Pre Dental Reading Post

It's Wednesday. Jo is having an early morning nap. I'm about to head off to the dentist for a cleaning. Oh, and Donny Trump has delayed his 50% tariffs for 3 days.. Sigh! If I had my druthers, I'd say, just tell him to get stuffed. But I'm not involved in the day-to-day intricacies of running a country that's on the border with an insane dictator wannabe. I'll just do my bit by buying anything but American products as much as possible and adding my voice to those defending our great country. Oh and casting my vote to have the US Ambassador, Pete Hoekstra, unceremoniously ejected from Canada. As of today, as I write this, 237, 861 people have signed this petition to the House of Commons. Check it out and if you agree, please sign it as well.

Now let's do a mid month (slightly more than mid month) reading update.

Completed Books (3 books completed since my last update)

1. Inspector West Alone by John Creasey (Inspector West #9 / 1950) This is my 2nd book in the series. I haven't been reading in sequence, as you can see.

"Inspector West Alone by John Creasey is the 9th book in this police series and the 2nd I've read. As I recall, the 1st book was ok but this one was excellent; tense, well paced and quite a page turner.

Inspector West of Scotland Yard receives a telephone message purportedly from his wife, Janice, asking for his help. She is with a cousin in the country. Not suspecting anything, West heads out to see what is going on. He arrives at an isolated house that seems to be empty. When he enters, he hears moaning upstairs and goes to investigate. He finds a dying woman, is attacked by someone and almost immediately, the local police arrive and arrest West. His paperwork identifies him as someone else.

While being driven to the police station, the police car is attacked, West is grabbed and he is rendered unconscious. He finds himself in another location, locked in a room, watched and kept prisoner. Gradually, he begins to discover the position he is in. The leader, Mr. Kennedy has plans for West. This involves blackmail, plastic surgery and a new life, helping with a criminal enterprise.

It's a fascinating premise. Does he try and escape, knowing his wife and children are watched and any escape attempt may result in their deaths? As far as he knows, the police believe it is West who has murdered the girl in the cottage. Thus begins a story of trying to escape from what seems an untenable situation. The police are suspicious of this new West, now known as Hanley, but how does West get them to understand the situation without risking his family and any other acquaintances.

It's an excellent story. The characters are well described. The sense of tenseness and helplessness is developed steadily and the ultimate ending is handled expertly. Most interesting mystery / thriller. I have a few more Inspector West books to read and am looking forward to continuing this series. (4.0 stars)"

2. The Furies by Keith Roberts (Hor / Sci Fi / 1966).

"The Furies by Keith Roberts is my 2nd look at his Sci Fi work, after enjoying Pavane previously. The Furies, while quite different from Pavane, was also excellent, a tense, dystopic future. The story starts off with a bang as an English farmer is killed by a giant wasp, which quickly become The Furies. 

The story is narrated by Bill Sampson, a relatively successful cartoonist living in the English countryside. He's a quiet, somewhat irascible individual, living on his own, well, on his own except for his Great Dane, Sec, short for Sekhmet, the Egyptian goddess of darkness. While working at home, Bill is visited by a young lady, Jane, visiting her parents who live nearby and are expected home soon.

Everything is quickly disrupted though. A nearby village is destroyed by an attack by a swarm of Furies. At the same time, the world is in the midst of an arm's race and both Russia and the US are about to test new atomic weapons. A few days after the first attack, Sampson's town is attacked by a swarm of Furies, almost at the same time as the nuclear tests take place, both causing tremendous damage. The village is destroyed by the wasps and also the fissures caused by the simultaneous blasts from the bombs.

Sampson and Sek survive and along with Jane try to find out what is happening and also trying to survive from the marauding wasps. Reports indicated that they are all over the world and even the army can't seem to stop them. So there is the basis of the story, a wasp dystopia, where the humans are not only trying to survive but also trying to destroy the invaders. 

It's a fascinating, dark, at times very depressing but also very thoughtful story. As things get worse, humankind begins to fracture, some helping the wasps build their cities / hives, gathering food, etc. Others, Bill and a small group of other people, try to find places to hide, to survive and to fight back against the swarms. It moves along steadily. Roberts doesn't respect people you might like, he plays no favorites. 

The characters are all interesting, displaying various aspects, positive and negative, of humankind. But like other such books, The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham, and The Death of Grass by John Christopher, this book is also fairly thoughtful. It looks at humankind, what it might be doing wrong or right. It tries to provide a cogent analysis (never boring) of what the Furies actually are, where did they come from?

There are moments where you find yourself drawn right into the action, the fear, the tension. Roberts knows how to ramp things up quickly and forcefully. It's violent, but not overly graphic. All in all, it's an entertaining, tense, dystopic Sci Fi novel and well worth reading. (4.5 stars)"

3. A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab (Shades of Magic #2 / 2016) It took me awhile to get through this book, but it was worth it.

"Oh! I'm so angry!! Darn right I am! A Gathering of Shadows, the 2nd book in the Shades of Magic trilogy by V.E. Schwab made me so angry!! 

Inner Voice - But did you enjoy it? (Ed Note - For some reason I hear this voice as Hal, the shipboard computer in 2001, A Space Odyssey)

Me -Yeah... well, sure, ok... yes I enjoyed it... But I'm so angry!! 

Inner Voice - Calm down and let's just talk this through. Why did you enjoy it and why are you angry?... 

Me -Sigh... ok, here we go

A Gathering of Shadows is the 2nd book in the trilogy and it follows Delilah Bard, the master thief, and Kell, the Antari magician, as they move along from the first book, where they saved Red London from the darkness that threatened to destroy it. Kell is now once again living in the palace with his brother, Rhy, the two now inextricably enjoined now that they were magically linked to save Rhy from dying. Delilah is now on board the Night Spire, a buccaneer ship captained by Alucard Emery, having adventures.

Rhy is organizing the great magic competition between the 3 lands in the Red World, 36 of the greatest magicians, 12 from each country, will compete for the grand prize. This will bring Delilah back to Red London, because Alucard plans to compete (he is from one of the royal families in Red London (a black sheep) and a skilled magician. He's been teaching Delilah to hone her own magical skills and unbeknownst to Alucard, she plans to enter the competition (because that's what Delilah is like). Kell and Rhy have their own plan, in that Kell will also enter but under a fake name. 

In the meantime, as we learn from snippets throughout the story, Holland, their arch enemy from Book 1, is now King of White London and magic has been restored there (I apologize if I get the various London's incorrect, as I do get confused). Holland has been taken over by a dark force, who wants to be transferred to the body of an Antari...

