The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe by Kij Johnson is about a woman in the dream realm going on a quest to the "real" world.
Another story that takes H.P. Lovecraft on from a different angle. In this case, the story looks at the dream worlds he wrote about and tackles the distinct lack of women. Again, having recently read all of Lovecraft's works, I was familiar enough with the setting and creatures to enjoy this without wondering what the heck I was trying to read. In this tale, we revisit Ulthar and Lovecraft's other dream cities on a quest.
The good: Wow, I really like Vellitt. A strong middle-age woman whose adventures are behind her, but she's up for one last necessary trip. The understanding that there are people among those who live in this realm who come from another reality altogether is an interesting aspect of Lovecraft's creation - when I think about it, I believe it was there in the original as well. I love that people from that realm are, in fact, able to cross into our realm, and was both amused and distressed at what happened to the gug.
The bad: I can't really find all that much to criticize. It's a great story, and I enjoy the thought of the ending, but it isn't my favorite of the finalists.
Conclusion: I'm going to be rethinking the order I'm putting the novellas in, but I think this is up there with the best of them. Every single one of these finalists is good enough for a Hugo, and while my heart belongs to Bujold, I won't be disappointed if any of them win.
Best Novella: I've read all the entries. Check them out in my Reviews of 2017 Hugo Finalists.
Saturday, June 24, 2017
A Hugo Review: Best Novella - The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe by Kij Johnson
Thursday, June 22, 2017
A Hugo Review: Best Novella - A Taste of Honey by Kai Ashante Wilson
A Taste of Honey by Kai Ashante Wilson is about a critical choice made in the name of love.
While I liked the characters in this, I felt like I couldn't mentally pronounce any names, which somehow confused me. It's was a strange sensation - one I've had before - of not being able to connect with the characters because I couldn't figure out how I would say their names. I wonder if I'm alone in having this problem, or if naming conventions in fiction sometimes bother other people as well.
The good: It's possible to get a complete sense of the main character and his motivations through the story. There's also a nice sense of the entire world and the various nations in it. The fact that there are "gods" and that mathematics is considered women's work are both interesting, and a little strange. But then the reader learns that there's even more to the world.
The bad: And that's the bad, sort of. I felt the ending was far too abrupt, with a soap opera sensibility. It wasn't truly "just a dream", but enough of it was to make me feel slightly betrayed. I wanted more of the first relationship, more of how it turned out, but didn't get it because it didn't work in the narrative.
Conclusion: As good as it was, it wasn't the best I've read. It'll be fourth on my ballot for now, I think.
Best Novella: I've read Penric and the Shaman, The Ballad of Black Tom, Every Heart a Doorway, A Taste of Honey, and This Census-Taker. I need to read The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe.
Saturday, June 17, 2017
A Hugo Review: Best Novella - This Census-Taker by China Miéville
This Census-Taker by China Miéville is about a boy and a history that created a horrible future for him before he was born.
My first reaction after reading this was annoyance at the dangling plot threads that I felt hadn't been addressed properly. Then I thought that maybe they'd been addressed, but I'd missed them and would have to reread to find them. Then I thought that I really didn't want to reread this story, since I didn't like it much in the first place. Then I spent a difficult night of restless sleep, and every once in awhile my thoughts turned back to the story and started to oozily fill in the blanks, until by morning I felt like I'd read a different story than the one I didn't like.
The good: There's almost a murder mystery, and I think by the end we know it's solved. But more than that, there's a mystery about what exactly this world is and how the father does his work. Is this a world of magic? Is there some advanced technology involved? What, exactly, is the job of the census-taker (who only shows up toward the end, really)?
The bad: The bad about this is exactly the same as the good. There's a lot of mystery because we're being told a tale sideways by a person who was a child when the biggest parts happened, and who doesn't have a completely clear memory of it all. And while there is a lot of mystery, it feels like huge chunks of the story and of the world-making are missing - maybe not deliberately - which pulls me away from the tale and frustrates me.
Conclusion: This is a story that really ought to be discussed with others. It's a story that leaves itself open to interpretation. I can't say I love it, but it grew on me despite myself. Still, it's earned the bottom spot on my ballot for now.
