Tag: Tor.com

Murder, revenge and demons

~ Cathy ~ Leave a comment

The Puppetmaster
by Kemi Ashing-Giwa

A story of revenge and of demons from another universe. Best guess, inspired by Japanese culture. Short, grim and good.

“Uduak IX may have ordered an assassin to gut his niece in a holy monastery, but he is still a man of honor. As emperor of Johari IX, the greatest human-ruled planet in the Known Worlds, honor is an attribute to be expected. And so before he had her butchered, he gave the order that she would be allowed a single sheet of solar parchment and a holographic brush so she might write her last words.“

15 pages, from Tor.com. 👹 👹 👹 👹 👹
Can be read for free here

Added to my TBR pile: The Sufficient Loss Protocol

    “When an alien entity sneaks aboard a corporate spaceship, with no motive besides sabotaging the mission and murdering those aboard, commander Uzoma Ifiok launches an investigation—despite knowing that the real danger isn’t the one picking off her crew.”

    And read previously: Fruiting Bodies

    “An alien fungal infection has ravaged a faraway planet, turning all but six of the colonists into ravenous arinkiris. Inyama, a mycologist, is her species’ last hope. But it’s not expertise her fellow survivors want from her.”

    I liked it. Well written, tightly plotted. Very short, but with a nice plot bunny at the end.

    Salty!

    ~ Cathy ~ 2 Comments

    Salt Water by Eugenia Triantafyllou

    While all her friends’ fish are changing into mermaids, is 12-year-old Anissa’s fish becoming something else?

    https://www.tor.com/2023/04/12/salt-water-eugenia-triantafyllou/

    I just read this cute little story on Tor.com. Just follow the link above. I don‘t think I would have minded turning into an octopus instead of a mermaid…

    Author‘s blog post about this story

    And we have a cover! More new stuff…

    ~ Cathy ~ 3 Comments

    System Collapse (The Murderbot Diaries, #7)
    by Martha Wells

    Will be published November 14th 2023 by Tordotcom…

    Everyone’s favorite lethal SecUnit is back.

    Following the events in Network Effect, the Barish-Estranza corporation has sent rescue ships to a newly-colonized planet in peril, as well as additional SecUnits. But if there’s an ethical corporation out there, Murderbot has yet to find it, and if Barish-Estranza can’t have the planet, they’re sure as hell not leaving without something. If that something just happens to be an entire colony of humans, well, a free workforce is a decent runner-up prize.

    But there’s something wrong with Murderbot; it isn’t running within normal operational parameters. ART’s crew and the humans from Preservation are doing everything they can to protect the colonists, but with Barish-Estranza’s SecUnit-heavy persuasion teams, they’re going to have to hope Murderbot figures out what’s wrong with itself, and fast!

    https://www.tor.com/2023/01/24/cover-reveal-murderbot-system-collapse-by-martha-wells/

    Oh, and there will a new Singing Hills novella in September!

    Mammoths at the Gate (The Singing Hills Cycle, #4)
    by Nghi Vo

    The wandering Cleric Chih returns home to the Singing Hills Abbey for the first time in almost three years, to be met with both joy and sorrow. Their mentor, Cleric Thien, has died, and rests among the archivists and storytellers of the storied abbey. But not everyone is prepared to leave them to their rest.

    Because Cleric Thien was once the patriarch of Coh clan of Northern Bell Pass–and now their granddaughters have arrived on the backs of royal mammoths, demanding their grandfather’s body for burial. Chih must somehow balance honoring their mentor’s chosen life while keeping the sisters from the north from storming the gates and destroying the history the clerics have worked so hard to preserve.

    https://www.tor.com/2023/01/25/cover-reveal-mammoths-at-the-gate-by-nghi-vo/

    Not sure if I will get it, this will be another spur-of-the-moment decision in September!

    What’s the First Line of the First Book You’re Reading in 2023?

    ~ Cathy ~ 2 Comments

    To Each This World
    by Julie E. Czerneda

    Beth Seeker cupped her hands to shade her eyes. Seared brown desert stretched to wavering distant lines that might have been hills, but you didn‘t use Human words for things in the Split.

