Reviews and Comments

Redshifts was funny, goofy, satirical. Definitely a fun read. I went in blind without a synopsis and I'd recommend the same for you.

If you're a fan of lower decks or the Orville you'll probably like it. Or truly hate it. But at 300 pages it is worth the risk.

The first book in the old man's war trilogy was different than I expected. It was campy, humours, and much more straightforward in its delivery of a sci-fi action story than I am used to.

Most sci-fi I have picked because of its stewing political subplots, the meta commentary podcasts everywhere and the social commentary masked as alien species and totalitarian power relations.

This book was fun, and if critical of the colonial and war-mongering society that features at its heart, it has an over-the-top presentation which reminded me of the starship troopers movie.

Definitely a brain off, retro futures good read and I am looking forward to seeing if there is more interesting subplots developed in the following novels.

Karl Schroeder's "Deodand" brings back my fav character, the Ukrainian nuclear investigator in a story that can be put simply as an ethicists anti-speciesism fable.

The 3rd story in the anthology, "Byways" by Tobias S. Buckell, follows a character from the first book, after leaving Detroit and starting to work on a road crew that goes through the Midwest tearing up roads and suburbs to start the process of a rewilded Midwest. The politicking and espionage make it a fun story, where the anarchist societies we met in the first book become a bit more complicated when their form of development comes in conflict with other regions. Dealing with power generation and a balkanized North America, it feels like peak behind the curtain of a possible future.

Finished the second story, "Water to Wine" by Mary Robinette Kowal. Best part of it, read by captain Janeway from ST Voyager. But otherwise the most personal interest story of the anthology so far. It follows a winemaking family, and reminds me of this hallmark Christmas rom-com I've watched a half dozen times in the past few years. Could have skipped. it the second time round but looking for Easter eggs in ways the stories interact with each other.

Finished the first story in the compilation, with Jay Lake returning to Cascadia in "The Bull Dancers". A half decade later, a cop and some surviving members of Jays last contribution to the metatropolis universe try to unravel the events of the last story and solve the outstanding mysteries left behind.

This text is a great collection of world building in an apocalyptic future with elements of dystopia and utopian dreamers abound. Almost all stories interact with some form of anarchistic social formation or way of life and their different approaches to climate crisis, economic crisis and technology.

Finished the final story in the first Metatropolis anthology, "To Hie from Far Cilenia" by Karl Schroeder. I loved this story the most last time I read it and it was just as good this time around. Blending cyber punk and steam punk in augmented reality worlds and economies, this story tells a fascinating stories of many "other worlds are possible!". I have daydreamed about running a reading group of this text as a starting point for a discussion of prefigurative politics and subcultures. I think it has so many fun and interesting world building plots that could help facilitate an exciting discussion of the topic.

On day I will compile the texts and draft questions then draw together friends to discuss it, but until then. I recommend at least reading this text cause it is set in such an interesting world.

Just finished the newest book in the murderbot series and it was awesome. Picking up where the last book left off it explores relationships with "lost" human colonies, and working to translate the cultural and social consequences of being reconnected to the corporate rim world's and the corporations and capitalism space feudal logics that entails. Really like this one alot, recommend it for anyone already in the series but hasn't picked it up yet.

Finished the second last story: "Utere Nihil Non Extra Quiritationem Suis: Novella" by John Scalzi

This world has city states and autonomous regions, and then it has the wilds, outside of these self-sustaining spots. This is the only story looking at life inside these cities, which have a wealthy, better off vibe. Pretty cute in some respects, looks at working life, weird biotech and the best part is the relationship between the main character and his friend, a biohacked pig he named lunch.

Just finished another story, "The Red in the Sky Is Our Blood: Novelette by Elizabeth Bear" this one was good. A little speculative look at underground scene of permaculturalists who function more like a clandestine org with antagonisms and guns. One that feels more action vibes and definitely feels like there is more meat on the other side of the story that may never be told.

Really interesting exploration of time, memory, and consciousness. Felt like it broke my brain a bit. But in the end it reminded me that I don't like the concept of AI, but if AI ever made it to the point of consciousness, I'd want to defend it's right to exist. I wouldn't want it to forced into labor and tasks other consciousness has deemed undesirable. I would want it to be a conscious worker with autonomy