November 19, 2019
Smack dab in the middle of the speculative fiction universe, lies a parochial planetary empire, somewhere to the right of the Cyteen System in firm Space Opera territories, lies Barrayar. Ruled by an emperor, Barrayar is primitive, patriarchal, and flat out backwards in the viewpoint of one of its most famous ladies — Countess Vorkosigan — Captain Cordelia Naismith of…
May 31, 2019
Welcome to the Speculative Chic Book Club! Each month, we invite you to join us in reading a book that is voted on by YOU, our readers. Following a short review, please feel free to discuss the book in the comments! Shards of Honor (1986) Written by: Lois McMaster Bujold Genre: Science Fiction Pages: 255 (paperback) Publisher: Baen Premise: When…
April 27, 2019
Hello once again! I’m writing to you from lovely Kumamoto as the Heisei era winds down to its final days, and the new emperor Naruhito will ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne. That sounds so majestic as I write it! And I think it’s exciting to be able to say I’m living through my third Japanese era (Showa to Heisei and now…
April 5, 2019
May the Fourth be with you (and also with you). For May’s poll I had you choose from Star Wars adjacent books, and I’m super pleased with the results.