Sci-Fi/Fantasy | Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

I, HUMAN by John Nelson

May 27, 2016

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This is a highly intellectual look into a dystopian future where the use of neural implants and drug conditioning are used to keep the population calm and malleable.

Difficulty is that this conditioning represses feelings and intuition and can cause mental breakdowns in the population that represent future problems for the government. In addition, segments of the population have refused the treatment, and are involved in living and working in a low tech environment. They are known as “bornies” and have evolved, living completely apart from those that have accepted the treatment and its consequent enhanced functioning.

Alan Reynard, a government agent, is given the assignment of infiltrating a spiritual commune run by a healer named Maria Fria, who has modified the implants for increased functionality. Alan grows to believe in what Maria is doing, and it causes him to begin to work towards modifying the government’s social control.

The thesis of the book is interesting and the concept possible. But Nelson falls into the trap of an overabundance of explanation of what is happening and could very easily lose the reader in sheer wordiness.

5/16 Paul Lane

I, HUMAN by John Nelson. Cosmic Egg Books (May 27, 2016). ISBN 978-1785353307. 288p.

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BORDERLINE by Mishell Baker

May 26, 2016

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The Arcadia Project, Book 1

With a directing gig and a film that garnered critical praise both under her belt, Millie was a Hollywood hopeful with what could have been a great career ahead of her. But a scandalous affair and her borderline personality disorder led to a suicide attempt that, thankfully, failed, leaving Millie an amputee forced to finally deal the emotional issues that resulted in her breakdown. With all hope of a career set aside indefinitely, Millie signed on to live in a psychiatric facility that leeches away at her meager funds all the while attempting to help her save her sanity.

All of that changes, though, when Millie is approached by the Arcadia Project. A super secret group that works with fey traveling to and inhabiting Los Angeles, the Arcadia Project promises an in back into the industry if Millie agrees to work for them. Her first job: helping to track a rogue fey whose visa has expired. With an experienced Arcadia Project employee by her side, the job should be a fairly easy one. But it turns out this initiation into Arcadia Project is definitely not ideal for a beginner.

Mishell Baker’s debut and first in the Arcadia Project series is a wildly entertaining and unique addition to urban fantasy.

The world of the Arcadia Project is one that lives at the crossroads between the “real” world and a fey dimension. There are Seelie and Unseelie, much like other fey worlds, but the real difference is that at the core of the world is the idea that the organization trusted and tasked with dealing with emissaries and travelers from another dimension aren’t trusted at all. They, like Millie, are chosen because their mental health issues means no one ever really has to worry about them spilling the beans about the fey or the agreement their world has with ours!

The fact that Baker’s heroine is handicapped and dealing with serious emotional issues makes Borderline different from pretty much every other urban fantasy out there. And when you add in a whole cast of well rounded characters, a world that’s fabulously defined, and a plot that’s built and paced fantastically, you have a truly standout read.

5/16 Becky LeJeune

BORDERLINE by Mishell Baker. Saga Press (March 1, 2016). ISBN: 978-1481429788. 400p.

1 Comment | Book Reviews, Fiction, Sci-Fi/Fantasy | Tagged: Urban Fantasy | Permalink
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SATURN RUN by John Sandford & Ctein

February 13, 2016

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From the publisher:

In 2066, A Caltech intern inadvertently notices an anomaly from a space telescope—something is approaching Saturn, and decelerating. Space objects don’t decelerate. Spaceships do.

A flurry of top-level government meetings produces the inescapable conclusion: whatever built that ship is at least one hundred years ahead in hard and soft technology, and whoever can get their hands on it exclusively and bring it back will have an advantage so large, no other nation can compete. A conclusion the Chinese definitely agree with when they find out.

The race is on, and an remarkable adventure begins—an epic tale of courage, treachery, resourcefulness, secrets, surprises, and astonishing human and technological discovery, as the members of a hastily thrown-together crew find their strength and wits tested against adversaries both of this earth and beyond. What happens is nothing like you expect—and everything you could want from one of the world’s greatest masters of suspense.

