Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for the advanced copy.
Much like EC Epitaphs from the Abyss Vol. 1, this collection is widespread and mixed in qualiThanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for the advanced copy.
Much like EC Epitaphs from the Abyss Vol. 1, this collection is widespread and mixed in quality. Nothing stood out as terrible, with even the 'worst' story being decent, but nothing stood out as great either.
The very first story (The Champion) actually made me cry and gave me higher hopes for the rest. A few could be middling episodes of Black Mirror (Priceless, for example). Some are concepts done better in other media (ex: Organ1c and Tender Is the Flesh). Then there are a few, decently effective, super short stories that are only a page or two... but most were perhaps longer than they actually needed to be.
I still really enjoyed this collection though, and I love things like this and want to encourage it to continue....more
Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for the advanced copy.
Solid space horror that leaves to many questions and like, no answers. I don't mind a lack of Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for the advanced copy.
Solid space horror that leaves to many questions and like, no answers. I don't mind a lack of answers but give us something? The story jumps forward at one point and it feels like there was a chunk that was cut out... the art was interesting but I would've liked color because it doesn't feel like the black and white was really utilized in any special/meaningful way to make the lack of a color have a point. Again, not that it needs to but all of these pieces put together gives the book an unfinished feeling, and I couldn't shake the dissatisfaction at the end.
Hurd-McKenney also gets a little bit into childhood abuse and the lasting trauma, repressed memory, psychological issues, etc but it feels all surface level. Just as the story starts to go deeper into any of these topics, is when it suddenly ends.
If there's going to be more, I think this is worth the read, otherwise there is better out there. I'm sad at the wasted vibes because the idea and visuals are so cool....more
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced copy.
Lovecraft in space! One of my favorite genres. I love some cosmic horror, even whThanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced copy.
Lovecraft in space! One of my favorite genres. I love some cosmic horror, even when it is derivative - I don't mind, that's my comfort food. I want the familiar when it comes to my favorites.
Anderson's story gets going pretty early on and keeps going on throttle until the end. I appreciate the large stakes, I loved the cosmic horror details, and I loved all the homages to the author's influences.
The biggest influences I noticed are At the Mountains of Madness by Lovecraft, and one of my most favorite movies ever, Event Horizon. Anderson uses characters and stories from At the Mountains of Madness (in this universe, Lovecraft's stories aren't stories but history) in an effect way to set up the motivations and actions of several characters. One in particular that I think the author must have had other plans for but then it kind of fizzles out; unless there's going to be a sequel, that was a disappointment and felt like a missed opportunity. As for Event Horizon, the author even names a couple ships the Lewis and Clark, haha. If you've seen the movie though, you'll recognize a few things (not that the movie itself is wholley original, but it is an influential cult classic) that are familiar.
My only real complaints are the character of Noor and what happens there. I don't always want answers but we saw examples of what happens when life goes through the wormhole, and then... the book just ends. With a huge What If that, honestly, doesn't really need a sequel but still feels like the set up for one.
I enjoyed this a lot though, even if it did annoy me at times lol It really scratches that cosmic horror itch.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of the audiobook.
SA Barnes knows what she likes and she writes precisely that. And I lovThanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of the audiobook.
SA Barnes knows what she likes and she writes precisely that. And I love it, lol.
Cold Eternity is probably the creepiest of her books, taking place on a mostly empty ship with a mysteriously absent caretaker, messed up AI, and a whole lot of frozen, mostly dead people. The creepy stuff starts up basically right away.
I enjoyed the tense loneliness, and the supremely creepy descriptions of the weirdness the MC encounters during the book. Barnes is good at description and suspense in my opinion.
I was occasionally annoyed by the MC, Haley/Katarina, who makes some questionable decisions at times. Her reactions don't always make sense either, which can be frustrating. She continually needs sense talked into her, and rarely does that sense come from her own internal voice, which is mainly "what's the worst decision I can make?!" I can see this frustrating some readers and making this one of her more divisive books but... personally, I didn't mind that much?
