Yaddith Times

https://adrpoetry.com/winter2022/january2022/chasing-apophis-by-ann-k-schwader/


Please don't ask me what a failed killer asteroid has to do with American Diversity. I'm just happy to be in such good company, & maybe let a few more folks remember that (to quote the great Tom Lehrer) we will all go together when we go . . .

https://tinywords.com/2022/01/11/35636/

The Women of Troy by Pat Barker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Once again, I was torn between 4 & 5 stars for this second book in Pat Barker's Trojan War series -- & once again, I went with the full 5. Although it could be argued that not enough actually happens, there were so many elegant, lovely, &/or profoundly tragic moments that I couldn't help myself. Besides, middle books -- which is what this one felt like, though I could well be wrong -- do tend to be less eventful.

That said, I found a great deal to love about Briseis's continuing narrative of survival in the camp of the now-victorious Greeks. Protected (somewhat) by a last-minute marriage of convenience to one of Achilles' friends, Briseis & her unborn child are able to move about more freely, interacting frequently with other notable women (Cassandra, Helen, Hecuba) and witnessing the psychological deterioration of Achilles' son Pyrrus. Of course, she also manages to get into considerable danger. Unfavorable winds are keeping the Greeks from sailing for home, & weeks pass as evidence for divine displeasure adds up. Barker's take on Troy isn't quite fantastical, but it comes close -- to the benefit of the plot. Though the gods never actually appear, they feel very real.

As with The Silence of the Girls, there's a fair amount of casual brutality against women in this one -- more implied than described, but likely enough to disturb some readers. Classical or not, this is still life in a war zone. And please note: those who haven't yet read The Silence of the Girls will definitely want to start there.

Recommended for: Mary Renault fans, mythology lovers, and anyone else (besides me) who can't get enough of the current boom in feminist Greco-Roman fiction.








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Alan Turing: Unlocking the Enigma by David Boyle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This right-sized (a bit over 2 hours) biography of Alan Turing gave me pretty much all the information I'd been curious about concerning his life & considerable achievements. Although it did put some emphasis on his work during WW II, it also devoted more attention than I've seen elsewhere to his postwar work with the beginnings of artificial intelligence.

Turing's struggles with his homosexuality -- or rather, his society's intolerance of it --were given what I thought was an appropriate amount of attention, without overshadowing the rest of the narrative. All in all, I found this to be a short but balanced biography, or possibly a biographical sketch which might lead readers in any number of directions. I got this as an Audible Plus selection, & was quite satisfied with the amount of listening time required vs. the amount of information enjoyably obtained.

Recommended for: espionage fans, WW II / Cold War fans, or those interested in the history of modern computing.







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Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I originally read & reread this book as a grade school kid, an underage Anglophile trying to give herself a British childhood in Wyoming.

When Audible Plus offered it free, I jumped at the chance to experience it again. And I'm glad I did, though some parts are pretty dated (published in 1934, & set in an earlier era) and I missed the wonderful illustrations. If you've only met Mary Poppins in that 1960s movie -- that was not Mary Poppins! The original character is much quirkier & definitely more disturbing, just as actual fairy tales have little to do with Disney.

Recommended for fantasy-loving Anglophiles of any age, & grown-up fans of writers such as Neil Gaiman.



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Knot of Shadows by Lois McMaster Bujold

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Learned Penric's investigation into a mysterious not-quite-death discovered at a Vilnoc religious hospital turns into a full-fledged Howdunit (not a typo!) in this latest rightsized tale of Penric & Desdemona. More introspective & melancholy than some in this series, it still delivers the rich mix of fantasy religion, domesticity, & unexpected bits of wisdom readers have come to expect. It is not, however, as fast-paced or action-filled as many of the previous novellas.

Whether this is a full five-star read or not may depend upon how fascinated a given Bujold reader is by the magical theology of her World of the Five Gods. Those who are (& I'm guessing that's most of us) will thoroughly enjoy this deep dive into the topic.

One caution: as with all this series, Knot of Shadows draws heavily on proceeding installments. It should not be approached as a stand-alone.





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Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Although the bones of the plot here -- vengeance prophecy, chosen one groomed to fulfill it, enemies to overcome doing so, quirky cast of characters to help or hinder the journey -- may be somewhat familiar to regular fantasy readers, this was a genuinely fresh experience for me. Based on preColumbian societies & mythologies, the world of the Meridian is richly detailed, & continued to intrigue me throughout the novel.

It probably helps that I'm fascinated by Maya/Aztec archaeology -- I kept finding little details that were so right for that background, woven seamlessly into a compelling story. Roanhorse also does character well, & manages the novel's shifts between multiple viewpoints with very few bumps.

My one real complaint about this novel -- obviously the first in a series -- is that the ending is beyond abrupt. I was listening along, ready for the next chapter where All Is Revealed, & instead heard Audible hoping I had enjoyed the book. Fortunately, I've got a Goodreads giveaway advance copy of the second novel, Fevered Star, on top of my TBR pile. Whew!

I did this one as a combined Kindle & Audible read, & very much appreciated the audio presentation. However, I'd highly recommend taking advantage of Audible's free offer of a PDF list of the characters. This is one of Those fantasy novels where you really do need one to keep everyone straight.





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Wolves and Werewolves in History and Popular Culture by Shannon Scott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This 10 lecture Great Courses Audible Original was a fun & informative mini-course, though it suffered somewhat from cramming too much into too few lectures. This resulted in less depth on certain topics than the listener (assuming a geeky, dark-lit-obsessed listener!) might wish. Still, it did cover the subject pretty comprehensively, with a feminist focus to some lectures.

I was happy to find out about a few authors & films I'd missed out on, & enjoyed the sweep of information. The lecturer has apparently done a similar course for actual university students, & is quite enthusiastic about her subject.

I acquired this as part of the Audible Plus catalog, free with my membership. As such, I found it very worth my time -- though perhaps not meriting a full credit purchase. Most werewolf enthusiasts will probably find something new here, & medieval or Victorian lit lovers might enjoy it as well.






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Issue #50 of Heroic Fantasy Quarterly is up now with five stories and three poems, plus suitably atmospheric artwork.

One those poems, "Shaft Tomb," is by Yours Truly -- & mixes just a smidgen of cosmic horror with the dark Egyptology.

Find issue #50 here: https://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/

Find "Shaft Tomb" here: https://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?p=3536

It's all free to read, so go enjoy the pulpy goodness.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is yet another book (audiobook, in my case) that made me long for the ability to assign half stars in ratings. To me, this one was actually a 4.5 star read -- so I guess I've compromised by giving it a solid 4 stars on Audible & 5 here.

However it ought to be rated, this bit of apparently light & (mostly) happy SF actually carries a lot of weight along with its in-depth worldbuilding & character development. Chambers has fitted a number of important SF questions into her plot, without ever bogging it down in philosophy. Along with that perennial favorite, Who Counts As a Person? she also gets in queries about the ethics of saving a life against the wishes of the person being saved, the limits of pacifism in a hostile universe, the choice of an intelligent species NOT to survive, the rights of clones, & a few others.

There is also the refreshing change of having humans (Terran or offworlder) not being at the center of things, but rather being minor league newcomers with a lot to prove. Some of the other species found here may seem a bit familiar to veteran SF readers (coldblooded reptiles, two-in-one species, naturally armored & violent types) , but most have more going on than it first appears.

I haven't detailed the plot of this one, because (a) plenty of reviewers have done an excellent job of this, & (b) the plot is only a small part of the pleasure here. Readers looking for immersive space adventure with a generally upbeat tone & sympathetic characters won't be disappointed.



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