SFF Hot from Printers: New Releases discussion

BR stars on February 15th, 2020. So far from all the novellas recommended to me, this one looks the most interesting.

PS: If I put this in the wrong folder, feel free to move it :D

OK! Maybe we need a folder for Buddy reads, or not. I will let Z decide

Kateblue wrote: "OK! Maybe we need a folder for Buddy reads, or not. I will let Z decide"

I guess no need in the case of novellas or shorter works

So, it is Feb 15th and I started it. So far interesting, even if I'm unsure if the author is versed enough in Catholic faith. A living ship is quite interesting even if not exactly novel. I have a trouble with 'physics' (in quotes because it is had-wavium in most SF) of space travel: is there FTL communication and travel?

Starting today too

If I can break away from Emma Newman I'm starting as well.

I am starting also

I can start too

I just started this morning. I think the setting is interesting, as is the choice to focus on a religious sect like this. The writing is decent as well - pretty straightforward and to-the-point, which is nice in a novella.

Oleksandr, based on what I've read so far, it seems that at least some level of FTL travel and communication is possible, but with some major limitations. It would be nice to get more explanation of this and what the limitations are, though. I'm curious about your uncertainty about the author's knowledge of Catholicism - are there particular things that seem off to you?

Me, too, Z, about the Catholicism. I don't know enough about it to know if any of it seems off.

Of course, differences may be because of the future setting. Or because of the previous war that's obvious in the book might have led to differences, like how the nuns performing some things that only priests do now.

The only thing fascinating for me so far was the ships.

(view spoiler)[I'm thinking about Purgills in Star Wars. And the ships from Machineries of Empire. (hide spoiler)]

Kateblue wrote: "Me, too, Z, about the Catholicism. I don't know enough about it to know if any of it seems off. ."

I too don't know much but there were several books, which for me showed "internal thoughts" by Catholic priests: the SF The Sparrow and Spanish contemporary novel La piel del tambor. Note that non of those are so-called Christian fiction.

In both books the God is an important part of daily life, not like in this novella, where the Sisters actually can be quite secular without any drawback to the story. Here they care much more about external than about internal

I read Sisters of the Vast Black and now I cannot find the thread where we are supposed to talk about it. (Ireally looked, Z, really--both here and in that OTHER group. So I will just put this here.

I loved it. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

BTW, I have a new criteria for 5 stars other than 1) I know I will read it again or 2) I'm sorry it's over. If it makes me cry--5 stars.

Here's a story by her:
http://giganotosaurus.org/2020/02/01/...

downloadable even--posted this month, so eligible next year. haven't read it yet

I've finished. I really liked it - held my attention all the way through.
I really liked the concept of living ships

Gave it 5*

^^' I fear I have to be the odd one out here. ^^' This was the nearest to 1 star I've ever had. I didn't feel that the motivations of the characters were shown in any depth. Everybody felt quite flat to me. The events were a string of tellings as if some points were crossed off a list. And even though the idea was a good one the narration structure was without any suspense for me, very simplistic.
I'm totally flabbergasted why I have such a different impression from anybody else (I went through the reviews), but that's what it came down to.

I plan to finish it today (got distracted by work) but 2/3 thru it is neither great nor flat for me. I like the idea of ships and I guess I'd like to see more about them. I'm not convinced how ECG caused civil war, maybe later there'll be more. So far
Ships - 5*
Convent - an unusual now idea but as I noted above they don't sound like believers to me, so idea 4* execution 2*
larger geopolitical situation and evil Earth - 2*

This can change when I finish

Cordelia--re living ships--you should watch Farscape

Kateblue wrote: "Cordelia--re living ships--you should watch Farscape"

Also The Stars Are Legion is about giant living ships. And in Hyperion they travel on giant trees. The concept is rare but not unique

I only got the groove after 40%. The interplanetary politics reminded me of The Expanse, especially the row between the Belters and Earth, how Earth trying to dominate the spacers. Here, it includes an effort to centralize the religious authority, which makes it interesting.

I finished it and it improved toward the end. More later

I finished today, but I'm going to need to think on it more before I rate it. Overall, I enjoyed it and found it easy to read, but I don't feel like it made as much of an impact on me as I wanted, and as the book intended. I agree that the element of belief doesn't always come through, which is a shame. And (view spoiler)[miracle cure (hide spoiler)] stories always challenge my suspension of disbelief, which distracted me from the larger narrative at the end.

I ended up giving it 3 stars. I agree with Gabi that it felt a bit flat and suspenseless to me. There was nothing except the ship and the religious order that felt all that unique. The failure to communicate the faith and religious devotion of the sisters made the religious order part less interesting and for me also took away from the impact of the decisions they had to make.

My review is here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I agree with Kaa about the failure to communicate the religious devotion. re spoiler part (view spoiler)[a quick cure is a cliche, quite a few episodes of SF and other series have creation of a vaccine/cure as a thing to manage in last 5 minute of 40 minute show. While unreal, it allows to make a nice finish (hide spoiler)]

Almost forgot to post here. I don't have anything to say - all have been addressed - except that I was a bit confused on who's who, until 1/3 of the book. I wanted to like this book so much especially since I have one more slot for novella for my ballot and it looked like something I'd enjoy more.

Silvana wrote: " I wanted to like this book so much"

I know the feeling! However, quite often great expectations make average work bad, and vice versa. I think it was fine for a debut novella and I think the author has a potential