Category: Miscellany Page 2 of 17

But as of today, this is my plan. After compiling this, I’m fighting with myself about what to read next…too many good options. I probably can’t (well, shouldn’t try for my own santiy, anyway) start all of them tomorrow. But I sort of want to.

Trade of Blood

by Robert Jackson Bennett

The heir to one of the Empire’s most powerful families sits in jail, accused of murder. His hands are covered in the victim’s blood, and he can neither deny his guilt nor explain his actions.

But if the great detective Ana Dolabra cannot save him from the noose, the farming canton of Sapirdad will explode into war, threatening to plunge the whole Empire into starvation and chaos.

As Ana investigates—her assistant Dinios Kol, as ever, acting as her eyes and ears—she fears her task is even more daunting than it seemed. For this murder is just the latest in a deeper, subtler web of death, woven by a mastermind with an ancient weapon at his disposal.

With their customary skill, Ana and Din pursue their adversary through the canton’s wild ranges, sprawling ranches, and reeking slaughterhouses. Yet even they are not prepared to learn the horrifying secret behind their opponent’s powers.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting this third book about Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol since March or April of last year — approximately 1 day after finishing the previous book. This is almost certain to make a Top 10 list for the year for me.

Eyes of Empire

by JCM Berne

A baby dreadnought is terrorizing two star systems.

A new wormhole has been opened, a new planetary system revealed, populated by a strange and impossible race.

A mad god is on the loose.

The il’Drach have destroyed an entire planet, and are on their way to Wistful.

Rohan just wants a peaceful day of work and a decent cup of coffee.

But if he doesn’t handle the dangers facing his friends, his system, and his sector of the galaxy, who will?

And if he DOES . . . what price will he pay?

Another book that I’ll likely be talking about for months to come is the fifth book in Berne’s Hybrid Helix series. I really don’t understand why I’m behind on this series–time for me to remedy that.

Detained: A boy’s journal of survival and resilience

by D. Esperanza and Gerardo Iván Morales

David Esperanza was just thirteen years old when he lost his caregivers, his beloved grandmother and uncle. Since both of his parents were working and living in the United States, David was left on his own in a small town in Honduras. He quickly realized he simply could not make enough money to survive so he made the difficult decision to head north with his cousins and hopefully reunite with his parents in el norte.

Together, the boys struggled to survive a long and treacherous journey through Central America and Mexico. Along the way, David and his cousins formed a deep bond, only for the four to be brutally separated at the border of the United States. When he is captured and processed at a facility, neither David nor his family are given an update on when he will be released or where he’ll go next. Over the next five months, he kept a journal of his experience. The pages tell a story of pain, cruelty, friendship, and resilience, a living testament to the reality of the border. Amidst the senseless inhumanity and violence of US immigration policy, David found hope in the friendship he and his fellow companions forged, and mentorship from one intrepid advocate who fought on his behalf named Gerardo Iván Morales.

Timely, powerful, and unforgettable, Detained brings the border crisis to vivid life. 

A local bookstore used this to raise some funds for a charity earlier this year, now that I have it, I might as well give it a read, right?

Killer Vibes

by Jack Friday

Meet Peter Key: self-proclaimed “laziest private investigator in Texas” (it’s harder than it looks), unapologetic bisexual, dedicated stoner, and the surprised recipient of a windfall inheritance from an uncle he barely knew. Peter’s life was a mess before, but now— as the owner of a dilapidated house in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Austin—he has a mountain of debt to deal with and pressure to sell from every side.

But Peter doesn’t like to be pushed around. And when he discovers a bag full of cash, he starts to suspect his uncle’s death wasn’t an accident. He soon finds himself pulled into a lethal game where not everybody plays by the rules.

Fortunately, Peter’s never been good at following rules.

When I saw this on NetGalley, it just looked like plenty of fun, so I requested it. It still does. Hope I’m right.

A Murder Most Fungal

by Adrian M. Gibson

The knives are out in this fast-paced, standalone Fungalverse novel. Set several months after the events of the award-winning Mushroom Blues, this side story combines the culinary wonder of Jiro Dreams of Sushi, the kitchen chaos of The Bear, and the explosive tension of Hong Kong crime thrillers.

In the aftermath of the "Fuyu Massacre," riots and whispers of revolution continue to plague the Hōpponese capital of Neo Kinoko. As a result, the iron grip of a foreign military occupation tightens day by day. Amidst this, Pocho Jiro, a once-renowned makizushi chef, has chosen to cook for Duncan MacArthur-the Coprinian Military Governor in Hōppon-as his personal chef... and indentured servant.

A run-in with dangerous fungal gangsters sets off a chain of events that Pocho cannot escape from. He's left with two choices: Assassinate MacArthur, or watch his beloved sister die in front of his eyes. Will Pocho take up his knife and prepare MacArthur's final meal?

I took too long to read Mushroom Blues, I’m not repeating that mistake with Gibson’s second book.

Murder by Design

by Lee Goldberg

Edison Bixby is wealthy, handsome, and, due to a traumatic brain injury, impulsively rude. He's also a brilliant insurance investigator who solves baffling crimes by figuring out how the design of the man-made world around us makes them possible. Enter Wally Nash: a struggling actor hired to keep Bixby from offending everyone he meets.

