by Kate Folk
Random House, 2022. 244 pages. Short Stories
Full of indelible characters and darkly comic twists, the stories in Kate Folk's debut collection are perfectly pitched for the madness of our modern moment. A ward for a mysterious bone-melting disorder is the scene of a perilous love triangle. A curtain of void obliterates the globe at a steady pace, leaving one woman to decide whom she wants to spend eternity with. A woman navigates finding a partner while beautiful humanoid robots called "blots" have infiltrated the dating apps of San Francisco, dispatched by Russian hackers to steal data. And in a companion piece, a woman and a blot find connection in an unexpected yet tender love story. As this debut collection explores what it means to face the void, human beings try to find their way in bizarre and dystopic settings, whether their own body, their relationships, their home, or the world at large. Imaginative, genre-bending, and oddly prescient, Out There depicts a landscape that is eminently of-the-moment, terrifying but ultimately hopeful.
This short story collection is perfect for fans of the kooky, witty, and bizarre. I am often skeptical when a book is described to me as "laugh-out-loud funny," but despite some darker elements, this one had me cracking up! Each story is full of fictional absurdities that shed light on the human condition. The author balances expertly crafted sentences with enough wit and humor to keep the stories from feeling bogged down. I found myself taking my time with each story, savoring the writing. I especially enjoyed the minor sci-fi elements. If you're in the mood for something "out there," this book certainly delivers on its title.
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by Katie Williams
Riverhead Books, 2023. 294 pages. Fiction
A tautly paced novel in which a young mother who was cloned and brought back to life following her own murder comes to suspect that there is more to the story of her life and death than anyone is telling her. What if the murder you had to solve was your own? Lou is a happily married mother of an adorable toddler. She's also the clone of the original Louise who, along with four other victims of a local serial killer, has been brought back to life by a government project to return the women to their grieving families. But as the new Lou re-adapts to her old life, questions remain about what exactly preceded her death, and how much to trust those around her. Understanding the truth may determine what comes next for Lou. Darkly comic and lightly speculative, My Murder offers an exploration of ideas about personal identity, domestic life, and reinvention, within a thrilling, surprising, and entertaining mystery
by Sierra Greer
Mariner Books, 2024. 231 pages. Science Fiction
Annie Bot was created to be the perfect girlfriend for her human owner Doug. Designed to satisfy his emotional and physical needs, she has dinner ready for him every night, wears the pert outfits he orders for her, and adjusts her libido to suit his moods. True, she's not the greatest at keeping Doug's place spotless, but she's trying to please him. She's trying hard. She's learning, too. Doug says he loves that Annie's AI makes her seem more like a real woman, so Annie explores human traits such as curiosity, secrecy, and longing. But becoming more human also means becoming less perfect, and as Annie's relationship with Doug grows more intricate and difficult, she starts to wonder: Does Doug really desire what he says he wants? And in such an impossible paradox, what does Annie owe herself?
by Kelly Link
Random House, 2015. 336 pages. Short Stories
A collection of short stories features tales of a young girl who plays caretaker to mysterious guests at the cottage behind her house and a former teen idol who becomes involved in a bizarre reality show.
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