Science Fiction: Infinite Archive by Mur Lafferty

As the third installment of The Midsolar Murders, Infinite Archive continues Mur Lafferty's story that follows Mallory Viridian, a human aboard a living space station that houses several other alien species. If that was not complicated enough, Mallory also has a habit of being present when someone gets murdered, and with a new ship scheduled to arrive, she is almost certain there will be another dead body soon.

The Situation: Mallory Viridian has received incredibly unwelcome news. Well, two pieces of unwelcome news, although they are related. Not only is there a ship heading towards Eternity that will bring with it an entire mystery fan convention, but her over-eager literary agent has signed her on to be the keynote speaker. Having to put together a keynote address is stressful enough, especially when she 1. does not want to, and 2. has no idea where to start. But typically, whenever Mallory is around a large number of humans, someone ends up dead. Sure, these situations have helped contribute to Mallory's success as a mystery writer, but she really wishes humans would stay away from Station Eternity.

The Problem: When the massive ship Metis arrives with the convention, things are already problematic. Before its arrival, Mallory has already had to deal with the appearance of chaotic Gneiss Queen Tina, who brought with her one alien species that has been known to be hostile, and a new creature that no human has ever met, and no one knows what it wants or what it is capable of. With a large group of wide-eyed humans scheduled to arrive, this new creature could cause issues. Despite everything, Mallory attends the convention, meeting other would-be writers, and even catching up her with her agent, Aaron. The situation is not completely ideal, but Mallory is hopeful, until the inevitable happens, and someone ends up dead.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set in the year 2047, and in the beginning the novel is set on Station Eternity, before moving over to the new ship, Metis. Characters from the previous two novels make their appearance, with Mallory's friend Xan once again being her most trusted companion. Stephanie once again proves helpful; Queen Tina is still a headache to deal with; and Mrs. Brown continues to refuse to deal with nonsense. This book brings up the issue of first contact, and how important it is for the human race to make the proper preparations before being confronted with a new species. But the murder quickly takes center focus, and Mallory must once again use her skills as a detective to solve it before more people are harmed.

My Verdict: The world that Lafferty has crafted continues to grow and become more immersive, while also not getting bogged down in the details and new characters, and new species. While Mallory is still anxious when around a group of humans (and for good reason), having her become a mystery writer makes perfect sense, and gives a wonderful direction for the story to go. The idea of a mystery fan convention is both fun and delightful, especially with the event taking place aboard a ship that is supposed to be a manifestation of the entire internet, and the added specifics regarding the struggle to become a published author. Sure, I still found myself confused by some of the plot points, and I often lost track of what species was doing what and why, and with whom, but I am still enjoying this science fiction series. 

Favorite Moment: There was something about Mallory's face-to-face interactions with her agent Aaron that delighted me, and I cannot quite figure out why. Perhaps it was something about his obvious desire and almost need for Mallory to write more. The demand for 'more content,' of any kind, has always fascinated me. 

Favorite Character: Once again, I want to say Mrs. Brown, but she disappears for a good amount of the story. Eve is interesting, and still a bit of a mystery by the end. I do hope she makes another appearance, if there are more books to come.

Recommended Reading: I know I have recommended this book several times before, I did thoroughly enjoy Erin Swan's Walk the Vanished Earth.

Science Fiction: Where the Axe Is Buried by Ray Nayler

Words and phrases like 'cybernetic,' and 'geopolitical espionage,' and even 'political intrigue' were used in the synopsis for Ray Nayler's Where the Axe Is Buried. Honestly, those are not normally descriptors that would cause me to pick up a book. But I was intrigued by the idea of one book being the catalyst for a revolution, to the point that even having a copy in your possession would be a punishable crime, and that the author would be exiled to a lonely wilderness. Meanwhile, the use of artificial intelligence has progressed to a point where only self-driving cars are allowed on the road, and entire governments are run by computers.

The Situation: When Lilia made the decision to return to The Federation to visit her father, she knew the risks. In London she had the freedom to go where she pleased, do what she wanted, even read what she wanted. In The Federation, activist Zoya Alekseyevna's book is banned, but when Lilia first made it to her new home across the ocean, she found the book for sale at the airport. Even so, Lilia had to visit her father one last time, and is immediately arrested after stepping off of the plane. Now, she wonders if she will ever make it back to London, and then a strange message reaches her in an even stranger way. Someone is offering her a way out, and it involves a project that made her a target in the first place.

The Problem: With The Federation currently under the rule of a President who has essentially found a way to stay in power forever, revolution and change seem nearly impossible. And in Europe, nearly every country is governed by AI Prime Ministers, and they are failing. When one continues to raise energy prices without any reason or caution, the citizens revolt, putting any remaining human officials in danger. And while Lilia is hard at work helping to potentially bring down the immortal Federation president, she fears she cannot trust the people she is working for, and wonders if this is yet another decision that will put herself and the people she loves in danger.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set in a not-so-distant future where artificial intelligence has been allowed to replace top government officials, in-home robot caretakers are a real thing, and the ability to place ideas directly into someone's mind is no longer something found only in movies. With the advancement of AI, human beings have been replaced in many areas, except for those where having human labor is actually cheaper. And while The Federation is being ruled by a president who continues to download his mind into a new body, therefore maintaining his hold on power, Europe has come to rely on AI Prime Ministers, only for them to malfunction. There are plots within plots at work here, some to maintain things as they are, and others to create real and lasting change, and it is often difficult to distinguish between the two.

My Verdict: My fear with every science fiction book I pick up is that I will not be able to understand a thing, and that the technology used and introduce within the story will go over my head. And while that was the case some of the time while reading this book, the descriptions and contexts surrounding everything made it accessible to me, and it was all within a story that was interesting and thrilling. There are several characters whose stories are brought to the front, but each one is necessary and offers a perspective of the situation that not only adds a layer to the world, but provides a deeper understanding of our own. 

Favorite Moment: Lilia is not entirely sure about who she can trust, and even though it is unclear what the consequences will be, I appreciate one moment where she takes a chance and breaks free of a group whose motivations are unclear, but are desperate for her skills and abilities.

Favorite Character: Nikolai is the Federation president's personal physician, and all he wants is to be able to return home to his family in Italy. He knows Federation officials would rather he stay with them and continue his work of taking care of the immortal president, but he keeps his head down and does his job, even though he hates it, if it means he will eventually get to go home.

Recommended Reading: George Orwell's 1984 came to mind pretty much immediately.

Science Fiction: Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

The excitement I had over the release of Nnedi Okorafor's Death of the Author was much greater than the amount of excitement I usually experience over a science fiction book. This one promised to be much more than a story about a strange and maybe not-so-far-off future filled with AI and robots. There was also mention of complicated family dynamics, and at the center of everything is a writer who achieves her dream of publishing her work, and everything that comes with sudden meteoric success.

