lavaturtle reads in 2020

Wow, it's the '20s!
I'm primarily a science fiction & fantasy fan, semi-recently into comics. I'm also interested in nonfiction about history.

I'm keeping my categories largely unchanged from 2019:
* Comics (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4)
* Short Stories
* 2020 Hugo Nominees
* Shelves & Subscriptions
* Sequels & Series
* Nonfiction
* New New New
* Grab Bag

I'm also participating in these group challenges:
* RandomCAT
* AlphaKIT
* ScaredyKIT
* SFFFKIT
* BingoDOG

Comics
I'm counting single issues here.

Comics read:
1. OMNI #3 by Devin Grayson
2. Strangelands #4 by Magdalene Visaggio
3. Ghost-Spider (2019-) #3: Dog Days are Over by Seanan McGuire
4. Ghost-Spider (2019-) #4: Pretend to be Nice by Seanan McGuire
5. Ghost-Spider (2019-) #5: Blood and Bone by Seanan McGuire
6. CALEXIT: All Systems San Diego by Matteo Pizzolo
7. Angel #6: Hellmouth by Bryan Edward Hill
8. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2019-) #9: Hellmouth by Jordie Bellaire
9. Hellmouth #2 by Jordie Bellaire
10. Angel (2019-) #7 by Bryan Edward Hill
11. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2019-) #10 by Jordie Bellaire
12. Hellmouth #3 by Jordie Bellaire
13. Angel (2019-) #8 by Bryan Edward Hill
14. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2019-) #11 by Jordie Bellaire
15. Ghost-Spider (2019-) #6: Party People by Seanan McGuire
16. Ghost-Spider (2019-) #7: Into the Unknown by Seanan McGuire
17. Strangelands #5 by Magdalene Visaggio
18. Strangelands #6: Man of Substance by Magdalene Visaggio
19-22. Livewire, Vol. 2: Guardian by Vita Ayala

Continued below to avoid breaking touchstones with too many in one post

Short Stories

Stories read:
1. Anything Resembling Love by S. Qiouyi Lu

Possibilities:
* If You Take My Meaning by Charlie Jane Anders
* Getaway by Nicole Kornher-Stace

2020 Hugo Nominees
This is for whatever's on the Hugo award ballot.

Things read:
1. Ten Excerpts from an Annotated Bibliography on the Cannibal Women of Ratnabar Island by Nibedita Sen
2. As the Last I May Know by S.L. Huang
3. A Catalog of Storms by Fran Wilde
4. And Now His Lordship Is Laughing by Shiv Ramdas
5. Blood Is Another Word for Hunger by Rivers Solomon
6. Do Not Look Back, My Lion by Alix E. Harrow
7. Omphalos by Ted Chiang
8. The Archronology of Love by Caroline M. Yoachim
9. Away With the Wolves by Sarah Gailey
10. The Blur in the Corner of Your Eye by Sarah Pinsker
11. Emergency Skin by N.K. Jemisin
12. For He Can Creep by Siobhan Carroll
13. Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom by Ted Chiang
14. To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
15. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
16. The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark

Shelves & Subscriptions
This covers books that I have sitting on my shelves waiting to be read, as well as the various magazine subscriptions and author Patreons that make their way onto my e-reader.

Books read:
1. Chronin Volume 1: The Knife at Your Back by Alison Wilgus
2. The Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire, Part One by Michael Dante DiMartino
3. The Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire, Part Two by Michael Dante DiMartino
4. The Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire, Part Three by Michael Dante DiMartino
5. Wynonna Earp: Bad Day at Black Rock by Beau Smith and Tim Rozon
6. Firefly: The Unification War, Vol. 1 by Greg Pak
7. Firefly: The Unification War, Vol. 2 by Greg Pak
8. Firefly: The Unification War, Vol. 3 by Greg Pak
9. Firefly: The Sting by Delilah S. Dawson
10. They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
11. We're Still Here: an all-trans comics anthology
12. Firefly: New Sheriff in the 'Verse Vol. 1 by Greg Pak
13. A People's Future of the United States ed. by Victor LaValle and John Joseph Adams

Possibilities:
* Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges
* All the Weight of Our Dreams: On Living Racialized Autism
* Wild Seed by Octavia Butler
* Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
* Dagger Magic by Katherine Kurtz
* Byzantium by Stephen R. Lawhead
* The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin
* La Respiración Violenta del Mundo by Ángela Pradelli
* Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson
* The Once and Future King by T.H. White
* Shades Within Us

Sequels & Series
I'm in the middle of so many series! This category is to help me keep up with my favorites.

Books read:
1. Tricks for Free by Seanan McGuire
2. The Rhesus Chart by Charles Stross
3. Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
4. The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Part Three by Michael Dante DiMartino
5. Deadline by Mira Grant
6. Network Effect by Martha Wells
7. Blackout by Mira Grant
8. The Book of Etta by Meg Elison
9. Dreadful Company by Vivian Shaw
10. Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland
11. That Ain't Witchcraft by Seanan McGuire
12. The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi
13. Imaginary Numbers by Seanan McGuire
14. Ark by Stephen Baxter
15. Bookburners Season 2, Episode 5: Debtor's Prison by Mur Lafferty

Possibilities:
* Bookburners -- next episode Incognita (Bookburners Season 2 Episode 6)
* Earthseed (Octavia Butler) -- next book Parable of the Talents
* Dr. Greta Helsing (Vivian Shaw) -- next book Grave Importance
* InCryptid (Seanan McGuire) -- next book Calculated Risks
* The Interdependency (John Scalzi) -- next book The Last Emperox
* The Laundry (Charles Stross) -- next book The Annihilation Score
* The Murderbot Diaries (Martha Wells) -- next book Fugitive Telemetry
* Newsflesh (Mira Grant) - next book Feedback
* October Daye (Seanan McGuire) -- next book Late Eclipses
* River of Teeth (Sarah Gailey) -- next book Taste of Marrow
* Rivers of London (Ben Aaronovitch) -- next book Moon Over Soho
* The Road To Nowhere (Meg Elison) -- next book The Book of Flora
* Wayward Children (Seanan McGuire) -- next book Come Tumbling Down

Nonfiction

Possibilities:
* The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein
* We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates
* Captive Genders: Trans Embodiment and the Prison Industrial Complex
* Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy by Heather Ann Thompson
* The Spitting Image by Jerry Lembcke

New New New
Things that are published in 2020, or things I first hear about in 2020.