Best Novella: I've read Penric and the Shaman, Every Heart a Doorway, This Census-Taker, and The Ballad of Black Tom. I need to read The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe, and A Taste of Honey.
Saturday, June 03, 2017
A Hugo Review: Best Novella - Every Heart a Doorway, by Seanan McGuire
Every Heart a Doorway, by Seanan McGuire is about children who have experienced other worlds, and a school meant to help them.
One minor complaint about the story as presented in the packet. At the end of the story there was an excerpt from a related book, but there was no indication that it was an excerpt in the text itself (usually there's a bit that says "Here's a sneak preview of this upcoming novel" or something like that). I read it, and wondered why the novella ended with a couple of strange chapters like that. It wasn't until I finished and hit the table of contents (which was at the end) that I learned those chapters weren't part of the story. It definitely changed my reading experience - I didn't think the story ended where it actually ended, which made for a weird feeling of incompleteness. This is entirely the fault of the publisher, and has nothing to do with the story itself. But I found it really annoying once I realized what had happened.
The good: While there are lots of stories of children whisked away to fairylands, there aren't as many stories about what happens when they return, and still fewer about those children who have no desire to return. The concept of the school and why Eleanor is running it is great. I also found it heart-breaking to learn the reason Eleanor couldn't return to her own fairyland. Ouch. The various characters we meet are wonderful. Nancy is fascinating and Kade is simply wonderful. Jack and Jill have their moments. Even the mean girls have a certain pathos to them. Christopher was also a character who had a moment of shining glory with his flute. It seemed to me that some of the children, Nancy for sure, had been sent back to the real world to have one final adventure there. I do wonder if Christopher made it back to his home as well. The mystery was fairly neat and powerful. I enjoyed the way it was solved (and how obvious it was to the reader ahead of time).
The bad: I was a little disoriented by the changes in point-of-view. It seemed like it was Nancy's story, but the viewpoint switched a couple of times, and not always as smoothly as it could have.
Conclusion: A very good story despite a couple of minor flaws. I think it's moved into the second spot on my ballot.
Best Novella: I've read Penric and the Shaman, Every Heart a Doorway and The Ballad of Black Tom. I need to read The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe, A Taste of Honey, and This Census-Taker.
Friday, June 02, 2017
A Hugo Review: Best Novella - The Ballad of Black Tom, by Victor LaValle
The Ballad of Black Tom, by Victor LaValle is about helplessness corrupting a good man.
This past summer I finally finished reading the complete works of H.P. Lovecraft. I found most of his works to be overblown and a bit silly, with lots of good bits and an unhealthy dose of early twentieth century racism. The racism was annoying, as it marred what were otherwise pretty fun horror stories. This tale takes "The Horror at Red Hook" and turns it around, making the main character a young black man just trying to get by in a difficult world through his unique form of busking. Through a series of connected events, the hero is pushed beyond the limits of human endurance and into blind hate.
The good: Turning the racism around is an excellent way to deconstruct Lovecraft. The protagonist is compelling, he talks a good talk and seems like a good man that folks wouldn't mind hanging out with - until the murder. His change is understandable but terrifying. I also liked the time jump, which wasn't pushed too hard, but tied the beginning and the ending together nicely. The whole story is a powerful parable about racism, without being preachy, in my opinion.
The bad: I found the eyelid thing to be a bit too much for me. I don't know why that was where I draw the line, but that was the only bit that really made me cringe.
Conclusion: I liked this story, just not quite as much as I enjoy the Penric tale. I can't say this was mind-twisting, and it didn't give me joy (in fact, I found myself wanting to beat up the corrupt murdering cops myself), but I did like it. It's currently second on my ballot.
Best Novella: I've read Penric and the Shaman and The Ballad of Black Tom. I need to read The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe, Every Heart a Doorway, A Taste of Honey, and This Census-Taker.
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
A Hugo Review: Best Novella - Penric and the Shaman, by Lois McMaster Bujold
Penric and the Shaman, by Lois McMaster Bujold is a mystery, a theological text and a rip-roaring story.
I think this is the first Bujold I've reviewed for this year's Hugo. She's also been nominated for best series. I can't really describe how much I like Bujold's work, nor how much it's helped me over the past few years to get past tough times. I have a tendency to reread works that give me great comfort, and Bujold's work has been at the top of my reread list for many years now. This story is the second one featuring Penric the Sorcerer in the World of the Five Gods. Both the Five Gods series and the Vorkosigan series are my comfort reads, and I can't tell you how nice it is to have new stories in both universes out this past year.
