This week I finished reading the mass market proofs of A New Clan (written by me in collaboration with David Weber). The mass market edition will be out in May, right alongside my solo Aurora Borealis Bridge, also in mass market.
My reward for a job well done? I’ve pulled in the manga of Saiyuki Reload, the Burial Arc from out outdoor library, because I want to compare and contrast who the story was handled in the print (manga) form, in comparison to the anime, which I just watched. Apparently, I come by my English Professor tendencies naturally, since I’m doing this for fun.
For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week. Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines. The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list. If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.
Once again, this is not a book review column. It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in. And it’s also a great place to tell me what you’re reading.
Completed:
A New Clan by Jane Lindskold and David Weber. Page proofs for mass market edition. This book was released in June 2022, and is currently available in hard cover, e-book, and audiobook formats
In Progress:
The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss. Audiobook. A book oddly lacking in suspense because the characters keep breaking the fourth wall, so weak on plot, but strong on characterization.
From Sawdust to Stardust: the Biography of DeForest Kelly, Star Trek’s Dr. McCoy by Terry Lee Rioux. I’ve hit the post-Star Trek years. Interesting.
Also:
Reading the latest Smithsonian. Almost done. Some excellent, well-balanced articles in this one.
Jane Lindskold: Wednesday Wanderings 
January 20, 2023 at 4:09 am |
Re-read: “The Hammer of Darkness” by L.E. Modesitt Jr. An old favorite about not wanting to become a god and what happens when the gods push you too far, but as space opera.
Just started: “15 Minutes” (Rewind Agency #1) – a YA time travel thriller by Jill Cooper. From 2013 but new to me. It starts with doing what you should never do: change the past. The consequence, you come back to a world you don’t recognize but the new world’s memories gradually fill in as you encounter people and things. Trying to guess the alternate-you’s laptop password was a nice touch. I’m having a little trouble getting into the book because the teen-aged girl first person POV is not an easy match for the 50-something guy reading it, but I’m curious enough to see where this goes, at least for now.
January 20, 2023 at 9:07 am |
I wonder if it’s the writer, not the reader? After all, I’ve never had issues reading books written by men. But then, I’ve never wanted a “match” or “representation.” I’m sort of in to the “other,” as long as that other isn’t heinous (which is why you won’t see me reading many assassins, etc.). Behavior, more than gender or age, is what alienates me.
January 20, 2023 at 5:25 am |
I finished The Expanse series, Book 9 by James SA Corey. Leviathan Falls continues the story of James Holden and his space ship. I have to admit to getting a little lost and confused. That is probably because it has been a while since I read the first books.
I also read Monstrous Regiment (Discworld #31) by Terry Pratchett. I enjoyed the story and the premise of who we judge to be monsters.
January 20, 2023 at 9:04 am |
You’re ahead of me on The Expanse. Good reminder of a series I mean to finish. Thanks! I love Monstrous Regiment. First time through, I wasn’t sure, but like a lot of his later period works, it grew on me.