It’s the end of the week and the beginning of higanbana season! Every September in Japan, the beautiful spider lilies bloom in droves. These flowers are also called the Flowers of the Other Shore, and the Other Shore lies beyond the River Sanzu, a river of the dead. Many cultures all over the globe affiliate the autumn season with death, spirits, and other worlds. Welcome to spooky season, friends! Now come sail with us across treacherous rivers to the far shores of speculative fiction — it’s time for the Weekly Roundup!
Monday
Genevieve Iseult Eldredge stops by My Favorite Things this week, and we’re honoring the fresh release of the fourth book in her Circuit Fae series, Nemesis. So what wonderful things speak to her? This post’s theme is all about streaming, and we’re talking kung-fu westerns in a full-on dystopia, a series exploring mental health through music and humor, and a science fiction/horror love letter to the 80s. Wanna Netflix and chill? Well, maybe not that kind of chill. We mean stretch out, relax, and join us for a fun post!
Tuesday
Merrin reviews the forthcoming (Sep. 24!) release of the newest YA fantasy from Tor, The Infinite Noise. Written by Lauren Shippen, this is a media tie-in to the popular podcast The Bright Sessions (which we’ve covered here). Shippen is no stranger to the podcast as she’s its star and writer. So, how does she handle the leap from audio storytelling to the inner worlds of readers? Is this a solid addition to The Bright Sessions mythos? If you’re a podcast fan, or simply a lover of YA fantasy and people with special abilities, check out Merrin’s review here.
Wednesday
Andrea dives into short science fiction with a review of Reunited by Nicole Givens Kurtz. Part of the Cybil Lewis series, this story with a strong female lead features a bit of mystery along with some military SF — think of off-world space colonies, cyborgs, planetary wars, a missing persons case, and a fascinating setting on the moon. Does this little book pack a lot of punch? Only one way to find out! Take a look!
Thursday
Venessa covers one of the biggest conventions in the United States — the fantastic, the fabled, the ever-so-famous Dragon Con! Venessa’s a conventon veteran and a staple at Dragon Con for good reason: she’s staff for the Writers Track! Not only does she recount her fun times at this event, but talks about panels and modding, plus her interactions with fellow authors. It’s a fascinating peek into the world of writing and publishing, filtered through the convention lens. There’s a lot to explore here, and it’s worth the journey — geek out with us here!
Friday
The Roundtable has returned! This month’s theme is fashion-focused, and we’re looking at the iconic costumes and character designs that really stuck with us long after we finished the movie, closed the book, or logged out of the game.
Costumes are a key part of storytelling, as they do double-duty conveying information about characters and building the worlds in which they live. It also helps when they look really freaking cool! From necromongers to Disney princesses, Wakandan rulers to jealous queens, historical fashions and comic-book beauties, join us for last looks here!
Hmm…it’s only the beginning of September and I’ve been talking about the underworld, dead things, spooky times, and costumes…I guess I’m hungering for Halloween early. I mentioned in the last Roundup that when September 1 hit, all of the 100-yen shops whipped out their Halloween decorations, stationary, and costume supplies. Halloween has only recently caught on here in Japan, so I’m grateful to see them get into the spirit of things (yes, I just did that awful wordplay), especially because it’s my favorite holiday and I don’t want to be homesick for it while I’m here.
As I type this, now all I want to do is watch scary movies or maybe some horror anime, and read some solid ghost stories. The Other Shore is calling to me, it seems…but I hope not permanently!
We’ll see you next week for another epic recap! In the meantime, stay safe and if you have to go, don’t forget to pay the Ferryman!
From the RPG The Lost, developed by Duang and published by Juezhu.
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