So, keep in mind that I am biased toward Bujold and will be fighting my natural instinct to put her at the top of every ballot.
The good: This story revisits the concept of shamans, which was explored in The Hallowed Hunt. As it is set some 150 years after that story, shamans are becoming common again. It's a murder mystery, sort of, as an inspector is sent to find a man suspected of murder. I really enjoyed the framing of the story this way, giving us an outside look at just how odd Penric is to any observer. He wouldn't exactly be a restful guy to have around. I loved his "printing press" design - how do you make things when your power is purely destructive? It would also be nice to have Penric around while camping. No fleas, lice or mosquitoes are going to be a problem with him. The story is tightly plotted, with each incident leading to the next. And the ending, where Penric's written testimony is immediately seized as a theological document made me laugh.
The bad: Give me a few months more and I probably could come up with something I don't like about this story. But for the moment, it feels to me to be perfect. If there is any problem with Bujold's writing, it would be that it isn't excellent in a mind-bending way. There are wonderful concepts (the ideas of saints in the Five Gods stories truly made me sit and think) but her work doesn't twist a person like some writers can. I don't consider this a fault at all, but let me use last year's Hugo as an example. I LOVED Penric's Demon, but Binti truly twisted my mind and forced me to think differently. Again, not a fault, but something to keep in mind. Is the best of the year something that forces a reader to think, or something that makes them truly happy? Ideally, it's both... but what if you have to pick between the two?
Conclusion: At the moment this is at the top of my ballot. Once I've read the other five finalists we'll see if Bujold's ability to inspire joy in me is enough to keep this story there.
Best Novella: I've read Penric and the Shaman. I need to read The Ballad of Black Tom, The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe, Every Heart a Doorway, A Taste of Honey, and This Census-Taker.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
A Sunday Review
Walter Rhein contacted me about two months ago after reading my review of Turn Right at Machu Picchu and asked if I could read his book about living in Peru. I was a bit reluctant: I was afraid with my current Hugo obsession I wouldn't want to take time out to read a non-fiction book. However, I agreed, and I started to read it chapter by chapter in between other readings. This is the perfect book for casual reading - almost every chapter stands alone well, and Rhein sprinkles in enough information within chapters to get the reader quickly back up to speed if it's been awhile between readings. Toward the end of the book I found I was reluctant to stop reading to get to other stuff, so I finished off the last third in a day... although it took me weeks of doling out chapters to get that far. There are 42 chapters, and each one is short and fun.
Ok, Spoilers ahead (use rot13 to read). V sbhaq gur svefg puncgre gb or n avpr vagebqhpgvba gb gur obbx nf n jubyr - gur nhgube vf ba n ohf fgbccrq ol zra jvgu NX-47f. Gur fvghngvba vfa'g erfbyirq hagvy gur svany puncgre naq jbexf irel avpryl nf n obbxraq gb gur frevrf. Vg jnf nyfb pbzcryyvat, znxvat zr jnag gb pbzr onpx naq frr jung unq tbggra uvz gb gung cbvag, juvpu vf n arng gevpx.
V jba'g tb puncgre ol puncgre, ohg fbzr bs gur zbzragf gung ernyyl fgbbq bhg sbe zr jrer gur puncgre ba orq ohtf naq gur arkg puncgre gung gnyxf nobhg gur nhgube'f lbhgu jvgu pbhfvaf jub jrer n ovg jvyq. Gur jubyr xvqarl fgbarf nqiragher jnf nznmvat gb ernq nobhg. V jnf nzhfrq ol gur sbyx xabjyrqtr gung ur rkcrevraprq va phevat vg. Va snpg, whfg nobhg rirel zrqvpny gnyr jnf unve-envfvat naq lrg nzhfvat. V pna fnl vg'f nzhfvat orpnhfr V qvqa'g unir gb yvir vg.
