science fiction books

FANTASY+GIRL is going back to school with a series dedicated to the nostalgia of summer reading assignments! For the series, Emma C. Wells and EJ Wenstrom will be challenging each other with SFF books to read, and then come back to discuss.

Keep going--Emma and EJ have already announced what they're challenging each other to read first: 

Tune and and read along to join the discussion in the next episodes:

• What EJ is Assignging Emma to Read
• What Emma is Assignment EJ to Read

Go behind the scenes at Goldsboro’s much loved Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fiction book club, GSFF, as we celebrate its third anniversary. Meet the passionate team behind it and get the exclusive reveal about the upcoming special edition you don’t want to miss.

In which we ramble on about random things we like and a few things we don’t. 

NOTE: FANTASY+GIRLS stands with the HarperCollins union.

• Wow! It’s been an entire year since Emma and EJ hosted their last episode of SFF Girls. Last we saw our heroes, they were in a cabin in the Georgia mountains, drinking and making s’mores.
• Em plugs TikTok bc why not?
• It has been a good year for speculative fiction—but especially horror. 2021 was the year for Rom-Coms—but 2022 is all about the horror (and okay—rom-coms still reign supreme…but horror is having a moment!)
• Em shares how she went on sub in 2020 with a dark book, and it didn’t do well because no one was in the headspace to deal with a really dark book—but now it seems readers (and editors) have come back to the dark side.
• EJ talks about films like BARBARIAN, THE MENU, and NOPE. 
• Female cannibal stories are also having a moment. Em talks about the cannibal to smutty smut pipeline. 
• Em read WE WERE EARTHLINGS. Em suggests checking the trigger warnings before beginning this book. 
• The second book was BONES AND ALL—the book came out in 2015, and the movie was released recently. BONES AND ALL is a warm, coming of age story—except she eats people she cares about. Again, check the trigger warnings.
• Next up was TENDER IS THE FLESH. Holy crap. This book broke Em. 
• Em says the ending of the book is bad—but not BAD as in not good. Bad as in everything. Devastating.
• Next up for Em was A CERTAIN HUNGER—but after TENDER IS THE FLESH, she had to take a break from dark books, and this is how she discovered Ruby Dixon and alien corn. 
• EJ read and liked the book MANHUNT by Gretchen Felker-Martin.
• MANHUNT is a futuristic dystopian where there are no men. 
• The book centers on trans characters who are attempting to navigate this post-apocalyptic world that is being ransacked by an army of TERFs who are trying to reorganize society.
• Em asked EJ what horror movies she watched in 2022 that made her stand up and take notice.
• EJ segways into mentioning the amount of really good content that came out in 2022 and how it was almost too much—talk about decision paralysis. 
• EJ points out how she is over big franchises—simply because of the sheer amount of content. She says the exception is WANDAVISION. 
• Em asks if she has seen DOCTOR STRANGE and says that Marvel did Wanda very dirty in that movie.
• Em asks EJ if she watched HOUSE OF DRAGONS. EJ hasn’t and Em says she believes it is worth sticking out the slow first couple of episodes because it gets good…but adds that EJ could probably just wait for next season.
• Em points out that Matt Smith is in HOUSE OF DRAGONS—and Em was a huge Doctor Who fan, so it was fun to see him in this completely different role.
• EJ points out that there was a big announcement in the DOCTOR WHO universe. The next Doctor was announced and will be Ncuti Gatwa—who will be the first Doctor Who of color.
• EJ asked Em if she is still following Doctor Who and Em explains how she hasn’t watched as much as she usually does. She wanted to really like Jodi Whitaker—the first female Doctor Who—but felt the writers did the character dirty and couldn’t sink into any of the story lines.
• Of course, we must talk about WEDNESDAY. Em is still watching—but EJ devoured the entire series. Jenna Ortega is perfect as the titular character.
• EJ and Em make plans to unpack the series once Em finishes the show. EJ isn’t 100% with how the story arc wraps up.
• We must talk about STRANGER THINGS. EJ points out that it ended on a cliffhanger—and Em says she didn’t remember that. Em thinks that EJ missed the release of the second half. However, since this episode wrapped—Em has concluded that EJ is correct.
• Em keeps calling Vecna, Vecnal. Oops.
• Em really is just inventing STRANGER THINGS facts at this point. 
• Here is a link to an article that summarizes what EJ and Em are discussing and gives detailed information in case, like Em, you are a bit foggy on the subject: How Many Kids Were In Hawkins Lab (& How Many Are Dead?) (screenrant.com)
• STOP SAYING VECNAL. Lol.
• Em brings the conversation back to horror in 2022. She follows a Big Five editor on Tik Tok who does publishing question and answers. One of the questions was, why have so many witch books come out recently.
• The editor (on TikTok as @bhvide) speculates that the books that are coming out now were written by authors who got their first spark of an idea for the stories years ago during the women’s march. Witches have long been a symbol of women’s pain and rage and one of the slogans chanted during the march was something like, “We are the granddaughters of the witches you couldn’t burn.” 
• Em asks EJ about her witch novel. EJ worries that she is missing her moment, since her novel is not yet out. Em says that she doesn’t think EJ has anything to worry about—witches aren’t going anywhere. 
• EJ asks Em if she watched OUTER RANGE on Amazon.
• OUTER RANGE science fiction with a Western motif. 
• EJ explains the general concept of the story. 
• Segway into WESTWORLD and then THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE.
• PAPER GIRLS got an Amazon adaptation. EJ has loved the comic for a long time and says that the Amazon adaptation is spot on. Sadly, it is already cancelled.
• Segway to SFF books. 
• EJ read BOOK OF NIGHT by Holly Black. Em is in the middle of it right now!
• Speaking of Holly Black, EJ saw her and got her book signed and the National Book Festival. 
• WHAT BIG TEETH by Rose Szabo came out in 2022. Em points out that it has an Addam’s Family vibe. 
• It reminds EJ of WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE by Shirley Jackson.
• Em brings up the book BUNNY—which is one of the strangest books she read in 2022. EJ says it sounds right up her alley (Em agrees).
• EJ and Em talk about their TBR which includes books such as:
• JUST LIKE HOME by Sarah Gailey
• THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
• EVEN THOUGH I KNEW THE END by C.L. Polk
• In 2022, Sabaa Tahir, who has written in the fantasy genre, won the National Book Award for her contemporary novel, ALL MY RAGE. She is the first Muslim woman to win the award.
• This episode wraps with a tangent about Book-Tok (bookish tik tok) and how authors should give it a try.
• Another quick trip to movies including THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER.
• A brief recap of THE BOYS. 
• And finally—the space opera, western noir: COWBOY BEBOP. 
• 2022: The year of SO MUCH content. 

