Summerland by Hannu Rajaniemi isn’t easily categorized. “Alternate-history spy-thriller sci-fi based around supernatural speculative technology” doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Similar to his The Quantum Thief, Summerland delivers fast paced and fun genre tropes thru immersive world building.
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Omg! So cute!
The State of the Art by Iain M. Banks is kinda sorta the 4th book in his The Culture series. “Kinda sorta” because it’s a collection of shorts set mostly, but not entirely, in The Culture, along with a few literary shorts. I was impressed by how deftly he expressed so much in so few words.
#books
#Thunderbolts for the win. Not perfect or the best ever, but really damn good. Character arcs and themes that are integral to the plot. Fun, well choreographed action that wasn’t a CGI slop fest. Real, affecting emotional stakes! And a post credit scene that will actually pay off and mean something.
Four round patches. Crime: a red border with a neon green background. At the top in black letters is Crime. Below this is an arm coming out of the bottom with black and white striped sleeve and a red glove gripping the black handle of a knife with blood dripping off the front. Shape Shifting has a white border with a neon green background. At the top in black letters is Shape and at the bottom is Shifting. In the middle is a purple vase, then a thick white arrow pointing to a purple crow. Spiders has a black border with a neon green background. On the top left in black text is Spiders. Below this is a white hand with black spiders crawling over it and a bleeding cut under one of the spiders. Free Will has a neon green border with a light purple background. A green hand is coming out of the top holding a marionette controller (two wooden bars connected like a cross with a string coming off each end). Below the four strings are the words Free Will in white letters.
What did you achieve today?
buff.ly/AaIOsCa
With Jade Legacy, Fonda Lee accomplishes what few have: ending a trilogy with the best book. Lee’s prose, scene construction, characterization, and emotional impact grew stronger & more skilled with each entry, bringing the Green Bone Saga to a close with a masterpiece.
#jadelegacy
These are not for everyone. Thacker himself claims to write books for no one to read. (I can relate, brother.) But if you’re interested in negative or dark philosophy, and you can find them, these Horror of Philosophy Volumes might serve as companions through the long, dark night of the soul.
#books
No apology needed. Just wanted a chance to express my appreciation.
… is the answer to the question, “Is Sun Chronicles book 3 coming soon?”
Dr Amp is my spirit animal.
#twinpeaks
Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini had a great idea and superb world building, but was too long and the characters were too one note. Would have been a great short story.
#scifi
Submissions are open for issue 3 of #Solstitia, our biannual #zine celebrating all things genre!
You can find all the details here: www.fictionfanspodcast.com/solstitia
#booksky 💙📚
After receiving #Orbital by Samantha Harvey, I quickly devoured it. Orbital was my last read of 2024, and one of the most beautiful novels I’ve ever read.
Thanks so much!
Honorable Mentions:
Dune Part 2 - Hans Zimmer
Belaya Polosa - Molchat Doma
Orchards of a Futile Heaven - The Body & Dis Fig
Chasing Shadows - Sunnata
Out of Water - Space Slug
My top 6 albums of 2024!
20 books read in 2024. 13 print, 7 ebooks.
#2024
The Fury of the Gods finishes John Gwynne’s Bloodsworn Saga. I read all 3 this year, and had a great time with this action-packed and bloody norse-inspired fantasy. Compelling characters, an immersive world, gruesome monsters, and morally gray ethics infuse every page of the trilogy. #epicfantasy
A huge shout out and heartfelt thanks to Jonathan Crain for
interviewing me about my novel, Before the Shattered Gates of Heaven. I encourage you to check out his substack for this and many more great author interviews. Go to substack.com/home/post/p-...
#beforetheshatteredgatesofheaven
View from the plane at sunset or a Rothko painting?
A Christmas present for myself?
Don’t mind if I do.
The Cure is one my all time favorite bands, and Songs of a Lost World is one of my favorite albums of 2024.
Damn right I need that on vinyl!
I know it’s possible to convey complex and multifaceted concepts in a way that’s readable and digestible. That however, does not seem to be what Acid Horizon was trying to do.
Is there a famous author you’ve been meaning to read, but haven’t gotten to? Until recently, that was Brandon Sanderson. I owned several ebooks and one used, ugly mass market paperback of Mistborn The Final Empire, but hadn’t read them yet. I finally cracked open Mistborn and really liked it.
Happy Holidays!!
For a limited time only, you can get a free ebook of the critically acclaimed space adventure, Before the Shattered Gates of Heaven (Shattered Gates Vol 1) when you sign up for my free newsletter. Get your free copy now at tinyurl.com/freesgv1
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