Anyway, that's your story. It's long but moves along very nicely and when you've read for an hour or so, you find that you've made steady progress. The characters are great, each well - crafted, with their own individual personalities. The setting is excellent. The story is always interesting

Inner Voice - And you're angry why? 

Me - All through I kept waiting for the story to get to the crux, the key moment, the point of the whole thing. And what was that point? WAIT UNTIL BOOK 3!! That's why I'm angry... 

Inner Voice - Ah, well, that sounds fair. What's your solution?

So, here's my final thoughts. Book 1 was fantastic, just an amazing story with an amazing world. Book 2 was entertaining, set in the same amazing world, with the same great characters and it satisfactorily sets the stage for the final chapter. Check it out. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading (As always, these are books started since last update)

1. Wycliffe and the Tangled Web by W.J. Burley (Chief Superintendent Wycliffe #15 / 1988).

"Hilda Clemo, bright, beautiful, still at school, dropped the bombshell of her pregnancy to her family and boyfriend—and then vanished from her Cornish village that same summer afternoon. As fears for her safety grew, Chief Superintendent Wycliffe was brought in to search the fields and cliffs and question the Clemo family—a weird, feuding clan whose kinship and hatreds covered some unpleasant secrets.

One of the secrets finally led to the discovery of a body—but not the body of Hilda Clemo. By the time Hilda’s corpse was found, Wycliffe had a welter of mysteries to solve, not least the true character of the precocious murdered schoolgirl."

2. American War by Omar el Akkad (Dys / 2017). I have read one other book by el Akkad, a non fiction work.

"Sarat Chestnut, born in Louisiana, is only six when the Second American Civil War breaks out in 2074. But even she knows that oil is outlawed, that Louisiana is half underwater, that unmanned drones fill the sky. And when her father is killed and her family is forced into Camp Patience for displaced persons, she quickly begins to be shaped by her particular time and place until, finally, through the influence of a mysterious functionary, she is turned into a deadly instrument of war. Telling her story is her nephew, Benjamin Chestnut, born during war – part of the Miraculous Generation – now an old man confronting the dark secret of his past, his family’s role in the conflict and, in particular, that of his aunt, a woman who saved his life while destroying untold others."

3. Young Men in Spats by P.G. Wodehouse (Humour / 1936)

"Meet the Young Men in Spats - all members of the Drones Club, all crossed in love and all busy betting their sometimes nonexistent fortunes on unlikely outcomes - that's when they're not recovering from driving their sports cars through rather than round Marble Arch.

These wonderful comic short stories are the essence of innocent fun. In them you'll encounter some of Wodehouse's favourite characters - including, for the first time, his future hero Uncle Fred. The collection is widely regarded as one of Wodehouse's best and includes one of his own favorites, 'The Amazing Hat Mystery'."

4. The Genocides by Thomas M. Disch (Sci Fi / 1965).

"In this harrowing novel, the world's cities have been reduced to cinder and ash and alien plants have overtaken the earth.  The plants, able to grow the size of maples in only a month and eventually reach six hundred feet, have commandeered the world's soil and are sucking even the Great Lakes dry. In northern Minnesota, Anderson, an aging farmer armed with a Bible in one hand and a gun in the other, desperately leads the reduced citizenry of a small town in a daily struggle for meager existence. Throw into this fray Jeremiah Orville, a marauding outsider bent on a bizarre and private revenge, and the fight to live becomes a daunting task."

New Arrivals 

1. Secrets of Stone by Coltrane Seesequasis (A Wolf in the Sun #1 / 2024).

"Centuries have passed since the forces of nature won the war against humanity. Sentient animals now rule a healing world, and as the stain of mankind continues to dwindle, a young wolf called Silversong is determined to rise in the hierarchy of his pack. Strong at manipulating wind and air, all he needs is a way to prove himself to his Chief.

Before he can gain the respect he deserves, however, Silversong’s aspirations are cut short by the Heretic and his outcast wolves. Against all odds, the Heretic and his band of exiles escape their imprisonment far to the west and wreak havoc on Silversong’s pack. The exiles pose a threat unlike any other, and their enigmatic leader won’t stop his brutal conquest until all wolfkind submits to him.

Silversong can’t let a monstrous wolf like the Heretic roam free. With the wind at his back, he pursues the leader of the exiles into forests of shadow and into ancient places better left forgotten. But the further he strays from home, the more he comes to realize that maybe his enemies aren’t so evil after all. Maybe there’s a reason for the destruction they seek… and maybe there’s a far greater danger lying in wait."

2. A Gentle Habit by Cherie Dimaline (Indigenous / Short Stories / 2015).

"The inspiration for the collection comes from American Poet Charles Bukowski who wrote "In between the punctuating agonies, life is such a gentle habit." Following this theme of extraordinary ordinariness, A Gentle Habit is a collection of six new short stories focusing on the addictions of a diverse group of characters attempting normalcy in an unnatural world."

3. Intergalactic Exterminators, Inc by Ash Bishop (Intergalactic Archives #1 / 2022)

"Finding work is easy. Staying alive is a little bit harder.

When Russ Wesley finds an unusual artifact in his grandfather’s collection of rare antiquities, the last thing he expects is for it to draw the attention of a ferocious alien from a distant planet. Equally surprising is the adventurous team of intergalactic exterminators dispatched to deal with the alien threat. They’re a little wild, and a little reckless. Worse yet, they’re so impressed with Russ’s marksmanship that they insist he join their squad . . . whether he wants to or not."

4. City of Spies by Mara Timon (City of Spies #1 / 2020).

"LISBON, 1943. After escaping from Nazi-Occupied France, SOE agent Elisabeth de Mornay, codename Cecile, receives new orders: she must infiltrate high society in neutral Lisbon and find out who is leaking key information to the Germans about British troop movements. As Solange Verin, a French widow of independent means, she will be able to meet all the rich Europeans who have gathered in Lisbon to wait out the war. One of them is a traitor and she must find out who before more British servicemen die.

Complications arise when 'Solange' comes to the attention of German Abwehr officer, Major Eduard Graf. As they get to know each other, she struggles to keep her lies close to the truth.

But in a city that is filled with spies, how can she tell who is friend, or foe?"

So there you go, folks. Some reading ideas for you. And always remember, 'Open the pod bay door, Hal'

An August Update

Jenn and Anthony on their way home

Wow! Has the month gone by quickly. Our daughter Jenn left Wednesday last week and she should be driving into her place in Ottawa sometime today. It was nice having her and Anthony here. We weren't used to having company. I think they had a good time and I'm sure they are happy to be back home and not living out of suit cases.

We were a bit busy after she left, what with Jo's chemo and such at the end of the week and we basically just vegged over the weekend. Jo is taking to a friend from England at the moment so I believe I'll take this opportunity to do a bit of a catch up.