    Ok, that‘s two sentences, but the first sentence wasn‘t terribly exciting.

    Why This Book: It‘s a buddy read of my favourite group on Goodreads. And I was lucky enough to get it through Netgalley. And it involves colony ships, aliens, communication—right down my alley.

    The book blurb:

    From an Aurora Award-winning author, a new sci-fi novel follows three intrepid humans caught up in a conflict that stretches across time and space.

    Biologist Julie E. Czerneda’s new standalone science fiction novel, To Each This World follows a desperate mission to reconnect with long lost sleeper ships, sent centuries earlier from Earth to settle distant worlds.

    A trio of Humans must work with their mysterious alien allies to rescue any descendants they can find on those worlds. Something is out there, determined to claim the cosmos for itself, and only on Earth will Humans be safe.

    Or will they?

    The challenge isn’t just to communicate with your own kind after generations have passed. It’s to understand what isn’t your kind at all.

    And how far will trust take you, when the truth depends on what you are?

    I am about 20% into the book now. I like it, the two humans that have been central so far, are great and likable characters. And the alien(s) is nicely wacky. However, the first few pages were a challenge. The writing style takes getting used to.

    Prompt taken from Tor.com.

    If at first you don‘t succeed, try again…

    ~ Cathy ~ 9 Comments

    The Murders of Molly Southbourne (Molly Southbourne, #1)
    by Tade Thompson

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    Weird. Disturbing. Creepy. Off-putting. Slightly disgusting in parts. It‘s like a train wreck—pretty horrible, but I couldn‘t look away. This novella made me feel uncomfortable. I am still trying to put my fingers on the reason why. The blood? The constant murders? The horribleness of the mollys? Strangely enough, I am tempted to read the sequel. 

    If you read the blurb, you already know that every time Molly bleeds, a „molly“ is created. And the mollys are always off somehow, eventually intent on killing her. So she kills them first. Around that concept the story of her life to a certain point is told. How she grew up and learned about the mollys, how her parents taught her to deal with them, her road to understanding about herself and the mollys and why some of them seem to be different than others…

    I didn‘t like Molly. She was too dispassionate for my taste. But I guess with her history that was to be expected. It‘s tragic and whatever passion and positive emotions she experienced lead to revelations that would be spoilers. I really liked her parents, though. Especially her mother.

    The writing is very good. I was totally immersed in the story, the characters and Molly‘s world. I am looking forward now to another offering lingering on my TBR shelf: Rosewater(same author, different world, not related to Molly, won the Arthur C. Clarke Award and the Nommo Award and was a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award).

    This read is part of my attempt to clear my TBR pile of owned books and my #ReadBIPOC2021 challenge (entry for June).

    Vengeance at any price

    ~ Cathy ~ Leave a comment

    Lullaby for a Lost World
    by Aliette de Bodard (Goodreads Author) 

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    Charlotte died to shore up her master’s house. Her bones grew into the foundation and pushed up through the walls, feeding his power and continuing the cycle. As time passes and the ones she loved fade away, the house and the master remain, and she yearns ever more deeply for vengeance.

    Grim Short story! Beautifully written and unexpected. I liked it a lot.

    Can be read for free here: https://www.tor.com/2016/06/08/lullab…

    Further reading, interview with the author about this and that: https://www.tor.com/2020/07/09/aliett…

    2020 Hugo Finalists, the short stories

    ~ Cathy ~ 6 Comments

    Here is what I thought of the Best Short Story finalists…

    ISSUE: 9 SEPTEMBER 2019

    Rating: 3 out of 5.

    Set in colonial India, during the Bengal famine of 1943. A revenge story with a magical twist. The story is harrowing and shows the brutality of colonial rule. However, the telling of it didn‘t really do much for me.

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    “An alternate history short story looking at decisions and consequences, and what it takes to pull the trigger.“

    I really liked this. What a barbaric idea, although I can see where they are coming from. Not a decision that should be taken lightly and that can be debated hotly.

