The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall

The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall

A fun dark fantasy take on the classic Sherlock Holmes story featuring faint Lovecraft overtones. Fans of Delilah S. Dawson and Vivian Shaw will enjoy this fast-paced adventure with promises of more tongue-in-cheek stories.

There have been more Sherlock Holmes adaptations that I can keep track of, and I have read a fair share of them. Like many of the more recent forays, Hall twists the original story by gender flipping Sherlock Holmes, but stands out by embracing the serial format of the source material and going full-tilt towards campy fun. Told from the perspective of Captain John Wyndham, the story follows his introduction and initial exploits with the sorceress Shaharazad Haas.

They reside in the city of Khelathra-Ven, which is a true melting pot of horror and fantasy tropes, including a sunken city with unfathomable gods. In their first case, they attempt to discover the identity of a blackmailer of one Eirene Viola, who is clearly a version of Irene Adler. This adventure takes them all around the invented land of the book, which shows off Hall’s incredible world-building. The mad-cap escapades also feature a great deal of literary allusions, though I must admit that I missed most of them.

I particularly loved the juxtaposition of the Victorian demeanor of Wyndham with the absurd setting and events that result from his time with Ms. Haas. At times, the obnoxious prudishness of Wyndham becomes overwhelming until you realizes that it is a very accurate portrayal of the character. All the characters are well-developed which is in part aided by the top notch narration by Nicholas Boulton who employs accents to great effect. Hall clearly wanted the reader to have a grand old time reading his book and has succeeded in writing a cracking comic tale that will remind readers of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone

A pseudo-epistolary novel that captures intense feelings and world-building in few pages. Fans of the new SFF novella wave will enjoy this collaboration that is lush with lyrical descriptions.

The premise of this story is familiar to fans of SFF. Agents from warring factions, in this case for control of the future, begin a rivalry which blossoms into something more. Even the names of the agents, Red and Blue, calls to mind another sci-fi series based on the video game Halo. What makes this book shine above this basic premise is the beautiful writing and impactful setting.

Max Gladstone is known for his fantasy work and world-building. I was not familiar with Amal El-Mohtar before this book, but her bibliography indicates that she is a prolific short story author and poet. Together, their comparative strengths brings this story to life where the thrill of Red and Blue one-upping each other in stranger and stranger locales is grounded by the strength of the characters and their depiction. What is even more remarkable about the book is that it clocks in just shy of 200 pages, making it an intense but quick read.

Recently, a friend asked me to recommend books for her book club who are very sci-fi averse. I originally recommended Binti by Nnedi Okorafor, but I feel that this book also fits the bill too. The plot is fairly straightforward but has enough depth to capture those who avoid the pulp. It has many sci-fi tropes that would be a great entry into the genre for new readers, but has a nice spin to keep a seasoned reader. Most importantly, it seems to be a stand-alone novel and has a lyrical quality that “literary fiction” often touts. So, if you too have other reluctant sci-fi friends, this book might be a great way to hook them.

Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

Space opera fans will find much to love about this new novel by debut fiction author, Arkady Martine. Filled with intrigue, strong female characters, and LGBTQIA characters, this novel opens up an intricate galactic world which will remind readers of Ann Leckie and Yoon Ha Lee.

Lsel Station borders the Teixcalaanli Empire, chafing at the militaristic threat at their doorstep. When their Ambassador to the Empire, Yskandr Aghavn, unexpectedly dies without providing essential information to Lsel, his replacement, Mahit Dzmare, finds herself in the heart of a dangerous political situation. Soon cut off from her only source of information, Mahit must rely upon her training and few Teixcalaan allies as the body count and intrigue increase.

The world-building and the characters are top-notch in this action packed sci-fi novel. The author’s academic background is evident in the meticulous details that are ingrained in the Teixcalaanli Empire. The names and terms used in the novel are complex, which lends itself well to the audiobook narrated by Amy Landon. What makes the book standout is the fine balance it strike between presenting complex ideas such as identity and culture, with a plot that keeps the reader turning pages. Martine finds a way to interpose just the right about of world-building at any given moment without overwhelming the reader. The use of Mahit as the fish out of water helps in that respect. My personal favorite aspect of the Teixcalaan culture are the names. There is a particularly funny joke about tasteless names that is imminently relatable.