Books read:
1. Docile by K.M. Szpara
2. Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
3. Goldilocks by Laura Lam
4. Widdershins by Jordan L. Hawk
5. Ancestral Night by Elizabeth Bear

Possibilities:
* Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older
* King Cage and the Worth Street Djinni by Mike Stop Continues
* The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah
* Finna by Nino Cipri (Feb. 25)

Grab Bag
Anything that doesn't fit in the other categories

Books read:
1. The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison
2. Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
3. It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis
4. A Criminal Magic by Lee Kelly
5. The Heart of the Circle by Keren Landsman
6. The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz
7. The Deep by Rivers Solomon
8. Feed by Mira Grant

RandomCAT
Planning thread

January (A New Year's Resolution): It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis
February (Originally published in a leap year): A Criminal Magic by Lee Kelly (2016)
March (Seasons of Love): --
April (Showers and Flowers): A Catalog of Storms by Fran Wilde
May (Believe in Your Shelf): --
June (Take to the Sea!): --
July (Picture This!): House of M by Brian Michael Bendis
August (Get Your Groove On): --
September (Reccies!): --
October (Healthcare Heroes): Dreadful Company by Vivian Shaw
November (Lest We Forget): --
December (Goodbye 2020 (pick 6)): TBD

AlphaKIT
Main thread

Yearlong
X: House of X #1: The House That Xavier Built by Jonathan Hickman
Z: TBD
January
A: CALEXIT: All Systems San Diego by Matteo Pizzolo
U: The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison
February
F: --
B: Angel #6: Hellmouth by Bryan Edward Hill
March
G: Ghost-Spider (2019-) #7: Into the Unknown by Seanan McGuire
C: The Heart of the Circle by Keren Landsman
April
S: Ghost-Spider (2019-) #8: All You Wanna Do by Seanan McGuire
T: Ten Excerpts from an Annotated Bibliography on the Cannibal Women of Ratnabar Island by Nibedita Sen
May
L: The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Part Three by Michael Dante DiMartino
P: --
June
K: The Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire, Part Two by Michael Dante DiMartino
Y: --
July
J: Powers Of X #1: The Last Dream of Professor X by Jonathan Hickman
R: --
August
O: --
H: --
September
M: Blackout by Mira Grant
E: Network Effect by Martha Wells
October
D: Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland
V: Dreadful Company by Vivian Shaw
November
I: --
Q: --
December
W: TBD
N: Ancestral Night by Elizabeth Bear

ScaredyKIT
Planning thread

January (1970s-1980s): --
February (Psychological Thrillers): --
March (Haunted Places): --
April (Paranormal): Livewire, Vol. 2: Guardian by Vita Ayala
May (Occult): --
June (Cryptids and Legendary Creatures): --
July (Femmes Fatales): --
August (Serial Killers): --
September (International): --
October (Halloween): --
November (Stephen King and family): --
December (Classics): TBD

SFFFKIT
Planning thread

January (I Meant To Read It In 2019...): Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
February (Transformation): A Criminal Magic by Lee Kelly
March (Series): --
April (Time Travel): Chronin Volume 1: The Knife at Your Back by Alison Wilgus
May (Sentient Things): Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
June (Aliens): --
July (Space Opera): --
August (Women Authors): Feed by Mira Grant
September (International): --
October (Classics): --
November (Dystopia): A People's Future of the United States ed. by Victor LaValle and John Joseph Adams
December (Short Fiction): Bookburners Season 2, Episode 5: Debtor's Prison by Mur Lafferty

BingoDOG
Planning thread



1. Book that's in a Legacy Library: It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis
2. Book written by an LT author: Chronin Volume 1: The Knife at Your Back by Alison Wilgus
3. Book published in 1820 or 1920: TBD
4. Book published in the year of your birth: TBD
5. Book published under a pen name or anonymously: Feed by Mira Grant
6. Book set in Asia: TBD
7. Mystery or true crime: TBD
8. Book involving a real historical event: The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz
9. Book about books, bookstores, or libraries: Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
10. Book with at least three letters of BINGO consecutively in order in the title: The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark
11. Red cover, or red is prominent on the cover: Ghost-Spider (2019-) #4: Pretend to be Nice by Seanan McGuire
12. Title contains a pun: Tricks for Free by Seanan McGuire
13. Book about birth or death: The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison
14. Book with a proper name in the title: Alex Priest #1 by Jenn Arledge
15. Book published by a small press or self-published: Strangelands #5 by Magdalene Visaggio
16. Book published in 2020: Docile by K.M. Szpara
17. Epistolary novel or collection of letters: TBD
18. Book by a journalist or about journalism: Deadline by Mira Grant
19. Book not set on Earth: Exit Strategy: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
20. Mythology or folklore: TBD
21. Weird book title: TBD
22. Book with "library" or "thing" in the title or subtitle: TBD
23. Book with a periodic table element in the title: TBD
24. Book by a woman from a country other than the US/UK: The Heart of the Circle by Keren Landsman
25. Read a CAT: A Criminal Magic by Lee Kelly

Tallies & Stats

Comics read: 73
Short stories: 1
Hugo nominees: 16
Shelves & Subscriptions: 13
Sequels & Series: 15
Nonfiction: 0
New New New: 5
Grab Bag: 8

And that's all my category/tracker posts (or placeholders for them)! This thread is now open for comments.