Books Completed

(Six books completed since my last reading update)

1. A Cat Story: A Graphic Novel by Ursula Murray Husted (YA / Graphic / 2020) Don't worry, Anthony, I also read books about dogs.

"Ursula Murray Husted, as far as I can tell, has written two graphic novels / stories for Young Adults (also most enjoyable to adults). A Cat Story: A Graphic Novel is the 2nd that I've enjoyed; Botticelli's Apprentice was my 1st exposure. 

Cat Story is set on the island of Malta and follows two street cats, Cilla and Betto. (When Husted spent time in Malta, she noticed the large amount of street cats who just seemed to co-exist with the human population). Cillo spends her time trying to find a family to take her in, while Betto is happy living on the wharfs and feeding off discarded fish. Another cat tells Cillo about the garden behind the old door and this story sets the two cats off on a journey to another island to find it. The garden behind the door is supposed to be peaceful and with loving humans and lots of food. (Cillo is tired of having to spend her nights under an abandoned boat that leaks on them when it rains, while Betto enjoys living the life of a wandering cat.)

This journey will result in meeting other cats, a friendly, wise dog and ultimately bring them to a realization about their lives. Of course, I don't want to ruin the ending, do I?

It's beautifully drawn and colored and also incorporates great classic works of art into the story telling. The story contains many stories within the overall story and they add to the overall quality of the story, itself. Husted is a real talent and I look forward to exploring more of her work. (3.0 stars)"

2. Traitor's Doom by John Creasey (Dr. Palfrey #1 / 1942). My continued exploration of the works of John Creasey.

"I've been exploring the works / series of English writer John Creasey who was prolific and wrote under a variety of pseudonyms. He's famous for his Commander Gideon, Inspector West, The Baron, The Toff and Department S. Traitor's Doom was the first book in his Doctor Palfrey series, written in 1942. 

This book is set during the build up to WWII and Doctor Palfrey and a few others; some fellow Brits, a Russian, a Frenchman and a Russian are asked to work for the mysterious Marquis, who works for the British Secret Service. They are asked to form a team to rescue important people from German concentration camps as they are to help form a new Europe when and if the war is over. However, this might not actually be the plan and they might just be marks to hide the true purpose. As well, the Marquis warns Byron that he suspects one of the group is a spy.

The story takes place in the fictitious county of Catania, on the border of Spain, and it's a neutral country suffering under blockades. The government is under siege by a Nazi supported group who are also trying to destroy the Socialists. It's a busy story of cross and double cross and filled with action. Not my favorite story and I never really warmed to anybody but still a good story filled with action. (2.0 stars)"

3. Invitation to the Game by Monica Hughes (YA / Sci Fi / 1991). My first exposure to Monica Hughes and it was a pleasant surprise.

"Invitation to the Game was my first exposure to the YA / Sci Fi / Fantasy worlds of English / Canadian author Monica Hughes and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the story.

Invitation is set in a dystopian future where a group of teenagers have just graduated from the Government School. The story is told by one of these teens, Lisse. Now that they are finished school, they are sent off on their own. Some, like Benta and Richard, are returned to their parents, Benta to work on their farm and Richard to become a psychologist at his father's business. The others, a group of eight are sent to the city, to their Designated Area (DA).

This group is the focus of the story, although Benta and Richard will eventually be reunited with them. Scylla is sort of their mother figure. She gets them organized in the dark, damaged, gloomy city, finding a building they can make their own, using their talents to scrounge furniture and everything they need to make it a secure, safe place for them to live. They all have their own particular talents.

Gradually, the group begins to explore their new DA, going out at night, being threatened, finding out about the city. They begin to hear about The Game, something that only a few are invited to participate in. 

Eventually a letter is dropped through their door slot and it contains an invitation, plus tokens for each member so they can travel to the location at the edge of the city where they can 'play' the game. They meet another group but they are either unable or unwilling to explain the game to Lisse's group. It seems to be some sort of computer simulation where they are dropped into some location where they have to find clues to the Prize. 

But it's all very vague and there are long gaps between sessions. They being to research how to survive in distant locations, begin exercising to get in shape as there is a great deal of walking in their 'simulated world'. The group dynamic will change and the eventually the setting of this 'world' will change as well as what they are expected to do. I don't want to ruin the story as the build up and eventual resolution are such an important part of the resolution.

Hughes creates a fascinating world and wonderful characters. Each are individuals with their own personalities, weaknesses and strengths. The premise made me think of other stories, Ready Player One was my first thought, but as this story progresses, it's actually quite different. It flows nicely, has a few very nice little twists and turns and ultimately ends quite satisfactorily. I enjoyed very much. It's enjoyable for adults, I think, and for teens who want to explore Sci Fi. It was written in 1990 but still holds up 30+ years later. I will continue to explore Hughes' work. (4.5 stars)"

4. Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood (Bio / 2025). I loved this book but it made me more aware of mortality.

"Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood may be my favorite book by one of our iconic Canadian authors but as I neared the end, I felt kind of bereft. Yes, there were even tears as I realized that another literary stalwart is now 86. Even just writing that made me feel sad. Can't they live forever! I'm sure Margaret has a few more books in her.

I was introduced to her work during an Introduction to Canadian Literature (I may have the title wrong) while I was switching to English from Political Science during my years at University of Toronto in the mid -7o's. Obviously it's been a few years but I think the book we took was Surfacing. I was taking 3 or 4 Lit courses then so I don't remember finishing it. During that time I also read The Edible Woman, her first book and one of her poetry collections, either The Circle Game or The Animals in that Country. Over the years since then I've read another 10+ of her works, Dystopia, Poetry, non-Fiction, fiction. Such a fantastic author and one, like Ursula K. Le Guin, that I hope to read everything or as much as I can of the rest of her work.

So onto to Book of Lives. It's exactly as it says, it's the book of Margaret Atwood's life and of those nearest and dearest to her. It follows her from childhood, following her mother and father around as her father worked as an entomologist for the Canadian government, living in log cabins in various parts of Ontario and Quebec and then returning to the big city for winter; either Ottawa or Toronto, where Atwood got her education. Her childhood is so fascinating, made even more so because I know the areas, my father having been stationed in North Bay Ontario at various times and having relatives in northern Ontario.

Her story moves around the world as the she began her university, then got jobs teaching at various universities, all the time beginning a career as a poet and ultimately as a fiction writer and later, as an author of dystopian novels. 

Each chapter, as you get to her writing career, does deal with her various novels and books of poetry, where she wrote them, some of the reasoning behind her books. Although she doesn't delve too deeply into that aspect, I thought. The book is more about life, family, travel, living, relationships. I find it amazing how much of her life was spent in the woods, how much she and her family and her partner of later life, Graeme Gibson spent farming, birding, exploring, all the while, both of them also writing. 

