Martha Wells's Blog, page 34
June 12, 2020
News and a Donate Link
* I have a short story in this anthology: From A Certain Point of View: Forty Years of The Empire Strikes Back https://www.starwars.com/news/empire-at-40-from-a-certain-point-of-view-the-empire-strikes-back-cover The full list of authors is going to be revealed on Monday.
* Allie Brosh has a new book scheduled: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Solutions-and-Other-Problems/Allie-Brosh/9781982156947
* A place to donate: https://www.nlg.org/donate/massdefense/ National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense currently working across the country to protect the rights of those protesting the police killing of George Floyd and the broader pattern of ongoing racialized police violence. Our chapters and members are on the ground in dozens of cities right now supporting the right to dissent. Your donation will help provide legal support for political activists and movements for racial and economic justice.
comments
* Allie Brosh has a new book scheduled: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Solutions-and-Other-Problems/Allie-Brosh/9781982156947
* A place to donate: https://www.nlg.org/donate/massdefense/ National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense currently working across the country to protect the rights of those protesting the police killing of George Floyd and the broader pattern of ongoing racialized police violence. Our chapters and members are on the ground in dozens of cities right now supporting the right to dissent. Your donation will help provide legal support for political activists and movements for racial and economic justice.
comments
June 11, 2020
Book Rec Thursday
(If you've been following my book rec and new book listing posts for a while, you may have noticed this already, but while most book lists emphasize books by popular straight white men, this one emphasizes everybody else. I include books by straight white men, but in about the same percentage that other book lists include everybody else. I also try to highlight books that are less well known.)
(All the book list links below are to Bookshop (Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support independent bookstores and give back to the book community), but most books are available at multiple outlets, like Kobo, iBooks, international Amazons, Barnes & Noble, etc. The short stories are usually on free online magazines.)
(Buy your audiobooks from an independent store here: https://libro.fm/story)
* Short Story The Radicalised Dead by Jeannette Ng
* Short Story Between the Dark and the Light by Deji Bryce Olukotun
* Short Story Black Flowers Blossom by Vina Jie-min Prasad
* Sunshield by Emily B. Martin
The desolate canyons of Alcoro—and the people desperate enough to hide there—couldn’t be more different from the opulent glass palace and lush forests of Moquoia. But the harsh desert and gleaming court are linked through their past, present, and future: a history of abductions in the desert to power Moquoia’s quarries and factories, and a bleak, inhumane future built on the sweat and sacrifice of these bond laborers. But events unfolding in the present could change everything. In the desert, outlaw Lark—known to most as the Sunshield Bandit—has built a name for herself attacking slavers’ wagons and freeing the captives inside. But while she shakes the foundation of Moquoia’s stratified society, she also has to fight to protect her rescuees—and herself—from the unforgiving world around them. In the Moquoian court, young ambassador Veran hopes to finally make his mark by dismantling the unjust labor system, if he can navigate the strict hierarchy and inexplicable hostility of the prince.
* Weird Dream Society: An Anthology of the Possible & Unsubstantiated in Support of RAICES edited by Julie C. Day
Nathan Ballingrud, Carina Bissett, Gregory Norman Bossert, Karen Bovenmyer, Christopher Brown, Emily Cataneo, Julie C. Day, Michael J Deluca, Gemma Files, A.T. Greenblatt, Nin Harris, Chip Houser, James Patrick Kelly, Marianne Kirby, Kathrin Köhler, Matthew Kressel, Jordan Kurella, Premee Mohamed, Sarah Read, Sofia Samatar, Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam, Steve Toase, A.C. Wise All proceeds from the Weird Dream Society anthology will go to RAICES.
* Maker's Curse by Trudi Canavan
Together, Rielle and Tyen face a dazzling world of political intrigue, treacherous villains, and unforgettable magic in this powerful and thrilling final novel of the Millennium's Rule series. Rielle is now the Maker, restorer of worlds. She has lost count of the number of worlds she has been sent to save. Tyen has cast off his old identity. No longer a spy, he now attempts to teach new sorcerers and find ways to counteract the war-machines that are spreading throughout the worlds.
* Nine Bar Blues by Sheree Renée Thomas
he stories collected in Nine Bar Blues weave emotion, spirit, and music, captivating readers with newfound alchemy and the murmurs of dark gods. Rooted in rhythm, threaded with magic, these tales encompass worlds that begin in river bottoms, pass through spectral gates, and end in distant uncharted worlds. These stories describe the pain that often accompanies the confines of sanctuary and the joy that is inextricably bound to the troubles of hard living. Nine Bar Blues sings a multiverse of fully realized worlds that readers will remember for ages to come and cherish from page to heart thumping, foot-stomping page.
