Orbit 13
Twenty stories of distinctly bleak 1970s speculative fiction, ranging from post-apocalyptic nightmares to reality-bending psychological horror. Doris Piserchia and Kate Wilhelm deliver some excellent work, but the relentless gloom left me exhausted rather than hungry for more.
Taurus Four
A stranded space explorer encounters a primitive society descended from hippies and falls for a teenage girl. I kept reading in hopes that the protagonist's spectacular sexism was deliberate satire. Instead, the novel celebrates his misogyny and delivers one of the most appalling endings I've encountered.
A City in the North
A wealthy human explorer becomes obsessed with visiting an ancient ruin on a planet whose enigmatic native inhabitants want outsiders to stay away. In just 222 pages, Marta Randall delivers a fascinating, character-driven exploration of alien cultures, colonialism, and the limits of human understanding.
The Far Forests
Fifteen charming, gently supernatural tales of romance, mystery, death, and other peculiarities. Joan Aiken makes even her macabre stories feel cozy and inviting, creating a quietly delightful collection with surprising moments of substance.
Deryni Checkmate
After the brisk, satisfying intrigue of Deryni Rising, its sequel offers little but vague political unrest, religious persecution, endless dowry discussions, and characters who seem as bored as I am. I abandoned the book at page 78.
Song of the Pearl
A teenage girl journeys through the afterlife and her past incarnations to understand her suffering. Beautiful prose cannot redeem a YA novel whose central message holds an abused child responsible for her own sexual assault—and ultimately demands that she apologize to her abuser. My most hated ForFemFan read.
Deryni Rising
A young prince, his Deryni magician mentor, and a vengeful sorceress collide in an elaborate struggle for the throne. A classic historical fantasy with impossibly dramatic characters, convenient magic, and an unexpectedly comforting old-fashioned charm.
Joshua, Son of None
A scientist secretly preserves John F. Kennedy's DNA with the intention of cloning him. Intriguing, ambitious, and beautifully written—but its dense mixture of Norse mythology, metaphor, and scientific detail demanded more concentration than I was prepared to give.
The Panorama Egg
A panorama egg contains an entire fantasy world, and an infuriating protagonist gets to explore it. Baffling, uneven, and often unpleasant—but one magnificent, mysterious sorceress makes the whole thing unforgettable.
Chrysalis of Death
A fossil collector unearths prehistoric caterpillars that unleash a horrifying epidemic on a tiny desert town. Competently written, genuinely suspenseful pulp horror whose relentless cruelty and hopelessness left me furious.
Islands
In a world of immortals, Tia Hamley is the one woman who will grow old and die. A beautifully written, deeply human exploration of mortality, identity, and connection, somewhat undermined by its metaphysical ending.
The Witchstone
Three villains pursue a magical stone, and an intriguing exploration of damaged people gives way to a disappointing quest and an unconvincing redemption. Wonderful beginnings, frustrating execution, and yet another case of Bad Back Copy.
Missing Man
A kindhearted telepath with learning disabilities joins a futuristic rescue squad. George is wonderful, the premise is fascinating, and the increasingly disconnected plots turn a promising collection of ideas into a frustrating mess.
The Trees of Zharka
A world in perpetual penance, 79 sacred trees, and a young priest questioning everything he's been taught. A surprisingly nuanced, thoughtful, and optimistic little science-fiction novel.