Tag: SFF Books

For the Love of Books #33

A Halloween special for the love of books, and two titles for a double dose of heebie-jeebies.

The first title was one I was lucky enough to catch a sneak preview of, since I was asked to paint the cover art. With such a vivid tale, built on imagery that leaves a permanent imprint, it was a pleasure to work a visual to embrace the story.

At Night, White Bracken; by Gareth Wood

Deep in a Midlands high rise estate, smoking hash and supping flat Carling, Danny and Cooper are watching a show about hunters, featuring two men baiting and trapping paedophiles in a modern day blood sport. Inspired, Danny and Cooper join forces with Hickey, a particularly sinister and intimidating individual, and begin laying traps for their first victim, enlisting the help of a vulnerable young woman, Shanice. I appreciated the opportunity that Shanice’s character brought, allowing for moments of tenderness to exist in lives astutely observed.

There is a poetic quality to the writing, with prose alive on the page, perfectly describing the crime and grime, the bleak and the monstrous, in a place where men move in packs like rats among bladed edges of high rise blocks, edged by wire fencing. But as this terrifying and misguided plan unfolds, the world gains mysterious depth.

Danny is the narrator, revealing an intriguing personal backstory that sets him apart. Remembering recurring childhood nightmares, he introduces a cosmic quality that blends the possibility of magic with pallid reality. Realities collide, dread and merriment entwine, in a world of malevolent, sinister, magic, and a horror-filled journey cast in bright white light. The characters are real, and kept me guessing, as edgy as the estate. Streaks of almost beauty reveal humanity that is captivating, made more so by the harsh surrounds. And in this vividly depicted and entirely relatable world, the reveal of magic was the perfect tease to lead the way through the dark twists and turns.

A horrifying and brilliantly inventive, thought-provoking tale.

Hex; by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

Hex is a chilling supernatural thriller set in the town of Black Spring in picturesque Hudson Valley, a town cursed by the Black Rock Witch, a seventeenth century woman called Katherine van Wyler accused of witchcraft back in the days of puritanical colonies. Chained, and with eyes and mouth sewn shut, she haunts the streets and enters homes at will. Her presence in daily/nightly life is the norm, which makes it no less chilling, and since the story is told from the perspective of a diverse cast of townspeople, the way in which people relate to her is broad. Some mock and chastise in scenes almost comical, while others are deeply affected, feeling injustices that continue to be committed against her. One resident goes so far as to offer comfort, adjusting chains, speaking compassionately, empathy perhaps born from her own circumstances, while undoubtedly motivated to appease the spirit in order to remain safe from the evil eye. The range of responses is bizarre, and interesting, with one thing in common, no one will open Ms Van Wyler’s eyes.

As residents carve their path for living alongside the curse, a web of ritual and routine is formed, and paranoia and claustrophobia spreads, ratcheting up the horror. I was soon drawn into this creepy page turner, that reveals the truly disturbing dark side of human nature. With relatable characters, dynamic narrative and vivid descriptions that leap off the page, this original story haunts long after the last page is turned.

What are you reading?

For the Love of Books #32

A nod to my last post themed on nature, and a recommendation following a gorgeous day out in Dorset at Abbotsbury Swannery. Tipping a dramatic coastline, this unique and natural wildlife habitat is the only place in the world where you are able to walk through the heart of a managed colony of free-flying, nesting Mute Swans. And what a place to live – it’s no wonder they choose to stay.

 

And after a big breath of avian sea air, it’s back to the realm of stories with Comic Con. Star Wars is clearly a favourite, and the full size array of robots through the franchise. They may be made of metal, but they are far from expressionless.