Hardcore sci-fi fans along with those readers who want to branch out will find much to enjoy in this book. It is poised to be a great entry into a series, as the second book has already been announced for publication in 2020.

Double Trouble

Two new books recently came out featuring twins as central characters by well known SFF authors.  Interestingly enough, the covers both feature a hand, which is only really relevant for one of the novels. They both explored different aspects of the bond that arises from intertwined siblings, for better or worse.  Here are my thoughts on both:

Middlegame by Seanan McGuire

McGuire is a heavy hitter in the SFF world with many Hugo nominations and awards.  Recently, her hit novella series, Wayward Children, has explored portal realms and the children who seek them out.  Middlegame builds on this premise by featuring its own story within a story, the Up and Under, which has similar tones to Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz.  If that sounds complicated, then this book may not be for you as the plot features many layers and twists that speaks to its author’s meticulous world-building.

The premise of the book is that alchemy is real and a strong tradition.  The goals of some of these alchemists include world domination by manifesting the Doctrine of Ethos that will allow them to reach the Impossible City.  After having finished the book, I’m not too certain what these allegories really mean, but that is almost beside the point.  The true draw of the book is the complicated relationship between the two main protagonists, Roger and Dodger, twins who are “created” then separated at birth.  Roger is a gifted linguist while Dodger is a mathematical prodigy.  Over the years, they find themselves entangled on a quantum level and drawn to each other despite the interference of outside forces.

McGuire doesn’t shy away from the gruesome aspects of this modern fairy tale which reminds me a lot of Neil Gaiman.  While it seems at times that the author tries a bit too hard to add allusions and piles on the fantastical concepts, the plot drives the reader to learn the ultimate fate of these twins and consequently the world. The author is known for her urban fantasy series and fans of those will find this book to be a more cerebral version that will also appeal to readers wishing to chew on concepts.

Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey

Sarah Gailey is an interesting counterpart to McGuire.  Whereas McGuire is well-established, Gailey is a recent up and comer but has also gained interest with their novellas series, River of Teeth.  This book is their debut novel which features a dark grittiness that will appeal to many fans of urban fantasy.

Many reviewers have commented that Magic for Liars is a cross between Jessica Jones and Harry Potter, though I find a comparison to The Magicians by Lev Grossman to be more apt.  Ivy Gamble is a private investigator whose solitary life is full of grief and denial. With no funds and perhaps a bit of a drinking habit, she barely makes it through the grind of tailing extra-marital affairs.  Ivy finds herself confronting her past when she is asked to investigate a suspicious death at a private magical school at which her twin sister, Tabitha, happens to teach.  As Ivy delves deep into the secrets of the teachers and students at Osthorne Academy, her feelings of resentment and longing threaten to overwhelm her and her investigation.

Through Ivy’s eyes, readers learn about both a mystical and mundane magical world coexisting in plain sight.   Gailey does a great job in describing a magical world that is grounded and yet just slightly baffling.  The characterization of the students and teachers is well-developed. Ivy Gamble is the type of anti-hero who is flawed and sympathetic.  I enjoyed how Gailey every so gently pokes fun of some of the tropes that abound in YA fantasy, with some pointed nods at Harry Potter.  Some of the plot points are very predictable, but Magic for Liars is a great novel that combines both fantasy and mystery in a satisfying method.

Race in Space

Recently, a former colleague of mine asked for my favorite books set in space or about space by authors of color.  I immediately thought of many different books or series, but then realized that even though they were about diverse communities and cultures they were not necessarily written by a person of color.  With the importance of #ownvoices, I thought it would be nice to share the ones I did find. I did take some liberties with the definition of “set in space”, but at the heart of these stories are the wide range of characters and the rich worlds built around them.

Binti novellas by Nnedi Okorafor

This trilogy of sci-fi novellas is probably the poster child of Afrofuturism and rightfully so, as Okorafor weaves a wonderful tale in so few words.  Touching on serious topics such as racism and diplomacy, this story belongs to the complex and compelling main character, Binti.  Binti is a gifted mathematician who finds herself embroiled in inter species conflict while also grappling with coming of age and leaving her tight-knit community. I highly recommend the audiobook editions as Robin Miles is an excellent narrator.

