My deepest wish is for this discovery to redefine alterity for all of us.
Alterity?
The concept of “otherness”.
Sylvain Neuvel’s Sleeping Giants (2016) is a true accomplishment in terms of unique science fiction storytelling. Its nontraditional format may alienate some readers, but the story it tells is in every way an excellent balance of traditional and unique science fiction.
Byron reviewed this book in 2018 and has a very different take on it than I do. To read his review, click here.
“Any man can be kind when he is comfortable. I’d always thought kindness a trivial virtue, therefore. But when we were hungry, thirsty, sick, frightened, with our deaths shouting at us, in the heart of horror, you were still as unfailingly courteous as a gentleman at ease before his own hearth.
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold is a 2001 fantasy novel that was nominated for a bunch of awards, including the Nebula, Hugo and World Fantasy Award. It’s considered an important part of the fantasy literary canon. I only became aware of its existence a couple of years ago, and this year I finally got around to reading it.
It’s pretty good!
Megan E. O’Keefe’s Velocity Weapon is an excellent entry into the annals of modern science fiction, tackling many of the major through-notes at the core of the genre since science fiction became a genre all its own. It raises all of the best questions of science fiction, and does so in a thoughtful manner that provides answers as much as it provokes questions. Around these, O’Keefe builds a devastating, astonishing, and ultimately hopeful story that is ripe for a lively and lengthy discussion.
Whether your book club is preparing to discuss it, or you’ve read it on your own and are looking for more, I hope the questions below will help guide you.
Note: If you haven’t read Velocity Weapon, you can read my review of it here.
Please let me know if you use these questions, find them helpful, or think I missed something. And of course I would love to see your answers to any (or all) of these questions in the comments. Happy discussing!
Of course, MAJOR SPOILER WARNINGS below:
Sometimes she craved a little danger. And that was why she had book club.
Sometimes, I have complex, layered reasons for picking up a particular book. Not so with Grady Hendrix’s The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Vampire Slaying. I mean, take a look at that title! Who could resist?
I’d just come off of a marathon reading session of challenging reads and I wanted light, engaging fare. It’s safe to say that my expectations were pretty high and my standards low. This book’s got everything I want in a vacation read, and early reviews teed it up to be the golf equivalent of a slam dunk. I was entirely unprepared to hate this book.
Sometimes the best way you can take care of yourself is by opening a good book. While our lives are full of difficult conversations, self reflection, and community action, we’d like to take this moment to talk about some books we’re excited about.
We understand that not everyone has the time, energy, or want to read right now. Our hearts are with you all, and these stories will wait patiently for when you’re ready to join them.
Simon the Fiddler by Paulette Jiles is set in Texas, just after the end of the Civil War. I am a big fan of Jiles’ previous novel News of the World, which was also set in Texas during that time period. I was excited about this release! Unfortunately….
Simon the Fiddler is not very good.
Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray is a Young Adult Extended Universe Star Wars novel.
Star Wars was my favorite thing as a kid. I watched the movies over and over. I played with the toys. I dressed up as Darth Vader (on normal days, not just Halloween). But I didn’t get into EVERYTHING Star Wars-y. I did not bother to read the many, many spin-off novels or comic books. I pretty much just stuck with the movies and my imagination, even as I got older and more movies were released. The lackluster prequels and sequels didn’t exactly spark a greater interest in that galaxy far, far away.
However, the Disney+ show The Mandalorian got some good buzz, so I watched it. I liked it. Wanting more good Star Wars content, I checked out the cartoon series Rebels (also available for streaming on Disney+). I loved it. I wanted even more Star Wars content, particularly stories set in the early days of the rebellion (the same setting as Rebels), and preferably featuring Leia, a hero of mine since I was in pre-school. I chose the YA novel Leia, Princess of Alderaan to scratch that itch.
I loved it!
We hope everyone has been staying safe and healthy. If you are looking for more stuff to read, rejoice, for it is a new month! Here are some May releases that we are interested in. Comment below to add your own recommendations. We are certainly open to suggestions.
Byron’s Picks
Clap When You Land ~ Elizabeth Acevedo (Release Date May 5, 2020)
It caught my attention by being on Amazon’s list of Best YA fiction of the month. It’s written by a National Book Award winner. The format looks interesting: a novel written like a poem (or vice versa). It’s been a while since I’ve read a straight-up Literary YA novel, and I am looking forward to trying this out!
Ardis’s Picks
Network Effect ~ Martha Wells (Release Date May 5, 2020)
Martha Wells dominated 2019 with three new novellas in her Murderbot Diaries series, and she is bringing the heat in 2020 as well by publishing its first full-length novel. I can’t wait to see what this new story has in store!
Catherine House ~ Elisabeth Thomas (Release Date May 12, 2020)
Elisabeth Thomas’s Catherine House promises deep intrigue and suspense set against a backdrop of a near-gothic boarding school in rural Pennsylvania. What secrets will be unearthed, what threats unleashed, to wander among the halls of Catherine House?
The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea ~ Maggie Tokuda-Hall (Release Date May 14, 2020)
Pirates, magic, rebellion, colonialism, marauders, thieves, and worse? Yes! This YA fantasy sounds like everything I need to curl up with after a long day in a long week in a long month, and I am so excited for whatever adventure waits among its pages.
There’s something in it, he decides later, standing in line for dinner. It’s possible to know you’re a criminal, a liar, a man of weak moral character, and yet not know it, in the sense of feeling that your punishment is somehow undeserved, that despite the cold facts you’re deserving of warmth and some kind of special treatment.
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel was one of the books I was most-looking forward to reading this year because I loved the author’s previous novel, Station Eleven.
The Glass Hotel is good. Not as good as Station Eleven. But good.
I’m always down for a short story collection. There’s a huge amount of skill involved in getting the pacing and the density right in a short story, and I absolutely love how accessible they are. Little bite-sized pieces of art. And the good ones, the really good ones, are full of tiny little pocket dimensions wherein time stands still.
Not so with Palwick’s 2019 short story collection All Worlds Are Real.