I’d planned to read the latest novels from Stephen King and Lee Goldberg this week but then my wife told me she’d found a Sci Fi novel with a high impact title that she thought I might enjoy. I took a look and decided that it had to be my next read Then I searched my TBR to come up with a companion piece and rediscovered a Sci Fi novella written by an author whose debut novel, published three years later, made him famous.
Both books are Sci Fi thrillers with a touch of humour baked in. I’m hoping for fast, fun, mind-expanding reads.
‘Annabel Scheme’ by Robin Sloan (2009)
Robin Sloan is best known for his debut novel, , “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore“. This was everywhere for a while. I read it in 2015 and thought it was a gentle nerd wish fulfilment fantasy with a philosophical twist. It was billed as a thriller but I think that description only worked if you’re someone who doesn’t get out much and avoids anything more exciting than a video game. Still, it was orginal and it kept my attention the whole way through so when, earlier this year, I saw a Kindle version of one of Robin Sloan’s early novellas, I decided to add it to my shelves.
I like the idea of an alternative San Francisco and I’m curious to see what kind of AI Robin SLoan had in mind in 2009
I’m hoping for something with some bite as well as some out-there ideas.
Robin Sloan is an Amercian writer who has this to say about himself:
I’m the author of the novels Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, a New York Times Best Seller published in 2012, and Sourdough, a non-New York Times Best Seller but still very good book published in 2017. In addition to those, I’ve published many short stories and digital projects. My 2009 novella Annabel Scheme was an early Kickstarter success. My app Fish is a new kind of book entirely.
I have a new novel arriving in June 2024 from MCD×FSG.
‘The Girl Who Could Move Shit With Her Mind’ by Jackson Ford (2019)
I didn’t buy this book just because it has a great title and a fun cover. Nope. I made myself listen to the audiobook sample first and then I pressed the Buy Now button.
I admire the cheek of this book. I love that not only did the author manage to get his publishers to push out a title with Shit on the cover (OK – they changed it to Sh*t but that just makes them look coy) but then produced another three books in the series and everyone of them had Shit in the title.
Anyway, I’m hoping for a good mystery, some clever science fiction and a few laughs.
Jackson Ford has this to say about himself:
He’s an author, because he isn’t qualified to do anything else.
His most successful book is The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind, which stars the psychokinetic government agent/wannabe chef Teagan Frost.
The book has spawned three sequels (so far), with even more ridiculous titles. It’s been optioned for TV, translated into multiple languages, and sold thousands of copies worldwide.
Jackson is still amazed that people pay him for this, even though most of it goes on whiskey, videogames, and dog treats.
Mike Finn's Fiction 
Nice 👌
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