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

I haven’t read this book, but it has been highly lauded and reviewed. On a generation ship, the racism and slavery have oppressed the main character Aster, whose struggles may spark a revolt.  The serious nature of the story is giving me a bit of a pause because I try to escape the harsh realities of the world with my reading.  This book reminds me of a book that came to my mind when prompted, only to find that the author was not a POC. But if you liked Medusa Uploaded by Emily Devenport, you will probably enjoy this book as well.

The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu

The first in a trilogy,  The Three-Body Problem is not set in space and mostly takes place on Earth, but the concepts definitely reach far into the stars.  In Communist China, a program to contact extraterrestrials leads to a domino effect that has implications for all of humanity.  The best part of this book is how it roots itself in the characters and their flaws despite the grand conspiracy going around.  Unfortunately, the rest of the series goes way out there (in my opinion) so I did not enjoy them as much.  With more stories being translated, this book is an excellent introduction to Chinese sci-fi.

Super Extra Grande and Condomnauts by Yoss

This entry is a two-fer!  Cuban author Yoss has some fun and short sci-fi stories that remind me of what others might call the “golden age” of sci-fi, such as Asimov and the like.  Yoss digs deep into science fiction theories but keeps the stories light and fun.  Both books are full of profanity and Condomnauts is super racy, so I would not recommend them for the faint of heart.  But if you like your stories a little vulgar and well written, then these are for you!

Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee

I’ve mentioned this series before in my worldbuilding post, but The Machineries of Empire is definitely the hard sci-fi space opera many would associate with “set in space”. Extremely dense, this series is complex and expansive.  Someone I know listened to the audiobook, but I would not recommend this book for listening. I had to re-read several sections for clarity, which would make print the preferred format. For something more accessible, try Lee’s middle grade novel, The Dragon Pearl.

Mirage by Somaiya Daud

This YA space romance is a bit by the numbers, but includes rich worldbuilding steeped in Arabic references.  The author describes herself as poetry lover, which can be seen in the lyrical writing style.  The story follows Amani as she is gangpressed into serving as a body double for the princess of the occupying space colonizers.  While set in space with interplanetary conflicts, it reads more as a historical fiction.  This interesting mix makes the story engaging even when it is extremely predictable.

The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord

I like to describe this book as Star Trek lit.  Following a scientific and humanitarian mission to repopulate a species that suffered a genocidal attack, this story contains romance elements and exploration that will appeal to sci-fi fans who enjoy lighter fare.  Think of it as cozy sci-fi.  Technically there is a sequel, The Galaxy Game, but it is ostensibly a stand-alone and does not have the same feel as this first book. I hope someday Lord will revisit the main characters from this book and expand on some of the ideas brought up in it.  I want to know what the deal with the spaceships are!

These are just some of the space based books I have read by authors of color.  I am sure there are others and hopefully the trend of more diverse offerings will only increase.  Let me know if you have enjoyed others!

Rick Riordan Presents: Phase 1

The middle grade Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan is beloved by all ages, but features very Euro-centric mythology. Which isn’t bad per se, but it would be nice to see multiple perspectives and diversity in children’s lit. So many people were excited when Disney decided to cash in on the middle grade adventures by creating the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. As an editor, Rick Riorsan curates submissions featuring many more cultures. The publishing schedule of this imprint reminds me of Marvel’s methodology, hence the title of the post.

Here are my thoughts on the books of Phase 1 as Phase two seems to be starting soon with sequels. Note that I listened to the audiobooks of all the novels.

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

The start of the imprint is strong with this Mahabharata-inspired adventure. Aru Shah is both a typical 12 year old who wants to fit in at a school where she feels out of place as a minority and a little bit unique due to the fact that she lives in an actual museum. Lonely with her curator mother off on frequent trips, Aru likes to embellish the truth a bit to suit her needs. This fibbing puts her and the world in danger when she accidentally releases an ancient enemy. She learns she is a reincarnated Pandava brother and finds a spiritual sister, Mini. Guided by a surly pigeon, they battle demons and use their skills to save the world.

Chokshi founds the rich Indian mythology with fleshed out characters and seamlessly incorporates it into the real world. I particularly loved the use of Costco as an otherworldly marketplace. The narration by Soneela Nankani is pitch perfect and thoroughly enjoyable. Highly recommend this for those who love mythological fantasy.

