Subjective Chaos Update - Best YA and Best Science Fiction

Hellooo!

Time for a quick Subjective Chaos update as I race towards the finish line of the first round

Best YA Novel

An unusual and short group first. Sadly We Light Up The Sky and The Mirror Season just failed to click with me or hold my attention. That leaves House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland which definitely appealed to my inner horror reader with its grungy chic and disturbing tale. I also still really liked The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna. AS I have to vote for two I think this group will be straightforward!

Best Science Fiction

A huge and varied set of books awaited me in this round. Sadly I was not able to bond with Alyx, Firebreak, The Unravelling or Several-People-Are-Typing. Other judges have enjoyed them so clearly it’s me not the book’s fault.

As for the rest

Far From The Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson – For me this is the most interesting ‘disaster in space’ SF story we’ve had for a while.  IN a marketplace where The Martian is felt to be a great book I thought this was filled with more interesting characters, better action and pacing also some clear messages on who gets into space in the first place and how the past is always there.

Notes From The Burning Age by Claire North – I still definitely love this tale of climate change yet told in a post apocalyptic future crossed with a Le Carre style plot. Its that uncomfortable idea that we are the ones who always create our misfortune and that science won’t have all the answers. Spy story with a twist of horror on top combined with North’s prose was a joy to read.

Meet Me in Another Life by Catriona Silvey – This was so so close to being a perfect book with a wildly inventive tale on parallel universes and some clever exploration of relationships. However the guessable-Twilight Zone ending for me still disappoints but the ride is still worth going on.

Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky – moving into space opera and destroying the Earth very early on is the sumptuous start to a new series. Its got lots going on, great characters and its got a huge sense of scale – when your enemy is the size of a moon that is to be expected! A great read.

A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine – Last book I read for this group was well worth the wait and is the kind of thoughtful intelligent science fiction focused on the idea of communication that I really enjoyed getting my teeth into. A story where the people scenes are always more interesting than the giant space battles for me is the most interesting tale.

I have to choose two from this group – that will be HARD!

Now I’ve three categories to finish off by early July so in the meantime have fun!