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Spectacular Speculative Fiction: And Side by Side They Wander and Strange Familiars

26 May

And Side By Side They Wander
by Molly Tanzer
I loved And Side by Side They Wander, the new novella by Molly Tanzer. The story is a unique science fiction twist on the Orpheus myth. Set in a future where aliens have traded technological advancements for much of earth’s great art, a motley group tries to steal some of it back from the distant museum where it has been locked away. The story will appeal to those who enjoy funny science fiction and heist capers, but what I enjoyed most was the way it cleverly explored the importance of unique originality versus simulacra both in art and the many characters the novel is populated with including hive minds, clones, and artificial intelligence. If you enjoy And Side by Side They Wander, you can also check out Tanzer’s historic fantasy series, The Diabolist’s Library.

Strange Familiars
by Keshe Chow
Strange Familiars is the first in Keshe Chow’s new dark academia, Seamere College duology. I enjoyed the twist that Chow gives the dark academia genre by having the focus be not simply on magical studies, but on magical animals including familiars as well as larger creatures like dragons and qilins (Chinese unicorns). Chow uses her background as a veterinarian to give the story grounding even amongst the magical creatures and situations. The story also includes a compelling slow burn rivals to lovers story line. Strange Familiars centers on an interracial couple and includes a diverse cast of supporting characters. The story ends on a cliffhanger so be warned you will be eagerly awaiting the next book to come out.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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Out of This World LGBTQ Sci-Fi: Nobody’s Baby and Hell’s Heart

10 Mar

Nobody’s Baby
by Olivia Waite
Nobody’s Baby is Olivia Waite’s second clever retro-futuristic Science Fiction Mystery set on an ship journeying through space to bring former inhabitants of Earth to their new home. People’s memories are backed up and they are given newly grown adult bodies so that they can keep a consistent population while on board; no pregnancies are allowed, so when a baby is discovered it leads to a series of discoveries that expose a diabolical murder. Waite packs a lot into a short work with great characters, an intriguing who dunnit, interesting world building focused on a society which prioritizes memories, and even a bit of romance. If you enjoy Nobody’s Baby, you may also want to check out the first in the series, Murder by Memory, and Waite’s steamy historic and paranormal romance novellas.

Hell’s Heart
by Alexis Hall
Hell’s Heart is Alexis Hall’s clever re-imagining of Moby Dick as a space opera hunt for a legendary leviathan. As an Easter egg, he even includes the same dedication to Nathaniel Hawthorn that Melville included in his original. Filled with clever humor and inventive spins on the Moby Dick with an added sapphic romance (many of the characters are gender swapped), this novel will delight fans of quirky science fiction as well as amuse readers familiar with the classic novel who are looking for a fresh fun spin. I’m a long time fan of Hall and previously blogged about some of his terrific speculative fiction and romances. If you enjoy this work you can also check out The Affair of the Mysterious Letter, Hall’s reinvention of Sherlock Holmes.

For another Moby Dick reinvention, you can also borrow Call Me Ishmaelle by Xiaolu Guo, which is told from the perspective of a girl who disguises her self as a cabin boy to join a whaling ship. For a truly unique audio experience you can listen to Burt Reynolds read an abridged version of the original.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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