The Storm Runner by J.C Cervantes

Based on Mayan mythology, The Storm Runner is the most analogous to the source material of Rick Riordan, much to its detriment.  Zane is a bullied thirteen year old who lives on the side of a volcano.  He loves his dog and tries to help out his single mother and get along with his somewhat immature uncle.  When the volcano is invaded by disgusting demons, Zane finds himself to be at the center of a prophecy that could spell the end of the world.

Zane’s adventure is supported by many different creatures from Mayan mythology, including a rich pantheon of gods. While it is an interesting look at these diverse stories, the overall plot is extremely predictable and follow middle-grade tropes.  A budding romance, complicated relationships with parents, and unlocking special powers just to name a few.  I would recommend this book to readers who really are just looking at Percy Jackson in a different flavor, but it may be disappointing to those who would like a fresh perspective.

The Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

Lee is an acclaimed sci-fi writer whose adult work is extremely dense. Thankfully, this entry into children’s work is much more accessible and allowed me to appreciate his ideas more. This novel follows Min, a fox shapeshifter (gumiho) who lives with her family eking out a life trying to avoid persecution. When her brother is charged with deserting the Space Forces, she strikes out to clear the family name and rescue her brother.

This is a high octane space adventure that features many characters from Korean mythology, mixing the spiritual and scientific. At some points it seems as though the plot jumps quite a bit, with many characters being introduced then forgotten about quickly. The world building and integration of Korean mythology is seamless, which is unsurprising considering Lee’s other work.  The book definitely feels like a set-up to a greater adventure, so I would recommend this to someone who wants to start a series.

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez

This book features the barest hint of science fiction employing Latin American magical realism. The story truly revolves around the main character, Sal, as he deals with his Type 1 diabetes and grief over his beloved mother. Through meditation he has the ability to reach into the multiverse and bring items into his own, which is a great power when you are a magician in the making.  However, his tricks end up destabilizing the universe when he puts a raw chicken into a bully’s locker.

Gabi is a high achieving lawyer to be who finds Sal’s shenanigans to be suspect.  Sal soon begrudgingly befriends the focused Gabi as they both strive to fix the problems in their lives while maintaining the space-time continuum.  What is unique about this novel is that most of the characters are mature and well-meaning.  The parents and teachers are supportive and Sal and Gabi’s problems don’t rely on tween surliness.  The characterization is on point, even with the “antagonists” who are well-rounded and sympathetic. We can only hope our next generation is as great as Sal and Gabi, which would only be possible with the type of support and parenting the adults in this book provide. Also, extra bonus for limiting romantic entanglements!

All in all, this is my personal ranking of Rick Riordan Presents Phase 1 (in descending enjoyment):

Aru Shah and the End of Time

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe

The Dragon Pearl

The Storm Runner

 

 

 

 

 

Humor in the Stars

I have pretty narrow reading tastes, most of which consists of science fiction and fantasy. Unfortunately, for a long time there was a trend of super serious space operas and epic fantasy (*cough* Game of Thrones *cough*) which I don’t generally care for.  Lately, however, I have seen a recent uptick in lighter sci-fi fare.  Most of it features motley crews doing dirty work across systems.  Basically a Firefly resurgence building on the original themes of a space western.  You can tell these books because the description uses terms such as “misfits” or “ragtag” and implications of criminals with hearts of gold.

There have been so many that I haven’t had the chance to read all of them, but here are some I’ve seen published recently if fun adventures of the episode are your jam.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

I mentioned Chambers and her universe of stories in my world-building post, but I am mentioning it again because I feel that it really kick-started this new publishing trend.  This novel burst out on the self-published scene and was then re-published to great acclaim.  When I first read it, it felt like a blast to the past of the campy Star Trek days.  Featuring a woman trying to escape her path, she finds newfound purpose and place on a ship that tunnels wormholes.  Kind of like construction workers of the future.  Fun with great character development.

The Salvagers series by Alex White

This series is one that I have had my eye on for about a year.  Featuring two down and out women running from circumstances that threaten their lives, a speed racer and a treasure hunter fall into a smuggling crew for an intergalactic adventure.  This book pretty much ticks off all the tropes associated with this type of space opera.  Criminals who stand in opposition to conspiracy, characters who are initially at odds then bond over shared experiences, and of course probably a lot of space fights.

