Another week has come and gone, and that means it’s time for your favorite recap! As always, we’re bringing you reviews of genre greats, special guests, awesome advice, and the great escapism that the speculative genre provides — especially needed during these trying times. While you may be asked to stay homebound, that doesn’t mean you can’t go anywhere. Stories are your passport to worlds unknown and unseen, and your destinations are limitless. Where do you want to go? We’ve got some suggestions if you don’t know where to start, courtesy of our Weekly Roundup. Grab your bags — don’t forget your ticket — and hop on board!
Monday
This week in the House of MFT we’ve got author Megan Mackie, and we’re excited for her rerelease of The Finder of the Lucky Devil, now available from eSpec Books! So what genre loves can you look forward to this week? How about a webcomic that reminagines (and refreshes) a major pantheon; an alternate take on the Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime; space wars with humans and mech soldiers; and two of Neil Gaiman’s greatest hits! Read on for more!
Tuesday
Casey‘s got your prescription for the coronavirus blues with a deliciously diverse, spoilerific post of entertainment to sink your teeth into if you’ve got a long break ahead, or just want to be in a different headspace during these trying times. She’s got movies, games, books, and short stories classified by genre and audience — meaning whatever your tastes, mood, or age, there’s something awesome to try. With ten works to choose from, you’re bound to be busy. Check out her recommendations here!
Wednesday
Calie continues her epic journey through genre with her series Changing the Map. Your next destination is the Jane Yolen Gateway, a safe harbor for speculative fiction through the diverse characters, varied experiences, and fantastical reeimaginings from a prolific author. What can you expect to find on this stop on the map? How about a beloved science fiction series with dragons and prison planets; a trip back in time to one of history’s greatest atrocities; an award-winning children’s book featuring a magic encounter with an owl; and an award-winning reimagining of Sleeping Beauty with a darker take from history? Though the realms of speculative fiction may be perilous, a welcoming entry can be found through the works of Jane Yolen. Read more about it here.
Thursday
Erin is fast and furious as she knocks through her Resolution Project — to read James S.A. Corey‘s Expanse series in its entirety! For this week she’s reviewing Leviathan Wakes, the first novel (but by no means the first offering) in this expansive universe. In what has been described as a “brilliant series that has redefined the term ‘space opera,'” this book has a lot to accomplish — setting all of it up! If you’re curious about diving in to this sci fi spectacle for the first time, this is the perfect post for you! Cross into the expanse here!
Friday
Did you know? A lot of our Speculative Chic writers are Odyssey Writing Workshop alumni! And we want to get you excited for this year’s retreat by inviting the workshop’s special guests of honor to stop by our site! This week, award-winning editor Scott H. Andrews is giving you writing advice on the balance between originality and familiarity in your work. If you’re worried that all the ideas are gone, or how to make your work stand out even if it uses a lot of tried-and-true genre favorites, this is the post for you!
Book Club
Getting excited? We sure are! Next week will be this month’s discussion of Cate Glass‘s An Illusion of Thieves, selected and hosted by Kendra! Join us on March 27 to talk magical misfits, impossible heists, courtesans and shadowy nobles! In the meantime, here’s what else you can look forward to in the upcoming months for the Speculative Chic Book Club:
- April — Steel Crow Saga by Paul Krueger, hosted by Nancy O’Toole Meservier
- May — The Tethered Mage by Melissa Caruso, hosted by Lane Robins
- June — Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber, hosted by Kelly McCarty
If you want to know more about the book choices above, read here and here, and we’ll see you next week for our discussion!
Have you figured out where you want to go? In times of trouble, I tend to wander into worlds that are bright, colorful, and beautiful, whether that be to rainbow nebulas that paint the galaxies, or strange geolographies that make up fantastical lands that are wide open and ready to be explored. To me, if the world is yucky, looking at (or imagining) pretty things cheers me up, and I’m grateful I can turn to art (books, movies, comics, manga) to find solace. Where do you escape to when things get dicey? What are your stops on the journey through the speculative realms? Please share in the comments, and we will see you next week for another Roundup!
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