There are sub-chapters dealing with the life of Graeme, until he and Atwood get together. There are excerpts from her poetry, a neat excerpt written by her father about how he became an entomologist. All in all, it's a wonderful memoir, funny, sad, touching and it moves along so nicely. I could put it down for a few days, pick it up and get right back into the flow. It was neat meeting other authors I'd read and enjoyed. Such a life, such a wonderful person. I still have 4 others of her books on my shelf and look forward to continuing to explore her work. (4.5 stars)"

5. Killadelphia: Volume One, Sins of the Father by Rodney Barnes (Graphic Novel / Horror / 2020). A new series to check out.

"Killadelphia, Vol. 1: Sins of the Father by Rodney  Barnes is my first exposure to his work and after reading this, I will continue my exploration. Killadelphia, Vol 1 follows Baltimore detective Jim Sangster heads to Philadelphia to bury his father, a detective on the Philadelphia police force. He discovers more than he expected when he and the pathologist Jose Padilla, realize that there are vampires, lots of vampires, trying to destroy the city. And, oh yeah, they're led by former President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, also vampires.

The volume, which includes Chapters 1 - 6, of the series follows Jim Sangster, John Adams and others as the story progresses. Jim and Jose work closely together and develop a relationship over the course of the story. We explore Jim and his father's fractious relationship. I don't know how much detail to go into as I don't want to ruin the story, but the two do have one surprise helper. There is also trouble within John Adam's group. He wants total control but his wife has other ideas and other... well, sexier methods. And others within the vampire army begin to feel that Adams is replacing one form of slavery with another.

It's a fascinating story with lots of interesting side stories. The characters are well developed and draw you in. Lots of action, stark drawing and coloring. All in all, an interesting story that I will continue. What's next! (3.5 stars)"

6. Cobra Trap by Peter O'Donnell (Short Stories / Modesty Blaise #13 / 1996). What did I say earlier? Ah yes, mortality.

"Cobra Trap is a collection of 5 short stories by Peter O'Donnell, the last of 13 books featuring his heroine, Modesty Blaise and her partner / best friend, Willie Garvin. It follows them through various stages of Modesty's life, when she ruled the Network, a crime syndicate (with standards) and when she helped Sir Gerald Tarrant, head of a British spy agency, and just when they were on their own. 

In the first story, the two go after Bellman, a criminal who exploits young girls. Getting him arrested in Peru, they go back to their lives. When he gets out, he goes for revenge, with appropriate results. In The Dark Angels, a trio of gymnastic type assassins are hired to kill an American businessman. Sir Tarrant kind of tricks the two into protecting the businessman (there are other twists in this story) and regrets that he almost had them killed by the assassins.

Old Alex was an interesting story. Modesty wakes up, barricaded in a cave and finally manages to attract attention of 'Old Alex', a farmer in the Basques countryside. Alex saves her and over time, we find out more about Alex, his past as a British bomber pilot during the war, his crash, loss of memory and there are even a few more twists. A surprisingly poignant story with suitable action as well.

The Girl with the Black Balloon features a kidnapping by a group that has been doing it for awhile. Tarrant's right hand man askes Modesty and Willie to help, even though they're sort of retired. But the murder of an agent familiar to both of them, makes them want to avenge their friend. With the help of a girl in a black balloon, they breach the hideout. A fun... ish story with appropriate action taken. As always, a neat kind of twist, as the man they are trying to save, doesn't believe in violence... 

The final story hit me, I'm afraid. Both Willie and Modesty are retired by their friends are stuck in a Central American country that's about have a revolution. Modesty has a secret.... anyway, it left me oddly tearful, not what I would expect from a Modesty Blaise story. I still have a few other books to read but this will make them a bit more touching. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading (Started since last reading update)

1. The Strange Adventures of  Mr. Andrew Hawthorn by John Buchan (Short Stories / 1932). Another of those authors whose books are on my bucket list.

"A new selection of short stories by "the prince of thriller writers" ( The Times , London)

The short stories of John Buchan are known for their authentically rendered backgrounds, taut pacing, and atmosphere of expectancy and international intrigue. These diverse tales combine Buchan's remarkable experiences and interests as a traveler, war correspondent, politician, and classical scholar. Edited by acclaimed author Giles Foden, this selection features the World War I thriller "The Loathly Opposite," the frequently anthologized "Sing a Song of Sixpence," and "Streams of Water in the South," one of Buchan's personal favorites. Addressing such themes as human frailty, strength, and redemption, the stories testify to Buchan's worldview that mastery of oneself leads to the fulfillment of one's destiny.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators."

2. The Furies by Keith Roberts (Hor / 1966). I've enjoyed one other book by Roberts so far.

"The rule of the wasps. It all started with a nuclear test that went wrong. The test cracked the bed of the sea, raised a volcano the height of Vesuvius where before there had been a five-mile Deep...

Then the Furies struck - monstrous and deadly wasps nearly the size of man.

Their nests sprang up all over the world. They descended and slaughtered humanity at will. Breeding in their nests by the billions, they began enslaving the earth..."

3. The Dream Master by Roger Zelazny (Sci Fi / 1966).

"The last really unexplored frontier of knowledge may well prove to be the human mind. The Dream Master is the novel of that farther frontier, of a Twenty-first Century invention which enabled a psychology engineer to actually enter a man's mind, to experience his thoughts, to live with him his dreams—and to redirect and control those soaring universe-creating visions which are the essence of all thinking.

This novel of Render the Shaper, in its magazine serial version—originally published in 1965 as the Nebula winning novella 'He Who Shapes'—has already won Roger Zelazny the Nebula Award of the Science Fiction Writers of America for the finest short novel of the year. Ace Books now proudly presents its final and complete full-length version."

4. Them Bones by Howard Waldrop (Alternate History / 1984).

"Madison Yazoo Leake, of the bombed-out, radiation-ridden 21st century, wanted to go back in time to stop World War III before it began. When he stepped through the time portal, he thought he was entering 1930s-era Louisiana. Instead, he found himself in a world where Arabs had explored America, Christianity and the Roman Empire had never existed, and Aztecs performed human sacrifices near the Mississippi as wooly mammoths roamed nearby..."

Newest Books

(4 books since my last update)

1. Wildwood (The Wildwood Chronicles #1) by Colin Meloy (Fan / 2011).

"Prue McKeel's life is ordinary. At least until her brother is abducted by a murder of crows and taken to the Impassable Wilderness, a dense, tangled forest on the edge of Portland. No one's ever gone in, or at least returned to tell of it. So begins an adventure that will take Prue and her friend, Curtis, deep into the Impassable Wilderness. There they uncover a secret world in the midst of violent upheaval, a world full of warring creatures, peaceable mystics, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions. And what begins as a rescue mission becomes something much greater, as the two friends find themselves entwined in a struggle for the very freedom of this wilderness. A wilderness the locals call Wildwood."

