dystopian

#Sci-Fi Worth Reading: All Fools Day #BookReview #BookTwitter

As the weather goes crazy, read some great and funky sci-fi!

All Fool’s Day by Edmund Cooper was a great find. This worthwhile novel was recommended to me by another sci-fi lover on Instagram. I review a lot more books on Instagram and more than sci-fi and fantasy. If you want, follow me on Instagram! We’ll chat about books.

Anyway, Cooper is an author from the 1960s I never heard of. I’m glad that error has been remedied.  The Edinburgh Evening News had this to say about All Fool’s Day: The wackiest book of the year — this tragic, ingenious and entertaining novel. 

Wacky? That’s like a calling card to me. This was good writing and a very original story. The main character is a reluctant hero (one of my favorite tropes) and not very likeable. Yet, Cooper kept me engaged and reading.

The premise is the sun starts having sun spots that put out a strange and new kind of radiation that makes people want to kill themselves. The only people immune are those with different minds – the geniuses, the crazy, the neurodivergent, the psychopaths, etc… Yeah, it’s a nutty plot idea, but it makes sense in the story and Cooper writes it well.

The writing is old-fashioned to what’s currently in vogue (third person omniscient), but the story is compelling and keeps moving forward. With packs of murdersome rats, dogs, cats, and pigs, it was a compelling read about how the transnormals face the end of civilization.

Here’s the blurb:

Summer 1971. A marvellous spell of weather, idyllic in its warmth. But new sun-spots had appeared; and with their appearance came a significant increase in the suicide rate. The wonderful summer continued for a decade: simultaneously Radiant Suicide reached endemic proportions, the only people to escape its effects being the supposed transnormals, the obsessionals, the eccentrics and the psychopaths. These were to be the only remnants of the ancient ‘homo sapiens’ . . .

#SciFi Worth Reading: Cake Eater by Allyson Dahlin #BookReview #BookTwitter

Cake Eater is Sci-Fi worth reading. Five plus stars for a book I fell in love with!

Sci-Fi worth reading

Set in the year 3070, this novel is a retelling of Marie Antoinette’s story. I instantly related to Marie trying to exert control over her life. Only seventeen, she flies off to Franc to marry the dauphin, Louis. They’ve never met, but she’s prepared to do her duty. Sheltered and naive, she’s not prepared for much else.

She gives up her name, her home, her family, her dog, and even her clothes to become a wife and Marie. Nothing remains of her and her past, so she does her best to find herself, a way to fit in, and a way to still be Maria.  I found this book charming and enchanting. Marie immersed me into her life at Versailles and her struggle to be less lonely. This book had lots of feels, a young woman trying to figure out who she is, a struggling romance, and a sinister underlying plot. And, it made me cry. Not many books affect me that way.

If I had read the blurb, I never would have chosen this book myself. It was recommended and I’m thankful to that person for recommending it. I had a hard time putting this book down and am sorry Allyson doesn’t have any more books out. I really loved this book.

Here’s the blurb:

The year is 3070, and Marie Antoinette has just arrived at the glittering, thrilling palace of Versailles to marry the shy, soft-spoken Louis-Auguste.

But beneath the luxurious world lies a sinister underbelly and an uncompromising elite who want to keep Marie and Louis pawns in a deadly game.

Will history repeat itself? Or will these doomed lovers outwit their enemies and escape their grisly fate?

#Dystopian Worth Reading: Appleseed #BookReview #scifi #fantasy

Appleseed by Matt Bell is a beautifully written and highly original work that explores themes of power, survival, and redemption. The novel follows the life of a man named John Chapman, who becomes known as “Johnny Appleseed” for his efforts to plant apple orchards across the Midwest in the 19th century. The story follows his many reincarnations, and I find myself still thinking about this book.

Bell’s writing is exquisite, painting vivid and captivating images of both the natural world and the human condition. His imaginative use of language creates a rich and immersive experience for the reader. Additionally, the book is structured in a unique and innovative way, using a non-linear narrative that jumps back and forth in time to explore the various facets of John Chapman’s life.

While the book’s originality and writing are its strengths, it is also fair to note that the novel can feel long-winded at times.  But, overall Appleseed is an impressive and ambitious work that showcases Bell’s talent for storytelling and mastery of language. It is a recommended read for anyone looking for a thought-provoking and beautifully written exploration of the American frontier and the myth of the American dream.

