kara reviews Archives - Tachyon Publications

kara reviews

June 15, 2023

Even if you haven’t read the novel Firebreak, you’re going to enjoy Nicole Kornher-Stace’s FLIGHT & ANCHOR: A FIREBREAK STORY

Rick Klaw blog books that burn, flight & anchor, kara reviews, my favorite bit, Nicole Kornher-Stace, paul semel, retrorockets, Sarah Evermotion's Book Thoughts, the big idea

The freshly published FLIGHT & ANCHOR, Nicole Kornher-Stace’s return to the world of Firebreak, is attracting a lot of attention with glowing reviews from Books That Burn, Sarah Evermotion’s Book Thoughts, Kara Reviews, and Christina Pilkington on Instagram. Kornher-Stace is interviewed by Paul Semel and RetroRockets podcast. The author, herself, contributes essays for John Scalzi’s The Big Idea and Mary Robinette Kowal’s My Favorited Bit.

Flight & Anchor by Nicole Kornher-Stace — Cover by Elizabeth Story

The main storyline is both introduced and resolved, but for anyone who’s read FIREBREAK the question is much more how it’s going to end up the way it always had to, without much doubt as to what the conclusion will be. Even FIREBREAK has that feeling for anyone who has read ARCHIVIST WASP or LATCHKEY. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey, and I could read endless stories of 06 and 22, whatever shape that takes.
Books That Burn

I’d definitely recommend this for people who haven’t read Firebreak and for those who have. I think it’d be an interesting jumping in point, and for those who have read the full length novel it’d be a fantastic addition to 06 & 22’s stories. Evidently there are even more stories out there, and I’m excited to track those down and find out more!

4 out of 5 ‘mysteriously’ appearing pizzas
Sarah Evermotion’s Book Thoughts

I hadn’t read Firebreak, the novel that this novella is a loose prequel to, before I requested FLIGHT & ANCHOR from Tachyon on NetGalley. Normally I wouldn’t leap into an established world headfirst like this. However, I had a good feeling about this one. It is a standalone story that doesn’t require knowledge of Firebreak. Nicole Kornher-Stace’s writing is very intimate, very in-your-face, and the result is a slow-burn novella that has me wanting to read Firebreak for sure now.
Kara Reviews

“I’d recommend FLIGHT & ANCHOR if you like *Stranger Things*, dystopian world-building, human modification. An enjoyable read!”
**Christina Pilkington**

July 25, 2022

With the fascinating THE EXTRACTIONIST, Kimberly Unger ushers in a new generation of cyberpunk

Rick Klaw blog interview, kalw, kara babcock, kara reviews, kimberly unger, pamela scott, paul semel, reading, review, the book lover's boudoir, the extractionist

Kimberly Unger’s new technothriller THE EXTRACTIONIST continues to enthrall with reviews from Kara Babcock at Kara Reviews and Pamela Scott for The Book Lover’s Boudoir as well as an interview with Paul Semel. Also, be sure to catch Unger reading from the book for KALW Pubic Media.

THE EXTRACTIONIST is a pretty strong contender for a new generation of cyberpunk that hews to the traditions of the subgenre while also carving out new ones given our modern society’s flirtation with a metaverse.
Kara Reviews

I’ve read other books by the author and was looking forward to THE EXTRACTIONIST. I liked the world-building and the level of detail used to bring McKay’s world and job to life. It got a bit technical at times but I was fascinated. I enjoyed the thriller elements but preferred just hanging out with McKay and her strange life.
The Book Lover’s Boudoir

I’d like to start with a little background: Who is Eliza McKay, the main character of The Extractionist? What does she do? And what exactly is an extractionist?

So, in every science fictional universe with some kind of “alternate reality” technology, there’s a story about someone getting stuck in it. Star Trek did it, Stargate did it, even The X-Files did it. An extractionist is the person whose job is to pull you out of those virtual spaces in time for dinner, even if you really don’t want to go.

Eliza McKay is doing this as a fallback career. After she royally fucked up in her day-job, this was the slice of the gig economy where she really found a fit.
Paul Semel