Their first case together looks like a simple accident. Caroline Crowley took a nasty fall down a staircase at a shopping mall in front of dozens of witnesses. Video clearly shows the deadly misstep. But Bixby is certain she was murdered by design, subtly manipulated into causing her own demise. The mall itself made the crime intentional, if not inevitable.

Now Bixby must prove his outrageous theory before a very cunning killer gets others on his hit list to murder themselves, too.

A new series from Goldberg featuring his twist on the Sherlock/Watson-type duo sounds like a very pleasant way to spend a day or two.

First Mage on the Moon

by Cameron Johnston

Ella Pickering is drowning in debt. Once a Unity skymage trained to make aerial supply runs in the great war with the Ranneas Empire, following a crash she now uses a wheelchair and works gruelling shifts making magical weapons in the Unity workshops, thinking of better days.

One night Ella witnesses an experiment by engineer Jackan Grissom go awry. His device morphs into a crude rocket blasting skywards before falling into the war’s spell-ravaged No Man’s Land. But this inspires a dangerous dream: could such a device reach the moon – the forbidden home of the gods? Could they go and beg them to stop the war?

They will need help, but as more folk get involved in their blasphemous plot, can they keep it under wraps? Can magic get them to the moon? Or will their heresy lead them to the gallows?

After The Last Shield, I knew I wanted to read more by Johnston, but before I had a chance to pick up a back catalogue item, here comes this mix of magic and a rocket to the moon? Come on…how could I resist?

The Left Hand of Darkness

by Ursula K. Le Guin

A lone human ambassador is sent to the icebound planet of Winter, a world without sexual prejudice, where the inhabitants’ gender is fluid. His goal is to facilitate Winter’s inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the strange, intriguing culture he encounters...

Embracing the aspects of psychology, society, and human emotion on an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of intellectual science fiction.

I know utterly nothing about this–I really didn’t even skim what I quoted above. It’s a book club pick later this month, I’ve only heard good things about Le Guin in general, and–just this week–allysonyj urged me to read it. I’m expecting good things.

True Romance: A Noir Antholog

edited by Troy Lambert & Vincent Zandri

In True Romance: A Noir Anthology, passion isn't red roses and candlelight. Instead, it's obsession, betrayal, revenge, and the kind of desire that leaves bodies in its wake.

Collected and Edited by Troy Lambert and Vincent Zandri, this dark and razor-sharp collection gathers some of the most compelling voices in crime fiction, including Reed Farrel Coleman, Charles Salzberg, Paul D. Brazill, Frank Zafiro, Scott Kikkawa, Danica Favorite, Lawrence Kelter, Rebelry Stone, Samantha Ripley, J.E. Fishman, and more.

Inside these pages, you'll find:

    

    
A philosophy professor who turns deadly revenge into an intellectual exercise.
    
A society wife framed for her husband's murder in a web of mob politics and betrayal.
    
Lovers whose secrets rot beneath polished exteriors.
    

    
Killers who mistake lust for loyalty-and pay the price.


From quiet suburban rot to organized crime empires, from calculated seduction to explosive violence, these stories explore the dangerous intersection where love and darkness meet. Because in noir, love isn't salvation. It's motive. Perfect for fans of neo-noir, hardboiled crime, morally complex characters, and dark romantic suspense, True Romance proves that sometimes the most lethal weapon is the human heart. 

Lambert has yet to disappoint with what I’ve read by him, I imagine he and his partner put together a great line-up for this book. Brazill and Coleman are evidence of that. This’ll be good–and likely disturbing, too.

School’s First Day of School

by Adam Rex, illustrated by Christian Robinson

It's the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone's just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself. What will the children do once they come? Will they like the school? Will they be nice to him?

The school has a rough start, but as the day goes on, he soon recovers when he sees that he's not the only one going through first-day jitters.

This delightful back-to-school picture book told from the POV of the school is a great read-aloud, and perfect for readers of all ages.

That last sentence sums up my expectations a “back-to-school picture book told from the POV of the school” almost has to be delightful.

The Patient

by Tim Sullivan, read by Finlay Robertson

Introducing your new crime thriller fix: Bristol detective DS George Cross, champion of the outsider, the voiceless and the dispossessed.

DS George Cross can be rude, difficult, and awkward with people. But his unfailing logic and dogged pursuit of the truth means his conviction rate is the best on the force. An outsider himself, having been diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorder, DS Cross is especially drawn to cases concerning the voiceless and the dispossessed.

Now, Cross is untangling the truth about a young woman who died three days ago. With no fingerprints, no weapon and no witnesses, the Bristol Crime Unit are ready to close the case. The coroner rules suicide: the woman had a long history of drug abuse. But her mother is convinced it was murder: her daughter has been clean and sober for over two years.

DS Cross is determined to defy his bosses and re-open the case, even if it costs him his career. Soon he is mired in a labyrinth of potential suspects – but can he solve the case before his superiors shut it down for good?

Let’s see if the third DS Cross book lives up to the first’s promise. Or, if it sticks with the solid level of book two. Either way, I’m going to enjoy myself.

Asteroid Savage

by Thomas Trang

On the Red Planet, oxygen is free. The truth will cost you everything.

Rosa Lakhani is a legendary Martian investigator, known as the "Ripper" for her uncompromising tactics and high-end clearance rate.

