Book Review Genre: Science Fiction Edition
The Analysis:
The ends and outs of this should already be familiar, but here are the basics: I was introduced to this game by Chelsea Zhao. If you would like to try it as well, click, Choose Your Own Adventure. Now, with housekeeping done, this is the science fiction version of me following the prompts as intended. Let’s Book Review.
Basic Rules:
That means that for the most authentic experience you will not get your prompts until you make a choice.
You should also not move forward until you have completed the prompt.
Disclaimer: Reading is all about discovery, but this Book Review does not shy away from spoiling specific scenes as this is more of a look inside the good and bad of a book.
Prompt: Read a book with a red cover.
[one_half]
Book Review: This is the first Star Trek book, I've ever read. My knowledge of Star Trek going into this book, Kirk=Campy, Picard=Boring, and Janway=Perfection. I've only ever seen Voyager all the way through and only 1 or 2 episodes of the former. However, reading this made me think how silly comparisons were as the characters personality-wise are almost indistinguishable from one crew to another. They all seemed vaguely similar to me in one form or another. But let's get down to the story itself. It reads like a Star Trek episode. You really can't go wrong that way. The Sly is my biggest nightmare, but the true villain of this story was the doctor. Maybe I'm not so enlightened because I agreed with Whorf to kill them or at the very least get them off the ship. I found everyone annoying and came to appreciate Picard's calm and reassuring demeanor. When he walked in, common sense came with him, and I loved it. Frankly, I began to be curious about the ending. I wondered how it was all going to end without death coming into play. At every turn, especially what happened with Tarses, it was better to kill them than to continue to allow them free reign of a massive ship with thousands of emotional people on board. Their physical and mental attributes make them above humans, but I don't see why they should be classified as such from a practical standpoint. I also don't see why everyone on board just had to suffer until she figured out how to appease/communicate with them. But overall, it was a great read, I could get invested in.
Recommendation:
Score: 4 out of 5
Available: Google Play
Prompt: Read a book by a black author.
[one_half]
Book Review: Move over Ruby Dixon and JM Link, this is the first science fiction romance, and it's by Octavia Butler. Except this is lacking in the romance and is solely focused on the technical and theological aspects of mating with an alien creature.
The novel is told from one pov, our heroine. From the moment she awakens we're exploring this new strange environment/ship and it sucks. The aliens present themselves as saviors having brought humanity back from nuclear disaster. But there's a thin line between hero and kidnapper and they've crossed it. The thought of mating as a trade isn't bad, but it's the lack of respect and being no better than a pet that would leave me to choose death. They're holding all the cards and they're not sharing. The fact that you are not allowed to read, write, or reconnect with history through movies, along with the destruction of culture and architecture back on Earth reminded me of slavery (Black's and Hebrews) and left a bad taste in my mouth. The attempted rape by the first male human was because they gave her to him. I'm also not surprised that most of the men rejected the unusual mating rituals. Just see how antagonistic some are to gay men, now here's a new species. I don't have time to discuss the authorial theme that sex for men is not about pleasure, but dominance over women through the character Curt's portrayal. In the end, I agree with the battle, but also recognize its futility. I'd be choosing to go back to Earth post-haste and would be praying humanity makes good. This book was depressing, but a must-read. Best quote: "They were squandering her life."
Recommendation:
Score: 5 out of 5
Available: Google Play
Prompt: Read a book under 200 pages.
[one_half]
Book Review: I went through a few books before deciding on this one. I connected with the heroine immediately and hoped that she saw her father again. This is most definitely lite dark romance as the storyline is primarily Stockholm Syndrome. However, the whole time I was scared for a side minority character named Priyanka as I kept imagining her being paired with torture, rapey aliens. Not that the reader finds out what happened to her during this book. Also, the assertion to the heroine that being spirited aka angry was a good thing and something the aliens liked seemed to invalidate her very real fear. It was all just too much for me to want the couple to be together. I am definitely over human females being kidnapped by aliens and this being acceptable. And won't be reading any more of that trope. Although, I'm crossing my fingers for the stolen by pirate aliens and rescued by a cop-like hero aliens trope. That doesn't seem to send me into septic shock as much. This book has spurred me to go through my small collection and weed out that trope. Three stars, it's not the book, it's me. I did read it all in one sitting and enjoyed the heroine.
Recommendation:
Score: 3 out of 5
Available: Amazon
Thoughts On Readathon:
Do I trust the Oankali? The answer is yes and no. You aren't in a position to not trust them. Getting off the ship has to be the primary priority and that involves a certain level of trust and going along with the program. But even in this humanity loses, because male/female pairs cant be bred without them. It's an unfortunate trade-off for freedom. The rebellion was futile, but I appreciated the effort in the face of a trade-off that no one actively chose.
Readathons. Yay or Nay? I think they are a great way for me to get through my TBR list and outside of the couple DNF for the most part I felt like I had an incentive to continue reading it. It forced me not to quit or I couldn't complete the next prompt. I'm excited to try a Halloween one next.
Is serious sci-fi better than sci-fi romance? Heck no, although in the beginning, I was starting to believe that. I just stumbled across a trope that doesn't work for me. However, I have read great science-fiction romances and written reviews for them. I will continue to read the genre and learn what works and what doesn't work for me as I intend to enter the genre as an author myself. heck out sci-fi romance, I fell in love with here, Mama and the Alien Warrior.
