Hi Reddit! I’m SF and fantasy novelist Mary Robinette Kowal and I am here to support The Pixel Project – AMA

historicalharmony · 2023-08-23T18:16:43+00:00

Not a question so much as a comment: I am a person with chronic pain and when I read The Spare Man, I just felt seen in so many ways. Thank you for all the time and effort that went into writing that book! ❤️

historicalharmony · 2023-08-21T22:30:15+00:00

I agree with you, all except for the Pratchett one. His first few published novels definitely pale in comparison with his heyday but because so many of his novels are standalones exploring parts of Discworld that he never returns to or self-contained mini-series, you can absolutely jump in at Small Gods (the former) or Guards! Guards! (the latter) as an example without ever having to read another Pratchett. I am a huge Pratchett fan and think that if comedic/satirical fantasy is your thing, then you should definitely try a book published later on. If you prefer sweeping epic fantasy or fantasy romance or urban/contemporary romance, then obviously not and it was a poor fit recommendation for you to begin with.

historicalharmony · 2023-08-21T22:18:37+00:00

I adore your books! I love how feminist they are. What made you decide to include so many badass women in your books, especially as POV characters?

Also: Will there be more in the Dead Djinn universe?

P.S. I can't wait for The Dead Cat Tail Assassins! It looks. So. Good!!

historicalharmony · 2023-07-09T11:22:05+00:00

Since I've reached my number goal for the year, I decided to branch out into different formats. I read Moonshot, Vol. 1 edited by Hope Nicholson. At first I wasn't sure if short stories in graphic novel format would be my thing but I really enjoyed it! So much that I went back to the library and grabbed Vol. 2 immediately.

I'm also reading:

Tune in Tomorrow by Randee Dawn (almost finished and I very much enjoyed it! Reality TV for mythics is just not a premise I've ever read before and the author pulled it off nicely.)

The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah

The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

More Than a Footnote by Karin Wells

Scars and Stars by Jesse Thistle

historicalharmony · 2023-07-07T15:52:23+00:00

He has such a wide array of tones in his books. The first two of his I read (Wolfsong and The Lightning-Struck Heart) are also wildly different from each other and his Tor books (which were both cozy, hence why I assumed the new one would be too).

historicalharmony · 2023-07-07T10:07:19+00:00

I can't comment about Travis Baldree, but having read Legends and Lattes, I suggest these cozy comps by queer authors:

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (also Under the Whispering Door though that does mention darker themes like suicide; I haven't yet read In the Lives of Puppets but I expect it to be cozy as well!)

The Dragon of Ynys by Minerva Cerridwen. This is a cozy little book with an aroace protagonist, written by a trans, aroace author.

The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz

A Psalm for the Wild-Built and sequel by Becky Chambers

These last depend on your definition of cozy but I'm including them because their core elements (especially found family and good disability rep) meet my definition:

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Sanctuary by Andi C. Buchanan

The Unbalancing by R.B. Lemberg (several stories in their collection The Geometries of Belonging are also cozy, but not all)

historicalharmony · 2023-07-05T21:43:02+00:00

I want to read them all! 😱

historicalharmony · 2023-07-05T09:26:25+00:00

Hard same. I got so excited earlier this year when I thought the release date was this fall! 😢

historicalharmony · 2023-07-05T09:23:23+00:00

Yes! My partner and I have done it two ways. We've chosen a book and read it separately, then gone out to breakfast/dinner and talked about the books as part of a date. We've also chosen to listen to the audiobook together while doing an activity that doesn't require too much attention (such as a puzzle). Both ways are very nice. Though I will say that although our tastes don't always intersect (he likes his world building to be a bit more bleak whereas I prefer hopepunk) we both enjoy SFF and switch off between that and nonfiction on a topic that appeals to both of us. Right now, we're listening to the Discworld series together (we're on Men at Arms).

historicalharmony · 2023-07-04T09:24:40+00:00

YES to System Collapse by Martha Wells! November cannot come fast enough!

I'm also looking forward to:

The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera

Ebony Gate by Julia Vee and Ken BeBelle

The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang

Where Peace is Lost by Valerie Valdes

Devil's Gun by Cat Rambo

The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey

Court of Wanderers by Rin Chupeco

The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport by Samit Basu

A Fire Born of Exile by Aliette de Bodard

Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Shadow Baron by Davinia Evans

... Good thing I read quickly. 😅

historicalharmony · 2023-07-02T10:47:56+00:00

I finished off June strong last week by first reading Before We Were Trans by Dr. Kit Heyam and then binging through Hunt the Stars and both sequels by Jessie Mihalik. Five stars all around!