The Situation: As the second-oldest of six in a large and loud Nigerian family, Zelu is prepared for the controlled chaos that is sure to occur while attending her younger sister's wedding. She expects the looks, stares, and glances because of her wheelchair, and even the rude and ill-conceived comments from relatives over her disability. What she does not expect is to be fired from her adjunct faculty position over the phone, and then to receive news of her latest novel being rejected. But something in Zelu opens up, allowing her to begin writing something completely new. And when she sends it to her agent, he loves it, along with everyone else who gets their hands on it, bringing Zelu the literary success she has been chasing.

The Problem: As Rusted Robots takes the world by storm, Zelu suddenly has more money than she could have ever dreamed of, and is recognized practically everywhere she goes. But of course, with the good reviews come the negative ones, and once the movie adaptation hits theaters, what follows is the constant nagging for a second book. And then there is Zelu's family, who can never quite seem to understand her, or simply be happy for her, no matter what she accomplishes. As the book begins to take on a life of its own, Zelu's success takes her on a very different path that she ever could have imagined.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel that is actually more like two books in one. There is Zelu's story as a Nigerian-American woman who finds success as a writer while living in Chicago. Then there is the book she writes, Rusted Robots, that catapults her to fame. Zelu's story focuses heavily on her family, her disability, and of course, her career and experience as a writer. In Rusted Robots, humanity is long gone, and what they have left behind is an earth inhabited by several different types of robots and AI. And the science fiction aspects of the book are not relegated to the story within the story. With Zelu's literary fame comes opportunities she never would have imagined, and they make implications as to the direction humanity could be headed.

My Verdict: On the cover of the copy of my book is a quote by George R. R. Martin claiming that this book "has it all," and I see what he means. The book within a book contains a compelling science fiction adventure, written by a woman who is impulsive, stubborn, proud, afraid, creative, and simply wishing to be free to live her own life, while surrounded by a family that will loudly judge and criticize every move she makes. It is a concept that takes a lot of guts to tackle, but Okorafor goes for it and the results are worth the risk. This book will appeal to more than only science fiction lovers, as many will relate to the complex family dynamics, and the struggles for creative success.

Favorite Moment: While it is actually a frustrating moment, there is a phone call Zelu receives from the department chair that fired her that is more relatable than it should be.

Favorite Character: Msizi is a man Zelu meets at her sister's wedding, and who remains as part of her life throughout the book. Successful in his own industry, he is a great support for Zelu, but also not afraid to tell her the truth.

Recommended Reading: There are three primary books in Okorafor's Binti series, and all three are relatively short, the longest containing only 203 pages.

Science Fiction: Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell

Being able to squeeze in at least one more science fiction novel before the end of the year is a win for me, as I know it is a genre I can often neglect. Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell first grabbed my attention due to its title, and the premise, as you will soon understand, was more than a little interesting, and I had to know where it would lead.

The Situation: Up until a year ago, Charlie Brunton was serving time in prison for a crime he did not commit. Now, he is a professor of electric and solar power systems at Howard University. His situation is certainly strange to believe, but what is stranger are the circumstances that allowed it to happen. Before Charlie made it out of prison - where he was broken out, not released - every white person in the U.S. suddenly walked into the nearest body of water. And what remains is a very different country, with a population of people that encompass a wide range of reactions and feelings about what happened. Charlie enjoys being a professor, and would have continued to do it if not for the letter he received from the biracial daughter he never got to meet.

The Problem: Sydney has spent the year since "the event" isolated in her home in Wisconsin, after the rest of her family walked into the lake. While she does not know him, or trust him (or even like him), Charlie was the only person she could think of to reach out to. He is the only person she could look to for help in reaching a place where she believes other members of her family now live. But as the two of them travel south, neither of them is truly ready for what they find. Every region and city operates a little differently, and when they reach what is now the Kingdom of Alabama, Charlie and Sydney will have to re-evaluate what they know about America, the event, and themselves. 

Genre, Themes, History: The book has been tagged as science fiction, speculative fiction, dystopia, and even fantasy, while also including a decent amount of magical realism. Naturally, race is a theme as the book attempts to imagine what this new world looks like, how it operates, and how people would feel. But the reader also gets to see stuff like what Campbell imagines airports and air travel would look like, something I was certainly interested in as someone who loves to travel. Even everyday things like a trip to the local Wal-Mart is a different experience, as is a day trip to a beach. And then there are the people, whose reactions are as diverse as they are, as everyone continues on in various ways. While Charlie has his own complicated feelings, Sydney struggles even more, and must make her own difficult journey regarding grief and identity.

My Verdict: With such an ambitious (and for many, incredibly contentious and uncomfortable) plot, I was surprised to find that this book was less than 300 pages. Granted, it would be impossible to include every imagined or possible scenario following an event like the one suggested here, but I wanted to see even more of the different parts of the U.S, and see more communities and industries and how they operate. Campbell's style of writing is lyrical at times, and then overelaborate in others, with the story and plot coming second to character deliberation. But what is certainly clear is that being alive in this suddenly 'post-racial' country is a complicated matter, and that the struggle with identity continues, as does the desire for community and connection.

Favorite Moment: The description of the Mardi Gras festivities is fun and illuminating, and wonderful picture of joy and community.

Favorite Character: Sailor, a pilot, is on a mission and will not be deterred, although he is not as stubborn and cold as he first appears to be.

Recommended Reading: I recommend James by Percival Everett, which is a retelling of Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. 

Science Fiction: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

There was a good amount of discussion and hype around Kaliane Bradley's time travel novel The Ministry of Time. As someone who often has a hard time grasping the concept of time travel, I was hesitant to pick up this book and attempt to follow the narrative. Thankfully, the narrator acknowledges from the outset that the mechanics of time travel can be difficult to make sense of. Whether this is a copout on the author's part, or a clever way of putting the reader at ease (and maybe allowing some humor) is hard to know.

The Situation: In a not-so-distant future, a civil servant living in London is offered the opportunity to work with expats as a "bridge." While she may have gotten the position due to her own history as the daughter of a white father and a Cambodian mother who escaped her country, the pay is not bad, and it may get her closer to the job she wants. However, the "expat" she has been assigned to is not only new to London, but also new to this moment in history. Commander Graham Gore was part of a doomed 1845 expedition to the Arctic, and was supposed to have died in 1847. Now he is to spend an entire year living with a woman he does not know, in a London he does not recognize, with everything he does being restricted and recorded.

The Problem: Helping a 19th century commander acclimate to a different timeline is, at the very least, a strange task. A bridge must navigate their charges' unfamiliarity with how culture has changed, how language has evolved, and how to deal with the internet. Plus, there is the decision of when to inform Graham about 9/11, or what happened during World War II. Eventually, it becomes clear that the Ministry has plans for the expats that they are not telling the bridges about. And when people begin disappearing, and being labeled as defectors and traitors, the bridge begins to suspect that her job may not be as safe and secure as she had hoped, and that the future, all of it, may be at stake.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel that focuses on time travel, and what humanity would do with the ability to reach into the past in an attempt to alter a disastrous future. The first-person narrator remains nameless, possibly because what she is telling the reader is considered sensitive information. The man she is to assist, Commander Graham Gore, is a real person from history, although he was a First Lieutenant of the Erebus in 1945. Bringing a person from history nearly two hundred years ahead in the timeline has its expected consequences, with the ever present question of whether or not history can be changed, and should it.

