with the inimitable Amanda.

Rock on, rockstars,
Jenn

Happy Friday, judges and juries! Today we’re doing a dive into some of the Nebula Award nominees, plus vampires, Black Panther, contemporary magic, and more.

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This newsletter is sponsored by The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton. In a world where Beauty is a commodity only a few control, one Belle will learn the dark secrets behind her powers, and rise up to change the world.

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Have you seen Black Panther yet? I have, and need to go see it at least once more in the theater (but hopefully more than that) — it’s incredibly lush, it has amazing actors, and it is downright revolutionary in so many ways. Cannot recommend highly enough. Bonus: we’re doing a giveaway to celebrate its release!

Where to start with Black Lightning: If, like me, you’re curious about the new CW superhero show but want a little background, Jessica has put together a primer.

Modern magic: Want some supernatural with your everyday world? Here’s a roundup of contemporary fantasies that fit the bill. (Cosign on Labyrinth Lost, Good Omens, Practical Magic, and Akata Witch!)

Less triggers, please: If, also like me, you sometimes need a break in your fiction from news-cycle-related plot points, I put together a reading list of SF/F that doesn’t include any sexual violence against female characters.

Or not: If, on the other hand, you would like some SF/F that comments directly on the current state of the world, there’s a list for that too.

Vampires, check: There’s a new Deborah Harkness novel coming, and it’s about vampires during the Revolutionary war.

Magic wand laser tag: I am SO READY for these interactive toy wands. Take my money immediately!

And a quick reminder: we’re running an Instagram giveaway and you could win $500 worth of the (gorgeous) Penguin Clothbound classics.

Today I’ve got a special reviews spotlight on the Nebula Award nominees for Novel in 2018! Not least because I’ve read and reviewed 5 of the 7, and my Book Riot compatriots covered the other two. I don’t know how the judges are going to call this one, and I don’t envy them — it’s an incredible pool.

Amberlough by Lara Elena Donnelly

Donnelly has written a spy thriller set in an alternate world, and I absolutely devoured it. (Technically this is speculative fiction, folks, as there is no magic.) I’ve been trying to come up with my elevator pitch, and keep getting stuck somewhere around “It’s like if The Great Gatsby and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy went through a wormhole and then had a baby.”

Cyril dePaul is a spy, and a louche one at that. His lover Aristide Makricosta is a smuggler, dealer, and cabaret emcee. Their arrangement involves them pretending they know nothing about each other’s real jobs while half-heartedly spying on each other, and also definitely not falling in love, not even a little. They live in Amberlough City, center of graft, whimsy, and liberalism. When Cyril falls into the hands of the conservative neighboring province’s spy forces, their relationship has to come to an end — but neither wants to let go. In the meantime, streetwise singer and small-time dealer Cordelia is just looking to keep herself in rent and food, but finds herself sucked into the darkest side of politics as the encroaching One State Party makes its move.

The plot is meticulously paced, as are the switches in POV (close third, in case that matters to you). The parallels to historical and current politics are obvious and, for some readers, perhaps a little on the nose. But what made this book such an incredible read for me were the character arcs. Cyril’s cynicism and self-interest; Aristide’s savvy and force of character; Cordelia’s political awakening; their interactions with the richly imagined and portrayed supporting cast, all held me from the first to the last page. Not to mention the ending! It hit me in the feelings place, I tell you what.

The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss

Theodora Goss typically writes lovely and rich fairytale short stories and poems. She’s one of my favorite short story writers. I briefly talked to her about her newest novel last year at a fairytale conference (because I’m the kind of person that goes to fairytale conferences, duh), and she told me with this novel she wanted to tell the stories of Victorian lit’s voiceless girls. The girl monsters, often doomed to die or remain unheard. So Mary Jekyll, Diana Hyde, Justine Frankenstein, Catherine Moreau, Beatrice Rappaccini all have a chance to tell their own stories in this novel. What’s not to love? Victorian classics retold from a feminist perspective, with empowered girl monsters? And a beautiful book cover? Sold.
– Margaret Kingsbury, Must-Read June Releases

Spoonbenders by Daryl Gregory

Once upon a time, the Telemachuses were famous. With a telekinetic, a psychic, and a human lie detector in the family, they were a wonder to citizens and secret agents everywhere. But twenty years later, the family is disgraced and in shambles, trying desperately to make ends meet. A visit from an old friend at the CIA checking to see if they have any remaining powers seems to be a waste of time, but what the family doesn’t know is that one of the children has just discovered he has the ability to leave his body. This is a funny, heartfelt dysfunctional family comedy with a supernatural twist.
– Liberty Hardy, New Books newsletter

The Stone Sky by NK Jemisin (Broken Earth #3)

The Stone Sky is the jaw-dropping conclusion (literally, my jaw dropped) to the Broken Earth series and it’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a third installment.