She's investigating a wave of terrorist attacks on Mars when her partner is nearly killed by a bomb meant for her.

With the help of an AI system built by her comatose partner, Rosa ignores her bosses and keeps chasing the money that’s funding the attacks, leading her all the way up the political food chain.

It also leads her to Parrish, an underworld fixer from the asteroid belt, or "savage," posing as a corporate lawyer on Mars to extract a dying informant who knows the dark truth about the Mars Terraforming Initiative.

These two natural enemies must forge an uneasy alliance as they uncover evidence of corruption that will shake the entire solar system — something the most powerful interests on Mars will do anything to keep hidden.

Rosa vows to bring them down, but Parrish might just be convinced to help them bury it . . . for the right price.

A gritty detective vs. organized crime novel–on Mars? How am I not going to have a blast with this.

The Lies of the Ajungo

by Moses Ose Utomi

They say there is no water in the City of Lies. They say there are no heroes in the City of Lies. They say there are no friends beyond the City of Lies. But would you believe what they say in the City of Lies?

In the City of Lies, they cut out your tongue when you turn thirteen, to appease the terrifying Ajungo Empire and make sure it continues sending water. Tutu will be thirteen in three days, but his parched mother won’t last that long. So Tutu goes to his oba and makes a deal: she provides water for his mother, and in exchange he will travel out into the desert and bring back water for the city. Thus begins Tutu’s quest for the salvation of his mother, his city, and himself.

The Lies of the Ajungo opens the curtains on a tremendous world, and begins the epic fable of the Forever Desert. With every word, Moses Ose Utomi weaves magic.

I have no idea what to expect from this slim volume–a whopping 84 pages! But if our Book Club, which usually tackles books in the 350-600 page range, expects to spend an hour or so talking about this, I imagine there’s going to be something special here.

Crownfall

by Michael Vadney

Nearly a decade under the empire's grip has left Burunt a troubled land.

Kyndel Heim knows the truth behind the Viceroy's rise to power. After years of torture, his only goal is vengeance, but to master his powers he needs a mentor, one that won't kill him first.

Major Jelert Egarro came to Burunt to build something better. Instead, his talents have become weapons in the wrong hands-and those hands are everywhere. He must choose between his ideals or survival.

Lady Amara Khar must renew her family's legacy. Sharp and ruthless, she's kept her house alive through smuggling and shadow deals, but reclaiming power means making allies as dangerous as her enemies.

In the struggle for power, justice, and survival, each of them must decide who they're willing to become.

This was on last month’s TBR, but thanks to shipping miscalculation on my part, it didn’t arrive in time for me to start it in June. So…here we go again.

They All Saw a Cat

by Brendan Wenzel

The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws . . . In this glorious celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination, author and illustrator Brendan Wenzel shows us the many lives of one cat, and how perspective shapes what we see. When you see a cat, what do you see? 

Oh, I like the looks of this one.

(Image by DaModernDaVinci from Pixabay)

Yes, there’s a lot of overlap between this and my 20 Books of Summer post (as one would expect), but there’s some divergence, too. There’s no overlap between this and my Books I Can’t Believe I’ve Never Read Yet post (as one would hope).

The Devils

by Joe Abercrombie

Holy work sometimes requires unholy deeds.

Brother Diaz has been summoned to the Holy City, where he is certain a commendation and grand holy assignment awaits him. But his new flock is made up of unrepentant murderers, practitioners of ghastly magic, and outright monsters. The mission he is tasked with will require bloody measures from them all in order to achieve its righteous ends.

Elves lurk at our borders and hunger for our flesh, while greedy princes care for nothing but their own ambitions and comfort. With a hellish journey before him, it's a good thing Brother Diaz has the devils on his side.

This book has been taunting me for months–I just haven’t been able to squeeze it in. But now, I “have” to have it read for Fantasy Book Club.

An Egg Is Quiet

by Dianna Aston, illustrated by Sylvia Long

This stunningly beautiful and wonderfully informative book from award-winning artist Sylvia Long and author Dianna Hutts Aston makes for a fascinating introduction to the vast and amazing world of eggs. Featuring poetic text and an elegant design, this acclaimed book teaches children countless interesting facts about eggs. Full of wit and charm, An Egg Is Quiet will at once spark the imagination and cultivate a love of science.

For those of you who think this looks like an entry from last month, you’re right. Turns out that even Picture Books have wait lists at the library. I did pick this up the other day, though. So I will get it done.

Last Stop on Market Street

by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson

On Sundays, CJ and his nana ride the bus across town to their stop on Market Street. But today, CJ’s not happy about it. Today, he’s wondering out loud why they have to wait in the rain and why they don’t have a car like his other friends. But it’s Nana who opens young CJ’s eyes and shows him the real beauty in the world around them—the spirit of the bustling city, the music in everyday life, and the magic of their often overlooked neighbors.

This is a promising entry in the 25 Greatest Picture Books of the Past 25 Years list.

Dungeon Crawler Carl

by Matt Dinniman

You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what.

Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show.

Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the Dungeon. Survival is optional. Keeping the viewers entertained is not.

Has anyone heard of this thing? Looked fun, thought I’d give it a shot, despite not seeing anything about it anywhere online.

