My Favorite Things with Nancy O’Toole Meservier (Round Two!)

They might not be raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens, but that doesn’t mean that we love them any less. Welcome back to My Favorite Things, the weekly column where we grab someone in speculative circles to gab about the greatest in geek. This week, we sit down with Spec Chic contributor and debut author Nancy O’Toole Meservier, whose first novel, Red and Black, came out on August 13th!

This is Nancy’s second rodeo at My Favorite Things, but hey, she’s debuting her first novel, so I think that’s cause for celebration! What does Nancy love this year compared to last? Spoiler alert: superpowers with consequences, heroes falling in love with villains, smart women and space travel, the most immersive Mario ever, and gothic music synthesizing with a dancing violinist. Curious? Read on to learn more!

2018 is a damn good time to be a superhero fan, and that includes in some unexpected places. A big example of this is the anime My Hero Academia. In a world where the majority of the population has superpowers (Quirks), Deku was born Quirkless. But that doesn’t stop him from applying to U.A., Japan’s top high school for superpowered teens. Then, his life changes forever when he puts his life on the line for a classmate, attracting the interest of All Might, the world’s most powerful superhero. All Might sees Deku’s determination and bravery, and knows that he is worthy on inheriting his Quirk, One for All. The only problem? Deku has no control over these powerful abilities. In fact, every time he uses them, he ends up horribly injured.

There is so much about My Hero Academia to praise. I love how the show takes Western/American superhero tropes and gives them a very shonen twist. This fighting-style anime has a lot in common with early Naruto, and many of the power sets are unlike anything you’d ever see in an American comic. Just look at Iida, who has engines built into to back of his legs, allowing him to launch himself far distances. But perhaps what I like the most about My Hero Academia is the fact that there are serious drawbacks to the characters’ impressive powers. Sure, it’s as over-the-top as any shonen series, with people getting unrealistically injured left and right, but while these injuries are quickly healed with a kiss from Recovery Girl, they still leave behind scars and dangerous consequences. I can’t wait to see what happens to Deku and his classmates in the rest of season three.

Another example of superheroes with a twist is Marissa Meyer’s latest book, Renegades. Best known for her Lunar Chronicles Series, which combines sci-fi and fairy tales, Renegades similarly blends the superhero and post-apocalyptic genres. The Renegades are a team of superheroes that have kept peace in the world since defeating the terrible Ace Anarchy. At least, that’s what most people think. Nova, a loyal Anarchist, knows the truth, and will do anything she can to topple the Renegades from power, including joining their cause as an undercover agent. The one thing that may complicate her quest is Adrian Everhart, a young member of the Renegades who has his fair share of secrets.

Meyer does a wonderful job putting her own personal spin on the genre. I love how she balances gritty world building with cool action sequences and a hero/villain romance (a trope close to my heart). I also like how she shows us each side of the argument. In stories like these, who is “right” and “wrong” isn’t always as important as understanding the characters’ perspectives, which Meyer establishes and explores wonderfully.

Another book that I’ve recently fallen in love with is The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal. Anyone who’s read the Hugo-winning novelette, “The Lady Astronaut of Mars,” has already met its protagonist, Alma York, but while the novelette explores her golden years, The Calculating Stars shows us her experiences as a younger woman. When an asteroid hits earth in the 1950s, mankind finds themselves headed towards extinction. This jump starts the Space Race. We don’t need to just walk on the moon. We need to start colonizing space before our planet becomes uninhabitable. But even in desperate times, prejudices control peoples’ actions. Alma, an experienced pilot and talented mathematician, is desperate to prove that women can be astronauts too. But how can she convince others?

As a fan of Kowal’s previous work (including the “Lady Astronaut of Mars”), The Calculating Stars was my most anticipated book of 2018. I’m happy to report that the results are everything I could have hoped for. The Calculating Stars plays out like an alternate-history Hidden Figures, with its emphasis on smart women and space travel, as well as the biases that hold us all back. Despite the different time period and sci-fi concepts, it’s also an incredibly relatable book, from its portrayal of how humanity tends to ignore slow-approaching disasters (such as climate change), to the stigma of mental illness. It’s a good thing that the sequel, The Fated Sky, comes out this month. I don’t think I could wait any longer!

Switching gears for a bit, I would be remiss if I did not mention the video game that has already taken up so much of my time this summer: Super Mario Odyssey. The plot of the game, rescuing Princess Peach, isn’t much different from your typical Mario game, but the expansiveness of the world is. Every level is such a joy to explore, and let me tell you, with just shy of a thousand moons to collect, there is plenty to see. And thanks to the new character Cappy — your hat which allows you to “capture” (possess) various creatures and use them to solve diverse tasks — you get to explore the terrain in ways completely different from any previous Mario Game. Add in the gorgeous visuals, and the amazing music, and Super Mario Odyssey is a game that you’ll want to get lost in. Trust me, I’ve already put a good 70+ hours into it!

And for my non-speculative favorite of the summer, I must comment on Lindsey Stirling‘s and Evanescence’s Synthesis Tour. When I learned that my beloved gothic band from high school was touring with my favorite dancing violinist, I snatched up tickets right away. And trust me, it was worth it. Lindsey Stirling’s performance was energetic and engaging, and Amy Lee’s vocals were powerful and emotional. Each act played many of my favorite songs — “The Arena,” “Shadows,” “Round Table Rival,” and “Take Flight” from Lindsey, with “Bring Me to Life,” “My Immortal,” “Lithium,” “The End of the Dream,” and “Imaginary” from Evanescence. But the highlight of the night was when Amy joined Lindsey on stage to perform “Shatter Me.” The Synthesis Tour is easily one of the best concerts that I have ever gone to (dare I say, my favorite?), and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to see such talented acts live.

Nancy O’Toole Meservier is a vertically challenged librarian who spends her off hours writing fiction, reading, and thinking way too much about superheroes. She lives in Central Maine with two wonderful cats and one equally wonderful husband. Red and Black is her first novel. Check out her website for more information.

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