Nuking the Noomies by Bill Patterson

This is the next short story in the Event Horizon 2017 collection of short stories highlighting authors who are eligible for the 2017 Campbell award for best new writer.

Published: October 2016 in Chronicle Worlds: Paradisi (Future Chronicles Book 14)

Genre: science fiction

Setting: Paradisi system, late 2000s

Summary: Short version: Unsupervised robots do bad things

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A Talent for War by Jack McDevitt

This book has been on my TBR list so long I can’t remember why I added it. I read it now because it was available as an ebook to take on vacation.

Published: 1989

Genre: science fiction

Length: 310 pages

Setting: various places within the Confederacy of Worlds, far future

Summary: Short version: Alex unravels a historical mystery

Freehold by Michael Williamson

This was a random book off my Kindle, picked to be sci-fi instead of fantasy.

Published: 2004

Genre: military sci-fi

Length: 688 pages

Setting: Earth and the planet Freehold, future

Summary: Short version: A modern-day Heinlein story full of guns and sex

The Martian Obelisk by Linda Nagata

Instead of my usual short fiction this Monday, I thought I’d review the short story Locus Award winner for 2018.

Published: July, 2017 at Tor (you can read it for free at that link)

Genre: science fiction short story

Setting: future Earth and Mars

Summary: Short version: Even when things look dire, there is still hope

Hyrmnal by Jonathan Laidlow

This is the next short story in the Event Horizon 2017 collection of short stories highlighting authors who are eligible for the 2017 Campbell award for best new writer.

Published: August, 2016 in Daily Science Fiction (you can read it for free at that link)

Genre: science fiction

Setting: another planet, far future

Summary: Coryde is a snail player stuck in the outer planet circuit. After her performance, she’s approached by a guy who asks her out for a drink. She agrees, just to be close to someone. Turns out, he’s part of the Mollusc Liberation Front and he’s letting her snail free so she can no longer her it.

Final thoughts: An interesting concept, playing the snail. Laidlow explains the process, which involves paralyzing snail venom and singing into the mouth of the snail so its body and shell can enhance the sound. Sounds kind of gross, and I can see why a liberation society would develop. Of course, just letting a snail go in a random wild area will likely lead to its death, but it won’t be hurt by people anymore. Just eaten by the local predator or dried to a crisp in the baking sun. People on a mission don’t think about reality like that, though.

Title comes from: Snails are hermaphroditic and the guy uses the pronoun “hyrm” for the snail. Since there’s singing involved, Laidlow made a play on hyrm and hymnal for the title

 

Provenance by Ann Leckie

I loved her Imperial Radch series, so this was a given to read. I happened to see it sitting out at the library and picked it up as a palate cleanser after reading The Woman in White.

Published: 2017

Genre: science fiction

Length: 439 pages

Setting: mostly near the stations or planets of Tyr and Hwae, after the events of the Imperial Radch trilogy

Summary: Short version: Ingray is at the center of interspecies political wrangling

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Mr. Curiosity wanted me to read some science fiction for a read aloud. My husband suggested this book, which is a classic and right in wheelhouse for the perfect length for a read aloud. Perfect choice!

Published: 1980

Genre: science fiction/humor

Length: 215 pages

Setting: various locations within the Galaxy, present to the time of writing

Summary: Short version: An unplanned trip off Earth leads to surprises