* The Hero of Numbani (Overwatch #1) by Nicky Drayden
In the technologically advanced African city of Numbani, in the not-so-distant future, humans live in harmony with humanoid robots known as omnics. But when a terrorist tries to shatter that unity, a hero named Efi Oladele rises! Efi has been making robots since she was little -- machines to better her community and improve people's lives. But after she witnesses Doomfist's catastrophic attack on the city's OR15 security bots, Efi feels the call to build something greater: a true guardian of Numbani.
* Song of Blood & Stone: Earthsinger Chronicles, Book One by L. Penelope
The kingdoms of Elsira and Lagrimar have been separated for centuries by the Mantle, a magical veil that has enforced a tremulous peace between the two lands. But now, the Mantle is cracking and the True Father, ruler of Lagrimar and the most powerful Earthsinger in the world, finally sees a way into Elsira to seize power. All Jasminda ever wanted was to live quietly on her farm, away from the prying eyes of those in the nearby town. Branded an outcast by the color of her skin and her gift of Earthsong, she's been shunned all her life and has learned to steer clear from the townsfolk...until a group of Lagrimari soldiers wander into her valley with an Elsiran spy, believing they are still in Lagrimar.
* The Weight of Stars by K. Ancrum
Ryann Bird dreams of traveling across the stars. But a career in space isn't an option for a girl who lives in a trailer park on the "wrong" side of town. So Ryann becomes her circumstances and settles for acting out and skipping school to hang out with her delinquent friends. One day she meets Alexandria: a furious loner who spurns Ryann's offer of friendship. After a horrific accident leaves Alexandria with a broken arm, the girls are brought together despite themselves--and Ryann learns her secret: Alexandria's mother is an astronaut who volunteered for a one-way trip to the edge of the solar system.
* Dactyl Hill Squad: Thunder Run by Daniel José Older
Magdalys's connection with the dinosaurs has led the US Army to some important victories, but the Civil War's not over yet and the squad members find themselves fighting deep in the Louisiana bayou. Then General Ulysses S. Grant himself entrusts Magdalys with a top secret mission -- one that the very success of the Union depends on. Because as the friends will soon find out, the United States has more than one enemy.
* The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow
Two years ago, a misunderstanding between the leaders of Earth and the invading Ilori resulted in the deaths of one-third of the world's population. Today, seventeen-year-old Ellie Baker survives in an Ilori-controlled center in New York City. With humans deemed dangerously volatile because of their initial reaction to the invasion, emotional expression can be grounds for execution. Music, art and books are illegal, but Ellie still keeps a secret library. When young Ilori commander M0Rr1S finds Ellie's library, he's duty-bound to deliver her for execution. The trouble is, he finds himself drawn to human music and in desperate need of more.
* Preorder Just South of Home by Karen Strong
Twelve-year-old Sarah is finally in charge. At last, she can spend her summer months reading her favorite science books and bossing around her younger brother, Ellis, instead of being worked to the bone by their overly strict grandmother, Mrs. Greene. But when their cousin, Janie arrives for a visit, Sarah's plans are completely squashed. Janie has a knack for getting into trouble and asks Sarah to take her to Creek Church: a landmark of their small town that she heard was haunted. It's also off-limits. Janie's sticky fingers lead Sarah, Ellis, and his best friend, Jasper, to uncover a deep-seated part of the town's past. With a bit of luck, this foursome will heal the place they call home and the people within it they call family.
* Preorder Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her previous life, family memories, or her childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at a local university seems like the perfect escape--until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus. A flying demon feeding on human energies.
* Preorder Court of Lions by Somaiya Daud
On a planet on the brink of revolution, Amani has been forced into isolation. She's been torn from the boy she loves and has given up contact with her fellow rebels to protect her family. In taking risks for the rebel cause, Amani may have lost Maram's trust forever. But the princess is more complex than she seems, and now Amani is once more at her capricious nature. One wrong move could see her executed for high treason. On the eve of Maram's marriage to Idris comes an unexpected proposal: in exchange for taking her place in the festivities, Maram will keep Amani's rebel associations a secret. Alone and desperate, Amani is thrust into the center of the court, navigating the dangerous factions on the princess's behalf.
