Books 13 and 14 of 2018

The very satisfying conclusion to an entertaining sci-fi/fantasy series. I've been thinking of re-reading some of the old-ass sci-fi I grew up just for kicks (Asimov's Foundation series, for example). But this took care of that craving.

The best sci-fi, of course, deals with social issues of the current era and projects them into a potential future. Here we've got racism and ecological meddling and the sort of re-sacralization of Nature that Terrence McKenna preached all wrapped up in a tidy bundle.

Oh you crazy moon, you took my heart...


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Carlos Castaneda learned this shit from Don Juan and it took like 8 books. Here, Don Miguel Ruiz distills it down and you don't need to eat peyote buttons or smoke some weird ass herb bag to get there.

Books 7 and 8 of 2018

Volume 2 is just as satisfying as Volume 1--of course this fantasy/sci-fi series fits the mold of all the fantasy sci-fi series I've read. Essun has powers she half-understands (think Thomas Covenant or Frodo or Paul Atreides) and must take what she can from teachers who either want to control her her kill her or mislead or manipulate her. She is a member of a mutant class of humans who are despised despite having skills necessary to humanity's survival.

The Earth suffers continuous geological upheavals because its moon has been cast into a long elliptical orbit. Earth is pissed about this loss, and tries repeatedly to destroy humans as a result--apparently in the distant past the moon was cast away by the reckless use of magic/science, and Essun and her allies are trying to figure it out.

But her daughter Nassun might be the kwisatz hederach of Earth...will she become the God Empress of Dune (I mean Earth) and restore the moon, or will the Earth succeed in wiping out all humans except for the monstrous stone eaters?

I look forward to finding out in volume 3.




Clever, funny, and charming short stories in intermediate French. They follow a classic Twilight Zone model, with surprise twists sometimes involving supernatural elements. Would be useful for a French 3 class or above if you are a teacher, or a good way to rebuild long lost French literacy skills. About 13 years ago I was reading de Beauvoir and Sartre and Leiris in the original French...now I'm back to rebuilding again, and this was an engaging place to start!

Book #3 of 2018

A very satisfying epic sci-fi/fantasy series kick-off. Reminiscent, in richness of setting and imagination, of Dune, the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Riverworld, and the Saga of Pleistocene Exile, just to name a few of my faves from back in the day when I used to read these things much more often. The novel is structured in a very clever manner, akin to Cloud Atlas, and has a feel and sensibility similar to the furthest future in that excellent novel.

Now I'm embroiled suddenly in two sci-fi/fantasy series at once: Octavia E. Butler on the one hand and N.K. Jemisin on the other. Should I read Adulthood Rites or The Obelisk Gate next? I'm hooked on each.