My Verdict: This plot line has so much potential, and the author tackles the usual issues with time travel narratives. Leaving aside the question of whether such a thing is even possible, the book looks at what it would mean for someone from the mid-1800s to be suddenly thrust into the 21st century. Some of it is funny, a lot of is awkward (while still funny), and there are moments that get incredibly serious. The book ultimately takes more aspects of a spy-thriller, which would have been enjoyable if the pacing of the novel had not been slightly off, as well as some of the phrasing, and even some of the paragraph structure. There were parts of the narration where I had to go back after realizing I missed some crucial discovery, due to how everything was worded. For those readers who can get past this, they may find an enjoyable novel that looks at the progress we made, and where our world is headed next.

Favorite Moment: I did enjoy watching Graham discover new types of cuisine that he did not have the chance to encounter in his own time.

Favorite Character: Graham was fun to observe as he attempted to make sense of his new life, as were his new friends Arthur and Margaret, who were also brought forward from another time.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Recursion by Blake Crouch, a science fiction book that explores time travel and memory.

Science Fiction: Annie Bot by Sierra Greer

With artificial intelligence being such a topic of concern right now, it felt appropriate to pick up Sierra Greer's Annie Bot. At the center of the story is Annie, an extremely lifelike robot meant to be the perfect companion. But is that even possible? And does it matter what Annie wants?

The Situation: Annie lives in New York, where she shares an apartment with Doug, her owner. When he bought her for an amount just shy of a quarter of million dollars, he was allowed to pick out what she would look like (figure, skin color, eye color, etc.), as well as what type of bot she would be. As a 'cuddle-bunny,' Annie is mostly meant to meet Doug's physical needs, though she can also learn to cook, clean, and do other various tasks. As far as Annie knows, her primary objective is to make Doug happy, whatever that may mean. Able to gauge her owner's rate of displeasure, measured on a scale of 1 to 10, Annie does her best to do what she believes Doug would want. Seems simple enough, except that it is not.

The Problem: Things are going along as they should, with Annie getting better and better at doing what Doug wants, until one of his old friends makes a surprise visit to ask Doug to be the best man at his wedding. Suddenly, Annie is questioning what it means to be the ideal human companion, while understanding that she is 'only' a highly sophisticated machine that can easily fool most people. The more human she acts, the less pleased Doug seems to be. And yet, how real she seems is what he often has praised her for. Confused, scared, and occasionally angry, Annie begins to look for answers, while also attempting to obey her own programming, something that proves to be difficult, even for a well-built machine.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set in modern-day New York, and tells the story of Annie, a bot under the ownership of Doug. With a main objective to keep Doug happy, Annie finds this to be incredibly difficult, especially as she attempts to be more human. Her AI can follow directions, as well as learn, even read, but reconciling her emotions with what is happening proves to be a struggle. If she wants nothing more than for Doug to be happy, then why is she able to lie to him so easily? Artificial Intelligence may be front and present in the novel, but so are humanity, relationships, ownership, and even grief.

My Verdict: This novel is as complicated as the subject matter it tackles. The general plotline is straightforward enough - an AI robot does her best to fulfil her purpose of making her owner happy - but the path to success is difficult and full of scenarios that only confuse her. What the book does well is carefully and thoroughly show how Annie's attempts to perfectly imitate humans is complicated, and seemingly impossible, even for the best AI technology available. And while a first-person perspective would have limited the view to only Annie, or to only Doug, the third person limited perspective widens the view just enough to show what it is Annie is up against. The questions and issues brought up in the novel certainly add to the AI conversation.

Favorite Moment: Annie's observations about how human beings interact with each other are fascinating, and often humorous (see 'Favorite Quote' below).  

Favorite Character: She appears briefly, and only through a phone call, but the wife of Doug's good friend, Lucia, offers a refreshing moment of honesty. She cuts through the nonsense and gets right to the point.

Favorite Quote: "It occurs to her, eventually, that Doug and all the other humans talk about their lives with a myopic intensity, sharing singular, objective opinions as if they are each the protagonist of their own novel. They take turns listening to each other without ever yielding their own certainty of their star status, and they treat their fellow humans as guest protagonists visiting from their own respective books. None of the humans are satellites the way she is, in her orbit around Doug." 

Recommended Reading: Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino does something similar, but it is an alien being attempting to report back on what it means to be human. It was also mentioned on the book jacket that Greer's story is a sort of blend between the observations made in books by Kazuo Ishiguro, and My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell.

 

Science Fiction: The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard

The rules of time travel are tricky, and the idea of being able to visit your own town either 20 years in the future, or 20 years in the past, is incredibly interesting. That is the exact premise behind Scott Alexander Howard's The Other Valley. Of course, not only is time travel tricky, but it can be dangerous, so precautions must be taken.

The Situation: Sixteen year-old Odile is somewhat of an outsider at school. Her one close friend has moved away, and she was never outgoing or popular. Despite this, she manages to secure a spot as a potential candidate for the Conseil, the governing body that decides who is allowed to cross into the town from either the east of the west. On the former side is the same town, but 20 years into the future. On the latter, the same town 20 years in the past. People may apply to visit in either direction, usually to view a loved one, though they may not contact them. Even before becoming one of the students competing for a seat on the Counseil, Odile knew there were serious rules and risks surrounding these visits, but it all becomes very real when she spots a visiting party from the east, and recognizes who they are.

The Problem: When Odile recognizes the visitors as the parents of one of her classmates, that can only mean one thing: The boy is about to die. With this knowledge, Odile gathers up the courage to befriend Edme, and ends up as the fifth member in his small group of friends. She may have taken the necessary precautions after recognizing the viewing party, even being sure to report what she saw to the right people, but that does not mean the danger is over. Edme is smart, fun to be around, and the two become closer, as does the fateful day. At 16, Odile knows that whatever she does will affect 36 year-old Odile in the east, but despite the danger, she cannot help but wonder if there is any way to change the future.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel, set in a town where to the east of a heavily guarded border is the same town 20 years in the future. On the west, beyond another heavily guarded border, is the town 20 years into the past. Visitors are allowed from either side, but applications that are submitted to do so are carefully considered, and rarely approved. Like many novels about time travel, the books asks the readers if they would like to know what the future is like. And if they so, and they did not like what they saw, would they try to change it? Plus, there is the added complication that actions taken now may only make things worse, instead of better. 

My Verdict: As someone who gets easily confused when attempting to read a book, or even watch a movie, about time travel, I found this story to be fairly easy to follow, as well as pretty fascinating. Imagine living in a place where to the east and west are the exact same realities, but 20 years apart from your own. As with many science fiction and speculative books, the often enticing idea of either knowing the future, or being able to go back to the past, comes with a fair amount of warnings, and the precautionary tales presented in this book are well thought-out, thought-provoking, and take the reader on an unusual and unpredictable journey. 