V ybirq gur gnyr bs Fcnavfu zvfgnxrf naq jung rirelbar gubhtug ur nfxrq gur jnvgre sbe. Gung jnf cevpryrff. Nf jnf gur gevc gb Znpuh Cvppuh jvgu uvf sevraq Tenql. Va snpg, gur ragver frpgvba jvgu Tenql jnf ernyyl sha gb ernq... evtug hc hagvy gur svany cnentencu bs puncgre 23, ng juvpu cbvag V chg gur obbx qbja naq nyzbfg pevrq sbe n zna V'q arire zrg.
Sbeghangryl, gur arkg puncgre jnf na nqiragher va uhzbe naq Xnsxnrfdhr ohernhpenpl. Gurer ner n pbhcyr zber ivfvgf gb gbhevfg fcbgf, zbfgyl gbyq va n jnl gung znxrf lbh ernyyl jnag gb tb purpx gurz bhg. Gurer ner nyfb fgbevrf nobhg grnpuvat gung znqr zr teva. Grnpuvat Gur Pnyy bs gur Jvyq gb n ohapu bs puvyqera jub unq ab pyhr jung fabj vf jnf ybiryl. V nyfb ybirq ubj ur uvq uvf xabjyrqtr bs Fcnavfu sebz gur angvir grnpuref. V'ir urneq bs crbcyr qbvat gung fbeg bs guvat orsber, whfg abg nf ybat nf gur nhgube fnvq ur pneevrq vg ba. V nyfb ybir uvf ivrj bs rqhpngvba naq jul cresrpgvba fubhyq abg or gur tbny. Irel avpr fghss gurer.
V jnf nyfb nzhfrq ol gur vapvqragf juvyr ur jnf n wbheanyvfg jvgu n cerff cnff. Lrf, gur guvatf ner zntvpny. V ybir zvar, nygubhtu V eneryl unir gb hfr vg. V gubhtug uvf rkcrevrapr jvgu gur Cerfvqrag jnf cerggl shaal. Ur qvqa'g qb nalguvat jebat, rvgure. Gur gevpx vf gung lbh ner gurer gb trg fbzr xvaq bs fgbel. Gung'f nyy ur arrqrq gb qb, naq urpx, ur qvq vg! V qba'g xabj vs ur jebgr nobhg vg sbe gur jrofvgr, ohg ur tbg vg sbe gur obbx, fb gung jbexf. Ur fubhyq unir oebhtug n cra naq abgrcnq jvgu uvz, nf jryy, ohg V'z vzcerffrq ur tbg nf sne nf ur qvq. Nzhfvatyl, ol yrnivat n yvggyr rneyl, ur znqr uvzfrys ybbx n yvggyr zber cebsrffvbany. Ur tnir gur vzcerffvba ur jnf bss gb svyr uvf fgbel. V ybir vg!
In conclusion, if you are any kind of traveler or, like me, wish you could be a traveler, this is a great book to read. I also heartily recommend it to younger readers, high school age. In fact, I wouldn't hesitate to give it to just about any teenager. The worst activities he gets up to, that he describes, involve drinking. And even those result in some lessons learned. But high school or college kids would get a lot out of the stories in this book - from the willingness to take risks to the understanding that sometimes bad things happen. I may have been reluctant to start this book, but I'm very glad I read it.
Television shows:
- Gotham: "Damned If You Do..." - An episode that sets up the new status quo, showing Penguin consolidating his power while Jim is demoted to street duty. There's a point in this episode where Bruce shows his twisted reasoning that will eventually lead him to take up the mantle of Batman - and shares that reasoning with Jim, who takes it to heart. And that's really the entire point of the show. Bad choices are made that result in horrible things with the goal towards creating a greater good. What are the consequences of those bad choices going to be on the people who made them? We also see Nygma falling further into mental breakdown with an interesting scene at a mirror. The Riddler has been both villain and anti-hero in the comics, this show may try to give him all the levels he's had in the comics.