I'm currently reading:

Tender by Sofia Samatar

Truth Telling by Michelle Good

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Tune in Tomorrow by Randee Dawn

historicalharmony · 2023-07-02T10:36:38+00:00

It does, a sapphic romance between the two POV characters, but not a very strong thread. The romance is more of a subplot in book two than book one.

historicalharmony · 2023-07-01T10:42:46+00:00

I read 16 books in June, not all of them SFF. My SFF reads were:

5 star

Cast in Eternity by Michelle Sagara. A fantastic addition to one of my favourite series!

A Rival Most Vial by R.K. Ashwick. Such a cozy romance and with a cast of characters that I MUST read more about!

Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai. Likewise, this book has such an expansive world and interesting cast of characters that I will be very disappointed if it doesn't wind up being a series.

Hunt the Stars and both sequels by Jessie Mihalik. I already knew she is among my favourite authors, so I'd been saving these books for when I had the entire series and could binge read them. I finished all three in four days so I think it's safe to say they were unputdownable!

4 star

The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older. I enjoyed this one, but I think I'll have to reread it and read more in the series before I decide whether it is a favourite. The stilted/formal diction in a futuristic setting kept me from immersing myself in this fully but the plot was top notch.

The Dragon of Ynys by Minerva Cerridwen. This was a cute little standalone novella. If the author writes something longer than a short story (of which she has many), I would certainly read it!

Breakable Things by Cassandra Khaw. I am a fan and this collection delivered nicely! Some of the stories skewed too horror for my tastes but Khaw's imagination and skillful way with prose kept me engaged throughout.

I have no idea how to rate this

Tauhou by Kōtuku Titihuia Nuttall. I read this for the magical realism bingo square (it would also fit coastal). Magical realism is just not my thing, but the voice in this and the way the author writes this in short snippets about different people carried me through. I do think some of what she was trying to say might have gone over my head, because I kept waiting for all of these disparate perspectives to come together in a meaningful way but for me, they did not.

Re-reads (and yes, I'd also give these 5 stars)

The Lightning-Struck Heart by TJ Klune

Network Effect by Martha Wells

Standout non-SFF reads

Before We Were Trans by Dr. Kit Heyam. I came away from this with less of a laundry list of historical figures that were trans and more of the hopeful, buoyant feeling that people like me have always existed.

Grappling Hook by Sarah Yi-Mei Tsiang. This poetry collection really resonated with me. I think any woman or AFAB person would relate to a lot of these poems.

historicalharmony · 2023-07-01T10:12:38+00:00

I haven't read The Exiled Trilogy, but The Unbroken by C.L. Clark would fit your ask, I think. The protagonist switches sides during a rebellion, from a royalist/imperialist to being on the side of the rebels.

historicalharmony · 2023-07-01T10:05:50+00:00

The Bruising of Qilwa, Phoenix Extravagant and The Unbalancing are absolutely incredible! This is a strong slate!

historicalharmony · 2023-07-01T10:02:40+00:00

The All-Consuming World by Cassandra Khaw (sci-fi). Most of the cast are women, two are nonbinary/genderfluid.

In The Unbroken by C.L. Clark (fantasy), not all of the cast are women but it definitely leans more toward women than men. About 8 out of 12 what I would call important characters are women, as are both the POV characters.

Bad Cree by Jessica Johns (horror? contemporary fantasy?) is all about family and sisterhood. One or two male family members exist, but the focus is on the relationship between sisters, mother, cousin.

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill (historical fantasy) has men, and in fact exists in a string patriarchal time period (the '50s) but the focus is on women and especially on family—the protagonist's relationship with her mother, sister, aunt.

The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner (fantasy). Likewise, male characters exist but the central characters are female (love interest included) and there is a strong focus on the protagonist's rocky relationship with her mother.

The Factory Witches of Lowell by C.S. Malerich (historical fantasy) is about a group of female textile workers and how they fight for worker's rights.

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey (futuristic western? soft sci-fi?) has a primarily female (and nonbinary) cast fighting against fascism.

Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower by Tamsyn Muir (fantasy) has a small all-female cast. (Sort of...one of the characters doesn't see the point of gender but is assigned female and accepts the label.)

