Lena’s Comments (group member since Nov 17, 2014)

Lena’s comments from the Spells, Space & Screams: Collections & Anthologies in Fantasy, Science Fiction, & Horror group.

Yes, I need to read her series. I think I bought the first book last year.

Oh my God!!!! Dexter is back!!!! This is fantastic because the books were shit.
https://youtu.be/Nw1GPbe2onA

Urban fantasy is represented here in all three of its distinct styles - playful new mythologies, sexy paranormal romances, and gritty urban noir.

Whether they feature tattooed demon-hunters, angst-ridden vampires, supernatural gumshoes, or pixelated pixies, these authors—including Patricia Briggs, Neil Gaiman, and Charles de Lint—mash-up traditional fare with pop culture, creating iconic characters, conflicted moralities, and complex settings.

The result is starkly original fiction that has broad-based appeal and is immensely entertaining.

That whale harpooned my Merfolk May last year. I never finished it but I might keep trying. Might.

Anda’s Game by Cory Doctorow ★★★½☆
Female empowerment via video games! It’s a nice idea but I am glad Doctorow underscores the issues of obesity related to just sitting around for hours pounding sugar and caffeine.

Finally went to the movies again! I saw Mortal Kombat and enjoyed myself. It was a beautiful display of martial arts and general American brawling mixed, sometimes awkwardly, with the video game’s classic moves. There could have been more humor but hey, good times. The actor who played Liu Kang was oh so lovely and I thought he was “new.” Nope. It was the same guy who played the Black Ranger in that unwatchable turd from 2017. It’s kind of hilarious that a bad movie could make you less attractive.

Repair Kit by Stephen Baxter ★★★½☆
A low key episode of Star Trek.


The Dismantled Invention of Fate by Jeffrey Ford ★★★½☆
This was a time loop story of intergalactic love that you need to follow closely. Still, I think only about 80% of that made sense.

Lol, I’m still chipping away at The Weird from 2019!

No worries, it will be fun to hear your views on the stories!

She even nailed the incautious religious group, remember that Korean church group. Jeez, she was just nailed it all. I’m rather glad I did not read this in early 2020. It would have made me weird(er).

The Surfer by Kelly Link ★★★★½
“By then everything had changed because of a new flu scare.”

“There were guards wearing N95 masks and carrying machine guns to make sure we all got on a bus.”

“We got our luggage back, so that’s one good thing, although they’ve taken our passports away.”

“... we were going through our supply of toilet paper too fast.”

This was written in 2008 or earlier!!! Kelly Link has freaked me out. If I had read this in early 2020 I would have been expecting aliens too. Anyone remember that summer’s Apocalypse Bingo that just kept giving?

Orange by Neil Gaiman ★★★☆☆
I’m torn between thinking this is a clever way to write a story and thinking it an obnoxious way to write a story. It’s 70 answers to questions you never see.

Thanks Randy, I look forward to The Red Tree.

Fiona, go with the award winning audiobook version if possible.

Starfish and Murmuring Bones have me stretching my wish list for the month. I loved The Drowning Girl but I will tell you what I tell everyone - if you have never read PKD, and learned to relax through his flow of crazy, Drowning Girl will be a difficult read: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Oh dear brain fog from medicine, that sounds untenable for a reader. I’m glad the new drugs are working.

Asian Marvel superheroes coming at you! https://youtu.be/BzmVZUcvJ1M

Those are excellent choices!

Very pretty! Glad you are back, I give in to rereads when I'm feeling down.

These are my lovely salty darlings for the month!

It’s a strange thing when that happens. Mood effects reading though, maybe you were living your best life at that moment. 🥳

Ass-Hat Magic Spider by Scott Westerfeld ★★★☆☆
That was a just ok story about how the only book on the whole colony planet made it there.

Cheats by Ann Halam ★★★½☆
That was choppy but I loved the idea of neuronauts and find it a better solution than colony ships or hypersleep.