Litsy

When the Moon Hits Your Eye | John Scalzi

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#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC

Expected publication: 27 March 2025

I'm shamelessly quoting from the Afterword and Acknowledgements of the review copy I was generously granted: this is "a book about the moon turning to cheese, [...] each chapter represent[s] a day in the lunar cycle, each chapter with mostly different characters in mostly different places in the United States, reacting to it in ways specific [to] them alone"

⬇️

julesG What more can I tell you about the book? The title of the book gave me an earworm, but not in a bad way. Each chapter is different, first of all because each chapter has it's own main character(s), who might show up in one of the other 27 chapters again; but also because the style of each chapter is different, one of the chapters is a chat-log, for example.

⬇️ 6d

julesG Kudos to Mr Scalzi for casually throwing in a historical detail from the 12th century that happened in a city near where I grew up. That's some weird pub-quiz trivia to include in a story about cheese or the moon.

If you have read Scalzi's work before, you will certainly like it. If you haven't read his work before, what are you waiting for? 6d

LeeRHarry I reading this one atm 😊

The Kaiju Preservation Society

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julesG @LeeRHarry Which is also very good! 6d

mariaku21 I'm just thinking of the song now!! And I had just watched 'Moonstruck' the other night 😂 5d

julesG @mariaku21 it's hard not to get an earworm 5d

56 likes6 comments

Robotswithpersonality

Under Fortunate Stars | Ren Hutchings

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I don't THINK any of this is a spoiler but I went into the book knowing nothing at all and had a wonderful time, so maybe just take my recommendation to read it, and come back to this review if you feel like sharing the love (or yelling at me) after you've read it. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? Absolutely thrilled to be able to add another author to my shortlist of humanity-forward sci-fi. If you've read any Becky Chambers, you know the vibe I'm talking about. Yes, there are ships, and worlds, and aliens, and even wars, but what counts is the communication and compassion between people, between beings. 7d

Robotswithpersonality 3/? There is another way this book could have been written, pacing-wise, to add a thriller element, and it would have driven me up the wall. There are a lot of things to find out throughout this story, but I never felt like anything was being dragged out for meaningless suspense, that the reader was being exposed to an odious individual just to increase tension. 7d

Robotswithpersonality 4/? Perhaps even more so than is seen in Chambers' Wayfarers series, the people we meet in this book have flaws and vulnerabilities and even traumatic pasts, and it makes all the difference. It's an ensemble cast, and multiple POVs and timelines/flashbacks result in a lot of ground to cover, but again, it never really loses an intimate feel, even if the story is fairly epic in scope. 7d

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Robotswithpersonality 5/? Less chosen one narrative, than introducing the idea that people can choose, that whole 'bravery is being scared and doing it anyway' thing, with a strong element of redemption, 'this is my chance to help' kinda deal. 7d

Robotswithpersonality 6/? I can almost see a reader complaining that they saw a certain story thread coming, but I think that has more to do with a well-plotted tale, you are brought to an inevitable conclusion, the only one that would fit. Not fate, destiny, faith, or even miracles, as much as that last word is bandied about, more a chance to touch history, question the facts, and decide you want to do your part, because it's one of the good things humanity's done. 7d

Robotswithpersonality 7/? The best parts of Star Trek First Contact and Star Trek Generations combined: In a place where time seems to stand still, meeting people who were part of important historical events, meeting your heroes from history and the dawning comprehension of all the edges they contain that history has polished off, if you loved those aspects of those two movies, I think you will really love this book. 7d

Robotswithpersonality 8/8 Suffice to say the only dismaying discovery I made was that this is Hutchings' debut novel, so I cannot immediately dive into her backlist and will now have to wait for her next book, evidently it will be in the same universe as this stand alone, coming out Fall 2025. Highly anticipated! 7d

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Robotswithpersonality

Under Fortunate Stars | Ren Hutchings

Second instance of Shaan cutting efficiently through the BS. Maybe it's personally motivated, but it propels the plot, and I love her for it. 👏🏻

7 likes

RamsFan1963

Ringworld | Larry Niven

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112/150 Finally finished November's #ClassicLSFBC selection. I first read this when I was around 17 and thought it was a great adventure, but looking back on it 44 years later, I see the more obvious flaws. I still enjoyed the Ringworld as an amazingly imaginative construct, something that would take multiple books to fully explore and understand, but the characters annoyed me more this time than before. Louis's attitude toward Teela, and all ⬇️

RamsFan1963 women for that matter, was extremely grating. Teela herself was pretty infuriating at first, but at least she improved a little by the end. The non-humans, Nessus and Speaker-to-Animals, were much more interesting than either human. I have the sequel to this that I might get around to reading one day. 3 ⭐⭐⭐💫 2w

AnishaInkspill yeah, this has flaws but there is something about it and I would also read the second one 2w

kwmg40 Agreed. The non-human characters were much more interesting. 1w

51 likes3 comments

Robotswithpersonality

Under Fortunate Stars | Ren Hutchings

When the cover art is pretty enough to use as the endpapers too. Love it. 😍

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Creme_de_la_them

Psychlone | Greg Bear

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Book #21 of 2024: “Psychlone” by Greg Bear

A decent atomic-era sci-fi novel from the 70s. It kept me engaged and wanting to see what would happen next. It‘s not light but it won‘t make you cry or ruin your mood.

1 like

AnishaInkspill

Ringworld | Larry Niven

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thanks @RamsFan1963 and #ClassicLSFBC, great pick

I enjoyed the wackiness and the comedy, but the flat characters, especially the women, left me a little exasperated at times. So, not a perfect novel but there are some interesting parts to it and I am intrigued to know how the story continues in the sequels.

