FF: Transformation of Expectations

Reminder!  I’m doing a signing for my new short story collection Curiosities (and other works, depending on what the store has in stock) this Saturday, November 21st, 4:00 p.m., at Page One Books here in Albuquerque.  I think I’m going to bring homemade chocolate chip cookies…  Hope to see you there!

Usagi Contemplates a Future Without Carrots!

For those of you just discovering this feature, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week.  Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazine articles.

The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list.  If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.

Once again, this is not a book review column.  It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.

Recently Completed:

Seventh Grave and No Body by Darynda Jones.  Audiobook.  Darynda has made the choice to morph her lighter “paranormal romance interwoven with detective story” into something darker and more complex.  While some of her readers are probably disappointed, I’m very pleased.

Alchemy by Margaret Mahy.  YA.  Almost surreal at times, as befits the title.  I enjoyed and will be seeking out more of her books.  (For those of you who missed it, Margaret Mahy and her works is the subject of this week’s Thursday Tangent.)

In Progress:

Kitty and the Deadman’s Hand by Carrie Vaughn.  Audiobook.  Werewolf Kitty’s plan to dodge all the wedding-related chaos by eloping to Las Vegas rapidly goes out of control.  I think Kitty’s about to have some preconceived notions badly shaken up.

The Black Knight by  Kai Tsugui.  Manga.  I’ve actually finished the first two volumes and am on volume three.  Certainly more than the romance title the jacket presents it as.

Also:

Usagi is taking a look at Hot Earth Dreams by Frank Landis – better known to regular readers of my blog as “heteromeles.”  This books takes a detailed – but often quirky and even humorous – look at the question of climate change, especially if human society can no longer draw on reserves of carbon-based fuel.   It’s a good read, especially if you’re interested in speculative fiction set in the far future.