Mild spoilers for the series follow, so if you want zero plot discussion just go ahead and get yourself all three books and start reading!

The Obelisk Gate left Nassun and Essun finally aware of each other’s location and powers, but many miles apart. The stone eater factions have revealed their goals, and now the fate of the world is hanging in the balance. While The Stone Sky takes us forward to the moment of truth, it also takes us back in time and reveals more history of the Guardians, the obelisks, and the sundering of the Moon. If you’ve been wanting a deeper look at the history of this world, you will be delighted; Jemisin balances the plotline that began in The Fifth Season with a new past narrative that is just as compelling as any other thread we’ve had throughout the series — and there have been many. The conclusion had me white-knuckling my way through the final chapters, and devastated that the story has come to an end. Jemisin’s best, most complex series to date, Broken Earth has reached the top five in my personal list of favorite series, and it will take a hell of a lot to dethrone it.

Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty

This is a locked-room mystery, except it’s a locked spaceship and it’s mid-space flight crewed by clones!

Six Wakes is a page-turner and then some. The ship’s crew, all of whom have criminal pasts, wake up 25 years into a colonization mission to find themselves — Their previous selves? Past selves? They are clones, selfhood become weird — floating around, very dead. Very messily dead. Some were stabbed, someone was hanged, someone else was stabbed and poisoned, and none of them have any memory of what happened. The only surviving crew member, the captain, is in a coma and not telling. What follows is both a whodunit, a look at the backstory of our protagonists, and a highly detailed imagining of what the legality surrounding clones could come to look like. Six Wakes is engrossing and thoroughly satisfying, and Lafferty succeeds at both laying down a mystery and creating a stand-alone sci-fi novel.

Jade City by Fonda Lee

Jade City is an Asian The Godfather plus magic, and the first installment in a trilogy that is off to a page-turning, action-packed start.

Kekon is the only source of “bioreactive” jade, a stone that grants the right wearer supernatural abilities. Only some people can harness the powers of jade, and the Green Bone warriors-turned-mobsters that do are feared, respected, and unofficially run the country. The grown Kaul siblings are each doing their best to make a life — Hilo and Lan as the newest leaders of the family and operation, and Shae as a person an entirely separate from her family’s activities. But when the other major clan starts pushing into the Kaul’s territory, Lan’s negotiating skill and level head might not be enough to keep the peace. In the meantime, other nations around the world are developing drugs to help them create their own jade-sensitive warriors. Can peace be maintained, and at what cost? It’s not just the fate of the clans that rides on the outcome — it’s the fate of the jade trade and the country itself.

Lee has created a rich second world that feels familiar enough to be comprehensible, but different enough to house its magical system — she wrote about the process here. The family interactions are complex and emotionally resonant; the fights are well-paced and gorily entertaining; in short, Jade City delivers on its promises. And the ending! Just enough resolution to keep me from throwing the book across the room, just enough questions unanswered to have me eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Autonomous by Annalee Newitz

This is a story about artificial intelligence, submarine pirates, and Big Pharma. It’s also about human trafficking, gender perceptions, and what choice looks like in constrained circumstances. There’s a lot going on here, and Newitz doesn’t shy away from asking provocative questions or creating ambiguous situations. Which wasn’t a surprise to me, knowing her work; Newitz is the co-founder of io9, along with Charlie Jane Anders, and when I interviewed her for our Recommended podcast ambiguity in particular was on her mind.

The story follows two main narrative threads. Jack, our submarine pirate, has made it her life’s work to create open-source drugs for people who can’t afford the patented, Big Pharmacy-controlled ones. She’s also not above selling some for recreational use as well as medicinal, to help fund her operations. When a batch of a new productivity drug she sold starts claiming victims, she has to do her best to put things to right. On her trail are Eliasz, an operative hired by the pharmaceutical company, and his robot colleague Paladin. As they work together, Paladin — whose sentience is never in question — becomes increasingly confused and increasingly engaged by his relationship with Eliasz.

Each character introduced throughout the novel is working through a major trauma or life moment, and I found my sympathies morphing and changing with each new revelation. Characters I thought I despised suddenly became not only relatable but important to me, and some I thought I completely understood became much more complicated. And then there’s the actual (and very action- and gore-packed) plot! There’s nothing straightforward about Autonomous, but there’s a lot to enjoy and a lot to ponder.

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and my co-host Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. For many many more book recommendations you can find me on the Get Booked podcast with the inimitable Amanda.

Don’t forget to pack your towel,
Jenn