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962 reviews by:
speculativebecky
Head over heels for this book. You know that feeling when you’re reading a book and you can’t quiet the internal screaming from how much you’re enjoying it? That was me the entire time I was reading MEM by Bethany C. Morrow. Wowowow I loved this book.
Morrow seamlessly blends speculative and historical fiction in this novel, which reimagines 1920’s Montreal with the addition of a fascinating technology that allows people’s memories to be extracted so they no longer experience the associated pain. This process creates a Mem, a sort of clone that isn’t self aware and exists only to experience the source memory over and over until it expires (dies.) Our protagonist Elsie is the world’s first self aware Mem; not only is she able to think and feel and form new memories of her own, but she recalls the complete memories of her source prior to extraction. The entire book is a gorgeous musing on what it means to be human, and on the wonders and pains of memory.
Coming in under 200 pages, Morrow packs so much into this brilliant novel. I was spellbound by Elsie’s story, and longed to linger with the slow unfolding of increasingly major revelations about her differences and the deep questions she grapples against, yet I was caught up in its tightly paced conflict and breathlessly turning pages. There are some turns to the story that are generally not-my-favorite (TM) but this book had me so enthralled I can find no flaw in it.
A glorious work of speculative fiction, this book would easily find a home in hearts of SF lovers, as well as literary types who enjoy books like Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go where the speculative elements intentionally push the reader into the big questions of what makes a human.
Morrow seamlessly blends speculative and historical fiction in this novel, which reimagines 1920’s Montreal with the addition of a fascinating technology that allows people’s memories to be extracted so they no longer experience the associated pain. This process creates a Mem, a sort of clone that isn’t self aware and exists only to experience the source memory over and over until it expires (dies.) Our protagonist Elsie is the world’s first self aware Mem; not only is she able to think and feel and form new memories of her own, but she recalls the complete memories of her source prior to extraction. The entire book is a gorgeous musing on what it means to be human, and on the wonders and pains of memory.
Coming in under 200 pages, Morrow packs so much into this brilliant novel. I was spellbound by Elsie’s story, and longed to linger with the slow unfolding of increasingly major revelations about her differences and the deep questions she grapples against, yet I was caught up in its tightly paced conflict and breathlessly turning pages. There are some turns to the story that are generally not-my-favorite (TM) but this book had me so enthralled I can find no flaw in it.
A glorious work of speculative fiction, this book would easily find a home in hearts of SF lovers, as well as literary types who enjoy books like Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go where the speculative elements intentionally push the reader into the big questions of what makes a human.
I loved a lot about The Vela, most especially its delightful cast of queer and trans characters. The two protagonists, Asala, an older trans woman badass military agent, and Niko (they/them), hacker wiz and kid of the president of their planet, have an exciting dynamic from the getgo as they set off together to rescue a missing ship, The Vela, and its refugee passengers. I love a sci fi novel that renegotiates gender and sexuality norms, and this book does that effortlessly without it ever being a focus of the story. The timely focus of the story is its portrayal of refugees on a planetary level, as the solar system’s march towards death creates entire worlds of refugees.
I loved each high action intrigue packed episode of this series, but it fell a little short for me in the transition between episodes. I wanted it to feel like an audiobook, but I think it’s more correct to think of it more like a TV series, where each episode wraps a small arc and the next episode picks up a little later, rather than following immediately on the preceding episode’s heels. This might also be my fault for losing the thread between episodes, but I felt that even when I chained them together.
I loved each high action intrigue packed episode of this series, but it fell a little short for me in the transition between episodes. I wanted it to feel like an audiobook, but I think it’s more correct to think of it more like a TV series, where each episode wraps a small arc and the next episode picks up a little later, rather than following immediately on the preceding episode’s heels. This might also be my fault for losing the thread between episodes, but I felt that even when I chained them together.
Supernova Era explores the fate of humanity after a nearby Supernova irradiates the Earth, causing radiation sickness that will kill everyone over 13 years old within a year. Stylistically, the vibe of this book is a blend of history text and novel, with occasional excerpts from first person accounts of the events. The first third of the book is about the scramble to pass on the full scope of human knowledge and infrastructure to its young successors, then Liu details the dramatic course of history for the first several years after the transition to the children's world. The story is told primarily about the Chinese children, but also focuses on American children and incorporates other world powers.
I loved reading this book, and my thoughts are swirling with the story still. Liu took this story in these unpredictable directions, and then the book ended quite abruptly. I want more! For me the most impactful section was in the immediate aftermath of the last adults' deaths, and I was so emotional for a long time reading the chaotic, and deeply sad, result.
I loved reading this book, and my thoughts are swirling with the story still. Liu took this story in these unpredictable directions, and then the book ended quite abruptly. I want more! For me the most impactful section was in the immediate aftermath of the last adults' deaths, and I was so emotional for a long time reading the chaotic, and deeply sad, result.
The Old Lie is a brilliant work of military science fiction and pertinent social justice writing. Coleman explores old themes of the costs of war, colonization, and weapons testing in a far flung yet all too recognizable setting, a near future that has seen humanity join an intergalactic Federation and enlist in fighting their war. Imagining a grim future for mankind alongside reflections on layered parallels in our real history, this novel shines beautifully with its cast of dazzling, tenacious indigenous characters who grapple with what is done to them, and how they participate in their new status quo. Coleman’s characters and vividly imagined settings bring this story powerfully to life, down to the smallest details. An absolute thrill to read, and conceptually a triumph.