2. A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao (Akai Singh #1 / 2023) I've ordered the 2nd book without having even read the first... How daring, eh?

"A charming and atmospheric debut mystery featuring a 25-year-old Indian police sergeant investigating a missing persons case in colonial Fiji

1914, Akal Singh, 25, would rather be anywhere but this tropical paradise—or, as he calls it, “this godforsaken island.” After a promising start to his police career in Hong Kong, Akal has been sent to Fiji as punishment for a humiliating professional mistake. Lonely and grumpy, Akal plods through his work and dreams of getting back to Hong Kong or his native India.

When an indentured Indian woman goes missing from a sugarcane plantation and Fiji’s newspapers scream “kidnapping,” the inspector-general reluctantly assigns Akal the case. Akal, eager to achieve redemption, agrees—but soon finds himself far more invested than he could have expected.

Now not only is he investigating a disappearance, but also confronting the brutal realities of the indentured workers’ existence and the racism of the British colonizers in Fiji—along with his own thorny notions of personhood and caste. Early interrogations of the white plantation owners, Indian indentured laborers, and native Fijians yield only one there is far more to this case than meets the eye."

3. The Strangers by Katherena Vermette (Indigenous / CanLit / 2021). I found this at the local Thrift. I've enjoyed other work by Vermette.

"Cedar has nearly forgotten what her family looks like. Phoenix has nearly forgotten what freedom feels like. And Elsie has nearly given up hope. Nearly.

After time spent in foster homes, Cedar goes to live with her estranged father. Although she grapples with the pain of being separated from her mother, Elsie, and sister, Phoenix, she's hoping for a new chapter in her life, only to find herself once again in a strange house surrounded by strangers. From a youth detention centre, Phoenix gives birth to a baby she'll never get to raise and tries to forgive herself for all the harm she's caused (while wondering if she even should). Elsie, struggling with addiction and determined to turn her life around, is buoyed by the idea of being reunited with her daughters and strives to be someone they can depend on, unlike her own distant mother. These are the Strangers, each haunted in her own way. Between flickering moments of warmth and support, the women diverge and reconnect, fighting to survive in a fractured system that pretends to offer success but expects them to fail. Facing the distinct blade of racism from those they trusted most, they urge one another to move through the darkness, all the while wondering if they'll ever emerge safely on the other side."

4. Secret Sky by J.P. MCLean (The Gift Legacy #1 / Fan / 2012). I met this author at Comox Nautical Days.

"Everybody wishes they could fly—until it happens. When Emelynn Taylor wakes up in the emergency room, her injuries present Dr. Avery Coulter with more questions than answers. Who is this guarded young woman? Why was she found in the middle of Sunset Park? How can she have injuries consistent with falling from above the tree line? Seemingly from nowhere? And, more Why is she lying about it?

The truth is stranger than anyone could have imagined - least of all Emelynn herself.

Nine years earlier, during the same summer she'd lost her father, 12-year-old Emelynn accepted a 'gift' from a mysterious woman called Jolene. Now, as she recovers in Dr. Coulter's emergency room, she's left wondering if that blessing was really more of a curse. Jolene's gift planted the seeds of incredible power within Emelynn - but what's the point of such abilities if you can't control them? Her emerging gift of flight, for example, nearly killed Emelynn when it sent her plummeting to the sidewalk in Sunset Park. Next time, she might not be so lucky.

But Emelynn is determined to master her abilities, and returns to the seaside cottage where Jolene had once granted her this 'gift.' There, Dr. Coulter guides Emelynn in uncovering a secret society of others just like her, who inhabit a mysterious world-within-a-world that challenges everything Emelynn thought she'd known. But the more she uncovers, the murkier the truth becomes. Soon, Emelynn is left questioning the motives of those she'd trusted the most - and is forced to rely on her barely mastered powers in a desperate fight for survival."

There you go. I hope you see some books you might like to try. Now to get Jo off her phone call so we can go to her doctor's appointment.

What's next on the Challenge List, You Ask? Well....

Our daughter's visit is winding down. Jenn is planning to take Anthony back to Kye Bay for a final walk along the seaside one more time. Yesterday she volunteered to work at the annual Florence Filberg festival and enjoyed herself. Anthony stayed with us. He seems to be getting used to it. We're all enjoying watching the Commonwealth Games and have hooked Jenn on 25 Words or Less. 😎 It's been a nice visit.

Today I thought I'd provide a list of the next books I plan to read as I work on my various challenges. I don't necessarily follow it religiously but it helps set a target.

1. 12 + 4 Challenge - Short Stories. So far, I've completed 9 books in this challenge. I'm currently reading Cobra Trap by Peter O'Donnell, a collection of Modesty Blaise adventures. Enjoying so far. Next in line is a collection by an author I've been exploring quite a bit, John Buchan. He wrote the John Hannay series, starting with The 39 Steps. The Strange Adventures of Mr. Andrew Hawthorn & Other Stories was initially published in 1932. It contains 18 stories by Buchan

2. 12 + 4 Challenge - Graphic Novels. I completed this challenge in April, graphic novels being usually nice quick reads. My favorite was Botticelli's Apprentice by Ursula Murray Husted, beautifully drawn and an excellent YA / Historical Fiction story.

3. 12 + 4 Challenge - Shiniest and Newest Books. These were the last 16 books that I added to my bookshelves before 31 Dec 2025. I've completed 8 books so far and am working on Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood. I'm enjoying so very much. My next book in this challenge, oddly enough is a graphic novel, a new series for me; Killadelphia, Volume 1 by Rodney Barnes, a horror series.

4. 12 + 4 Challenge - Dustiest Books. The 16 books that were the earliest I added to my Goodreads TBR list. One of my slower challenges. I've completed 6 so far and am currently enjoying Tess of the d'Urbervilles by William Thackeray. My next book will be a murder mystery, Wycliffe and the Tangled Web by W.J. Burley (Wycliffe #15). It's one of my comfort mystery series... one of many.

5. 12 + 4 Challenge - Shorter Books. This was the challenge I added after completing my Graphic novels challenge. They are, for the most part, books of less then 200 pages, with just a couple of exceptions. I've completed 9 so far and am reading The Dream Master by Roger Zelazny (Sci Fi / 1966) It's different so far. Next book is one of a trilogy by one of the early Sci Fi authors, The Humanoid Touch by Jack Williamson (Humanoids #2 / 1980.)

