Ice Vegas by Larry Niven and Stephen Barnes

August 3, 2026

Ice Vegas by Larry Niven and Stephen Barnes

A retired assassin comes out of retirement to stop a megalomaniac's quest for world domination.

DNF at 40%. Based on the synopsis, I was expecting a different book, more about an underground entertainment Mecca somewhere below Greenland and a detective trying to solve a final case. But this was mostly an internal monologue by a spy/assassin, pondering how she got where she is. The themes like world domination and the threats posed by technology seem like classic sci fi themes from the last half of the 20th century. Also, including an octopus in the story seemed like a rip-off of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Disappointing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Valet by J. P. Lacrampe

June 26, 2026

Valet by J. P. Lacrampe

Cy is a VALET, an AI-controlled robot assigned to be the personal assistant to Grayson, the 35 year old son of the the owner of AI+, Cy's creator. Grayson grew up with Cy and Cy's current assignment is to find Grayson a wife or at least someone who will look after him so his family doesn't have to. This is harder than it sounds since Grayson is something of an oddball. The longer it takes, the lower Cy's success rating drops. If it falls below a certain level, not only will Cy not be eligible for an upgrade, he will be farmed out for parts. Worse yet, Grayson's sister Charlotte, the company CEO, is working on a deal to sell the family corporation to a competitor.

It's impossible to turn on the television or computer these days and not get bombarded with ads for AI, and generally speaking, it's pretty annoying (no, I don't need AI to write an email for me, summarize an article, or tell me how to invest). Set in the not-too-distant future, AI and robots haven't exactly taken over society but humans are dependent on them for everything. The takeover plot is silly and you know from the start that it's not going to work. You can't help but love Cy, who is devoted to his human "brother" Grayson and Grayson's dog, a golden retriever named Sasha III who is a clone of Grayson's childhood dog (non-spoiler alert: Sasha III is fine at the end of the book). The real question here is what makes us human and what makes us a family. I did want to slap Cy's friend Larry by the end of the book. Will appeal to readers who enjoy the quirky fiction of Kevin Wilson or Augusten Burroughs.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite

May 18, 2026

Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite

Ship's detective Dorothy Gentleman is back for a new case, this time to solve a supposedly impossible mystery: the appearance of a baby on the interstellar luxury cruise ship the Fairweather. On Old Earth, babies were a common enough occurrence, but all the passengers on the ship have been modified to prevent such an event until they read their final port. So how did this happen, and more importantly, who made it happen? With the ship's limited space and resources, Dorothy needs to solve the mystery and make sure it doesn't happen again.

The second adventure for Dorothy Gentleman, ship's detective on the luxury star liner Fairweather. I love the world that the author is creating and want to know more about life aboard the ship, the passengers, and how they all came together. Also about Ferry, the ship's AI who (sort of) controls everything aboard the ship. Dorothy's nephew Ruthie and his husband John are delightful characters (John is a master mixologist who mixes cocktails that evoke a certain time or place, such as a sunset on a summer evening, which would be nice, since most cocktails evoke poor decisions and regret). A quirky read but in a good way. Looking forward to more Dorothy adventures.

Also, can someone please tell me what port this ship leaves from? I want to book a stateroom right away.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Platform Decay by Martha Wells

March 11, 2026

Platform Decay by Martha Wells

The SecUnit known to itself as Murderbot finds itself on a rescue mission, this time to locate and bring home Dr. Mensah's marital partner, daughter, and mother-in-law. En route to visiting Mensah's older daughter at university, they were illegally detained and imprisoned by the Barish-Estranza corporation, for unknown reasons but possibly in retaliation for previous actions by the Preservation consortium. They find themselves trying to escape from an artificial outer platform ring that surrounds a planet that has been stripped to nothing for its resources. SecUnit finds itself assisting an old enemy by rescuing her people while getting Mensah's family to safety. 

