Totally Not My Genre

What Have I Read and Enjoyed Recently that Isn’t My Typical Genre?

Do I have a typical genre?  I feel like I read all over the spectrum.

Classic Male-centric Sci Fi

Dune by Frank Herbert

“A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, share the Hugo Award, and formed the basis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science-fiction.”

I read this in a readathon last year. I wouldn’t have picked it up on my own. Most of the sci-fi I read is written by and about women. This is totally written for and about men. I liked it but not enough to pick up any of the sequels.

Comics/Graphic Novels

Ms. Marvel, Vol. 2: Generation Why by G. Willow Wilson

“Who is the Inventor, and what does he want with the all-new Ms. Marvel and all her friends? Maybe Wolverine can help! If Kamala can stop fan-girling out about meeting her favorite super hero, that is. Then, Kamala crosses paths with Inhumanity — by meeting the royal dog, Lockjaw! But why is Lockjaw really with Kamala? As Ms. Marvel discovers more about her past, the Inventor continues to threaten her future. Kamala bands together with some unlikely heroes to stop the maniacal villain before he does real damage, but has she taken on more than she can handle? And how much longer can Ms. Marvel’s life take over Kamala Khan’s? Kamala Khan continues to prove why she’s the best (and most adorable) new super hero there is!”

I don’t really enjoy graphic books because they are finished too quickly. I want to spend more than 20 minutes on a book. I like this story though.

Indie/Self Published

The Heiress Effect by Courtney Milan

“Miss Jane Fairfield can’t do anything right. When she’s in company, she always says the wrong thing—and rather too much of it. No matter how costly they are, her gowns fall on the unfortunate side of fashion. Even her immense dowry can’t save her from being an object of derision.

And that’s precisely what she wants. She’ll do anything, even risk humiliation, if it means she can stay unmarried and keep her sister safe.”

I don’t read a lot of self-published books. There is still such a stigma that they are rejected books from traditional publishing. I also don’t hear about a lot of them. I didn’t know this author’s books were self published until I wrote the review and it showed her as the publisher.

Contemporary YA

Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

“The Challenge: Piper has one month to get the rock band Dumb a paying gig.

The Deal: If she does it, Piper will become the band’s manager and get her share of the profits.

The Catch: How can Piper possibly manage one egomaniacal pretty boy, one talentless piece of eye candy, one crush, one silent rocker, and one angry girl? And how can she do it when she’s deaf?”

YA isn’t my favorite genre and I especially avoid contemporary. I don’t want to read about whiny teenagers. I liked the idea behind this book though and it was very good.

Hard Contemporary Chinese Sci-Fi

The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin

“Set against the backdrop of China’s Cultural Revolution, a secret military project sends signals into space to establish contact with aliens. An alien civilization on the brink of destruction captures the signal and plans to invade Earth. Meanwhile, on Earth, different camps start forming, planning to either welcome the superior beings and help them take over a world seen as corrupt, or to fight against the invasion. The result is a science fiction masterpiece of enormous scope and vision.”

This book was hard. It was good but it got so deep into theoretical physics that it hurt my brain.

Space Opera

Hammered by Elizabeth Bear

“Once Jenny Casey was somebody’s daughter. Once she was somebody’s enemy. Now the former Canadian special forces warrior lives on the hellish streets of Hartford, Connecticut, in the year 2062. Racked with pain, hiding from the government she served, running with a crime lord so she can save a life or two, Jenny is a month shy of fifty, and her artificially reconstructed body has started to unravel. But she is far from forgotten. A government scientist needs the perfect subject for a high-stakes project and has Jenny in his sights.”

I didn’t really know the term Space Opera until last year when a group of people started whining that sci-fi has gotten too far away from books about men exploring space and too into women and feelings. I’ve never been a big space fan but this series was good. Of course there were women and feelings so I don’t know if the whiners would count this one.

I’m currently reading this one too. More women and feelings!

Ascension by Jacqueline Koyanagi

“Alana Quick is the best damned sky surgeon in Heliodor City, but repairing starship engines barely pays the bills. When the desperate crew of a cargo vessel stops by her shipyard looking for her spiritually advanced sister Nova, Alana stows away. Maybe her boldness will land her a long-term gig on the crew. But the Tangled Axon proves to be more than star-watching and plasma coils. The chief engineer thinks he’s a wolf. The pilot fades in and out of existence. The captain is all blond hair, boots, and ego . . . and Alana can’t keep her eyes off her. But there’s little time for romance: Nova’s in danger and someone will do anything–even destroying planets–to get their hands on her.”

YA Short Stories

The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

“This collection of eleven short stories illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality, flamboyant style, and sharp wit populate the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices.”

I’m not usually a fan of short stories and I didn’t really like the series that this book is an offshoot of but I loved this collection.