- Doctor Who: "The Witch's Familiar" - Missy is truly an amazing character. I definitely see the roots of the original Master in her portrayal, along with the gathered insanity of the others. Her tricks in this one were lovely from a story standpoint. However, the absolute best moment of all came in the beginning, (spoilers) jura Zvffl vf gryyvat Pynen gur fgbel nobhg gur Qbpgbe naq Pynen fnlf gur Qbpgbe tbg njnl. Zvffl'f erfcbafr (naq gur ivqrb bs gur Qbpgbe nybat jvgu vg) znqr zr cnhfr gur fubj fb V pbhyq snyy bhg bs zl punve ynhtuvat: "Ab, ur'f gur Qbpgbe. Ur sryy vagb n arfg bs inzcver zbaxrlf. Ohg gung'f nabgure fgbel!" V'z abj tbvat gb fcraq fbzr gvzr guvaxvat nobhg inzcver zbaxrlf, V guvax. Gur bgure gryyvat zbzrag jnf jura Zvffl gevrq gb trg gur Qbpgbe gb xvyy gur qnyrx juvpu unq xvyyrq Pynen. Irel zhpu ure guvat. Was it a great episode? Yes and no. It had some moments, but it dragged a little in the middle.
Novella review:
- What Has Passed Shall In Kinder Light Appear by Bao Shu is one of the more interesting stories I've read this entire year. Originally I was a bit put off by it because I thought the writer was getting basic stuff wrong... then it hit me what was happening. At that point I started to really enjoy it. While it probably could have been a tad shorter, it was still quite excellent. I'm not sure about the ending, but the whole thing was so good that by the end I was enjoying it enough it almost didn't matter. In short, definitely a contender for my Hugo nomination ballot.
- Aug 12th
- Justice League United #12 - So the team works after all? I wonder very much about Mera on the hunt for Aquaman all on her own, but at least Animal Man keeps his word. As for the rest, the team probably ought to listen to Etrigan on this one.
- Earth 2 Society #3 - Ok, I liked the bits with Lois' story, but I'm not really sure what to make of the rest. I'm not sure I get where this story is going.
- DC Comics Bombshells #1 - Ok, I'm in. The total subversion of the Batman origin was lovely. This is fun from start to finish, with a pleasant kind of art that amuses me. The stories are promising so far as well. I know Mera shows up soon, so I'm just going to really enjoy this book, I think.
- Arrow: Season 2.5 #11 - Well, that's kind of an anti-climax for the final scene, since we know he survives. In fact, all of season three is already over, so there's no question at all. This book was a neat enough idea, but it just falls down in places.
- Star Trek/Green Lantern #2 - For whatever reason, it took me forever to want to read this book. I literally would read the first page, say, "eh" and move on to a different book. Once I got past the first page, it wasn't bad, but honestly, I'm just not that interested in it. Which is strange, because usually I love cross-universe stories like this. I will just note that whoever is writing the book got the spectrum lanterns all wrong, as well. Oops.
- Empire Uprising #4 - Wow. Everyone in this book is pretty evil, but this guy takes the cake, I think. I also wonder about Lohkyn - I remember him from the original series. A good character, even though his fate was unpleasant. I'm not sure about that final splash, though. Going to have to keep reading.
- Rebels #5 - Honestly, this series feels like it's been going a lot longer than five issues, and I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. I feel like I need to go back and reread the first four issues, though. There's stuff I feel like I'm missing.
- Secret Wars 2099 #4 - I really hate Miguel in this book. Roberta, on the other hand, is very cool. And seeing Hercules and Sub-Mariner trying to drink each other under the table was great.
- SpongeBob Comics #47 - I love the fishstick. I don't know why, but it really amused the heck out of me. The rest is more of the usual - fun if you like the humor in SpongeBob.
- Doctor Who 10th #14 - Oooo Pyramids of Mars references! Awesome. I wanna read more of this one, especially after that cliffhanger.
- Doctor Who 11th #15 - Well, 15 issues in we finally get the finish to the story that started in depression with a rainbow dog. Good stuff, and I'm glad we've sorted out Jones and ARC. I'm curious where the story will head next.
- Doctor Who 2015: Four Doctors #1 - Clara goes to stop a paradox but apparently causes the very paradox she went to prevent? Is that what I'm reading here? Good job Clara!
Sunday, September 13, 2015
A Sunday Review
Another recommended book I jumped into reading without checking too much about it first. I was able to figure out that this was the first of a series before I started, so I wasn't going to end up shocked by the end. Well, at least not shocked because it's the first of a series...