The emergence of AI and its interplay in the art world is a big topic. From droids, space travelling humanoids, alien terminators, and colonising machines set to take over the world, robotics and AI have long featured in our stories. Recently I was introduced to a fascinating series, with a whole new take on this vast subject:

The Subjugate; by Amanda Bridgeman

In a watchful world where humanity is complemented by AI, cities are ruled by security companies, yet crime and murder are still commonplace. The story features two detectives, Salvi Brentt and Mitch Grenville, each one an interesting character in their own right, with intriguing complex backstories and a dynamic that at times complimented the dis-ease of the thriller, which I found compelling.

The setting of the story is well-drawn, an imagined future where ethical limitations of AI are subtly observed, with talking robo-cleaners and dedicated AI prefilling data of transcriptions and interviews, yet always with a human hand to sign them off to ensure their eligibility in court. Yet some pullaway communities are resisting technological advances. Just outside the city, the unincorporated community of Bountiful is one of the leading pullaway communities, and one of the most religious. Founded in 1934, it is a town built on religion, populated by the Children of Christ. There’s no internet, mobile phones or computers, although it does have a close relationship with the nearby Solme Complex. The Solme Complex houses violent criminals called Subjugates, who undergo extreme treatments involving religion and technology, and include painful chemical castrations and implanted neural technology which can be used to shock into submission. There are interesting themes around redemption, forgiveness and freedom from sin, with aptly disturbing methods. Subjugates who are successfully converted over the course of several years of ‘treatment’ are called Serenes. They are released unsupervised but with the neural implants recording electrical activity in the brain. When heightened emotion is detected, it triggers a visual alarm in the silver crown worn by Serenes, called a halo.

Following the discovery of a young woman’s body in the community of Bountiful, the two detectives head out to investigate. A discovery of biolume at the scene, bacterial natural lighting, leads them to the Solme Complex, with Subjugates the prime suspects. As the investigation continues, further layers of the world are revealed, with the relevant question of ‘how far is too far’ with technology explored through inventive examples, including augmented realities where avatars are free to play out forbidden desires. There are questions around, just because you can, should you, and are we all slaves to something whether it be religion, technology, or law enforcement? And there are themes around how this all connects to freedom and control. In a bid to be free, do we just end up creating further structures, disciplines and controls? Is freedom truly possible in a world of corruption? I enjoyed the exploration of these big questions, the intriguing future dystopian world, and contrasting characters leading this fast-paced sci-fi thriller that kept me wanting to know more.

The Sensation; by Amanda Bridgeman

Salvi Brentt had killed a man, and he had almost killed her. Under psych review she was cleared for active duty and has a new partner, the department’s dedicated AI, Riverton. A case opens when the body of 34-year-old Devon Barker is found in Sensation. A woman, Myki Natashi, is discovered unconscious in the bedroom by police, who had responded to a domestic disturbance. Myki doesn’t know what happened, and only remembers dinner the night before with Devon. Vincent Calabri was seen in the area, a man with a small rap sheet in the employ of detective Francis Melon, who is Myki’s ex-boyfriend of 3 years. Melon works in the financial industry, a known acquaintance of John Dorant, affording him loose ties to organised crime, and friends in high places. This case is also coupled with the murder of undercover officer, Caine, and the disappearance of the Chief’s daughter into a drug gang.

As in the first book of the series, I enjoyed the character arcs, and in particular the main character, Salvi, a complex woman with a past, and strength to face herself and get the job done. She is still seeing her old partner, Mitch, which was an interesting aspect of her character development in the first book, and continues to add interest in this sequel. Previously, Salvi had faced two serial killers, and one was still alive: Edward Moses, Subjugate-52, locked up in the Solme Complex. Subjugate-52 has been asking for Salvi. He hasn’t received what was promised him after helping Salvi in the last case. He was promised to become a Serene, but Salvi disappeared on him, renegading on her word. Now she is concerned what level of deception he is capable of, and how he might manipulate access to the wider world.

