Enthusiastically Ambiverted Hopepunk
Book 13 of 2026: Usurpration by Sue Burke.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: The last book in a trilogy, and does a good job of wrapping things up…or at least coming to an end, as in-world, the story is far from done. I don’t remember how I discovered the first book in the series, I’m glad I did. A fascinating non-human intelligence, and lots of themes of empathy and caring.
25/2023 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As fascinating as the first. Centuries after the events of the first book, another expedition from Earth arrives at Pax. Their ethnocentric assumptions cause enough difficulties, but when another sentience makes itself known, it all gets worse. More really neat explorations of how cultures change and adapt, how those changes influence communication and understanding, the biology of plant life, and alien intelligences. I’m excited to see that a third book should arrive next year.
Day 11: When the Seattle area hits 86° F in mid-May, it’s a great day to sit, read, and move as little as possible. Tomorrow’s supposed to be even hotter.
23/2023 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fascinating story of colonists struggling to survive on a new planet and working to communicate with the intelligences already on this world. Rather than a single central protagonist, the first few chapters are almost individual standalone stories, jumping a few decades at a time, before events accelerate towards the latter half of the book into a somewhat more traditional narrative. Really neat ideas on how very different species might find ways to communicate with each other. Enjoyed this enough that I just ordered its sequel.
