Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library Reader Advisory Blog: embassytown

Here are five titles available at your Community Library from Kirkus's recently published a list of "Can't Miss Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2011." In Among Others, 15-year-old Morwenna finds escapes into scifi novels after the mysterious death of her twin. The Wise Man's Fear (a personal favorite of librarian Carolyn W.) is the sequel to Name of the Wind, and follows the adventures of Kvothe, a wise-cracking university student and jack-of-all-trades seeking answers about his parent's deaths. In Richard Matheson's Other Kingdoms, a soldier's retreat to a peaceful English village after World War I turns into something more sinister when he ignores local superstitions, while in The Quantum Thief, a criminal is broken out of a diabolical future prison in exchange for agreeing to steal a valuable artifact. Last but not least, China Mieville's literary Embassytown tells the story of how humans teach aliens how to lie, with disastrous results.

If you're a fan of science fiction and fantasy, here are a few brand-new releases just for you! In Queen of Kings, Cleopatra is re-imagined as a shape-shifting vampire bent on vengeance against those who have wronged her family. Meanwhile, Hounded by Kevin Hearne looks at the ancient history of another part of the Earth for inspiration, though the story is set in modern times: Atticus O'Sullivan, the last of the Druids, finds his peaceful life shattered by the arrival of an angry Celtic god who wants Atticus's magical sword. Another contemporary fantasy story, Dead Reckoning, continues the wildly popular Southern Vampire series with clairvoyant Sookie Stackhouse witnessing the firebombing of the bar where she works, and also discovering that her vampire lover, Eric Northman, and his "child," Pam, are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master.

Additionally, two new books deal with human colonization of space. In Fuzzy Nation by Hugo-winning author John Scalzi, contractor Jack Holloway believes he has become a wealthy man when he discovers a gem node on a distant planet, until he encounters an indigenous race of small, furry and very sentient beings who his corporate partners would eliminate to secure their stake in the treasure (probably a good read for fans of the movie Avatar). In Embassytown by China Mieville, Avice Benner Cho tries to keep a tenuous peace on planet settled by both humans and the alien Ariekei when the arrival of a new group threatens to upset their fragile balance. Any other suggestions for great new scifi/fantasy? Comment!

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Genre: Adult Non-Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5

"Being Mortal is about the limitations of what modern medicine can provide for people as their lives draw to a close. Gawande argues that the objective of medicine should not merely be treatment and survival; medical care should also ensure dignity in death and having control over one's final moments. He argues that instead of aggressively fighting the inescapable realities of aging, we should ask the hard questions of ourselves and our loved ones -- What makes life worth living? When should we try to extend our lives, and when should we choose a better quality of our remaining days over extending their quantity?

This book is difficult to read. Not because of the way Gawande writes -- his style is highly engaging, and he never lapses into excessively scientific jargon or overly simplistic explanations -- but because of the tough subject matter. Gawande draws on his own experiences as a doctor and peppers his book with honest and humane stories of his patients, friends, and family; the stories he tells make the book more accessible, and also more heartbreaking. (And that's not a bad thing.)

No one likes to think about their loved ones', or their own, impending mortality. But it's important to have these hard conversations, because as Gawande says, "endings matter." - Amanda

Can't Miss SciFi & Fantasy

New SciFi/Fantasy