The development of the role of AI in this sequel was particularly interesting. Talking robo-cleaners have names, and the AI, Riverton, is humanised through friendly interactions, showing apparent consideration to which Salvi responds in kind. Hackers cause chaos to evidence by wiping CCTV footage, and more sinister, they hack neural implants that leave a brain wide open to abuse and full-on takeover. A broad range of available technology sees a further reduction in human/human interaction, with drone surveillance, VR headsets and tasers, robot dancers, and holographic forms. Neural tech is also injected in drug form, rendering a person entirely helpless to being used as a sex droid. There are interesting questions here, since the drug lowers a person’s inhibitions and heightens sexual desire, leading to sex. But this is under the influence of a drug, illegally administered without consent, and therefore constitutes rape.

Tech used to keep subjugates in line can equally be used to keep slaves in line, adding a further, compelling sinister edge. Salvi is on a deadly mission to uncover truths, and among the truths are: where do we draw the line, who is good and who is bad or is society just lurking somewhere between, what is right and wrong and who has the right, who is hunter and who is prey? Technology affords power, and with it comes responsibility, but is anyone responsible enough? These are questions I am left with, making this an inspiring read.

What are you reading?

Representation and Belonging in SFF

It’s been a busy couple of weeks, firstly taking part in this year’s World Fantasy Convention all the way to Kansas from the comfort of my writing room, because there’s no place like home.

With fabulous authors from all over the globe, reading and speaking on a great range of panels, there’s much to inspire, to share and collaborate. For my part it was a pleasure to sit in on the Magical Healing and Disability Aids in Fantasy panel, discussing representation of disability in the genres, and exploring the added creative options that magic and the fantastical can bring. Thankfully representation of diverse abilities is improving. A recent cinema trip introduced me to the character, Joshua in the film, The Creator, a wonderfully layered character, a double amputee with seriously fancy prosthetics in this world of AI. Still, his disability is kept visible, representation organically woven into the character arc of a hero.

It got me thinking about the book, Noor, by Nnedi Okorafor. Noor is the main character, a young woman born with significant disabilities, further disabled in a car crash as a teen. The story is her journey into cybernetics, rebuilding herself in unique ways, focused on the aim of wanting to move through the world on her own terms. And it’s a wonderful read, as is Broken Places and Outer Places, Nnedi Okorafor’s auto-biographical novella.

Empowered characters pushing back against the ableist view that disability needs to be fixed or cured in order to live a fulfilling life. Professor Xavier didn’t need a cure, and neither did Bran Stark on his journey from childhood underdog to all-powerful three-eyed raven. Just a few more recommendations to add to the conversation:

And last weekend, from Kansas to the New Forest here in the UK, where I joined my lovely publishers for the Play on Words Festival at the wonderfully colourful Forest Arts Centre.

Friday was a gorgeous evening of readings, and among other wonderful authors I was delighted to read from The Warder, a world of gifts and curses, animism and magic, where characters are inextricably bonded, against a backdrop of mysterious dragon mythology. Saturday saw a day of inventive workshops, including one on the subject of young adult fiction, facilitated by myself and Victoria L. Humphreys, author of Not the Work of An Ordinary Boy. What content is too mature for teens? What ways can we approach tough content in books that are inclusive to the younger reader? There’s not much you can’t tackle, it just depends on approach, and, done right, what a wonderful resource books can be, creating space to process difficult stuff, share stories, harbour that all-important sense of belonging. And there’s just so many great YA books out there, too many to name, but here are a few favourites:

      

In the midst of a storm, I was lucky to catch a blue sky and have a moment to contemplate the power of stories, to reflect, give space, inspire, and offer that sense of belonging.

What are you reading?

For the Love of Books #27

Stopping by to share a love of books, and this time a look at fantastical creatures. There are so many great titles to choose from, but I’ve gone for three, each with a unique flavour…

The Mermaid of Black Conch; by Monique Roffey

In the Black Conch waters, one mile off Murder Bay, David Baptiste meets Aycayia:

“…long, long ago I don’t know the time, only that they called up a huracan, to take me far away, seal up my legs inside a tail.’