Welcome back and have a great reading year! Enjoy Rivers of London -- I'm all caught up and have to wait for the next one, False Value.

Happy reading in 2020!

Good luck with your 2020 reading!

Thanks, everyone!

Enjoy your 2020 reading.

Thanks, you too!

We have many similar categories! Do you intend to read all the Hugo nominees or just the novels?

Happy reading in 2020.

Have a great reading year!

Good luck with your 2020 reading!

> @chlorine I usually read the novels and shorter fiction (novellas, novelettes, short stories), maybe some of the graphic stories too. I've never managed to get around to a Related Work. How about you?

>27 lavaturtle: I'd love to read all the nominees in fiction but I don't read fast enough for that! Instead I have a lifelong challenge to read all the fiction (novels and short fiction) Hugo and Nebula winners, which means I have to read at the very least two of each category if I don't want to fall behind. I'll probably never finish that challenge. :p

Tricks for Free by Seanan McGuire
Category: Sequels & Series
BingoDOG: Title contains a pun

I really liked this book! It was nice to see some more character development for Antimony, as well as some more involvement of the ghost-ier parts of the Incryptid universe. I was so relieved that all Antimony's friends were still alive at the end!
The novella at the end was also cute.

OMNI #3 by Devin Grayson
Category: Comics

I'm excited by the plot twist at the end, because I'm hoping it means things will start to come together. The main character is still awesome, of course. And I liked the little vignettes of other Ignited discovering their powers.

Strangelands #4 by Magdalene Visaggio
Category: Comics

I still feel like there's not quite enough plot in each issue of this series. There are tantalizing hints that we might soon learn more about what's going on with the shadowy benefactor... but we still don't really know anything in particular. And most of the major characters also lack much characterization. The premise is still cool, but I hope something new happens soon.

Ghost-Spider (2019-) #3: Dog Days are Over by Seanan McGuire
Category: Comics

I really like the Benji plot in this issue. And Gwen's voice is great.

Ghost-Spider (2019-) #4: Pretend to be Nice by Seanan McGuire
Category: Comics
BingoDOG: Red is prominent on the cover

This issue does a great job gracefully combining several different plot threads.

Ghost-Spider (2019-) #5: Blood and Bone by Seanan McGuire
Category: Comics

The bad guys are really bone-chillingly evil here. I like how Gwen deals with them.

The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison
Category: Grab Bag
AlphaKIT: U
BingoDOG: About birth or death

This is a powerful post-apocalyptic story about hope, loss, and identity. The main character is compelling, and there's a good balance of worldbuilding detail with the limited knowledge of the protagonist. I liked that the story didn't ignore the existence of queer and trans people. I'm excited to read more in this series!

>35 lavaturtle: This seems just like my type of book. :)

>35 lavaturtle: It is on my TBR now too!

Cool! I hope you both enjoy it.

The Rhesus Chart by Charles Stross
Category: Sequels & Series

This is an exciting story, and I thought the pacing was much better than the previous book in the series. The layers and different viewpoints of the story mesh together well. The reveal at the end was a big surprise! I'm glad that both Pete and Alex survived; I hope Alex can catch a break soon! So sad about Bob and Mo. I really like Mo as a character, and I hope this isn't the end of their relationship.

CALEXIT: All Systems San Diego by Matteo Pizzolo
Category: Comics
AlphaKIT: A

This is a cool story about resistance and choices. The near-future dystopia setting is suitably chilling. Emmie is a great character!

Angel #6: Hellmouth by Bryan Edward Hill
Category: Comics
AlphaKIT: B

Fred, Gunn, and Spike are all great characters, and it's awesome to see them together here.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2019-) #9: Hellmouth by Jordie Bellaire
Category: Comics

It's stressful seeing all the characters being so mean to each other! Also, the art at the beginning was a little confusing for identifying the characters. The ending was intriguing, tho.

Hellmouth #2 by Jordie Bellaire
Category: Comics

This storyline is kind of weird and I don't know what I think of it. The art is evocative, at least.

Angel (2019-) #7 by Bryan Edward Hill
Category: Comics

I'm pleased to see a couple more classic elements from the TV show showing up. And the writing for Spike continues to perfectly capture his voice and mannerisms.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
Category: Grab Bag
SFFFKIT: "I Meant To Read It In 2019..."

I loved this book! The inventive setting, the characters, the political complexities... It's just all around excellent. I'll definitely be picking up the next in the series.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2019-) #10 by Jordie Bellaire
Category: Comics

I really liked this one. Rose, Kendra, and Robin are great characters.

>45 lavaturtle: Dread Nation does seem excellent!

Hellmouth #3 by Jordie Bellaire
Category: Comics

The surreal hellscape storyline still isn't my favorite, but I like how this issue handled Buffy finding out that Angel is a vampire.

It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis
Category: Grab Bag
RandomCAT: A New Year's Resolution
BingoDOG: Book that's in a Legacy Library

As everyone who recommended this book has said, for a work published in 1935, it's eerily prescient. The writing style is a bit dated, full of page-long sentences that go on and on, and many of the references are less familiar now, but the overarching plot of America's takeover by a folksy demagogue is certainly still quite relevant. I was surprised by the references to Hitler and concentration camps, which I imagine read quite differently before World War II... There's a bit of misogyny and disdain for gay men, but rather less than I would have expected for the time period. Overall, it was an interesting look into where the writer thought we were headed in the 1930s.

Angel (2019-) #8 by Bryan Edward Hill
Category: Comics

I like the dynamic between Spike and Gunn here.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2019-) #11 by Jordie Bellaire
Category: Comics

More Kendra and Rose! I'm glad whatever's happening to all the men in Sunnydale will be resolved soon.

