Warren Rochelle's Blog

The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We can Prosper Together, by Heather McGhee

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My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I think everybody should read this book. The subtitle after the colon pretty explains what I mean. This well-researched and well-written book on what is arguable America's greatest problem and how it affects all of us, not only discusses this, but offers practical and do-able solutions. McGhee also explains the price the country has paid for racism economically and emotionally.

This is one of the most thought-provoking books I have read in a long time.

Please, read it.



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The Office of the Lost, by J. Scott Coatsworth and Kim Fielding.

Office of the Lost by J. Scott Coatsworth

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Crispin Eladrin Moss’caladrin is a “by-the-numbers, check-all-the-boxes-kind-of-fae, the only desk fae in the Office of the Lost with a ten-point-two perfecality score” (7). He is well-organized, always punctual, and as a Curator for the Office of the Lost in the Connected Worlds, he get things done and on time, in an orderly, no-nonsense fashion. And at the end of the day, he goes home to his “tree bole in the Greatwoods on Torevor—and his pet squirrel, Minkis” (9).

Until one day, his supervisor, Bidulla Krönk, informs Crispin “something urgent has come up, a task” suited for the best Curators in the Office of the Lost. The Oracle itself has “specifically asked for [Crispin].” Bidulla, an “ogre of a woman, with sallow skin … the color of a rotten lemon … and two pointed yellow teeth” (9), tells him this mission has “top priority” and is of the utmost importance” (10). He is ordered to go to Earth, retrieve Leopold Lane, bring him back.

So begins Crispin’s quest. This quest, however, turns out to be more than a typical fantasy quest, with the usual trials, monsters, the crossing of thresholds, coming to terms with authority figures, and the like. Crispin knows things are very different. This “recovery mission [is] for a being,” which is unheard of. There is also an unexpected love story, and one comic misadventure after another, and lots of satire.

Trust me, this funny fantasy romp works.

The quest underway, Crispin finds himself in a Sacramento, California, apartment that really belongs in a student neighborhood. An untidy and messy flea trap is truly an understatement. He finds Leopold Lane, a walking disaster. His life is one mishap after another. Crispin uses Thea, his portable transport device, to take Leo back to the Office—but something goes wrong. They wind up in one strange and goofy world after, transformed at first into deerlike creatures. That doesn’t lasts, but there are enormous giants—at least the one they meet is a vegetarian—and archosaurs who keep “human-like” pets. A pet squirrel turns out more than just a squirrel. Oh, did I mention that Crispin has family issues? His mother is a queen, the Mother of the Fae, his brother is an obnoxious jerk.

Complications keep ensuing. Nothing goes as planned.

Crispin and Leopold fall in love. They are classic total opposites, One is super-neat and organized, the other, anything but. The course of true love never did run smooth. Leopold, it turns out, isn’t strictly human: he is Chaos, literally. People out there want him restrained. Leopold is taken away—and so the second quest begins. It turns out, we need chaos. Leopold has to be found, or Chaos will be sucked out the world, and the worlds, all of them, need chaos and order. “Chaos only works if there is Order, and Order can only exist with Chaos to be organized.” 265). “Order without Chaos was flat and dead and boring. And Chaos without Order was insanity” (267).

Will Leo and Crispin get their happily ever after? Stay tuned. This book is a lot of fun. Even so, it is more than comic misadventure and a love story with echoes of Beauty and the Beast. It is a story of family: the one we are born into, the one we find. It is about identity and self. Can someone transcend their origins? What happens when we step outside of our comfort zones?

I can’t wait for Book 2





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The Light Pirate, by Lily Brooks-Dalton

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My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Wow.
As I read this beautiful, intense, dark, and ultimately redemptive book, I fount myself thinking of Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson, a cri de coeur and call to action over the environmental harm caused by the "indiscriminate use" of DDT. Yes, Carson wrote a nonfiction science book, and Brooks-Dalton's The Light Pirate is a dystopian near-future science fiction. But it also a cri de coeur, a call to action over the dangers of ignoring climate change and its devastating consequences. Pay attention, now, "the end of the world as we know it," is nigh (back coverO).

And it is also a story of Wanda, a young girl, born in the middle of a hurricane (for which she is named) growing up, and coming of age in a "rapidly changing world} (front cover), her family of birth, and the family she finds. It is a love story. It is a story of "rising seas and changing coastlines," enormous hurricanes, catastrophic floods (back cover). It is also a story of Wanda and "her mysterious purpose that has been whispering to her for all these years" (front cover).

I agree with Meredith Hall, autor of Beneficence, "readers will not forget this beautiful book." I know I won't/

Read it.

