Hot Off Our Review Press!

From Our May Newsletter

Speculative Fiction

John Scalzi is a cannibal. Not that he eats the flesh of other humans (so far as I know); but he “use[s] or draw[s] on material of (as another writer or an earlier work)” (Merriam-Webster, cannibalize). As he did with Fuzzy Nation, Red Shirts, and Zoe's Tale, Scalzi has drawn on existing work or ideas to create something wholly new and absorbing. Published online as a three-month digital serial from January to April, 2013, The Human Division is now available as a hardcover. It follows the exploits of Lieutenant Harry Wilson of the Colonial Union (CU) as he deals with other sentient beings in an often-violent, competitive universe (the same universe of Old Man’s War). What this series of thirteen loosely linked episodes (and two extras) brings to mind is the brilliant and funny Retief tales of Keith Laumer. Scalzi even incorporates the satirical humor that characterized most of Retief’s exploits (see especially, Episode 7: The Dog King). These stories are all told against a background that sees the CU in conflict with Earth, as well as with a confederation of alien civilizations that is trying to pull Earth into its alliance against the CU. Assigned as a representative of the Colonial Defense Forces under the authority of various ambassadors and other politicians, Lieutenant Wilson often has to outthink (and sometimes outfight) not only his alien foes but also his own, sometimes thick-headed, fellow humans. These are immensely enjoyable stories—serious yet often laugh-out-loud funny. Highly recommended.

Speculative Fiction 

This debut novel begins with an epigram from Russian poet Osip Mandelstam that beautifully encapsulates the trials Investigator VissarionLom faces in his alternate Russia. The reader experiences the strange new world, in which reality slips and shifts, through the points of view of the investigator; a terrorist bent on sowing chaos; and an inhuman otherworld presence, among others. One shorthand way to describe this might be Mievielle meets Martin Cruz Smith meets K.W. Jeter – it’s more than all those, but evocative of the extraordinarily weird setting, the frustrating police procedural, and the noir and steampunk elements.

A noteworthy first endeavor.

– Maryelizabeth

Curated Fiction 

This emotional rollercoaster of a novel describes one women’s journey from a complete loss of memory to self-discovery, only made possible by the events that triggered her amnesia. Lucie Walker is almost 40, two months away from marrying her long-term fiancé, and an uber-focused entrepreneur with a less-than-likeable personality, who must begin life again because she remembers absolutely nothing about herself or her past. When she moves back to her home with fiancé Grady, she finds that her new self is nothing like the person she once was. Love Water Memory is the story of how she reconciles her past to her present, in complete awareness of the risks to her sanity.

I have long admired Jennie as a writer and a person and her latest novel warmed my heart for both.

– Terry

Curated Fiction 

Mary Coin is not only the story of the imagined life of the subject of the iconic depression-era photograph, Migrant Mother, but also the story of its photographer. Both women were mothers who suffered through much of the 1920s and 1930s, personally and economically, and their stories are not as different as you would imagine. The third character with a narrative is Walker Dodge, a present day professor of cultural history whose life has an unexpected intersection with the other two. This is a book to treasure, a historical novel to learn from, and a great Mother’s Day present!

– Terry

From Our April Newsletter

Curated Fiction

Like Ozeki’s 1998 blockbuster, My Year of Meats, A Tale for the Time Being has two narrators, one who is living in North America and one in Japan. In alternating chapters that flow together perfectly, this book is rich in character and in culture from both points of view. In Japan, 16-year-old Nao was recently relocated to Japan after living in Silicon Valley for all of her young life. When her father loses his job, they move back to Japan and her circumstances change in dramatic and devastating ways. We learn about her life there through a journal that has been discovered by Ruth, an author living on a remote island in Canada. She struggles with writer’s block and the relationships in her life … and bears a more than passing resemblance to our author!

This is a novel jam-packed with thought-provoking ideas about time, history, religion, culture and (so much) more...You won’t want to miss a word. 

– Terry

Speculative Fiction

In Matt Ruff's alternate history, the United States of America never became a superpower; instead, the United States of Arabia has filled this role, and has its own cast of political players who mirror our own. After the 11-9 attacks by Christian “Crusaders” destroy the Twin Towers in Baghdad, the state is pulled into a drawn-out occupation of the insurgent American territories, with all the troubles that entails. But the Christians all seem to share the same fantasy: that it was America that was the superpower, that America was attacked by jihadists on 9-11, and that this world is a punishment from God that they must set right. What's more, some of them have artifacts to prove it. A fascinating tale of “what ifs” with compelling characters and plot.

– Jaclyn 

Speculative Fiction

For the person who loves monkeys that curse, swear, and blow $*it up: Ack-Ack Macaque is half futuristic utopian murder mystery and half action-packed monkey  business. Super fun.  This book is bananas. 

– Steve

Speculative Fiction

If you like historical fiction you will love A Natural History of Dragons. Lady Isabella Trent is a woman ahead of her time. Whatever that time may be; no time period or location is ever mentioned. However, in my mind I was reading about the late 18th century in the British Isles. Scotland perhaps? Lady Trent accompanies her husband on an excursion to find, capture and kill a dragon for purposes of study. Her job is to act as secretary to the men, recording through writing and drawings everything they learn about the evasive beasts. I very much enjoy the voice of Isabella. She’s witty without being overly proud of her wit, and she’s smart without looking down at those less fortunate in either educational or financial status. If you’ve ever doubted the existence of dragons, this book will have you rethinking the question.

– Nicole

Mystery

I am not normally considered a “dog person” and it was with complete surprise that I found myself head over heels enchanted with Maggie, an 85-pound German Shepherd who has been trained as a patrol and explosives-detection dog by the US Marines. Maggie is now suffering from PTSD and finds herself partnered with Scott James an ex-LAPD cop who is also suffering from PSTD as a result of a violent episode nine months prior to the main events of this story, when Scott’s partner was killed and he barely survived. Crais does a masterful job creating the character of Maggie and it is her story that will keep you turning the pages , even as we warm to Scott who reintroduces himself to the case that took down his partner. This standalone from Crais may just catapult him into new fans’ hearts and not just those of dog lovers.

– Terry

Mystery

Originally published in New Zealand in 2006, Paul Cleave’s books are being published in the U.S. for the first time, and publisher Simon & Schuster has a sure bet on their hands with The Cleaner. “Slow Joe” is working as a janitor in the police department of Christchurch, New Zealand. The thing is … Joe isn’t really slow at all. He is a serial killer. Working with the police allows him to keep tabs on the investigation into the gruesome deaths of seven women. The problem is, one of those murders was committed by someone else, and Joe is not happy to see it included among his own work. His plan is to find that killer and frame him for the whole shebang. This book is dark, violent, visually disturbing and funny!

And then, just when you think you’ve taken all the ugly you can handle… there’s his latest date… 

–  Nicole

Curated Fiction

Kent Krueger’s new novel belongs on the shelves of readers’ hearts and minds somewhere between Stephen King’s “The Body” and Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine.  At the turn of the 21st Century, Frank Drum reminisces about the summer of his 13th year, growing up the son of a Methodist minister in a small Minnesota River Valley community. A series of events, including accidental deaths, murder, and the revelations of deeply-held secrets, test the characters’ faith and family bonds. Kent creates prose that resonates with readers who will care passionately about this story, even if they have no personal connection to the mid-Century middle America of the setting.

– Maryelizabeth