And from that day, whenever the leatherbacks arrive, he knows she will soon appear. No woman can compare to his mermaid, leaving a heart of sorrow to drown in a bottle of rum, while he finds the words to write the story down. She was an interruption in the middle of God’s act of creation, cursed by women to seal her sex inside a big tail, to keep her away from their men. And when the Americans caught her, David Baptiste is left feeling the sorrow of believing it was his fault.

Set on an imaginary Caribbean island, this is a wonderfully textured, layered read that pulls on all the senses. Tantalising in its entanglement of the mythical blended with visceral realism of everyday life. The place was brought to life, the love between man and mermaid felt as real a blackbird’s song, and the story arc weaving between past and present brought reflections of life’s loves, losses and desires into sharp focus. A lively, colourful, triumphant treat of a book. Needless to say, I adored it.

The Invisible Library; by Genevieve Cogman

The Invisible Library is a fun read, that overall has the feel of game playing within the realms of story-telling, with rules and payoffs to magic along the ride. The story stars Irene, a professional spy for the mysterious library, harvesting fiction from different realities. She is a character who is sure of herself, content and confident in her chosen profession, courageous in her various assignments to alternate worlds. The latest assignment is to an alternative London to retrieve a dangerous book, along with her assistant, Kai. But nothing is as it seems in chaotic alternate worlds.

I enjoyed the characterisation, and representation of an older woman unflinching in adventure, and courageous in the face of, well, anything. It was also a refreshing dynamic to see her play an older role model to the young man Kai. Fae creatures of chaos and magic await, an infestation of vampires, werewolves and technology working in weird ways, and Irene is soon on the run from gargoyles and hellhounds, only to stumble upon steampunk creatures to delight the imagination of any reader – creatures that also extend to the idea of the monster inside us. But what exactly is the sinister character laying in wait…?

Theoretical Dragon Anatomy; by Isabelle V. Busch

Is it true that dragons wholly belong in the mythical beast category, are they truly fictional, or are they formed from fragmented fact? Theoretical Dragon Anatomy is a biology manual, innovative in ecological thinking, problem solving, theorising, and containing intriguing and beautiful artwork to further illustrate the hugely absorbing information. With scutes and sensory pores shared with swimming alligators, wing structure akin to their pterosaur ancestors, a cardiovascular system resembling that of a bird, not to mention a digestive system with crops akin to their avian friends, and embryology that draws lines to lizards, snakes, chickens, crocodiles and bats… I can honestly say that dragons have never felt so familiar, a fact I have thoroughly enjoyed discovering. Oh, and did someone mention a flamme gland… yes, all wrapped up with some dragon pyrotechnics…

What are you reading?

For the Love of Books #26

If ever I needed a reminder of the heights of great worldbuilding, this collection, from one of our great SFF pioneers, Ursula Le Guin, offers a masterclass. Eight short stories and novellas bring us worlds near and far, those travelling between worlds, and shifting perspectives from outwards to inwards with thought-provoking poignancy.

The Birthday of the World; by Ursula Le Guin

To give you a sneak peek into the inner workings…

The Birthday of the World

The Birthday of the World is considered to be the time the sun stands over Mount Kanaghadwa, when people count themselves a year older, although the rituals and ceremonies are no longer remembered. In a society struggling with their concept of god, the narrator reflects on their own beliefs, rituals and ceremonies, layering a world where gods dance and die, and wild dragons fly. But with wars at the borders, lands have grown too large and the existence of God itself is threatened. The world must die so that God may live, and so the narrator is left pondering the identity of God itself.

