Review – Lingua Cosmica: Science Fiction from Around the World

Lingua Cosmica: Science Fiction from Around the World
By: Dale Knickerbocker (editor)
Release Date: June 4, 2018
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


Lingua Cosmica: Science Fiction from Around the World is an academic book. This isn’t a novel or even a generic non-fiction title. This is a book by academics about science fiction writers from countries other than the United States. These authors are giants of the genre, the sort of authors whose works change science fiction in that region.

Review – The Morose Mononokean Vol 2 by Kiri Wazawa

The Morose Mononokean Vol 2
By: Kiri Wazawa
Translator: Mikka Stifler
Release Date: September 22, 2014
Publisher: Square Enix
Series: The Morose Mononokean
Rating:


I have a penchant for reading manga and watching anime about humans that get involved with the affairs of the supernatural, straying into worlds that they don’t really belong. The Morose Mononokean fits into this theme pretty perfectly, and I have been thoroughly enjoying this series which is currently available to read on Crunchyroll. This week I read The Morose Mononokean Vol 2 by Kiri Wazawa.

Throwback Thursday Review – Radio Freefall by Matthew Jarpe

Radio Freefall
By: Matthew Jarpe
Release Date: August 7, 2007
Publisher: Tor Books
Rating:


I stumbled upon Radio Freefall by Matthew Jarpe at the library recently. It isn’t a new release, I hadn’t been familiar with the author, and I can’t recall ever hearing about the novel. So, naturally, I checked it out immediately, knowing nothing but what the flap copy said – this this was a cyberpunk story with rock and roll, AIs, and technology. And you know what? It was a lot of fun.

Review – Dollface, Vol 1 by Dan Mendoza & Bryan Seaton

Dollface Vol 1
By: Dan Mendoza; Bryan Seaton
Illustrator: Dan Mendoza; Bryan Seaton
Release Date: June 20, 2017
Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment
Series: Dollface
Rating:


My husband and I both read Zombie Tramp, a graphic novel by Dan Mendoza. So it was only natural that we pick up Dollface Vol 1 by Dan Mendoza and Bryan Seaton.

Dollface is a new series featuring Lila, a 3-D printed doll which houses the soul of a 17th century witch hunter. Lila is a doll, a soul that occupies a plastic body. She is the result of an experiment done by two MIT students, Emily and Ivan. Now with a second chance at life she can continue the witch hunting work she started so long ago. And, more importantly, find the witch who massacred her family.

Review – The Bride Was a Boy by Chii

The Bride Was a Boy Vol 1
By: Chii; Shanti Whitesides (Adaptation)
Illustrator: Chii; Karis Page (Letterer & Retouch)
Translator: Beni Axia Conrad
Release Date: May 8, 2018
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: The Bride Was a Boy
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


The Bride Was a Boy is a diary styled manga by Chii. This manga tells the story of Chii’s transition from male to female, falling in love, and getting married. It is a beautiful, heartwarming tale that everyone should read.

Review – From Unseen Fire by Cass Morris

From Unseen Fire
By: Cass Morris
Illustrator: Tran Nguyen (Jacket Art)
Release Date: April 17, 2018
Publisher: Daw Books
Series: Aven Cycle #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


You may not know this, but my family is just chock full of history buffs. My father’s a history professor, my brother works at a museum, my sister gives talks at conferences about historical monuments, and I was an art history student once upon a time. So my excitement wasn’t very surprising when I first heard a book being described as ‘ancient Rome plus magic’. And that was exactly what we received in From Unseen Fire by Cass Morris.

Review – Captain Harlock Space Pirate: Dimensional Voyage Vol. 1 by Leiji Matsumoto and Kouiti Shimaboshi

Captain Harlock Space Pirate: Dimensional Voyage Vol 1
By: Leiji Matsumoto
Illustrator: Kouiti Shimaboshi (art); Meaghan Tucker (lettering)
Translator: Zack Davisson
Release Date: September 5, 2017 (English)
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: Captain Harlock Space Pirate: Dimensional Voyage
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


Captain Harlock Space Pirate: Dimensional Voyage is a retelling of Captain Harlock. Billed as a good place to start from for those who haven’t read the original series, I planned to put that to the test. And, yes, I can say with certainty that this was a good place to start from. While I know the general concept of Captain Harlock, I have not read the original manga, so I was going into this rather blind. I never felt lost or left behind. The manga really does do an excellent job of introducing the world and its character’s to a new audience.

Review – The Morose Mononokean Vol 1 by Kiri Wazawa

The Morose Mononokean Vol 1
By: Kiri Wazawa
Illustrator: Kiri Wazawa (artist); Kaitlyn Wiley (Letterer)
Translator: Mikka Stifler
Release Date: September 12, 2013
Publisher: Square Enix
Series: The Morose Mononokean
Rating:


I love finding new manga to read, things I’ve never heard of, things that are harder to find. One such manga is currently available through Crunchyroll (I definitely recommend taking a peek at their manga section). The Morose Mononokean Vol 1 by Kiri Wazawa is a lighthearted, fluffy manga about a boy who becomes part-time help for an exorcist.

Review – Null States by Malka Older

Null States
By: Malka Older
Release Date: September 19, 2017
Publisher: Tor Books
Series: Centenal Cycle
Rating:


If you enjoy political thrillers, near future science fiction, or cyberpunk The Centennal Cycle is a series of books for you. Null States by Malka Older sees the infomocracy fraying at the edges, world peace threatened, and an assassination take place in a new micro-democracy.