Highly recommended.



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Religion and Science Fiction, An Introduction, by James H. Thrall

Religion and Science Fiction by James H. Thrall

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As a writer and as a scholar of science fiction, and as someone who fascinated with religion and its expressions in speculative fiction, this book is near and dear to my heart. James Thrall, retired professor and director of the religious studies at Knox College (Galesburg, Illinois) has written an introductory text book that "guides students deeper [a] understanding of how religion and science fiction engage often overlapping questions" (back cover). The topics are wide-ranging, from storytelling, myth and ritual, imagining divinity, evil, sin, and suffering, to the perennial science fiction question of what it means to be human. How do we deal with the other, alien or human, and race and gender? How do we face the end of time?

Thrall considers such questions from a rich reading list, demonstrating his deep knowledge of both religion and science fiction. I felt like I had both been invited to sit on a class I wish I could have taken, and to participate in a long on-going conversation.

Well written, accessible, highly recommended, whether in a class or just interested and intrigued, as I am always by these topics.



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Religion and Science Fiction, An Introduction, by James H. Thrall

Religion and Science Fiction by James H. Thrall

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As a writer and as a scholar of science fiction, and as someone who fascinated with religion and its expressions in speculative fiction, this book is near and dear to my heart. James Thrall, retired professor and director of the religious studies at Knox College (Galesburg, Illinois) has written an introductory text book that "guides students deeper [a] understanding of how religion and science fiction engage often overlapping questions" (back cover). The topics are wide-ranging, from storytelling, myth and ritual, imagining divinity, evil, sin, and suffering, to the perennial science fiction question of what it means to be human. How do we deal with the other, alien or human, and race and gender? How do we face the end of time?

Thrall considers such questions from a rich reading list, demonstrating his deep knowledge of both religion and science fiction. I felt like I had both been invited to sit on a class I wish I could have taken, and to participate in a long on-going conversation.

Well written, accessible, highly recommended, whether in a class or just interested and intrigued, as I am always by these topics.



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Thoughts on This is Not a Vampire Story, by Simon Doyle

This is Not a Vampire Story by Simon Doyle

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What a beautiful and heartbreaking story, of a love that lasted a lifetime, and perhaps beyond. Victor and James find each other in 1949 Ireland, a time when to be queer was illegal and to be caught, mean jail, or worse.

Their love persisted. Everything changed on one dark night when Victor, James, and their friends, Giuseppe, Danny, and Michael, explored a drifting abandoned ship. Out of the dark, Victor means Amaral and he is changed. The word vampire is not used in the novel ("this is not a vampire story"). Even so, Victor becomes something akin, perpetually young, needing blood for sustenance. After a tragedy that haunts Victor for the rest of his life, he leaves so as not to repeat it with James.

And returns, years later, drawn by the love that transformed his life and James' life.

This is a love story. Beautifully written, dark and light, and quite wonderful, and heartbreaking.

Highly Recommended.



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Point of Hearts, by Melissa Scott

Point of Hearts by Melissa Scott

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Point of Hearts continues the adventures and love story of Nico Rathe, Adjunct Point and and Philip Eslingen of the City Guard in one of my favorite fantasy series, the tales of the city of Astreiant. [Astreiant is] rich and atmospheric setting, a city of merchants where women predominate in high-status roles, and where astrology has real-world significance" {Bourke , reactormag.com). Indeed, Astreiant is also a character.

Nico and Philip's relationship has evolved over the series, and in this 6th installment, their relationship is established. Scott uses an archaic word, leman, "meaning sweetheart, lover, or mistress," but here in Astreiant, it has legal status. Once again they find themselves involved in byzantine mystery that could threaten the queen herself, and puts their lives in danger.

The tale is well-told and compelling. The world-building is amazing. I wish the story had been longer!

Recommended.



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Thoughts on Re-reading Bridge to Terabithia

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I first read this beautiful, well-written novel--maybe in 1978--when it won the Newbery. I was a school librarian at Bugg Elementary, in Raleigh, NC (Wake County Public Schools), and I had ordered it for the collection. I knew it was about death and drying, friendship, loss, love, outsiders, and "imagination and learning" (front cover). I knew hat a child died. It broke my heart. I wept--the first time, I think, I had cried so hard after reading any book.

I just read it again I cried. I have no doubts that there are children--and adults--who read this novel, and recognize the grief and loss as familiar because they have been there. I hope reading this novel will ease their grief, and honor it in their hearts, where it will always live.

I still cry every time I read this book.