Old Music and the Slave Women

Esdan, a chief intelligence officer, ends up on a clandestine mission during a civil war. Intercepted by government forces, he is imprisoned on a large slave estate, where his perspective becomes increasingly limited. In a brutal world, this is a story of survival, and hopeful endeavour in the coming revolution. Will the rebellion reach them? From humiliating violence, to muddy waters of human inequity in supposed liberation, to the failings of world construct to deliver utopia, it is in the bonds between slaves that kindness and comfort is found, and where the heart of the story lies.

Paradise Lost

On a multi-generational voyage to a potentially habitable planet, Liu Hsing and Nova Luis are members of the fifth generation born on the space ship. Many are excited by the idea of discovery, a planet to explore and send information back to the human species. But some people, especially the older generation, subscribe to the religion of Bliss – the state of a blissful journey, with no end. For them, Bliss is the only reason to stay alive. Liu and Nova are faced with followers of the religious cult who question if living on a planet is such a joy. There are also environmental themes, highlighting the challenge of making change, and the overall question of what is natural and what is not. An interesting read, fascinating in its construct, and thought-provoking in the themes of isolation, religion and utopia.

Solitude

Solitude is told by the narrator, as she reflects on her experiences growing up on Eleven-Soro. Her mother was an Observer, whose work involved settling among the native people of Eleven Soro, to learn about this complex alien world. Cultural differences between mother and daughter eventually drive them apart. Where the mother shuns the alien culture, the narrator adopts it as her own, wanting to grow her soul and experience what it means to be  a person of that culture. It is a theme reflective of generational confusion, complicated by outside influence. It is also an interesting use of perspective, approaching the culture of Eleven-Soro from a colonised mindset, yet entirely shifting perspective onto a young woman who becomes part of it. Cultural norms are highlighted, which require societies of modest population, driven by a desire for solitude and the social norm being introverts, perhaps essentially selecting for autism. In true style of Ursula Le Guin, subverted expectations are delivered with ease, which illuminate and surprise, in this creative and thought-provoking world.

The Matter of Seggri

Set in the dystopian society of Seggri, the story is written as a first contact report on the ship’s log of the Wandership. The captain describes a complex society which demonstrates gender as a social construct. Gender expectation is subverted and replaced with inventive roles. The impact of colonialism is also questioned, with consideration given to a society destabilised by outside contact. Previous colonial interference messed with chromosomes, which now results in there being sixteen women for every one man. In the present day, men have all the privilege and women have all the power. Given the opportunity, would men cling to their privileged status or demand freedom, and would women resist giving up their power? Would the sexual system break down?

Unchosen Love

In a world textured with colour, legend and mystery, a polygamous society is structured around family units called sedoretu. Hadri has been chosen to join one such family, after a man seeks out his affections. Homosexual and heterosexual coupling is commonplace, and various aspects of relationships are explored, including the more insidious coercive control.

‘Being unhappy in a room is worse than being unhappy outdoors.’

It is following one mysterious encounter that Hadri comes to realise his true feelings. It is a startling discovery, not least for himself, and brings with it a tantalising coming-of-age feel.

Mountain Ways

This story continues with the themes from Unchosen Love, with society structured around the same sedoretu units. Two women fall in love outside of convention, but over time they conform and strive to form a sedoretu. Through it we see the cost of compromise, the bitterness of conformity and restriction, a stark contrast to two previously independent souls. It was an intriguing and illuminating play on character, that also undoubtedly left a bitter taste. There was also an interesting interplay with the natural world, challenging the concept of ownership. I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of environmental equity.

Coming of Age in Karhide

Set on the fictional planet of Gethen, a place where adults have no fixed gender identity, the story follows Sov Thade Tage em Ereb, a teenager living in a large communal home in the Karhidish city of Rer. As Sov experiences biological changes, it is clear they are ready for kemmer, held in a communal Kemmerhouse for those sexually receptive. Any children conceived in the Kemmerhouse are raised in the communal home, the hearth. Sov and their friend, both ready for kemmer, express fears that being in kemmer is dehumanizing, being seen as a sex machine. And so Sov’s coming of age story is told, of changing bodies and sexuality that was utterly relatable, as well as a meaningful alternative look into gender identity in a place where, quite simply, love is love.

