Martha Wells’s bestselling Murderbot series has been lauded for its aromantic and asexual representation, but coming off that series, she struggles to depict queer relationships that are romantic (and, presumably, sexual).
And Something More, Something That Is Lost in Translation: Review of Translation State by Ann Leckie
Translation State offers an exciting peek into a rapidly changing universe, tempting us with glimpses of the Presger’s true nature and grounding us with lovable, refreshing characters.
How do we short-circuit control? A Review of Nonbinary by Genesis P-Orridge
While Genesis lived a life that may sometimes seem almost alien, s/he was still very much human—but maybe that’s what makes h/er message resound so strongly with h/er readers.
On the Cult of Romance: A Review Of “Cult Classic” by Megha Ganapathy
Below the fantastical, postmodern surface of algorithms, experiments, and an omniscient entity, however, there lies the story of a young woman, who is terrified to give up control to the universe— afraid of what demons she might uncover if she looks back even for a second.
Words vs. Numbers: A Review of Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake
A book Margaret Atwood would deem speculative fiction, Oryx and Crake explores the devaluation of the arts within a rapidly expanding society that heavily relies on scientific inventions.
Fantasy Women: A Review of First Person Singular by Haruki Murakami
Murakami has a record of sexualizing his female characters, leaving them underdeveloped, and if they were films, his books would not pass the Bechdel test.
House of the Dragon Review: Return of the King (And Queen)
House of the Dragon takes us back to what made those first seasons of the show so great.
Knowing Your Audience: A Review of Emily Henry’s Book Lovers
Book Lovers is a story that centers on love, but is more than romance.
The Power of Leaving: A Review of None But The Righteous, by Chantal James
With its maze-like layers, James chose an ambitious project for a debut novel.
A Beginner’s Guide to Comic Books
I’ve accumulated a modest list of my favorite works in recent years—from stand-alones to series, contemporary to science fiction. I hope you find a new favorite among them.
BERKELEY FICTION REVIEW 