Jack says: Not Sandford’s first attempt outside the traditional mystery genre and shows why he is a master story teller. If you enjoyed the Jason Kidd series, you will love this one.

02/16 Jack Quick

SATURN RUN by John Sandford & Ctein. G.P. Putnam’s Sons; First Edition / First Printing edition (October 6, 2015). ISBN: 978-0399176951. 496p.

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A BETTER WORLD by Marcus Sakey

February 11, 2016

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The Brilliance Trilogy #2

From the publisher:

The brilliants changed everything. Since 1980, one percent of the world has been born with gifts we’d only dreamed of. The ability to sense a person’s most intimate secrets, or predict the stock market, or move virtually unseen. For thirty years the world has struggled with a growing divide between the exceptional…and the rest of us.

Now a terrorist network led by brilliants has crippled three cities. Supermarket shelves stand empty. 911 calls go unanswered. Fanatics are burning people alive. Nick Cooper has always fought to make the world better for his children. As both a brilliant and an advisor to the president of the United States, he’s against everything the terrorists represent. But as America slides toward a devastating civil war, Cooper is forced to play a game he dares not lose—because his opponents have their own vision of a better world.

Jack says: Book two of the series was a bit disappointing – too much effort in re-stating the basics of book one for the benefit of those who had not read book one. Moved pretty well after all the re-capping.

Also see Paul Lane’s review.

2/16 Jack Quick

A BETTER WORLD by Marcus Sakey. Thomas & Mercer (June 17, 2014). ISBN 978-1477823941. 390p.

2 Comments | Book Reviews, Crime Fiction, Fiction, Sci-Fi/Fantasy | Tagged: Thriller | Permalink
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BRILLIANCE by Marcus Sakey

February 8, 2016

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From the publisher:

In Wyoming, a little girl reads people’s darkest secrets by the way they fold their arms. In New York, a man sensing patterns in the stock market racks up $300 billion. In Chicago, a woman can go invisible by being where no one is looking.

They’re called “brilliants,” and since 1980, one percent of people have been born this way. Nick Cooper is among them; a federal agent, Cooper has gifts rendering him exceptional at hunting terrorists. His latest target may be the most dangerous man alive, a brilliant drenched in blood and intent on provoking civil war. But to catch him, Cooper will have to violate everything he believes in—and betray his own kind.

Jack says: Following in the tone of Hunger Games and Divergent, fast but interesting read. First of a three part series.

2/16 Jack Quick

BRILLIANCE by Marcus Sakey. Thomas & Mercer (July 16, 2013). ISBN 978-1611099690. 439p.

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LEVIATHAN WAKES by James S. A. Corey

January 21, 2016

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The invention of the Epstein Drive made it possible for humanity to spread beyond Earth. Now there are stations and colonies stretching from our planet to Mars. Joe Miller is a cop on Ceres, one of the stations that houses the Belters, workers born off world and recognized by their lanky forms and unique dialects. Miller has been hired to find a girl whose last known address was Ceres itself until she seemingly vanished, ignoring all attempts at contact from her lunar-based parents. The job is an easy one, an off-books one too. But when the investigation changes from a simple wayward young adult to one Miller suspects has deeper ramifications, he’s told to back off.

At the same time, an ice hauler about to return from its latest job answers a distress beacon that turns out to be something much more menacing. Jim Holden, XO of the Canterbury, leads the rescue attempt and barely manages to escape with his ship and team intact when the Cant is destroyed. Holden and his team’s discovery on the abandoned Scopuli and witness to the Canterbury’s destruction make them prime targets for those responsible but revealing what they know could lead to all out war between Earth and Mars.

This first in The Expanse series is a whopper of a read, one that crosses genre borders and boundaries with ease. A science fiction epic and first in what George R. R. Martin calls a “…kickass space opera…” Leviathan Wakes is also part noir mystery and part horror.