What are you reading?

International Women’s Day 2023

A few reflections on this year’s International Women’s Day, when I had the opportunity to join a wonderful collaboration of women for Dreadnought South West’s Occupy the Airwaves, a day-long extravaganza celebrating women’s voices on radio. AND I was thrilled to share the session with the fabulous Mama Tokus, soul, jazz, blues & gospel singer, whose spirit is contagious, and spoken word creations bring rhyme, tune, & cheeky reflections: perfect snapshots of life as we know it.

For my part, I brought a love of women in SFF, and stories that provide a common language, that help break down barriers, and speak to the social commentary of the times. With a special request from Mama Tokus to chat Afrofuturism, it was a great opportunity to share some of my favourite authors of this genre of reclamation: own voices reclaiming history, land, future aspirations, pushing through glass ceilings, decolonising space, minds and literature. From the pioneering Octavia Butler, interrogating power dynamics of race and gender throughout her range of titles, to the indominable Nnedi Okorafor, writer of the Black Panther comics, whose range of work speaks to colour, invention and empowerment. Her brand is specifically Africanfuturism and Africanjujuism, phrases she coined: speculative fiction based in Africa from the Sudan, to Namibia to Nigeria, and many places between.

Ah, and there wasn’t enough time to mention so many other great names: Eugen Bacon, Renee Sheree Thomas, Rivers Solomon, NK Jemison, and Nisi Shawl (with her insightful and memorable read, Everfair – historical retelling of King Leopold in the Congo, exploring what might have happened if the indigenous Congolese had had access to steam power).

And after wandering through the meanderings of Afro-futurism, my first song choice was Vul’indela by Brenda Fassie – described as the queen of African pop, she was a South African singer who did amazing things raising money for HIV/AIDS. This song, sung in Zulu, is essentially about a mother who is relieved when her son gets married, because she thought he was a player..!

And the second song choice… it has to be Tracey Chapman, a lesbian icon, and her song ‘For my Lover’, about a relationship that nobody approves of, but against all odds, she’ll do it anyway.

Onto my own, Blood Gift Chronicles, a world where many worlds fit, with interconnecting landscapes and societies built around nature and magic. And of course, it’s always a pleasure to talk about Suni’s extraordinary journey: from the patriarchal backdrop of Return of the Mantra, where we see Suni’s frailties and strengths as she survives, loves, fights and learns to stand with her own agency, highlighting empowerment, self-belief, and finding your own inner strength; through the twists and turns of adulthood as the series progresses. Because from the beginning I was motivated to write complex women with agency, to reflect the cost of exploitation and corruption, to challenge stereotypes, subvert expectation, redefine notions of strong, and create diverse character arcs with relatable experiences. We can appreciate our frailties, we can not only survive but we can thrive, we can feel fear but be guided by hope and love. And as a writer and reader, I’m guided by the fact that representation matters. When we see ourselves represented, it’s empowering, validating, and gives that sense of belonging.

Have a great week!

For the Love of Books #22

Approaching the end of LGBTQ+ history month here in the UK, and I thought I would share two SFF titles, if not for historical relevance, for the significance of representation. Sci-fi has often been seen as ahead of the curve in breaking barriers, and across the genres, marginalised voices are coming to the fore.

The Four Profound Weaves; by R.B. Lemberg

The first of the four profound weaves is woven from wind to signify change, invisible threads woven into whispered weaves, spun from a captured wind and revealing hints pf pink and silver desert hues. This type of descriptive narrative flows throughout this magical novella, with tantalising magic woven from the surrounds, almost plain to see but impossible to catch – just like a magic carpet, which was one of the reasons I was drawn to this book.

