books

I read…a lot. Here’s where I ramble about books and printed media.

Smut Peddler X: Ten Years of Impeccable Pornoglyphics edited by Andrea Purcell

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53/2024 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I picked up the original version of this book ten years ago, during its Kickstarter campaign, when an online acquaintance who contributed a story was promoting it. I enjoyed it then, and it was fun to revisit it a decade later, especially as I hadn’t re-read it since then, so had forgotten the majority of the stories, and the new content looking back at the original project was a nice addition. As with the six other books that now exist in the “Smut Peddler” series (seven if you count this 10th anniversary version separately), all of which live on my shelves, it’s a very enjoyable collection of fun, inclusive, explicit sexytimes.

For fun, my review of the original release: “I actually read this last year when I got the .pdf version from the Kickstarter project, the physical book was delivered earlier this year. I found the Kickstarter when one of my friends announced that she was contributing a piece to the project. Perhaps not my usual reading material, but I really enjoyed all of it — I don’t remember there being a bad entry in the bunch, and quite a few extremely good stories. Not at all disappointed to have it in my collection, and I’ll be adding the second volume when it’s Kickstarter project goes live.”

Me holding Smut Peddler X

Lost to Eternity by Greg Cox

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52/2024 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Almost four stars…but not quite. There are three connected storylines (it’s not a spoiler if it’s in the back cover blurb, right?): A modern-day (2024) true crime podcaster investigating the mysterious disappearance of one Gillian Taylor in 1986, Kirk and company in the third year of their original voyage rescuing an abducted scientist, and Kirk and company escorting envoys to a conference shortly before the events of The Undiscovered Country. Of the three storylines, I found the latter two to be fairly standard Trek adventure, and would occasionally get confused as to which point in time I was in for a moment when I switched chapters. However, the first storyline, as the podcaster tracks down various minor characters from The Voyage Home to try to figure out what happened to Gillian is great. I really enjoyed the glimpse into what happened on Earth after the events of the movie, and it was a lot of fun to build on many of the gags from the film. That storyline is by far the strongest, and the middle story is the weakest, with yet another “landing party beams down to a pre-industrial society and — surprise! — makes a complete hash of the Prime Directive” situation.
Still, even the weaker parts are entertaining, and Cox ties in lots of little nods to a lot of Trek true canon and beta (book) canon.

(This reaches my goal of 52 books read this year, nice and early! We’ll see how many I end up with in a few more months.)

Me holding Lost to Eternity

Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold

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48/2024 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recovering from the rather calamitous events of the last book, Miles has to solve an unusual murder mystery while trying to figure out how to deal with his two alternate lives. This one is less action and more introspection, mystery solving, and Barrayaran politics, always with Bujold’s signature wit and incredibly well-rounded, imperfect, and very real characters.

Me holding Memory

My Monster Girlfriend edited by Andrea Purcell and Amanda Lafrenais

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46/2024 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The latest in Iron Circus’s series of adult comic anthologies, and a sequel of-sorts to an earlier entry, My Monster Boyfriend. Befitting the theme, some are more horror based, while others are sweet and silly, but all are most definitely NSFW. Quite a few good offerings here, but I think Anderjak’s “Trash Mob Romance” was my favorite (sweet, funny, and what I read as nice ace representation while still fitting the theme of the anthology).

Me holding My Monster Girlfriend

The Captain’s Oath by Christopher L. Bennett

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45/2024 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Set over the course of a few years, just before and after Kirk takes command of the Enterprise. An interesting take on Kirk, not quite the captain he will become, still somewhat finding his footing. Plus some good pointed commentary on refugees and the assumptions that get made when they arrive in a new place.

Me holding The Captain's Oath

Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson

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43/2024 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1997 Hugo Best Novel

Earth is in crisis as Mars continues to transform, terraforming spreads through the rest of the solar system, and expanded lifespans prompt questions of population, ploitics, and how the mind and memory adapts to living so long. An excellent end to the series.

Me holding Blue Mars