Fiction

  • Science Fiction Friday: Crossovers From Video Games And More

    Richard C. Crossovers between books, comics, video games, movies, board games, and more – it’s an increasingly common theme in our beloved genre. When I used to glimpse HALO books I’d always think “no thanks” rather quickly, but perhaps too quickly! Something IS worth trying when it carries the influence of giants like Larry Niven and the Ring… Continue reading

  • Mystery Challenge: Professionals – The Police

    ~by David W. Someone’s been murdered: who are you going to call? A haughty genius and his devoted doctor sidekick? A persnickety little Belgian whose egg-shaped head is punctuated by a tiny moustache? A wisecracking shamus in a dingy office, drinking rotgut and polishing his gat? Of course not: YOU CALL THE COPS! Continue reading

  • Science Fiction Friday: Time Is On Your Side, Yes It Is

    ~Richard C. My favorite part of the recent movie Interstellar (semi spoiler alert) was the character development when time started passing differently in the plot. Nothing terribly new about this in SF, but capturing the stark emotional realities of time in human space travel – this I found utterly moving (well, nearly exhausting after a 169… Continue reading

  • Romantic Wednesdays: Librarian Favorites of 2014

    By Eric G. Library Reads, a website that compiles the favorite books of librarians each month, recently released their “Favorites of the Favorites 2014” list, which highlights the books that have stood out among the favorites this year. I wanted to highlight three titles that made the cut because they also offer sweet, unconventional love stories. Continue reading

  • Mystery Challenge: Professionals — Private Eyes

    ~by David W. So far in our mystery challenge, we’ve invited you to cozy up with some amateur sleuths, explore the world, and travel back in time to enjoy great puzzlers from the Queen of Mystery and the World’s Greatest Detective. Now it’s time to get some professional help, as we turn up our collars,… Continue reading

  • Mystery Challenge: Exotic Locales

    ~ by Selby G. One of the many great things about reading a book is that it can take you anywhere. Can’t squeeze in a vacation to China? Read a book and follow the characters down alleyways in Shanghai or to a temple in Beijing. Combine those foreign landscapes with a good mystery and you… Continue reading

  • Science Fiction Friday – Know Your SF

    By Richard C. Set aside those simple lists online for the best SF and Fantasy. Useful, yes. Context, no. Much in these genres stem from common themes and traditions, which is great. But many defy and transcend those patterns, which is often even better. So what’s to help us zoom out on our usual reading threads and find… Continue reading

  • Mystery Challenge: Historical Mysteries

    ~by Jen B. If you love a good historical murder mystery, you’ll be ready for sleuths to do their own leg work and be adept at deciphering psychological clues. Although they lack modern technology and forensics, these stories, set over 50 years ago, showcase the bygone talents of great minds. A few time periods provide… Continue reading

  • Science Fiction Friday – Technophiles Unite!

    By Richard C. Influx (2014) We might very well laugh at how “flying cars” symbolized technological progress 100 years ago, or, we might think about our own symbols (fusion power, singularity, etc.) and then wonder hey what’s the damn holdup here! Physicist John Grady finds one disturbing reason for the holdup when his major discovery in gravity reflection… Continue reading

  • ebooks galore

    This fall, Simon & Schuster became the last of the “Big 5” publishers (joining Penguin/Random House, Macmillan, HarperCollins and Hachette) to make ebooks available to libraries. The Seattle Public Library added nearly 3,000 titles from Simon & Schuster and are now available for checkout in OverDrive. Here are the best of the best that Simon and Schuster… Continue reading

  • Seattle Rep’s ‘All the Way’ and the legacy of Lyndon Baines Johnson

    Seattle Rep’s ‘All the Way’ and the legacy of Lyndon Baines Johnson

    by Andrea In 1963, John F. Kennedy was assassinated and Vice President Lyndon Baines Johnson was launched into the presidency. In his Tony Award winner for Best Play, playwright Robert Schenkkan dramatizes Johnson’s first year in office. Creating a vivid portrait of a brilliant politician and flawed man, All the Way brings to life Johnson’s passionate engagement… Continue reading

  • Romantic Wednesdays: Spotlight on Nora Roberts

    By Jessica W. There are few authors in literature who are more prolific than Nora Roberts. With over 200 books to her name in 33 years of writing, she’s the undisputed queen of the contemporary romance novel. While people may want to write her off because she writes romances, the work she’s done in the… Continue reading

  • Mystery Challenge: Amateur Sleuths

    ~ by Jenny C. For all of you reading along in the Mystery Challenge, this week we focus on the valiant, perceptive, amateur sleuth. Now, many heroes and heroines of the mystery genre qualify as amateurs, especially those from points in history before official certifications, but I wanted to highlight some of the most winning… Continue reading

  • Mystery Challenge: Cozy Mysteries

    ~by Lori T. Are you reading along with the Mystery Challenge? Grab your choice of a hot beverage, a warm throw, a good snack, and a cozy mystery. Cozy Mysteries are for people that prefer a mystery without graphic descriptions of  blood and violence. These type of mysteries are books where the main character or someone… Continue reading

  • Romantic Wednesdays: Best Bets for Fall

    By Eric G. Every season is a great season for romance books, but there’s something especially enjoyable about reading them as the leaves change, the days shorten, the temperatures drop and the holidays approach. All that’s missing from the following books is a blanket, a fireplace and a hot beverage – preferably pumpkin-flavored. In Your Dreams… Continue reading

  • Mystery Challenge: Queen of Mystery

    ~by Lori T. If Sir Author Conan Doyle was the founder of the mystery genre, Dame Agatha Christie was the Queen.  Agatha Christie wrote 66 mysteries, 14 short stories, and the play The Mousetrap. She is the only mystery writer with two world famous detectives, Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple, to her credit. She changed the mystery… Continue reading

  • The Mystery Challenge Begins

    By Selby G. Now that fall is here, the icy fingers of winter will soon be sliding down our necks and forcing us inside to stay warm and dry. This time of year makes me want to curl up with a good mystery. So with that thought in mind, I am issuing another reading challenge.… Continue reading

  • Science Fiction Friday – Oh How The Mighty Are Fallen!

    By Richard C. Oh how the mighty are fallen… What greater theme in Fantasy than the dramatic succession and intrigue of rulers and rogues in turbulent kingdoms? Kingdoms covered by darkness wrong and terrifying, terrains dangerous and foreign to poor little earthling readers like ourselves? Well, you came to the right place: 1) The Falcon Throne… Continue reading