First up: the completely non-spoiler review. Take a group of philosophers from all throughout time who have read Plato's Republic and want to make it a reality. How are they going to do it? How closely must they stick to Plato's original concept? And how can that concept survive the harsh realities of life that Plato didn't have a clue about? To say the ideas in this book are amazing is to praise it too faintly. The execution of those ideas? Well, I found the descriptions of sex to be unsettling, although understandable in the context of the story. Beyond that, almost everything odd in the tale is attributable to the situation.
Ok, Spoilers ahead (use rot13 to read). Nal fgbel gung pyvznkrf jvgu n qrongr orgjrra Nguran naq Fbpengrf unf gb unir fbzrguvat tbvat sbe vg, evtug? Bx, V ernyyl jnfa'g rkcrpgvat gur qrongr gb raq gung jnl, ohg V fhccbfr V sbetbg fbzr bs zl qrgnvyf nobhg ubj Nguran naq gur Terrx tbqf graqrq gb npg jura gurl ner hcfrg.
Univat abg ernq Cyngb erpragyl, V jnf hapregnva ubj pybfr gur znfgref jrer fgvpxvat gb gur grkg rkprcg jura gur obbx vgfrys zragvbaf vg. V pbafgnagyl sryg yvxr V fubhyq or erernqvat zl napvrag grkgf gb xrrc hc jvgu gur fgbel, ohg gurer jrer rabhtu pyhrf vg jnfa'g erdhverq... vg whfg frrzrq yvxr vg zvtug unir znqr zber frafr vs V qvq.
Fvzzrn vf n vqrny yvggyr punenpgre, nyzbfg n Znel Fhr va znal jnlf. Fur unf ure unat-hcf, ohg V fhfcrpg gung zbfg bs gur tveyf jbhyq gnxr gb gur pvgl orggre guna gur oblf, naljnl. Sebz gur svefg cntrf Fvzzrn znxrf vg pyrne gung vg'f gur npgvbaf bs gur znfgref bs gur pvgl gung pnhfrq ure snzvyl gb or xvyyrq naq ure gb orpbzr n fynir, juvpu vf bar bs gur ovttrfg synjf bs gur pvgl vgfrys. Gur znfgref qvqa'g ernyvmr gung gurl'q frg gurzfryirf hc sbe snvyher jvgu gurve pubvpr gb erghea rnpu lrne sbe zber fynirf, frggvat hc n qrznaq. Ohg va Fvzzrn'f pnfr, fur sbetvirf gurz sbe vg, juvpu znxrf ure n yvggyr vqrnyvfgvp. Jura nyy vf fnvq naq qbar, fur qbrf frrz gbb tbbq gb or gehr.
V jvyy abgr gung Fvzzrn'f qrfpevcgvba bs ure cbfgcneghz qrcerffvba fgehpx ubzr sbe zr. Ab, V'ir arire unq n onol, ohg V xabj qrcerffvba, naq V erpbtavmr gung srryvat bs abguvat orvat erny. Juvyr V jnf qryvtugrq gung fur jnf pherq, V fbeg bs jvfurq rirelbar jub fhssref sebz qrcerffvba pbhyq or fb rnfvyl pherq.
Ncbyyb'f cynpr va gur fgbel vf zhpu orggre ernyvmrq. Uvf jvyyvatarff gb orpbzr uhzna naq rkcrevrapr rirelguvat sbe uvzfrys vf terng. Nf gur fgbel cebterffrf, ur tebjf nf jryy, va jnlf gung ner ernyvfgvp rabhtu gb znxr uvf cneg bs gur gnyr haqrefgnaqnoyr naq pbzcryyvat.
Birenyy, V jnf zvyqyl qvfnccbvagrq va fbzr nfcrpgf bs gur fgbel ohg zbfgyl vagevthrq ol gur vqrnf, juvpu vf jung gur fgbel vf nyy nobhg naljnl: vqrnf naq ubj gurl genafyngr vagb ernyvgl. Vg'f nyy nobhg gur vqrnf. Guvf vf abg gur orfg obbx V'ir ernq guvf lrne, ohg vg'f sne sebz gur jbefg.
In conclusion, this is on my maybe list. I might read the sequel, already out, "The Philosopher Kings" to find out what happens next. If it's better than this one, I might nominate it instead.
