Review roundups make Fridays better for people.

[seanan_mcguire]

I'm still recovering from Disneyland, which means I'm slow-moving and easily confused, sort of like the last dinosaur standing at the Cambrian border and going "Huh, I wonder if that comet wants to be friends with me." Here. Have some reviews. This is what my brain can handle.

Australian Speculative Fiction in Focus has posted a conversational review of the overall Newsflesh trilogy. This is a really nifty format for reviewing! I like it a lot, although it sort of prevents pull quotes. Spoilers abound, naturally, as they're discussing the series as a whole.

Geek Girls Rule has posted a review of Ashes of Honor, and says, "I enjoyed this book immensely. It was everything I want and expect from a Toby Daye novel: A fast read, an emotional roller coaster, with a fairly intricate plot." Spiffy! Also, she refers to "the Simon Torquill Traveling Show of Evil Bullshit." I would like tickets to this midway, please and thank you.

Kathy Takes On Books has posted a review of Ashes of Honor, and says, "McGuire is colorful and describes people, scenes, and battles beautifully. She does an incredible job of blending the supernatural wonders of the fae with the down home qualities of Toby and overlaying it all with very human values." I am colorful because I am secretly a Disney princess.

Jonathan Crowe has posted a review of the overall Newsflesh trilogy, and says, "The devil is in the details, which McGuire just nails: the testing and decontamination protocols, and how people's lives are distorted and diminished by them. The books say quite a bit about fear and security theatre that is certainly applicable to contemporary events, but McGuire isn't beating you about the head with an agenda here. The books' focus is first and foremost on the characters, their cares and their wants, and McGuire imbues them with life and affection, and she makes you care about them." Spoilers abound.

Calico Reaction has posted a review of "San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats," and says, "The overall story, a documentary of sorts, was so sad. And yet, weirdly cathartic. I can't describe it any other way. There were so many fantastic little moments where my heart ached for these people, especially as the story reached the end." I so want to write Space Crime Continuum fanfic, I can't even.

Finally for today, CC2K has posted a review of Ashes of Honor. Um. An advance review, originally, which says something about how behind I am on these. Anyway, she says, "If you dig urban fantasy, this is one of the best out there. If you're looking to try the genre for the first time, this series could be the place to start." Dude.

That's all for today. Catch you when I'm less prehistoric.

Comments

[taldragon.livejournal.com]

this might not be a good link for today (it's thinky) but, with your Mira Grant hat on, what do you think about this LJ post about zombies? http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/348481.html

edit: Mira Grant gets a mention in the comments :)

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Aw, yay.

[sirriamnis.livejournal.com]

Geek Girls Rule here. I'm glad you like the review, and the comment about Simon. I am an unabashed Seanan and Mira fangirl, and have been enthusing about these books to every and anyone who'll listen.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And don't worry, the circus will be coming to town soon enough.

[ladymurmur.livejournal.com]

San Diego 2014 makes me cry in the most glorious way.

[beccastareyes]

Same here. I felt a bit bad because I read part of it in a restaurant and I didn't want the waitstaff to think it was somehow their fault that I was sobbing into my sandwich. No, seriously, it's just the book.

[shanejayell.livejournal.com]

*lol*

Sorry, but... just funny mental image.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Aw, yay.

[kaberett.livejournal.com]

UNHELPFUL GEOLOGIST NERDERY FOLLOWS

The Cambrian began 540 million years ago, and was when things decided EXOSKELETONS ARE AWESOME YO and the fossil record really got going. (Before that we have, um, bacterial mats. And not a lot else. But they're awesome because we can use them to track how long Earth days & for that matter years were back then!)

The Cretaceous, on the other hand, followed the Jurassic and Triassic and ended 65 million years ago with the KT (Cretaceous-Tertiary) boundary, noted in the geological record around the world for the impact glasses that provide evidence for a major meteor strike ;)

[dornbeast.livejournal.com]

I think this falls under "easily confused."

[kaberett.livejournal.com]

But - but - but there WEREN'T ANY TRILOBITES IN THE CRETACEOUS! ;__________; Won't anybody think of the trilobites, etc.

[chalcedony.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I was dithering on about whether or nor to post the correction. I'm so glad I saw your comment before I repeated it. :)

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I kind of love you for this.

[shanejayell.livejournal.com]

I love reading reviews for your books. They're often very entertaining. :D

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[calico-reaction.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the shout-out! :)

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Oh, always.

[sursum-ursa.livejournal.com]

"I am colorful because I am secretly a Disney princess."

I get the distinct impression you're the kind of Disney princess with a horde of tame (though possibly killer) zombie squirrels at your command.

Maybe that's just me.

I'm not sure if this is the place to ask random Toby-related questions. Or indeed if there is a place to ask random Toby-related questions, but: what is Toby's used-to-be-Dare's knife supposed to look like? (Squinting at the pictures has given me the impression that it has a rather peculiar blade shape, but it might just be my eyes.) Better Half has promised to buy me a knife to go with my Toby costume for Christmas...if I can tell him what it looks like. Apparently, "so there's kind of a circular bit at the top, like this *gestures at picture*, and a fairly curved hilt-type arrangement and the blade is shaped like...like... *squints some more* a dagger? A dirk? A hunting knife? OK, I have no idea." is not sufficient information for him. Go figure. :)

We're both really big fans, though I have yet to persuade him to don tabby stripes or pointy ears. (Team Tybalt: Because We Like Our Intestines On The Inside, Thanks) I'm working on it.

Thank you!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

You know, I've never really specified, in part because Toby doesn't know the technical terms for knives, and in part so all cosplay will be accurate?

[sursum-ursa.livejournal.com]

I like your style, Ms McGuire. :)

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks. :)

[geekhyena.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the review roundup - I always enjoy reading reviews, and since I've read 2/3 of the books in the Newsflesh series (waiting for copy of book 3 to arrive), they were very informative!

Also, was at Zombieburger last night celebrating, and thought of your series. The burgers have names like 28 Days Later (my favorite), They're Coming to Get You Barbara, the Undead Elvis, Planet Terror, and Juan of the Dead, and I found myself wondering if they'll ever make a burger inspired by your works. If you're ever in Des Moines, I highly recommend it as a restaurant. The burgers are excellent, their shakes are famous (especially the ones with breakfast cereal in them), and they have the best fries in the Midwest. Congratulations - you've gotten me to really enjoy zombie fiction! (well, so far it's just your work and some of the ones on Pseudopod, like We're All Very Lively and Sons of Carbon County)

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I will totally have to go there for a burger someday.

[geekhyena.livejournal.com]

If you'd like, I could get you a t-shirt the next time I go there.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I'm good.