Here’s the blurb:

A “breathtaking novel of ideas unlike anything you’ve ever read” (Esquire) from Young Lions Fiction Award–finalist Matt Bell, a breakout book that explores climate change, manifest destiny, humanity’s unchecked exploitation of natural resources, and the small but powerful magic contained within every single apple.

In eighteenth-century Ohio, two brothers travel into the wooded frontier, planting apple orchards from which they plan to profit in the years to come. As they remake the wilderness in their own image, planning for a future of settlement and civilization, the long-held bonds and secrets between the two will be tested, fractured and broken—and possibly healed.

Fifty years from now, in the second half of the twenty-first century, climate change has ravaged the Earth. Having invested early in genetic engineering and food science, one company now owns all the world’s resources. But a growing resistance is working to redistribute both land and power—and in a pivotal moment for the future of humanity, one of the company’s original founders will return to headquarters, intending to destroy what he helped build.

A thousand years in the future, North America is covered by a massive sheet of ice. One lonely sentient being inhabits a tech station on top of the glacier—and in a daring and seemingly impossible quest, sets out to follow a homing beacon across the continent in the hopes of discovering the last remnant of civilization.

Hugely ambitious in scope and theme, Appleseed is the breakout novel from a writer “as self-assured as he is audacious” (NPR) who “may well have invented the pulse-pounding novel of ideas” (Jess Walter). Part speculative epic, part tech thriller, part reinvented fairy tale, Appleseed is an unforgettable meditation on climate change; corporate, civic, and familial responsibility; manifest destiny; and the myths and legends that sustain us all.

 

#SciFi Worth Reading: Klara and the Sun #BookReview

best in science fiction book review Klara and the SunKlara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

If you’re looking for a science fiction worth reading book, this is a novel you won’t want to miss. This thought-provoking and deeply emotional, this work of fiction is a testament to the power of storytelling, and it explores themes of love, sacrifice, and what it means to be human.

Set in a not-too-distant future, Klara and the Sun follows the story of an Artificial Friend named Klara, who is designed to provide companionship to children. Through her unique perspective, Klara becomes increasingly aware of the complexities of human emotions and relationships.

Ishiguro is a master storyteller, and his writing style is both sparse and precise, yet it conveys a tremendous amount of emotion and depth. His ability to peel away layers of the story, revealing unexpected depths and complexities, is truly remarkable. The result is a wothy work of science fiction that transcends the genre and speaks to the human experience.

The novel is a reminder that even in a world that is increasingly driven by technology, human emotions and relationships remain at the heart of our existence. That’s a worthy epiphany to walk away with and chew on when reading time is over.

Overall, Klara and the Sun is a science fiction worth reading that deserves all the accolades it has received. It is a deeply moving and engaging work of fiction. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read.

Book Blurb:

Here is the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, who, from her place in the store, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her. Klara and the Sun is a thrilling book that offers a look at our changing world through the eyes of an unforgettable narrator, and one that explores the fundamental question: what does it mean to love?

 

 

2067: #SciFi #MovieReview

The opening shots of this movie reminded me of Blade Runner and the new Total Recall. For a few minutes, the movie seemed very familiar. Then it went off on its own path. The beginning was really promising and grabbed my attention.

In 2067, there is no more oxygen and no more plants. The last humans are dying. The main character is soon sent into the future in an attempt to save humanity from extinction.

As I said, it started great. In the middle, well, I wasn’t entirely sure as to what was going on. Normally, I’m okay with this. However, a little bit of a hint would have been nice. I think the moviemakers were being too clever, and only they were in on what they were being clever about.

The visuals were nice. The beginning and ending were interesting. As usual, with most sci-fi movies, a little bit more time spent on the ending would have made it a more satisfactory watch. There was lots of crying by the characters. There was too much time spent on the main character lamenting over his tragic past.  This could have been better told and more interesting by keeping the story moving forward.  I would have liked more character growth and action. There were twists, but I’m not sure they made sense.

There were a few spots where I had to go back because I had no idea what had happened. Even rewatching those parts, I wasn’t entirely sure.

There was no dancing or cheese. Both would have made the movie more fun. The addition of human-munching dinosaurs or land sharks would have been a plus as well. As it is, I give this movie a 2.5 beer rating. It could have been better, but it could have been worse. And, I’ve seen worse. Much worse. Yup, it’ll take at least 2.5 beers to enjoy this flick. 2067 is currently streaming on Hulu.

 

 

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