Prince Joffrey’s witchy step-mother has officially given her last fuck. It was hard to read, even briefly, about this waste of space prince, but it maPrince Joffrey’s witchy step-mother has officially given her last fuck. It was hard to read, even briefly, about this waste of space prince, but it made watching his bones crawl all the more satisfying....more
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“The group crossed a sandy vale, climbed a low dune, and suddenly the head of the valley of the Time Tombs was visible for the first tim
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“The group crossed a sandy vale, climbed a low dune, and suddenly the head of the valley of the Time Tombs was visible for the first time.”
*Just as impactful upon reread. This time I will finish the Cantos.*
This is the Decameron of science fiction. Seven travelers on a pilgrimage at the precipice of Armageddon tell each other the stories of their lives that led them to this final journey. The tales are fascinating, sexual, romantic, and tear jerkingly poignant. There is an unsubtle obsession with Keats throughout the book that makes me want to read more of the poet. I downloaded the whole Cantos!
[image] “Everything’s a weapon if you’re willing to use it...” - Carillon Thay
ALL THE STARS!!!
George R.R. Martin without the rape. Brandon Sanderson[image] “Everything’s a weapon if you’re willing to use it...” - Carillon Thay
ALL THE STARS!!!
George R.R. Martin without the rape. Brandon Sanderson without the extra five hundred pages of drudgery.
Epic fantasy has a new king: Gareth Hanrahan. Bow down nerds.
[image] “We’re thieves,” says Cari, “call it a heist.”
Runaway, robber, traveler: Cari swore she would never return to Guerdon. But she’s found her outlaw family in Spar and Rat, something worth fighting for.
[image] “There are moments when things change, when the forces balance, and it’s possible for people - individual people - to remake the world.”
Intellectual, thief, heir: Spar should be leading the Brotherhood but he caught the Stone Plague.
Everyday, more of him freezes to stone. Everyday, he grows stronger.
[image] “He laughs, this long slow deep laugh, and he can’t shake the feeling that the dead man he just ate is laughing, too.”
Ghoul, psychopomp, friend: Rat’s connections with the surface world are all that keep him from entering the feral stage of ghoulhood.
[image] “That’s a terrible idea, but fuck it, lead on.”
My favorite character! Last of the Saints of the Kept Gods, she is middle aged, all powerful, and completely irreverent.
[image] “It came into my mind that I could possibly help with a little magic.”
History professor, investigator, sorcerer: Ongent buys Carillion’s way out of jail to help her explore the mystery of her visions.
[image] “I don’t always control where I go.”
Teleporter, cut-throat, lover: Professor Ongent’s son is usually his father’s brooding shadow. But when guarding Carillon, he proves a savage warrior.
[image] “You’re mother is a Thay?” “She never talks about that side of the family. She didn’t, even before the murders.”
Student, researcher, runaway: Eladora is Professor Ongent’s assistant and reluctant hostess of her wayward cousin.
[image] “It’s a new era. All the old powers are obsolete.”
The most powerful person in Guerdon, Rosha is an unrivaled alchemist, ruthless, and with ambition enough to take on the Gods.
[image] “We can’t have little gutter thieves running around like stray cats.”
Head of the Brotherhood, Heinreil will do anything to retain control of the underworld. But Spar has a stronger claim.
The Gutter Prayer was Goldsboro Books December 2018 Book of the Month. I received 118/700, with sprayed edges, signed by the author.
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[image] “Ecotopians have the feeling of never being alone.”
This classic read as if it had been written yesterday. That is beautiful. That is sad. B[image] “Ecotopians have the feeling of never being alone.”
This classic read as if it had been written yesterday. That is beautiful. That is sad. Because I could have been living in Ecotopia instead of reading it.
Sexual equality, sustainability, 3D printing, FaceTime, community, guilt avoidance warfare, recycling, solar power, environmental harmony, social justice, and my personal favorite - the revision of the Protestant work ethic.
All the important issues being discussed today were addressed here in the 70s. Ernest Callenbach wrote a blue print to a better world.
[image] “Despite the risks, Canada didn’t hesitate to accept the orphaned planes.”
Feel good story of the decade!
On 9/11, when the United States c[image] “Despite the risks, Canada didn’t hesitate to accept the orphaned planes.”
Feel good story of the decade!
On 9/11, when the United States closed its airspace, the danger posed by the passengers, and the responsibility for their lives, was deflected to Canada.
Canada's response: [image]
The stories from Gander are the best of human kindness. Jim DeFede has gathered the warmth, humor, pain, and generosity of a remarkable moment in history.
Everyone should read this book.
