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Outstanding Outer Space Adventures: Promises Stronger than Darkness and The Spare Man

12 Apr

Promises Stronger than Darkness
by Charlie Jane Anders
Promises Stronger than Darkness is the third and final novel in the Unstoppable Trilogy. I had previously blogged about Victories Greater than Death, the first in the series. Although the series is marketed as YA, it also has appeal for adult readers who are looking for Science Fiction with a bit of humor and a lot of heart. There are many plot points from the previous novels to be wrapped up and they are best read in order. The book focuses both on a diverse group of humans who are helping to fight for the survival of the universe including Rachel, a neurodivergent artist from America, and Elza, a transwoman from Brazil, as well as a variety of aliens such as the bug like Wyndgonk, who can produce fire, and Tina, a purple hued, jewel adorned clone of the famed Captain Argentian. Themes about the importance of friendship, taking the time to work through the difficulties of cross cultural communication and not making assumptions about others, and finding ones own identity outside of family and your community’s expectations are all explored. Although sometimes I wished the book lingered a bit more over world building since the brief descriptions of planets and alien cultures were so intriguing, the action packed pace of the novel kept me reading to the satisfying end. We read Anders’s novel, All the Birds in the Sky as part of the Hoboken Public Library’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion Group, which the group and I also enjoyed. I received an advance copy of Promises Stronger than Darkness from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for providing an honest review.

The Spare Man
by Mary Robinette Kowal
I’m a fan of both Science Fiction, Mysteries, and Cruise Ships so when I learned about Mary Robinette’s Kowal’s newest novel, a mystery set on space cruise ship between Earth and Mars, I couldn’t wait to check it out. The Spare Man, of the title, refers to a body found on board which can not be identified, but if the title sounds familiar that is because the novel was partially inspired by the classic Dashiell Hammett novel and film adaptation, The Thin Man, featuring Nick, Nora, and their adorable dog Skippy. Tesla Crane, a famous inventor and heiress, is on her honeymoon in disguise with her husband, a retired detective and her adorable service dog, Gimlet. When her husband is accused of murder they must solve the case before they become the next victims. I appreciated that Tesla’s chronic pain and PTSD from a serious accident in her past are handled in a realistic way which both adds to plot elements, but also should resonate with those who have similar conditions, who might not often see people like them depicted in genre fiction. Each chapter begins with either a classic or original cocktail recipe, including some that are alcohol free. I had previously blogged about Kowal’s novels, Without a Summer, part of her Glamourist Histories series and The Calculating Stars part of her Lady Astronaut’s Society series, which we read as part of the Hoboken Public Library’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion Group.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager


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Super Secret Society Speculative Fiction: London Séance Society, Backpacking through Bedlam, and Kaiju Preservation Society

8 Mar

London Séance Society
by Sarah Penner
London Seance Society is by Sarah Penner, the bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary. It has a little of everything: mystery, romance, supernatural elements, and nonstop drama. This is a novel with many twists. You will be wondering throughout who are the trustworthy charterers and who are the villains. Set in the Victorian era during the height of Spiritualism it is the tale of both charlatans and true believers along with those caught up in their machinations. Leanna Wickets joins renowned spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire in attempting to solve the murder of her sister as well as the death of Vaudeline’s friend, The President of the exclusive male only London Séance Society. As they struggle to survive their investigations of the spirit world as well as mortal men, romance between the two begins to spark. This is a gothic tale with a modern sensibility, which kept me guessing till the end. For those fascinated by the time period, there are some interesting bonuses at the end including historical notes, instructions on making a candle, and Victorian funeral cookie and punch recipes. I received early copies of London Séance Society and Backpacking Through Bedlam through Netgalley and the publishers in order to provide our readers with honest opinions about the titles.

Backpacking Through Bedlam
by Seanan McGuire
Seanan McGuire’s InCryptid series just gets better and better with each book. The Price Family were once part of the Covenant of St. George, monster hunters who first set about to rid the world of dragons and who then began to remove anything they deemed “unnatural” even non human, sentient beings, who are harmless. Now the Price family are at odds with their old allies and parts of their own family tree, working as cryptozoologists trying to preserve the creatures, their family once hunted. Different books in the series follow various family members. Backpacking Through Bedlam follows Alice as does the previous book in the series Spelunking Through Hell; I would definitely recommend reading that book prior to this one. Alice became a bounty hunter in order to get access to the magic she would need to find her husband who was taken and hidden by the Crossroads in another dimension. The previous novel deals with her quest and this one takes a peak at what comes after the happily ever after in a moving and poignant way, beyond what you might expect from a series with Gothic Lolita Shapeshifters and ghostly babysitters. Though there is humor and fun in the books, the deep family relationships including those by birth and found family are the heart of the novels. Included, as have been in previous books, is a bonus novella dealing with other members of the Price family, in this case “The Mysteries of the Stolen God and Where His Waffles Went” which gives more insight into the lives of the Aeslin Mice, who co-habitat with the Price family and worship them as deities.

Kaiju Preservation Society
by John Salzi
The Kaiju Preservation Society was a book we read as part of the Hoboken Public Library’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion Group in February. Much like the InCryptid series, it manages to weave in some humor with its fantastic elements; several times it had me laughing out loud. I enjoyed it even more than Redshirts, another book we read as part of the discussion group, which is also a fun read. The books starts just as the Covid-19 Pandemic is starting to be felt in New York. Jaime is out of work and willing to take just about anything to make ends meet. Little could our narrator expect that their flight to Greenland was only the beginning of their adventure. Jaime learns that there is another dimension where the Kaiju from Japanese Monster Movies are real and they must now aid in their study and preservation (in the novel Jamie’s gender is never defined by the author). The novel takes a satirical look at our current society, which adds some depth for me, to what is overall a terrific popcorn book; though I know one other reader felt some of those moments felt a bit forced. Fans of Jurassic Park, Pacific Rim, and of course Japanese Kaiju films will enjoy. Next Month the Discussion Group will be reading The Daughter of Doctor Moreau.

Written by:
Aimée Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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