Oh, damn. Like my novel, this is an all-too-plausible near future where a corporation has taken advantage of all-too-real American fears; now I know wOh, damn. Like my novel, this is an all-too-plausible near future where a corporation has taken advantage of all-too-real American fears; now I know why we got thrown on panels together this summer. A compelling longform take on ethics and personal responsibility wrapped in a shiny corporate thriller wrapper....more
Deliciously claustrophobic science fictional horror. I love climbing/caving/extreme sport memoirs, and I love this kind of psychological creepy. I tooDeliciously claustrophobic science fictional horror. I love climbing/caving/extreme sport memoirs, and I love this kind of psychological creepy. I took a hike with my dog around three quarters of the way through and even though it was sunny and woodsy I couldn't help thinking of Gyre as I clambered over rocks and looked where my next handhold might be....more
Argh. This was brilliant. The worldbuilding. The characters. The writing. Brilliant. I understand the Le Guin comparisons and think they're well earneArgh. This was brilliant. The worldbuilding. The characters. The writing. Brilliant. I understand the Le Guin comparisons and think they're well earned. ...more
This is a great anthology, not just for the stories, but for the thoughtful foreword and the lengthy biographies of the writers included. There's a goThis is a great anthology, not just for the stories, but for the thoughtful foreword and the lengthy biographies of the writers included. There's a good mix of the oft-anthologized and rarer pieces, and of known and obscure authors. Some of the stories didn't age as well as others, but they are still interesting artifacts....more
A terrific alternate history of space with science that felt accurate and a great protagonist. My one or two minor issues didn't diminish my enjoymentA terrific alternate history of space with science that felt accurate and a great protagonist. My one or two minor issues didn't diminish my enjoyment of a book that manages to be both dark and joyful. Now to get my hands on the sequel....more
I don't see a listing for the bound First Second version I just read, but this is adorable. I'm a sucker for kindness and queer found family.I don't see a listing for the bound First Second version I just read, but this is adorable. I'm a sucker for kindness and queer found family....more
This took a while to finish because I kept having to look up songs. I knew most of the Bowie stuff, but not a lot of the other stuff. Would've liked aThis took a while to finish because I kept having to look up songs. I knew most of the Bowie stuff, but not a lot of the other stuff. Would've liked a little more anecdote/humanizing, but the connections themselves were enough in the end. Clever to structure it around the decade, more or less opening and closing it with Major Tom....more
I rarely read series and I rarely read two books in a row by the same author, but having just read the Calculating Stars, I promptly got hold of a copI rarely read series and I rarely read two books in a row by the same author, but having just read the Calculating Stars, I promptly got hold of a copy of the Fated Sky and devoured it. Stayed up until 1 am reading. I loved the realistic life-in-space details like the shifting locations of foot calluses. ...more
A brilliant, brutal generation ship novel. It opens with the amputation of a gangrenous foot, and then expands to show a gangrenous system, striated bA brilliant, brutal generation ship novel. It opens with the amputation of a gangrenous foot, and then expands to show a gangrenous system, striated by race and class and dialect, reinforced from the top down over 325 years of travel with no end in sight. Rivers Solomon is absolutely unflinching in looking at how this system affects characters who are black, queer, neuroatypical, or combinations thereof. Aster, the protagonist, is an indelible character, and the book is one I'll be thinking about for a long time. I'm very impressed with the book and the author. This is not only meticulously plotted and conceived, but the prose is clear and unobtrusive in the way that is meant to look easy to write but is most definitely not. When the meaning behind the title revealed itself, I stopped and savored it for a moment. I had tiny quibbles here and there, but I'm not going to explore them or ding the book for them. My only regret is that I didn't read this in time to put it on my Hugo, Campbell, Locus, and Norton ballots. I'm glad others rectified that for the Campbell and Locus, at least....more
An awesome book to end the year with. Smart tech-sf built on great characters. I intended to read the first chapter before bed on Friday, and ended upAn awesome book to end the year with. Smart tech-sf built on great characters. I intended to read the first chapter before bed on Friday, and ended up staying up until 1am, then wound up reading the entire book in a day. I'm not a fast reader; I just devoured this novel....more
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