I’m not even going to attempt to count and classify the books and stories which bear Neil Gaiman’s name by now. He has been prolific, he has been successful, his stories have been translated, transformed into films, have spawned meta-fiction, and meanwhile span a huge range of topics, genres, and styles. My favourite is still the Sandman series of graphic novels, with his American Gods novel running a close second, but that’s just me; you are welcome to have your own favourites amongst his oevre. His latest book, ‘Fortunately the Milk’, is just out in Hardback on Bloomsbury Childrens.
Fragile Things is one of (see above) many collections published by Neil over the years. In his introduction he expands on the history of the collection, as well as the meaning behind the title. You see, initially this was planned to be a cycle of 12 specifically written, topically linked short stories, ie some concept album kind of short story collection. So much for plans – what it turned out to be is a ‘normal’ collection of previously published stories, interspersed with some poetry (of varying quality, I felt). Not that that’s a bad thing, mind, all the more so if you can decorate your collection with a Hugo and several Locus award winners…
Anyway, at the front of the book we get a short run-through of the stories in the book, with background on their conception, their writing, their history and meaning to the author; plus an extra, extra-short story. I found myself referring back to this section whilst reading, as, for most of the content, this information adds something extra, and changed the way I looked at some of the stories.
Dan Abnett is a British writer (“writer of wrongs”, as he himself puts it), Embedded is his second “original fiction” novel after Triumff:Her Majesty’s Hero. Don’t be fooled by that, though, he’s an old hand at that writing/publishing/selling books malarkey – he’s the author of a load of graphic novels, he’s written tie-ins for the various Warhammer series and for Dr Who (amongst others), and now he’s on the loose with his own novels, too.
Embedded is the story of a prize-winning veteran journalist, Lex Falk, who visits Planet Eighty-Six (much too recently colonised to have elected a proper name), where there appears to be, according to the Settlement Office, an “(armed) dispute”, most likely between unruly/unhappy factions of settlers. But definitely, positively NOT a war, and especially not between either the US (United Status. No, really), China, or the Central Bloc, where we still have a cold war but cooperation or at least co-existence across, well, over 87 planets now.
Falk is given, as expected, the run-around by the local Settlement Office, Military Directorate, and becomes more and more sure that there is something big, important, and covered going on. To get in on the action he gets embedded in the head of one of the soldier flying off into said dispute – a brand new, unlicensed, and experimental treatment with all attendant risks.
And, as you would have expected, the solid effluent intersects with the air ventilation device, in more than one meaning.
A disorienting story, set in a disorienting world - not just to you, the reader, but to its remaining occupants, too. something has passed by Earth, and nothing is the same anymore - and the changes keep happening, like a spring winding down to its inevitable conclusion. Which might not be the end, but merely the end of everthing as we've known it.
Great stuff, and much recommended reading.
The picture on the right is by a (Korean?) artist called 非 (hi), of whom very little appears to be known.
Andy Weir describes himself as “Science Fiction Author and general science geek” with an interest in relativistic physics, orbital mechanics, and the history of manned spaceflight. The Martian is his first novel, originally self-published in 2011, and now, in edited/re-written form, published by Random House in February 2014. He has a number of other short stories (especially the much-translated “The Egg”) to his name, a link to his website where you can read those is below.
The premise of the The Martian is simple – as Mark Watney, the main protagonist puts it: “The Ares Program. Mankind reaching out to Mars to send people to another planet for the very first time and expand the horizons of humanity blah blah blah. The Ares 1 crew did their thing and came back heroes. They got the parades and fame and love of the world. Ares 2 did the same thing, in a different location on Mars. They got a firm handshake and a hot cup of coffee when they got home. Ares 3. Well, that was my mission. Okay, not mine per se. Commander Lewis was in charge. I was just one of her crew. Actually, I was the very lowest ranked member of the crew. I would only be 'in command' of the mission if I were the only remaining person.
What do you know? I'm in command.”
You see, the Ares 3 mission had to be aborted due to a severe sand storm on Mars. And during the evacuation from the Hab the crew was supposed to inhabit for the duration of their stay to the MAV (Mars ascent vehicle) an antenna tore lose, hit (and in parts skewered) Mark. Having lost visual contact, not being able to find him, and his (damaged) suit incorrectly indicating that he was dead the commander, with extreme resistance, gave command to take off to save the rest of her team.
Mark agrees that this was the correct decision, albeit one that now leaves him the sole human on Mars, with minor injuries, a functioning infrastructure (minus comms rig), not enough food until Ares 4 arrives, and no ride home. Just peachy...
Chuck Wendig is a writer who had escaped my attention so far (except for his endorsement on Charlie Human’s Apocalypse Now Now!), despite ISFDB listing 10 novels, one collection, one anthology, a chapterbook, a number of short stories, and a nomination for the John W. Campbell Award. Not for The Blue Blazes, as this, the first book in a series focussing on the character (and named after) Mookie Pearl, was only published this year. The next book in the series is apparently titled Bloody Bride, and is due in early 2015
The Blue Blazes are set in a contemporary New York, with an added underground/magic layer. Yes, it’s yet another Urban Fantasy (or Magic Realism, if you prefer the term), so very much part of the trend. It could nearly be YA, although I don’t think it’s intended as such, and is not being marketed as it, either.
You see, the Sandhogs, the workers who build and maintain the tunnels under New York, have tunnelled into what is now known as the Shallows, or the Great Belows, and from there now come weird and dangerous creatures into our world. Except for the hole being plugged and guarded. You can only see these creatures if you are ‘blazing’, ie under the influence of the drug Blue Blazes, or Cerulean; which is mined underground, and traded, for good money, amongst the cognoscenti. Besides sight it also gives its user strength, toughness, and an increased ability to heal.
It's about games, or, to be precise, about a world where all the Universe's games are mined from, and access to which is guarded by a tower and its warden (or is it the other way round?), who you have to pass to go and mine a game. Which can, and usually does, mean a challenge, and a game, and potentially consequences of losing said game.
I will not spill (and spoil) more of the story - go and ready it for yourself, it's available for free on Lightspeed Magazine. Yes, it has echoes of Ian M. Banks' Player of Games, but in a good and, in my opinion, non-derivative way.
It's also eligible for the 2014 Hugos, and has been recommended for such by Aliette de Bodard - I can heartily second that endorsement. Good stuff!