The next three challenges are part of my individual reading challenge group and there is some overlap with the above ones. I generally choose the books via random number challenge. I basically divided my TBR by 3 and broke it down to 3 challenges.

6. Individual Reading Challenge - Dustiest Books (#17 - 416). I've read 8 books in this challenge although 2 were DNFs. I'm not reading anything yet as I'm reading more than one if another challenge. But my next book will be a George Eliot classic. I've read 3 or 4 of her books and she was such a great author. My next book will by Romola (1863). I think I've avoided it so far because I'm already reading a Classic and thought it might be hard to keep track of each story. 

7. Slightly Dusty Books (#417 - 832). I've read 5 so far with one being a DNF. I'm currently reading Sepulchre by James Herbert, one of my favorite horror authors. My next book will be American War by Omar el Akkad, a dystopian future, published in 2017.

8. Newest, Shiniest Books (#833 - Present). I find myself easily distracted by the newest books and this has been my most successful challenge. I have read 27 thus far and have 3 on the go; Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (Fan), Inspector West Alone by John Creasey (Mys / Inspector West #9) & Invitation to the Game by Monica Hughes (Sci Fi / YA). My next book in this challenge will be The Furies by Keith Roberts (Hor / 1966). I've read one other of Roberts' books and enjoyed very much.

So there you go. Back to normal programming in the coming days. Looking forward to my August reading. Enjoy your month.

Weekend Reading Update... well, it's almost the weekend.

Anthony making himself comfie in the backyard.

Jenn's been here for a week now with her dog Anthony and all is well. At the moment, Jenn is putting some flowers in a vase (which she received from a friend she met yesterday), Anthony is watching and Jo is relaxing with a game on her laptop. In my last entry I talked about horror books so it's time for a normal update. 

Just Finished

(4 books completed since I last did a reading update. It's been a bit of a slow month)

1. Talk Treaty to Me, Understanding the Basics of Treaties and Land in Canada by Crystal Gail Fraser & Sara Komarnisky (Non Fic / Can Lit / 2026).

"Over the past few years, I've been trying to educate myself on Canada's indigenous culture, history, issues. I started with some graphic novels; Katherena Vermette's A Girl Called Echo series, which talks about the history of the Metis in Manitoba, If I Go Missing by Brianna Jonnie, which is a heart breaking letter to the Winnipeg Chief of Police about missing indigenous girls and the lack of support from the police services; Five Little Indians by Michelle Good, a novel about the effects of Canada's residential schools on indigenous children; This Place: 150 Years Retold by Kateri Akiwenzie - Damm, telling the history of Canada (& a look at the future) from indigenous story - tellers; Sugar Falls, a Residential School story by by David A. Robertson, a graphic novel about residential schools; Borders by Thomas King; a graphic about an indigenous mother living in Canada with her son and her efforts to cross the Can / US border to visit her daughter living in the US. There have also been a number of Sci Fi / Dystopic stories written by indigenous authors, all interesting perspectives of the future.

The purpose for listing those books and graphics and novels wasn't to pat myself on the back but to get on to my look at two of my most recent books. The Bad Indians Book Club by Patty Krawec was a fascinating discussion of books in all genres that Patty and her Book Club podcast recommended as they also talked about issues indigenous peoples are facing. 

And finally, the subject of this review; Talk Treaty to Me: Understanding the Basics of Treaties and Land in Canada by Crystal Gail Fraser & Sara Komarnisky. This is a non fiction book released in 2026, which goes through Canada's history up until the current day and examines the issues faced by indigenous peoples because of the treaties negotiated with them, first by early settlers, the English, French, Dutch, etc. and then, when Canada became a nation, the treaties negotiated with the Canadian, provincial and territorial governments. I'll say it's a fascinating book, providing me with much information that I didn't know. But at the same time, it's a depressing book as I realize the scope of the treatment that our indigenous peoples, our neighbours, our friends were put through as they tried to learn to deal with and live in harmony with this 'settler class' that was forcing its values and ways down their throats.

The books also covers the pre-colonization / settler era, showing how North America's indigenous peoples made treaties between each other, what a treaty meant to them; a sharing of the land, living harmoniously between each other. That was not always (ever?) the case with settlers arrived. Treaties were negotiated. The understanding of what a treaty meant between the various negotiators varied. To the indigenous peoples, the concept of treaty 'focused on diplomacy and concepts of peace, friendship and non-interference'. The original Dutch settlers considered the relationship to be a paternalistic one, the Dutch as fathers, the indigenous as children. The Haudenosaunee nation rejected this. To them a treaty meant they were Brothers, 'two paths or two vessels traveling down a river together.'

The reason I mentioned all of the other books at first is because this book is kind of the center of a circle and as you branch out, you find the topics discussed in those other books, highlighted here. Residential schools, the Pass Card system meant to keep indigenous people on their reservations, in their country, non recognition of Metis and Inuit as being indigenous and therefore not requiring treaties.

As I say, it's a depressing book, but the more people try to understand the purpose of the book, the history of Canada's treatment of its indigenous population, maybe this relationship can become a more harmonious one. Optimistically, as one of the settler class, I hope small steps have been made and that we can take two steps forward to the one we probably still take back. Canada is a better country if we live harmoniously with everyone else who live here. It makes it a better place. 

OK, I'll leave it there. Read the book. (4.0 stars)"

2. Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark (Hor / His Fic / 2020)

"Wow! Do I need to say anything else about Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark? Oh... I do? OK. Well, Ring Shout is historical fiction along with alternate history and  horror, all packed up in less than 200 pages. It's about Maryse Boudreaux and her two friends and fellow freedom fighters, Sadie, of the sharp shooting skill and Chef, also known by Cordelia, ex WWI veteran and an expert with bombs. It's 1915 in Macon, Ga. Maryse has a magical sword that channels the anger, guilt, rage of dead slaves, slave traders, etc. These three,  along with Nana Jean, a Gullah woman, a kind of witch are fighting for their lives against the Klan. 

This more than your average Klan. There are human Klan members but many have been converted to Ku Kluxers, demons who have taken over the bodies of the humans. D W Griffiths The Birth of a Nation. This film is demonized and has brought about a 2nd Klan revival and the demons are hungry. The trio  are fighting to get rid of them, to send them back to hell.

But..... But.... the three face an even stronger enemy, led by someone called Butcher Clyde. He wants, needs Maryse to help with his own invasion. Ans he's evil!!! Oh, right, Maryse also has three more mentors, three ladies who live in another time slip (let's call it that), three aunties who chose Maryse after her family was destroyed by Klan monsters. They gave her the sword.