Du Iz Tak?

by Carson Ellis

Du iz tak? What is that? As a tiny shoot unfurls, two damselflies peer at it in wonder. When the plant grows taller and sprouts leaves, some young beetles arrive to gander, and soon—with the help of a pill bug named Icky—they wrangle a ladder and build a tree fort. But this is the wild world, after all, and something horrible is waiting to swoop down—booby voobeck!—only to be carried off in turn. Su! With exquisitely detailed illustrations and tragicomic flair, Carson Ellis invites readers to imagine the dramatic possibilities to be found in even the humblest backyard. Su!

The librarian (who seemed to be at the end of a long day and tired–almost checked out), paused when he saw this in my stack, “Oh, this one is so fun,” brightening up a bit. With an endorsement like that, I’m eager to read this one (and this is sincere, even though it sounds sarcastic to me).

What’s Next: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service

by Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack

A behind-the-scenes look into the creation and legacy of The West Wing as told by cast members Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack, with compelling insights from cast and crew exploring what made the show what it was and how its impassioned commitment to service has made the series and relationships behind it endure.
 
Step back inside the world of President Jed Bartlet’s Oval Office with Fitzgerald and McCormack as they reunite the West Wing cast and crew in a lively and colorful “backstage pass” to the timeless series. This intimate, in-depth reflection reveals how The West Wing was conceived, and spotlights the army of people it took to produce it, the lifelong friendships it forged, and the service it inspired. 
 
From cast member origin stories to the collective cathartic farewell on the show’s final night of filming, What’s Next will delight readers with on-set and off-camera anecdotes that even West Wing superfans have never heard. Meanwhile, a deeper analysis of the show’s legacy through American culture, service, government, and civic life underscores how the series envisaged an American politics of decency and honor, creating an aspirational White House beyond the bounds of fictional television. 
 
What’s Next revisits beloved episodes with fresh, untold commentary; compiles poignant and hilarious stories from the show’s production; highlights initiatives supported by the cast, crew, and creators; and makes a powerful case for competent, empathetic leadership, hope, and optimism for whatever lies ahead.

I’ve been wanting to read this since the publication was announced–and my pre-ordered autographed copy has been sitting 3 feet from my desk for a year-and-a-half. Enough of that nonsense.

Manitou

by Glen Gabel

In the remote forests of north Idaho, forest ranger Roy Farmer knows hardship intimately. Battling alcoholism and haunted by a tragic past he can't outrun, he stands atop a fire tower in the Bitterroot Wilderness, ready to end his life-until a violent summer storm sends a cartel plane crashing into the mountains around him.

Drawn reluctantly into the investigation, Roy discovers a cache of narcotics and a severed limb belonging to a missing pilot. The deeper he digs, the more he uncovers: a web of corruption in the nearby town of Lazarus, a brewing cartel war between a ruthless assassin and a violent biker gang, and a string of grisly murders that defy any human explanation.

As the bodies mount and the community fractures, Roy is forced to uphold a promise he made-and confront a malevolent entity that shows no remorse, no hesitation, and no fear.

Gabel sold me on this book while it was still being written. Now it’s out and I get to see how justified that sale was.

Some Sort of Justice

by Peter Grainger, read by Gildart Jackson

When Caroline Thorpe succeeded in casting doubt on the verdict of the inquest into her brother’s death, she could not have anticipated what would follow.

Freddie was Earl Thorpe of Burnham, and as the Kings Lake detectives, headed by DCI Cara Freeman, soon begin to realise, influential people have gone to considerable lengths to cover up a potential scandal surrounding the young man’s death.

Their investigation will take them from Norfolk into the capital, and from idealistic young campaigners to people at the heart of government. The stakes have never been higher for the detectives from Kings Lake Central.

I love the way that this book was set up in Grainger’s The Late Lord Thorpe in the companion series. Now that DC Smith has demonstrated a crime was committed, it’s time for his old pals at Kings Lake to take it over. Also, more time with Grainger and Jackson–going to be a highlight of the month for sure.

Eternal Blades

by Vlad V. Imakaev

One snowy night in Idaho, Maks Kolba’s life ends on a lonely road. But death is only the beginning.

When a cosmic battle between a dragon and a winged warrior collides with Maks’s world, he becomes bound to Eight—a living blade having its own will, memories, and agenda.

But Eternal Blades never rest, and neither will the darkness hunting him.

From school hallways to midnight duels, monsters and secrets stalk him at every turn. His friends demand answers. Watchers whisper about destinies and initiation trials. Every fight drags Maks deeper into a game played by beings who never die—while he simply wants to be himself.

Perfect for fans of coming-of-age fantasy, Eternal Blades blends heart and high-stakes adventure into an unforgettable saga where the fate of many worlds rests in the hands of one boy.

Imakaev and I had a brief convo at the Nampa Library’s Book Faire and it seemed like a sure-fire win.

The Brothers McKay

by Craig Johnson

When Pepper McKay, one of the most hated men in Absaroka County, is found murdered on his ranch in Crazy Woman Canyon, suspects aren’t in short supply. But Sheriff Walt Longmire’s attention is on those who had gathered for a family meeting that evening, McKay’s very different sons: a smooth-talking charmer, a cosmopolitan journalist, a reclusive monk, and a half-Native ranch hand who keeps the place running. Each had a motive. Each claims he’s innocent.