* Preorder The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal
The Earth is coming to the boiling point as the climate disaster of the Meteor strike becomes more and more clear, but the political situation is already overheated. Riots and sabotage plague the space program. The IAC's goal of getting as many people as possible off Earth before it becomes uninhabitable is being threatened. Elma York is on her way to Mars, but the Moon colony is still being established. Her friend and fellow Lady Astronaut Nicole Wargin is thrilled to be one of those pioneer settlers, using her considerable flight and political skills to keep the program on track. But she is less happy that her husband, the Governor of Kansas, is considering a run for President.
comments
(All the book list links below are to Bookshop (Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support independent bookstores and give back to the book community), but most books are available at multiple outlets, like Kobo, iBooks, international Amazons, Barnes & Noble, etc. The short stories are usually on free online magazines.)
(Buy your audiobooks from an independent store here: https://libro.fm/story)
* Short Story The Radicalised Dead by Jeannette Ng
* Short Story Between the Dark and the Light by Deji Bryce Olukotun
* Short Story Black Flowers Blossom by Vina Jie-min Prasad
* Sunshield by Emily B. Martin
The desolate canyons of Alcoro—and the people desperate enough to hide there—couldn’t be more different from the opulent glass palace and lush forests of Moquoia. But the harsh desert and gleaming court are linked through their past, present, and future: a history of abductions in the desert to power Moquoia’s quarries and factories, and a bleak, inhumane future built on the sweat and sacrifice of these bond laborers. But events unfolding in the present could change everything. In the desert, outlaw Lark—known to most as the Sunshield Bandit—has built a name for herself attacking slavers’ wagons and freeing the captives inside. But while she shakes the foundation of Moquoia’s stratified society, she also has to fight to protect her rescuees—and herself—from the unforgiving world around them. In the Moquoian court, young ambassador Veran hopes to finally make his mark by dismantling the unjust labor system, if he can navigate the strict hierarchy and inexplicable hostility of the prince.
* Weird Dream Society: An Anthology of the Possible & Unsubstantiated in Support of RAICES edited by Julie C. Day
Nathan Ballingrud, Carina Bissett, Gregory Norman Bossert, Karen Bovenmyer, Christopher Brown, Emily Cataneo, Julie C. Day, Michael J Deluca, Gemma Files, A.T. Greenblatt, Nin Harris, Chip Houser, James Patrick Kelly, Marianne Kirby, Kathrin Köhler, Matthew Kressel, Jordan Kurella, Premee Mohamed, Sarah Read, Sofia Samatar, Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam, Steve Toase, A.C. Wise All proceeds from the Weird Dream Society anthology will go to RAICES.
* Maker's Curse by Trudi Canavan
Together, Rielle and Tyen face a dazzling world of political intrigue, treacherous villains, and unforgettable magic in this powerful and thrilling final novel of the Millennium's Rule series. Rielle is now the Maker, restorer of worlds. She has lost count of the number of worlds she has been sent to save. Tyen has cast off his old identity. No longer a spy, he now attempts to teach new sorcerers and find ways to counteract the war-machines that are spreading throughout the worlds.
* Nine Bar Blues by Sheree Renée Thomas
he stories collected in Nine Bar Blues weave emotion, spirit, and music, captivating readers with newfound alchemy and the murmurs of dark gods. Rooted in rhythm, threaded with magic, these tales encompass worlds that begin in river bottoms, pass through spectral gates, and end in distant uncharted worlds. These stories describe the pain that often accompanies the confines of sanctuary and the joy that is inextricably bound to the troubles of hard living. Nine Bar Blues sings a multiverse of fully realized worlds that readers will remember for ages to come and cherish from page to heart thumping, foot-stomping page.
* The Hero of Numbani (Overwatch #1) by Nicky Drayden
In the technologically advanced African city of Numbani, in the not-so-distant future, humans live in harmony with humanoid robots known as omnics. But when a terrorist tries to shatter that unity, a hero named Efi Oladele rises! Efi has been making robots since she was little -- machines to better her community and improve people's lives. But after she witnesses Doomfist's catastrophic attack on the city's OR15 security bots, Efi feels the call to build something greater: a true guardian of Numbani.
* Song of Blood & Stone: Earthsinger Chronicles, Book One by L. Penelope
The kingdoms of Elsira and Lagrimar have been separated for centuries by the Mantle, a magical veil that has enforced a tremulous peace between the two lands. But now, the Mantle is cracking and the True Father, ruler of Lagrimar and the most powerful Earthsinger in the world, finally sees a way into Elsira to seize power. All Jasminda ever wanted was to live quietly on her farm, away from the prying eyes of those in the nearby town. Branded an outcast by the color of her skin and her gift of Earthsong, she's been shunned all her life and has learned to steer clear from the townsfolk...until a group of Lagrimari soldiers wander into her valley with an Elsiran spy, believing they are still in Lagrimar.