    Knocking off half a star, because I am somewhat unsatisfied with the abrupt and open ending. Still debating with myself, if I consider this special enough for an award? Does it really bring anything new to the table?

    Pretty cover art.

    Rating: 2 out of 5.

     A young girl, a slave in the South, is presented with a moment where she can grasp for freedom, for change, for life. She grabs it with both hands, fiercely and intensely, and the spirit world is shaken.

    Odd. Very wordy, very bloody, with a faint touch of romance and hope at the end. The tale was unsettling and had no rewarding features for me. 

    Uncanny Magazine Issue 26: January/February 2019 
    by Lynne M. Thomas (Goodreads Author) (Editor)

    Rating: 2 out of 5.

    Climate fic. About storms, wind, sisters and mothers. It went right over my head, couldn‘t get into it.

    Beneath Ceaseless Skies Issue #270
    (Beneath Ceaseless Skies #270)
    by Scott H. Andrews (Editor)

    Rating: 3 out of 5.

    High fantasy, war, genderfluid characters. Death and blood and endless war. Loss, betrayal, hope.

    Betrayal is a fearsome armor against love.

    The world building was pretty good, but I did not connect with the characters. I liked the ending, although I did not really agree with the choices everyone made. It got me thinking though, so I can see why this is nominated for a Hugo.

    Nightmare Magazine, Issue 80 (May 2019) 
    by John Joseph Adams (Goodreads Author) (Editor)

    Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

    I listened to the podcast on the Nightmare Magazine website. Very odd story. I am using the word story loosely here. To have a male narrator was an interesting choice. A story about colonialism.

    From the author‘s website: 

    Possibly the structurally weirdest thing I’ve ever written; it’s in the form of an MLA bibliography and it’s about colonialism in academia, monstrous appetites, and oh yes, lesbian cannibals.

    Another one that went mostly over my head. While the structure of the narrative was clever and somewhat intriguing, it didn‘t really work for me. But that‘s on me.

    So, that was all of the short story finalists for this year‘s Hugo Award. Not a great average for me this time around. Leaning strongly towards Fantasy—maybe that is the reason. I am more of SF and UF fan.

    Which of these stories was your favourite?

    Bow before me, human!

    ~ Cathy ~ Leave a comment

    Brimstone and MarmaladeBrimstone and Marmalade by Aaron Corwin
    My rating: 5 of 5 stars

    Mathilde didn’t want a demon. She wanted a pony.
    “Ponies are expensive,” Mathilde’s mother said. “How about a nice little demon instead?”

    Very cute, delightful little story. A little sad. Middle Grade, apparently? About what we want and the surprising things that can happen when we do not get what we thought we wanted.

    Now I want a little demon, too! Happy Halloween!

    Can be read for free here:
    https://www.tor.com/2013/10/30/brimst…

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    I think I read this wrong

    ~ Cathy ~ Leave a comment

    Killing Gravity (The Voidwitch Saga, #1)Killing Gravity by Corey J. White
    My rating: 2 of 5 stars

    I was underwhelmed. The world building and character development both left a lot to be desired for me. Not enough background. The plot felt sketchy, as if I had been hitting the fast forward button on my remote a few times too many.

    The magic (well, for lack of a better explanation of the author) aka telekinesis (maybe?) was interesting and different. However, almost no explanations of the dynamics of it. And our MC just flung it around with so little effort and lack of reflection or emotional investment, it was almost boring.

    Our MC is emotionally flat. Is she supposed to be a sociopath or is this a writing issue? I couldn‘t say. I found it impossible to connect to her.

    The supporting characters are cardboard cutouts. They all have one way to behave and one emotional expression. One buddy, one character that hates our MCs guts, a token non-binary character, the farcical bad guy.

    A lot of pointless, too casual, un-reflected and over the top violence. Oh, splat, there goes another head. Moving on…

    The only thing I liked and actually loved: the cat-thing. I want one.

    That truly was the only redeeming feature of this novella for me. And maybe the possibility that the characters might come to life in the next book. This is the first published work by the author, so I am hopeful and might be tempted.

    PS: Most of my reading buddies loved this.

    View all my reviews