As Walt investigates what happened that night at the O-Kay Lodge, he’s pulled into a tangle of old grudges and long-buried secrets. Then the case takes a sharp turn: a second body surfaces, and a wildfire tears through the canyon, trapping Walt and forcing him into a fight for his life as both the killer and the elements close in.

As I assumed last month, thanks to the release date (May 26), I didn’t get to this last month. But the time is ripe now.

Squeaky Clean

by Callum McSorley

From a hard-hitting and brutally funny new voice in crime writing comes the first in a new series starring DI Alison McCoist - the least popular detective in the Glasgow police.

Half the Glasgow copshop think DI Alison McCoist is bent. The other half just think she's a fuck-up.

No one thinks very much at all about carwash employee Davey Burnet, until one day he takes the wrong customer's motor for a ride.

One kidnapping later, he and the carwash are officially part of Glasgow's criminal underworld, working for a psychopath who enjoys playing games like 'Keep Yer Kneecaps' with any poor bastard who crosses him.

Can Davey escape from the gang's clutches with his kneecaps and life intact? Perhaps this polis Ally McCoist who keeps nosing around the carwash could help. That's if she doesn't get herself killed first.

Don’t miss this propulsively readable story of two likeable but flawed characters sucked into a grim criminal underworld –think wayward Scottish police meets Breaking Bad.

Word about this one slipped by me, but I saw someone talking about the third book in the series just before it was released, and it sounded so good, I almost grabbed it. But then my compulsion to read a series in order kicked in. So here we are…

Dead Men Don’t Play Fetch

by David Rosenfelt

It’s defense lawyer Andy Carpenter’s dream to retire. That goal is once again thwarted when he gets a call from Lou Campanelli, an old friend who he simply cannot refuse, asking for a favor. Lou runs a rehab center, and when one of his patients, a homeless veteran, is charged with first degree murder, he needs Andy's help. And of course, Andy will also be called on to care for the accused’s dog, but that’s okay: What's one more dog?

The man that Jason Maddox is accused of stabbing to death is none other than billionaire Paul Vincent, an eccentric businessman and inventor. Bickert dedicated a great portion of his life to philanthropy, with a soft spot for dog-related causes. This led him to befriend Jason, a physicist and war hero, whose life fell apart to the point where he ended up on the streets with his dog, just trying to survive.

But why would Jason possibly have wanted to kill him? Well, for one thing, he was to receive a fortune in Vincent's will. That, coupled with the fact that Jason was at the scene, his fingerprints were on the knife, and Vincent's wallet was in his jacket, made it a slam dunk arrest.

Once again, Andy is enmeshed in a puzzling, twisty case. But in order to reunite a man and his dog, Andy will have to untangle it all.

Of course I’m going to read the next Andy Carpenter book.

Crownfall

by Michael Vadney

Nearly a decade under the empire's grip has left Burunt a troubled land.

Kyndel Heim knows the truth behind the Viceroy's rise to power. After years of torture, his only goal is vengeance, but to master his powers he needs a mentor, one that won't kill him first.

Major Jelert Egarro came to Burunt to build something better. Instead, his talents have become weapons in the wrong hands-and those hands are everywhere. He must choose between his ideals or survival.

Lady Amara Khar must renew her family's legacy. Sharp and ruthless, she's kept her house alive through smuggling and shadow deals, but reclaiming power means making allies as dangerous as her enemies.

In the struggle for power, justice, and survival, each of them must decide who they're willing to become.

I featured a post by Vadney about Noblec0re in a Saturday Miscellany last month, and wanted to see him but it into action.

We Be Dragons

by Michael Weitz

It's 1986 and John Brewer spends his days working and saving for college. His weekends, though, are filled with terrifying monsters, deadly battles, and dark mysteries as he leads his friends through an epic Dungeons & Dragons adventure.

But life outside the game is far more complicated. A horrific farming accident puts people on edge; Henley is a demanding boss hell-bent on making John's life miserable; rancid small-town rumors create suspicion, and a local evangelist believes D&D is "the devil's work."

With both of his worlds-real and imaginary-under attack, will John find the courage to fight back? Is he willing to put his very life on the line?

We Be Dragons is a story about friendship, standing tall, and a D&D adventure that takes readers to a world where fighting for what's right is what life is all about.

A mix of D&D and life in Satanic-Panic 80s? Weitz has whet my appetite.

All Systems Red

by Martha Wells

“As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure.”

In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety.

But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.

On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid—a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is.

But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.

This is the choice for the next SF Book Club, and I could use a refresher.

Artificial Condition

by Martha Wells

It has a dark past—one in which a number of humans were killed. A past that caused it to christen itself “Murderbot”. But it has only vague memories of the massacre that spawned that title, and it wants to know more.

Teaming up with a Research Transport vessel named ART (you don’t want to know what the “A” stands for), Murderbot heads to the mining facility where it went rogue.

What it discovers will forever change the way it thinks…

There’s a good chance that we’ll add this to the discussion for Book Club, too. Needed a prompting to get this off my To-Read shelf. It doesn’t open up much room, but there’s a little.

(Image by DaModernDaVinci from Pixabay)

I missed the target last month–again. This time due to library due dates and poor time management. Mostly the latter. So, naturally, I take on a list that’s likely physically impossible. It makes sense…really. Okay, it doesn’t. But I’m feeling aspirational.