*audible note: I enjoyed the steady, warm, male narrators voice: a dad's voice.
Currently free with Prime and I listened to the audio on Scribd....more
[image] “Ecovillages attract two kinds of people: those who feel a sense of urgency to build another world and those who crave a deep sense of commu[image] “Ecovillages attract two kinds of people: those who feel a sense of urgency to build another world and those who crave a deep sense of community.”
Ecovillages are Solarpunk in action and are the most hopeful things I’ve ever read.
Starting in 2007 Professor Litfin visited fourteen ecovillages on five continents and came back to start her own. Her stories and perspectives are an inspiration!
As of publication, there were 400 ecovillages worldwide and the movement has grown! Aardehuis, an Earthship ecovillage pictured above, was pouring foundations in 2012. Now it’s giving workshops. EcoVillage Ithaca’s discussed third neighborhood has sold out.
[image] “The women with their perfect faces, all cracking and showing what’s underneath, what’s always been there, course fur and gaping maws, whipp[image] “The women with their perfect faces, all cracking and showing what’s underneath, what’s always been there, course fur and gaping maws, whipping tails, scales, claws and hunger, and teeth, and teeth, and teeth.”
Magical realism, epic fantasy, the real housewives of Herot Hall, a broken and betrayed soldier, all culminating in an ending so satisfying it grounds Beowulf to dirt.
Headley has blown away a tired old tale of machismo.
Here everyone is a monster and everyone is a hero because everyone has a narrative.
The claws unsheathe. The swords are drawn. All heroes win. All heroes lose. All heroes die. All monsters win. All monsters lose. All monsters die.
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*Audible note: part of my enjoyment was the narrator. Even at speed the emotion came through....more
[image] “We’re not doing nations anymore. We’re doing people, doing stuff. Nations mean governments, passports, borders.”
Kim Stanley Robinson meets U[image] “We’re not doing nations anymore. We’re doing people, doing stuff. Nations mean governments, passports, borders.”
Kim Stanley Robinson meets Ursula K. LeGuin with vibrant page turning characters. Not a call to arms but a call to think - a new classic. Everyone should read Walkaway. ...more
[image] “Keeping her patients safe meant keeping them secret, and Greta was good with secrets.”
Satisfying reread!
Binge-worthy! Imagine a non Goth[image] “Keeping her patients safe meant keeping them secret, and Greta was good with secrets.”
Satisfying reread!
Binge-worthy! Imagine a non Goth, modern, funny Penny Dreadful and you'll be close to understanding why this was page turning fun!
[image] “One thing I have found to hold true across the centuries,” said Varney, “is that people are willing to overlook all kinds of eccentricities if you present them with enough money.” ...more
[image] “I can't go back," said Towser. "Nor I," said Fowler. "They would turn me back into a dog," said Towser. "And me," said Fowler, "back into a man."[image] “I can't go back," said Towser. "Nor I," said Fowler. "They would turn me back into a dog," said Towser. "And me," said Fowler, "back into a man."
I was blown away by this classic.
Starting with an alternative 1950s Simak has written over one hundred thousand years of human history in nine short stories; humbly following the path of one family.
The ideas felt fresh, only the optimism dated. But optimism, in the form of solar punk, is up and coming.
These stories heavily favored non violence and that’s just one of many reasons I think City should be required high school reading above stories like Brave New World, The Stranger, and The Catcher in the Rye.
This is the finest fantasy collection I’ve ever read. A Witcher is a magical monster hunter with a code and these are his stories.
Each[image]
You will.
This is the finest fantasy collection I’ve ever read. A Witcher is a magical monster hunter with a code and these are his stories.
Each story is varied in tone, emotion, and morality. Fantasy tropes are upended. Some stories are clever, sweet, well stitched tales with happy endings. Some were gut wrenching.
Poland once gifted President Obama the video game version. I know nothing of video games but I know books.
This was staggeringly good. Poland has every right to be proud....more
I am a Caitlyn Doughty fan girl. I enjoy her perspective, facts, empathy, humor, and voice. Not all author narrators are created equal - Do
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I am a Caitlyn Doughty fan girl. I enjoy her perspective, facts, empathy, humor, and voice. Not all author narrators are created equal - Doughty excels.
Caitlyn Doughty is a dynamo taking on the funeral industry. She challenges us to demystify death and draw comfort from involvement. She runs a non profit funeral home and I encourage everyone to visit her amazing website: http://www.orderofthegooddeath.com...more
This was the best collection I’ve ever read. I will remember The Blue Afternoon That Lasted Forever for the rest of my life.
