The Queens are back! I'm so happy. Back to a style of art that fits and exemplifies the characters and shows all the nuances that were missing last voThe Queens are back! I'm so happy. Back to a style of art that fits and exemplifies the characters and shows all the nuances that were missing last volume. Time to start reading again....more
I loved Weir's last book, "The Martian," so I was excited for this one. However, I wasn't enamored by the book. While the science was engaging, the chI loved Weir's last book, "The Martian," so I was excited for this one. However, I wasn't enamored by the book. While the science was engaging, the characters felt false, especially the main character, Jazz.
I think he erred in writing a young girl, I don't feel his writing or story-telling skills were quite up to par, and he made her one most prominent characteristic that she was sexually promiscuous. So over and over, her interactions with people were them pointing out she slept with a lot of guys, and she looked at the world with "oh I remember when I slept with someone there" or "he won't stop giving me trouble for being a slut." Over and over, to the exclusion of almost any other characteristics (other than her being a troublemaker ... usually because of guys or sex). In today's climate it was entirely too cringey (and rang so very false.) But hey, moon science! ...more
This is a long, slow burn of a book. It's about the fading era of nobility as a manor house and its remaining inhabitants slowly slide into obscurity,This is a long, slow burn of a book. It's about the fading era of nobility as a manor house and its remaining inhabitants slowly slide into obscurity, with lots of humanity and a little bit of ghosts.
The writing is definitely well done but I wish it had been scarier. Much like the characters, I think it was just too polite to go there.
I didn't like the doctor, he was a controlling dick grasping for a life he felt he deserved, the other humans be damned (literally?). And the end left me wondering just what his true part in the whole thing had been. Loved the house. As I'm finally binging my way through Downton Abbey, I couldn't help but superimpose that setting fully and completely onto this novel....more
A definitely spiritual successor to Handmaiden's Tale, this is a near future when babies are being born an evolutionary throwback, when they're born aA definitely spiritual successor to Handmaiden's Tale, this is a near future when babies are being born an evolutionary throwback, when they're born at all, and the upheaval in women's (and human) rights as religion and government meld "for the sake of our future."
Following one woman, newly pregnant, as she tries to discover her past while protecting her future, it's in turns hopeful, sad, heartbreaking and delightful. A very powerful read, I read this in the space of four hours in the middle of a sleepless night. How much was the book and how much was insomnia, I cannot tell....more
A slim novella about a ghost who is working off her time until her allocated "death day" by working at a suicide hotline. Add in highly specific witchA slim novella about a ghost who is working off her time until her allocated "death day" by working at a suicide hotline. Add in highly specific witches (corn witches, city witches, etc) and a vibrant ghost community, it's an engaging universe.
As with much of Seanan McGuire's work, this slides in and out of lyrical writing. However, the mythology was so intricate and dense, I felt it was rushed and confusing at times, and the ending was way too convenient. This definitely deserved more space. Still, there are some truly beautiful moments.
She puts out so much every year, I really think her recent writings would benefit from less quantity, more quality (or better content editing)....more
I picked this one up after I heard Morbius was possibly getting his own movie. What I found was an anthology of recent stories about many of the more I picked this one up after I heard Morbius was possibly getting his own movie. What I found was an anthology of recent stories about many of the more "monstrous" characters ... Morbius, The Living Mummy, Werewolf by Night, Satana, Lillith and so on. I totally enjoyed these, the art was fantastic and I was introduced to a whole slew of gothy tinged "heroes."
The second part of the collection was reprints of a bunch of 70s comics, including a personal favorite, Ghost Rider. Man, how things have changed over the decades, so much technicolor and expository dumps.
Finally there was an encyclopedia of characters with backstory, stats, powers etc, which would be perfect for a roleplaying game. "The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Horror," a fine read in itself....more
I've been a fan of both The Walking Dead comics and show since the start, however I stopped reading the comics just before the appearance of Negan. I I've been a fan of both The Walking Dead comics and show since the start, however I stopped reading the comics just before the appearance of Negan. I do believe I have been utterly spoiled by the amazingly charismatic Jefferey Dean Morgan.
This stand alone is the origin story of Negan, and while it was interesting, comic Negan just didn't hold a candle to tv Negan. Also, I forgot just how hard it is to parse the action in the comics sometimes, the characters look just a little too similar, and when it's dark, well that's when accidents and mis-identification happen!
(And strangely enough, this is the second Jefferey Dean Morgan character book I've read this week, following up on the journal of John Winchester. Is there any Denny Duquette fiction out there? I have always appreciated trilogies.)...more
This novel tickled a lot of my happy-place geekeries. There was baking, and especially sourdough, a newfound interest of mine. A harried woman longingThis novel tickled a lot of my happy-place geekeries. There was baking, and especially sourdough, a newfound interest of mine. A harried woman longing to ditch her high speed life and sink into something wholesomely creative (no comment). High tech, cyberhippie gatherings and the intersections between magic and technology ... I very much enjoyed this trip.