The story flies by though (in the best sense) and so whatever criticisms I have feel minor and easily overcome for the fun of the story. It's the most Dead Space-like of all Barnes' books and I am forever on the search for more media like Dead Space.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! It really satisfied my craving for some creepy, scary space horror, haha...more
Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for the advanced copy.
I was so stoked when I saw this - so many amazing comic writers and artists, many who've been Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for the advanced copy.
I was so stoked when I saw this - so many amazing comic writers and artists, many who've been a part of some of my favorite comics and series, all writing in a crazy sci-fi comic anthology?! This is so up my alley it's not even funny.
Some stories are better than others but I think that overall, Xino is a very satisfying and enjoyable read for science fiction fans... but then I read a lot of anthologies, and I am ok with not every story being a banger, so long as the product as a whole is a success. The stories themselves remind me of the weird stuff you'd see in the likes of Heavy Metal (the magazine) or the Netflix series Love, Death, and Robots. I just love all of that kind of stuff lol
I think this will be a draw for comic art lovers as well, because there is some incredible art in this book, and just beautiful, beautiful coloring. I honestly recommend checking the book out for the art alone.
Overall, if you like weird sci-fi and cool art, then you'll likely enjoy Xino. ...more
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for the advanced copy. I double-dipped with this one, co-reading the book while listening to the audiobook.
I was aware of Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for the advanced copy. I double-dipped with this one, co-reading the book while listening to the audiobook.
I was aware of this author after her debut, Dead Silence, was popping up everywhere. Sci-fi horror is my jam but the reactions to Dead Silence were so mixed that I've been hesitant to check it out, something I'll correct after reading Ghost Station.
It's not peak *chef's kiss* literature but this is some solid sci-fi horror. The author's inspiration screams through - Event Horizon, Dead Space, Aliens, The Thing, Tacoma, The Expanse, etc in the descriptions of the setting (both space ship, space station, and alien planet), the characters, the world building, even the situation. I don't want to get more specific than this as it will give away parts of the story, lol, but I will say that when I got to the description of their ship quarters I was immediately picturing the Lewis & Clark from Event Horizon lmao
It is a slow build as well, though the end goes wild and gets gross, and then we get a kind of silly fairy tale ending but, again, in an Event Horizon way, so... I can see some not wanting to go through the journey though, but I loved the world-building and setting, especially as Barnes does employ a cool plot device - this is a universe in which yeah, there are aliens, but all the humans see of them are ruins. Ruins so old that little can be gleaned. I thought this was just a little nugget of world-building, just a little tickle for setting-reason, but it turns out to be a big plot point and one I really liked and would love to see more of in the genre. There's something so deeply sad about humans going out into the final frontier and finding everyone else is already dead. Or maybe I just want to re-watch Stargate: Universe after reading this.
I honestly deeply enjoyed Ghost Station though, in the same way I enjoy ice cream - it's not healthy or much substance but it still tastes good. The only part that gave me a bad taste were the random occasionaly paragraphs attempting to set up some romance between the MC and the ship's Captain... and it's just as goofy and awkward as you can imagine. Two people, never met before, don't have a good first impression or impressions of each other in general, are going through something incredible stressful and horrific (mentally, emotionally, and physically!) and the aliens are more realistic than these two lusting after each other. Every time was jarring and you could literally remove any sentences referring to the romance and change nothing else. Especially as none of the characters are particularly likable? It feels very shoehorned. Either these two characters needed a history, or the romance should've remained light flirting, or the promise of a potential for more at the end of the story, any of which would have felt more natural in the situation. Anyway, I dedicated this entire paragraph to, maybe, two paragraphs worth of romance in the entire book haha so don't let this dissuade you, as it really barely appears. I just have a lot of feelings about insta-love, quick romances, and a general lack of 'read the room' when it comes to the fiction I consume.
The audiobook is quite good as well, though the narrator, Zura Johnson, has a Shatner rhythm when they're reading, unless they're doing the character voices. Takes some getting used to lol
It kind of ends open-ended and I wouldn't mind a sequel....more
Thanks to NetGalley and Humanoids Inc. for the advanced copy.