I was thrilled to be diving into this novel, as you probably know the original books are some of my absolute favorites, but I was still surprised how much this novel recaptured for me the feelings of reading its predecessors. This novel extends past the conclusion of Death’s End, while also filling in backstory for its key characters that would have taken place during the earlier books. Baoshu’s writing maintains Liu’s style, and I delighted in the walls of dialogue, and the wild unimaginable directions he took the story, which still somehow felt so perfectly correct. Absolutely completely LOVED!
Much darker, more political and complex than I imagined, this novel features some of my favorite worldbuilding ever, and certainly met my high expectations. I love the wildly creative yet accurate feel of the cultures of Xiosphant and Argelo; The transformation of humankind outside the context of Earth is a question I find endlessly fascinating, and which was explored brilliantly throughout this novel. Its two protagonists, Sophie, a poor student from Xiosphant, and Mouth, a smuggler just arrived from the dangerous trek across January from Argelo were characters I quickly loved, and my heart ached for them often as they survived and grappled with the impact of much trauma.
LOVED. The puzzle of Dietz’s experience of the war unfolds in this tightly paced impossible to put down novel, which grapples with the horrifying brutality of war, all the while threaded through with the hopeful fire of our wearied but tenacious protagonist. Following the complex plot of this novel made my brain hurt in the best way and was so rewarding.
Unfortunately The Hating Game by Sally Thorne was not my jam. I’m a rare romance reader (tbh just one of the people who’ve gotten interested in romance by loving Jasmine Guillory’s books) and I’m pretty picky about love stories. So I’m prob not the person you want to take romance book advice from (unless maybe you’re also a tentative reader of the genre that sometimes feels like a cold hearted monster when romance doesn't make you swoon?) but here are my thoughts anyway!
Immediately, I realized I don’t think I like the enemies-to-lovers trope. If the protagonist describes the love interest as contemptible, my reaction is “ok! Goodbye to that guy!” and then I feel frustrated that she continues to obsess over him. Which is, of course, because there’s actually attraction there, but I don't buy into it due to this self deception.
It took the first third of this book for me to get into it; when you finally see a little of Josh’s soft side it’s a huge step in the right direction but I felt like the book was too long, and I had to push through too much angst.
I don’t know if I’m just being nitpicky about something that others just roll past in pursuit of the central love story, or I don’t know how things work in a small publishing house, but it was so confusing to me that the characters, who are assistants to their company’s two CEOs, were competing for a new COO position. Please tell me if that felt realistic to you, because I couldn’t reconcile their not-prestigious titles with them being in the running for a Chief position. Yes, they were described as “keeping the company running”, but it still felt like a big career jump that everyone in the organization was enthusiastically on board for.
What I liked: Lucy is a compelling protagonist, I related to her insecurities and loved her sweet relationship with her parents. I liked when the characters opened up to each other, even if it was too few and far between for my tastes.
Immediately, I realized I don’t think I like the enemies-to-lovers trope. If the protagonist describes the love interest as contemptible, my reaction is “ok! Goodbye to that guy!” and then I feel frustrated that she continues to obsess over him. Which is, of course, because there’s actually attraction there, but I don't buy into it due to this self deception.
It took the first third of this book for me to get into it; when you finally see a little of Josh’s soft side it’s a huge step in the right direction but I felt like the book was too long, and I had to push through too much angst.
I don’t know if I’m just being nitpicky about something that others just roll past in pursuit of the central love story, or I don’t know how things work in a small publishing house, but it was so confusing to me that the characters, who are assistants to their company’s two CEOs, were competing for a new COO position. Please tell me if that felt realistic to you, because I couldn’t reconcile their not-prestigious titles with them being in the running for a Chief position. Yes, they were described as “keeping the company running”, but it still felt like a big career jump that everyone in the organization was enthusiastically on board for.
What I liked: Lucy is a compelling protagonist, I related to her insecurities and loved her sweet relationship with her parents. I liked when the characters opened up to each other, even if it was too few and far between for my tastes.
This past week I dipped back into the absolutely singular experience of reading Samuel Delany. The Einstein Intersection is a slim novella which won the 1967 Nebula Award. I struggle to describe the plot, which centers on the story of Lo Lobey, a nonhuman person living on Earth in the far future post-humanity. He has the ability to hear music when others are thinking about it, and the novel follows his quest to avenge the death of his beloved, complete with epic battles and herding dragons.
Delany's writing is unlike any other, and I'm a full on fan without being entirely able to explain why. His literary allusions are numerous and definitely mostly soar right over my head, the world he describes is so altered as to strain recognition, and yet his stories thrill and amaze me. My heart pounds, my mind wanders through his ideas, I love his writing, weird and wonderful. I don't think his books will click with everyone but they do with me.
Delany's writing is unlike any other, and I'm a full on fan without being entirely able to explain why. His literary allusions are numerous and definitely mostly soar right over my head, the world he describes is so altered as to strain recognition, and yet his stories thrill and amaze me. My heart pounds, my mind wanders through his ideas, I love his writing, weird and wonderful. I don't think his books will click with everyone but they do with me.