The story begins with Uiziya, sitting in her goatskin tent waiting for the return of her exiled Aunt Benesret. Her weaves cannot compare to Benesret’s, whose expert fingers could weave even from bones. Uiziya’s lessons of the Four Profound Weaves are unfinished, and still she waits to inherit her aunt’s loom, waiting to learn the weave of death. It’s a weave that involves an actual death. Benesret previously killed Uiziya’s husband for the sake of the weave. It was the reason Benesret was banished, because she killed. Nevertheless, it is a weave Uiziya must learn, since she is destined to become a great weaver of the Four Profound Weaves, one who would bring the gods themselves to her bidding.

Uiziya’s search for Benesret coincides with the Nameless Man’s search for his name. It is three months since the Nameless Man’s transformation at the ceremony of change, but his people, the Khana, don’t recognise transformed people, instead insisting that the shape of one’s body determines one’s fate. Uiziya is also a changer, since after weaving her cloth, the sandbirds came to her.

This is a brooding tale against a colourful backdrop, incorporating thought-provoking contemporary discussion of gender identity and transitioning. The Nameless Man ponders the social impact of his transformation: all his life he had been a lover, trader, and reluctant grandmother who cared for their grandchildren. Now he was a grandfather. But in his culture, grandchildren never saw their grandfathers. It is insight like this that gives real depth to character, narrative and backdrop. Fantasy woven alongside these personal journeys of transformation, reveal the challenges of surrounding microaggressions designed to undermine an identity to uphold another. I loved the simple statement given in one response to tireless questioning of a person’s identity: ‘This is what feels right to me.’

Thought-provoking themes set against an imaginative world called Birdverse, described with magical lyricism that is a feast for the senses, makes for a truly memorable story.

Gideon the Ninth; by Tamsin Muir

Enter the world of lesbian necromancers…

Gideon lives on a remote planet, home to both the stronghold of the House of the Ninth, and a tiny prison used for criminals whose crimes are so repugnant, they cannot be rehabilitated in their own houses. The Ninth House is an enormous hole cracked vertically into the planet’s core, and the prison is a bubble installation set halfway up into the atmosphere. Gideon first arrived when her mother mysteriously appeared, falling down the planetary shaft. Gideon, just one year old at the time, survived the fall. She was chipped, surnamed and put into the nursery. By age five they knew that she was not a necromancer, and by eight that she would never be a nun. By ten they knew she knew too much and could never be allowed to leave. By the time she is eighteen, Gideon has attempted to run away eighty-six times. The alternative would be to die in this dark netherworld, which would only be the beginning.

On the tenth thousand year of the King of the Undying, Prince of Death, Gideon makes another attempt, only to be thwarted by the Lady of the Ninth House, Reverend Daughter Harrowhawk. Harrowhawk has her own plans for Gideon: for Gideon to become cavalier primary of the House of the Ninth. Serving Harrowhawk may not be Gideon’s idea of a good time, but it’s the only way to leave. But what will she be leaving for?

Welcome to an inventive and ghoulish world, where mysterious tendrils lie in wait to ensnare and crush the life out of those still living; a labyrinth of death, bones, panic, quest and mayhem. Disorganised chaos is punctuated with sarcastic, sadistic and mysterious notes that speak to the reader as much to the characters, tempting you to turn the page and delve further into this Alice in Wonderland-esque creepy maze. Magically weird, dark worldbuilding, with lively narrative and well-scripted dialogue brings to life the humanity of necromancers.

What are you reading?

 

For the Love of Books #20

The new year begins with a flurry of writing projects, and a stack of books just waiting to be devoured. I can’t wait to get stuck into my Xmas haul:

Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti series has been on the list for a while now, as I steadily devour everything this author has written from her ever-expanding wonderfully inventive collection. Which brings me to my ‘For the Love of Books’ book recommendations, both titles by this brilliant author.