A unique sci-fi vision, with twinges of space horror. The plot is very reminiscent of a Thanks to NetGalley and Humanoids Inc. for the advanced copy.
A unique sci-fi vision, with twinges of space horror. The plot is very reminiscent of a free short story that you can find online by Googling: Report on an Unidentified Space Station by JG Ballard, an utterly creepy cosmic horror mystery.
The art was decent, very much in line with the art typical in French comics. The characters are given little development for the sake of world-building, unfortunately, though this is the first in a series of comics. I had to take a star for this though because I think it does hamper the story in the end, especially for the character of Johanna who behaves in a way that makes zero sense, because it's given no reason (and I don't accept "I'm sad because I left my family behind" as an excuse, there was nothing behind it, just telling no showing).
But the world-building is top notch. I am curious to see where this goes!...more
Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillen-Tor/Forge for the advanced copy.
Ness Brown's novella has just about everything I love in a story: mysterious alien Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillen-Tor/Forge for the advanced copy.
Ness Brown's novella has just about everything I love in a story: mysterious alien monster, outer space, feisty heroine. If you're a fan of Aliens, Dead Space, or Event Horizon, then you'll love The Scourge Between the Stars.
I think this easily could have been a full novel, with some additions of flashbacks to the original settlers, or more with Jack's mom (very Sophia Lamb from BioShock), or maybe some more science-y stuff about Them. While this is a horror novel and the antagonist is an alien creature, there are in fact another group of aliens present the whole time - those that the human fleet believe to be so advanced as to not even notice the human ships trying to avoid whatever epic battle these advanced beings are in the middle of (the ricochets and fragments of which are damaging Jack's ship). It's a fascinating mystery, especially upon the conclusion.
I hope that Ness Brown shares more of this world in the future - I'd love to read more Jack!...more
Not a bad story, and one I could see adapted into a popular movie given today's political climate. I suppose I was hoping more for something abnormal Not a bad story, and one I could see adapted into a popular movie given today's political climate. I suppose I was hoping more for something abnormal and unique than what Hopeless wrote, something more creepy than political thriller.
The art by Piotr Kowalski was really nice though. ...more
Very short, very freaky - highly recommended for a mind-bending horror trip. Short enough that I can't say more than the title without spoiling!Very short, very freaky - highly recommended for a mind-bending horror trip. Short enough that I can't say more than the title without spoiling!...more
This is one of the books that is just all the things I love - space horror, action, intrigue. I found it to be a lot of fun and very reminiscent of EvThis is one of the books that is just all the things I love - space horror, action, intrigue. I found it to be a lot of fun and very reminiscent of Event Horizon, which is one of my favorite movies.
I've found I quite like SA Barnes work, after reading this and Ghost Station. I enjoy "haunted house in space" as a genre very much and that is clearly her wheelhouse! She's quite a snappy writer as well, and I found her quick and easy to read. I actually schedule my reading time, and sometimes get distracted, and found it hard to put this book down each time as well, especially in the second half of the novel when the action really takes off.
Looking forward to her new book next year, and hoping for more of the same, but in the meantime if you want more like this I recommend checking out the Dead Space tie-in novels....more
I received a copy of Siberia 56 from netgalley and Insight comics.
One of my favorite genres is horror, followed by sci-fi and adventure, especially whI received a copy of Siberia 56 from netgalley and Insight comics.
One of my favorite genres is horror, followed by sci-fi and adventure, especially when set in outer space, deep winter, or deep water. Siberia 56 hit almost all of those as a sci-fi horror comic set on a frozen, dangerous planet in the far future. The art by Alexis Sentenac is stunning and brings gorgeous life to the alien world of Siberia. I've read a lot of French comics, mainly by Éric Corbeyran, a legendary writer responsible for some of the best French comics out there. Siberia 56 reminded me of one I read ages ago -which I believe is French?- where a team of soldiers go to a frozen alien planet to investigate a base that went silent and they all wind up infected with some alien parasite. The art style is similar but the story for that one I remember being more interesting, and I while I can't remember the title I couldn't help but thinking of it as I read Siberia 56. (If I end up remembering what it was, I'll edit this with the title.)
