This is the third book I’ve read by ab Hugh, and the third to get two stars. It’s obviously supposed to be comedic, but isn’t funny (the conceit of a Ferengi who speaks entirely like it’s “talk like a pirate day” may be hilarious to some; to me, it was increasingly annoying), there are numerous typos and inconsistencies, and it was just a slog. Not looking forward to when I get to more by this author (though I’ll read them, because I’m a stubborn Trek completist).

If you know much of anything about Heavy Metal, you know what to expect with this relaunch of the long-running comic anthology series. Sci-fi/fantasy/horror comics and  art (often of the “muscle bound men and women wearing a whole lot of not very much no matter how impractical that might be” variety, of course). As the relaunch issue, this also has several short essays about the history of the magazine and some of the artists who have been involved, particularly Greg Hildebrandt, who died between painting the cover (of the edition I have) and when it was published. Though I was never a subscriber, I’d found the occasional issue, and certainly saw the movie (and have had it in my collection for years, even if it’s not a regular watch), and it’s good to know that the magazine is still going, and that it’s still exactly what your inner ‘80s adolescent has been looking for.

My favorite this month was “In the Shells of Broken Things” by A. T. Greenblatt.

In a fitting bookend for a series that began with a sci-fi romance between a military officer and a planetary surveyor, it ends with something essentially the same, even to one of the same characters. Much less adventuresome or military than others, this is more of a pleasant, comfortable wrap up for the series, bringing it back to where it started while checking in with many of the remaining characters. While the stories certainly good go on if Bujold chose to write more, this is also a very worthy ending to the series itself.

We haven’t gotten an Ortegas-centric episode of the show yet, so it’s fun to get a bit more of a peek into her and her background through this adventure. A mysterious alien artifact, a dangerous planet, ornery Klingons…all in all, quite the fun Trek adventure. 

(Very mild spoilers: The only flaw for me wasn’t actually a flaw with the book, but a happenstance of my reading: I’d just read the TOS ebook novella _Miasma_, so this made for two Trek stories in a row with a landing party trapped on a rainy, muddy planet being chased by swarms of hungry giant bugs while cut off from all communication with the Enterprise. I had to keep reminding myself it wasn’t quite as derivative as it seemed.)

More good Vorkosigan adventure as Miles heads off to investigate cryogenic companies and ends up in more trouble than he expected. Toss in some cute kids, a menagerie, questionably competent criminals, and diplomats getting their first taste of Miles's approach to problem solving, and it's a lot of fun. Though the end took a turn I definitely wasn't expecting....

A simple, quick adventure, as a mysterious signal diverts the Enterprise from ferrying diplomats around so they can investigate. Not terribly surprisingly, the landing party has difficulties and great peril. A perfectly serviceable quick Trek novella.

A nice short peek at Etakerina’s work on Barrayar, tying together several small threads from various points earlier in the series.

Favorites this issue were “Unfinished Architectures  of the Human-Fae War” by Caroline M. Yoachim and “Hi! I’m Claudia” by Delilah S. Dawson.

Favorites this month were “The Library of the Apocalypse” by Rati Mehrotra, “We, the Fleet” by Alex T. Singer, “Descent” by Wole Talabi, and “Yarn Theory” by Marie Vibbert.