Brenda’s reading recommendations. Often science fiction or fantasy, but somewhat eclectic!
Every once in a while, a book’s ideas and presentation will wake me from sound sleep and make me fumble out of bed and grab coffee at an odd hour. This does not happen often anymore; as a writer I am often ever-so-slightly distanced by being able to see the bones of a book. But …
Reading Recommendation: Overstory, by Richard Powers Read More »
I’m really excited to share some news. If you read my newsletter, you heard this story.  If you don’t, and you want new stories about once a month, you can sign up here. Here’s my news…..I finished my first-ever work as a fiction editor. This project, the anthology A Year Without a Winter, was full …
I just stayed up entirely too late reading a delightful new novel by Theodora Goss, The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter. Â It’s a lovely fantasy tale that begins with Mary Jekyll, the daughter of the famous Jekyll from the story of Jekyll and Hyde. Â As Mary’s story progresses, she is confronted with a mystery, …
Reading Recommendation: The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter Read More »
Here is my interview with fellow author Brian Burt, who also writes climate fiction. I enjoyed meeting Brian online and working with him to exchange interview. I just finished Aquarius Rising. I really enjoyed the book, so I’ll start with thanking you for giving me a copy. As I mentioned when we started this conversation …
Interview with Brian Burt, author of “In the Tears of God” Read More »
I finished reading 2140 the day that the United States announced it would pull out of the Paris agreement on Climate Change.  I believe today may go down in history as the day we lost global political power and destroyed the global good will of other nations towards us, and maybe worse. But that’s a different blog …
Reading Recommendation: New York 2140, by Kim Stanley Robinson Read More »
Jane Mayer’s Dark Money uses our recent political past to illuminate the off-kilter present. Reading it made made me very angry.  While our country has never been perfect, fair, or completely free of the influence of the rich, the events described in this book chronicle a slow, insidious, and nearly complete take-over the Republican Party by …
Reading Recommendation: Dark Money, by Jane Mayer Read More »
E. O. Wilson’s Half Earth: Our Planet’s Fight for Life is one of the best books I’ve read on the future of Earth. He states the problem clearly….after beginning with an apt description of what we (mankind) are like and then stating that we have little time to spend on the wrong trajectory, he says: “Meanwhile, we thrash about, …
Reading Recommendation: Half-Earth: Our Planet’s Fight for Life Read More »
You really need to pick up Arabella of Mars, by David Levine. This is a great time to do it.  It’s a total escape from right now, right here, and a grand one at that!  It’s both surprising and familiar, and beautifully written. If you loved Fran Wilde’s Updraft you’ll love this.  Use it to …
Reading Recommendation: Arabella of Mars, by David Levine Read More »
I’m continuing to listen to some of the PK Dick nominee books in audio format.  This may be my last one as I need to start gearing up for the Hugos and Nebulas, and Norwescon is now coming right up. I highly recommend Marguerite Reed’s complex far future novel Archangel.  I’m not quite sure whether I …
Reading Recommendation: Archangel, by Marguerite Reed Read More »
So I’m on a quest to listen to the other PKD finalist’s books, particularly the authors who I’ve never met. I’d read them but I don’t have time – I’ve been sadly turning down requests from good friends to read their books, and I even have favorite authors whose books make me consistently and reliably happy lying …
Reading Recommendation: (R)evolution by PJ Manny Read More »