Ghost-Spider (2019-) #6: Party People by Seanan McGuire
Category: Comics

This was a nice fun "everyday" adventure for our protagonist. I assume the information about the Storm siblings is leading up to some future event...

A Criminal Magic by Lee Kelly
Category: Grab Bag
RandomCAT: Originally published in a leap year
SFFFKIT: Transformation
BingoDOG: Read a CAT

This book builds a fascinating world of truly magical magic mixed with casual brutality. The protagonists are compelling and deeply sympathetic. I wish we'd gotten a bit more development of some of the supporting characters in Joan's sorcery troupe. The ending was satisfying.

The Heart of the Circle by Keren Landsman
Category: Grab Bag
AlphaKIT: C
BingoDOG: Book by a woman from a country other than the US/UK

I really liked this story centered on a community of sorcerers (people with psionic powers) living under crushing oppression. The worldbuilding and the character relationships are both richly developed. My only complaint is that it takes excessively long to explain things like the slang terms the narrator is using, making the beginning a little confusing.

The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz
Category: Grab Bag
BingoDOG: Book involving a real historical event

This book is amazing. It's full of smart women and non-binary people working together to make the world a better place. The time-travel mechanism is well-integrated into the worldbuilding; the relationship with academia feels believable. I loved the emphasis on collective action to achieve social change for oppressed people, especially since the time-travel subgenre is usually fixated on famous people and wars. Plus, for a book focused on "women's issues", it never forgets that trans people exist. Finally, the ending was satisfying and well-earned.

>55 lavaturtle: This sounds very good and time travel happens to be the theme for next month's SFFKit! Thanks for the review.

Ghost-Spider (2019-) #7: Into the Unknown by Seanan McGuire
Category: Comics
AlphaKIT: G

This seems like the beginning of an intriguing mystery.

Strangelands #5 by Magdalene Visaggio
Category: Comics
BingoDOG: Small press

This issue did a good job advancing the plot while also filling in some backstory.

The Deep by Rivers Solomon
Category: Grab Bag

This story is an interesting meditation on identity, community, trauma, and history. I liked the characters and the ending.

Strangelands #6: Man of Substance by Magdalene Visaggio
Category: Comics

It's exciting to learn some more about about this other faction(s?)!

Livewire, Vol. 2: Guardian by Vita Ayala
Category: Comics
ScaredyKIT: Paranormal

The new character in this volume, Phoebe, is such a compelling character! I hope we see more of her. I liked Jada too, and the moral ambiguity around her situation. The "hacking" sequence wasn't really my thing, but the fight scenes were very well drawn.

Alex Priest #1 by Jenn Arledge
Category: Comics
BingoDOG: Proper name in the title

This story is a lot of fun already! And I love that there's a non-binary protagonist.

Comics, part 2

Comics read:
23. Alex Priest #1 by Jenn Arledge
24. Ghost-Spider (2019-) #8: All You Wanna Do by Seanan McGuire
25. Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel: Hellmouth #4 by Jordie Bellaire
26. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2019-) #12 by Jordie Bellaire
27. Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel: Hellmouth #5 by Jordie Bellaire
28. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2019-) #13 by Jordie Bellaire
29. Strangelands #7: Collision Course by Magdalene Visaggio
30. OMNI #4: Interpersonal by Devin Grayson
31. OMNI #5: Water, Water Everywhere by Melody Cooper
32. OMNI #6: "'Mni Wiconi': Water is Life" by Melody Cooper
33. Angel & Spike #9 by Bryan Edward Hill
34. Angel & Spike #10 by Bryan Edward Hill
35. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2019-) #14 by Jordie Bellaire
36. House of M #1 by Brian Bendis
37. House of M #2 by Brian Bendis
38. House of M #3 by Brian Bendis
39. House of M #4 by Brian Bendis
40. House of M #5 by Brian Bendis

Continued below to avoid breaking touchstones with too many in one post

Chronin Volume 1: The Knife at Your Back by Alison Wilgus
Category: Shelves & Subscriptions
SFFFKIT: Time Travel
BingoDOG: Book written by an LT author

This is a cool concept, and I like the different ways the various characters experienced the setting. Makes me wish I knew more about Japanese history!

Ten Excerpts from an Annotated Bibliography on the Cannibal Women of Ratnabar Island by Nibedita Sen
Category: 2020 Hugo Nominees
AlphaKIT: T

I love this kind of worldbuilding and mystery through snippets of "primary source" documents, and this story does a good job of it.

Ghost-Spider (2019-) #8: All You Wanna Do by Seanan McGuire
Category: Comics
AlphaKIT: S

I love Gwen in this, and the slowly unspooling mystery of the Storm siblings.

As the Last I May Know by S.L. Huang
Category: 2020 Hugo Nominees

A beautiful, haunting story without any easy answers.

A Catalog of Storms by Fran Wilde
Category: 2020 Hugo Nominees
RandomCAT: Showers and Flowers

This is an interesting premise for a magical world.

And Now His Lordship Is Laughing by Shiv Ramdas
Category: 2020 Hugo Nominees

A well-crafted tale of horror in British-occupied Bangladesh.

Blood Is Another Word for Hunger by Rivers Solomon
Category: 2020 Hugo Nominees

The subject matter is pretty dark, but the matter-of-fact storytelling style makes it almost like a folktale. I liked the character development.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel: Hellmouth #4 by Jordie Bellaire
Category: Comics

The "Hellmouth" comics in this event are still less compelling IMO than the Buffy ones or the Angel ones. The art is pretty good, though.

Do Not Look Back, My Lion by Alix E. Harrow
Category: 2020 Hugo Nominees

I love how richly this story paints its world, showing a lot with a few details. The gender roles are also super interesting. I really liked the protagonist, gentleness and bitterness intertwined, and her complicated relationship with her wife's career. The ending was satisfying and unexpected.

