Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

“Dad? Mom? I think I can do it.” (Do what?) “Save the world?” or Don’t touch the cute space robot on the weird planet in the first place

Blake Laser by Keith Marantz

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Blake Laser is a fun story for the lover of science-fiction, love of a little fantasy, of course aliens and just the right amount of humor. Everything is a bit face paced, but is not crowded with text, too many images or action. This story by Keith Marantz has a biracial family of four, that are heading where no human has gone before! No, not space (it is the 24th century after all, been there done that!) but a particular place in space. The family […]

This whole race of aliens forgot how to have children. CBRBINGO – Celestial

The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei

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This was really good! So much better—and different—than the author’s first book. If you want a fun space opera with some adventure packed in, I have a book for you. Maya Hashimoto used to be the Robin Hood of art thieves–stealing from the rich and their museums, and giving back to the alien civilizations where they were stolen from. Maya lives in a world where First Contact happened ages ago, humans still kind of ruined the planet, but also moved out to colonize the stars. […]

Defender of the cosmos! Vanquisher of evil! Failure at frisbee!

Mr. Muffins by Georgeo Brooks

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Mr. Muffins by Ben Kahn and illustrated by Georgeo Brooks might not be due until mid-January 2025, but I think people should know about this graphic novel now. Not because I have read several books by Kahn or Brooks and loved them all (I haven’t) but because I think now I might see what I can find and that this book is going to be a fun read for most people. This is not a new idea. The theme is “You are afraid, but it’s […]

Alien Invasion! (Or how I learned how to “wear hat”)

We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang

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The visitors in We Are Definitely Human are odd, but adorable. Okay, maybe not adorable-adorable, but they are really nice and friendly, especially after how the humans, ah…other humans… are so friendly to them when helping them fix their “car.” The act of kindness has never been so humorous!  X. Fang’s story is as clever as it is cute. The idea of just being kind, just because, is not a new story, but one that bears repeating. And of course, if you can add some […]

Don’t get too excited about the psychic cats

Chilling Effect by Valerie Valdes

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From the official plot summary: Captain Eva Innocente and the crew of La Sirena Negra cruise the galaxy delivering small cargo for even smaller profits. When her sister Mari is kidnapped by The Fridge, a shadowy syndicate that holds people hostage in cryostasis, Eva must undergo a series of unpleasant, dangerous missions to pay the ransom.But Eva may lose her mind before she can raise the money. The tagline for this book is “Kidnappers. Alien Emperors. Psychic cats. And she’s out of coffee.” Two of […]

Long drawn-out pining, really not my cup of tea

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

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Nowhere Bingo Card: A book that’s been on my shelf for more than a year Prince Kiem, a minor royal in the Iskat Empire is called before the Emperor and told in no uncertain terms that he will be getting married to secure a valuable political alliance. The Empire is about to renegotiate its treaty agreements with all the planets in its dominion, and the representatives all have to be married to be accepted (that bit wasn’t entirely clear to me). So Kiem has to […]



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