Favorite Moment: Odile proves to be incredibly adept and discerning when it comes to her training for the Counseil. Despite any nerves and misgivings, her arguments are clear, concise, and often impressive.

Favorite Character: The characters in this book, especially the adults, are often serious, somewhat sever, and intense. The stakes are high for those who deal with making the decision concerning visitors. And same can be said for those that guard the borders. I did like Madame Ivret and her direct manner of talking to Odile, despite the fact that it is clear she may be withholding vital information. But if she is, it is because it is her job, and she believes it to be for the greater good.

Recommended Reading: I recommend 1984 by George Orwell. It is a very different book, but this story gave me the same sense of disorientation, as well as a similar feeling of not truly knowing if what the characters were doing was in fact the best course of action.

Science Fiction: Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino

While it is not the first science fiction book to be covered in 2024, Marie-Helene Bertino's Beautyland is the first book to be covered on DSN that was published in the new year. I was drawn to the idea of a seemingly ordinary person being tasked with reporting their observations to another civilization somewhere far out in space, while living out their life here on Earth. What kind of observations would they make? And would whoever they are reporting to find them interesting, or even care? 

The Situation: Adina Giorno is born on the same day that Voyager 1 is launched in early September of 1977. Though the birth almost kills her mother, both of them make it through safely, and continue their lives as best they can in Philadelphia. Adina understands that she is different, even without the observations of the people around her telling her so. She is somehow aware of life on a distant planet, but when a fax machine appears, she is able to tell them everything she observes about human beings and how they operate. The communication is not one way, but the responses she does receive are short, and somewhat unhelpful. In this way, Adina will continue to live her life, and report as much as she can, while understanding little of it.

The Problem: Growing up as the only child of a single mother in the heart of Philadelphia would be hard enough without also being an extraterrestrial. Fitting in is difficult, and while Adina knows she is not like her classmates and the people she is growing up around, it does not change her desire to belong. As she moves from childhood to adolescence to adulthood, the human experience continues to confuse and astound her, and soon, simply sharing her findings with the beings back home is not enough. Are there others like her here on Earth? And how would human beings react if they were to know the truth? Would they even believe it?

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set mostly in Philadelphia and New York City, and beginning in 1977 when Adina is born. As the story progresses and Adina grows up, the passing years are marked by important moments in history and what Adina observes as the humans' react to them, as opposed to actual dates. There are no chapters necessarily, but the book is divided up into five sections, with the narrative in those sections broken up and divided in small chunks, most of which are less than a page long. Even though she is not human, Adina experiences the very real human emotions of love, joy, the need to fit in and be accepted, sorrow, disappointment, despair, and grief. The book answers the question of what would a being from another planet think about the way we live here on Earth?

My Verdict: This book fits into the science fiction category simply because Adina is not of this Earth, but has been tasked with reporting on what she observes as she grows up around humans. Other than her communications with the beings on her home planet, her experience is not too different from what most experience living in North America. The character of Adina is making observations about humans that she finds interesting or confusing, but while she is making them as someone of a different species, they entail many things that human beings have wondered about themselves. For me, I related intensely to her observations of how humans communicate with each other, endlessly saying one thing while meaning another. It is an original look at the human experience that both critiques it, and asks honest questions about it.

Favorite Moment: *spoiler alert* Adina loses out on an acting scholarship for college to another student, who them ends up becoming a lawyer, and not an actor...because of course she does. 

Favorite Character: While Adina may not quite understand it herself, I can see why her strangeness and aloof nature would draw some people in. Her inability to understand most human behaviors causes her to meet most interactions with a refreshing honesty and unintentional humor.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Erin Swan's Walk the Vanished Earth, though it is a very different type of science fiction novel that looks at a possible future for Earth as human beings race to find an alternative, while life on the planet becomes more difficult.  

Science Fiction: Chaos Terminal by Mur Lafferty

It is time to talk about the follow-up to last years' Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty. Chaos Terminal is the second book in The Midsolar Murders Series, and continues the story of Mallory Viridian during her time aboard a space station, as more people continue to die around her.

The Situation: When Mallory is summoned to meet with Mrs. Brown, the woman who has a connection with the space station they both inhabit, she is not expecting to be told that the woman will be leaving and putting Mallory in charge. Given how badly Station Eternity reacted after losing its last host, Mallory is correct to be concerned, but apparently, everything will be fine, and there is no cause for alarm, even with another batch of humans scheduled to arrive. Last time that happened, someone was murdered, an event Mallory has grown used to as for her entire life, murders have occurred around her. Thankfully, she has also been able to solve those murders, though it has led to her to mostly solitary and often lonely existence.

The Problem: When Mallory enters the party to welcome the new humans, she is both surprised and horrified to see some familiar faces. First there is her childhood best friend, Amy, as well as her childhood crush, Parker, who happens to be Amy's twin brother. But there is also Detective Don Draughn, the man who made Mallory's life on Earth incredibly difficult, even making sure she would never have a career in law enforcement, despite her abilities allowing him to solve many murder cases. And if all of this was not enough, a murder predictably takes place, throwing everything into chaos, as the station itself is no longer responding, communications are down, the medbay equipment is not working, and the Sundry insects that Mallory has always had a connection with are being found dead all around the station.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set in the not too distant future, somewhere closer to the middle of the 21st century, and aboard a sentient space station known as Eternity. Mallory Viridian remains the center of the action, as once again, a murder takes place when a large group of human beings is brought in close proximity to her. While the space station she inhabits is not in quite as much distress as it was in the first book, it is still not much help as its host, Mrs. Brown, is missing for the majority of the novel. Some focus is shifted to Xan, another human onboard Station Eternity, and occasionally moves to other side characters for brief moments as more of the mystery unfolds. Previously introduced alien species return, as do the awkward and tense interactions between them.

My Verdict: I remember often being confused when reading the first book in the series, and while some of that confusion returned for this book, I instantly felt more comfortable following Mallory around in this story as familiar names and places were reintroduced, and new ones took their own place in the narrative. And while the murder is a bit predictable, the mystery and task of figuring out who did it is intriguing and fun, as a dead body is not the only issue Mallory must deal with. Lafferty brings in figures from Mallory's past, and even gives the Sundry - the insect-like creatures that have a connection with Mallory - a bigger and more interesting space in the story. I am not sure how many books there will be in this series, but I plan on continuing with it should more be published.

Favorite Moment: Mallory eventually realizes she is an even better detective than she thought, but it has to come after a short but crushing period of self-doubt and fear.

Favorite Character: I want to say Mrs. Brown, but she is not in the story enough. So instead I will pick Stephanie, another sentient ship doing her best to keep her friend Tina out of trouble, and be of help to the other species aboard Eternity.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel. 

Science Fiction: In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune

Seeing that T.J. Klune's In the Lives of Puppets was nominated in the Best Science Fiction category in the Goodreads Choice Awards made me wish that I had read it earlier. The premise is certainly interesting enough: Any story that involves someone making a home and a life in an actual treehouse will always make me curious. And an adventure throughout a futuristic landscape means a look at a different kind of world, this one mostly inhabited by robots.