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Social Media, by Mark Allan Gunnells

Social (Media) Life by Mark Allan Gunnells

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Social media is a pervasive and powerful phenomenon, with the potential for great good. It is a way to connect. We can become friends with people on the other side of the planet. We can find like-minded people who share our passions. We can find community. The voiceless can finally be heard. Social media can amuse and educate.

But there is a dark side. It can be both addictive and used for abuse. There have been too many horror stories of people attacked and vilified via social media, to the point they take their own lives. Abusers can hide through the anonymity of screen names, which seems to give them license to say and do what they would at least hesitate to do in IRL (in real life).

For Alex, a lonely and socially awkward college student, this dark side can be very dark. Alex is the ugly duckling who has yet to become a swan. He is the dweeb, the nerd, who is “awkward and perpetually unsure of himself … [His] tongue is in a perpetual knot" (4). His adolescence was a painful experience that left him scarred, emotionally and mentally, as well as physically. Alex self-harmed; he was a cutter. Alex came to college, hoping to reinvent himself, to overcome his awkwardness and the memories of high school. He’s an art major. Art is his lifeline; it is what he did well, even if, as his father said, it's the only thing the boy is good at. And he is good at it, which is made evident when of his professors encourages him to exhibit his work.

As luck would have it, his roommate, Xavier, is “an exhibitionist’s dream” (4). He is a handsome athlete, who is seemingly extremely confident. He is what Alex isn’t. Alex is also very attracted to him. Xavier is not. If anything, he finds his loser roommate to be a nuisance. Alex’s efforts to reach out are rejected again and again.

Determined to connect with the beautiful Xavier, Alex creates a new self online, a persona, College.Boy.Artist, Xander. As Xander, Alex begins to exhibit his work online, including Xander’s portrait. He “Frankensteined” the portrait from bits and pieces of others. It works. He gets noticed. Xavier notices.

So it begins. He learns that Xavier is not just a stereotypical joke; he is a poet. He—Xander—and Xavier develop an online friendship, a flirtatious one. Alex knows this is wrong but he can’t stop. Xavier continues to reject him in real life. He starts cutting himself again.

Things snowball, and Alex finds himself trapped. Is there a way out? Can Alex break away from the persona that has almost seems to be independent of him? Has his “Frankensteining” been too effective? Can he tell Xavier the truth?

Then Xander acts on his own.

This dark and disturbing tale is a parable, a warning. Social media is, in itself, neutral. It is how it is used wherein the danger lies.

Well done.

Recommended.





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The Death Bringer, by J. Scott Coatsworth

The Death Bringer by J. Scott Coatsworth

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Death Bringer is a most satisfying conclusion to J. Scott Coatsworth’s Tharassas Cycle. The novel begins with the planet on the edge of disaster. Catastrophic, world-changing events are in motion. An alien invasion threatens civilization. War is coming.

Where are our heroes, Aik and Raven, and Silya, the Hencha Queen, and all the others? What’s going on inside Anghar Mor, a mysterious volcano?

Aik, who set off to find his beloved, Raven, has been taken by the Spore Mother, an alien being whose kind has been on Tharassas for centuries. They are awake again, with a mission to take over the planet. She has changed Aik into the Progenitor, and “released him to transform the world for her alien brood” (back cover). Is Aik still there, or he is lost inside this monster? Silya and Raven are desperate to rescue Aik, but Silya has prepare Gullton for the coming battle. One crisis after another demand her attention. Raven is also busy. Not only must he keep the “dragon-like verent in line,” but he also has to help Silya to save the world. Can he help her and help the man he loves? Can Aik be restored to himself? Will love be enough? Will sacrifices be made?

The end of the world, or at least the end of the world as they know it, is nigh.

I was impressed again with Coatsworth’s richly detailed world-building and strong character development. I was fascinated by the juxtaposition of the world in danger, with the personal struggles of Aik and Raven, and their relationship, and Silya’s coming-of-age, as it were, as Hencha Queen. The supporting cast, from Kerrick, the man who loves Silya, Spin, the AI from Earth who has not forgotten his humanity, Dor, a sister from who is Silya’s aide, and the rest, further enrich this fast-paced tale. The tensions between the personal and the public make this tale stronger and more beautiful. Yes, “Aik will never be the same …” (back cover) and neither will anyone else, nor will the planet. I was also to call attention to the moments when I actually feeling sympathy for the Progenitor, the Spore Mother and the rest of the aliens. This is a sign of a true and powerful storyteller!

Fans of the previous books in the cycle, Tales from Tharassas, The Dragon Eater, The Gauntlet Runner, and The Hencha Queen, will not be disappointed. Read them all!

Highly recommended.





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