The Benefits of Science Fiction and Fantasy

 As a confirmed fan of science fiction and fantasy, I enjoyed and agreed with the following article.

Science Fiction Builds Resiliency in Young Readers

Some interesting excerpts from the article:

*A 2016 article in Social and Personality Psychology Compass, a scholarly journal, argues that “connecting to story worlds involves a process of ‘dual empathy,‘ simultaneously engaging in intense personal processing of challenging issues, while ‘feeling through’ characters, both of which produce benefits.”

*Reading science fiction and fantasy can help readers make sense of the world. Rather than limiting readers’ capacity to deal with reality, exposure to outside-the-box creative stories may expand their ability to engage reality based on science.

*Science fiction and fantasy do not need to provide a mirror image of reality in order to offer compelling stories about serious social and political issues. The fact that the setting or characters are extraordinary may be precisely why they are powerful and where their value lies.

*Let them read science fiction. In it, young people can see themselves – coping, surviving and learning lessons – that may enable them to create their own strategies for resilience.

Evan Currie's Scourwind Legacy: Heirs of Empire and

Heirs of Empire by Evan Currie is the first in his new series The Scourwind Legacy. Although it does not compare to the Currie's Odyssey One series, I enjoyed this lighter scifi/fantasy mix.  

There is a backstory here that is only touched on briefly, but the book begins with the escape of General Corian, a traitor responsible for thousands of deaths.  Although Corian's escape is ultimately successful, the damage inflicted by Cadrewoman Mira Delsol is severe.  The General's forces manage to take the capital, and the emperor and his eldest son are killed; however, Lydia and Brennan, the emperor's younger children manage to escape.

Lots of action and futuristic weapons, interesting characters without a lot of character development, but this first book's purpose is mainly to set up future books.

It is quite different from the Odyssey books that I'm so fond of and has more of a YA novel feel, but it is fast-paced and fun.  Mira Delsol's role as the kick-ass cadrewoman keeps things moving.

(I received and read An Empire Asunder from NetGalley before finding Heirs of Empire, the first in the series.)

Kindle Unlimited

Space Opera.  2015.  Print version:  352 pages.

An Empire Asunder continues the battle between General Corian and the Scourwind heirs and their supporters.

The back story on General Corian's original attempt at a coup remains a blank, and although he sees his rebellion as an effort to save the Empire, the threat that motivates Corian is still unclear.  And he is a bit obsessive.  Obviously, if he must destroy thousands of lives and entire cities to save the Empire...the end justifies the means, and he is just the man for the job.

Lydia, as the older twin and heir to the throne, has assumed her role as empress, and Brennan trains for the cadre. However,  Corian and his allies are not finished yet.  There are traitors embedded everywhere who intend to do their best to see Corian succeed.  The Empire is, indeed, split asunder.

Former cadrewoman Mira Delsol has unfinished business with Corian, but as usual things go awry, and Brennan is left to warn the Empire--if he can escape in time to do it.

Like Heirs of Empire, An Empire Asunder is fun and suspenseful.  The characters have continued to develop, but they are still the archetypal roles typical of this kind of good/vs evil format.  While Lydia has a very small role in this one, I expect the next book will give her more attention.  It is Mira Delsol and Brennan, however, who keep the action going.

Scifi-lite but lively and entertaining.  

Read in Sept.; blog review scheduled for 10/8/16

NetGalley/47 North

Space Opera.  Nov. 15, 2016.  Print length:  334 pages.

This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

This Shattered World  

I read These Broken Stars, the first in this YA trilogy in December of last year and enjoyed it.  

You don't have to read the books in order, however, because the stories are different.  These Broken Stars features Tarver Merendson and Lilac Laroux;  This Shattered World has Captain Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac as protagonists on a planet on the verge of war.  There are connections, to be sure, and Tarver and Lilac make brief appearances, but TSW belongs to Jubilee and Cormac.

Avon is a planet that is stalled in a number of ways:  the terraforming projections just never seem to happen; the military presence is oppressive; a mindless rage called The Fury eventually affects new recruits--and as quickly as the condition is discovered (often too late) those who are affected are shipped out--this means military personnel is in constant flux;  the rebels are divided between wanting to be treated fairly and wanting to wage war.

For some reason, only Captain Jubilee Chase seems to have a resistance to The Fury, and has therefore, been able to remain on the planet much longer than is commonly the case.  Flynn Cormac is a rebel, but his goal is to avoid war and regain schools and hospitals for his people.

I can make pretty much the same comments about TSW as I did about TBS:  the pov shifts from Jubilee to Flynn and back again; present tense; more telling than dialogue; interruptions in the story to insert dream sequences (in TBS, it was interrupted by an interrogation); likable characters; and plenty of action.

Another similarity, the characters in both novels are 16-18, but the personas seem much older and more experienced.  

I like the characters, the action, and the fact that, although part of a trilogy, the plot begins and ends within the novel.  The connections to the first novel are present, but This Shattered World  functions completely independently and has a conclusion.  (I do get tired of cliff hangers, so Yay for Kaufman and Spooner intertwining the novels without resorting to the frustrating cliff hanger.)

I'm assuming next December will bring the final book, and I will be looking for it!

NetGalley/Disney-Hyperion

Science Fiction/YA.  Dec. 23, 2014.  Print length:  400 pages.

Interesting Bookish Stuff

A short video on

women writers of science fiction and fantasy

from Open Road Media.   

 (Ellen Datlow, Jane Yolen, Elizabeth Hand, Kate Elliot, N.K. Jemisin)

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Love this reading chair.

Tutorial found here.