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2019 Hugo nominees: Best Novella
Jul. 24th, 2019 08:21 pmHi, I'm a dumbass who didn't make notes about these books as she read them, including the ones she read last year, so my summaries may be even briefer than usual.
Artificial Condition, Martha Wells
This is the second Murderbot story, and I haven't read the first. Fortunately, I don't think it's necessary to read the first book, not in the least because this one really plodded for me; I had a hard time connecting emotionally to Murderbot and its story. Two and a half stars.
Beneath the Sugar Sky, Seanan McGuire
I read this last year and vaguely remember liking it, though not as much as the first book in the series; none of the subsequent ones have lived up to Every Heart a Doorway, IMO. Still, I enjoyed it enough to give it four stars on Goodreads.
Binti: The Night Masquerade, Nnedi Okorafor
Another one I read last year and didn't review on Goodreads beyond setting the number of stars. I recall very clearly that I absolutely hated something that happens about two-thirds of the way through the book, and while I was relieved it was undone by the end, the fact that it could be undone is a writing issue in and of itself. A disappointing followup to the first two books, although not without merit; I gave it three stars on Goodreads.
The Black God’s Drums, P. Djèlí Clark
For a story that's only as long as a novella, there's a ton of worldbuilding here: an alternate history New Orleans that survived the Civil War (now in detente) as a free city populated by ex-slaves. The plot combines magic, African/Afro-Caribbean religion, steampunk, and a turn-of-the-century Wild West feel, and I loved it a lot. Five stars.
Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach, Kelly Robson
I wanted to like this more than I did; the post-climate/worldwide disaster setting felt realistic, and I liked that the book explored asexuality, disability, and transhumanism. It fell flat at the end for me, though, and while perfectly good, isn't as strong as other entries in this category. Three stars.
The Tea Master and the Detective, Aliette de Bodard
HOW MUCH DO I LOVE ALIETTE DE BODARD. A WHOLE LOT. A WHOLE WHOLE LOT. This is basically Sherlock Holmes in space, where Sherlock is a disgraced governess and Watson a down-on-her-luck ship AI living within De Bodard's Xuya Universe, and if that kind of AU sounds like your thing, you will love this book. It's a very close competition for me between this one and The Black God's Drums.
My rankings for now:
1. The Tea Master and the Detective
2. The Black God's Drums
3. Beneath the Sugar Sky
4. Binti: the Night Masquerade
5. Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach
6. Artificial Condition
Artificial Condition, Martha Wells
This is the second Murderbot story, and I haven't read the first. Fortunately, I don't think it's necessary to read the first book, not in the least because this one really plodded for me; I had a hard time connecting emotionally to Murderbot and its story. Two and a half stars.
Beneath the Sugar Sky, Seanan McGuire
I read this last year and vaguely remember liking it, though not as much as the first book in the series; none of the subsequent ones have lived up to Every Heart a Doorway, IMO. Still, I enjoyed it enough to give it four stars on Goodreads.
Binti: The Night Masquerade, Nnedi Okorafor
Another one I read last year and didn't review on Goodreads beyond setting the number of stars. I recall very clearly that I absolutely hated something that happens about two-thirds of the way through the book, and while I was relieved it was undone by the end, the fact that it could be undone is a writing issue in and of itself. A disappointing followup to the first two books, although not without merit; I gave it three stars on Goodreads.
The Black God’s Drums, P. Djèlí Clark
For a story that's only as long as a novella, there's a ton of worldbuilding here: an alternate history New Orleans that survived the Civil War (now in detente) as a free city populated by ex-slaves. The plot combines magic, African/Afro-Caribbean religion, steampunk, and a turn-of-the-century Wild West feel, and I loved it a lot. Five stars.
Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach, Kelly Robson
I wanted to like this more than I did; the post-climate/worldwide disaster setting felt realistic, and I liked that the book explored asexuality, disability, and transhumanism. It fell flat at the end for me, though, and while perfectly good, isn't as strong as other entries in this category. Three stars.
The Tea Master and the Detective, Aliette de Bodard
HOW MUCH DO I LOVE ALIETTE DE BODARD. A WHOLE LOT. A WHOLE WHOLE LOT. This is basically Sherlock Holmes in space, where Sherlock is a disgraced governess and Watson a down-on-her-luck ship AI living within De Bodard's Xuya Universe, and if that kind of AU sounds like your thing, you will love this book. It's a very close competition for me between this one and The Black God's Drums.
My rankings for now:
1. The Tea Master and the Detective
2. The Black God's Drums
3. Beneath the Sugar Sky
4. Binti: the Night Masquerade
5. Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach
6. Artificial Condition