January 9, 2018
This year, I resolved to read the works of N.K. Jemisin. No rules, no exceptions, the entire works. And because I really meant no exceptions, the first book I picked up was her most recent release, the Mass Effect: Andromeda tie-in novel released in November, when I have previously steered clear of any tie-in novel ever. But! Needs must when…
January 1, 2018
Last year, a handful of our writers embarked on a Speculative Chic Resolution. As with all resolutions, we started out with the best of intentions, but as 2017 progressed and wound down, well, you can see how we fared here. But the lure of a New Year is that clean slate, a chance to start over, and a chance to…
December 20, 2017
Every year on Christmas Eve, my friends and family perform an epic rendition of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” People group up and choose numbers. We have a conductor. It’s loud and ridiculous, and probably the reason this idea popped into my head. So, my friends, come forth and join me in a chorus of “The Twelve Days of Spec…
June 28, 2017
The Philip K. Dick Awards have been announced. The Nebulas have been announced. We didn’t cover them, but the Stokers, the Tiptree, and so many other awards have been announced. What’s left? There’s a few, but the biggest one on Spec Chic’s radar is the Hugos! You may think that blogging the Hugos would be a daunting project for the…
June 20, 2017
Hugo season continues! With the Nebulas wrapped up, you’ll be seeing more and more Hugo-related posts between now and August. Up next in our reviews of the Hugo-nominated works of 2016: the entire short story category. I was especially drawn to the short story category as a challenge to myself. I haven’t read a lot of short fiction that isn’t…
April 20, 2017
The Obelisk Gate (2016) Written by: N.K. Jemisin Genre: Fantasy Pages: 448 (Trade Paperback) Series: Book 2 of The Broken Earth Publisher: Orbit Why I Chose It: The Fifth Season was a book I admired and respected, but didn’t really love. I got off on the wrong foot, anticipating Syenite, Damaya, and Essun’s meeting — there are too few fantasy…
February 13, 2017
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, a weekly column where we gab about the greatest in geek. This week, we have two fabulous books for you to check out. One is a brand new graphic novel adaptation of a…
August 3, 2016
The Fifth Season (2015) Written by: N.K. Jemisin Genre: Fantasy Pages: 512 (Trade Paperback) Series: Book One of The Broken Earth Publisher: Orbit Why I Chose It: As lead up to the Hugo Awards, and also because I have a strange relationship with Jemisin’s writing. I very often love the individual scenes but have a harder time connecting with her…