* The Weight of Stars by K. Ancrum
Ryann Bird dreams of traveling across the stars. But a career in space isn't an option for a girl who lives in a trailer park on the "wrong" side of town. So Ryann becomes her circumstances and settles for acting out and skipping school to hang out with her delinquent friends. One day she meets Alexandria: a furious loner who spurns Ryann's offer of friendship. After a horrific accident leaves Alexandria with a broken arm, the girls are brought together despite themselves--and Ryann learns her secret: Alexandria's mother is an astronaut who volunteered for a one-way trip to the edge of the solar system.
* Dactyl Hill Squad: Thunder Run by Daniel José Older
Magdalys's connection with the dinosaurs has led the US Army to some important victories, but the Civil War's not over yet and the squad members find themselves fighting deep in the Louisiana bayou. Then General Ulysses S. Grant himself entrusts Magdalys with a top secret mission -- one that the very success of the Union depends on. Because as the friends will soon find out, the United States has more than one enemy.
* The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow
Two years ago, a misunderstanding between the leaders of Earth and the invading Ilori resulted in the deaths of one-third of the world's population. Today, seventeen-year-old Ellie Baker survives in an Ilori-controlled center in New York City. With humans deemed dangerously volatile because of their initial reaction to the invasion, emotional expression can be grounds for execution. Music, art and books are illegal, but Ellie still keeps a secret library. When young Ilori commander M0Rr1S finds Ellie's library, he's duty-bound to deliver her for execution. The trouble is, he finds himself drawn to human music and in desperate need of more.
* Preorder Just South of Home by Karen Strong
Twelve-year-old Sarah is finally in charge. At last, she can spend her summer months reading her favorite science books and bossing around her younger brother, Ellis, instead of being worked to the bone by their overly strict grandmother, Mrs. Greene. But when their cousin, Janie arrives for a visit, Sarah's plans are completely squashed. Janie has a knack for getting into trouble and asks Sarah to take her to Creek Church: a landmark of their small town that she heard was haunted. It's also off-limits. Janie's sticky fingers lead Sarah, Ellis, and his best friend, Jasper, to uncover a deep-seated part of the town's past. With a bit of luck, this foursome will heal the place they call home and the people within it they call family.
* Preorder Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her previous life, family memories, or her childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at a local university seems like the perfect escape--until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus. A flying demon feeding on human energies.
* Preorder Court of Lions by Somaiya Daud
On a planet on the brink of revolution, Amani has been forced into isolation. She's been torn from the boy she loves and has given up contact with her fellow rebels to protect her family. In taking risks for the rebel cause, Amani may have lost Maram's trust forever. But the princess is more complex than she seems, and now Amani is once more at her capricious nature. One wrong move could see her executed for high treason. On the eve of Maram's marriage to Idris comes an unexpected proposal: in exchange for taking her place in the festivities, Maram will keep Amani's rebel associations a secret. Alone and desperate, Amani is thrust into the center of the court, navigating the dangerous factions on the princess's behalf.
* Preorder The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal
The Earth is coming to the boiling point as the climate disaster of the Meteor strike becomes more and more clear, but the political situation is already overheated. Riots and sabotage plague the space program. The IAC's goal of getting as many people as possible off Earth before it becomes uninhabitable is being threatened. Elma York is on her way to Mars, but the Moon colony is still being established. Her friend and fellow Lady Astronaut Nicole Wargin is thrilled to be one of those pioneer settlers, using her considerable flight and political skills to keep the program on track. But she is less happy that her husband, the Governor of Kansas, is considering a run for President.
comments
June 7, 2020
Publishing Paid Me tag on Twitter
The PublishingPaidMe tag on Twitter is to expose the difference in advances between white and POC, especially Black, writers. There's a lot of data to process, since there are big differences in how much large Big 5 publishers pay compared to small independent publishers and also YA vs adult SF/F vs MG vs mystery/crime etc, and the advances don't take into account royalties, audio and foreign rights, etc.
N.K Jemisin explains a bit about it here: https://twitter.com/nkjemisin/status/1269462374823624709
I posted my numbers here: https://twitter.com/marthawells1/status/1269387266100801538
You can see, my advances are not large. I make most of my income from royalties after 2010, and audio and foreign language rights. For my earlier books, Wheel of the Infinite and the Ile-Rien trilogy all tanked and never produced royalties. The Death of the Necromancer did well, but was jointly accounted with Wheel of the Infinite, so it never produced royalties either.
