It’s Novella November! I had two release this month: Bone Rush, a sci-fantasy published by After the Storm Magazine as a standalone, and The Healer of Tentocht, a historical fantasy published by Thorncroft Legacy as part of their anthology Mythic Art. Details are below.
Also, until I finish drafting my next novel Excavating Armageddon, I’m taking a break from writing formal book reviews. But here are some informal thoughts about my favorite reads from the last few months:
A Memory Called Empire, by Arkady Martine (sci-fi): A rumination on imperialism, set in a futuristic version of the Aztec empire, written by a Byzantine scholar. First-class worldbuilding. A lovely, slow-burn read.
Crossings, by Alex Landragin (historical fantasy): An exploration of what it means to have a distinct soul. The book can be read in the usual, linear fashion or by skipping around in a prescribed sequence. Pretty wild.
Yellowface, by R.F. Kuang (contemporary): An interrogation of cultural appropriation, the publishing industry, and the general ideal of writerly “success.” Absolutely searing. I’m not sure I liked it, but it was compelling.
Economical Writing, by Deirdre Nansen McCloskey (non-fiction): A necessary corrective for writers *raises hand* who occasionally indulge in synonymomania and needlessly refer to the same thing with an excess number of synonyms. I try to read one book about the craft of writing each year, and I’m glad I chose this one. Short but helpful.
Nexus, by Yuval Noah Harari (non-fiction): A historical perspective on information networks and what makes AI such a potentially dangerous paradigm shift. Harari’s both an insightful scholar and a beautiful writer. This one felt like necessary reading.
If you’ve got thoughts on any of these books, feel free to message me. I’d love to discuss!
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A newly graduated astro-archaeologist discovers a lost planet, dead legends, and a hidden killer.
Bone Rush first appeared on After the Storm Magazine’s website in 2023 on a chapter-by-chapter basis. The new edition collects the full story in one place. It’s probably one of my favorite things I’ve written.
A healer and his pet gull try to cure the conflicting curses plaguing a town in Early America.
The Healer of Tentocht is part of the Mythic Art anthology and a prequel to my Red Wraith series. It’s probably one of the weirdest things I’ve written.
