Category: Space Opera

March 2022

2/28/2022

This month's book club pick is The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers! We will be meeting in an online video chat on Thursday, March 31st at 6:30 pm!

Becky Chambers is a science fiction author based in Northern California. She is best known for her Hugo Award-winning Wayfarers series, which currently includes The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, A Closed and Common Orbit, Record of a Spaceborn Few, and Galaxy and the Ground Within. Her books have also been nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the Locus Award, and the Women's Prize for Fiction, among others. Having hopped around the world a bit, she's now back in her home state, where she lives with her wife. She hopes to see Earth from orbit one day.

So, What's The Book About?

Follow a motley crew on an exciting journey through space--and one adventurous young explorer who discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe--in this light-hearted debut space opera from a rising sci-fi star.

Rosemary Harper doesn't expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past. An introspective young woman who learned early to keep to herself, she's never met anyone remotely like the ship's diverse crew, including Sissix, the exotic reptilian pilot, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks who keep the ship running, and Ashby, their noble captain.

Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy--exactly what Rosemary wants. It's also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunneling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn't part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other.

To survive, Rosemary's got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs--an experience that teaches her about love and trust, and that having a family isn't necessarily the worst thing in the universe.

via GIPHY

If this sounds like something you would like to read, you can get your copy of the book from the store for 15% off when you order with us: in-store, online, over the phone (828.386.1219), or via email. Our booksellers will be happy to help you get the book in the format that you prefer!

Buy Online

Paperback
EBook
Audiobook

We are open to the public Mon-Sat from 11am-6pm so you can pickup orders at the register. However, you can also pickup your book using our pickup basket at the front door or the drive thru window. We're available for pickup Mon-Sat from 9am-6pm. We simply ask that you call ahead when coming to get your order. We also offer free media mail shipping for orders $30+ and free local delivery (within Boone town limits). Getting your book to you as conveniently as possible is important to us!

Finally, you can add the event to your calendar from ours (check the event page) to get reminders & updates about any changes to the event!

Reviews & Interviews

The Joy of the Journey - Tor
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet: Book Review - The Lesbian Review
Interview: Becky Chambers on The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet & Writing Welcoming Science Fiction - The Mary Sue
A Q&A with Becky Chambers - Women's Prize for Fiction

0 Comments

September 2020

9/3/2020

1 Comment

This month our book club will be discussing one of Mary's recent favorite books, Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. This book is the first in the Locked Tomb trilogy and the second book, Harrow the Ninth, was released earlier this year. It is Muir's debut title.

Tamsyn Muir is a horror, fantasy and sci-fi author whose works have appeared in Nightmare Magazine, F&SF, Fantasy Magazine, Weird Tales, and Clarkesworld. Her fiction has received nominations for the Nebula Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, the World Fantasy Award and the Eugie Foster Memorial Award. She has spent the majority of her life in Howick, New Zealand, with time spent living in Waiuku and central Wellington. She currently lives and teaches in Oxford, in the United Kingdom.

Keep reading to find the summary, reviews of the book, interviews with the author, and info about how to buy your book from us in various formats.

The Summary

The Emperor needs necromancers.

The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.

Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead nonsense.

Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as arcane revenants. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.

Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service.

Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will be become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.

Of course, some things are better left dead.

via GIPHY

If this sounds like something you would like to read, you can get your copy of the book from the store for 15% off when you order with us: online, over the phone (828.386.1219), or via email. This title is also available from our audiobook partner, Libro.fm, as a DRM-free audiobook--buy it here.

You can pickup your book using our pickup basket at the front door or the drive thru window. We also offer free media mail shipping & local delivery (within Boone town limits).

Reviews & Interviews

"Smart, Snarky 'Gideon The Ninth' Swears Her Way Through The Stars" -- NPR Books

"Gideon the Ninth is about lesbian necromancers in space. Obviously, it's perfect."
-- Vox

"Wet Hot Necrogoth Summer: A Non-Spoiler Review of Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir" -- Tor.com

"Interview with Tamsyn Muir: The gay goth space opera of our dreams" -- BookPage

"The Horror of it All! A Conversation with Tamsyn Muir" -- Clarkesworld

1 Comment

Fantasy & Science Fiction Book Club

March 2022

So, What's The Book About?

Buy Online

Reviews & Interviews

September 2020

The Summary

Reviews & Interviews

Authors

Event Link

Archives

Categories

Foggy Pine Books: Stories to Shake the Fog
#foundinthefog

Hours

Telephone

Social Media Handle

Fantasy & Science Fiction Book Club

March 2022

So, What's The Book About?

Buy Online

​Reviews & Interviews

September 2020

The Summary

Reviews & Interviews

Authors

Event Link

Archives

Categories

Foggy Pine Books: Stories to Shake the Fog#foundinthefog

Hours

​Telephone

Social Media Handle

Reviews & Interviews

Foggy Pine Books: Stories to Shake the Fog
#foundinthefog

Telephone