Space Oddity
by Catherynne M. Valente
Space Oddity is the sequel to Catherynne M. Valente’s Science Fiction love letter to the Eurovision Music Competition, Space Opera, where humanities only hope in proving their worth and escaping alien annihilation was winning an intergalactic song competition. I had previously blogged about Space Opera, which like much of Valente’s work I found highly creative and enjoyable. This even more than the previous book reminds me of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and if you are a fan of Douglas Adam’s classic hilarious work than you may want to check this out. Some of the writing can be a bit dense since Valente has packed it with clever references and jokes; this can at times slow down the pace of the book a bit, but this is definitely a novel that focuses as much on the journey as the final destination. I loved how seemingly random facts and divergent story-lines all harmonized together at the end. If you enjoyed the space/music mashup than also check out Gail Carriger’s excellent Tinkered Starsong Series.
Molli & Max in the Future
Mostly when you think Science Fiction movie you expect space opera with epic starship battles or perhaps a dystopian future where people are desperate to survive; Molli & Max in the Future on the other hand is a sci-fi romcom about two people whose paths collide and diverge over the series of 12 years across several planets and dimensions. At one point Molli joins a cult with a tentacled alien demigod where she learns to do magic. Max, who is part fish person, on the other becomes a mechapilot for giant robot battles. Mollie is played by the talented Zosia Mamet, who I had enjoyed in her role in the HBO series Girls. Max is played by a charming Aristotle Athari, who brings comedic skills as a veteran of Saturday Night Live. The effects are a fun mix of practical effects with stylized backgrounds that give the film a fun, futuristic kitschy look on a budget. This is what I imagine Futurama or the Jettisons would be like as a live action series. The film is not rated, but I would recommend it for adult audiences due to some of the dialogue.
Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager
Hoboken Public Library Blog 