And then I realized it was written by the fellow who wrote, "Mr. Penubra's 24-Hour Bookstore" and it made a lot more sense, he's got a very distinctive voice. And that's two for two of his books bringing me happiness. ...more
Three stars for the story (not 100% sure what happened) and a million stars for the art (especially Jerome Opeña's ... such a sense of action and spotThree stars for the story (not 100% sure what happened) and a million stars for the art (especially Jerome Opeña's ... such a sense of action and spot on framing beautifully rendered) ... we'll meet in the middle at four :)
Alas, this Claire North book didn't capture me the same way her other two did. It didn't seem as robust a story, more chase scenes than deep delves inAlas, this Claire North book didn't capture me the same way her other two did. It didn't seem as robust a story, more chase scenes than deep delves into human experience.
Where in "The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August" we had a subset of humans who lived their lives over and over, and in "The Sudden Appearance of Hope" we had people that were literally forgotten once out of sight, in this one we have people that can jump into others bodies, wearing the skin of another for seconds or decades.
And as with the other two, we have an antagonistic group that knows their secret and is out to stop them. Adventure and much travel to exotic locations happens, and unexpected allies are found. But where the others were layered in emotion and rich in detail, this seemed like a sprint to the finish.
Still, she's a heck of a writer, and I read all the way through. This one didn't resonate with me though....more
Oh man, I enjoy the heck out of this collection of Drizzt graphic novels. Following along the first three prose novels in his series, it was pretty anOh man, I enjoy the heck out of this collection of Drizzt graphic novels. Following along the first three prose novels in his series, it was pretty and fun and full of dark elf goodness.
These books, the original novels, were my introductions to the whole concept of D&D. I didn't have the luxury of a geeky community growing up, no adolescent dungeon masters rolling die to determine the fate of my avatar. All I had were books. They were my first glimpse into the framework of chaos, order, good, evil, and neutral. Rangers and druids, clerics and paladins, warriors and wizards. They were entertaining and immersive and helped develop my love of playing complex dark elves whenever I could.
So yes, I dove straight into this omnibus (I had no idea the comics were a thing!) and only looked up long enough to watch the pretty snow outside while Drizzt crawled through the depths and emerged into the light, experiencing his own first snowfall.
A colleague loaned me this, and then I realized the library has the second omnibus (but only the second, hmph). Already on hold!...more
This was a quick read of a society where magic replaces technology yet politics still abound.
I felt the story was slight, that it was created around This was a quick read of a society where magic replaces technology yet politics still abound.
I felt the story was slight, that it was created around the true message of gender fluidity, personal choice, and acceptance. While this is a very valid viewpoint, I still felt it was more preaching than telling a story. Still, it was well written for what it was, though heavy handed.
In this society, people are gender neutral until they choose for themselves: male, female, or neither. Once the choice is made, at whatever age (be it 3 or 30 or again, never) there is a whole system in place to "confirm" the choice, through horomones, surgery, wardrobe, or even as simple and male or female pronouns. This whole area was very well thought out. It's the rest of the story that I feel lacks.
We follow twins, gifted to a monastery in lieu of a debt. When one shows signs of foresight and prophecy, their lives change and their paths begin to diverge.
It was this aspect of twins that gave me some trouble in the reading however, as individually or together their pronouns are "they," "them," "their." So I struggled trying to paint a picture of the action, trying to decide if this was singular person or plural, which hindered immersion through the first half of the book. Still, that's what we have to work with right now as there is no gender neutral singular pronoun, and "their" etc is the common workaround. I like my language to be precise so that's just a personal preference, language is fluid (no pun intended) and until/unless society finds something better, that's what we've got. ...more
This is a rewrite/translation of a Dutch novel, about an ancient curse and the daily dealings of it. A witch, hundreds of years dead, wanders the townThis is a rewrite/translation of a Dutch novel, about an ancient curse and the daily dealings of it. A witch, hundreds of years dead, wanders the town. If you touch her, you die. If you listen to her whisperings, you die. If you leave town for more than a few days, you die. So instead, the town lives ... through a series of rules and rituals and technology, they live alongside the curse.
There are definitely some creepy moments and some things I hadn't "seen" before in all my years of horror reading and watching, so I definitely call this a good read. Enough that I am really curious to know how the ending was rewritten (by the author) for American audiences, I would like to know the changes from the original Dutch.
Part of my October scary reading, it fit quite well....more
Very definitely a niche book for fans of the tv show Supernatural. This is supposed to be John Winchester's journal, which was quite a plot point a nuVery definitely a niche book for fans of the tv show Supernatural. This is supposed to be John Winchester's journal, which was quite a plot point a number of times. I thoroughly enjoyed it, though it did get repetitious here and there, and could have been way more fleshed out at times. Still, my fan girl is squeeing over such entries as:
January 24: I gave Dean the Impala today for his eighteenth birthday. The car is 30 years old now, amazing it runs as well as it does. I've taught Dean a lot of what I know about working on cars, which was everyhting until 1983. Haven't kept up since then, all the computers and emissions spaghetti drives me nuts. Give me a fat 327, no electronics, just pistons, crankshaft and a gas pedal. That's a car. And now it's my son's. He knows I'll still be driving it, but he's a man now, and since he's already made his share of kills, this was the only rite of passage I could thing of. He better goddamn well better take care of it....more
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