Who doesn’t like a little space talk with their science fiction novels? No, the deep dark void is not your bag? Can I interest you in planets then? Particularly barren planets that are repurposed with the intent to house human and animal life. If so, then maybe a book such as The Terraformers by Annalee…
Tag: Science Fiction
Neuromancer – Plugging In
While I have read Snow Crash, a section of science fiction I've largely bypassed has been cyberpunk, and this year I've decided to remedy that. A major reason I stayed away from cyberpunk as a genre is I did not really care for the flashy aesthetics and the idea of hackers as heroes in cyberspace.…
Spin – A Monumental but Slightly Dizzying Spectacle
Spin, by Robert Charles Wilson, is a book that constantly showed up on lists of books I should have read by now. Its reputation is so present that whenever I wanted something big and exciting, the cover art would worm its way into my brain. It was also name dropped at various moments in different…
Continue reading ➞ Spin – A Monumental but Slightly Dizzying Spectacle
The Vanished Birds – Finding Your Family
Have you ever wanted to turn to a colleague and exclaim “wow, you’re a coward,” and have legitimate grounds to stand on? What if that colleague was a good friend who told you to read a book, and you stonewalled them forever because “you had better books to read than ones they already read?” Well,…
The Mountain In The Sea – Peak Performance
When I first read the synopsis for Ray Nayler’s debut novel, The Mountain In the Sea, I felt threatened. The description of the book felt pointedly aimed at me and my parasocial relationship with Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Children books. I didn’t exactly pass right over it, but I didn’t really engage with the possibility of reading…
Continue reading ➞ The Mountain In The Sea – Peak Performance
The Horizon – Staring Into The Future
Last year, I was humbled before Gautam Bhatia’s The Wall. It refused to conform to my hopes, remaining a solid and unforgettable presence through the year. So of course, it was not long until Gautam teased me with the fact that there was a sequel. I can’t tell you how excited I was at the…
Leech – A Cleansing Presence
Happy October 32nd everyone! With October still chugging along I am excited to bring you another great horror pick. What did you say? It’s not October anymore? Get back in your cage you silly dissenter! Everyone knows October is forever. I don’t have time to argue with you, a person who is clearly wrong about…
Chasm City – Not Splitting Hairs On This One
Revelation Space is a big series. Sure, it’s a trilogy, but it also has two related novels and a treasure trove of short stories. I’ve only scratched the surface on the shorter fiction by Alastair Reynolds, but the little I have read has been just as exciting as the sprawling epics. Now I’m writing this…
Continue reading ➞ Chasm City – Not Splitting Hairs On This One
How High We Go In The Dark – Treading Water in a Cave
Catching up on the year’s previous releases is a double edged sword. It feels good to read something that so many people have already weighed in on, but said novel carries the baggage of having to live up to expectations. While I didn’t read any reviews of this next book until after I had finished…
Continue reading ➞ How High We Go In The Dark – Treading Water in a Cave
Eversion – Delightfully Subversive
I have been spending the better part of this summer catching up on Alastair Reynolds’ intimidating library. I have nearly finished the Revelation Space series (Looking at you, Inhibitor Phase) and have been having an absolute blast. Lo’ and behold Andrew shows up at my door with an ARC of Eversion, I couldn’t have been…