Omphalos by Ted Chiang
Category: 2020 Hugo Nominees

I really enjoyed this surprising and original take on some real-world science/religion arguments.

The Archronology of Love by Caroline M. Yoachim
Category: 2020 Hugo Nominees

What a kind story about grief and relationships.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2019-) #12 by Jordie Bellaire
Category: Comics

This is a good and dramatic climax to this event. And OMG, Xander's sacrifice!

Away With the Wolves by Sarah Gailey
Category: 2020 Hugo Nominees

A sweet story with an empowering ending.

Anything Resembling Love by S. Qiouyi Lu
Category: Short Stories

I was really impressed with this story. It's powerful and intimate at the same time.

The Blur in the Corner of Your Eye by Sarah Pinsker
Category: 2020 Hugo Nominees

Creepy and cool! I love it!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel: Hellmouth #5 by Jordie Bellaire
Category: Comics

A satisfying conclusion to the Hellmouth event. The aftermath part was really good. And... what is going on at the end there?? I have so many questions that I hope the next issue will answer.

Emergency Skin by N.K. Jemisin
Category: 2020 Hugo Nominees

I love this! It's a great subversion of how we usually think about ecological disaster.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2019-) #13 by Jordie Bellaire
Category: Comics

Kendra is a great character, and I'm glad we got to see more of her backstory here.

For He Can Creep by Siobhan Carroll
Category: 2020 Hugo Nominees

This wasn't really my thing, possibly because I'm not familiar with the real-life poet/poetry being referenced. Nighthunter Moppet is pretty great, though.

Will you be voting for the Hugo?
I was a bit disappointed by the second collection of Ted Chiang, to which Omphalos belongs, but indeed this story was interesting.

I read For he can creep in the free ebook given by Tor, some of the best from Tor.com. I was a bit jarred by it at first (the first sentence end with an exclamation mark!) but in the end I rather liked it. I liked the portrait of the cat who has to save the world but also has to do silly cat things.

Yep, I'm planning to vote for the Hugos.

I haven't actually read any of Ted Chiang's work before -- I'm starting on his novella Anxiety Is The Dizziness of Freedom (also on the Hugo ballot, and from the same collection) now, so I'll see what I think of that. Is there another work of his you like better?

The silly cats saving the world reminds me of this fun-sounding RPG: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/atlasgames/magical-kitties-save-the-day

Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom by Ted Chiang
Category: 2020 Hugo Nominees

I actually quite liked this one! It starts with kind of a weird premise, but then uses that to explore a bunch of human stories about choices and loss. Reminds me a bit of The Light of Other Days in that regard.

Strangelands #7: Collision Course by Magdalene Visaggio
Category: Comics

I'm glad there's been a development in the Agent Hardman plot! Excited to see where we end up next issue.

OMNI #4: Interpersonal by Devin Grayson
Category: Comics

This was a super-cool beginning to the next story arc, and it was great to see Cecelia wrestling with the moral implications of the choices before her. The worldbuilding and exploration of the political/social implications of the premise continue to be awesome. And I love Mae's opening comic-as-recap!

OMNI #5: Water, Water Everywhere by Melody Cooper
Category: Comics

I really liked this issue, with its connected themes around water and environmental racism. The art was also very effective.

OMNI #6: "'Mni Wiconi': Water is Life" by Melody Cooper
Category: Comics

I love the water keepers, and I'm glad they had a satisfying part to play here. It was interesting to see Cecelia go up against someone who could almost keep up with her in terms of smarts and resources.

Exit Strategy: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
Category: Sequels & Series
SFFFKIT: Sentient Things
BingoDOG: Not set on Earth

This was so much fun! Murderbot is an excellent character with a very distinctive voice. I thought this fourth novella in the series did a good job resolving the long-term plot arc around the protagonist's relationship to human friends. Super excited for Network Effect!

Angel & Spike #9 by Bryan Edward Hill
Category: Comics

This new villain is definitely creepy, and I liked seeing Angel maneuvered into helping people by his mysterious benefactor. I hope the kid sticks around a bit and isn't just a prop...

Angel & Spike #10 by Bryan Edward Hill
Category: Comics

This felt very much like the middle of a story. Not sure what I think of Lockley yet. And poor Dre...

The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Part Three by Michael Dante DiMartino
Category: Sequels & Series
AlphaKIT: L

What a wonderful ending! I love all the characters in this series, and this volume did a great job bringing the Turf Wars plot to a satisfying conclusion.

The Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire, Part One by Michael Dante DiMartino
Category: Shelves & Subscriptions

The Earth Kingdom democracy storyline is compelling and complex. I'm intrigued by Kuvira -- what's her real motive here? What is she playing at, and who is she playing?

Docile by K.M. Szpara
Category: New New New
BingoDOG: Published in 2020

Wow. This is a powerful, engrossing, deeply personal book. It's got a lot of big ideas in it, but the lived experiences of the protagonists take the foreground. This means everyone gets to be messy and complicated, and we go on a whole journey with Elisha and Alex as they figure themselves out. The politics and worldbuilding are deftly handled; we get to fully explore the implications of the system that's been set up. The very real character growth of the protagonists is earned and satisfying, and the ending is perfect.
Also, while this book deals with a bunch of awful things -- poverty, abuse, suicide, economic coercion, loss of agency, sexual violence -- there's no sign of any homophobia directed at the gay characters, and (as far as I noticed) no overt racism depicted at all, which was nice.

The Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire, Part Two by Michael Dante DiMartino
Category: Shelves & Subscriptions
AlphaKIT: K

I liked the reappearance of some more obscure characters here. The plot was definitely exciting!

The Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire, Part Three by Michael Dante DiMartino
Category: Shelves & Subscriptions

This did a good job wrapping up the plot in a satisfying way. It was also an interesting exploration of redemption and accountability.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2019-) #14 by Jordie Bellaire
Category: Comics

This was a thoughtful exploration of Buffy's trauma in the wake of the Hellmouth events. I love that we're seeing more of Robin and Rose, and that Kendra is sticking around for now. I miss Willow though; I hope the brief bit at the end means she'll be back.

To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
Category: 2020 Hugo Nominees

I loved this book. It's got astronauts and space problems and science ideas and optimism about humanity. There are multiple queer characters! And an asexual character, and a trans character! There's delight and despair and some of the best depictions I've seen of people dealing with mental illness. The protagonists are all very different people, but at the end of the day they all love science and they all love each other, and that gets them through. I wish there was more of this story! But, without going into spoilery detail, it's actually perfect for the format.

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Category: 2020 Hugo Nominees

This book has a super weird/cool premise, and a badass protagonist with a very distinctive voice. I loved the murder mystery aspect and the wide array of characters. Many of the plot twists were totally unexpected. It's too bad that Gideon died at the end; hopefully the next book can be compelling even with that development.

The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark
Category: 2020 Hugo Nominees
RandomCAT: 3+ letters of BINGO

This is a super interesting setting, and I liked the rich description & interesting details.

House of M #1 - #8 by Brian Bendis
Category: Comics
RandomCAT: Picture This!

I finally got around to reading this classic comics event, and I'm glad I did! It's important for the plot consequences, sure, but it also features a fascinating alternate reality scenario, and it gives us some interesting character development.

Comics, part 3

Comics read:
41. House of M #6 by Brian Bendis
42. House of M #7 by Brian Bendis
43. House of M #8 by Brian Bendis
44. House of X #1: The House That Xavier Built by Jonathan Hickman
45. Powers Of X #1: The Last Dream of Professor X by Jonathan Hickman
46. House Of X #2: The Uncanny Life of Moira X by Jonathan Hickman
47. Powers Of X #2: We Are Together Now, You and I by Jonathan Hickman
48. Powers of X #3: This is What You Do by Jonathan Hickman
49. House of X #3: Once More unto the Breach by Jonathan Hickman
50. House of X #4: It Will Be Done by Jonathan Hickman
51. Powers of X #4: Something Sinister by Jonathan Hickman
52. House of X #5: Society by Jonathan Hickman
53. Powers of X #5: For the Children by Jonathan Hickman
54. House of X #6: I Am Not Ashamed by Jonathan Hickman
55. Powers of X #6: House of X by Jonathan Hickman
56. Marauders (2019-) #1 by Gerry Duggan
57. Marauders (2019-) #2 by Gerry Duggan
58. Marauders (2019-) #3 by Gerry Duggan
58. Marauders (2019-) #4 by Gerry Duggan
59. Marauders (2019-) #5 by Gerry Duggan
60. Marauders (2019-) #6 by Gerry Duggan

Continued below to avoid breaking touchstones with too many in one post.

House of X #1: The House That Xavier Built by Jonathan Hickman
Category: Comics
AlphaKIT: X

This is a really cool premise, and the comic does a great job fleshing it out. I love the exposition pages -- the layout is thematic, and they're helpful for quickly filling in some information we need to understand what's going on. The regular art is stunning, too.

Powers Of X #1: The Last Dream of Professor X by Jonathan Hickman
Category: Comics
AlphaKIT: J

This whole future/future/future thing is... very strange. I'm not sure what I think of it. The art is pretty, though.

House Of X #2: The Uncanny Life of Moira X by Jonathan Hickman
Category: Comics

This is so cool. Time travel (sort of) shenanigans! Big mutant ideas! Very X-Men.

Powers Of X #2: We Are Together Now, You and I by Jonathan Hickman
Category: Comics

The X0 and X1 plots here are compelling, but it's hard to get invested in X2 when it doesn't have many recognizable characters, and X3 is just... weird.

Powers of X #3: This is What You Do by Jonathan Hickman
Category: Comics

The ending! At least something makes sense now.

House of X #3: Once More unto the Breach by Jonathan Hickman
Category: Comics

An exciting action story! With some choice commentary on who's complicit in atrocities.

House of X #4: It Will Be Done by Jonathan Hickman
Category: Comics

This is an important turn in the plot, and it's really well done. The stakes are high and all the characters get their due.

Powers of X #4: Something Sinister by Jonathan Hickman
Category: Comics

I liked how the Sinister plot hooks into what we've previously learned about the (possible) future. The Cypher/Krakoa stuff is neat too, although it feels somewhat randomly placed in this issue.

House of X #5: Society by Jonathan Hickman
Category: Comics

I loved how this tied everything together, between the whole egg situation, and the political unification. Also, the ritual around the reborn mutants is really cool.

Powers of X #5: For the Children by Jonathan Hickman
Category: Comics

The first part here is kind of a random assortment of backstory plot bits. And the X3 section... is this not what they expected to have happen?

House of X #6: I Am Not Ashamed by Jonathan Hickman
Category: Comics

The meeting to design the laws of a new society is super interesting, and I look forward to hopefully more of this kind of thing.

Powers of X #6: House of X by Jonathan Hickman
Category: Comics

This does a good job tying up the few remaining important loose ends.

Marauders (2019-) #1 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Comics

This is so much fun! I love the adventure, the characterization, the exploration of corners of the new mutant reality.

Marauders (2019-) #2 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Comics

More exciting action, plus bonus intrigue! This feels in a way like additional setup for the series.

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
Category: New New New
BingoDOG: Book about books, bookstores, or libraries

I loved this heartwarming story about a young woman finding her place in the world. There's a great cast of characters, including a non-binary character who is the love interest!

Marauders (2019-) #3 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Comics

Useful information on what the Shaws are up to... not as fun as the other characters, though.

