Joyland (2013) – Stephen King

I should just listen to my gut. Just because my brain isn’t initially sure I’ll enjoy a Stephen King book that doesn’t fall into what I think is my ‘usual fare’ doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy it. In fact, my gut constantly reminds me of titles that have surprised me, and we can add Joyland…

The Night Travelers (2023) – Armando Lucas Correa

Simon & Schuster Canada was kind enough to send me a copy of Armando Lucas Correa’s latest, The Night Travelers, and I was delighted to find myself completely swept up in the narrative he created, weaving historical fact into a multi-generational tale of mothers and daughters. Through the eyes of Ally, Lilith, Nadine and Luna…

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (2018) – Stuart Turton

An Agatha Christie story with some Ground Hog Day/Quantum Leap thrown in for good measure? When I read the blurb on The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle I was immediately intrigued. Turton’s execution of the story is whipsmart and incredibly enjoyable, combining classic English mystery with some time loops. What’s not to love? Sebastian Bell…

Rendezvous with Rama (1973) – Arthur C. Clarke

I remember the first time I read this novel. My friend Dennis recommended it to me and conveniently enough, he had the entire series at hand, and I blazed through them. That was almost two decades ago, and I honestly don’t recall all the details of the story, but I know I loved the wonder…

The Expanse (2017) – The Weeping Somnambulist, and Cascade

While the scientific expedition to Venus makes a surprising and worrying discovery, the crew of the Rocinante and the politicians of Earth and Mars delve deeper into the incident on Ganymede. The Weeping Somnambulist was written by Hallie Lambert and first aired on 22 March, 2017. Holden (Steven Strait), Amos (Wes Chatham), Naomi (Dominique Tipper)…

Ringworld (1970) – Larry Niven

I dug into some classic science fiction this week with Larry Niven’s Ringworld novel, which is set in his Known Space universe. I hadn’t explored any of his stories before, but this one was recommended to me from somewhere, and I found the general idea intriguing, a massive ring, instead of an enclosed sphere, placed…

Diablo Mesa (2022) – Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Grand Central Publishing was kind enough to send me the latest Preston & Child thriller, Diablo Mesa, which came out in February. It had been a long time since I dug into a Preston & Child book, but back in 2014, I was plowing through their Pendergast series until my pile of To Be Read…

Star Trek: Discovery – Wonderlands (2021) – Una McCormack

Una McCormack delivers another engaging Trek novel, and having firmly cemented herself in the role of my favorite Star Trek author, I dug into this one, Wonderlands, now available from Simon & Schuster through their Gallery Books imprint, with abandon. It’s 3188. Commander Michael Burnham has been catapulted some 900 years into the future, as…

Star Trek: Discovery – Dead Endless (2019) – Dave Galanter

Set in 2257, the next novel in Simon & Schuster’s Star Trek: Discovery series, released under their Gallery Books imprint is an emotional tale that highlights one of my favorite characters in the series, Dr. Hugh Culber. Culber’s death in Season One of Discovery was a shock, and made me furious. But then as the…