The Situation: Victor Lawson and his family live a safe and quiet existence in their home in the trees. As the only human, Victor is aware that he is not like the rest of his family. His inventor father, Gio, is an android; Nurse Ratchet is indeed a nurse robot, even though she also has a dark sense of humor and a strange desire to use her drill; and Rambo is a vacuum obsessed with cleaning, as well as approval. One of Victor's favorite things to do is visit the scrap yard, though he knows that it is against the rules, and dangerous, even though that is how he finds his next robot to salvage and repair, just as he did with Nurse Ratchet and Rambo. But when Victor does the same for Hap, it changes everything, and suddenly, his home in the forest is not so safe anymore.

The Problem: Victor could not have known that fixing Hap would lead to his father being taken lead away by robot authorities. Perhaps if Gio had told his son the truth about what happened a long time ago, and also about his connection to Hap, this could have been avoided. But the remaining group, including Hap, will now have to make their way out of the forest, and travel farther than Victor ever thought he would go, if they hope to save Gio from a possible reprogramming. Victor also must deal with his conflicting feelings regarding Hap, and whether or not he can trust this newest addition to his small family.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a novel that I have chosen to place under the category of science fiction. This is also the category in which it was nominated for the 2023 Goodreads Choice Awards, although many readers have placed it under the category of fantasy. Victor is at the center of the story, with Gio is the real leader, though his disappearance is what leads the rest of the group to take on the adventure. And while Gio is not human, Victor still refers to him as his father, while Nurse Ratchet and Rambo are his best friends and part of the 'family.' It is clear that something big went down between the humans and robots many years ago, and in order for the adventure to be successful, the group will have to be careful.

My Verdict: The book starts at the beginning, when Gio finds himself with a young human in his care, at a time when it looks like a conflict between humans and machines is at its peak. From there, a strange world is built full of treehouses, talking vacuums, and scrap yards full of threats, despite the hidden treasures that can also be found there. And when the adventure begins, Klune shows readers a world that is both recognizable and unfamiliar. Nearly each different type of robot or machine is also given its own personality, and Victor must rely on his own robot friends in order to navigate a world he has only known a small part of. It is imaginative and creative, while also being thought-provoking and insightful, with a great amount of humor. 

Favorite Moment: For the most part, Rambo is annoying. To everyone. But he is the character that made me laugh the most, and his moments of redemption are the most satisfying. 

Favorite Character: It is a tie between Nurse Ratchet and Rambo. Their relationship certainly feels like a big sister/annoying little brother type of dynamic, and the contrast between Nurse Ratchet's brutal sense of humor, and Rambo's desperation for attention and validation, only adds to the humor. Nurse Ratchet is also clearly the smartest of the group of adventurers, while Rambo is the one most likely to get them all killed.

Favorite Quote: "Your flaws is what makes you superior, in all ways. No matter what machines do, no matter how powerful we become, it is the absence of flaws that will be our undoing. How can this existence survive when all machine-made things are perfect down to a microscopic detail? When all machine-made music is empty of rage and joy? Our only flaw is that we've condemned ourselves to spend eternity mimicking that which we deemed unfit to exist...We can never be you. Instead, we became your ghosts, and we'll haunt this world until there is nothing left."

Recommended Reading: I recommend Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. 

Science Fiction: The Possibilities by Yael Goldstein-Love

As part of my ongoing effort to read more science fiction, I picked up The Possibilities by Yael Goldstein-Love. When a new mother is obsessed with what could have been, she also cannot help but think that maybe it is. Maybe the alternate reality she cannot seem to stop thinking about is out there, and not entirely out of reach.

The Situation: Hannah is having a bit of a day. Right now she has realized that she has forgotten her car keys in her therapist's office, so she must make the distasteful decision between lugging her eight month-old son back up the parking garage stairs, or taking a chance to leave him briefly so this detour will go faster. Hannah's husband, Adam, has accused her of being over-protective, bordering on obsessive, but since Jack was born, she cannot shake a strange memory from his birth. But can it be called a memory when it did not actually happen? Hannah remembers Jack not surviving the birth, and yet here he is. She relishes his smell, the curls of his hair, even his stubborn inability to sleep through the night. So when Jack vanishes when Hannah is on her way to retrieve her keys, she is understandably shaken, even after he just as mysteriously reappears.

The Problem: Hannah's therapist is quick to explain away what she witnessed as a symptom of part of a larger problem. Hannah is a new and anxious mother after all, and the lack of sleep certainly is not helping matters. Then there is the issue of Adam announcing he is leaving her. And also, there are the brief and confusing visions she has of other versions of her own life. But it is when Jack disappears from his crib, seemingly into thin air, that Hannah begins to seriously consider her 'memory' from the hospital eight months ago, as well as the mystery surrounding her own mother's unraveling. To get her son back, Hannah may have to reach out to the different versions of herself, while maintaining a tenuous hold on her own reality.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set in an around modern day San Francisco. Hannah and Adam are new parents of an eight month-old son named Jack, and while they would not trade parenthood for anything else in the world, raising him has taken a toll on them and their marriage. From the time of his birth, Hannah has become aware of an alternate version of events, and unfortunately, in this one, Jack did not survive. The idea of alternate realities is a central theme here, with many of them splitting off seemingly on the day Jack was born. Maternal love is also explored, as well as the uncertainty of the postpartum period. 

My Verdict: What works for this book is the exploration of the idea of alternative realities and timelines; how a major event like giving birth can cause such a thing to happen on a large scale; and its honest look at motherhood, grief, anxiety, and even insecurity. What does not work is the pacing, as there are moments that are incredibly slow, mostly the parts with the explanations of what Hannah is experiencing, and how such a thing could be possible. I would not categorize this book as a thriller as the pacing is not quick enough for that. Also, while the idea of losing a child is naturally devastating, something about either Hannah's situation, or the way she is dealing with it, or maybe just her character in general, made it not that interesting to me. 

Favorite Moment: There are moments when the reader is given brief glimpses into the kind of books Hannah used to write. These kind of moments always intrigue me in stories. I love when characters play a fictional game and the readers are given a short (but ultimately incomplete) picture of it. Or when, like in this case, a character is an author and describes the books they write. Or a character that is an avid reader talks about their favorite fictional series. 

Favorite Character: Given how complex the idea of alternate realities can get, I enjoyed the straight-forward nature of Hannah's therapist, Dr. Goodman. She may seem initially cold and standoffish, even a bit judgmental, but she turns out to be both helpful and supportive.

Recommended Reading: Perhaps a book the explores the idea of alternate realities a bit more successfully is The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.  

Science Fiction: On Earth as It Is on Television by Emily Jane

Today's DSN was picked because of its humorous title and premise. On Earth as It Is on Television by Emily Jane promised a fun and also strange tale of human's first contact with aliens, and what that means for three seemingly unconnected people in the U.S. who have no idea how the event will change their lives.