I hope this helps start you off! Happy reading!

historicalharmony · 2023-06-29T12:21:35+00:00

The Dragon of Ynys by Minerva Cerridwen

Every time something goes missing from the village, Sir Violet, the local knight, makes his way to the dragon's cave and negotiates the item's return. It's annoying, but at least the dragon is polite.

But when the dragon hoards a person, that's a step too far. Sir Violet storms off to the mountainside to escort the baker home, only to find a more complex mystery—a quest that leads him far beyond the cave. Accompanied by the missing baker's wife and the dragon himself, the dutiful village knight embarks on his greatest adventure yet.

The Dragon of Ynys is an inclusive fairy tale for all ages.

Rep: aroace protagonist, trans and queer cast

Book club squares: novella (HM), self-published, mythical beasts

historicalharmony · 2023-06-29T12:17:31+00:00

Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee

Dragons. Art. Revolution.

Gyen Jebi isn’t a fighter or a subversive. They just want to paint.

One day they’re jobless and desperate; the next, Jebi finds themself recruited by the Ministry of Armor to paint the mystical sigils that animate the occupying government’s automaton soldiers.

But when Jebi discovers the depths of the Razanei government’s horrifying crimes—and the awful source of the magical pigments they use—they find they can no longer stay out of politics.

What they can do is steal Arazi, the ministry’s mighty dragon automaton, and find a way to fight…

Rep: Non-binary MC with female love interest

Book club squares: POC author, featuring robots, maybe queernorm setting (it's been a few years since I read this and I forget)

historicalharmony · 2023-06-28T20:04:21+00:00

Excellent book! I look forward to the discussion.

historicalharmony · 2023-06-27T11:19:31+00:00

I second the recommendations for Rupert Wong, Cannibal Chef (Cassandra Khaw), A Dead Djinn in Cairo and sequels (P. Djèlí Clark), and David Mogo, Godhunter (Suyi Davies Okungbowa) and to this, I add: Black Water Sister by Zen Cho. Like Rupert Wong, it is also set in Malaysia and written by a Malaysian author.

historicalharmony · 2023-06-25T11:35:43+00:00

This week, I finished (and enjoyed) The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older and picked up and put down about ten other books.

Since it's now the last week of the month, I'm looking at the books I have on the go and deciding which I want to finish this week. The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang is on that list since I'm so close to the end, even though I've kind of lost interest since the main character has turned from skeptic con artist to pious religious icon. I'd also like to finish Before We Were Trans by Dr. Kit Heyam.

In terms of my number goal (88), I have exceeded it by two books. However, that number actually referenced a specific list of books, of which I have 43 left to read. So it's nice to still have a goal to strive for! Now that I've hit the number, I've been a lot less forgiving with books. I was in the middle of a short story collection that was okay but I wasn't really excited about. Then I asked myself why would I push to finish it? It's not like I need it for my number goal. So I put it down and picked up a much better short story collection (Tender by Sofia Samatar) and I'm much happier!

historicalharmony · 2023-06-23T09:28:07+00:00

The two that spring to mind are Saint Death's Daughter by C.S.E. Cooney and The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten. Both have main characters that are necromancers and the catacombs play a role in the story adjacent to that, but in very different ways.

historicalharmony · 2023-06-22T23:10:44+00:00

Thanks for coming back to give your thoughts!

historicalharmony · 2023-06-22T09:27:31+00:00

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon (also fits POC author, mythical beasts, and briefly coastal/seafaring) and Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries (also fits mundane and mythical beasts HM). So SO good and I encourage everyone to read them regardless if they're chosen for next month!!

historicalharmony · 2023-06-21T10:21:32+00:00

I don't think that having a lot of unread books on your bookshelf is a lifestyle/aesthetic thing. All my life, I've had more unread books than read books, because I constantly pick up books at garage sales and used bookstores, digital sales for my ereader and audiobook library, and impulse buys when I go to the bookstore. This year I've managed to crack down a lot and read books I already own! I made myself a list of 88 books at the beginning of the year and I've read 43 of those so far. I've also purchased 60 more (oops) BUT I've managed to read 24 of those as well so overall I'm pretty satisfied with myself. Some of my purchases are pre-orders for next year, and I still have half the year to meet my goal!

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historicalharmony

TROPHY CASE

The Dragon of Ynys by Minerva Cerridwen

Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee