Posted by Sari
Elisa at Lonkeropiirakka issued an SF reading challenge which I noticed, thought it would be fun and promply forgot. When I was reminded of it, I noticed quite a number of books I had already read could be easily slotted to the challenge, so I decided to have a go and finish it this year. Thus my advent calendar this year will be reviews of the books I read for the challenge. 42 books and 24 days means two books most days, some days just one (or maybe an extra book!)
I am also adding tasting notes on tea varieties I have been lately drinking, they vary from Longjing and Darjeeling Muscatel to artifically flavoured teas and infusions which are not tea at all. My palate is also not very discerning so don't take these as especially expert opinions,. But let us begin.
Category 1, Science fiction book: Claire O'Dell: A Study in Honor.This novel could also have fitted into other slots on the list, mainly the "lgbt+ protagonist", "SF book with female protagonist" or "science fiction novel written by a woman" spots. But as those categories had plenty candidates, I decided to slot this one into the one of the easy basic cagegories. Claire O'Dell is a pseudonym of Beth Bernobich who has previously written fantasy. Here, as the name of the novel suggests she has taken Study in Scarlet and Holmes and Watson out for a modern spin.
"I object to rows because my nerves are shaken, and I get up at all sorts of ungodly hours, and I am extremely lazy. I have another set of vices when I’m well, but those are the principal ones at present.” (A Study in Scarlet)
This is pretty much as far a the original Dr. Watson goes in describing his PTSD, he gets over it pretty quick having fun with Sherlock on his adventures. O'Dell takes this, the basic setting of mysterious investigator and discharged army doctor sharing digs and really runs with it. To a brilliant effect. In A Study in Honor, USA is in the throws of a second civil war - a progressive latina president has turned out to be too much for MAGA-crowd and they have started a war. Dr. Janet Watson is invalided out of the army after she is shot in the arm during an evacuation, and the veteran's administration is reluctant to finance her a better artificial arm that would allow her to return to her work as a surgeon. She meets Sara Holmes who is apparently some kind of government investigator with all sorts of high-tech toys, and who offers to share her digs with Janet. Pretty soon both are involved in an investigation about a potential military cover-up.
There was lots to love: the main characters are great. Janet is believable, tough and suffering. Sara is brilliant, mercurial, and really annoying. The near future is chillingly plausible, the bureaucracy of veteran administration spot on, and though the plotting could maybe have been a bit more coherent, the mystery works well. Thanks to Jukka who once again came home with a novel saying "I think you might like this". I did.
Category 25, A Swedish SF Book: Karen Tidbeck: Amatka
Some of you know that I have a somewhat strict opinion of short stories. Only two people have ever written short stories worth a damn: Anton Chekov and Karin Tidbeck. So obviously I have been interested in what kind of novel Tidbeck has managed to produce. And it is intriguing. And layered. And so very Nordic. I should not have liked this as the story meticulously depicts the every day life of collectivist colonists surviving in a sparse alien place, where words shape environment. There is love and there is mystery, and there is tragedy, but it all unveils through such matter-of-fact nordic way that it should not be my thing. But the cadences of language, touches of surrealism and the understated but real characters made this a real winner.
Nordquist, Viisasten tee
This is a black tea flavoured with strawberry, lemon and pomegranate aromas and has bits of heather bell and pineapple mixed in. The instructions call for hot water brought up to 95-100 degrees, and brewing time of 1-2 minutes. It is one of the older and more popular flavours in Nordquist's wide selection. I found the flavour a bit soapy, and the fruity notes were mainly strawberry and pomegranate. Perfectly fine if you want something sweeter, but not a favourite.
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