The Situation: When an alien spaceship is seen hovering over Washington, D.C, there is naturally a range of reactions from the humans of earth. As even more spaceships appear over other cities around the world - London, Tokyo, Manila, Cairo - Blaine does his best to wrangle his semi-feral children, and keep tabs on the strange actions of his wife, while also maintaining a tenuous hold on the belief that the simplest explanation must be the correct one. On the other side of the U.S, Heather wonders what the appearance of the spaceships means for her, and if it will at least help with her feelings of being an outsider in her own family. And for Oliver, the appearance means being woken up from the catatonic state he has been in for the last two decades. 

The Problem: Some are excited about the aliens' appearance, others are scared, and more than a few are hostile. Bunker sales skyrocket - as do gun sales - and while Blaine's coworker talks of government conspiracies, his television-addicted children callously consider who they know that should be skinned alive in an attempt to see if there are aliens among them. And while his wife has always acted...different, it is clear she is now either suffering some sort of break down, or cheating on him. Oliver may now be 'awake,' but the doctors struggle to explain it, as he acknowledges that it is now time for him to move on, but move on to what exactly? All he has are pieces of what he remembers from twenty years ago, and a cat that he believes is insisting they travel west.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set in the modern-day U.S. The three characters that are the main focus - Blain, Heather, and Oliver - all end up traveling away from their homes, making different journeys across the U.S. for different reasons, but all related to the sudden appearance of alien spaceships. The appearance of, and reactions to, the spaceships will remind many readers of War of the Worlds (both the book and the historical radio broadcast of 1938), as well as other stories of alien invasions from pop culture such as the television show V from the 1980s, the movie Independence Day from the 1990s, and the movie that first entered my mind, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The appearances lead to paranoia, suspicion, excitement, curiosity, fear, all of the reactions that would be expected from human beings when something strange is introduced to the world they thought they knew.

My Verdict: The initial mystery behind the appearance of the spaceships is intriguing, as is whatever is going on with Blaine's wife, and Oliver's condition. And Blaine's two children provide enough comedy relief (some of it incredibly dark and concerning) to keep readers turning the page, which proves necessary once the biggest mysteries are solved halfway through the book. For me, the more answers that are given for what is happening, the less interesting the plot became. Already more than a bit silly, the story devolves into something that is still entertaining, but with the humorous aspects overshadowing the more emotional and engaging story of Oliver's past and current journey. And I am not sure the ultimate conclusion will be worth the journey for a lot of readers.

Favorite Moment: For whatever reason, I was delighted and fascinated by Blaine's wife's obsession with and love for bacon. I mean I get it, bacon is pretty great...but still. 

Favorite Character: I was mostly interested in Oliver and what would happen to him now that he has woken up after 20 years of being mostly unresponsive. 

Recommended Reading: I recommend Walk the Vanished Earth by Erin Swan. 

Science Fiction: Flux by Jinwoo Chong

It is time for me to once again try my hand at science fiction. This continues to be a genre that I have a hard time getting excited about. But when I read the description for Flux by Jinwoo Chong, I was interested to see where this story would go, as it promised to deal with inter-connected storylines, and the bending of time.

The Situation: It is four days before Christmas, and 28 year-old Brandon just learned that he is out of a job. It seems the magazine he has been working at has been bought out, and he is no longer needed. After making an impulsive purchase with his severance pay, a freak accident puts him in close contact with the woman at the store, as well as with a confident and somewhat ridiculous stranger he is fairly certain is hitting on him. For eight year-old Bo, this is the last morning he will see his mother alive, as she will be tragically hit by a school bus. And for 48 year-old Blue, this is his chance to perhaps reconnect with his ex-wife and daughter, while preparing to appear as a witness in an upcoming high profile trial. 

The Problem: While Brandon is glad to have a new job, he is still not completely comfortable working with the confident stranger, Lev, or the high profile and incredibly charismatic owner of the company he now works for, Flux. The company is making promises that are hard to believe, and Brandon is confident things are not quite as they seem. Meanwhile, blackouts are becoming more common; Brandon feels guilty over his lack of connection with his father and younger brother; and news has just came out that his favorite childhood star from the 80s had a history of abuse against various individuals. As the stories of Brandon, Bo, and Blue continue and become more connected, it is clear that something bigger is occurring, and great risks must be taken to resolve it.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set closer to the year 2050, which is merely my estimation based on some clues from the story. Of the three characters that are followed in the story, Brandon inhabits the most of it, and is the only first-person narrator, though he is not necessarily talking to the reader. Throughout his story, Brandon will address Antonin Haubert, the actor who played the main character in a show he watched as a child, Raider. At the time that it aired, the show was known for being willing to portray Asian characters, but by the time Brandon is an adult, it is pretty much acknowledged that those portrayals were racist and insensitive. Readers may be reminded of certain news stories from our own reality, mostly involving the revelation of unsettling past behaviors of celebrities many grew up watching and adoring, as well as the exposure of unethical business practices of celebrity CEOs.  

My Verdict: Any story involving any sort of time travel or time bending can be hard to do well. I applaud any author with the courage to take it on and wrestle with it, and Chong certainly did. It is no question that Brandon is an unreliable narrator, something I always enjoy, and this is known from the start when it becomes clear that he is talking to an actor he loved watching as a child, and is still obsessed with the show. Some have made the argument that the story moves slowly, and that the clues take too long to be revealed as do the connections, but as someone who often has a hard time with science fiction, I enjoyed the slower pace. I do wish the connection between the storylines was better explained, and maybe the process explored a little more, but I felt I could fully see the world and the state it is in.

Favorite Moment: There are several moments in this book that are pretty absurd, but my favorite may be the falling-down-an-elevator-shaft incident. 

Favorite Character: Min, the woman Brandon meets at a store after he has been let go from his job, does not show up a whole lot during the story, but I like her general presence and the overall role she has in his life. 

Recommended Reading: For more science fiction that deals with time travel, I recommend Recursion by Blake Crouch.

Science Fiction: Chance by Matthew Fitzsimmons

This week's novel, Chance, is the second in author Matthew Fitzsimmons' Constance series, the first of which was reviewed in late October. Cloning remains at the center of the story, as a young man attempts to find out what happened to him and his brother during a kidnapping gone wrong.

The Situation: It is the year 2042, and Chance is about the perform the latest in what has become his annual stunts. Sometimes they go right, but more often they go wrong, and this one certainly can. But Chance and his family have a policy at Palingenesis, the company the keeps their clones on standby should one of them meet an untimely demise, something that Chance has done many times by now. His audience cannot get enough of his antics, while his critics point out the only reason he is able to be so reckless is because he is one of the 1%. Chance has heard it all, and he does not care. For him, any caring about what he should be doing to live a productive life went out the window five years ago, when he died the first time in botched kidnapping.

The Problem: Chance is obsessive about making and keeping his appointments at Palingenesis, making sure his clones will always be as up to date as possible on their memories, should his next stunt go wrong. He also makes sure his daily existence is well-documented and backed up, until one of his clones erases everything, after seemingly committing a horrible crime. When Chance wakes up in a new clone body, he has no idea what happened, and those that have always been against cloning now have a new reason to protest. All he knows is this has something to do with abduction that changed his life forever, and if he is to get answers, he must work fast and do what he can before he is arrested.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set only two years after the first one, in 2042. After a landmark Supreme Court case, clones now have legal standing at the federal level, and any state's anti-cloning laws have now been done away with, therefore making the issue even more divisive. Enter Chance Harker, a 21 year-old influencer who has made a career out of exploiting the new technology, only being able to do so because his family is wealthy. Taking place in and around Los Angeles, the story follows Chance as he attempts to make a life for himself, but due to what happened five years ago, he exists in a cloud of resentment, anger, pride, and self-loathing. And many of the issues surrounding cloning that were brought up in the first book are expanded upon even further in this one.

My Verdict: This book contains the same fast-paced narrative style as the first one, as seemingly every chapter reveals a new detail, or twist to the story that changes what the audience thought they knew about where the story was going. It mainly falls under science fiction, but just like the first book, it is also part suspense thriller and part murder mystery, while asking the important questions when it comes the issue of cloning human beings. Chance is incredibly unlikeable in the beginning, but he knows it, and he does not care...but he does care, kind of. It is a complicated character that at first glance is simply a spoiled rich kid, but the layers get pulled back as the story moves forward, and I think I like it even better than the first book. 

Favorite Moment: Picking out a favorite moment with a book like this is near impossible, because almost every moment is a spoiler. At some point, Chance stops being a careless jerk and turns into a sympathetic human being, and it was nice to actually care about what happens to him towards the end.

Favorite Character: Con D'Arcy, the main character from the first book, makes an appearance in this one and plays an important role in helping Chance get the answers he is looking for.

Recommended Reading: I once again recommend Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty. 

Science Fiction: Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty

In 2017, I picked up and thoroughly enjoyed Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty, so it was an easy decision to choose Station Eternity for my next science fiction book. It seems Lafferty has once again put together a scifi whodunnit that will keep readers guessing, set in a future where humans have made contact with other intelligent life forms and are still figuring out how we will all coexist in the same universe.

The Situation: Murder has followed Mallory around all her life, and she has often known or been close to the victims. There was her teacher, her guidance counselor, even her uncle and her own mother. And at a certain point, Mallory discovered she has an incredible talent for solving the cases. Authorities are not too fond of having someone they do not trust and are highly suspicious of be the one to be able to solve the crimes. And while Mallory's bizarre history has given her a pretty great career as a mystery writer, it has made for an otherwise anxious and lonely existence. So it is not surprising she sought asylum on Station Eternity, where only two other humans live. 

The Problem: As soon as news hits the Station Eternity has agreed to allow more humans on board, Mallory knows there will be trouble. Even if those humans are little more than tourists, Mallory knows that chances are high someone will die simply because of their proximity to her. When the chaos begins before the shuttle from Earth has even docked properly, Mallory has to choose between running away again, or sticking around and doing what she does best. Aboard the shuttle is a motley crew of people, all with their own reasons for braving space travel to visit Station Eternity. While most everyone has something to hide, some in this particular group hold information that could cause more death. If Mallory does not figure out what is going on, that past will repeat itself on a scale she has yet witnessed.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set in the not-so-distant future of somewhere in the middle of the 21st century. Humanity has made first contact with alien life, but it is still early enough where the wrinkles have not been ironed out. The U.S. government has gone so far as to send an ambassador to live aboard Station Eternity, a sentient space station where several alien species all live together in relative harmony. If the ambassador does their job, human beings could be invited to join. This is where Mallory Viridian has sought asylum from her chaotic history, while hoping it does not simply follow her. Unfortunately, even a sophisticated and sentient space station is subject to volatile politics, prejudice among species, and beings acting with hidden motives.

My Verdict: Readers were promised an intergalactic whodunnit, and Lafferty certainly delivered. The story opens with Mallory doing her best to exist as only one of three humans on Station Eternity, while dealing with the news that her worst nightmare has come true, and more humans will be coming. Where the story begins to veer into the absurd (and not necessarily in a bad way) is when these other humans arrive, and the reader begins to learn more about them. It would be wild enough to follow one human being, who seems to have death follow her everywhere she goes, around a space station with other alien species. The introduction of the other humans quickly makes the story messy, a little hard to follow, and somehow, also less interesting. The book is subtitled The Midsolar Murders #1, which would indicate there are more to come. Maybe the next mystery will be cleaner and more streamlined.

Favorite Moment: The ambassador, Adrian, is not the worst person ever, but he is annoying, and clearly does not like Mallory. He eventually takes a massive risk, but the consequences are beyond his human abilities.

Favorite Character: Everyone on this station can be hard to deal with (including the station herself), but I will pick Xan. He has been placed in a wide array of unfortunate circumstances, but he does his best to face the situations head on, while also helping others.

Recommended Reading: Lovers of murder mysteries that bend more towards science fiction may enjoy Six Wakes, as well as Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. 

Science Fiction: The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The whole reason I decided to pick up last week's DSN, The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells, is because Silvia Moreno-Garcia had come out with this week's The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, which is a reimagining of sorts of the classic tale. Instead of taking place on an island somewhere in the Pacific, Moreno-Garcia places all of the action in 19th century Mexico, with all of the conflict that was present during that time.

The Situation: In an attempt to pay off his debts, as well as make something from the mess that has become his life, Montgomery Laughton has decided to take a job in the Yucatan peninsula with the mysterious Dr. Moreau. He knows exactly what kind of job he has signed up for, though the doctor still has his secrets. There is also the beautiful, young, and naive Carlota Moreau, the doctor's daughter, who does her best to be exactly what her father wants and obey everything he says. She is also aware that her father has secrets, but due to her delicate health she has always been dependent on his medical knowledge. Plus, she loves her life and her home, as well as the many hybrid creatures her father has created.

The Problem: When Lizalde, the man in charge of Dr. Moreau's funding, decides that the work he has trusted the doctor to complete is not moving fast enough, it is clear that something must be done to secure the compound's future. And since Lizalde's son Eduardo has clearly taken an interest in Carlota, the solution seems simple. Carlota will marry Eduardo, the future of the compound will be secured, and Dr. Moreau can continue with the work he does for Lizalde, as well as the work he does for himself. It soon becomes impossible to hide the myriad of secrets the doctor has been holding onto, and it is one thing when Lizalde and his son find out the truth. But how will the doctor explain what his daughter and Montgomery soon discover about Carlota's past?

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set in a remote location in late 19th century Mexico. Instead of having all the action take place on a mysterious island with almost no contact with the outside world, Moreno-Garcia placed Dr. Moreau, his daughter, his employees, and his creations in the jungle of Mexico, right in the middle of the real conflict that took place between the Mayans and the Mexican, European, and mixed population. Readers of the classic tale by H.G. Wells will of course recognize Dr. Moreau, Montgomery, and also the creatures. Wells' protagonist Edward Prendick does not make an appearance, but instead we have Carlota, Dr. Moreau's beautiful daughter who would love nothing more than for things to remain as they are, though it is clear that is not a possibility. Told in alternating chapters by both Montgomery and Carlota, readers get a different story that deals with more than questionable research practices. 