The eighth book featuring Murderbot, the sarcastic rogue SecUnit. Murderbot continues to grow as a character, experiencing new (and not always welcome) emotions. One of the hardest and sweetest feelings for Murderbot to process is that the humans they are responsible for really do care about him, as do his AI friends Three and ART. Bypassing security systems and planning escapes are just part of Murderbot's daily chores - their biggest challenge is fitting into human society and passing for humanoid. There is Murderbot's trademark sarcastic humor, particularly when it comes to the humanoids they need to protect. I wish ART and Three would have played larger roles, but Naja is a new favorite character - think of Ruth Gordon in a futuristic setting. Love this series, hate that I'll have to wait a year for another installment. Highly recommend the whole series to anyone who reads SF, but start at the beginning with All Systems Red.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

An example of strip mining that strips all of the minerals and resources from the ground and leaves the land desolate and destroyed

Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle

November 12, 2025

Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle

Vera Norrie has just been hired as the youngest professor of statistics and probability at the University of Chicago. To celebrate, she and her girlfriend have invited their closest friends along with Vera's mother to brunch at their favorite cafe. But Vera and her mother quarrel, and her mother runs of the restaurant with Vera chasing her. Outside, they find a scene of unexplainable chaos.

I worry about what goes on in Chuck Tingle's mind, I really do. His brand of horror is so original and out there, I can't think of anyone to compare him to. There are overtones of The X-Files as well as Lost. I don't know if this is a fugue state or a fever dream. Possible triggers include violence, death, suicide, animal death, depression, and annihilation. I love the cover art.

Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for providing an eARC for review.

Saving Time by Jodi Taylor

September 4, 2025

Saving Time by Jodi Taylor

Following their expose of illegal time travel at Site X, Matthew, Jane and Luke (aka Team Weird) have improbably completed their training and are now fully qualified Time Police officers. Their first assignment is to return to the 20th century and follow up on Henry Plimpton, a mild mannered amateur who only wanted to go back in time in order to win the national lottery. But when they arrive at Henry's house, they are shocked to discover that the whole street had been destroyed by a massive explosion, setting in motion a new threat to the Time Map.

The third book in Jodi Taylor's Time Police series, which brings back familiar characters from the Time Police and St. Mary's, many of whom continue to grow and evolve (who knew that Lt. Grint had a romantic side? His preparation for his first date is hilarious.). You really do need to read the two previous books to understand some of the dynamics here. Pure fire-trucking fun!

The Battersea power station, headquarters of the Time Police

A Conventional Boy by Charles Stross

June 7, 2025

A Conventional Boy by Charles Stross

Welcome to Camp Sunshine. It rains a lot. Specializing in cult deprogramming, Camp Sunshine is part of The Laundry, the government department that defends Great Britain from occult threats. Most residents stayed a few months, were rehabilitated, and returned to society. But Derek has been there since 1984, when he was rounded up with some of his mates as part of the Satanic Panic, since they were avid Dungeons & Dragons players, and therefore cultists. Due to what was essentially a clerical error, it took the government too long to realize he was just a harmless nerd, and by that time he was institutionalized. But after many years at Camp Sunshine, Derek gets his hands a local newspaper with an announcement that DiceCon, an annual gaming convention, would be coming to one of the local towns. Derek decides that no matter the consequences, he is going to DiceCon. 

Part of the Laundry Files series. I haven’t read any of the series because it seemed like it was a little too science-geeky (don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against geeky types since I lean toward the nerdy myself), but this was so entertaining that I am rethinking that. Derek has been incarcerated at Camp Sunshine, a cult deprogramming center, for over 20 years, and he interprets everything through a gaming lens, quickly finding a gaming parallel to any unfamiliar situation (enthusiastic women with big boobs trying to sell him something? Obviously a Wandering Monster encounter). Creative and entertaining, recommended for sci-fi/fantasy/horror readers who like a little humor in their reality. 

If you don't know what the Satanic Panic was, look it up on Google and spend a couple of hours down the rabbit hole.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Nerds, er, fans at a gaming convention

Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite

February 9, 2025

Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite

Dorothy Gentleman, detective on the Fairweather, an interstellar cruise ship, wakes up in a body that doesn't belong to her. Normally finding oneself in a new body isn't that unusual on the ship, since that is one of the services offered: eternal reincarnations, at least until they reach their final destiny. But Dorothy's mind was supposed to be resting for a few years in the ship's library between incarnations, and she certainly didn't ask to be transferred into THIS body. The ship's AI appears to be on a drunken bender, so it's up to Dorothy to figure out on her own what is going on.