Miller, a cop with a definite chip on his shoulder, bucks authority and bends the rules at will. He becomes obsessed with finding this girl, imagining that through his investigation he’s gotten to know her and has built a connection with her that’s more intimate than any he shares with his colleagues or acquaintances. Of course when told to back off he’s going to ignore it, he’s stubborn and bullheaded just like all of his noir detective predecessors.

In Holden, the authors have built a character who is in many ways the polar opposite of Miller. The rules are there for a reason, justice and right will prevail, and Holden will do anything he can to ensure this remains the case. As narrators go, they provide the reader with two very different views of the world of The Expanse. Miller is a Belter through and through. Holden is military and was born on Earth. The only piece missing so far is Mars.

I have to say, I am absolutely loving the series and the current Syfy TV adaptation as well.

1/16 Becky LeJeune

LEVIATHAN WAKES by James S. A. Corey. Orbit; First Edition edition (June 15, 2011). ISBN 978-0316129084 592p.

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CHIMPANZEE by Darin Bradley

August 22, 2015

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Chimpanzee is a look at what might be the future of the U.S. based on current trends and misguided government policies. In a society that has collapsed, with unemployment being the norm for most workers Benjamin Cade an expert in cognition has just lost his job as a university instructor. Like most people he is forced to default on his loans used to finance his education. The government with no hope of recouping these funds now due to advances in cognitive science and chemical therapy can repossess their property, i.e., Ben’s education. A medical advance allows the government to utilize the process of “repossession therapy” as this is termed to treat mental disorders and improve the cure rate of these disorders.

But Ben is not going to take the loss of some of his knowledge to the government without a fight. He begins to give free lectures in the park in order to distribute some of his learning before it is gone. And as a result of these lectures “Chimpanzee” arrives. As a protest Chimpanzee’s icons begin to appear spray painted all over the city. Young people wearing Chimpanzee masks start massive rallies against the government and its economic failures. And the finger for the blame points directly at Ben.

Bradley utilizes a “stream” of consciousness” in his writing, succeeding in properly describing Ben Cade’s thoughts and action. A frightening but logical look at the possible consequences for a society that has lost sight of what are really the costs involved in massive giveaways without considering the price for doing so. People become financially overextended and cannot buy goods and services to keep the economy healthy giving rise to a society with no way to insure the growth of that society. A book guaranteed to leave the reader with much to think about in terms of where we might be going with trends as they currently are.

8/15 Paul Lane

CHIMPANZEE by Darin Bradley. Underland Press (August 11, 2015). ISBN: 978-1630230142. 216p.

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THE GIRL AT MIDNIGHT by Melissa Grey

June 19, 2015

When Echo stole the music box for the Ala, it was just meant to be a gift. But the box was so much more than a pretty trinket. Inside was a clue to something the Avicen thought was only a myth.

The Firebird is rumored to be the one thing that can stop the fight between the Avicen and the Drakharin, two races that have been warring for as long as they can remember. Both races share the mythology of the Firebird but neither is sure the stories are real, until now. Echo, a human child, holds the key to its hiding place and both the Avicen and the Drakharin will do whatever it takes to ensure that they are the ones who find it first.

Melissa Grey’s debut is a fun teen fantasy and quest story. It’s also the first in a new series, which means a somewhat incomplete tale.

Echo, a human and orphan who has lived among the Avicen – a birdlike race –, has always considered them family. Her willingness to being drawn into a search for the one thing that can help them in their seemingly never-ending battle against the dragon-like Drakharin is never in question. She’s a ready participant, especially if it means saving the ones she loves. But it does mean possibly betraying the people closest to her, especially when she realizes that she must work with the Drakharin.

Grey’s worldbuilding is ok, but maybe not quite as strong as I would have liked for such a unique concept. There’s not much in the way of history on the Avicen or the Drakharin including why they’re at odds. There is, however, great visual detail on both races, their homes, and Echo’s travels, so while I would have liked more of the backstory, there’s enough to make this first tale quite enjoyable. I don’t think that it can stand on its own – it’s obviously the beginning of a broader tale – and I hope the subsequent installment(s) cover more of the history and world. Either way, The Girl at Midnight is engaging enough to keep the reader interested and leave them looking forward to the next piece of the story.

