The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz (Nebula Finalist)– In the far future, the planet Sask-E, is being setup for human habitation. Destry, a member of the Environmental Rescue Team (ERT), discovers a colony near Spider Mountain. This rocks the foundation of the corporation that runs Sask-E. The novel then goes a few hundred years in the future and follow an ERT group surveying how transit should be planned. Then the story goes a few hundred years further where Scrubjay, a flying train, and Moose, a sentient cat form a friendship and find out things that can change all of Sask-E. One idea introduced is that the losing minority of a vote gets one concession regarding the decision. Change takes time and teamwork. Cities and communities need lots of planning to work.
Mars Express (Animated Feature Film) – Robots are randomly killing people on Mars. Two detectives look for a missing student on Mars. The cases seem to be connected. The film questions what responsibilities we have to our creations. The film looks beautiful and has a great ideas.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom (Anime Feature Film) – This was a continuation of a series I did not see. I got all the info I needed in the beginning. There is a complex plot of humans against this version of New Types. There are complex plots and schemes, battling robots, and a character named Albert Heinlein. This was great. I am glad I saw it in the theater.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (Theatrical Film) – The Apes are back and its “wonderful day.” It presents new version of classic scenes from the original. I think there is hope for everyone in the film since people make good decisions despite the trauma the suffer.
The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis (Reader’s Group Choice) – Francie comes to Roswell to be the Maid of Honor at her friend’s wedding. While in Roswell she gets abducted by an alien in a car. Eventually four others join Francie with the alien. The alien, who is named Indy by the group, is looking for something. The drive all around the American Southwest to find it. What is it? Why is Indy on Earth? This is a dramedy playing with the myths of UFOs mixed with the plot of Stagecoach. The dialogue is breezy. There is some good first contact material with the group trying to communicate with Indy. This book took awhile to write. It was worth the wait.
The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang (Nebula Finalist) – Lin Chong is master martial artist and teacher. She runs afoul of a member of the Emperor’s staff and is arrested. On her way to prison she escapes and joins a community of women outlaws living in the marshes of Liangshan. Lin’s best friend, Lu Junyi is tasked to harness a power that can devastate huge areas for the Emperor’s chancellor. Can the community of Liangshan defend themselves? Can the power the Lu is researching be managed? Lin and the others of Liangshan are trying to live in peace, but will the Emperor’s servants let them? There is a lot of action and intrigue in this novel. Both sides want to forge a future for the Empire. One side wants a more free society while the other wants to consolidate power to a few. The solution to this conflict might be explosive.
The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera (Hugo Finalist) – Fetter is the child of 2 immensely powerful beings. His father can rearrange the world and has become a power spiritual leader. Fetter’s mother wants him to kill his father, she trains him, and takes away his shadow. Fetter goes to the city of Luriat. There he helps others find their way in the city and studies the mysterious bright doors of the city. What do the doors mean? Can Fetter kill his father? Should he? This world has our tech but is a demon infested world. Fetter is torn from studying the doors and facing his father. This novel does a great job of combining traditional fantasy elements and the modern world.
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (Hugo Finalist)– Earth was destroyed in a war with aliens using a device that can alter reality. Gaea Station is an insular human colony. Valkyr or Kyr is a teenager living on Gaea bred for war to avenge the Earth. She is very passionate about this and makes life challenging for her fellow cadets in her unit. She makes discoveries that not everything she has been told is true. Kyr will need to make decisions that can change her world forever. Kyr has a great character arc. She has to face the lies she has been told and work on her faults. It is not an easy journey but it is an interesting one.
The Adventure of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (Hugo Finalist) – Amina al-Sirafi was one of the most famous or infamous pirates of the Indian Ocean. She tries to settle down and raise her daughter. Sayyida Salima, a wealthy woman, makes Amina an offer she cannot refuse. Amina reunites her crew and sets sail to find Salima’s granddaughter from a Frank criminal named Falco. There is more than meets the eye. Can they stop Falco from finding an object of immense magical power. This was fun. This is high sea adventure with magic thrown in. Amina is a good leader trying to find stability for her family. All the characters are well thought out and there are great action sequences.
Rainbow War Blog 