I think I found my mind wandering because of how meandering and scattered Bec's story-telling is. Either he and his artist didn't communicate well or something went wrong with the English translation because the story feels disjointed, like a series of vignettes, rather than one cohesive narrative. This isn't due to this being a volume containing three issues either, it's a problem from page to page. At the end I felt I knew none of the characters; I can't even remember the main dude's name and I literally just finished reading this. Bec introduces concepts and ideas haphazardly and suddenly, giving the reader a whiplash of "what the hell, who are these people and what and why?!" in the third act. You're left with little to no explanation of anything... that's what kills me especially because the idea behind this comic is great! Siberia is a creepy crawly world full of mysterious giant threats and a mysterious objects left behind by mysterious aliens and yet it's all sacrificed for generic corporate military drama at the end.
Frustrating and disappointing, Siberia 56 fails to live up to a fascinating potential and it's beautiful artwork can't save it. I'm just glad I got to read it for free from netgalley and didn't waste money on it. I have some of Bec's other work on my Amazon wishlist and now I'm having doubts... If you're considering whether to read Siberia 56, just remember there's better sci-fi horror out there than this. ...more
I literally just finished this and came right to my computer to write a review but I'm feeling so many emotions right now I don't even know where to sI literally just finished this and came right to my computer to write a review but I'm feeling so many emotions right now I don't even know where to start! I guess the place to start would be the fact that I often get caught up in the books I read, lose track of time, end up reading more than I mean to in a sitting, but that's not too unusual, right? But it was different this time-- reaching the end of Fortune's Pawn was like running full-on, head down, into a brick wall. I was so absorbed, so intense in my reading, that when it ended I was just left shaking my head wondering 'what the hell stopped me; where even am I?!'
Rachel Bach's story of Devi the bad-ass female armor-using soldier had me hooked from the start, with it's familiar yet slightly unique future sci-fi world but it wasn't a hook enough to keep me from reading beyond my 'allotted' time... until about half-way through, when the real action starts.
Devi Morris is a dedicated warrior who wants nothing more than to be top of her game. Since she was a little girl she aimed to be an elite member of Paradox's King's Guard: the Devastators. They're basically like a squad of Navy Seals with Iron Man's best suits. Devi is impatient but she has her eye on her goal and pushes away any distractions (including love, nudge nudge), and honestly it was really neat to get the 'super soldier' story from the pov of a woman. She touches on the power struggles of being a woman in a male-dominated profession, the different standards she's held to, and while it does affect her she doesn't let it show and does all she can to be the consummate professional. Even when caught up (and surprised) by her feelings she does what she can to remain professional. It was amusing to see the flip-side of a common trope and have the woman be the (relatively) level-headed hero and the man be the one to lose himself in the heat of emotion.
As much as I love the main character, and as fascinating as the side characters are (though we, sadly, don't really get too deep into them, which I hope changes in the sequels), Bach writes some great action sequences. I read a lot of action/adventure novels and the fight scenes in this are up there. The two big action scenes in particular had me on the edge of my seat, clutching my tablet so strongly I accidentally tapped out of the ebook at one point! I love how detailed Bach is with her characters' battle tech and weaponry and how they fight; it's so easy to picture everything in your head, which is super commendable in far future sci-fi stories in my opinion. The world of Fortune's Pawn is reminiscent of Bioware's Mass Effect series, which may color my opinion a bit since I love those games so much (they're also books! Mass Effect: Revelation). I don't want to get to specific as to why, but once you get reading you'll see what I mean.
Don't think I'm saying it's derivative though -it's really not- because while Fortune's Pawn plays with common ideas and themes I think Rachel Bach has been very successful in creating her own world and narrating it with an engaging main character. I am so looking forward to reading more books in this series! Off to get the sequel now......more
Loading...