Broken Places and Outer Spaces, By Nnedi Okorafor

Broken Places & Outer Spaces is an extraordinary, powerful and intimate biographical read. From star athlete with lifelong scoliosis, to a paralyzed patient following what should have been routine surgery, Nnedi Okorafor shares a journey she was forced to navigate. It was a battle that would ignite her passion for storytelling and the transformative power of imagination. It is a journey that, combined with her strong ties with Africa, in turn brought her back to science, allowing her to forge a connection with science fiction where previously she had felt disconnected.

‘In much of science fiction, when something breaks, something greater often emerges from the cracks. This is a philosophy that positions our toughest experiences, not as barriers, but as doorways, and may be the key to us becoming our truest selves.’

‘Inventive’ and ‘illuminating’ spring to mind when describing this author’s work. There is vivid colour and tone in her work that touches the senses, and a truth to the content and style that is steadfast, determined, and perhaps deeply driven to connect with the deepest parts of self. After reading this book, I have a greater appreciation of where that colour comes from. It is an account touching on illness and disability, with experiences I could relate to on a personal level, which in turn was incredibly illuminating and inspiring. In true form of where reality meets science fiction, this is Nnedi’s potentially true story of transforming into a cyborg.

Noor, By Nnedi Okorafor

Anwuli Okwudili, by definition to many Nigerians, is trouble. In her home of Abuja she is a demon, a witch, an abomination. To replace an organ or two with cybernetic, 3D-printed, non-human parts was fine, but go too far and you will be seen as more machine than human, the lowest of the low, cultureless offspring of the elite. In truth her cybernetics made her a damn good mechanic, but fixing cars, phones, problems… making people happy, still wasn’t enough to be understood. Disabled at birth, further disabled in a following car accident, she had been building on herself for years. The neural implants cost her her fiancé who claimed enough was enough, but AO saw no reason why she shouldn’t make her own decisions, that would mean she could move through the world on her own terms. And she did, in her hometown Abuja, until events took a turn and she was forced to flee into the desert.

‘There are times when you either save yourself or you don’t.’

Interesting characters come and go, including Baba Sola, a white man in the desert, not there to colonize, appropriate, seize and destroy, but rather to travel, learn, laugh, share and observe. And her main companion, a herdsman from nowhere, called DNA. Baba Sola leaves them with a message: they’re coming, and when they come, know your worth. And they did come, and AO knew her worth, and her capability at taking on the Ultimate Corporation.

I adored the unlikely heroine, a real survivor, feisty and determined in her independence and self-worth. It is an inventive story set in Nigeria, with mysterious haboobs and Ultimate Corp warehouses – a place you’ll never understand unless you enter one, and when you do, prepare for a ride. And the city of legend, the Hour Glass, where people go to be found, to disappear or to just be. It is there where AO discovers her true powers, that will make her question whether she was an experiment, an accident, a glitch or a mutation. Whatever she was, now the whole world knows it. Game on. A brilliantly inventive read.

What are you reading?

World Fantasy Convention 2022

Coming to the end of a wonderfully inventive, inspiring and truly imaginative World Fantasy Convention 2022. As we look for ways to break the mould, as well as barriers in our stories, international conventions are looking to do the same, finding platforms to raise a wonderfully diverse range of voices. It’s also a reminder of the inequity of barriers faced, as we search for those authentic voices. Hopeful, as we see gains made, reflected in my ever-going to-read list, while humbling in the knowledge of an uneven worldwide playing field. Still, there’s hope. If anyone knows how to find new and innovative solutions, it’s surely those that occupy the speculative fiction sphere.

   

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A Season of SFF Conventions

Looking forward to the week ahead, because… it is WORLD FANTASY CONVENTION 2023, my third year there, and I will be tuning into New Orleans from the comfort of my writing room. Really excited for so many inspiring panels, and conversations with readers and writers alike. And of course, I’m looking forward to being a panelist again, programmed on Friday’s, Just Who is the Villain panel. Buzzing – but more on that later.

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