Probably nobody knows, because I’m hella late when it comes to announcements that may get me ahead in my career, but I review for the SF Signal now (be afraid). It’s a monthly event as time runs short on my end for my turtle eyes (unfortunate, but what can you do). My very first review became live in August along with an introduction.
The first book I chose was Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa? by Andrew Bergen. You can find the full review HERE. This month I take aim at the latest release by Dagan Books, the breathtaking Bibliotheca Fantastica edited by Don Pizarro – review HERE. Both books have one thing in common and that is both titles haven’t caused a wave amidst the blogosphere (yet!). The reason I did this is because I’m a hipster and because I hope the reviews create more visibility for both titles.
Hipster joke aside, I intend to use the immense platform SF Signal has created to highlight books of good quality which for one reason or another have gone under the radar and become excluded from the bigger conversation in our community. A spot on SF Signal might change this however slightly.
The criteria when it comes to choosing the next titles to review:
- Books by small presses
- Books in niches or hard-to-pin-down genres
- Books with QUILTBAG characters (preferably main)
- Books with people of colour as characters (preferably main)
- Books written by international authors (for a different perspective)
It’s a good set of criteria, which I’m sure will bring me to some fascinating fiction in near future and will help me change my book choices in the future, learn where to look for hidden gems and generally be useful to the greater discussion.
This is the moment where you come in. I’m certainly making my own list, but I’d very much like your recommendations, which fit what I’m looking for in the small list above.
Comment in the post or send me an email at haralambimarkov [at] gmail [com].
Anything by KS Augustin (http://www.ksaugustin.com/), but in particular WAR GAMES and IN ENEMY HANDS.
She mixes hard sf with romance, space opera, a splash of heat, and more.
If you want to taste her work for free, she has a fun short out called COLLATERAL DAMAGE: http://www.sandalpressonline.com/collateral-damage/
Anything by Ann Somerville (http://annsomerville.net/), but in particular COLD FRONT, SOMATESTHESIA, INTERSTITIAL, and ON WINGS, RISING (list of her books here: http://annsomerville.net/store/). She writes m/m, space opera, noir, you name it.
It doesn’t get any more niche, multicultural, or QUILTBAG than these ladies.
When you post a review of their work, I’d be happy to help spread the link love. Give me a holler at sfrgalaxy “at” gmail.com
Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s debut collection, This Strange Way of Dying. The majority of the stories are either set in Mexico, or feature Mexican protagonists.
Just about anything published by Crossed Genres is a good bet. Same with Innsmouth Free Press and Dagan Books. Masque Books (Prime’s new e-book line) is focusing on fiction by and about under-represented groups.
I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but Sunny Moraine’s Line and Orbit is (I believe) QUILTBAG space opera.