Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Houyhnhnms and Dragons

Moonbound by Robin Sloan

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I’ve had Moonbound on my TBR shelf physically for a while. It’s also been long enough that I don’t remember hardly anything about Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore (first big hit, by this author). I remember that I really enjoyed both Mr. Penumbra and the follow-up, but not direct sequel, Sourdough. I vaguely remember both of the earlier books as vaguely magical realism, and overall entertaining but Moonbound seems to be something a little different. The power of story and narrative is major theme, and it […]

“Well that’s interesting.”

Astro by Manuel Marsol

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First, the only image from Astro I will be showing in this review is the cover. As that is probably more than enough to keep you occupied. Second, I must admit, I almost didn’t read Astro when I first saw the online reader copy because of that cover. It is just odd. Bizarre. Weird. And I like odd, bizarre and weird, but it was almost too odd, too bizarre, and of course, too weird.  But then I said, “Girl, your goal is to try new […]

More danger, calamity and heroism in space (Bingo)

Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

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CBR16 Sweet Books: Binge CBR16 Bingo: Celestial (set in space. I’m sure the characters observe lots of stars on their epic journeys through space) Spoiler warning: this is the third and final book in the Illuminae Files. A lot of stuff happened in the previous two novels, and it will be impossible to review this book without referring to some significant plot points. Additionally, I don’t see how this book would be a satisfying reading experience taken out of context. So if you aren’t up […]

The end of the world is here, but we’re still loving and living

Space Story by Fiona Ostby

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CBR16SweetChallenge #Exciting I have been trying to read Space Story by Fiona Ostby since I first heard about it. But something always stopped me.  I lost my online link, the book was out of stock, or something would get in the way. I finally was able o get a copy via interlibrary loan and learned it might have been worth the wait, or not. I am still not sure as this is an odd book. A good book, but odd. The oddness mostly comes from […]

Not a time travel book, despite what the book description implies

Beyond the Hallowed Sky by Ken MacLeod

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Official book description: When a brilliant scientist gets a letter from herself about faster-than-light travel, she doesn’t know what to believe. The equations work, but her paper is discredited – and soon the criticism is more than scientific. Exiled by the establishment, she gets an offer to build her starship from an unlikely source. But in the heights of Venus and on a planet of another star, a secret is already being uncovered that will shake humanity to its foundations. This book was the March […]

Saving Grace

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

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I’ve read all of Andy Weir’s books. He’s written three so that’s not exactly a major achievement, but it does give me the opportunity to compare and contrast them. Like most people I enjoyed The Martian but did not care very much for Artemis (which, well-intentioned though it may be, is a textbook example of how not to write a strong female character). I loved Project Hail Mary, though with a couple of caveats. But hey, that’s what reviews are for.  First up: it’s really […]



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