First book in a new noir sci-fi mystery series, although some readers feel it has a cozy setting, on an interstellar cruise ship on a millennia-long voyage to a new destination after leaving Old Earth. All of the passengers live out their lives, die, and are brought back to life in a new body. The science makes sense, like a magnetic storm erasing some of the files where a person's permanent memories are kept. Who doesn't love a cocktail drinking auntie who solves mysteries? Fun setting, fun characters, fun premise. There is even some P. G. Wodehouse-esque humor, with Dorothy's nephew having a boyfriend who strongly reminded me of Jeeves. Recommended for readers who enjoy Becky Chambers' quirky novels.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Now THIS looks like a fun cruise ship!

I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger

December 11, 2024

I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger

In the not too distant future, musician Rainy lives with his wife Lark in a remote town in the upper peninsula of Michigan on the shore of Lake Superior. Lark owns a bookstore in an age where people no longer read - for many people, it's a struggle to survive. Rainy and Lark rent out a room in their house to travelers, offering them a bed and meals and whatever else they may need, until they are ready to move on. When one of these travelers brings trouble with him, Rainy flees in his boat on Lake Superior, running from a mysterious man who believes that Rainy knows where to find a cache of stolen drugs.

Dystopian fiction set in the near future. Confusing at first, it was hard to know what direction the story was going. Rainy may be searching for his dead wife or he may be searching for an elusive poet. There are a number of references to Don Quixote, a dreamer on a quest. Wonderful characters, even the evil ones, and poetic language as well as poetic justice. Fans of the novels of Peter Heller will enjoy Enger's dystopian story.

Lake Superior of the Michigan coast on a calm day

Hard Time by Jodi Taylor

November 13, 2024

Hard Time by Jodi Taylor

The Time Police's three most unusual trainees, Luke, Jane and Matthew (aka Team 236, aka Team Weird) return for an adventure that requires their unique skill set. At least one corporation is running illegal time travel excursions for tourists, and the conventional methods used by the Time Police to apprehend the perpetrators have failed. So Commander Hays send out her unconventional team to do their thing.

As much as I enjoy the original Chronicles of St. Mary's series, I think I enjoy this spin-off series more. There is still the wacky humor and adventures of the disaster magnets of St. Mary's, but within a military setting. So far, not as dark as the original series became in later books, probably because of the three main characters here. Fans of sci fi with a strong shot of humor will enjoy the Time Police series.

The former Battersea Power Station, home base of the Time Police at some point in the future, silhouetted on the book cover

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by M. J. Wassmer

July 11, 2024

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by M. J. Wassmer

Dan and Mara are vacationing at a new island resort when the sun bursts. And not in a giant explosion in the sky, more like a pop and then broken egg yolk dripping down the sides of the sky, and then darkness. Not only are they trapped on the island, an athleisure-wear entrepreneur named Lilyanna (think Cruella DeVille dressed in Lululemon) who sounds like Dolly Parton has taken control of the resort - as well as the only plane on the island. But there is an observatory on the other side of the island, and the resident astronomer believes there is something strange going on - well, stranger than the sun exploding.

It's class warfare at a new luxury resort, where the rich people in building A take over all the resources and put the guests in buildings B and C to work for them. Except for Lilyanna and her head of security (boo, hiss), the characters might be clueless but they all have a lot of heart. BTW, this is the kind of thing that would happen to me. I suspected the answer about halfway through, but it was still a fun read. Recommended for readers who enjoy not-too-serious dystopian fiction.

Dystopian resort

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde

June 29, 2024

Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde

Following the death of a prominent Orange, Eddie Russet and his lover Jane Brunswick are about to go on trial. Since Eddie tested at 87% red, he has been forced into an arranged marriage with the awful Violet DeMauve, whose family wants to strengthen their color line with his strong red genes. Even though he is married to Violet, Eddie has no intention of giving up Jane. The village is competing in the upcoming Jollity Fair, with Jane being one of the star athletes, provided she is not found guilty during the trial. But Eddie and Jane are more interested in finding out the truth about their world, as well as following clues about what Eddie's mother was up to, and what really happened to her.

Return with me to Chromatacia where your existence is controlled by your limited color vision in the long-awaited sequel to Shades of Grey. Really delightful, clever and creative world building. Life is ruled by the color-tocracy with all of its bizarre rules (residents cannot wear gloves no matter what their job is or how cold it is, spoons cannot be manufactured, linoleum is the major produce even though no one wants it, etc.) which begins to make sense as our star-crossed lovers Eddie and Jane go digging for answers. The ways in which the villagers subvert the rules and the rulers is very entertaining. Read the first book before this one - it will make a lot more sense. Recommended for fantasy readers, especially those who enjoy world building.