Book of Spores

edited by Frasier Armitage, Eleni Argyró, Adrian M. Gibson & Ed Crocker

ACROSS DIMENSIONS, IT CREEPS AND CONSUMES.

Hidden in the vaults of a world-spanning library lie the records of a mysterious book, one made of mold and magic. Varied accounts of its existence remain scattered throughout the multiverse, but when an archivist attempts to bring its pages together, she will learn how dangerous a book—and her own ambitions—can be . . .

A mind-altering fantasy, science fiction, and horror anthology, The Book of Spores collects seventeen strange stories by authors from the FanFiAddict book blog and SFF Addicts Podcast, including M. J. Kuhn, Greta Kelly, Adrian M. Gibson, Krystle Matar, C.M. Caplan, Emma L. Adams, Ryan Kirk, Kaden Love, Adam Bassett, Tom Bookbeard, A.J. Calvin, Harry Chilcott, C.J. Daley, Tori Gross, D.B. Rook, Eleni Argyró, Frasier Armitage, and Will Swardstrom. Prepare for your imagination to be colonized by The Book of Spores.


Also features an introduction by the father of fungalpunk, Adrian M. Gibson.

I’ve got about 100 pages left to go, and this book is just…stunning. I’m not sure what to say beyond this. Is every story a winner? No. But all of them have something to make a reader excited.

An Egg Is Quiet

by Dianna Aston, illustrated by Sylvia Long

This stunningly beautiful and wonderfully informative book from award-winning artist Sylvia Long and author Dianna Hutts Aston makes for a fascinating introduction to the vast and amazing world of eggs. Featuring poetic text and an elegant design, this acclaimed book teaches children countless interesting facts about eggs. Full of wit and charm, An Egg Is Quiet will at once spark the imagination and cultivate a love of science.

Huh. This sounds interesting.

Out Law

by Jim Butcher

In a city that's just beginning to recover from the devastation caused by the Battle of Chicago, Harry Dresden is finally pulling himself together as well. He's ensconced in his own personal castle, healing his various wounds, and training an eager new apprentice. The last thing he wants is any trouble. But, as history has consistently--and quite annoyingly--shown, what Harry wants is rarely what Harry gets.

It starts with a visit from Harry's most powerful frenemy, Gentleman John Marcone, Baron of Chicago. He needs Harry to assist in the redemption of an underling who's looking to go straight. And since Harry does kinda sorta owe Marcone for saving his life once (stupid honorable debt!), it's not a request he can refuse. He'll just wish he had.

Because this little favor is going to drag Harry into a fight he doesn't want on behalf of a lowlife he doesn't trust against an enemy more powerful and pestilent than he ever could've expected: an insatiable, demonic foe whom Harry himself may have created when he wiped out the vampires of the Red Court so long ago.

Before, all it wanted was blood. Now it wants the entire world . . .

There’s no way this matches Twelve Months, but who cares? It’s Dresden–bring it on.

The Photonic Effect

by Mike Chen

The starship Horizon’s crew spent ten years trapped across the expanse of space. Now they’re finally home—only it’s not the home they knew. The Cluster, once a peaceful coalition of planets, has fractured in the wake of civil war.

Captain Demora Kim wants nothing more than to protect her surviving crew. It’s what she owes them after years of instability and terror. But in times of war, no one is allowed neutrality.

After an attack on a mining station leaves thousands dead, Demi’s efforts become almost impossible. Every ship is needed on the frontline. Thrust deeper into a conflict she barely understands, Demi considers a bold choice—one that might keep her promises but tip the galaxy further into chaos.

This looks to be the most SF of Chen’s novels to date. I can’t wait to see what he’s got in store for us.

Nice Places

by Vincent Chu

When Georgie quits his job at Oats Technologies to travel the world for one year, he hopes to escape the daily existential discomfort of corporate life. But after a meditation guru robs him on his way to the airport, he awakens in a guest house in the rundown yet vibrant Panhandle neighborhood of his own city.

Alone with his phone and a desperate urge to assure his friends and family all is well, Georgie shares a photo of "authentic" boat noodles. To his surprise, everyone loves the post and believes he is overseas. Ant, a mixed media artist from Berlin, proposes a collaboration. With her vision and the help of a charming cast of guests and locals, Georgie's unlikely adventures unravel in ways he never imagined.

Chu wrote one of my favorite short story collections a few years ago, and I trust this novel is going to blow me away.

Kings of the Wyld

by Nicholas Eames

Clay Cooper and his band were once the best of the best, the most feared and renowned crew of mercenaries this side of the Heartwyld.

Their glory days long past, the mercs have grown apart and grown old, fat, drunk, or a combination of the three. Then an ex-bandmate turns up at Clay's door with a plea for help -- the kind of mission that only the very brave or the very stupid would sign up for.

It's time to get the band back together.

This month, our Fantasy Book Club pick is one of my all-time favorites. Yes! I have an excuse to re-read it!!

Robert B. Parker’s Booked

by Alison Gaylin

World famous author Melanie Joan Hall asks for Sunny's help in tracking down Book Babe, the screen-name of an enormously popular book reviewer, who has trolled her with a deeply insulting one-star review. This usually wouldn’t matter except that Book Babe has thousands of followers, and her unwarranted blast has Melanie's publisher threatening to pull all her books.

