Mining the Genre Asteroid: Rocannon’s World
When I say the words “Ursula K Le Guin and her work,” your first thought is probably either Earthsea or The Left Hand of Darkness or The Dispossessed. Or maybe you think of “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas”. LeGuin’s oeuvre, however, is far more than those works. Even within the Hainish verse, there is a host of other in-universe work that Le Guin has written — work that doesn’t get as much attention or play today as The Left Hand of Darkness, the Hainish Cycle’s shining star. The point of this ongoing column is to tell you why works such as this are worth your reading time and attention. Today. In our contemporary moment. And so, in today’s Mining the Genre Asteroid, I’d like to discuss Le Guin’s first published novel, Rocannon’s World.
Book Review: A MEMORY CALLED EMPIRE by Arkady Martine
Yes, Paul Weimer already delivered a ‘squee-tastic’ review of Arkady Martine’s debut novel, A Memory Called Empire, here earlier this week. But this novel is so notably brilliant that it’s worth fueling that hype with even more squee. Martine’s debut includes nearly all of the elements I would potentially look for in a great science fiction novel, balancing each of them to hit so many positive notes that I suspect other readers will find it just as elegantly captivating. Until now, I’ve never gotten to read a new release and think: This deserves to win all of the awards. I cannot fathom anything else coming this year to approach this level of achievement. Compared to Paul, I’m not as broadly read in the genre, and I’m ashamed to say I still haven’t even read Dune! I did, however, grow up adoring the novels of Asimov, and the space opera setting of A Memory Called Empire immediately drew my thoughts to his linked series. Martine takes the philosophical and political-historical intellect underlying the best of Asimov and refreshes the out-of-date social and cultural perspectives of his works. Several others have also drawn comparisons to the more modern Imperial Radch novels by Anne Leckie. While I liked Leckie’s Ancillary Justice, the narrative voice of Martine’s novel and the themes addressed through its plot resonated even stronger with me.
Book Review: A MEMORY CALLED EMPIRE by Arkady Martine
Last year, I read a debut author’s space opera that was hyped by many as the Next Big Thing. Comparisons to Dune were explicitly made. The text showed that the author clearly was writing in conversation with Dune, trying to catch that magic about a big broad space opera by focusing on the life and times of a protagonist destined to have an enormous impact on their universe. But for me, that novel fell down on a number of fronts and was an enormous disappointment. This is not that book. This book steps into those shoes, attempting to capture that Dune magic, and walks miles in them. And for me, it succeeds where that other novel failed. This is A Memory Called Empire by debut novelist Arkady Martine. A Memory Called Empire is a dazzling space opera involving a Byzantine plot that immerses the reader in a fully realized world with a cast of interesting characters.
Reading Rangers #10: Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold
https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/SandFReadingRangers10KomarrByLoisMcMasterBujold/SandF–Reading_Rangers_10–Komarr_by_Lois_McMaster_Bujold.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSHello, Rangers! We’re back with everyone’s favorite Space Nancy Drew in Komarr! This time Stina, Paul, and Trish sit around the campfire to talk about women’s agency, budding relationships, whether or not Miles is “dad” material, how good intentions can go horribly, horribly wrong, the politics of isolationism, and more! Stina gets personal and, as is common when discussing Bujold, the team has lots of praise for her ability to write strong characters. Next time in our journey through the Vorkosigan Adventures, we’ll discuss A Civil Campaign! We hope you enjoy the episode!
Book Review: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD GNOMES by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne
Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne return readers to the pleasant and exciting land of Pell, where danger once again threatens the kingdom and a motley crew embarks on an adventure to set things right. No Country for Old Gnomes is a rough-and-tumble romp across Pell and through various obstacles, including a ghost-hostel, a swamp, and a cabbage field. Dawson and Hearne are ready to once again delight readers with the second book from their The Tales of Pell series, picking up just months after the events of Don’t Kill the Farm Boy and introducing a whole new set of adventurers. Following the crowning of King Gustave at the end of Don’t Kill the Farm Boy, the lands of Pell have settled into an uneasy peace and the previous adventuring group have all settled down. But now the gnomelands are under attack by dastardly halflings and an unsavory criminal organization. After one particularly close-to-home halfling bomb (it took the kitchen first, the poor room), one gnome known as Offi Numminen finds himself in a difficult position. Forced away from the only home he’s ever known, this rather out-of-place gnome finds himself the leader of a ragtag band of adventurers as they journey to face their villain and stop a war before the gnomes are driven out altogether.
Speculative Fiction in Translation #13: Spanish Sherlock Holmes
https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/SFiTEpisode13SpanishSherlockHolmes/SFiT–Episode_13–Spanish_Sherlock_Holmes.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSMarch brings us Indonesian sci-fi about intergalactic love, Portuguese fantasy about a family’s terrible secrets, Italian sci-fi about what it means to be human, a story from the “Lost Files” of Sherlock Holmes, and much more. We also discuss the books we’re looking forward to later in 2019 and what we’d like to see in English in the future. Remember: with new stories and books coming to their attention each week, make sure to check the SFT website for updates. Enjoy, and keep reading! A bientôt!
