Space Station Mir

Today I saw an article from Tor.com that had me nearly jumping out of my skin with anticipation. The Tor newsletter described it as Utopian. Sci-Fi. From the Subcontinent. Three of my favorite things! In one! And as you can see above, it's actually FOUR of my favorite things in one. So, go read this rad introduction at Tor, and then immediately read "Sultana's Dream" by Rokheya Shekhawat Hossein. My only disappointment is that it's so brief; as a book, it could be the South Asian Female Man (except better, because science. And South Asian.).

2. Box Office Poison by Phillippa Bornikova I read Bornikova's debut and the first book in the series, This Case Is Gonna Kill Me , last year. So, I decided to finally follow up with the sequel, which I also received for review. In this world, the Powers (vampires, werewolves, and Alfar) outed themselves in the 1960s and now play open and significant roles alongside humans. Linnet Ellery, a human who was fostered in a vampire home, also works for a vampire-owned law firm. The firm, IMG, seems to be at the center of simmering tensions between the Powers and humanity. In this book, Linnet is sent to help arbitrate a conflict over whether Alfar, with their magical elven charm, have an unfair advantage in Hollywood or not. The world is mildly intriguing and this time, Bornikova's writing style was improved, at least in my mind. However, overall, the plot was fairly predictable, and I won't be spending any more of my time on this series.

25. Necessary Evil by Ian Tregellis Publisher: Tor Release Date: April 2013 Ian Tregellis is one of my favorite new authors. The Coldest War hooked me with the first line, "Wizards do not age gracefully." The final book in the triptych, Necessary Evil , is no slouch either for poignant turns of phrase. The protagonist, given his own voice for the first time, summarizes the book poetically; "Who was I but a scarred and sweaty madman railing against the woman who twirled history around her fingers like so much yarn?" That woman, the "raven-haired demon," the "witch" with "wires in her braids," is Gretel, and she is not only the most fascinating character in Tregellis' triptych, but one of the most compelling villains in fiction. From the first time I learned of her incredible ability to read the future (more accurately, the lines of possible futures) and to shift it one way or another, I wanted to know more. In Necessary Evil...

To be honest, I've been swamped these past several months, between graduate school, my health, and my current summer job. And there have been packages filled with review books just sitting on the floor of my room. Since April. And I just opened them And man oh man, I wish I had opened them earlier. Remember when I raved about Ian Tregellis' The Coldest War ? On April 30 of this year, the final book in the trilogy, Necessary Evil , came out. And I have a copy. And, Tor, I wish I could have gotten you a review earlier, but I promise there will be one coming ASAP. I also received Tarnished by Rhiannon Held, a sequel to last year's Silver , and London Falling by Paul Cornell, which I've heard excellent things about. Cornell is a writer for Doctor Who. Dear Tor, A very belated thank-you from this swamped critic, whom you have nevertheless made very, very happy. I'll do my best to return the favor.* Sincerely, Space Station Mir *Don't w...