Review: Second Self by Una McCormack, 2022

Second Self by Una McCormack,2022
My rating: 4.33 of 5 stars

In "Second Self," author Una McCormack takes us on a captivating journey through Raffi Musiker's life between seasons one and two of Star Trek: Picard. The novel delves into Raffi's past as a Starfleet Intelligence officer, her personal struggles with addiction, and her re-emergence into the world after the events of Picard's first year. The story unfolds across three time periods, exploring the complex history of the planet Ordeve and its impact on the Bajorans, Cardassians, and Romulans.

McCormack masterfully weaves Raffi's personal story with the larger narrative, as she navigates a world where right and wrong are often blurred. The novel also features Elim Garak, a Cardassian favorite, whose ultimate fate is poignantly revealed. Other beloved characters, such as Admiral Picard, Captain Rios, and Elnor, make appearances and contribute to the rich world-building.

The intricate structure of the novel, which requires careful attention from the reader, pays off as it explores themes of sadness, regret, and the consequences of one's past actions. "Second Self" enhances the Star Trek universe by shedding light on Raffi's character, her relationships, and the Dominion War's aftermath.

I rate this novel 4.33 out of 5 stars.

#SecondSelf #StarTrekPicard #RaffiMusiker #UnaMcCormack #Cardassians #Romulans #Bajorans #ElimGarak #StarTrekNovel #DominionWar #StarTrek

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Review: Zorrie by Laird Hunt, 2021

Zorrie by Laird Hunt
My Goodreads rating: 5 of 5 stars

As I delved into Laird Hunt's beautifully crafted novel, Zorrie, I found myself on an emotional journey through the life of an ordinary woman in the rural American Midwest. The poetic and evocative prose captivated me, capturing the essence of a bygone era and creating an atmospheric setting that allowed me to experience the landscape and culture alongside the protagonist. Hunt's masterful writing style gracefully wove together the story of Zorrie, as both graceful and earthy, grounded yet transcendent, while capturing the complexities of human relationships.

The portrayal of compelling characters, particularly the protagonist Zorrie, struck a chord with me. This character study of a woman of quiet strength and resilience showcased the tenderness, vulnerability, and endurance of the human spirit, making her life experiences feel both ordinary and extraordinary. The novel's exploration of love, loss, and resilience invited me to reflect on my own life and experiences, finding beauty in seemingly mundane moments.

What stood out to me was the emotional resonance of Zorrie, amplified by its concise storytelling. Despite being a relatively short novel, Hunt skillfully conveyed the entirety of Zorrie's life with precision and depth. This economy of language resonated with me, as the author's ability to create a rich and poignant narrative within a compact form made the story even more powerful. As the story unfolded, I was moved by Zorrie's ordinary yet extraordinary journey, evoking deep emotions with each turn of the page.

Hunt masterfully combined these elements to create a heartfelt exploration of the human experience. The novel's vivid imagery, keen sense of the passage of time, and relatable characters immersed me in Zorrie's world. Its emotional resonance, strong sense of place, and concise storytelling won my admiration, making it a deeply moving portrait of an ordinary life that reminded me of the strength and resilience that can be found in the quiet moments of our own lives.

I rate this book 4.9 out of 5 stars.

#Zorrie #LairdHunt #MidwestLiterature #RuralLife #HistoricalFiction #CharacterStudy #LiteraryFiction #BookReview #ReadingRecommendations

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Review: Woom by Duncan Ralston, 2016

Woom by Duncan Ralston, 2016
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you're looking for a horror novel that will take you to some very dark places, "Woom" by Duncan Ralston is definitely worth checking out. The book follows the story of Colin, a man with a troubled past who becomes obsessed with a cult-like organization called the Woom. Along the way, he hires a prostitute named Kiera and becomes involved with her, while his girlfriend Veronica tries to save him from the dangerous path he's on.

As Colin delves deeper into the world of the Woom, he discovers that their practices are far more sinister than he initially thought. The Woom claims to offer a unique and life-changing experience to its members, but Colin soon realizes that the reality is much more gruesome and twisted.

The writing is graphic and visceral, with a no-holds-barred approach to body horror and sexual violence that is not for the faint of heart. Readers who can handle the graphic descriptions will find "Woom" to be a gripping and unsettling read.

The characters in "Woom" are complex and flawed, with Colin's obsession driving much of the plot. Kiera, the prostitute that Colin hires, also plays a significant role in the story, with her own motivations and secrets that are slowly revealed over the course of the book. Veronica, Colin's girlfriend, is a sympathetic character who tries to help Colin but ultimately becomes caught up in his dangerous obsession.

Overall, "Woom" is a well-crafted and disturbing horror novel that will leave a lasting impression on readers. Just be warned, the graphic descriptions of body horror and sexual violence are not for everyone. For those who can handle it, "Woom" is an enjoyable read in a train-wreck kind of way, with a twisted plot and complex characters that will keep you turning the pages.

I rate the novel 4.75 out of 5 stars.

#BizarroFiction #Horror #Fiction #SexualHorror #Cults #ExtremeHorror #MessedUp

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Review: "Children of Memory" by Adrian Tchaikovsky, 2022

Children of Memory by Adrian Tchaikovsky, 2022
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In "Children of Memory," the intriguing third volume of Adrian Tchaikovsky's celebrated "Children of Time" space opera series, readers are treated to a fascinating exploration of a multispecies, interstellar, starfaring civilization. As they voyage to a mysterious planet originally intended for human terraforming and settlement, the narrative delves into complex themes of cultural interference, self-awareness, and the nature of sentience.