Gate Crashers by Patrick S. Tomlinson

I think that humans as a fallible species is something that is often explored, but I never get tired of it. Serious space operas are too full of self-righteous posturing that gets tiresome.  So instead, it is fun to watch humans do what they do best, stumble around and try to get themselves out of the messes they create.  This concept is the heart of the first contact novel, Gate Crashers, where a research ship discovers then takes (very colonial like) an alien artifact and sets off conflict with other species.  I like the concept that humans make mistakes and then learn from them (hopefully that is what happens).

Starflight series by Melissa Landers’

YA lit tends to be a little more fun, but I feel that this series channeled the spirit of the crew on the run better than most.  The books follow Solara, who is on the lower rungs of society as she tries to escape her circumstances.  Of course, hijinks ensue and she ends up on a suspect ship and crew. The first book is better than the second.

Space Unicorn Blues by T.J. Berry

This book sounds kind of ridiculous.  I haven’t read it so I am not sure if is fun ridiculous or over-the-top. The description where magical creatures in space can be used as fuel and or good-luck sounds like this series will be a urban fantasy space opera mash up.  Sounds great in theory but I am a little skeptical about the execution.  But really, can’t get more campy than unicorn renegades in space, right?

Janitors of the Post-Apocalypse series by Jim C. Hines

Actually, I don’t know if unicorns in space or low-intelligent human janitors in space is more ridiculous.  Jim C. Hines is the author of the Libriomancer series, which is urban fantasy at its campiest so there are similar vibes from this series.  Set in the future, humans on Earth are now reduced to feral creatures with some “rescued” humans existing as maintenance crews for aliens.  As per usual, not all is what it seems though. This book is definitely on the far side of kitschy, so you really will have to love the cheese.

The Finder by Suzanne Palmer

Many of the books above have humor built into the core of the story.  Others, like this one, feature an anti-hero with a gallows-like sense of humor that creates levity in an otherwise straight forward space opera.  This novel features a repo-man who gets caught up in a job gone bad in the edge of civilization.  The idea of assisting down-trodden but hard working folk is very much in the space western purview.  I’ve only started to read this one, but it has that feel of a somewhat lighter adventure story.  Fans of Richard Kadrey’s Sandman Slim series or the Netflix version of Altered Carbon will find much to enjoy here.

 

Language Barriers

Language is an interesting theme that is often explored in books.  Communication is such a key component to relationships and can facilitate empathy and interaction.  I remember the Star Trek: The Next generation episode of “Darmok” being played in language classes to demonstrate the need for translation.  Recently, I started reading The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie which touches on this topic and it made me think of different works I’ve enjoyed that use language as a key literary element.  Here are some that I found interesting and engaging.

Embassytown by China Miéville

This book features a similar theme to “Darmok” with an alien species that has a unique language that makes translation difficult.  When cultures and species clash, things turn deadly and frightening for both the native species and the human colonists.  I loved the way the language was used as a framework for the culture and how it can lead to paradigm shifts.

Arrival [DVD] directed by Denis Villeneuve

This movie is based on the novella, “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang.  I debated which I would include on the list, but I haven’t read the novella so I thought I would talk about the work I have seen.  Arrival was a great film that stayed true to its science fiction roots.  While there is some tension and conflict met with violence, ultimately it was more of a concept film that remained accessible to the masses.  The directing and acting are superb and gives me hope that more science fiction will be adapted in a true fashion.

Lexicon by Max Barry

The premise of this book is a bit strange.  Basically people have archetypes and if you are familiar with these psychological profiles, you can control anyone with the right combination of words and sounds. This book follows the secret organization that leverages that power and what happens when one breaks rank.  I enjoyed the concept of using language as a weapon and the literal effect it can have in this book.

The Word Exchange by Alena Graedon

Imagine what would happen if language and communication became increasingly reliant on technology and social media.  What if it became susceptible to the same exploits and hacks as your phone?  What if people began to lose the ability to communicate?  This novel explores those concepts in this fast pace thriller that kind of gave me the Dan Brown vibes.

