While I usually focus on sci-fi and fantasy fiction, today I am reviewing Notes from Small Planets, a comprehensive travel guide that will be published tomorrow! Having studied it at length, I can tell you with confidence to toss your golden compass, pawn your Pokédex and flush your babelfish, because, while a little unreliable, it’sContinue reading “Notes from Small Planets by Nate Crowley”
Category Archives: Sci-fi
The Skald’s Black Verse by Jordan Loyal Short
Ask me to list a few of my favourite tropes in genre fiction, and I’d say things like space travel, complex magic systems, and possession. While I never expected an author to Frankenstein these elements together in a single novel, this is exactly what Jordan Loyal Short has done with The Skald’s Black Verse, his firstContinue reading “The Skald’s Black Verse by Jordan Loyal Short”
Walking to Aldebaran by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Ever since I read Dogs of War and Children of Time, I’ve been a huge fan of Adrian Tchaikovsky. He’s an exceptional writer who comfortably flits between fantasy and sci-fi, and uses his interest in zoology and evolution to develop fascinating ideas (thanks to this review of recently published The Doors of Eden, I now know he is aContinue reading “Walking to Aldebaran by Adrian Tchaikovsky”
The Aggressive by Gem Jackson
The Aggressive by Gem Jackson is a gut-wrenching explosion of a debut, and one of the best sci-fi books I’ve read this year. I first heard about it in this positive review, so I was excited when the author offered me a copy in exchange for an honest opinion. I’m glad to see that Dean fromContinue reading “The Aggressive by Gem Jackson”
What’s up, September?
– What Happened – Hello, bookfriends! I used a fair amount of annual leave in August, which meant plenty of extra reading time. I was able to get through the five books on my monthly To Be Read list, as well as a bonus two. The House of Styx was a stunning read and isContinue reading “What’s up, September?”
Afterland by Lauren Beukes
A slow-burn story about a mother and son on the run, Lauren Beukes’ dystopian thriller Afterland contains some of the most impressive prose I’ve come across recently. It’s a feminist critique of patriarchal society written from the least likely angle: by killing all the men. This book is the second pandemic novel I’ve read thisContinue reading “Afterland by Lauren Beukes”
Red Noise by John P. Murphy
Red Noise by John P. Murphy has been described as an Akira Kurosawa and spaghetti western-inspired sci-fi romp. Having only a passing familiarity with either of those, I was hoping for some epic Kill Bill-in-space vibes, and I’m pleased to report that’s exactly what I got. ‘A half-empty station wasn’t so bad. Ideal, in some ways.Continue reading “Red Noise by John P. Murphy”
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
This is one of those times I wish I’d read more reviews before jumping into a book because I certainly wasn’t expecting Harrow the Ninth to be such a challenging read. In this second instalment of The Locked Tomb trilogy, Muir has made some divisive and ambitious creative choices. Every other chapter is written inContinue reading “Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir”
The Phlebotomist by Chris Panatier
As a trained phlebotomist, I’m fully qualified to tell you that this book is bloody fun. Chris Panatier’s upcoming debut novel has satisfied a thirst I didn’t know I had for a dystopian heist adventure. The Phlebotomist is set in 2067 after a series of nuclear attacks have led to radiation poisoning and a slewContinue reading “The Phlebotomist by Chris Panatier”
The House of Styx by Derek Künsken
While aspiring authors are often told to “write the book you want to read”, booklovers are constantly on a mission to read the book they want to read. We search for those memorable stories that feel deeply personal and stay in our thoughts for years. For me, The House of Styx is one of thoseContinue reading “The House of Styx by Derek Künsken”
