S. L. Huang

I read this as part of my Nebula finalist packet, and obtained a copy from my local library.

The Water Outlaws is a wild romp in the spirit of classic martial arts movies, but with a strong feminist twist. There are trigger warnings galore here, as women are abused in various ways, but it's never done gratuitously or to please the male gaze. No, Huang describes the wrongs and then establishes a cast of strong, savvy women and queer folks with a craving to survive and find justice. This is an show more incredibly satisfying read in that regard--a touch predictable, perhaps, but in the way of a cozy with a dark bent. Great book. show less

I hoovered this up when it first came out, snared by a combination of favourite authors tackling topics close to my heart as a star system tears itself apart in the face of a self-inflicted crisis. The inner planets powered their wasteful lifestyles by harvesting the sun; as its heat begins to fail, the outer planets are paying the price. One by one, they are becoming uninhabitable – and the waves of refugees who dare the void in cobbled-together spaceships are finding they are unwelcome show more on worlds newly-aware of the cost of a growing population.

The series starts on cushy Khayyam, where the president sees political capital in taking in the last ship to escape frozen Eratos. When the Vela disappears en route, Ekrem sends his favourite mercenary – an outworld refugee herself – and his youngest child to bring them home. But as Asala and Niko investigate, they realise that seemingly benign acts may mask ruthless ambition. Nobody’s hands will stay clean in the face extinction.

It’s an AMAZING pitch and – as you’d expect from the author line-up – brilliantly diverse, with trans and nonbinary protagonist, much queer loving and more action (mostly from Asala). On first read (original reviews of each episode here), I found it good if a little uneven, especially on pacing. As a reread, I found it much more satisfying; largely, I think, down to the epic narration by Robin Miles. Miles is expressive, has a knack for distinct (and consistent) voices and her performance had me giggling and gasping in public (I listen to audio reads when out for walks). show less

S. L. Huang's The Language of Liars is a linguistic parable about colonialism and language theft. In a vast galaxy of diverse alien species, protagonist Ro is a linguist on a small world that depends on imported commodities like oxygen to survive. The interstellar trade that supplies his world is made possible by an arcane substance called meridian, which can only be mined by a species known to outsiders as Star Eaters. By immersing himself in Star Eater language and culture, Ro hopes to use show more his species' innate empathic abilities to "jump" into a Star Eater's mind and make sure that meridian is distributed fairly throughout the galaxy. However, jumping is a one-way trip that swaps out a Star Eater's consciousness for the jumper's, meaning Ro will be permanently stuck in a stolen Star Eater body. Still, the millions of lives on Ro's world mean it's worth the trip, even if it effectively erases a Star Eater mind every few generations. A story that opens with a contemplation on the semantics of "lying", The Language of Liars is at the same time a fun and intriguing linguistic mystery and a cautionary tale about how even colonizers who claim to respect and appreciate the cultures they colonize still hurt them. show less

I only bought this because I have enjoyed every word that Becky Chambers has published so far. This is very different. I don't know how the collaboration came about, but ti's four authors taking turns with the same characters in the same setting, passing the timeline onto the next, they each get about 3 chapters. It works surprisingly well, with not a vast difference between the voices, I'm sure a large amount of back and forth editing occurred to smooth everything through.

Asala is a show more refugee come good, her family abandoned in the freezing of the outer worlds sh'es put her past behind her to become a seasoned vet, a sniper, and today a President's bodyguard protecting a visiting dignitary. The expected attack is easily foiled, and the 2nd just the same, leaving her considering a 3rd. She's not expecting to be sent on a mission with her protectee, let alone the President's 3rd child. It turns out that They have plans of their own too, and perhaps more of a conscience or at least can afford the political capital of having one, not yet being required to stand for candidacy. A Ship has gone missing - it's thought to be carrying 1000s more refugees from another dying Outer world, and both Nico and Asala are tasked with hearing anything they can find out. It turns out that Nico has suspiciously useful contacts everywhere.... but then it also turns out the refugees have developed something that every power in the System would literally kill to own, and nobody seems interested in sharing.

It's far from Becky's Cosy SF, but it's powerfully written none the less - the consequences of actions, legacy and global change, politics greed and being human all feature strongly, love for your family, and whether or not blood can or should be thicker than water? Are we all not Family? (apart from them over there).

Science fiction near it's best. show less