Monthly Archives: July 2011

Guest Post: Science Fiction Romance: Your guided tour of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup subgenre!

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Thomas Evans

This week, it is my honor to have Charlie Alden write a guest article on the cross-over of Science Fiction Romance. Charlie is an author of both novels and of the always enjoyable Smart Girls Love Science Fiction and Paranormal Romance blog which has helped to open my eyes to the appeal of this growing subgenre. Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion Piece, Science Fiction, Thoughtful, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Against a Dark Background, Iain M. Banks (Orbit, 1993)

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Thomas Evans

Against a Dark Background was Iain M. Banks’ fourth Science Fiction Novel, and his first not set in the Culture universe (though admittedly, it is never stated per se, and there are hints it might be). It is a marvelously interesting read, with strangely dark humor and filled with wonders from Banks’ vivid imagination. Continue reading →

Posted in Comedy, Espionage, Identity, New Space Opera, Post Modern, Science Fiction, Stand Alone Novel, Strong Characters, Thoughtful, Ultratech, Uncategorized, Unique or Imaginative World, World | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dispossessed, Ursula K. LeGuin (EOS, first published 1974, rp – 2001)

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Thomas Evans

Winner of the Hugo, Nebula World Fantasy and National Book Awards, The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin remains one of the best reads I’ve enjoyed, regardless of genre. Part of the Hainish Cycle, it is also a stand alone novel, whose storyline holds up brilliantly to the test of time. It is the story of an alien physicist and his life on both the anarcho-communist lunar colony in which he was born, and on the aggressively hegemonic state of his home world. A wonderful read that I would recommend to anyone. Continue reading →

Posted in Political Drama, Science Fiction, Series, Space Exploration, Stand Alone Novel, Strong Characters, Thoughtful, Uncategorized, Unique or Imaginative World, World | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Barking, Tom Holt (Orbit, 2007)

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Thomas Evans

Barking is a comic urban fantasy that kept me laughing throughout. For those of you who have never heard of Tom Holt, he is to Urban Fantasy as Terry Pratchett is to High Fantasy. He is a master of weaving subtle jokes and the absurd into good plots and this book is no exception…. see http://www.sophyanempire.wordpress.com Continue reading →

Posted in Comedy, Mystery, Stand Alone Novel, Unique or Imaginative World, Urban Fantasy, Urban Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment