Busy whittling ...

The Reapers are the Angels, by Alden Bell, is not only a staff pick of mine, but it was recently given one of the ten spots open for the Alex Award this year.* And not only that, it has just made it onto the current Philip K. Dick Award list of nominees. These are all good reasons to give this book a go. Temple, the main character, is tortured by what it means to be a good person in a world overrun by zombies. And while you may be saying to yourself that if you've read one zombie book, then you've read them all: I assure you that you have yet to become acquainted with Temple, and she will steal your heart.

I seem to be whittling my way through the current list of nominees for the Philip K. Dick Award, having just read the second in that series, The Song of Scarabaeus, by Sara Creasy. Another enjoyable read: this one personalizing environmental politics through Edie's unique view of the worlds being crafted through wet-techs like her. She's kidnapped and unwillingly paired up with a serf named Finn and don'tcha know it that the sparks fly … all in good taste, that is.

Next on my list is The State of Decay, by James Knapp. I do like to give female scifi writers the benefit of my first glance, but I feel like following this particular path for now, it is taking me to interesting places. Please join me, I'd be glad of the company. Your first assignment is to give Reapers a chance. Seija, a co-worker of mine did, and she (ask her yourself) joined me in toasting the good story in this past yuletide.

--Jan

*The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. The winning titles are selected from the previous year's publishing. The Alex Awards were first given annually beginning in 1998 and became an official ALA award in 2002. Link to this page using its short URL, www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/alex.