I'll leave the plot there. It's a fascinating story. For a relatively short story, the characters are well fleshed out. The plot moves along quickly. You quickly develop strong feelings for the three women. They are all individuals and fascinating characters. There are secrets. There is lots of action. There is a lot of emotion. You may cry. Clark has grabbed you quickly, got you involved immediately and led you on a breathless race to the end. One of the best books I've read this year. (5.0 stars)"

3. Pump Six and Other Stories by Paolo Bacigalupi (Short Stories / 2008)

"Pump Six and Other Stories is the 2nd work by Paolo Bacigalupi that I've enjoyed. The first was The Windup Girl which was a unique dystopian look at the future. At least two of the stories in this collection of 10 are precursors to Windup Girl; The Calorie Man and Yellow Card Man, which features Tranh, who I think becomes Hok Sen in Wind up Girl. 

At any rate, overall I enjoyed the stories very much. I think my favorites were Pocketful of Dharma, about a young Asian boy who is paid to deliver a package, discovers its something important... Liked it very much. The Fluted Girl is about two genetically manipulated young girls who are turned into musical instruments and play each other... Weird but fascinating. Calorie Man had many themes that are explored in Windup Girl and while it was a bit, let's say technical in jargon, it was very interesting.  Yellow Card Man tells the story of Tranh, a once rich exporter, a Chinese man living in Malay, who is destroyed and is now trying to survive in the Kingdom of Thailand. Great character study.

While some weren't as good as others, and that might have been the themes, all of the stories were different and interesting. Baciogalupi creates interesting situations and characters. I enjoyed exploring this collection as it gave a perspective of the range of his story telling. I have two more of his books on my shelf. Looking forward to checking them out. (3.5 stars)"

4. How to Survive the End of the World, a Graphic Exploration of How to (Maybe) Avoid Extinction by Katy Doughty (Graphic / Non Fic / 2026)

"I saw How to Survive the End of the World: A Graphic Exploration of How to (Maybe) Avoid Extinction by Katy Doughty when I was wandering through my local book store and it looked interesting enough to check out. And I hadn't purchased a new book in a little while so what the hey.

Kate Doughty is a cartoonist and public health researcher and this book seems right up her alley. It examines possible world extinction events using history, science, analysis by experts and also great art work. The book is divided into various possible activities / events that might end civilization; plagues (viruses), nuclear explosions / volcanoes, climate activity, AI, asteroids / meteors and cosmic collapse (the Big Bang in reverse, aka Gnab Gib).

So, as a subject matter, it's kind of depressing subject but Doughty manages to also inject positivity in the story. But that doesn't mean that the subject shouldn't be taken seriously, especially the chapters on Climate Meltdown and Pandemics. Something has to be reversed in our way of treating the planet.

Because it's in a graphic novel format, the subjects are somewhat glossed over, but there is still lots of interesting facts and information. And Doughty does not play down the information, it's very thoughtful and quite scientific at times. Interesting book for dangerous times. (3.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Cobra Trap by Peter O'Donnell (Short Stories / Thriller / 1996)

"Created in a 1950s comic strip that is still in syndication in more than 40 countries today, the stories of Modesty Blaise have spawned a cult following around the world. These are the first new Modesty stories in 11 years, and they span her career, from the early days of running the Network, to her shadowy work for British Intelligence. From Tangier, to the Pyrenees, to a South American jungle—Modesty and her trusted lieutenant Willie Garvin dispatch an old nemesis, upset a particularly wicked gang of kidnappers, and risk their lives to rescue old friends from certain death. The skill and nerve that Modesty and her accomplices display in combat and under pressure will delight Modesty fans, both new and old."

2. Inspector West Alone by John Creasey (Insp West #9 / 1950).

"The Inspector has been framed for murder! He is found by the police in an empty house with the body of a dead girl near him, battered with an axe bearing West's fingerprints, and the identification in his wallet is not his own! He risks his career, life and the safety of everyone close to him as he untangles this set-up."

3. A Cat Story by Ursula Murray Husted (Graphic / YA / 2020). I enjoyed Botticelli's Apprentice very much.

"A graphic novel about two irresistible cat friends on a journey to find their forever home—a journey inspired by the magic of art and storytelling.

Cilla and Betto are two friends who need a place to call home. The docks in Valletta are too wet, and the scraps of food too scarce. The city’s streets are too busy, and the humans too unreliable.

But what about the quiet garden from old kitten tales—a place where all cats are welcome, and the humans are always kind? Could the stories really be true?

As Cilla and Betto embark on a grand adventure to find out, they begin to spin a tale of their own—one that will take them through the art and stories of many journeyers who came before, and that will bring them to a surprising destination."

Newest Arrivals

It never fails that no books arrive for awhile and then I buy one and all of a sudden they all arrive.. LOL!

1. Red by Jack Ketchum (Horror / 1996). I've read one book by Ketchum and it was very scary.

"Jack Ketchum’s previous novel, The Lost , caught readers’ attention like a well-timed gunshot. Fans and critics alike hailed it for its power, its thrills, and its gripping style, and recognized Ketchum as a master of suspense. Now, Jack Ketchum is back to frighten us again with… Red ! It all started with a simple act of brutality. Three boys shot and killed an old man’s dog. No reason, just plain meanness. But the dog was the best thing in the old man’s world, and he wasn’t about to let it pass. He wanted justice, and he’d make sure the kids paid for what they did, even if it cost him his life. They picked the wrong old man to mess with. And as the fury and violence escalate, they’re about to learn that…the hard way."

2. One Message Remains by Premee Mohamed (Short Stories / Fan / 2025). I keep buying books by Mohamed. This was nominated for the Ursula K. Le Guin Award for 2026.

"Pageantry, pomp, pretense, and peril—"The General's Turn,” originally published in The Deadlands, drew readers into the dark world of a ceremony where Death herself might choose to join the audience... or step onto the stage.

Award-winning author Premee Mohamed presents three brand new stories set in this morally ambiguous world of war and magic. In “One Message Remains,” Major Lyell Tzajos leads his team on a charity mission through the post-armistice world of East Seudast, exhuming the bones and souls of dead foes for repatriation. But the buried fighters may have one more fight left in them—and they have chosen their weapons well.

In “The Weight of What is Hollow,” Taya is the latest apprentice of a long-honored tradition: building the bone-gallows for prisoners of war. But her very first commission will pit her skills against both her family and her oppressor.

Finally, in “Forsaking All Others,” ex-soldier Rostyn must travel the little-known ways by night to avoid his pursuers, for desertion is punishable by death. As he flees to the hoped-for sanctuary of his grandmother's village, he is joined by a fellow deserter—and, it seems, the truth of a myth older than the land itself.

