You can’t deny it: Canadian author Margaret Atwood is the queen of dystopian fiction. In The Heart Goes Last, she takes us to Positron/Consilience, a prison/city where you’re given a home and a good life, provided you never want to leave. Set against a post-financial-apocalypse backdrop, Atwood’s novel examines the question of consent with its broadest possible lens. Continue reading
Not many books “get” mental illness. I wrote several months ago about how Hyperbole and a Half handled depression, and I stand by my assertion that it is one of the best depictions of mental illness I’ve ever seen. That being said, Monica Byrne’s The Girl in the Road is runner-up, beaten by Allie Brosh’s graphic novel memoir by only a hair. Continue reading
After watching Predestination, I knew I wanted to read “All You Zombies.” That I am not a fan of Robert A. Heinlein is well-documented. However, the film’s plot — which was knit together in classic science fiction style — drew me to the author for another go. Continue reading
I suppose it bears confessing: I’ve never been a huge fan of Robert A. Heinlein‘s work. I attempted Starship Troopers several years ago and – due to a complete lack of connection with either characters or story – was unable to complete it. I thought something must be wrong with me. I’ve always been a sci-fi fan, and Heinlein is well-respected in the genre. But for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to enjoy Starship Troopers. Continue reading