I really liked this novel by Anders (novelist and editor of i09) because it mixes science fiction and fantasy, engaging the two in a sort of debate: which is more powerful, magic or science, and can they peacefully co-exist? It’s the story of two life-long friends, and occasional enemies, Laurence and Patricia. Patricia is drawn…
Io9 recently released one of my favorite book lists, 40 science fiction and fantasy books to read in 2016. What’s on the list that I’m excited about? All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders (January 26) I’ve been reading Anders’ posts on io9 for a few years now; she’s the editor of…
I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season! I’ve been battling an ugly cold but otherwise our Christmas was quite nice. The husband and I slept in, made pancakes and opened gifts, talked to family and in the evening we broke out our French cookbook and tackled a meal we’d never made before, Beef…
Since my last Series on Sunday I’ve read these series books: The Black Lung Captain by Chris Wooding Cut to the Quick by Kate Ross Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron I enjoyed all of them, and while none are in the ballpark of books like Us or House of Mirth, I like to…
I’ve been struggling to write a review of this book. I loved it but also found it maddening. It’s this big, complicated, meandering story, but it all comes together in a really dramatic conclusion. I love David Mitchell and everything he writes, from Cloud Atlas to Jacob de Zoet to his translation of The Reason…
I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of Naomi Novik’s new book, Uprooted. This fantasy novel is a huge departure from her fantastic Temeraire series. Uprooted is about Agnieska, a farmer’s daughter in a vaguely Eastern European land. Agnieska’s town lives in fear of The Dragon, a magician who lives in a secluded tower,…
I’ve read four of Rainbow Rowell’s books and enjoyed every one of them. It’s hard to compare them, so I won’t. Rowell’s previous books have all been about the beginnings of a relationship, but this one is about what happens to that relationship across years of marriage. Georgie McCool is a writer of television comedies…
Among Others is sort of an odd book – it’s fantasy but at the it’s the author’s homage to science fiction. Morwenna is fifteen and has run away from her abusive mother. She recently lost her twin sister in some kind of showdown with their mother, and now she must depend on a father she…
I don’t have too much to say about this book, except that it was a fun read. It’s a clever combination of fantasy meets Jane Austen. Now, I’m not a big fan of reading books that are takeoffs on Jane Austen’s novels (but if you are, see this recent post in The AV Club.) But…
I won! I’m always super-excited to win a book in a giveaway. This time, I didn’t even know what book I was entering to win. The Little Red Reviewer, an awesome science fiction and fantasy blog, held a Blind Date with a Book Giveaway. She posted pictures of five wrapped books, each with hints about…
Stardust reminded me of the story in The Princess Bride: it’s got magic, adventure, and romance. In short, it has everything. The comparison is even more apt because I read it while sick. It’s a short, easy read and I felt just like that kid in The Princess Bride, reading The.Best.Story.Ever (only no cool grandpa…
This book worked on so many different levels. It’s a great example of fantasy that transcends the genre, ultimately telling a story of immigrants in turn of the century New York who are struggling to fit in. It’s a book that moves at its own pace, winding through its characters’ day to day lives rather…
The Book Stop 