DogMomIrene Astute observation! 2w

RamsFan1963 @AnishaInkspill I first read this when I was around 17 and thought it was great. 44 years later I see the flaws and flat characterization that alluded me before. I hope to finish this this weekend so I can start on Doomsday Book. 2w

AnishaInkspill @DogMomIrene 💛 💛 2w

AnishaInkspill @RamsFan1963 yeah that happens. I think books are wonderful in how we revisit them, and it's different to have we remember it One of my fav things about reading is rereading but I do have a lot of books as well - so it's not always easy.

Doomsday Book, I am tempted but I don't think I havethe time as the books I want to finish before the year ends are bit tough and will need more time with them, and want to join in future reads. 2w

14 likes4 comments

swynn

Sargasso of Space | Andre Norton

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(1955) This opener to Norton's "Solar Queen" series, following the adventures of an interplanetary trading ship, is one of my favorites from her. In this one, the crew make a risky gamble buying the trading rights to a newly-discovered planet sight-unseen. They are devastated to learn the trading rights are practically worthless -- and then the adventure begins.

24 likes

swynn

Ringworld | Larry Niven

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(1970) I'm embarrassed to say that this was my first time reading this, though it's been a book I've meant to get around to since I was a teenager. It's very much up my alley, as I love the "big dumb object" trope. Characters and gender roles are ... straight outta 1970 ... but themes of population and social engineering are very much still relevant and gave me plenty to ponder. I wish I'd read it first years ago so this could have been a reread.

23 likes

Ruthiella

Ringworld | Larry Niven

A couple of questions for any who have finished this month‘s #ClassicLSFBC pick. If anyone would like to be added or removed from the tag list, let me know.

🚀 The reason for the name for Nessus‘ species of aliens “Pierson‘s puppeteer” only becomes evident later in the book. Why do you think we humans (and kzin) dislike being manipulated, even when it‘s to their benefit? Were the puppeteers “playing god”?

BookmarkTavern, wanderinglynn, Readergrrl, Johanna414, The_Literary_Jedi, KathyWheeler, Lizpixie, BookBelle84, Larkken, julesG, Deblovestoread, majkia, LeticiaToraci, sebrittainclark, kwmg40, rwmg, CatLass007, BookwormAHN, CSeydel, rretzler, RamsFan1963, TheSpineView, bnp, swynn, PaperbackPirate, Bookwomble, Klou, RaeLovesToRead, Roary47, MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm, AuthorCjwhitcomb , Lesliereadsalot, PageShifter, tokorowilliamwallace, MerlinTheSlightlyAwkward, Books_et_al, AnishaInkspill

The_Literary_Jedi No one likes the idea of not being in control; our entire society runs on this concept of having control. We scoff at those who say otherwise. This idea of an alien race guiding Humanity goes alongside other theories (religious, scientific, etc.) where Humanity need only get out of its own way but it‘s too blind to see. Kzin were warriors & now perhaps feel inferior & to know a 1-eyed, flying purple blob manipulated it…big yikes! 3w

bookwyrm7 I'm not sure I'll be able to join in December but I'll definitely like to be tagged, so I can hopefully join in next year! 3w

Bookwomble I apologise in advance for my “aktchooly“, but... 🤓 actually, they were called Pierson's Puppeteers because the first human to meet one, a man called Pierson, thought their necks and heads looked like sock puppets, and they were named after him and his observation. As this is mentioned in one of Niven's earlier short stories, it's not evident from the novel, and this is a purely pedantic point on my part. Again, my apologies 🤓 (edited) 3w

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Ruthiella @The_Literary_Jedi I think it‘s interesting that at one level humans dislike thinking they have been manipulated behaviorally when in many ways it‘s a normal aspect of our development and in some cases (when we pray, for example) we invite it. 3w

Ruthiella @bookwyrm7 Fantastic! The more the merrier. @RamsFan1963 if you haven‘t already, will you put @bookwyrm7 on the voting tag list? 3w

Ruthiella @Bookwomble No apologies necessary! That‘s the joy of discussion! So it‘s a second layer of meaning to their appellation. You know, before I saw the picture of them on my book cover, imagined them resembling a two headed Gonzo from the Muppets. 😂 3w

The_Literary_Jedi Flying purple people eaters is what I imagined when I first saw the cover 😆 - right! Being taught manners or morals or anything is natural until we realize it‘s being done 3w

RamsFan1963 @Ruthiella I will be sure to add @bookwyrm7 to the list for December 3w

Larkken No one wants to be livestock, and livestock are the result of selective breeding 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3w

Ruthiella @Larkken True that! 3w

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm It definitely opens the doors for discussing what free will really is and how much of it we actually have. I think people like the illusion of choice, so whether it‘s genuine or not, as long as they never find out, they‘re happy. It‘s easier to get my toddler dressed if I let him choose between two shirts rather than say, “Wear this,” and hand him one. He still gets dressed, but now the illusion is there that it‘s on his terms. 3w

Ruthiella @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm It‘s a great discussion point and it kind of ties into the “luck” question, doesn‘t it? How much of our lives is beyond our control, how much within our control and how much of our success or failure is determined by probabilities. 3w

AnishaInkspill I'd love answer this question but I'm half way and just enjoying the comedy. Being completely new to this I'm only listening to this when I can give it my fullest attention but only have 10 days before I have to return it. 3w

Ruthiella @AnishaInkspill I totally understand! 👍 Comment at will and whenever. 😃 3w

kwmg40 @Ruthiella Yes, the juxtaposition of luck and free will is an interesting part of the story. The manipulation of other races also made me think of the themes of our last book, Uplift. 3w

Ruthiella @kwmg40 I thought of Uplift too. I love it when books serendipitously mesh like that! 3w

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