Shomeret's Multi-Faceted March Reads 2/2

[Shomeret]

5)A People's Future of the United States: Speculative Fiction from 25 Extraordinary Writers edited by Victor LaValle and John Joseph Adams (science fiction anthology) 406 pages Source: Library Started: 3/20 Finished: 3/26

Why Read: This sounded like I might love it. The editor describes the anthology as "futures we can believe in" in the introduction.

Comments: Not all the stories were futures that I could believe in. There were several that I liked very much and one that I loved. It was a police procedural taking place on a Native American reservation in a dystopian context. It was tragic, but really good. The anthology as a whole got a C+

6)Apex Magazine Issue 105edited Jason Sizemore (science fiction, fantasy and horror magazine) Source: Amazon purchase
Started: 3/27 Finished: 3/28

Why Read: A GR group had a buddy read for a fantasy story in this issue that won an award. There was an interview with the author of the award winning story and another fantasy story that I wanted to read in the issue so I bought it.

Comments: I didn't like the ethics of the librarian protagonist of the award winning story and it bothered me even more than the author seemed to have a similar attitude in her interview. The other story was much better, but it ended abruptly.

7)Deaf Republic: Poems by Ilya Kaminsky (linked poems in a single narrative) 84 pages. Source: Library Started: 3/29 Finished: 3/30

Why Read: This sounded extraordinary. A village becomes deaf due to a contagious disease, but they revolt against the authorities using sign language.

Comments: It seemed to me that deafness was being used as a metaphor. The author is himself deaf, but doesn't use sign language. I felt uncomfortable about that, but there was some wonderful poetry and dramatic moments. I gave it a B.

8)Ginseng Tea (historical mystery short story) Source: Amazon purchase Started: 3/31 Finished: 3/31

Why Read: I wanted to read another mystery in March, but I only had time for a short story. So I did a search for "short story" on my Kindle. This is an American Revolution era short story which sounded great to me.

Comments: A free black girl is accused of a crime, but keeps her head and discovers the true perpetrator herself. George Washington is a major character. The historical background seemed very authentic, but there wasn't enough substance to the story to give it more than a B.

I was glad that the best book of the month was a mystery even though it was the last book of a favorite series. I think the series ended well.