Review: The Fever of the World

The Fever of the World by Phil Rickman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Fever of the World is the 15th book in the Merrily Watkins series by Phil Rickman. I would not start the series with this book even though you probably could. Mainly, the characters have really evolved over the course of the series and you would be missing out on how important those changes are to where we are today. But also, you would be doing yourself a disservice not to read all the books. I was drawn in by the idea of a female minister who specializes in deliverance (aka exorcisms). The other characters are equally interesting. The writing is beautiful, a bit gothic, a bit haunting, a bit folksy. They are the perfect books to read in fall and winter. It's a whole vibe. There is just one more book in the series, and I will be saving it for a special moment because I don't want to say goodbye just yet.

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Review: The Lover

The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Lover is a short story by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. It is part of the Amazon Original Stories series and perfect for spooky season! This is definitely giving dark fairytale vibes. Easy to read in one sitting. You aren't quite sure where it is going, but you want to find out! I put off reading this for a long time because I thought it might be too "romantic" for me. Despite the title, it was not!

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Review: Warm Bodies

Warm Bodies by John Marrs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Warm Bodies is a novella by John Marrs. It is part of the Amazon Original Stories series. Even at a little over 100 pages, you can easily get through this in a sitting. The writing moves at a fast clip and uses some epistolary devices to alternate between viewpoints. Moral of the story: Mind your own business. Oh, and even if you don't like your neighbors, don't be actively mean to them unless you really know they are up to no good.

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Review: The Galaxy Game

The Galaxy Game by Karen Lord
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I might be wrong because I haven't read it in a long time, but The Galaxy Game by Karen Lord seems to take place in the same world as The Best of All Possible Worlds. I loved that book and was excited to read something in the same universe. I feel like I should have read this closer to when I read that or reread it first because the details of the cultures were hazy. This is still a great book and my version included two short stories also set in this world. Given what is happening in the US today, it felt more poignant. If you like well-done world building, this is a book for you!

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Review: Exit Party

Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel i so well-written that I read more of it than I expected too. Eventually, I just really didn't like the characters enough and skipped to the end to find out what happened. It is a cool concept and well done. It just wasn't for me at this time.

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Review: Hail to the Chin: Further Confessions of a B Movie Actor

Hail to the Chin: Further Confessions of a B Movie Actor by Bruce Campbell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hail to the Chin: Further Confessions of a B Movie Actor by Bruce Campbell covers the 15 years since his first memoir, If Chins Could Kill. A lot has happened to Bruce in that time. He wrote another book, he made some more movies, and he starred in Burn Notice and Ash vs. Evil Dead! He also started attending conventions and bought a lavender farm in Oregon. Even though I read the book myself, I heard his voice the whole time. I appreciate that Bruce will just tell you like it is, so he didn't sugarcoat his feelings about certain projects. I love that he rides a bicycle and doesn't downplay the importance of his wife, Ida, to the life he has led. He also works very hard and doesn't suffer fools. I totally get that. At the same time, he is funny and also looking for a good time. Whatever he makes, I will be there for it even if it takes me a while to get around to reading or watching it. All Hail the Chin!

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Review: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI: How to Think About Artificial Intelligence—Before It's Too Late

The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI: How to Think About Artificial Intelligence—Before It's Too Late by Cory Doctorow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI: How to Think About Artificial Intelligence—Before It's Too Late by Cory Doctorow is required reading. You can't look anywhere today without Artificial Intelligence (AI) somehow being mentioned or being used. While AI can be a very useful tool, it can also be destructive. It is a complicated situation, but Doctorow writes in such an accessible way that you never feel like all the tech-speak is too over your head. I don't know that I share all of his opinions about the capabilities of AI. He was writing this in 2025 with the information we had at the time. I wonder if he would make any changes based on recent news of AI escaping sandboxes, colluding, and lying to avoid deletion. Still, if you are worried about AI or think it is the best thing since sliced bread, I encourage you to read this.

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