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Book Review: Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris

Cover of Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris

In Green Fuse Burning, Morris takes Dylan Thomas’ theme of the intertwined nature of life and death in an endless cycle of time and applies it through a spectrum of ecosystems from the grandiose to the individual to explore the psychology of grief and guilt both personal and collective.

Book Reviews: Ill Met and Well Met

Cover, Saber & Shadow, by S.M. Stirling and Shirley Meier

I have to give Leiber a pass on the fridging in Ill Met in Lankhmar. But I don’t have to enjoy it. 

One of the many reasons I still love Saber & Shadow is that its women don’t get fridged, because they are the protagonists. Their lovers don’t get fridged, either, because these women are into each other. It’s a joyful romp, albeit with a lot of tense moments, and a few traumatic memories for one character.

Book Review: Silver Nitrate, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Cover of Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Red background, with a woman's wide eyes looking straight ahead.

Moreno does a great job with the execution of this concept, with the slow build, the worldbuilding and atmosphere, the revelations, and most of all for me, the imperfect yet compelling characters. I loved it!

Movie Review: The Congress

Movie poster for The Congress. Shows Robin Wright being scanned for her digital avatar.

The news of the Writer Author’s Guild going on strike, followed by the SAG-AFSTRA Strike, and the desire for studios to use so-called A.I. not only in scripts and writing, but, more crucially, to scan the images of background actors without their knowledge and consent, convinced me that I needed to rewatch this 2013 movie that has proven rather prescient.

Book Review: Where Peace Is Lost, by Valerie Valdes

Cover of Where Peace Is Lost by Valerie Valdes. A resolute-looking woman with short hair, wings, a shield, and a transparent helmet is depicted with stars in the background.

I really enjoyed Valerie Valdes’ Chilling Effect trilogy, so I’ve been eager to check out her new novel,
Where Peace Is Lost, which debuts on Aug. 29. It was every bit as good as I had anticipated, but for
somewhat different reasons:
Although the Chilling Effect books are basically tasty popcorn in the form of
space opera, Where Peace Is Lost feels a little more chewy and substantial.

BOOK REVIEW: THE UNBALANCING BY R.B. LEMBERG

I felt drawn to the mythology of Lemberg’s Birdverse and was intrigued by the structure of the island society, but most of all, I enjoyed the well-developed characters, their contrasts, and where their interactions led — to a relationship, to magical discoveries, and to a struggle for survival amid upheavals.