Spec Fic Quickie: The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monáe

Available now

I am very late getting to this one so I’m sure you have already heard how amazing and original this collection is. It’s all true. This collection of interconnected short stories is wildly imaginative and thought provoking. The world building is complex and detailed and absolutely terrifying. It’s a dark look at what our future could be, but, as depressing as it sounds, it also feels very possible. Now, I am not going to pretend to understand all the complexities that these authors put to paper so I apologize in advance for what I get wrong.

In this world, memories are everything. Memories are collected and analyzed and those whose memories are deemed deviant, are sent for Counseling, and molded into the type of citizen that Little Delta deems suitable for living there. It’s a world of great oppression and a rebellion that is gaining traction in their quest for freedom. It’s a world that is full of surveillance technology and power hungry government.

It was very interesting and I really enjoyed it, even the places I had to reread several times because I struggled with it making sense.

You can click on the cover image for ordering information and as always, this post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Giving the Devil His Due Edited by Rebecca Brewer

Giving the Devil His Due is a powerful anthology created to promote awareness about the need to end violence against women. Giving the Devil His Due is the first charity anthology from The Pixel Project under their new Read for Pixels Program in partnership with Running Wild Press and 100% of the net proceeds will go towards supporting The Pixel Project’s anti-violence against women programs, campaigns, and resources.

In these 16 stories, readers will find a range of science fiction and fantasy stories where the women become far more than victims. Here they find strength, community, and justice. This collection includes some of the most popular and respected authors within the SFF community including Angela Yuriko Smith, Christina Henry, Dana Cameron, Errick Nunnally, Hillary Monahan, Jason Sanford, Kaaron Warren, Kelley Armstrong, Kenesha Williams, Leanna Renee Hieber, Lee Murray, Linda D. Addison, Nicholas Kaufmann, Nisi Shawl, Peter Tieryas, and Stephen Graham Jones.

In the opening story, Hell on the Homefront Too, Stephen Graham Jones weaves a tragic tale of an abuser who survives the war and is heralded as a hero while his wife lives in constant fear of his abuse. What didn’t kill him didn’t kill him, it only made him a murderous zombie.

Hillary Monahan’s The Devil’s Pocket Change shows us the often overlooked type of abuse: emotional abuse and neglect In her story, a young woman falls into the abyss of depression and mental illness with no support from her husband.

All of the stories found within this anthology are powerful, emotionally satisfying, and incredibly well written. If you would like more information on the Pixel Project, this anthology, or ending violence against women, click on the links below.:

The Pixel Project – http://www.thepixelproject.net

The Giving The Devil His Due homepage – http://bit.ly/GivingTheDevilHisDue

Sexual Assault Awareness Month – https://www.nsvrc.org/saam/history

Vampires Never Get Old Edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker

Available Now

Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker have put together a stellar list of authors for this young adult anthology centered around vampires. In fact, this collection is so well done, even the verso page has a curse for anyone who dares steal this book. A curse. On the verso page. Chef's kiss.

Included in this anthology are some of the most influential YA authors: Tessa Gratton, Rebecca Roanhorse, Julie Murphy, Heidi Heilig, Samira Ahmed, Kayla Whaley, Zoraida Córdova, Natalie C. Parker, Laura Ruby, Mark Oshiro, Dhonielle Clayton, and Victoria Schwab. A few of these authors were new to me-I'm still working on upping my YA reading-but many were authors on my favorites list. If you love to learn more about authors and what influences their writing, I highly recommend the podcast Vampires Never Get Old: The Podcast. Each episode is an interview with one of the authors about the vampires books and movies that they love and influenced their writing. It's really, really good.

I have grown to love anthologies for their exposure to new-to-me authors and the way short story collections allow you to dip in and out form a book without guilt. Only have a few minutes? You can fit in one story and come back for more later. It's really hard to pick a favorite story from this collection, they are all so well done. This collection is as far from your typical collection as you can get-you will not find any white, straight, cis-gendered, buff men here. There's vampires of all skin colors, body sizes, sexual identities, and physical abilities. At the end of each story, Córdova and Parker include historical context and notes on the tropes found in the story.

This collection is a wonderful reimagining of the vampire myth and the variety of stories guarantees there's something for everyone.

Some fun t.v. news-"First Kill" by Victoria Schwab is going to be adapted!

Want to add a copy to your collection? You can find ordering information here: