Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A cool, rather richly imagined magical noir with all of the cultural setbacks (and throwbacks) intact. I liked how we got dirty with angels, semi-fallen angels, and demons while dealing with being lesbian in the pinstripe days.

All in all, it's a great mystery, hunting down a magical baddie that makes a lot more sense (and importance) with each new reveal.

Most importantly, though, it's a smooth, even charming read that tugs on the heartstrings as much as the noir entertains.

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For You and Only You by Caroline Kepnes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Missing my old Dexter vibes, I've been loving both the books and the tv series for years. It's really a no-brainer. Love and obsession goes bad... the only thing that we have to look forward to is how the bystanders and the primaries kick it.

It's a great formula. But that's just it: formula. Fortunately, this one is a snide little jab at other writers and, beautifully, at all us GoodReaders. I thought that was pretty delightful. Us vapid babies babbling about baloney because we obviously can't recognize the good meat when we see it.

Right? Right.

I'm not saying this was a particularly bad book, but it felt a little bit circlejerkbookish even to me, and I'm also a writer.

Even so, I did have a few laughs, so not all is lost.

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Uncanny Magazine Issue 47: July/August 2022 by Lynne M. Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this specifically for “If You Find Yourself Speaking to God, Address God with the Informal You” by John Chu

Winner of this year's nebula.

I'll tell you this: I didn't expect to find something so wholesome. I mean, yes, the world is crap, the racism and homophobia extremely nasty, but when it came to the two of these bodybuilders (one a bit more special than the other), the true meaning of life can be summed up with the ending.

Obviously, there's a lot of connections between being hated for doing what you think is right and just wanting to find a little love when everyone else gives you hell about it. And then there's the admonition not to try to fix something that isn't broken.

Tom of Finland Guy is decent, doing a ton of decent things, and cops just don't get it.

Everyone else just needs to back off, on many levels.

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Void Star by Zachary Mason
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm generally always very enthusiastic about near-future, richly imagined, cyberpunk.

This one certainly fits the bill with all the intransigence, violence, techno-thrillery, transhumanist implants, memory, immortality, AI's, all within a broken down shell of a world.

Interesting characters here, and a lot happens. I totally recommend this if you're a fan of Daniel Suarez, Al Robertson,

Al Robertson, Daniel Suarez, or Ramez Naam. Of course, if you like this kind of thing, it's on the level with Peter Watts and Alastair Reynolds.

Expect a richly imagined world.

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Illuminations: Stories by Alan Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alan Moore's first short story collection is everything I hoped it would be.

I can't always say that I'm the biggest fan of the subject materials he chooses, but here's something to consider: he ALWAYS seems to pick the biggest underdogs, the strangest viewpoints, the utter quasi-losers, and writes them WELL.

The language is almost ALWAYS 100% gorgeous.


Hypothetical Lizard - a very disturbing look at a SFnal pleasure district twist that is even more disturbing by who gets hurt worst. Lush descriptions.


Not Even Legend - Crypto-zoology Moore style, utterly original cast of creatures, society, and a heartbreaking look at how one such creature lives.


Location, Location, Location - Jesus and Lawyers. Trust me, it's quite original. Damn those contracts.


Cold Reading - an okay paranormal turnaround story.


The Improbably Complex High-Energy State - Funky cool and weird as hell. I couldn't stop laughing at the state of all these copulating comb-overs. Truly great weird-fiction.


Illuminations - A lot of nostalgia. A lot of slow burn that turns into a great little horror.


What We Can Know About Thunderman - My personal favorite of the bunch. It serves two great purposes for me: I love to read about the old, old days of the comic industry and just how messed up it all was. Moore goes several steps out of his way to illustrate it all wonderfully while making sure he puts his spin on every single property, changing names and styles. It's practically a tour de force.


American Light - Beat poetry at its best, made up fresh, complete with full analytical commentary including a full supporting cast of all the old Beat Poets and their place in the poem, real life or metaphorical. It's crazy how well-thought-out it is. :)


And, at the Last, Just to Be Done with Silence - Not my favorite, a bit too obscure even for me, but I can still appreciate the middle-ages references. Moore is definitely intimidating.


So, all said, a very interesting short story collection. Fantastically creative if not always enjoyable, it is always very impressive.


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Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After loving To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, it was really something of a no-brainer to want to head toward a prequel.

Ah, but this is where I'm forced to warn you that you must manage your expectations a bit. If you wanted another To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, you might be slightly disappointed.

If, on the other hand, you wanted the tragic expedition, with all the feel of a number of classic novels that deal with danger, perseverance, and the desire to DISCOVER something truly great, then this is a very fine SF novel. This is a first contact novel without true resolution, a lot of mishaps and a long trudge within an unknowable alien find, and wonderful characterizations.

Again, it isn't TSiaSoS, but IF you were of a mind to simply trust the author, reading this one first and then moving onto the primary novel WOULD give a lot of depth and slow-build to both.

I definitely recommend. The primary novel transitions perfectly. Or rather, read both together for the sense of a VERY long, excellent story.

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Season of Skulls by Charles Stross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well now, after reading the acknowledgements, I have a much better appreciation for the genesis of this novel. I mean, yes, it's absolutely a Laundry novel and it's the third and perhaps capstone of the New Management trilogy, but it's also a point of challenge and departure for Charlie Stross.

I SO want to spoil it, to tell ya'll what he's turned his hand toward, but I won't. Just know that I think it got pulled off quite well. I was grinning from ear to ear by the time we got there.

Nanowrimo helps, ya'll. Even seasoned authors. Plus, '20 sucked. I'm so glad we got something good out of it here.

It's LAUNDRY, people! I always get excited with these, and thanks to the machinations of Management, a few tentacles, a demi-liche, nasty story geases, and a bit of dream and time-travel, bureaucracy has never seemed so welcoming.

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