A couple months ago I wrote about Michael Moreci's novel Black Star Renegades, and, as chance had it, the author himself took note—he sent me an ARC of the sequel, We Are Mayhem, for me to review. Here is that review: We Are Mayhem is a worthy follow-up to Black Star Renegades. It excels in the same areas... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Black Star Renegades
Post by Nic Quattromani: I’ve discovered a surprising craving lately, for straightforward—perhaps derivative—storytelling. Of course I appreciate sleekly inventive settings and genre deconstructions as much as the next nerd, but the problem is that that’s all we’ve been getting lately. Nowadays, to follow in the footsteps of another work is looked down upon as trite,... Continue Reading →
Classic Sci-Fi: Asimov’s Galactic Empire
Post by Nic Quattromani: All right, a few weeks ago I discussed the anthology Galactic Empires, and now I shall talk a bit about the trope behind it: the galactic empire. It is one of my favorite tropes of all time. Few other sci-fi backgrounds offer such rich possibilities for adventure and intrigue on an... Continue Reading →
Galactic Empires: A Book Review (Part Two)
Post by Nic Quattromani: Well, here's the second part of my review of Neil Clarke's Galactic Empires. Here I will tackle the book's latter twelve stories, twelve tales of weirdness and wonder, and try to make sense of how this anthology fits together, if it does at all. “A Cold Heart” by Tobias S. Buckell: When... Continue Reading →
Galactic Empires: A Book Review (Part One)
Post by Nic Quattromani: I’m quite fond of tropes. Yes, when overused they can flatten a story, make it a bland template more than a work in its own right (looking at you, Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars), but nevertheless they provide a tremendous library of ideas, stories, and tools spread across literary space, which... Continue Reading →