Netherspace trilogy by Andrew Lane and Nigel Foster

I’ve only read the first novel in this trilogy, Netherspace, but I enjoyed the overarching concept that aliens may simply be so foreign that communication is impossible.  With almost all the other works in this list, everyone ultimately finds a method for communicating, but it is not so clear in this series. Also, these aliens are super weird and not idealized like in other books, so I appreciate that as well.

Ann Leckie books

Language is something that Ann Leckie likes to explore.  As I mentioned earlier, The Raven Tower is the most recent Leckie book that made me consider this subject as a whole.  However, upon reflection, the use of language is important to her award winning Imperial Radch universe, the first of which is Ancillary Justice. In the latter, aliens resort to breeding translators to overcome the language barrier.  The Raven Tower uses the barrier between mortals and gods a key story element. Leckie’s writing is compelling and simultaneously high concept and accessible.

Go Through

One display I was raring to put up was a portal fantasy one for the SFF section at Olympia.  I wasn’t able to do so before I left, so now you all can enjoy it here!  I am using the concept of portal loosely and have broken them down into my own sub-sections.  Here are some of the books I have enjoyed along these lines.

BOOK WORLDS!

I am a little obsessed with books being magical, because to me, they are.  Apparently, I am not the only one because people have written about it!

Invisible Library series by Genevieve Cogman

This British import is definitely a page turning light read.  The concept is that there is a group of Librarians in charge of stabilizing different worlds by holding it together with a massive library in a pocket dimension of sorts. There is a little romance, lots of adventure, and will appeal to those who like hijinks and a steampunk flair.

Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde

I discovered this book on a whim at Orca Books when I was a teenager and it set me on this path of books about books.  In an alternate version of England, there are basically book police and Thursday Next is one of their best agents. In a high stakes book heist she realizes that she has the power to access books in their own world.  It’s complicated and totally zany.  Think Monty Python meets Dirk Gently.  The books only get crazier as they go on, though the author has taken a long hiatus from the series.

Forbidden Library series by Django Wexler

Here’s a middle grade series for all the book lovers young and old.  One of my co-workers recommended it to me and made me realize that kids sometimes get the best stuff.  A young girl discovers she has the powers of a Reader to harness magical books and trap creatures from their homes into books.  She uses this power to try and find her father, who was supposedly killed at sea.  The audiobooks of the series are very enjoyable and the series has the added bonus of being finished!  I wasn’t so thrilled with the ending, but I guess you can’t push it too far for middle graders.

Alternate Universes

I am including this sub-section because I feel like it is very similar to portal fantasy.  Instead of a weird world, you are just seeing a world similar to our own or at least in some respects. Also I have a fondness for this sci-fi trope as it is used heavily in basically all the campy TV shows.

The Fold by Peter Clines

This book follows Clines’ love of horror as it slowly unfolds the danger of scientific experiments with portal travel.  Technically the alternate universe heading is a bit of a spoiler, but the author clearly foreshadows this reveal from the beginning.  I enjoyed the in-depth look at ethical considerations in scientific experiments.  Basically, if you liked the 90’s movie trend of sci-fi horror, you will probably like this book.

All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai

I generally don’t like time traveling books, but this one was so engrossing as it focused on the main character, Tom Barren, and how his character flaws leads to a disastrous turn of events.  The premise of the book is that through time travel, the ideal 60’s image of the future is ruined to our general conception of progress.  Tom tries to fix his mistake while also trying to fit into a world he has no context for. This books is one of the few that had me guessing until the very end.

Shades of Magic Trilogy

A rare fantasy based alternate universe.  This trilogy is dark and steeped in politics.  Set in 18th century London, the story follows Kell, one of the few magicians who can step through between various versions of London with different levels of magic available.  His ambassadorial duties embroils him in a magical threat that will soon devour all worlds.  Featuring great characters and high stakes adventures, this trilogy bridges urban and epic fantasy in a nice way.  Also, there are pirates!

Classic Portals

These books draw on the notion that we can visit strange worlds just by stepping through some sort of device.  Think Narnia or Alice in Wonderland.

Wayward Children novellas by Seanan McGuire

I love this series of novellas as they are very meta. Many works have touched on what would happen to children who venture into portal worlds, only to be sucked back into “normal” life, but often focusing on established universes.  McGuire imagines the whole range of universes and the children that are drawn to them.  After they return to normal Earth, they inevitably struggle to fit back into their old lives but find refuge Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children.  The world building is brief but very effective and taps into the desire we all have to find that one place where we belong.

