A trio of Tachyon reviews from around the web.

BOOK REVIEWS FOREVERMORE on Nalo Hopkinson’s FALLING IN LOVE WITH HOMINIDS:

This is an imaginative, provocative collection of stories that reflect the complexities of human existence, the moments of good and the impulses of bad.  The collection contains eighteen pieces that were written over the course of years, some written to specific themes, and published in variety of venues. Each piece has a short introduction that generally provides background to the story, usually in regards to the story influences. “Shift,” for instance, mentions Peter Straub, “Ours Is the Prettiest” gives some background to Bordertown, while “Delicious Monster” mentions the plant that inspired it.  I appreciate the information and the variety of insights; anthologies that are presented without context often feel disjointed, while authors that provide long explanations for the story origins distract from the actual pieces.

And what a collection this is. Explaining the subject and emotion of her works is challenging–I don’t read much in the literary fiction genre, and there aren’t many like her in sci-fi and fantasy. It’s rather like Octavia Butler sat down to brainstorm with Angela Carter in a beach cottage rented from Jeff Vandermeer.

POTPOURRI OF SCIENCE FICTION LITERATURE on Alastair Reynolds’ SLOW BULLETS:

Though much of Reynolds’ work is rather lengthy, Slow Bullets is a slim volume on par with a novella (a little less than 40,000 words). Its compact size doesn’t leave out any of the expectations associated with Reynolds’ work—a combination a distant future humanity, a large-scale war, the gritty reality of the grassroots, and greater mysteries of Man.

Typically, when I read a book’s synopsis that contains the words “vast conflict” or “conscripted soldier”, I immediately place the book back on the shelf; I’m not at all into novels glorifying soldiers or war (though some novels redeem themselves in one way or another). Thankfully, Slow Bullets doesn’t focus on the command structure of the military or the tactics of the battlefield; rather, the focal point of the story is on one solider, a woman named Scur, and her self-imposed parallel responsibilities of revenge upon her torturer and keeping peace and order.

RASCUNHOS on THE VERY BEST OF KATE ELLIOTT: 

To represent. The genre is insignificant. Science fiction or fantasy, the main purpose of some stories is to explore women, not in the traditional roles of passive and dumb observers, but as acting agents. Here women take the steering wheel, even if, sometimes, anonymously.

Being also a reader of fantasy and science fiction, the author felt the need to read about characters with whom she would connect. This need would encourage the majority of the stories – but not as a naïve attempt with hidden purpose. Even if you jump over the introduction the author will plainly state along the story that she is, consciously, not following the usual path. The result is uncanny. In a good way, but still uncanny.

Even as a woman, I recognize that I’m not used to read about the physical needs of a woman in such direct, blunt and independent way. Please don’t misinterpret me. These are not erotic stories, but portraying female characters they sometimes contain the thoughts a mature woman that feels attracted towards a man. The unusual element is that these women do not adopt the secondary role in attraction. They clearly think about their attraction, but they don’t feel the need to change their way in order to feel attracting.

I also perceived frustration, although I am not sure it was mine or the author’s. Women have, to many times, to resort to concealed strategies to achieve their goals – sometimes they use the social expectation of having a simple and muddled mind to, slowly, keep going.

Almost every story has a memorable moment, even if sometimes it seems that the end is not as important as the scene, resulting in an inconclusive feeling towards some stories. In the end you’ll find some texts about the role of women in fiction that will light some choices in the stories.

(Translation supplied by the reviewer)

For more information on  FALLING IN LOVE WITH HOMINIDS, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover art by Chuma Hill

Design by Elizabeth Story

For more info about SLOW BULLETS, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover art by Thomas Canty

Design by Elizabeth Story

For more information on THE VERY BEST OF KATE ELLIOTT, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover art by Julie Dillon

Design by Elizabeth Story