The color spectrum

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton

April 4, 2024

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton

The last 122 people on earth live in a village on an island at the end of the world - everyone else has been consumed by a mysterious fog. Technology is gone, the last of it buried somewhere beneath the island. All of the residents work for the greater good, managed by Abi, an artificial intelligence. No one lives beyond the age of 60 - when a villager dies, another appears to take their place. The deadly fog remains at bay, but they all fear that someday, the fog will consume them too. Equilibrium is maintained until a resident is murdered, and the fog suddenly begins to creep closer.

Stuart Turton writes mysteries that are anything but ordinary. I refer to them as "thinking person mysteries," with stories that are complex and original. Like the author's previous books, this one is edgy and a blend of dystopia, sci fi, and mystery. It's a "locked room" mystery, where a group of people are isolated from the outside, and one of them must be the murderer, but it seems to be impossible that any of them did it. Hints of the television series LOST and also The Prisoner. I could have used a map of the island since it was sometimes difficult to picture where the characters were at times in relation to the village and the bay. Not for someone looking for a traditional mystery, but will appeal to readers who like fiction that is "out there."

Many thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

A foggy island at the end of the world

System Collapse by Martha Wells

March 4, 2024

Murderbot, the rogue SecUnit, is back for another adventure, only this time, something traumatic has happened to it, causing it to experience false memories and flashbacks. Worse, its breakdown happened in front of the crew, ART, and another SecUnit, so everyone knows something is wrong. Both its mechanical and organic parts are affected, and it makes Murderbot question whether it can do its job. For the first time, it is afraid to go into unknown situations, that it will freeze and be unable to protect its humans. And Murderbot has more humans than ever to look after, and is starting to care about many of them.

Love the Murderbot series! It's been a while since the last book, so it takes the reader a few chapters to get back into the story (stick with it, it's worth it). Wells revisits many of our favorites characters, including ART, the Asshole Research Transport and Murderbot's best friend. We get to see Murderbot's human side here, which just makes me love it even more. I'm so sad that I have to wait another year for the next book. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys science fiction and fantasy.

Terraforming a new planet

Titan's Tears by Chad Lester

February 21, 2024

Titan's Tears by Chad Lester

Three characters are on a collision course in a dystopian world: Seth works for an Amazon-like corporation until he is replaced by a robot. Belle is an odd young woman living in a remote Alaskan town, until she is offered a high-paying job at Eccleston Evolution, a high-level tech company, even though she has no real job skills. Sophia is the founder of Eccleston Evolution, which develops cutting edge and sometimes controversial technology, and created the world's most advanced AI, The Augur.

Strange dystopian book about scientific and bio-ethics and the evils of science gone wrong, as well as greed, megalomania, etc. As soon as I read about the forest full of bio-engineered creatures outside the compound, I knew there would be at least one frantic escape attempt pursued by wild prehistoric animals. My biggest complaint is that the writing is sloppy - it needed a really GOOD editor. There are a lot of errors - at some points, the author forgets that one of his characters is blind. At another point, two of the characters are handcuffed but not to each other, and he has them run holding hands - how awkward is that? Super advanced robots go out in the rain and short out - seriously?? Not sure where the title came from, either, as it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the storyline. I think the author tried to cover too much ground and too many topics. If you want to read a really good futuristic book that covers many of the same subjects, read The Tomorrow File by Lawrence Sanders.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Great Transition by Nick Fuller Googins

September 24, 2023

The Great Transition by Nick Fuller Googins

Emi lives in Nuuk, Greenland with her parents, who have been having marital difficulties for some time. Emi is SO tired of hearing how lucky she is to be born after the Great Transition, a time of major climate change, which her parents never stop reminding her about. During the global celebration of Day Zero, there are assassinations in several locations including Nuuk. Emi's mother is supposed to be in New York but has now vanished, and it appears she may have something to do with the killings. Emi and her father set out to find her, but who can they trust?