The Magicians trilogy by Lev Grossman

This trilogy is marketed as Harry Potter for grown-ups as it follows a young man as he discovers his ability to perform magic.  It is also getting more notice recently because it has been adapted to a TV series on Syfy.  I’ve included it on this list because one of the major components to the plot is a magical land heavily inspired by Narnia, except even more deadly. The books are interesting and the TV show is a bit campy.

Fairyland series by Cathrynne M. Valente

This middle grade series is steeped in tropes from its predecessors, bringing whimsy and ideas from Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz.  Valente, however, brings a bit of a modern take with stronger characters and a tighter plot (in my opinion).  Come for the great art, stay for the ridiculously long titles.  Also, if you enjoy these books, Valente also wrote a similar yarn featuring the Bronte siblings with The Glass Town Game.

Gender Dystopias

A little over a year ago, I made a display called reproductive dystopias featuring a wide range of speculative fiction in which there was a gender and/or reproductive imbalance.  It was Handmaid’s Tale read-a-like essentially.  Since then, there have been even more books published along these lines! This trend is unsurprising as gender inequality is a pressing topic of our time. Here are some of the books I’ve heard come down the pipeline if you can’t get enough. I personally haven’t read many of them because frankly, it is all too real.

Vox by Christina Dalcher

The premise of this book is that women are restricted to a certain number of words per day, which was apparently a popular theme last year as there was another YA book, All Rights Reserved by Greg Scott Katsoulis, that had a similar plot though without a focus on gender.  In a way, the direct comparison to losing the right to speak and having a voice and agency is a little heavy handed, but considering real life events, it is almost eerie to considering the loss of such fundamental rights.

Before She Sleeps by Bina Shah

This book escaped my radar when it was first published, which is too bad because I am happy to see a #weneeddiversebooks perspective on this issue.  Set in South West Asia, Before She Sleeps explores the adverse effects of gender disparity and forced breeding.  This book explores the way in which procreation and reproductive rights are an essential part of the conversation concerning gender rights.  Many feminist dystopias focus on this topic, so it will be interesting to see Shah’s perspective.

The Water Cure by Sophie MacKintosh

This book is one of the few I have read.  It is interesting as the narrative structure and unreliable narrators make it difficult to determine how much the gender disparity is real and how much is imagined.  Ultimately the latter is more frightening.  This book is bleak and lyrical with a tight thriller undercurrent.  I listened to the audiobook and the narrators gave life to the three sister who try to survive in a hostile environment.

I was interested in this book when it was announced, but didn’t realize it would include a feminist component.  From the near future, an oppressive government uses time travel as a punishment for those who do not comply.  This story follows one young woman as she is sent back in time to where gender policies can be used to punish her rebellion.  Also pitched as a love story, I need to put this book back on hold to see where this book leads.

Hazards of Time Travel by Joyce Carol Oates

Motherland by Lauren Beukes (April 1, 2019?)

I could have sworn I saw that this book would be available this year.  It seems that the e-book will be published on April 1, 2019, but it looks like the physical book will not hit Stateside until May 1, 2020.  Lauren Beukes has written some excellent novels that straddle the line between sci-fi and horror, so be assured that this novel is probably going to get a bit grisly.  Set in the future where men are precious few after a deadly virus, one woman goes on the run with her male child.  Based on her previous novels, I am not hopeful for the survival of either, but we shall see.  I am getting a Children of Men vibe from the description.

Women’s War by Jenna Glass

This book comes out next week!  With a fantastical setting, the book focuses on the shifting power dynamics after oppressed women gain magical powers.  In some ways it reminds me of one of the big feminist books of last year, The Power by Naomi Alderman.  It will be interesting to see how this book compares especially as most feminist dystopias focus on more contemporary or near future settings. I just hope it is better than the Worldbreaker Saga which tries to explore a tyrannical matriarchy (unsuccessfully in my opinion).

Please let me know if you hear of others!

Added April 7, 2019:

The Tiger Flu by Larissa Lai

Just recently heard of this book which features parthenogenic women and tensions that arise from these different communities and possible epidemics.  It sounds thrilling.