O2 Arena, by Donald Ekpeki Oghenechovwe

O2 Arena won the Nebula this year.  Possibly as encouragement because the story itself reads like a new author, one that will find his way but is early in his career.  Which Oghenechovwe is.  The setting is familiar--people fighting for their right to breathe--but brings Nigerian cultural perspective to it.  The story is often kind of on the nose with social justice, but then we keep that African perspective in mind--these things need saying.  What is unique and compelling here is how this is tied in with climate failure, and the overriding consciousness of the characters--they know that a world where you need supplemental oxygen to survive is one that doesn't have long anyway.  The law school backdrop of the story is cramming a 3 year course of study into 8 months because they simply don't have time.  I look forward to reading more from this author.

Bots of the Lost Ark, by Suzanne Palmer

The second in this series and both won Hugos. The story is absolutely fun to read. The spaceship carrying what might be the last of humanity has suffered heavy damage from aliens trying to wipe them out, and now faces internal issues as well--bots that have been directed to take on the tasks and personas of their human crew in stasis. They get a little too into their roles. Palmer gives the characters personality and a good problem space to work in. Go read it.

My Goodreads Review

Small Monsters, by E. Lily Yu

Small Monsters is really on-the-nose, but also beautifully written so it can push you to read it when you might not otherwise. As others have said it is quite graphic, but does not dwell on the grossness. Rather it dwells on the injustice, which is the thing to do. Monster world can feel a bit removed from human world, but it shouldn't--this is the way some experience it. Deserves its nomination for the Locus and to be read.

My Goodreads Review

The Red Mother, by Elizabeth Bear

The Red Mother is a very fun character study.  Our protagonist, Auga Augasson, is a rogue--a sorcerer, a Viking (used as a verb here) and generally a guy out for a good time.  He's on a mission for kin duty--to find his brother and tell him he's been cleared of a manslaughter charge.  He ends up having to contest with a dragon to bring his brother back from death (caused by that dragon) and save a village.  Which might not really be worth saving.  

Auga and the dragon have some good if a little predictable dialog, though the situation was pretty original to me.  This is a fine piece of writing that, given what else was nominated, perhaps should have been more of a contender.

Unseelie Brothers, Ltd., by Fran Wilde

A lot of folks found Unseelie Brothers Ltd. a bit predictable, and they are right. The tale unfolds from the title and the initial setting. I did find the fashion descriptions fun, and it was gripping to read even if you knew what was coming. Maybe a twist in that it has a happier ending than many stories of the Fae. I liked it and am glad I got to read it. It got nominated for a lot of awards--solid execution counts for a lot.

My Goodreads Review

Mulberry and Owl, by Aliette de Bodard

I read Mulberry and Owl because it's nominated for a Locus award in 2022.  This story is set in the Xuya universe, with mindships as characters. The title is a reference to the location of the story and one of the characters, a ship named The Owl with the Moon’s Tongue.  It's an enforcement ship, holding up a horrible dictatorship.  The protagonist has rebelled against that dictatorship along with her friend Kim Lan, but Kim is now giving in and seeking amnesty.  The protagonist is buying that amnesty by increasing the capabilities of that enforcement ship.  This tortures her in ways one would expect, and is well told.

Sort of reminds me of trying to rebel in modern China.  But as we have seen, Chinese citizens succeed in this sometimes.  Ok for fans of De Bodard.

L’Esprit De L’Escalier, by Catherynne M. Valente

It’s hard for me to rate overt retellings of classics really high, but the tradition is a venerable one and L'Esprit De L'Escalier is very good. Since it references Virgil’s telling you might want to read that or a summary first. The setting is very clever, making the minor tweak that Orpheus never looks back at Eurydice and actually gets her out of Hades, sort of. She’s not in good shape. The modernizing of the Pantheon (the Greek gods) is fun too. What a year for Valente.

My Goodreads Review