While I'm pretty much over climate change fiction, this was well-written. Except there is too much crying. With a dual timeline that moves from the present to 20 years ago, it was recommended as a read-alike for Station Eleven, which I loved. It also reminded me of Our Missing Hearts, where an activist mother goes missing and her son searches for her under politically dangerous conditions. 

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Nuuk, Greenland

The Jinn-bot of Shantiport by Samit Basu

September 11, 2023

The Jinn-bot of Shantiport by Samit Basu

Shantiport is a major city that is slowly crumbling into decay due to flooding and political factions. Everyone who lives in Shantiport is trying to find a way to get out, except Lina, who loves the city and wants to save it. When she and her brother Bador, a monkey bot, find a magic lamp complete with jinn who will grant their wishes, they decide to punish the man who killed their father while also saving Shantiport. What could possibly go wrong? Be careful what you wish for.

A retelling of the Aladdin story from 1001 Arabian Nights, which the author tried to marry to Murderbot but not successfully. The first half of the book is some amazing world building, but the second half dragged and I started skimming. The jinn is amusing since before he will grant a wish, he goes through the user agreement and other legalese that we are all familiar with. If you are a hardcore fantasy reader, you may enjoy this but it wasn't for me. I suggest reading Martha Wells' Murderbot series instead.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Dystopian city

Another Place, Another Time by Jodi Taylor

June 7, 2023

Another Place, Another Time by Jodi Taylor

Just when things seem to be settling down at St. Mary's, things go balls up again, this time in a big way. There's a marriage, a birth and a death (maybe). Markham and his family (nurse Diana Hunter and baby daughter Flora) are off on "family leave," Leon has take St. Mary's young people (his son Matthew, and Adrian and Mikey) off to scout a new location for a safe haven for St. Mary's people and the archives should the need ever arise (again), and Max and the others take the new head of security on her first jump to investigate the death of Amy Robsart, wife of Robert Dudley, Elizabeth I's favorite favorite. Was it accidental or homicide? With the new security staff, the historian visit Babylon in 565BC with disastrous results when two of the team are left behind. But the new security chief is just the beginning of the changes, leaving Max and Markham to wonder if the place will survive.

Although I love the Chronicles of St. Mary's series, I wasn't sure I wanted to read this one based on the description and reviews left by other readers. But I started it and immediately got sucked in. There are a lot of changes and St. Mary's isn't the same place we've come to know. And what's up with Max and Peterson? Already ordered the next one from the library to find out what happens next.

Ishtar Gate, ancient Babylon

The Long and Short of It by Jodi Taylor

May 22, 2023

The Long and Short of It by Jodi Taylor

The disaster magnets from St. Mary's Institute for Historical Research (aka historians) are back for a collection of short stories previously published in ebook form. I'm not usually a fan of short stories (not enough time for character development, truncated plots, etc.), but I've read most of the books in the Chronicles of St. Mary's series. This collection of short stories fills in some of the blanks and hanging plot lines from previous books.

We learn how Dr. Bairstow founded St. Mary's, discover more about Markham, and learn how Mr. Bashford met Angus the chicken (who is actually a hen). Many of the stories are holiday themed. Unlike most short story collections, all of these stories are good. Great fun.

Angus the chicken, who is actually female

Plan for the Worst by Jodi Taylor

May 11, 2023

Plan for the Worst by Jodi Taylor

The good people from St. Mary's Institute for Historic Research are back for another wild adventure. Max and her family visit Iron Age America, where they unexpectedly encounter a group of lost Vikings. Then, when a government official expresses a desire to find out what really happened to the princes in the tower, Max and director Bairstow jump to 15th century London, timed for the last known date that the princes were seen. Finally, her team jumps to Bronze Age Crete to witness the bull jumpers, King Minos, and the earthquake that destroyed the city of Knossos. But events from the past and future shake the foundations of Max's world, causing her to question what is true and who she can trust.

This is really Mr. Markham's book. We get his backstory but he also becomes a father (although we still don't know if he and Hunter are married) when Nurse Hunter's baby is born. The Time Police make several appearances and Max works to restore goodwill between them and St. Mary's. And Clive Ronan finally takes things too far and destroys himself. Good. I was tired of Clive a few books back.

And if you're going to test whether your windows, walls, or pods can withstand being hit by a bird, remember (and I'm quoting NASA here): "Gentlemen, thaw your chickens." Read the book and you'll get the reference.

Ancient city of Knossos