M.A. Kropp: Writer, Blogger, GeekGirl. My Life. My Words. My Way.
Well, not "done" as in finished and ready to go. But as of today, the first drafts of all the stories for my very short story collection are written. Of course, first drafts means there is still a lot of work to be done, but this first phase is always a relief to have behind … Continue reading And Done
My rating: 4 of 5 starsFive independent hackers are given a choice by the government: serve as white hat hackers completing assignments given them or face prison for their past cyber crimes. Faced with that choice, they decide to take the offer. They are sent to an isolated compound where they and the other teams … Continue reading Friday Review: Zer0es by Chuck Wendig
One of the trending discussions that cropped up among the genre social media feeds during the past month revolved around the idea of canon. Specifically, the perceived loss of reverence for what the complaining folks considered the classics of science fiction literature. They complain that "these kids today" have no idea what great scifi is … Continue reading Canon? Or Cannon?
My rating: 3 of 5 starsShe was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.Those three sentences have become a sort of battle cry for women who are standing up in the face of outdated and demeaning attitudes from some segments of society. In this collection of flash fiction, a number of the most … Continue reading Nevertheless, She Persisted: Flash Fiction Project by Various Authors
My rating: 3 of 5 starsIn this first of four novellas, we are introduced to Murderbot (its own name for itself) a part-organic, part-android Security Unit. The unit managed to hack its own governor unit and become autonomous, although no one knows about that. It has a shady past involving the killing of 57 people … Continue reading Friday Review: All Systems Red (Murderbot Diaries 1) by Martha Wells
My rating: 3 of 5 stars This alternate history story starts when a meteorite strikes the ocean off the southern coast of the United States and immediately causes wide-scale destruction of much of the eastern part of the country, including Washington, DC. The aftereffects of the meteor will cause global climate change on a disastrous … Continue reading Friday Review: The Calculating Stars (Lady Astronaut #1) by Mary Robinette Kowal
My rating: 4 of 5 starsThe Vorkosigan books are another of the iconic series in science fiction that I somehow never got around to reading. I have been trying to discover some of those books and to catch up with them a little. When I looked at the Vorkosigan series, it was a bit daunting … Continue reading Friday Review: The Warrior’s Apprentice (Vorkosigan Saga #2) by Lois McMaster Bujold (Audiobook)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the third and final book in Scalzi's Interdependency trilogy. The affiliated planets and habitats of the Interdependency are just that- interdependent on each other for trade, goods, and survival. Key to the continued existence of it all is the Flow, the lanes flowing through space that make … Continue reading Friday Review: The Last Emperox (Interdependency #3) by John Scalzi
Divergent by Veronica Roth My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the first book in the Divergent trilogy. In this post-apocalyptic version of Chicago, the surviving humans have divided into five factions, each with a particular role in society. Teens are given a test to determine which faction they are best suited for, but … Continue reading Friday Review: Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth
Oh, don't worry. I have read it before. Many, many years ago. When I was thinking about my reading list for this year, I decided I was going to start revisiting some old friends. Reconnect, if you will. See how they are doing after time has passed. This classic was my first stop. I'm not … Continue reading Friday Review: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
