Month: December 2015


Dec
2015

Genre Blend New Releases – January 2016

categories: New Releases

Another year begins, and there are plenty of new releases coming in January to satisfy genre readers who like to mix things up a little. I can personally vouch for City of Light , Keri Arthur’s new series that presents readers with a really interesting new world that meshes SF and Fantasy in a way that reminded me of Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling world. I also loved Tim Power’s new title Medusa’s Web, which shows his usual gonzo inventiveness. City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett was a fantastic follow-up to City of Stairs that manages both to take the series in a new direction but also satisfy fans. Finally, All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders is a beautifully written mix of SF and Fantasy, funny and melancholy and just lovely. I haven’t read Carol Goodman’s latest and so I’m not positive what the fantasy element is, but I’ve loved everything she’s written, and her books often have a gothic vibe. I’m also tempted by the latest book in the Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearne.  Hopefully you find something good here to tempt you to start the new year out blending things up!

January 5

               

 

January 12

   

January 19

         

January 26

                        


Dec
2015

What to read after watching The Expanse

categories: Featured Blend, TV

expanseLast night was the official Syfy network premiere of the new space opera tv series The Expanse, although some folks watched the show online when it went up a couple of weeks ago. Tonight will be episode two, setting the hook even deeper to get viewers sucked into this new series that promises to bring the network back to its science fiction roots. So far, it’s a stylish adaptation, with some nice acting and great scenery. I can’t wait to see how it develops as the season goes on and how faithful it remains to its source material. I promise not to spoil anything for those who haven’t watched yet!

leviathanwakesThis season of The Expanse is based on the first book of James S.A. Corey’s series, Leviathan Wakes.  In this novel, humanity has spread throughout the solar system, but no further. Divisions in human society have developed between the major outposts of Earth, Mars and the outer planets, with mutual distrust between all factions. It’s a canny choice, keeping the action close to our planetary home and the actors human. It makes the series more accessible to readers (and now viewers) who are not necessarily long-time SF fans. The other clever thing the authors (Corey is a pseudonym for two sf writers, Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) have done to bring in a wide readership is to have the first volume adopt some of the trappings of another popular genre, the mystery. There is a missing person case, a hangdog cop and plenty of noir atmosphere.

If you have been loving the show so far or are a fan of the books that the show is based on, I have some suggestions of books to read.

The book (and presumably series) has two main points of view, that of Jim Holden and focused on him and his crew, and a second point of view with noir-tinged belter cop Miller. If you like the shipboard bits with Holden and how his crew work together, here are some books to try: (more…)


Dec
2015

Genre Blend New Releases – December 2015

categories: Uncategorized

December has a lot going for it. Holidays, cookie baking, carolling, my birthday….  But for new books, it’s usually a bit of a slump.  There’s always new blends, though, even in the low tide of publishing.  I enjoyed TIME AND TIME AGAIN quite a bit, if you are in the mood for time travel goodness. And in the historical romance subgenre, two of my favorte authors have new books, Sarah MacLean and Loretta Chase. Alternate History is rarely done better than Ian Tregillis, who continues the series begun with THE MECHANICAL. Finally, I am a huge fan of the weird west branch of steampunk, where the action takes place in the American Old West.  THE CURSE OF JACOB TRACY is another strong entry in this exciting subgenre.  No matter what your tastes, hopefully there is a blend here for you!

DECEMBER 1

                

           

DECEMBER 8

December 15

NO NEW RELEASES

December 22

DECEMBER 29