The story is told through the perspectives of Liff, a perceptive adolescent from the colony, and Miranda, a visitor who advocates for intervention in the colony's politics. The book raises thought-provoking questions reminiscent of Star Trek's Prime Directive, as the characters grapple with the implications of meddling in the affairs of less technologically-advanced societies.

A particularly captivating aspect of the story involves the introduction of a bonded pair of evolved corvids. These characters challenge conventional notions of sentience, as they demonstrate complex behaviors yet question their own self-awareness. Their unique existence prompts readers to reconsider the nature of consciousness and the possibility of sentient life beyond human understanding.

Although the story's pacing is slow at the outset, it gradually builds momentum as the underlying cause of the planet's disconcerting situation is unveiled. Some reviewers have criticized the portrayal of Miranda and the Nod creature, and my analysis agrees that their internal conflicts and resulting characterizations contribute to a compelling narrative, mostly.

"Children of Memory" showcases Tchaikovsky's signature thought-provoking ideas, unique philosophical quandaries, and richly developed characters, making it a captivating and worthwhile addition to the series. Despite its initial slow pacing, the novel rewards readers with a deep, immersive story that broadens their understanding of the complex universe introduced in the previous installments.

I rate this novel 4.75 out of 5 stars.

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Review: Amatka, by Karin Tidbeck, 2012

Amatka by Karin Tidbeck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amatka, by Karin Tidbeck, 2012 

Name it! Mark it! Do not deviate!

Originally written in Swedish and translated to English in 2017, Amatka is a "soft" sci-fi novel that is "quiet," strange and has no clear ending. The story follows Vanya, who works for her city government of Essre.  While on assignment to study hygiene products used in the city of Amatka, she falls in love with Nina and moves in with her. 

Set in a world shaped by language, we quickly learn that things are not what they seem when Vanya's luggage melts into gloop when Vanya neglects it for too long, reciting the suitcase's name and physically inscribing it with the word "suitcase" to describe what it is. It's apparent the inhabitants of this world speak the names of things around them, calling on them to remain what they are and marking them for what they are.

Tidbeck's prose is easy to ingest and engenders the slow horror of a quiet atmosphere of slow decay, not much unlike the current state of society.

I rate this novel a 4.95 out of 5 stars.

#Amatka #KarinTidbeck #QueerLiterature #LGBTLiterature #Swedish #ScienceFiction

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Review: The Peripheral (The Jackpot Trilogy #1), by William Gibson, 2014

The Peripheral by William Gibson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Peripheral (The Jackpot Trilogy #1), by William Gibson, 2014

Elaborately detailed, incredibly creative, and full of ingenious ideas. In this fast-paced hard sci-fi novel, we sort of get two stories in one, with each taking place in a separate timeline. Events and decisions from each timeline manifest as outcomes in each other's, well, sort of.

In the 22nd-century timeline the author has created, there are three pillars of society which consist of The Kleptocracy (The Klept), The Metropolitan Police, which keeps the former in check, and The Research Institute, which provides technical assistance to the general population through research and technology but compromised by The Klept.

Flynn, our heroine in the 21st-century timeline, witnesses something she shouldn't have while piloting a Peripheral in the 22nd-century timeline. Peripherals are a type of physical avatar in the 22nd century that users from either timeline can control. This sets off a chain of events in the 22nd century that reverberates to Flynn's timeline.

The Peripheral is one of those books where one must focus and pay attention and sometimes reread chapters. There are so many characters, technologies, and moving parts, all fitting with each other eventually, that taking notes might be helpful. I enjoyed this book very much, so despite the effort required to get through it, I might read the second installment.  

I want to note that Amazon Prime's adaptation of this novel to an 8-part tv series prompted me to read the book. After seeing two episodes, I was hooked and decided to race through the book. While the tv show diverges from the book, they are different enough that not only can both be enjoyed, but enhances each other.

I rate this book 5 stars out of 5 stars.

#ThePeriphal #WilliamGibson #FlynnFisher #TheResearchInstitute #Kleptocracy #JackpotTrilogy #AelitaWest #Nuland #Lowbeer #Zubov

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Review: Paradise Rot: A Novel, by Jenny Hval, 2018

Paradise Rot by Jenny Hval
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Paradise Rot: A Novel, by Jenny Hval, 2018

Right off the bat, if bodily fluids, particularly urine, gross you out, this book isn't for you. The author is clearly obsessed with urine and intricately details activities involved in the act of pissing.

The story is a sexual self-discovery of a young Norwegian college girl, Jo, who is studying biology abroad in Britain. There she meets a girl, Carral, slightly older than her, who she becomes obsessed with. She shares an apartment in a converted brewery with Carral and starts a peculiar three-way affair with a studly male neighbor named Pym.

The writing is surreal and exquisitely detailed with the grotesque banalities of human existence: mold, decay, and urine. The prose evokes striking images, from rotting slimy apples to a man exposing himself on a train. 

I rate this book 4.75 out of 5 stars.

#MagicalRealism #LGBTliterature #LGBT

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