But Sunny's investigation reveals that the reviewer and Melanie have a rich history—in fact, she may even have good reason to hate the torn-up author. And when Book Babe suddenly turns up dead, casting Melanie as a possible suspect, Sunny finds herself in a complicated web, which, if she can't untangle fast enough, might just put a target on her back.

I’m not sure I need more Melanie Joan Hall in my life. But I’m looking forward to Gaylin proving me wrong.

Three Hitmen and a Baby

by Rob Hart

Assassins Anonymous isn't just a weekly recovery meeting for reformed killers—it's also a family.  

When Valencia receives troubling news that her brother has gone missing, she wants rush off to LA to find him. But she can’t bring her baby girl, Lucia.  Enter the other members of Assassins Anonymous—Mark, Astrid, and Booker, who offer to watch the toddler while she's gone. After all, they're three of the deadliest, most highly skilled people on the planet; what could go wrong?  

Turns out, a lot. Shortly after Valencia leaves, Mark is summoned to the lair of Zmeya, a Russian mob boss calling in a deadly favor—she wants him to kill Astrid, his protege and friend. Mark refuses, but Zmeya reveals that she knows the identity of Mark’s ex-girlfriend . . . and his son. Either Astrid goes, or they do.  

Meanwhile, Lucia spikes a dangerously high fever, and when Booker and Astrid take her to urgent care, they realize too late, that their fabricated identities are a real liability. Also, they don't know Valencia’s last name, let alone Lucia's. They can hardly blame the staff for calling the NYPD.  

Suddenly the splintered group is on the run from both the Russian mob and the police, dodging bad guys and do-gooders while trying to find refuge in a city full of surveillance cameras—all without killing anyone. That is, until Zmeya captures Sara and Bennett, and Mark is ready to throw his sobriety out the window.

Hart’s series about reformed killers has been a blast so far, just going from the title, that’ll continue. Russian mobs, police, and a sick baby. A winning combination to be sure.

Starship Troopers

by Robert A. Heinlein

Johnnie Rico never really intended to join up—and definitely not the infantry. But now that he’s in the thick of it, trying to get through combat training harder than anything he could have imagined, he knows everyone in his unit is one bad move away from buying the farm in the interstellar war the Terran Federation is waging against the Arachnids.

Because everyone in the Mobile Infantry fights. And if the training doesn’t kill you, the Bugs are more than ready to finish the job...

The SF Club pick for the month. I trust this’ll be much better than the movie (which was entertaining enough)

The Best Dog in the World: Essays on Love

edited by Alice Hoffman

Anyone who has ever been fortunate enough to share their life with a dog knows the experience is both profound and transformative. Here, in this charming collection of essays, fourteen celebrated authors share unforgettable tales of the dogs who left their pawprints on their hearts.

With contributions from Isabel Allende, Chris Bohjalian, Bonnie Garmus, Roxane Gay, Emily Henry, Ann Leary, Tova Mirvis, Jodi Picoult, Elizabeth Strout, Amy Tan, Adriana Trigiani, Nick Trout, Paul Yoon, and Laura Zigman, The Best Dog in the World captures the full range of the canine-human connection, from the joy of welcoming a new puppy to the heartache of saying goodbye to a beloved friend.

A love letter to the loyal companions who enrich our lives and teach us about empathy, joy, and unconditional love, this anthology is the perfect gift for dog lovers everywhere, offering a blend of laughter, tears, and inspiration that will resonate with anyone who has been fur-ever touched by the love of a dog.

This book just looks like it’s going to break my heart–and make it grow three sizes.

First Mage on the Moon

by Cameron Johnston

Ella Pickering is drowning in debt. Once a Unity skymage trained to make aerial supply runs in the great war with the Ranneas Empire, following a crash she now uses a wheelchair and works gruelling shifts making magical weapons in the Unity workshops, thinking of better days.

One night Ella witnesses an experiment by engineer Jackan Grissom go awry. His device morphs into a crude rocket blasting skywards before falling into the war’s spell-ravaged No Man’s Land. But this inspires a dangerous dream: could such a device reach the moon – the forbidden home of the gods? Could they go and beg them to stop the war?

They will need help, but as more folk get involved in their blasphemous plot, can they keep it under wraps? Can magic get them to the moon? Or will their heresy lead them to the gallows?

What a strange idea. How did no one think of this before?

Remington Platypus

by Steve Nash

Remington Platypus is many things: badger, detective, Platypus by name, but not by nature.

When a grotesque body turns up in the city, a fusion of multiple species, Frankensteined together into something that should never have existed. He knows he can’t look the other way. Someone is making monsters.

His boss wants him to walk away. The Murder wants him gone. Their syndicate of crows controls half of the city. In the shadows, the Rev, their enigmatic raven leader, watches. Silent. Patient. And far too powerful.

Remington has never been good at playing it safe. But when nothing adds up, and no one is who they seem, who do you trust? In a city of fur, feathers, and fangs, where predators set the rules and prey vanish without a trace, Remington is about to learn that some monsters aren’t born, they’re made.

I’ve heard only good things about this–I’m eater to try it for myself.

The Book With No Pictures

by B. J. Novak

You might think a book with no pictures seems boring and serious. Except . . . here’s how books work. Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud. Even if the words say . . .
 