“Premee Mohamed is one of Canada's most exciting thinkers and writers of speculative fiction. Her stories bravely go where few dare to, each employing a deftness of language and surety of form that offers a fresh experience each time. One Message Remains and the stories within are no exception, each tale different from the other, yet all very much quintessential Premee stories. Readers of her works, long and short both, will find much to love here.” — Suyi Davies Okungbowa, author of Son of the Storm and Lost Ark Dreaming"

3. Sunward by William Alexander (Sci Fi / 2025). This was another nominee. I ordered a few of them.

"A cozy debut science fiction novel by National Book Award–winning writer William Alexander, this story of found family follows a planetary courier training adolescent androids in a solar system grappling with interplanetary conflict after a devastating explosion on Earth’s moon.

Captain Tova Lir chose a life as a courier rather than get involved in her family’s illustrious business in politics. Set in humanity’s far future, hiring a planetary courier is essential for delivering private messages across the stars.

Encouraged by friends, Tova begins mentoring baby bots, juvenile AI who are developmentally in their teens, and trains them how to interact within society essentially becoming their foster mom. Her latest charge, Agatha Panza von Sparkles, named herself on their first run from Luna to Phoebe station. But on their return, they encounter a derelict spaceship and a lurking assassin, igniting a thrilling chase across the solar system.

Tova and Agatha’s daring actions leave Agatha’s mind vulnerable, relying on Tova’s former AI pupils for help. As Tova starts gathering her scattered family around her, she is chased through the solar system by forces who want her captured and her family erased. This debut science fiction novel by National Book Award–winning author William Alexander is a must-read for fans of Becky Chambers and Ursula K. Le Guin. Lovers of poignant science fiction, where the bonds of found family, the evolution of AI, and the building distrust of centuries of bias, come together in this visionary look at humanity’s future."

4. Jade City by Fonda Lee (The Green Bone Saga #1 / 2017) Fonda Lee is a Canadian author of Fantasy & Sci Fi and I checked her out when I discovered she was one of the judges for the 2026 Awards.. I believe one of her books was also listed on the CBC Arts site.

"JADE CITY is a gripping Godfather-esque saga of intergenerational blood feuds, vicious politics, magic, and Kungfu.

The Kaul family is one of two crime syndicates that control the island of Kekon. It's the only place in the world that produces rare magical jade, which grants those with the right training and heritage superhuman abilities.

The Green Bone clans of honorable jade-wearing warriors once protected the island from foreign invasion--but nowadays, in a bustling post-war metropolis full of fast cars and foreign money, Green Bone families like the Kauls are primarily involved in commerce, construction, and the everyday upkeep of the districts under their protection.

When the simmering tension between the Kauls and their greatest rivals erupts into open violence in the streets, the outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones and the future of Kekon itself."

5. Villain Hitting for Vicious Little Nobodies by Lindsay Wong (Hor / 2026). I've been checking out the CBC webpage as they regularly recommend Canadian authors and books to check out. This was one and it sounded interesting.

"A young woman signs her life away in the ancient Chinese tradition of corpse marriage in this wickedly hilarious novel about class, ambition, and the burden of being an impoverished model minority.

Poor, vicious Locinda Lo is a nobody with a powerful witch for a grandmother and an undead corpse-kid-sister as her only friend. A broke MFA dropout living in Vancouver with six roommates and zero job prospects, she’s buried so deep in debt she might as well be six feet under—and her family is in danger of being buried along with her.

Desperate to escape her financial woes and save her grandmother and sister, Locinda signs a contract with a nefarious company, Joyful Coffin & Co. Matchmaking Services, to be auctioned off as a corpse bride to the highest bidder. Next thing she knows, she’s being smuggled underground into the damp caves where her training coffin awaits.

As Locinda prepares for a rich, dying dearly beloved to claim her as his bride-to-be in the Afterlife, her past becomes twisted with that of her grandmother, Baozhai. A feared and revered Villain Hitter, or witchy curse-monger, Baozhai’s legacy stretches from 1920s China to the Battle of Hong Kong in the 40s to New York City thereafter. Across the generational divide, one thing becomes achingly clear to them you can’t outrun your ghosts.

Villain Hitting for Vicious Little Nobodies is a daring, genre-bending meditation on life, death, and the murderous cost of living in between. It lays bare the societal and cultural expectations placed on Chinese women and the devastating price of enduring them. This chilling masterclass in fiction cements Lindsay Wong as one of the most provocative Canadian horror writers of our time."

6. Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese (Indigenous / CanLit / 2014). I've been trying to expand my library of Indigenous fiction and non fiction. A person I follow on Hey Cafe has been listing books and this one caught my attention.

""One of the finest novels of the year." ( Vancouver Sun ) By the celebrated author of Canada Reads finalist Indian Horse , this is an unforgettable journey of a father and son, set in dramatic landscape of the BC Interior. For male and female readers equally, for readers of Joseph Boyden, Cormac McCarthy, Thomas King, Russell Banks and general literary fiction.

Franklin Starlight is called to visit his father, Eldon. He's sixteen years old and has had the most fleeting of relationships with the man. The rare moments they've shared haunt and trouble Frank, but he answers the call, a son's duty to a father. What ensues is a journey through the rugged and beautiful backcountry, and a journey into the past, as the two men push forward to Eldon's end. From a poverty-stricken childhood, to the Korean War, and later the derelict houses of mill towns, Eldon relates both the desolate moments of his life and a time of redemption and love, and in doing so offers Frank a history he has never known, the father he has never had, and a connection to himself he never expected.

     A novel about love, friendship, courage, and the idea that the land has within it powers of healing, Medicine Walk reveals the ultimate goodness of its characters and offers a deeply moving and redemptive conclusion. Wagamese's writing soars and his insight and compassion are matched by his gift of communicating these to the reader."

7. Slow Gods by Claire North (Sci Fi / 2025). Another of the books nominated for the Le Guin award.

"My name is Mawukana na-Vdnaze, and I am a very poor copy of myself.

Slow Gods is the galaxy-spanning tale ​of one man's impossible life charted against the fate of humanity amongst the stars—a powerfully imaginative space opera from multi-award-winning author Claire North. 

In telling my story, there are certain things I should perhaps lie about. I should make myself a hero. Pretend I was not used by strangers and gods, did not leave people behind.
 
Here is one out there in deep space, in the pilot's chair, I died. And then, I was reborn. I became something not quite human, something that could speak to the infinite dark. And I vowed to become the scourge of the world that wronged me. 

This is the story of the supernova event that burned planets and felled civilizations. This is also the story of the many lives I've lived since I died for the first time.  
 
Are you listening?"

I have two other award nominees on order, plus a few others. They'll be added in a future BLog. Enjoy your weekend. Read a good book.