10/2023
No review, as this book is a Philip K. Dick Award nominee, and I am the coordinator for the award ceremony at Norwescon. While I have no input into the selection of nominees or judging, I want to be sure to avoid any appearance of influence.
Tade Thompson
📚 The Survival of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson
9/2023 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Does a great job of building on the story and events of the first. Answers some questions, but raises many more. Very much looking forward to the next book.
📚 The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson
8/2023 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dark, disturbing, and violent, but also fascinating. The situation is bizarre, but the exploration of the protagonist and how they deal (or don’t) with the events is really strong.
2022 PKD Award Thoughts 📚
As I have for the past several years, I’ve read all of this year’s Philip K. Dick Award nominated works.
This year had a nice strong slate, I’ve actually had a hard time picking which I’d choose for the top spot. Top three is pretty easy, but top spot…that’s more difficult.
My picks for top three: Nino Cipri’s Defekt, Tade Thompson’s Far From the Light of Heaven, and Lavie Tidhar’s The Escapement. All of them were the kind of stories that took up residence in my brain and poked me for a few days afterwards, which is always a good sign.
If I had to pick a top choice (and I don’t have to, but then, what would be the point of this post), I think I’d go with Far From the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson. Amusingly, it was one of two “murder mystery in space involving an investigator dealing with misbehaving AIs” stories (the other being Kali Wallace’s Dead Space); both were good, but I found Thompson’s to be my preference — admittedly, possibly somewhat influenced by my prior enjoyment of Thompson’s earlier Wormwood trilogy.
Of the books I haven’t mentioned yet, Jason Sanford’s Plague Birds was an enjoyable adventure and well worthy of being nominated; and Giacomo Satori’s Bug was the only one of this year’s picks that just didn’t work for me.
As noted, though, another strong slate, and I’m looking forward to seeing who wins this year (and my tongue-in-cheek advance apologies to Tade Thompson; as his book is my favorite, if historical trends hold true, another book will take the top spot…but hey, maybe this year is the year to change that)!
📚 Far From the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson
12/2022 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Philip K. Dick Award Nominee
A locked-room murder mystery in space, with mysterious AIs, interstellar politics, and somewhat mystic aliens. I really enjoyed Thompson’s earlier Wormwood trilogy, and this absolutely holds up. His characters are fascinating and very real (even when artificial), and motivations are not always as clear cut as they might seem.
📚 eight of 2020: The Rosewater Redemption by Tade Thompson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #PKDickAward nominee
An excellent conclusion to a fascinating trilogy. Wrapped everything up nicely, satisfactory ends for all the characters, and a very interesting take on alien invasion.
📚 seven of 2020: The Rosewater Insurrection by Tade Thompson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As fascinating as the first book, this tale of invasion broadens the scope, giving more detail on the alien invaders and moving to a multiple viewpoint narrative. Really enjoying this series.
📚 six of 2020: Rosewater, by Tade Thompson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Really neat blend of alien invasion, psychic abilities, and the Nigerian setting. As with 2017 #PKDickAward nominee After the Flare by Deji Bryce Olukotun, I really enjoy the non-Western setting and influences.
It’s this year’s Philip K. Dick Award nominees (plus two, as one nominee was the third book in a trilogy)! 📚
Ada Hoffman, The Outside
Megan E. O’Keefe, Velocity Weapon
Susan Palwick, All Worlds Are Real
Sarah Pinsker, Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into the Sea
Tade Thompson, The Rosewater Redemption
Sarah Tolmie, The Little Animals