Hugo 2016 short story reviews:
- "Sea Change" by Kimberly Unger is about adaptation in the face of drastic change. In this case, it's a bit of technology meant for a particular purpose that has to decide what sort of adaptations it is allowed. I found the setting mildly confusing at first, then the clues filtered in and I began to understand the world and its people. A very nice little story, worth checking out. Note: the direct link may be active for a limited time.
- "Robot Boss" by Erick Melton is about the limitations and screw-ups of modern technology. It's a fun little story about a guy troubleshooting through a nasty little problem to get both a decent answer and more. I enjoyed it a lot, but I'm afraid I wouldn't put it on the top of my list of short stories of the year.
- "Mightier Than The Sword" by Arlene F. Marks is a powerful little superhero tale, told quickly and completely in the form of an interview with a hero called Ultraman. The story is about how all superpowers aren't obvious, and how that could be very dangerous if a child seems normal among other children who have outward signs of power. An interesting tale, but there's a plot hole or two, and a tiny bit of cliche as well. This one is good, but not likely to be on my ballot.
- "Endgame" by Barry Charman is about artificial intelligence, and how it might be measured. Or not. It's a little sneaky, this story. There's an undertow in it ready to pull you along if you think about it. Quite enjoyable for an extremely short story.
Hugo 2016 novelette reviews:
- "Brigas Nunca Mais" by Martin L. Shoemaker is about duty and its conflict with young romance. The story is set at a wedding, with the happy groom telling a tale about his superior officer to his bride. The ending was almost predictable, but the final words were the bit that break the heart and make you want to cry a little. A powerful little tale. Definitely worth reading.
- "Sacred Cows: Death and Squalor on the Rio Grande" by A.S. Diev. I really feel for Maria, and part of me wished she'd walked away a bit faster. As for the rest... whew. Yeah, a horrible future, showing what genetic manipulation in the hands of people who have too much money and too little concern for human life can lead to. Overall, a nicely plotted story, if depressing in its implications and slightly stereotyped. I can't even say the ending is sad... tragic, of course, but I'm not sure about sad.
Hugo 2016 novella review:
- Entrepreneurs by Robert Grossbach. Is the story of a man whose had a few failures in life and a few problems, but accidentally runs across an opportunity of a lifetime. Which, of course, doesn't work out exactly as planned. It works out, eventually, and that's the fun of the story. It's not a story about failure, but there's a lot in there about how much it takes to succeed. Plus, aliens. Awesome little aliens. And even a sort of homage to Douglas Adams. Overall, a very fun little tale.
My Hugo Suggestions were likely recommended in the comment sections on File 770, Renay's Hugo Spreadsheet of Doom, or the Hugo 2016 Wikia. For my current list of Hugo 2016 readings, check out my Hugo 2016 Posts page.
- Aug 5th
- Green Lantern #43 - Wow, Hal is really annoying. As is his ship and his guests.
- Batman Beyond #3 - So Batman gets out of a jam, only to land himself in a bigger jam? That sounds like the BB I know. Too bad it's not actually Terry.
- Flash: Season Zero #11 - Basically a history of Captain Cold and Heatwave, not a lot to recommend it, really. Not heavy on story, not heavy on plot. It's kind of meh, all in all.
- Big Game Hunters #2 - I wish the art was a little less... um... decorative. It is too busy for me. Otherwise, I'm enjoying the story. I just feel like there are too many bits where the art detracts instead of sustains it.
- Big Game Hunters #3 - And in the same week, the final issue also arrives. Again, the art is a problem. It just needs some minor tweaking here and there to make things more clear, and it wouldn't be a problem. As it is, this isn't a great series, but I enjoyed the characters.
- Mage Inc. #2 - Good artwork mixed with an amusing if slightly incomprehensible story, told from the point of view of a character who is nearly as clueless as the reader, and it comes out to be a pretty good book overall! I'm definitely enjoying this one.
- UFOlogy #4 - And we're getting close to finding out just what's going on here. The whole situation is difficult, but the kids are handling it very nicely compared to the adults. This is one I'm going to have to reread once it's done to figure it out, but I'm actually looking forward to that.
- This Damned Band #1 - So, a 1970's band that has the evil persona of having sold their souls to the devil... doesn't realize they've actually sold their souls. The idea is sound enough, but I'm curious to see how far this goes. Not my favorite book of the year, and definitely not for children.
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