Feed by Mira Grant
Category: Grab Bag
SFFFKIT: Women Authors
BingoDOG: Book published under a pen name

This is so, so good. The worldbuilding around the zombie virus and its social implications is really solid. The blogging stuff feels less realistic from 2020 than it probably did in 2010, but it's well justified in-universe. The relationships between the characters are the heart of the story, through all the twists and turns of the plot. Loved the thriller/conspiracy angle. Looking forward to reading more in this series.

Marauders (2019-) #4 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Comics

I liked the opening rescue, and the resolution of the mystery from a few issues back was well done.

Marauders (2019-) #5 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Comics

I liked the way the plots in this issue all wove together, and the art is totally stunning.

I'm getting back on track after a period of reduced reading and absence from LT.
I'd be very interested to know which works you voted for for the Hugos! Did any of them win?
Voting for the Hugos is something I'd really like to do but this seems unachievable with my reading rate, especially if I want to take part in the nomination part!

I read both of Chiang's short story collections. I thought that Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom was among the good one of the Exhalation collection but overall I thought this collection was somewhat underwhelming compared with Stories of your life and others, which was excellent. The title story Exhalation was very good though.

@chlorine I didn't get around to reading most of the nominated novels, but I'm quite pleased with the novella/novellette/short story winners. I love voting for the Hugos, but it's a real challenge to get the reading in in time! For my reading pace, I feel like I only have a hope of reading the nominees if I happen to read a bunch of them before the ballot is announced.

Marauders (2019-) #6 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Comics

Wow, this issue is a lot. We've got an up-close encounter with a certain kind of anti-mutant hatred, and another nice battle. But the big shock is the ending... I'm so concerned about our hero!

Marauders (2019-) #7 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Comics

I love Callisto in this!

Comics, part 4

Comics read:
61. Marauders (2019-) #7 by Gerry Duggan
62. Marauders (2019-) #8 by Gerry Duggan
63. Marauders (2019-) #9 by Gerry Duggan
64. Marauders (2019-) #10 by Gerry Duggan
65. Marauders (2019-) #11 by Gerry Duggan
66. Giant-Size X-Men: Magneto by Jonathan Hickman
67. Ghost-Spider (2019-2020) #9 by Seanan McGuire
68. Marauders (2019-) #12 by Gerry Duggan
69. Ghost-Spider (2019-2020) #10 by Seanan McGuire
70. Giant-Size X-Men: Storm by Jonathan Hickman
71. Strangelands #8 by Magdalene Visaggio
72. Marauders (2019-) #13 by Vita Ayala
73. Marauders (2019-) #14 by Gerry Duggan and Benjamin Percy

Marauders (2019-) #8 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Comics

Damn, this is tragic. They're not taking this lightly. Hopefully the real culprit will be found out!

Marauders (2019-) #9 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Comics

I love the clever use of telepathy here. Emma is extremely good at what she does.

Marauders (2019-) #10 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Comics

I really liked how this resolved the anti-mutant weapons plot. Sad about Kate tho.

Deadline by Mira Grant
Category: Sequels and Series
BingoDOG: About journalism

Just as exciting as the first one, and expands the cool worldbuilding. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Wynonna Earp: Bad Day at Black Rock by Beau Smith and Tim Rozon
Category: Shelves and Subscriptions

I love Wynonna Earp the TV show, and it's always fun to see my favorite characters again. But the whole prison story here is a little uncomfortable. I'd rather see our protagonists doing something other than supporting the carceral state.

Goldilocks by Laura Lam
Category: New New New

This is an exciting story, and I didn't know where it was going to end up until the very end. The framing device works well, I think. The gender politics could have been overly simplistic, but it manages to feel like one of the characters rather than the book itself is into a "women vs. men" mindset, and we get a very slight acknowledgement that sex assigned at birth might not be the same as gender. I liked the gradual development of the characters as they got to know each other better, and the worldbuilding was well done.

Firefly: The Unification War, Vol. 1 by Greg Pak
Category: Shelves and Subscriptions

Feels like Firefly. Lots of fun.

Firefly: The Unification War, Vol. 2 by Greg Pak
Category: Shelves and Subscriptions

I like how this adds some complexity to the history.

Firefly: The Unification War, Vol. 3 by Greg Pak
Category: Shelves and Subscriptions

A satisfying conclusion to the plot arc.

Firefly: The Sting by Delilah S. Dawson
Category: Shelves & Subscriptions

I loved this fun caper, with some interesting character focus.

Network Effect by Martha Wells
Category: Sequels & Series
AlphaKIT: E

The Murderbot series is excellent as always. I was really glad to see some of the supporting characters again, and the new characters were also great. It was also cool to learn more about the setting and the sorts of things going on with colonies, alien artifacts, corporations, etc.

Blackout by Mira Grant
Category: Sequels & Series
AlphaKIT: M

This was a fitting final installment in the story of the Masons, with lots of wild twists and turns along the way. I loved the ending and thought it did justice to the story that's been building over the course of three books.

Marauders (2019-) #11 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Comics

I'm so relieved that Kate is finally back! Hopefully Emma and Kate will take their revenge on Shaw for what he did. I'm liking the burgeoning relationship between Emma and Kate. And it was cool finding out more about our friend in the intelligence services. I wasn't expecting that!

Giant-Size X-Men: Magneto by Jonathan Hickman
Category: Comics

A fun little side story without too much complexity. The art is excellent. I'm curious about the implications of what Magneto did, and for whom...

Ghost-Spider (2019-2020) #9 by Seanan McGuire
Category: Comics

Glad to see the plot with the Storms moving along! I'm intrigued to see where this is going. Not sure what the deal is with Gwen's suit...

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
Category: Shelves & Subscriptions

Takei tells us, in his own words, about growing up in an internment camp and how that shaped his life. Rather than dwelling on horror and trauma, he shows us the many ways that people around him chose to deal with the situation. It's interesting to read his take on FDR's complicated legacy, as the man who implemented so many progressive policies but also displaced and imprisoned an entire ethnic group. This is an important piece of history to remember today.