6/15 Becky LeJeune

THE GIRL AT MIDNIGHT by Melissa Grey. Delacorte Press (April 28, 2015). ISBN 978-0385744652. 368p.

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DAUGHTER OF DEEP SILENCE by Carrie Ryan

May 30, 2015

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The official story behind the loss of the Persephone claims a rogue wave was responsible for the sinking of the ship; a natural, freak accident that claimed the lives of three hundred and twenty-three people. But Frances knows the official story is a lie, a cover up spun and spread by Senator Alastair Wells and his son after they were rescued.

Frances was on Persephone and managed to escape only after she witnessed the murders of her parents and her friend’s mother. She and Libby – Elizabeth O’Martin – fled the ship and lasted seven days on the open sea, but in the end only Frances lived long enough to be rescued.

Frances doesn’t know why the senator lied about Persephone. She can only assume that by telling the tale of the rogue wave he was somehow complicit in the attack and thereby responsible for the deaths of everyone she loved. And now, four years later, she’s decided it’s time to get revenge.

Ryan’s latest is a definite step away from the zombie apocalypse world of the Forest of Hands and Teeth series. Daughter of Deep Silence features a contemporary setting and a plot akin to the show Revenge.

While the story could have fallen prey to a serious lack of believability – convincing the reader that Frances could become Libby and trick even the person closest to her (aside from her father, he’s the inside man in the identity theft) was no small task. At first I thought Ryan wouldn’t pull it off at all, but she got me. She made me believe, for the most part, in Frances as Libby and in Frances’s plan.

Daughter of Deep Silence was great fun. My one and only real complaint was that it ended too soon.

5/15 Becky LeJeune

DAUGHTER OF DEEP SILENCE by Carrie Ryan. Dutton Books for Young Readers (May 26, 2015). ISBN 978-0525426509. 384p.

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THE DOLL COLLECTION edited by Ellen Datlow

April 4, 2015

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Seventeen Brand-New Tales of Dolls

What if a doll had the power to hold a piece of your soul? What if it could heal you or hold the evils and pains of the world? These ideas are just a few that are explored in Datlow’s latest cultivated collection of shorts.

Interestingly, Datlow noted in a recent interview (at the Once and Future Podcast, see below) that her one stipulation for the collection was basically no Chuckie dolls and the result is an odd an chilling blend: from serial killers to not so imaginary friends and even a panel of dolls who’ll hold you accountable for all your misdeeds against them, writers like Joyce Carol Oates, Carrie Vaughn, and Richard Kadrey have penned some of the creepiest doll stories ever in The Doll Collection.

Some of the standouts for me included Jeffrey Ford’s “Word Doll,” a wonderful and atmospheric folk tale sort of story; “Homemade Monsters” by John Langan, wherein a boy’s creation could be the explanation behind an odd childhood event; and Seanan McGuire’s “There is No Place for Sorrow in the Kingdom of the Cold,” which ties to Pandora and her box of evils.

Whether you’re an avid collector or an anxious avoider, this anthology has something for everyone.

Table of Contents:
Skin and Bone by Tim Lebbon
Heroes and Villains by Stephen Gallagher
The Doll-Master by Joyce Carol Oates
Gaze by Gemma Files
In Case of Zebras by Pat Cadigan
There Is No Place For Sorrow in the Kingdom of the Cold by Seanan McGuire
Goodness and Kindness by Carrie Vaughn
Daniel’s Theory About Dolls by Stephen Graham Jones
After and Back Before by Miranda Siemienowicz
Doctor Faustus by Mary Robinette Kowal
Doll Court by Richard Bowes
Visit Lovely Cornwall on the Western Railway Line by Genevieve Valentine
Ambitious Boys Like You by Richard Kadrey
Miss Sibyl-Cassandra by Lucy Sussex
The Permanent Collection by Veronica Schanoes
Homemade Monsters by John Langan
Word Doll by Jeffrey Ford