The plot revolves Keiko, who lives in Tokyo and works at a convenient store. I don’t want to label her as not neurotypical (as she doesn’t herself) but she clearly doesn’t fit the traditional role of a woman in that society. Continue reading
Book review: To be taught, if fortunate
The novella follows four astronauts who travel to distant planets. They manage to adapt to the potential new environment while in transit in a ‘torpor’. Sometimes they just have more protection against UV, sometimes more muscle mass, sometimes, they glitter. Continue reading
Book review: Who is Mary Sue?
I don’t think I know enough about poetry to have sensible opinions. But I was drawn to this collection for the Read Harder challenge because of the association with women and fandom in general. The collection defines the term, which is slight different than the context I know it from: “Coined by Paula Smith in … Continue reading
Book review: The True Queen
The story really centres on Muna and Sakti, who find themselves on Janda Baik (the island where Mak Genggang is from), but they don’t remember anything about themselves. Continue reading
Book review: A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe
The main story is a forced together crew, through various circumstances, to hunt for a legendary ship, the Harrow. They’re being chased by a super powerful mage, for some mysterious reason, but connected to the legendary ship. As the story progresses, things become clearly and far more dangerous. Continue reading
Book review: The Calculating Stars
The Calculating Stars is an alternative history, where a meteor destroys Washington DC. But even more devastating, it looks to be an extinction event, leaving humanity not a huge amount of time to try and save themselves. Continue reading
Book review: The Spanish Ambassador’s Suitcase
The book publishes ‘amusing’ dispatches from ambassadors in posts around the world, mostly from the 1960s on. While in the introduction of the book, the editors talk about some of the racism that permeates some of these dispatches, sadly lacking is a similar apology for the rampant sexism. Continue reading
Book review: Sorcerer to the Crown
The plot of Sorcerer to the Crown is mainly straightforward. It’s early 19th century (or so I guess because of the references to Bonaparte) and there is a noticeable decline in English Magic. Zacharias Wythe, the Sorcerer to the Crown needs to discover what that’s all about. Continue reading
Book review: Gods of Jade and Shadow
Like the two previous novels, the author takes elements of fantasy and mixes them in with the real word. In this case it’s Mayan gods alive in Mexico during the jazz age. Continue reading
Episode 15: Phyllis Esposito: Interdimensional Private-Eye
This month We talk to Christiana Ellis, author of Phyllis Esposito: Interdimensional Private-Eye and Professor Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones, Emeritus professor of history at the University of Edinburgh. Continue reading