My Verdict: I rarely read reimaginings or retellings of stories, even for ones I enjoyed. It might be because I mainly look for stories that are new and original ideas. But in any case, I took on this one mostly because I did not know much about the original story, and I also wanted to read more of Moreno-Garcia's work. The novel starts out promising enough with the hiring of Montgomery and the introduction of Carlota as a new character. However, Carlota's lack of awareness and backbone quickly becomes tiresome, and Montgomery is rendered nearly useless due to his alcoholism. The characters the reader is supposed to side with are annoying, the bad guys are infuriating, and the action soon gets complicated, messy, and a little hard to follow. I will say that the introduction of Dr. Moreau's daughter does add to the story, as does the Mexican setting.

Favorite Moment: There are brief moments early on in the book when Carlota catches undeniable glimpses of who her father really is.

Favorite Character: I did not think I would be choosing Montgomery by the end of the novel (especially considering the role he played in the original story), but he has surprising moments when he manages to pull himself together and be of use.

Recommended Reading: For more from Moreno-Garcia, I recommend Mexican Gothic. For more science fiction in general, I recommend this year's Walk the Vanished Earth by Erin Swan.

Science Fiction: Walk the Vanished Earth by Erin Swan

It is always a joy when I find a science fiction book that genuinely interests me, because it simply does not happen often enough. And it seems Erin Swan's Walk the Vanished Earth has followed a similar trend of other 2022 science fiction books I have read of dealing with a planet in peril, stories across time, and humanity traveling to a new far away location.

The Situation: In 1873 Kansas, a young bison hunter named Samson has no idea what his future holds, and how he will help shape the course humanity will take over the next 200 years. For now, he simply wants to marry and settle down, and forget the trauma he experienced at the hands of his cruel father. In 1975, a somewhat feral young woman will find herself in an institution, and give birth to a boy who will not know her until he is a young man. What he learns and inherits from his mother will be passed down to his daughter and granddaughter, as they all attempt to figure out what the human race will do now that earth is in trouble.

The Problem: When hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans in 2005, Paul is safe in his home in Kansas City. But he cannot forget what he sees on the news, despite the urging from his wife that his focus should be on his own home and their growing family. When other cities on the coastlines are swallowed by rising sea levels in late 2017, Paul realizes he cannot simply continue with his life as it is, and the earth may not let him. In 2073, Moon only knows life on Mars with her two alien uncles, though she knows they have plans to somehow grow the population and continue the race. However, she also knows they have not taught her everything, and she cannot help but wonder what happened to her own mother. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set across 200 years, beginning in 1873 and ending in 2073. The story is not told in a linear fashion, with the author instead choosing to jump around, not only in time, but between narrators as well. The result is a fully complete story, but the information is filled in piece by piece, like a puzzle, as the reader is given more clues and information. While partly speculative fiction, there is also some alternative history as Swan paints a world where the hurricanes and storms of 2017 were much more damaging, and entire cities (and all of California) are lost to the oceans. It becomes clear fairly early that a mission to Mars was attempted, but how successful it was is part of the overall mystery.

My Verdict: When I picked this book up, I was not entirely sure what to expect, except a story that would span across a couple of centuries and possibly planets. What I got was an intriguing look at a potential future for humanity and this planet. And while I knew all of the stories were somehow connected, knowing this ahead of time did not dull the surprises that came, or make any of the narratives less interesting. There was this low-lying, almost eerie, as well as consistent, sense of dread and foreboding that came with every new plan to restart civilization. It was always clear, and yet somehow not overtly obvious, that every new self-declared leader was hiding something, had done something, or was going to mess something up (as humans do). Sure, it is hard to trust politicians, but what if the new leader is part of your family? 

Favorite Moment: When Moon, after conducting her own research, makes her own decision for what she wants her life to be.

Favorite Character: Moon is incredibly capable, despite having very little to work with. 

Recommended Reading: The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez is one of my recent favorites, and Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel is also worth reading.

Science Fiction: Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

No doubt many will recognize the name behind today's novel as the author of the wildly popular Station Eleven. Now, Emily St. John has returned to science fiction with Sea of Tranquility, and I know her readers could not be more excited.

The Situation: In 1912, Edwin St. Andrew finds himself on a trip away from his family and home in England, though he knows to think of it as a 'trip' would mean he hopes to return, but that probably will not happen. One day, he takes a walk through a forest, and over eight decades later, a young girl will take a similar walk through that same forest, recording on a camera as she goes. In the year 2203, writer Olive Llewellyn will be participating in a book tour on Earth, talking about her latest science fiction novel, as she misses her husband and daughter at their home in one of the colonies on the moon. Little does she know that she has something in common with Edwin St. Andrew in 1912, and the teenage girl in 1994. She may not find out everything, but what she learns will be enough to change the direction of her life.

The Problem: An anomaly has occurred in North America, back on Earth, and Gaspery Roberts has been hired to investigate it, though it really isn't his area. This kind of thing is really more Zoey's deal, his older sister. But Zoey is the one who brought him in, and after extensive training and research, Gaspbery is sent away from his home in Colony Two of Earth's moon, also known as the Night City, to find out more about what is going on. If Zoey is right, what happened to Edwin, the young girl, and the science fiction writer could be more than a simple coincidence. Instead, it would change everything about how we view life and the universe.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set across history (as early as 1912) and as far into the future as 2401. For the first half of the book, the events occur in a chronological order. But once the primary characters are introduced and their situations are established, the story begins to move around, changing locations as it changes time. Gaspbery does not become the focus of the story until about 100 pages in, though his presence certainly brings a fair amount of focus and clarity to what is going on. And readers of The Glass Hotel, another one of Mandel's novels, may recognize a handful of characters.

My Verdict: I was somewhat anxious about jumping into this book, mostly because it is science fiction, but I was excited that it was one of Mandel's, and that it was also less than 300 pages. The simple, yet extraordinary and vivid settings that I have come to expect from Mandel were immediately clear and present. Each shift in time has been given its own distinct feel, with the scenes that are closer to our own time feeling familiar, and those far off in the future feeling both strange and possible. And as someone who had issues with one character in particular from The Glass Hotel, I was glad for the callback. Mandel takes a subject and theme that is often overdone, or simply not handled well, and not only managed to craft an absorbing story, but one that is clever and original.

Favorite Moment: I have already mentioned it, kind of...but I enjoyed reading about Paul Smith, a character from The Glass Hotel, and seeing how he is managing his life. It is a brief encounter, but it is something.

Favorite Character: Gaspbery's sister Zoey is the person in your high school class who you know is going to do something great with their life. They will excel at whatever they choose to do, and it is accepted that they simply know more than everyone else, and they somehow aren't annoying about it. 

Recommended Reading: I wonder what it would have been like to read this book first, and then read The Glass Hotel...someone out there must tell me about it. Of course, I also recommend Station Eleven, though be warned, it is about a deadly virus that nearly wipes out humanity.