Marauders (2019-) #12 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Comics

This was really fun! I loved seeing Kate's relationships with many of the other women on (and off) Krakoa.

Ghost-Spider (2019-2020) #10 by Seanan McGuire
Category: Comics

I'm so sad that this is the end of this series. But at least the Storms' backstory was well told.

The Book of Etta by Meg Elison
Category: Sequels & Series

Picking up generations after the previous book, this book further fleshes out the new world that has replaced the old. I liked the cast of characters, especially the protagonist, whose struggles to understand self and others were compellingly written. I really don't know what to think about Alma and her seeming magic powers, in a world that otherwise lacks fantastical elements. I guess we'll probably find out in the next book! Overall this fits well into the world of The Book of the Unnamed Midwife, while having its own distinct voice.

Dreadful Company by Vivian Shaw
Category: Sequels & Series
RandomCAT: Healthcare Heroes
AlphaKIT: V

I love this series! The characters are distinctive and well-written, the worldbuilding is very creative, and there's real compassion for nearly everyone.

Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland
Category: Sequels & Series
AlphaKIT: D

I liked getting to know Katherine better, along with getting some more Jane adventures. The developments in the world are interesting and well done, and the supporting cast is great. The book does a good job being grounded in its setting and giving our protagonists distinct voices.

>144 lavaturtle: I love hearing from George Takei. It's nice to hear his book stands up!

Widdershins by Jordan L. Hawk
Category: New New New

I heard about this series from a friend and knew I had to check it out right away. Queer romance in a setting with both worldy and otherworldy horrors? Sounds like extremely my thing.

And it is really good! Whyborne and Griffin are perfect, and Christine is awesome. The setting is intriguing, with lots of weird corners to explore. There were rather more graphic sex scenes than I was expecting, but they're well written. I look forward to reading more in this series!

That Ain't Witchcraft by Seanan McGuire
Category: Sequels & Series

Another ridiculously fun entry in the InCryptid series. Antimony is a great character, with a good bunch of people around her. The trouble she gets into here is suitably scary, and satisfyingly resolved. And the novella at the end is super sweet.

The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi
Category: Sequels & Series

I'm not normally a big fan of "royal court intrigue" type plots, and this book has a LOT of intrigue. Fortunately, it also has a memorable set of characters, and the intrigue is well tied to the characters. I liked learning more about how the Interdependency came to be and how it works. The ongoing Flow collapse is a great ticking-clock background to the rest of the plot, and an all-too-close metaphor for global warming and how powerful people react to it.

We're Still Here: an all-trans comics anthology
Category: Shelves & Subscriptions

This anthology has a huge range of styles, tones, and subject matter. Really liked some of the comics; others weren't as much my thing. It's a cool way to find out about some new artists.

Giant-Size X-Men: Storm by Jonathan Hickman
Category: Comics

This is a neat little self-contained story with some cool characters. I liked Storm's monologue on her motivations.

Strangelands #8 by Magdalene Visaggio
Category: Comics

This is a good ending to the story.

Marauders (2019-) #13 by Vita Ayala
Category: Comics

This isn't really about the Marauders at all, but it is a nice self-contained story about Storm and Wakanda. I didn't need to understand the X of Swords event to follow what's going on.

Marauders (2019-) #14 by Gerry Duggan and Benjamin Percy
Category: Comics

Also not really a Marauders story. Delightfully creepy setup of the situation. Cool character moments for Wolverine and Storm.

Firefly: New Sheriff in the 'Verse Vol. 1 by Greg Pak
Category: Shelves & Subscriptions

This is an interesting premise, and a new way of mixing up a bunch of characters to see how they interact. Mal works very well in the "reluctant lawman" role, and I like his relationship with Boss Moon. The rest of the Firefly crew is here, a little bit, but I miss seeing more of them.

A People's Future of the United States ed. by Victor LaValle and John Joseph Adams
Category: Shelves & Subscriptions
SFFFKIT: Dystopia

There's a huge range of stories in here, and as with all collections, some are better than others. I especially liked "0.1", "Give Me Cornbread or Give Me Death", and "Now Wait for This Week".

Ancestral Night by Elizabeth Bear
Category: New New New
AlphaKIT: N

This is an intriguing new setting, with a lot to say about political philosophy and what it means to be a society. I really liked the protagonist, and thought her struggle with identity and trauma was handled well. The supporting cast is great too. The ending was satisfying and tied things up well.

Imaginary Numbers by Seanan McGuire
Category: Sequels & Series

I loved learning more about cuckoos, since we'd previously only gotten the most general impression of what their deal is. Sarah is a great character, very different from the other protagonists in the series. I was surprised by the cliffhanger ending! Can't wait til February when the next book comes out.
The novella at the end was great too, a nice coda to Antimony's journey and an actual introduction to Grandma Alice Healy.

Ark by Stephen Baxter
Category: Sequels & Series

I read Flood years ago and really enjoyed it, so I had high hopes for this sequel. Unfortunately, Ark didn't quite live up to my expectations. The best parts are those where we see how humanity has adapted to cope with the situation. But we never get to see anything for very long before it's brutally destroyed. The entire story is like this, just people being awful to each other as hope is lost in a bad situation where everything is meaningless. It's too grimdark for my tastes. Also, Baxter seems to be one of these writers who wants to make very sure that you understand he's done his science research, even if it means the story comes to a screeching halt so Science can be Explained. Regrettably, my feelings about the ending are mainly relief that it's over.

Bookburners Season 2, Episode 5: Debtor's Prison by Mur Lafferty
Category: Sequels & Series
SFFKIT: Short Fiction

An enjoyable return to the Bookburners universe, with a romp around Iceland and the tension growing about Asanti's loyalties. I liked the mall fight.