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N.K Jemisin explains a bit about it here: https://twitter.com/nkjemisin/status/1269462374823624709
I posted my numbers here: https://twitter.com/marthawells1/status/1269387266100801538
You can see, my advances are not large. I make most of my income from royalties after 2010, and audio and foreign language rights. For my earlier books, Wheel of the Infinite and the Ile-Rien trilogy all tanked and never produced royalties. The Death of the Necromancer did well, but was jointly accounted with Wheel of the Infinite, so it never produced royalties either.
comments
June 5, 2020
Updating
We're going to have to have our roof replaced and probably the siding on the house, too. This is from the storm with the golfball-sized hail. The inspector came yesterday and was afraid to climb up on the upper part of the second story because he could see bits of the roof that aren't supposed to be visible and was afraid he'd fall through. The hail knocked holes in the siding on two sides of the house. From what our insurance is saying I don't know how much we'll get, since the roof is 20+ years old, so that will be fun.
To combat stress, I've gotten into The Untamed, on Netflix. It's a long Chinese series about flying sword wizards fighting monsters and becoming soulmates etc. It's subtitled, is fast moving, takes place in two different timelines and everyone has a bunch of relatives who are very important to the plot, so it takes more concentration to enjoy, which is exactly what I need right now. The English translation isn't great, I don't think the translator managed to get a lot of nuance into it which is a shame because otherwise it's a gorgeous show.
And I've managed to hurt my arm somehow (apparently biceps tendinitis exists?) from too much computer, so that's also fun. Having a pillow jammed into my side to rest my elbow on helps.
comments
To combat stress, I've gotten into The Untamed, on Netflix. It's a long Chinese series about flying sword wizards fighting monsters and becoming soulmates etc. It's subtitled, is fast moving, takes place in two different timelines and everyone has a bunch of relatives who are very important to the plot, so it takes more concentration to enjoy, which is exactly what I need right now. The English translation isn't great, I don't think the translator managed to get a lot of nuance into it which is a shame because otherwise it's a gorgeous show.
And I've managed to hurt my arm somehow (apparently biceps tendinitis exists?) from too much computer, so that's also fun. Having a pillow jammed into my side to rest my elbow on helps.
comments
June 4, 2020
More links
* Time: https://time.com/5847969/black-lives-matter-protests/ There Is No Right Way to Fight for Your Life by Mikki Kendall
* Vanity Fair: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/06/can-we-live Can We Live by Tananarive Due
* https://www.digitaltrends.com/news/twitter-misinformation-bots-regulation/ Twitter’s misinformation problem will never disappear as long as bots exist by Luke Dormehl
* This ActBlue link is now up to 70+ racial justice organizations and bail funds you can donate to https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bail_funds_george_floyd
comments
* Vanity Fair: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/06/can-we-live Can We Live by Tananarive Due
* https://www.digitaltrends.com/news/twitter-misinformation-bots-regulation/ Twitter’s misinformation problem will never disappear as long as bots exist by Luke Dormehl
* This ActBlue link is now up to 70+ racial justice organizations and bail funds you can donate to https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bail_funds_george_floyd
comments
June 3, 2020
Some links
* I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream: The Duty of the Black Writer During Times of American Unrest https://www.tor.com/2020/06/01/i-have-no-mouth-and-i-must-scream-the-duty-of-the-black-writer-during-times-of-american-unrest/#more-589797
* The Pride Month Storybundle: https://storybundle.com/pride
Like your queer fiction to have elements of the Southern Gothic, perhaps a touch of horror and mystery, coupled with sumptuous writing and compelling characters? You're sure to enjoy A Spectral Hue by Craig Laurance Gidney and Catfish Lullaby by A.C. Wise. Looking for beautifully written stories set in historical settings with a fantastical edge? We've got you covered with Melissa Scott and Lisa Barnett's Armor of Light, Floodtide by Heather Rose Jones and Will Do Magic for Small Change by Andrea Hairston. Want adventures set just beyond the worlds we know? Come along on some glorious adventures with Grilled Cheese and Goblins by Nicole Kimberling and the novellas The Counterfeit Viscount and The Hollow History of Professor Perfectus by Ginn Hale. And finally, for something a little different, join author R.R. Angell's cadre of queer college students as they play an unusual game set in virtual reality with an AI who's more than she seems in Best Game Ever.
* The African Speculative Fiction Storybundle: https://storybundle.com/fiction
With the complete bundle containing nearly 100 authors and over 145 works it stands both as an excellent introduction to the rapidly evolving canon of African SF and a unique one-time collection of their works. From established stars you might know such as Nnedi Okorafor, Tade Thompson, and Sarah Lotz, to upcomers like Wole Talabi, Chinelo Onwualu, Nerine Dorman, Dilman Dila, and so many more.
comments
* The Pride Month Storybundle: https://storybundle.com/pride
Like your queer fiction to have elements of the Southern Gothic, perhaps a touch of horror and mystery, coupled with sumptuous writing and compelling characters? You're sure to enjoy A Spectral Hue by Craig Laurance Gidney and Catfish Lullaby by A.C. Wise. Looking for beautifully written stories set in historical settings with a fantastical edge? We've got you covered with Melissa Scott and Lisa Barnett's Armor of Light, Floodtide by Heather Rose Jones and Will Do Magic for Small Change by Andrea Hairston. Want adventures set just beyond the worlds we know? Come along on some glorious adventures with Grilled Cheese and Goblins by Nicole Kimberling and the novellas The Counterfeit Viscount and The Hollow History of Professor Perfectus by Ginn Hale. And finally, for something a little different, join author R.R. Angell's cadre of queer college students as they play an unusual game set in virtual reality with an AI who's more than she seems in Best Game Ever.
* The African Speculative Fiction Storybundle: https://storybundle.com/fiction
With the complete bundle containing nearly 100 authors and over 145 works it stands both as an excellent introduction to the rapidly evolving canon of African SF and a unique one-time collection of their works. From established stars you might know such as Nnedi Okorafor, Tade Thompson, and Sarah Lotz, to upcomers like Wole Talabi, Chinelo Onwualu, Nerine Dorman, Dilman Dila, and so many more.
comments
June 2, 2020
Some links
* From Tor.com, who publishes Murderbot: In Our Own Worlds: Download 4 Free LGBTQ+ Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novellas Before June 6: https://www.tor.com/2020/06/02/in-our-own-worlds-download-4-free-lgbtq-sci-fi-fantasy-novellas-before-june-6/
* Religion News Service: Ahead of Trump Bible photo op, police forcibly expel priest from St. John's church near White House https://religionnews.com/2020/06/02/ahead-of-trump-bible-photo-op-police-forcibly-expel-priest-from-st-johns-church-near-white-house/
* ActBlue: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bail_funds_george_floyd Split a donation to the currently 39 bail funds listed on this page, or allocate specific amounts to individual groups.
* From Twitter, an anti-racist reading list, plus a list of Black-owned bookstores, a resource guide, and a list of TV shows, movies, etc. https://twitter.com/victoriaalxndr/status/1266829408268095493
comments
* Religion News Service: Ahead of Trump Bible photo op, police forcibly expel priest from St. John's church near White House https://religionnews.com/2020/06/02/ahead-of-trump-bible-photo-op-police-forcibly-expel-priest-from-st-johns-church-near-white-house/
* ActBlue: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bail_funds_george_floyd Split a donation to the currently 39 bail funds listed on this page, or allocate specific amounts to individual groups.
* From Twitter, an anti-racist reading list, plus a list of Black-owned bookstores, a resource guide, and a list of TV shows, movies, etc. https://twitter.com/victoriaalxndr/status/1266829408268095493
comments
Book Rec Tuesday
(If you've been following my book rec and new book listing posts for a while, you may have noticed this already, but while most book lists emphasize books by popular straight white men, this one emphasizes everybody else. I include books by straight white men, but in about the same percentage that other book lists include everybody else. I also try to highlight books that are less well known.)
(All the book list links below are to Bookshop (Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support independent bookstores and give back to the book community), but most books are available at multiple outlets, like Kobo, iBooks, international Amazons, Barnes & Noble, etc. The short stories are usually on free online magazines.)
(Buy your audiobooks from an independent store here: https://libro.fm/story)
* Short story: Blood is Another Word for Hunger by Rivers Solomon
* Short story: Between the Dark and the Dark by Deji Bryce Olukoton
* Torn by Rowenna Miller
In a time of revolution, everyone must take a side.
Sophie, a dressmaker and charm caster, has lifted her family out of poverty with a hard-won reputation for beautiful ball gowns and discreetly embroidered spells. A commission from the royal family could secure her future -- and thrust her into a dangerous new world. Revolution is brewing. As Sophie's brother, Kristos, rises to prominence in the growing anti-monarchist movement, it is only a matter of time before their fortunes collide. When the unrest erupts into violence, she and Kristos are drawn into a deadly magical plot. Sophie is torn -- between her family and her future.
* Preorder Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora
Dominion is the first anthology of speculative fiction and poetry by Africans and the African Diaspora. An old god rises up each fall to test his subjects. Once an old woman's pet, a robot sent to mine an asteroid faces an existential crisis. A magician and his son time-travel to Ngoni country and try to change the course of history. A dead child returns to haunt his grieving mother with terrifying consequences. And more...
* Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie
A young pilot risks everything to save his best friend--the man he trusts most and might even love--only to learn that his friend is secretly the heir to a brutal galactic empire.
* A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow
...a captivating modern fantasy about black mermaids, friendship, and self-discovery set against the challenges of today's racism and sexism. In a society determined to keep her under lock and key, Tavia must hide her siren powers. Meanwhile, Effie is fighting her own family struggles, pitted against literal demons from her past. Together, these best friends must navigate through the perils of high school's junior year. But everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical voice at the worst possible moment.
* A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
The first in a gripping fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess and a desperate refugee find themselves on a collision course to murder each other despite their growing attraction--from debut author Roseanne A. Brown. Perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi, Renée Ahdieh, and Sabaa Tahir. For Malik, the Solstasia festival is a chance to escape his war-stricken home and start a new life with his sisters in the prosperous desert city of Ziran. But when a vengeful spirit abducts his younger sister, Nadia, as payment to enter the city, Malik strikes a fatal deal--kill Karina, Crown Princess of Ziran, for Nadia's freedom.
* The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi
Elin's family has an important responsibility: caring for the fearsome water serpents that form the core of their kingdom's army. So when some of the creatures mysteriously die, Elin's mother is sentenced to death as punishment. With her last breath, she manages to send her daughter to safety. Alone and far from home, Elin soon discovers that she can communicate with both the terrifying water serpents and the majestic flying beasts that guard her queen.
* Tuyo by Rachel Neumeier
Raised a warrior in the harsh winter country, Ryo inGara has always been willing to die for his family and his tribe. When war erupts against the summer country, the prospect of death in battle seems imminent. But when his warleader leaves Ryo as a sacrifice -- a tuyo -- to die at the hands of their enemies, he faces a fate he never imagined.Ryo's captor, a lord of the summer country, may be an enemy . . . but far worse enemies are moving, with the current war nothing but the opening moves in a hidden game Ryo barely glimpses, a game in which all his people may be merely pawns.
* Out June 4 The Mimosa Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yu
Mirza, a secretive neighbour of the Chens in Japanese Occupied Singapore, is a known collaborator and blackmailer. So when he is murdered in his garden, clutching a branch of mimosa, the suspects include local acquaintances, Japanese officials -- and his own daughters. Su Lin's Uncle Chen is among those rounded up by the Japanese as reprisal. Hideki Tagawa, a former spy expelled by police officer Le Froy and a power in the new regime, offers Su Lin her uncle's life in exchange for using her fluency in languages and knowledge of locals to find the real killer.
* Preorder: The Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter
Tau and his Queen, desperate to delay the impending attack on the capital by the indigenous people of Xidda, craft a dangerous plan. If Tau succeeds, the Queen will have the time she needs to assemble her forces and launch an all out assault on her own capital city, where her sister is being propped up as the 'true' Queen of the Omehi.
If the city can be taken, if Tsiora can reclaim her throne, and if she can reunite her people then the Omehi have a chance to survive the onslaught.
* Preorder: The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty
Daevabad has fallen. After a brutal conquest stripped the city of its magic, Nahid leader Banu Manizheh and her resurrected commander, Dara, must try to repair their fraying alliance and stabilize a fractious, warring people.
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(All the book list links below are to Bookshop (Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support independent bookstores and give back to the book community), but most books are available at multiple outlets, like Kobo, iBooks, international Amazons, Barnes & Noble, etc. The short stories are usually on free online magazines.)
(Buy your audiobooks from an independent store here: https://libro.fm/story)
* Short story: Blood is Another Word for Hunger by Rivers Solomon
* Short story: Between the Dark and the Dark by Deji Bryce Olukoton
* Torn by Rowenna Miller
In a time of revolution, everyone must take a side.
Sophie, a dressmaker and charm caster, has lifted her family out of poverty with a hard-won reputation for beautiful ball gowns and discreetly embroidered spells. A commission from the royal family could secure her future -- and thrust her into a dangerous new world. Revolution is brewing. As Sophie's brother, Kristos, rises to prominence in the growing anti-monarchist movement, it is only a matter of time before their fortunes collide. When the unrest erupts into violence, she and Kristos are drawn into a deadly magical plot. Sophie is torn -- between her family and her future.
* Preorder Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora
Dominion is the first anthology of speculative fiction and poetry by Africans and the African Diaspora. An old god rises up each fall to test his subjects. Once an old woman's pet, a robot sent to mine an asteroid faces an existential crisis. A magician and his son time-travel to Ngoni country and try to change the course of history. A dead child returns to haunt his grieving mother with terrifying consequences. And more...
* Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie
A young pilot risks everything to save his best friend--the man he trusts most and might even love--only to learn that his friend is secretly the heir to a brutal galactic empire.
* A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow
...a captivating modern fantasy about black mermaids, friendship, and self-discovery set against the challenges of today's racism and sexism. In a society determined to keep her under lock and key, Tavia must hide her siren powers. Meanwhile, Effie is fighting her own family struggles, pitted against literal demons from her past. Together, these best friends must navigate through the perils of high school's junior year. But everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical voice at the worst possible moment.
* A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
The first in a gripping fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess and a desperate refugee find themselves on a collision course to murder each other despite their growing attraction--from debut author Roseanne A. Brown. Perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi, Renée Ahdieh, and Sabaa Tahir. For Malik, the Solstasia festival is a chance to escape his war-stricken home and start a new life with his sisters in the prosperous desert city of Ziran. But when a vengeful spirit abducts his younger sister, Nadia, as payment to enter the city, Malik strikes a fatal deal--kill Karina, Crown Princess of Ziran, for Nadia's freedom.
* The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi
Elin's family has an important responsibility: caring for the fearsome water serpents that form the core of their kingdom's army. So when some of the creatures mysteriously die, Elin's mother is sentenced to death as punishment. With her last breath, she manages to send her daughter to safety. Alone and far from home, Elin soon discovers that she can communicate with both the terrifying water serpents and the majestic flying beasts that guard her queen.
* Tuyo by Rachel Neumeier
Raised a warrior in the harsh winter country, Ryo inGara has always been willing to die for his family and his tribe. When war erupts against the summer country, the prospect of death in battle seems imminent. But when his warleader leaves Ryo as a sacrifice -- a tuyo -- to die at the hands of their enemies, he faces a fate he never imagined.Ryo's captor, a lord of the summer country, may be an enemy . . . but far worse enemies are moving, with the current war nothing but the opening moves in a hidden game Ryo barely glimpses, a game in which all his people may be merely pawns.
* Out June 4 The Mimosa Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yu
Mirza, a secretive neighbour of the Chens in Japanese Occupied Singapore, is a known collaborator and blackmailer. So when he is murdered in his garden, clutching a branch of mimosa, the suspects include local acquaintances, Japanese officials -- and his own daughters. Su Lin's Uncle Chen is among those rounded up by the Japanese as reprisal. Hideki Tagawa, a former spy expelled by police officer Le Froy and a power in the new regime, offers Su Lin her uncle's life in exchange for using her fluency in languages and knowledge of locals to find the real killer.
* Preorder: The Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter
Tau and his Queen, desperate to delay the impending attack on the capital by the indigenous people of Xidda, craft a dangerous plan. If Tau succeeds, the Queen will have the time she needs to assemble her forces and launch an all out assault on her own capital city, where her sister is being propped up as the 'true' Queen of the Omehi.
If the city can be taken, if Tsiora can reclaim her throne, and if she can reunite her people then the Omehi have a chance to survive the onslaught.
* Preorder: The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty
Daevabad has fallen. After a brutal conquest stripped the city of its magic, Nahid leader Banu Manizheh and her resurrected commander, Dara, must try to repair their fraying alliance and stabilize a fractious, warring people.
comments
June 1, 2020
More Donation Options
* You can use ActBlue to Donate to Black Lives Matter:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/black-lives-matter--blm--1
* There's also an ActBlue page to donate to 37 community bail funds at one time: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bail_funds_george_floyd
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https://secure.actblue.com/donate/black-lives-matter--blm--1
* There's also an ActBlue page to donate to 37 community bail funds at one time: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bail_funds_george_floyd
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May 31, 2020
Some Links
* Slate article: Police Erupt in Violence Nationwide
* The Devastation of Black Wallstreet This weekend is anniversary of the attack.
* Places to Donate a big list of useful places to donate, including restoring damaged businesses, helping victims, organizations, etc.
* A Twitter thread of bail funds for different states - these are especially important because of the way the virus spreads in close quarters; people need to get out as soon as possible.
* And something fun: A kickstarter for Trans-Galactic Bike Ride: Queer Feminist SFF Anthology
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* The Devastation of Black Wallstreet This weekend is anniversary of the attack.
* Places to Donate a big list of useful places to donate, including restoring damaged businesses, helping victims, organizations, etc.
* A Twitter thread of bail funds for different states - these are especially important because of the way the virus spreads in close quarters; people need to get out as soon as possible.
* And something fun: A kickstarter for Trans-Galactic Bike Ride: Queer Feminist SFF Anthology
comments
