The Joy and Despair of Seeing Your City in an SFF Novel

This post originally appeared on Tor.com. The Chicago skyline may as well be threaded into the double helix of my DNA. I’ve got the city’s iconic flag tattooed on my forearm. I still call its tallest skyscraper “the Sears Tower” because it feels right. On the first days of summer-esque weather, I bike along the Lake Shore Path…

Writers Of The Future Volume 39 – On The Up & Up

Welcome…to the FUTURE. Hold up a minute, though, because we need to take a brief journey to the past. Namely, way back in 2022, when I reviewed Writers of the Future Volume 38. Back then, I reviewed the anthology by selecting three of my favorite stories within it. If you liked that format, great news:…

Welcome to the Cosmere

Welcome To The Cosmere: A Brandon Sanderson Reading Order Guide

Come one, come all to the Cosmere! That’s right folks, after years of Brandon Sanderson reviews and discussions, we’re finally laying down the law. Today, one and a half Brandon Sanderson experts (Andrew and Cole, respectively) shoulder the Herculean task of telling YOU the ideal Brandon Sanderson reading order.  A few clean-up notes before we…

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook For Surviving Medieval England – Not Quite

April rolls along, and it brings with it nice weather for this winter-addled Chicagoan. And lo, an added bonus! Brandon Sanderson’s second Kickstarter book—The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook For Surviving Medieval England—dropped on April 1. It’s the only non-Cosmere book of the bunch, fitting in well with his other projects like Skyward. Mild setup spoilers follow. …

Nothing Makes Me Read Faster Than an Underwhelming Book

This post was originally published on Tor.com. Two questions for you today, lovely readers of Tor.com: How fast do you read? Why? I have a lot of friends who read. In some circles, I am the slowest reader, slotting 50-55 books per year while my comrades knock out 75-100. Insane! In other circles, I’m the…

In The Lives Of Puppets – Strings Attached

TJ Klune has catapulted into the spotlight over the past few years. He’s always been a prolific writer, though The House In The Cerulean Sea brought his name into bookish spheres like never before. Under The Whispering Door carried on his tradition of charming, heartwarming, delightfully gay fantasy. And now, he brings us In The…

Who Hunts The Whale – Buggy Release

Who Hunts The Whale, by Laura Kate Dale and Jane Aerith Magnet, comes from the Unbound crowdfunding platform. The novel offers a look inside a fictional AAA game development company through the lens of a wide-eyed new hire with big dreams. It fits the recent trend of novels set in this arena, alongside the likes…

Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs – Tasty

Comedian and writer Jamie Loftus graced the world with Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs, and an avid wiener enthusiast like me couldn’t pass it up. I know we’re a sci-fi and fantasy site, but I had to sing the praises of this excellent book because munching hog has always been my deepest…