BLORK. Or BLUURF.
 
Even if the words are a preposterous song about eating ants for breakfast, or just a list of astonishingly goofy sounds like BLAGGITY BLAGGITY and GLIBBITY GLOBBITY.
 
Cleverly irreverent and irresistibly silly, The Book with No Pictures is one that kids will beg to hear again and again. (And parents will be happy to oblige.)

This should be fun.

Cherry Baby

by Rainbow Rowell

Everybody knows that Cherry's husband, Tom, is in Hollywood making a movie . . .

Almost nobody knows that he isn't coming home.

Tom is the creator of Thursday—a semi-autobiographical webcomic that's become an international phenomenon.

Semi-autobiographical. That means there's a character in this movie based on Cherry . . . "Baby."

Wide-hipped, heavy-chested, double-chinned Baby.

Cherry never wanted this. No fat girl wants to see herself caricatured on the page—let alone on the big screen. But there's no getting away from it. Baby looks so much like Cherry that strangers recognize her at the grocery store.

While her soon-to-be ex-husband is in Los Angeles getting rich and famous and being the internet's latest boyfriend, Cherry is stuck in Omaha taking care of the dog he always wanted and the house they were going to raise a family in . . . and wondering who she's supposed to be without him.

Cherry had promised to love Tom through thick and thin.

She'd meant it.

One night, Cherry decides to leave all her problems, including Tom's overgrown puppy, at home. She ventures out to see her favorite band play her favorite album . . . and someone recognizes her from across the room.

Russ Sutton knew Cherry when she was a young art student with a fondness for pin-up dresses and patent leather heels. Before Tom.

Russ knows Cherry. He likes Cherry.

And best of all . . . he's never heard of Thursday.

I actually read this one already. It was a bit more…explicit than I appreciate, but it’s funny, sweet, and heartfelt.

Go Gentle

by Maria Semple

Adora Hazzard has it all figured out. A Stoic philosopher and divorcée, she lives a contented life on New York City’s Upper West Side. Having discovered that the secret to happiness is to desire only what you have, she’s applied this insight to blissful effect: relishing her teenage daughter, the freedom of being solo, and her job as a moral tutor for the twin boys of an old-money family. She’s even assembled a "coven"—like-minded women who live on the same floor in the legendary Ansonia—and is making active efforts to grow its membership. Adora’s carefully curated life is humming along brilliantly until a chance meeting with a handsome stranger.

Soon, her ordered world is upended by black-market art deals, secret rendezvous, and international intrigue . . . and her past—which she has worked so hard to bury—lands like a bomb in her present. Inflamed by unquenchable desire, Adora finds herself a woman wanting more: and she’ll risk everything to get it.

Today Will Be Different showed me that Semple won’t knock it out of the park at every at-bat, but I’m still looking forward to this.

I probably won’t have time for these, but if I hit a hot streak:

Eyes of Empire

by JCM Berne

A baby dreadnought is terrorizing two star systems.

A new wormhole has been opened, a new planetary system revealed, populated by a strange and impossible race.

A mad god is on the loose.

The il’Drach have destroyed an entire planet, and are on their way to Wistful.

Rohan just wants a peaceful day of work and a decent cup of coffee.

But if he doesn’t handle the dangers facing his friends, his system, and his sector of the galaxy, who will?

And if he DOES . . . what price will he pay?

I got hung up trying to write a post about the previous book in the series, and got stalled out in my reading. I need to catch up on this series.

The Brothers McKay

by Craig Johnson

When Pepper McKay, one of the most hated men in Absaroka County, is found murdered on his ranch in Crazy Woman Canyon, suspects aren’t in short supply. But Sheriff Walt Longmire’s attention is on those who had gathered for a family meeting that evening, McKay’s very different sons: a smooth-talking charmer, a cosmopolitan journalist, a reclusive monk, and a half-Native ranch hand who keeps the place running. Each had a motive. Each claims he’s innocent.

As Walt investigates what happened that night at the O-Kay Lodge, he’s pulled into a tangle of old grudges and long-buried secrets. Then the case takes a sharp turn: a second body surfaces, and a wildfire tears through the canyon, trapping Walt and forcing him into a fight for his life as both the killer and the elements close in.

Just because of the release date (May 26), I don’t think I’ll actually get to this. But, maybe. I don’t know why Walt’s not on the search for his Aunt–but I assume Johnson has a plan.

We Be Dragons

by Michael Weitz

It's 1986 and John Brewer spends his days working and saving for college. His weekends, though, are filled with terrifying monsters, deadly battles, and dark mysteries as he leads his friends through an epic Dungeons & Dragons adventure.

But life outside the game is far more complicated. A horrific farming accident puts people on edge; Henley is a demanding boss hell-bent on making John's life miserable; rancid small-town rumors create suspicion, and a local evangelist believes D&D is "the devil's work."

With both of his worlds-real and imaginary-under attack, will John find the courage to fight back? Is he willing to put his very life on the line?

We Be Dragons is a story about friendship, standing tall, and a D&D adventure that takes readers to a world where fighting for what's right is what life is all about.

I predict good things from this book, I just need to find a way to squeeze it in. It probably won’t be soon–but I could surprise myself.

(Image by DaModernDaVinci from Pixabay)