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British Christmas Reads: The Eight Reindeers of the Apocalypse and The Christmas Swap

25 Dec

We have a lot of holidays going on right now and I hope which ever one(s) you celebrate are filled with happiness and joy. Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Blessed Yule! Happy Kwanzaa!

Often because of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol I often picture the archetypal Christmas as one set in the UK. Here are two very different holiday related reads set there that I enjoyed this year in case you are looking for something festive. Hope you join us in the New Year for more reviews from our library staff. Happy New Year to all!

The Eight Reindeer of the Apocalypse
by Tom Holt
We read The Eight Reindeer of the Apocalypse for our December Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion. Though Santa is an important character in the story he takes more a guest staring than leading man role; this is a good pick for those looking for something timely, but a little less saccharine than a lot of holiday entertainment. The novel is part of Tom Holt’s J.W. Wells & Co. Series, the first of which The Portable Door was recently adapted as a movie. The firm (and the series) is named for the character from Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operetta The Sorcerer. Imagine the British version of the TV show the Office merged with Terry Pratchett’s Disc World and you get the concept for this funny fantasy satire series which has office harassment taking the form of coworkers transforming into tea cups and interns literally left to save the world while their clueless bosses make a hilarious mess of things attempting to climb further up the corporate ladder. Check this one out to mix some ha ha ha’s with your ho ho ho’s!

The Christmas Swap
by Talia Samuels
The Christmas Swap is also set in the UK and written by another British author, Talia Samuels. This is more of a warm, fuzzy, feel good holiday read. Margot Murray is still healing from a recent breakup from her girlfriend when a work friend, unlucky in love Ben, offers her the perfect holiday getaway at his family manor house, all she has to do is pretend to be his girlfriend. However, when they arrive at the manor, Ben’s sister is immediately suspicious thinking Margot is a gold-digger and sets out to prove her hidden motivations. The twist is that of course Margot feels instantly attracted to Ellie. This is former chef Samuels’ first romance, but it was a treat so I hope we will see more from her in the future. The audio book is added fun since the two characters, Margot and Ellie, each get there own narrators: Kim Bretton and Emma Fenney and both give vibrant performances and interestingly juxtapose what each of the characters is outwardly saying, but internally keeping secret. Kim Bretton is an Audie Award nominee, a Broadway World Award winner, and was voted Best Actress in Nashville by the Nashville Scene. Emma Fenney trained as an actor at Drama Studio London, following a degree in Drama & Theatre Arts at Goldsmiths College, University of London. If you love a posh British accent then these two will delight.

You can learn about some staff favorite holiday classics in this past post. Looking for some quirky holiday music-checkout this past post!

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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Can AI be Trusted?: Velocity Weapon and The Last Murder at the End of the World

4 Dec

Velocity Weapon
by Megan E. O’Keefe
Our book pick for our September Science Fiction and Fantasy book discussion, Velocity Weapon by Megan E. O’Keefe, includes an AI ship who feels abandoned by its crew and is looking for friendship; but is Bero hiding something? The thrilling Space Opera also features two siblings, one of whom is an injured space pilot, and another, who has had a chip implanted into his brain in order to keep his society’s blue prints to a space gate protected. I liked the story especially since often families are shown as fractured in fiction, but the bond between the siblings and their two dads were strong ones and it was an interesting spin to see sibling dynamics rather than a romantic relationship at the heart of a story. It was also nice to see strong representation for someone with a disability who doesn’t let the loss of the limb keep her from her heroic actions. There are so many twists and turns throughout the plot. I highly recommend checking out this novel, the first in the Protectorate series.

The Last Murder at the End of the World
by Stuart Turton
In November, the Sci-fi/Fantasy group joined with the mystery book group to read a post-apocalyptic mystery, The Last Murder at the End of the World, featuring an AI who is connected into most of the characters minds mimicking if not just their conscious but also at times seeming like an all knowing god, but is this AI intentions truly as benevolent as she seems and with whom do her loyalties lie? A small group of survivors has been living on a an island surrounded by a pestilence; when a murder occurs it starts to dissolve the island’s protective shields. The book had a mixed reception with readers feeling the mystery being stronger than some of the science fiction elements. The story looks at what it means to truly be human. You can read about another of Turton’s books, The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, here.

We hope to have a combined mystery and scifi/fantasy discussion again in the future, but you can always check out the individual group discussions till then. On December 16 at 6:30 PM we will be discussing The Eight Reindeer of the Apocalypses by Tom Holt-for this holiday discussion, participants are encouraged to bring their favorite holiday cookies to share.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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