Speculative Fiction That Asks Big Questions
Even if you’ve been living under a rock, if you’re smart you’re probably practicing social distancing wherever possible right now, washing your hands a lot, and tracking the news on a regular basis. Maybe you are home because your child’s school is shut down, or your employer’s had to close their doors due to the…
By Jeff Vandermeer FSG Originals, ISBN: 978-0374261177 Hardback, 608 pages. © 2014 Area X, a region of the Forgotten Coast cut off from the rest of the world by an environmental anomaly, has swallowed all vestiges of human habitation in its verdant overgrowth. No one knows what caused it, or why eleven expeditions sent by…
We’re well into 2020 now, and the writing scene is as frenetic as ever. Congratulations to my writing pals from Twitter and Facebook who have had debut novels come out in the last year, or who’ve been picked up for publication sometime in the coming months! All that hard work eventually pays off, doesn’t it?…
Book 2, Chronicles of Ghadid By K. A. Doore Tor Books, ISBN: 978-0765398550 Paperback, 352 pages. © March 2019 Thana, novice assassin and daughter of the legendary Serpent of Ghadid, sees a chance to prove herself when she accepts her first contract. Her target, visiting diplomat Heru, holds the power to bind souls to his…
Book 2, Earthseed Novels By Octavia Butler Open Road Integrated Media, Inc., ISBN: 978-1-4532-6543-7 Paperback, 320 pages. © 2012 (Originally published 1998) In 2032, Lauren lives with her husband Bankole, their infant daughter Larkin, and the rest of the Earthseed community on an isolated piece of land they’ve named Acorn. They support one another, care…
Book 1, Earthseed novels By Octavia Butler Open Road Integrated Media, Inc., ISBN: 971-1-4532-6542-0 Paperback, 320 pages. © 2012 (Originally published by Four Walls Eight Windows, 1993) It is 2024. America has all but collapsed under climate crises and economic duress. Only the very rich or powerful live without fear. Everyone else is on their…
It only just dawned on me in the last couple of days that I hadn’t blogged in a couple of months. Holy Continuity, Batman! Where does the time go? In my defense, I’ll say that this has been the busiest few months I’ve had for quite some time! In early September I began a beta-read…
By Tim Johnson Algonquin Books, ISBN: 978-1616204778 Paperback, 400 pages. ©2015 On the first day of their family vacation in Colorado, 18-year-old track star Caitlin drags her younger brother, Sean, out in the pre-dawn darkness to bike behind her as she runs. Hours later, the local sheriff calls. Sean has been badly injured in an…
NOTE: This post is about acknowledging the fact that I still have a lot to learn. In the first few paragraphs, I address a sensitive matter involving animal husbandry. Though I’ve tried not to go into great detail, and made every effort to maintain respect for the animals, if you think the topic will be…
Book 1, Chronicles of Ghadid By K. A. Doore Tor Books, ISBN: 978-0765398550 Paperback, 352 pages. © March 2019 Novice assassin Amastan is relieved to learn, after passing all his tests, that no new contracts are being issued. He’s not convinced he could really take a life and doubts his future with the secretive guild….