Welcome back to My Favorite Things! Each week, our contributors let you know about the speculative content you need to be consuming, right now. This week’s column features a bold collection of feminist essays, the announcement of an exciting new sci-fi book, and a binge worthy television show. Intrigued? Then keep on reading.
Shara’s Favorite Thing is… The Geek Feminist Revolution!
I feel like a broken record at this point, and if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, bear with me, but I have to go with Kameron Hurley’s excellent book of essays, The Geek Feminist Revolution. It’s not just a memoir, nor just a bunch of critical essays: it’s a call to action, an examination of what it means to be a woman writer in the genre, in the world, and all the ways we can work harder, fight harder, and make the genre better. If I could buy this book for every woman writer (or any writer who wants one, period), I would. I so would.
Tez’s Favorite Thing is… The Wanderers!
As a blogger it’s always interesting to find out a new title, release date, or art. When doing my weekly list checks, it was such a delight to come across this US/Canada cover for Meg Howrey’s The Wanderers. (I’m a sucker for a starry background.) The novel is an awesome-sounding story of three astronauts in training to go to Mars. It’s also sold UK/Australian rights, and with a different publisher so we may get another fantastic cover. Put the book on your wish-list now for its mid-March 2017 release! (Cover art and release dates subject to change, of course.)
A couple of weeks ago I was on a long international flight, poking at the entertainment console, when I saw the airline had Season 1 of Mr. Robot available. I’d been meaning to try this show so I started watching it, and before the plane landed I was hooked. This is not strictly speculative fiction, but I’m going to throw it in here because one element of the story, a giant corporation that has its hands in everything (I saw it as an amalgamation of Amazon and Microsoft and and Starbucks) and literally uses the same logo as Enron, puts this into the Dystopian arena. The protagonist, Elliot (Rami Malek), works at a security consulting firm that assists E. Corp, but on his off hours he’s a hacker that uses his skills to find out everyone’s dark secrets and maybe dispense some social justice. It’s in this secret life, one that is focused on techo-vigilantism that brings the suspense to the story. Elliot gets involved with a hacker collective, lead by an enigmatic Mr. Robot (Christian Slater), that’s determined to fight E. Corp. but there are complex mechanisms and motives at play. The technology is presented believably, and Rami Malek manages to be mesmerizing even with Elliot’s awkward dead-eye stare and monotone voice. As the episodes continue, what starts out feeling like something off, becomes a full-fledged unraveling, and yet after the last episode of the season, I still have questions. I’m really looking forward to season 2 (July 13, USA network). Season 1 is currently free with Amazon Prime.
Any thoughts on the selections above? Do you have any recommendations for us? Let us know in the comments below.
Since I wrote my part, I’ve seen the UK/Australian cover, and I have to say…I’d rather have the US/Canadian cover 😉 But it’s the inside that counts!
I always hate it when I prefer the cover I can’t actually get in my country. I’ve had that happen multiple times!
I’m loving the first season of Mr. Robot!
I’ve had SO MANY people recommend that show to me. I feel like I’m really missing out. Need to get on that one 🙂
I’ve heard good things about MR ROBOT too, but just haven’t gotten around to it. SO MUCH GOOD TV!!!!
I still need to watch Season 2 myself, but Season 1 is so good!