February 2024
Hi Everyone,
I’ve decided that February is going to be a novel writing month for me. It’s not the story of the image above (although, clearly some interesting things are going on there). What I’ll be working on is the follow on book to Hope is the Thing With Feathers. Although I don’t have a title yet, I have a new adventure planned and can’t wait to get started.
Also, keep an eye on Armchair Alien, there will be a new story by me starting later this month. While you are there catch The hangman comes to Tyche.
What I’ve been reading
I recently finished Charlie Jane Anders’ The City in the Middle of the Night and I have very mixed feelings about it. I usually don’t write full reviews, but I thought I’d share some of my thoughts on this book.
Generations ago humans colonized the thin band between light and dark on a world tidally locked (that is one side continuously faced the star while the other never got any light). Over time, technology regressed and the the two main city developed very different strategies for survival. The world also had life of its own, including aggressive predators and sentient beings who’ve hid themselves.
The story follows a young woman born in the city that leaned into rules to ensure everyone survive. Circumstances force her to leave the city and adventures follow (I don’t want to spoil anything).
The world building is fantastic as is the character development. I really felt immersed in the strange twilight zone of this world. What I struggled with was the pacing of the story—parts seemed slow while other parts that were very interesting were glossed over. If you like a brainy science fiction novel that takes unexpected turns, it’s worth giving this book a read. I’m undecided if I liked the ending or not, but I’m still thinking about it.
Some books I’ve finished lately and definitely recommend are:
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older - a murder mystery on a habitat orbiting Jupiter (I’ve pre-ordered the sequel).
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young - a multiple time line story that sucked me in.
The Hard Switch by Owen D. Pomery - a scifi graphic novel that was surprisingly deep.
Cheers,
Jeannette
If you’re looking for an alien world to visit to avoid the mid-winter doldrums, check out these:
Or how about some space romance?
Space Division spy Cody Greene lies for a living. That’s one of the reasons he looks at every woman he meets with skepticism. He’s single because of his dysfunctional relationship with his pampered, politician mother and the fact that he’s still in love with his high school sweetheart, who died mysteriously years ago. Cody’s in a tight spot when he’s ordered to marry a naïve tech genius named Lisa Shim. She’s part of the elite class and has invented everything that makes Mars amazing. Restricted by his oath, he can’t tell her she’s in danger. Is Lisa like his mother? Or is she the perfect match he’s been praying for?
Romance like Twilight, style like Divergent, with highs and lows like The Bourne Identity
My Books:
Hope is the Thing With Feathers - direct or from the shops
Encoded Orbits
Fractured Orbits - direct or from the shops
The Alien Algorithm - direct or from the shops
Subject 34 - direct or from the shops
Settler Chronicles
Day 115 on an Alien World - direct or from the shops
Far Side of the Moon - direct or from the shops
Abandoned Ships, Hijacked Minds - direct or from the shops
The Alien Artifact - direct or from the shops
And if you aren’t already a subscriber, what’s stopping you (especially if you have read this far)?