This book challenged my eThis was the best collection I’ve ever read. I will remember The Blue Afternoon That Lasted Forever for the rest of my life.
This book challenged my expectations of science fiction. It’s my favorite genre and now I’ll always want more.
Miss Gloria ★★★★★ Strong start. The story of the undying love and devotion of a nanny robot to his charge.
The Blue Afternoon That Lasted Forever ★★★★★ "We will always have the stars." Full on heartrending tear jerking perfection. The story feels like a highly personal nightmare.
Jack, The Determined ★★★☆☆ A robot finds out his true nature unkindly but seems to take it in religious stride.
The Executor ★★★★☆ A father determined to give his daughter a better life.
Helmet ★★★★☆ Here we go with the horror! Enslaved Africans in radioactive hellholes and terrifying machinery.
Blood Memory ★★★★★ "Oh yes, Mama," she whispers, smiling wide. Oooh shivers I liked that. At first I thought it was going to be another poignant parental devotion tale but the horror slowly crept in catching me off guard. Excellent!
Foul Weather ★★★★☆ The relationship between human actions and the weather are explored by a meteorologist after a shocking experience on a plane. It read like Stephen King story.
The Nostalgist ★★★☆☆ Sad little story of a boy realizing he is a robot version of a real boy.
Parasite ★★★★☆ "Still alive..." Freaky zombie horror from the world of Robopocalypse.
God Mode ★★☆☆☆ Not sure if this was an Alzheimer’s death scene or an I’m-about-to-get-a-robot-body scene. First story I didn’t like.
Garden of Life ★★★☆☆ Entomologist finds metal bugs.
All Kinds of Proof ★★★☆☆ Pretty low brow story of a blue collar guy getting attached to little dog like mail robot.
One For Sorrow ★★★★★ A story of Elena in England while Peter was at war in India. Loved it! Now I want to read A Clockwork Dynasty all over again!
Special Automatic ★★★☆☆ A special needs kid in the hood builds a robot to gain respect. It was ok.
The average rating is 3.7, which is fantastic for any collection/anthology, but I don’t feel that reflects how memorable some of these stories were so I’m adding a star. ...more
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"Immortality didn’t turn you into a monster. It merely showed you what kind of monster you already were."
Daaaahhhhmmn but this was go
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"Immortality didn’t turn you into a monster. It merely showed you what kind of monster you already were."
Daaaahhhhmmn but this was good! Yoon Ha Lee deserves all the awards. This is what space opera was meant to be: intelligent, underhanded, ruthless, and above all, EXCITING.
My SciFi people, it is Calendrical Heresy for you not to read these books. If you’re not buddy reading Revenant Gun with me on June 12 I’m turning you into the Vidona.
Damn but this was good. Seven Deaths was the smartest murder mystery I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. An incomparable masterwork of the Who-Done-It genre.
Turton is going to fly up the best seller lists when this is released in the United States.
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was Goldsboro Books February 2018 Book of the Month. I received 420/1000, signed by the author, with sprayed edgings and ribbon marker. Gleeful!
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I walked all eleven hours of this audiobook and I highly recommend you do the same.
You feel like you’re among them. All the pain and sorrow of[image]
I walked all eleven hours of this audiobook and I highly recommend you do the same.
You feel like you’re among them. All the pain and sorrow of your life is reduced to the reality of one step. .....One step. ..........One step. ...............One step.
[image] "Saul shivered. Behind the calm voice and the human puppet was a man who had directly murdered scores - perhaps thousands - of human beings." [image] "Saul shivered. Behind the calm voice and the human puppet was a man who had directly murdered scores - perhaps thousands - of human beings."
The epic scope of The Eight. The gut clenching agony of Schindler’s List. The paranormal malevolence of Stephen King.
Oh my friends, this was something special. An absolute Must Read for the Horror Fan. I will remember it always... and shudder.
"Winter is coming. And I am very, very hungry." [image]...more
[image] "You're a monster, then," Malone said. "I was made one."
Oooh damn that was good. Did you just combine race relations, the jazz age, ancie[image] "You're a monster, then," Malone said. "I was made one."
Oooh damn that was good. Did you just combine race relations, the jazz age, ancient mysteries, vengeance, New York, Cthulhu, and global warming? Well done Mr. LaValle. It was amusing that Lovecraft, unnamed but alluded to, was characterized as a bothersome crazy told to stay out of New York.
Lovecraft hated New York.
This is a must read novella for Lovecraft mythos fans and Horror Aficionados in general.
Side Note: I had the book and audio, skip the audio. Bad narrator: toneless where there should have been diverse accents from NYC Burroughs to Texas. Shame....more
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