Review: Unworthy by L. Marie Wood

Honestly, I'm not sure I got the best impression of this book without reading it multiple times. It's a novel-in-stories, and at least one of the stories actually ties in to another of Wood's works.

I don't hate novels-in-stories, but they don't tend to excite me, and this one is a bit of a mess. The prose is utterly beautiful, the horror is gorgeously creepy, but I found myself lost...and another reviewer suggested keeping notes.

Because this book felt like it had a theme instead of a plot. IMO, books need both. It's easy to follow each individual story, not as easy to establish how they really stick together. This is a book that's about vibes, not story.

It's emotional and will take you, if you let it, to a dark and in some cases slightly erotic (or at least sensual) place.

But if you want a coherent overall narrative, it doesn't provide that. I have always preferred Wood's shorter works, and this book does nothing to change my opinion.

That said, if you just let it kind of flow over you...it's an experience.

Review: A New Beginning by E.J. Isaacs

Sometimes, you can tell when reading a space opera book that the author is probably a Trekkie. In this case, I'm pretty sure Isaacs is, specifically, a fan of Voyager. Because that is what A New Beginning reminds me of. It starts by trying to fool you into thinking it's military SF, but it's not. It's pure Trek-inspired exploratory space opera with some interesting characters (many of then queer), a color changing alien, and engagement with ideas of colonialism.

(I'm not sure if he does so in the right way, but it was definitely a very Star Trek approach).

Oh, and there's some Discovery in there too, especially in the engagement with sentient AIs and the morality associated with them.

I definitely enjoyed this. It appears to be Isaacs' debut and the writing does show that in places. (And it could have used another proofreading pass, there are a few word choice errors).

It's not great literature, but I still recommend it to Star Trek fans...I think any Trekkie will enjoy spending some time on the Excalibur II.