#Science Fiction – Page 41 – Cannonball Read 17

Octavia Butler Predicted MAGA

Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler

September 21, 2021 by ElCicco Leave a Comment

Cbr13bingo Reader’s Choice (sub for New Series), bingo #12 Book two of Octavia Butler’s Earthseed Series delivers an astounding gut punch follow-up to Parable of the Sower. Her imagining of what would happen in America’s future is frighteningly accurate. Set in the 2030s and beyond, Parable of the Talents takes us back to Northern California and the Earthseed community known as Acorn. Lauren Oya Olamina and her followers have escaped the upheaval and violence of Southern California and built a commune based on the principles […]

“You don’t know how many forks I’m packing.”

The Devil You Know by Kit Rocha

September 20, 2021 by llamareadsbooks Leave a Comment

CBR13Bingo: Rep – Maya has several sensitivity triggers, including certain noises and textures I’m a longtime Kit Rocha reader, so of course I was beyond excited to see the next book in the Mercenary Librarians series. I went in expecting lots of found family goodness, steamy scenes and maybe a little murder-by-fork. And, oh boy, did I ever love this book! As a warning, this is the second in the series, so there will be spoilers for the first book. It’s basically super soldier Brady […]

Gateway to Science Fiction and Octavia Butler

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

September 19, 2021 by ElCicco Leave a Comment

Cbr13bingo Gateway, Bingo #9-11 (horizontal, vertical and inner square) Parable of the Sower (1993) is an astoundingly prescient work of science fiction. Octavia Butler (1947-2006), winner of Nebula, Hugo and MacArthur prizes, tells the story of hyperempath Lauren Olamina in mid-2020s California. I reviewed this novel for the 2015 Cannonball Read, and I do believe that it (or really any written by Butler) would be a Gateway to reading more sci-fi/fantasy, and I hope a Gateway to reading more by Butler. Butler writes powerfully and […]

Shadows of what could have been a decent book, alas

Shadows of Eternity by Gregory Benford

September 17, 2021 by llamareadsbooks Leave a Comment

It should be obvious by now that while I’m very much into science fiction, I’m more a space opera person than hard scifi. Gadgets and gizmos are cool, but I care mostly about the characters. Unfortunately, despite the blurb (a SETI library on the moon?!?) this book is the exact opposite of what I like. The Library on the Moon is a collection of alien AIs, referred to as Minds, and Messages, SETI communications. Ruth, newly arrived from Earth, wins a place training to become […]

“Forget about the war,” Mia insisted. “Tell us about…” your boring alien love interest

Elite Starfighter by Grace Goodwin

September 8, 2021 by llamareadsbooks 2 Comments

CBR13Bingo: Machinery Because Lily smashes stuff in a mecha! Like starbases! And enemy fighters! And freaking spaceships! Look, I know these books are ridiculous, but that’s the joy of them. Plus, I was really looking forward to seeing Lily smash some stuff up with her mecha suit! This is the third book in the series and follows directly after the other two, so it shouldn’t be read as a standalone. With her best friends Jamie and Mia gone, Lily’s ready for her alien partner to show […]

“Sometimes people don’t make sense.” Girl, sometimes the whole dang plot doesn’t make sense.

Starfighter Command by Grace Goodwin

September 8, 2021 by llamareadsbooks Leave a Comment

Yes, I read another one of these books. Look, I’m just saying, if Garrus Vakarian knocked on my door and said he desperately needed my help to go fight the Reapers? I’d consider it! After listening to me summarize the entire plot of the last book in like two sentences, my friend picked up this one for me as well after she stopped laughing. And yes, it’s more of the same, though with hackers instead of fighter pilots. This book picks up directly after the […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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