There were once three sisters in Nettle & Bone, all princesses of a small city-state called the Harbour Kingdom. The eldest, Damia, married Prince Vorling of the Northern Kingdom. Five months later Damia was dead. The middle sister, Kania, married the now-widowed Prince Vorling, while the youngest of the three, Marra, was sent to a…
ROUNDTABLE: WWAC Reads Books! September Brought us Deep Satisfaction and Teen Thrills
The back-to-school vibes caught us in September, as a lot of WWAC Readers enjoyed books about teens this month! We’ve got horror, adventure, romance, nuanced fantasy world-building, and a philosophical look at bookselling and society. And as always, we’ve got magnificent taste.
2023 Ignyte Awards: N. E. Davenport, Nghi Vo and John Chu Among Winners
Although the virtual convention FIYAHCON has been on hiatus since 2021, one of its draws has carried on unabated: the annual Ignyte Awards. The 2023 iteration of these awards, which celebrate diverse science fiction and fantasy, took place on Saturday 21 October. The Ignytes have three novel categories, divided by age range. The category for…
Space Opera, Social Commentary and Twisted Fairy Tales Win at China’s First Hugo Awards
The winners of the 2023 Hugo Awards were announced this Saturday. A whole year’s worth of science fiction and fantasy talent as voted for by members of the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) were duly honoured with gleaming trophies in the shape of a panda with a rocket. The winner of the Hugo Award for…
REVIEW: VenCo by Cherie Dimaline
When I was younger, one of my favourite movies was Practical Magic, starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock. I loved the magic, the comedy, the sense of female camaraderie. Reading VenCo, the latest from best-selling author Cherie Dimaline, had all of the same vibes I used to enjoy from that movie. But instead of sisters,…
Timothy Zahn and Martha Wells Among Winners of 2023’s Rejigged Dragon Awards
The Atlanta convention Dragon Con handed out its eighth set of Dragon Awards on Sunday. Voted for by the public via an online poll, the awards have been a fixture of the annual convention since 2016 and celebrate science fiction and fantasy storytelling across a variety of media. The Best Science Fiction Novel category was…
WWAC Reads Books! August Brought Romance, Trans Poetry and Gripping Twists
This month we read and enjoyed eclectically: everything from classic fantasy adventure, to trans poetry, to young adult romance, to creepy fairy tale reboot and to contemporary suspense. Whatever your taste, our August reading has you covered!
ROUNDTABLE: WWAC Reads Books! July brought us nostalgia, mutual aid insights, and appreciation for rereads
Well, it’s hot and humid here in the U.S. Northeast, a perfect time to lounge with a book in the shade. This month, WWAC contributors have read the latest by speculative fiction Grand Master Connie Willis, gained a close-up look at Mutual Aid maven Miss Major, and gained a new appreciation for older speculative fiction…
ESSAY: Dead at 55: Return of the Living Dead (1978)
Continuing a series that celebrates the fifty-fifth anniversary of Night of the Living Dead with a look at the classic zombie film and its many follow-ups. What was the first sequel to Night of the Living Dead? Most horror fans would reply Dawn of the Dead. Yet there is another contender for this honour: Return of…
REVIEW: Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle offers Both Tingles and Camp (Spoiler-free)
In Camp Damascus, a young adult thriller by Hugo-award finalist Chuck Tingle, Rose is a smart, neurodivergent high school senior. She’s developing a crush on a girl in her class. She loves Jesus and scientific research. We swiftly learn that Rose’s parents ration her time looking up information because they worry her hunger for knowledge…
ROUNDTABLE: WWAC Reads Books! June Brings Resistance, David Levithan, and Fantasy Romance
This month at WWAC, we’ve sauntered into summer with a collection of fantastic reads, from gripping middle grades fiction, to a new high fantasy from Martha Wells, to a winner of the Booker Prize, to a politically progressive anthology, and points beyond. Read on for a number of ways (the number is eight) to expand…
REVIEW: Translation State by Ann Leckie Sets Off the Space Canon
A new novel by Ann Leckie is an event to anticipate and Translation State is just as gripping and beautifully written as we’ve come to expect from her. Go ahead and take the day off from work to read this one all at once. Then you can go back and reread it at your leisure.