And now…those other books I read this summer.
Hild by Nicola Griffith. History might as well be an alien planet in Hild, the painstakingly researched latest offering from Nicola Griffith. Hild is an extrapolation of the events in the life of St. Hildegard and her relatives which pulls no punches in terms of looking at the brutality of history. Yet, Griffith is sensitive enough to paint Hild and her society with cultural respect, rather than noting how inferior they are to us. A good read, if a little thick.
The Mad Scientist’s Daughter by Cassandra Clarke. I noticed right away how similar the title of this work was to The Time Traveler’s Wife, but I figured the similarity would end there. I was wrong. This felt a lot like that book. The plot is only similar in terms of romance, but in terms of tone, I felt like one book had heavily influenced the other. Did I like this book? Well, yes and no. It was strongly literary, but it was largely about usury sex and unrequited love at the same time. I have mixed feelings.
California Bones by Greg Van Eekhout. This is a dry, crusty book from Greg, which is new. There are moments of humor, but clearly this is meant to be serious, and I miss the moments of whimsey that have delighted me about Greg’s writing so far. Still, the landscape of the book is well-painted, and there’s plenty of social commentary and extrapolation about what we could become in the future. There’s also lots of delicious, scary cannibalism, stylized magically for the reader. Would I recommend it? Depends on you. Strong stomach and urban fantasy your thing? Go ahead.
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie. Let’s see. This book has won the Nebula, the Clarke, and the Hugo. I wonder if you should read it? Like Hild, this book is thick. However, the way in which the world is envisioned, and the fact that it is perhaps the first successful gender neutral book might make this a VERY IMPORTANT BOOK for SF readers. It’s experimental and the writing is strong.
Up Against It by M. J. Locke. If you combine Leckie’s social sensitivity with Heinlein’s juvenile adventure, you’ve got this book. Locke is an expert at integrating many cultures into one alien one, and the book is a forward moving hero’s tale with a couple of excellent twists. It’s a good book.
Salsa Nocturna by Daniel Jose Older. A series of supernatural tales from the perspective of the Latino undead and almost undead. It’s fresh, funny, and breathtakingly beautiful at moments. Easily my pick of the season. You should read this one.
The Seat of Magic by J. Kathleen Cheney. I talked this one up when it first came out, and I want to mention it again. Cheney is combining history and the supernatural in a seamless way. Not one freakin’ dirigible in sight. Excellent characters, high romance, and a genteel nature that make these books a smooth, enjoyable read.
***
Next Up: Movies I have seen this summer.