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This week, we are joined by A.M. Scott, author of the Folding Space series, starting with "Lightwave: Clock," & military veteran romance under Anne M. Scott. We chat about Scott's space operas, military veteran romance, love of science fiction, career as an US Air Force Operator, hobbies, inspirations and charity work with Team Rubicon.
 
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This week, we are joined by author Jane Sevier. We discuss our writing processes, how we stay focused, how we unwind, and how we get inspired to write. We also have a fun chat about travel and trying new things.

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This week, we discuss the next book on Gabby's international fantasy and sci-fi reading list, "Akata Witch" by Nnedi Okorafor. We talk about our favorite bits and dive deep into fantasy writing styles.

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Authors Lindsey Pogue and Lindsey Sparks look back at the first 49 episodes of the No Shelf Control Podcast and discuss some of their favorite books they have read for the show as well as recommend some of their all-time favorite reads. 

BOOK RECS!
The Bone Witch by Ivy Asher

World Departed by Sarah Lyons Fleming
The Elderon Chronicles by Tarah Benner
Triple Threat by K Webster
The Henchman's Survival Guide by J Bennett
Enthrall by Vanessa Fewings
Stay a Spell by Juliette Cross
With Ink and Shield and Bone by Casey L. Bond
Wolf Shunned by Laurel Night
Private Property by Skye Warren
Breed by Colet Abedi
Say Yes by Kandi Steiner
To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne
Getting Real by Emma Chase
Undead Ultra by Camille Picott

Egyptian Royals Collection by Michelle Moran
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Cassie Palmer series by Karen Chance
The Hollows series by Kim Harrison
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Song of Scarabs and Fallen Stars by Lindsey Sparks
The Darkest Winter by Lindsey Pogue

NON-BOOK RECS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
News of the World (movie)
The Wheel of Time (show)
The Witcher (show)
Cobra Kai (show)

CURRENT FREEBIES (at the time of episode airing):
Dust & Shadow by Lindsey Pogue
Echo in Time by Lindsey Sparks
The Darkest Winter by Lindsey Pogue
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This week, we are introducing an international book challenge and talking about Gucci, frustrating public encounters.

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Sometimes the best way to deal with today's world is to look to the future. Octavia Butler created worlds and stories rooted in the struggles we still face today, climate change, racism, and sexism. But her powerful, hopeful approach did what all the best science fiction does– make us quest for a better tomorrow.

This week the Nerds are back to the NPR Top 100 list with a seminal and controversial military Sci-Fi read: Starship Troopers by Robert A. Henlein (1959). The Nerds thought a manly cocktail was essential for this manly book about futuristic paratroopers that get jettisoned from a spaceship instead of a plane. Robyn has cooked up a “Citizen's Sazerac”, a lovely blend of cognac, rye whiskey, and bitters, and author guest KJ Kabza joins the nerds for a lively discussion.

Join the conversation on Instagram or Facebook, and let us know your thoughts on any of the media mentioned in our shows. https://www.instagram.com/tipsynerdsbookclub/ https://www.facebook.com/tipsynerdsbookclub

The Tipsy Nerds add a worthy title that did not make it onto NPR's list of the 100 best. This week they discuss Good Omens, a book first released in 1990 and co-written by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, and which Amazon Originals has made into a mini-series for TV. This week, the Nerds are drinking a cocktail with ingredients recommended by listeners. The drink is called "Adversary, Destroyer of Kings, Angel of the Bottomless Pit, Great Beast that is called Dragon, Prince of This World, Father of Lies, Spawn of Satan, and Lord of Darkness." Despite the name, it's a lovely drink based on tea and gin, two very British ingredients to go with this very British book.

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Join the Tipsy Nerds as they create and sip cocktails inspired by a fan favorite, A Game of Thrones. Robyn enjoys some soul-warming Winter is Coming Mulled Wine to honor the men of the Night's Watch. Natalie savors a Blood of My Blood Bloody Mary while pondering how Cercei Lannister may meet her end in the series (dragon fire anyone). The two tipsy nerds pose intriguing questions for listeners and fans of the series while chatting about their favorite characters to love—and hate!

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Do you already have tickets to see Annihilation? Have you already reread the novel in anticipation of the movie adaptation? If not, our ScribdChat with author Jeff VanderMeer, who wrote the Nebula Award–winning Annihilation, will surely change your mind. VanderMeer has won many of speculative fiction’s most preeminent awards for his strange science fiction. On this episode, he discusses the environmental themes present in many of his novels, his love for film as a medium, and how he manages working on so many projects at once.

Annihilation and the rest of the Southern Reach trilogy can be read on Scribd.

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