Mike Cahoon

I started Project Hail Mary as a book club read and was cautiously optimistic. I had of course seen the tidal wave of good reviews and all the hype, magnified by the recent release of the upcoming movie’s trailer. But I always worry when any book is getting that much attention. The risk of over hype from people jumping in the “bandwagon” is something I’ve been burned by before. Luckily, this was not one of those times.

This was my first Andy Weir novel. I had heard about his work for years and of course seen The Martian with Mark Wahlberg, but never gotten around to reading his actual books. Now that I have, what struck me the most was his unique gift for infusing an undeniable sense of humanity into his science fiction story. Don’t get me wrong, as a writer Weir has many strengths.

His passion for the science part of science fiction shines through on just about every page. His writing conveys a sense of technological wonder while still being extremely palpable, even to someone with zero scientific background like myself. He has a real knack for establishing a world that feels just a few years removed from our own, like we’re reading an account of something that might actually happen in about ten years. Pair this with his ability to create engaging yet flawed characters and maintain a steady, well structured story, Weir has a winning formula. It’s immediately plain to see where his success has come from.

For my full review, including spoilers, please visit; https://mikecahoon.com/project-hail-mary-by-andy-weir/

Love, death, sacrifice; the big touchstones that give life meaning. These are the themes that hit home for most of us, creating some sense of shared experience with our fellow humans. It is this central core focus that gives Stephen King’s door-stopper novel, 11/22/63, its sense of tension, relatability and bittersweet catharsis that elevates it beyond the sum of its parts. Perpetually late to the party as I am, I only recently tackled the Master of Horror’s widely praised novel. Despite the novels critical acclaim and the its near universal praise for illustrating King’s authorial prowess, not just a horror writer, but a genuine master of the craft, I found many reasons to put off reading this one. I could blame a lot of contributing factors for this, but ultimately it comes down to my own proclivity to let me short attention span get the best of me. Like the proverbial squirrel, I am ever distracted by new, shiny things. So, while this particular book has sat on my TBR for years, I let it get pushed to the back burner over and over again in favor of some new, exciting release.

Recently, I got the notification from Libby (not for the first time) that 11/22/63 was available from my local library and I decided it was finally time to tackle the looming giant that I had time and time again ignored. Now, I gratefully thank whatever literary gods I finally made the commitment because, as it turns out, the master of horror can spin a genre blending tale of historical fiction, thriller and romance that keeps you glued to the page as well as any of his more spine tingling fare when he the mood strikes him.

For my full review, please visit: https://mikecahoon.com/11-22-63-by-stephen-king/

One thing that I personally love about indie fiction is the variety. Without being beholden to the whims of the mainstream publishing industry, indie authors are free to explore new and unique sub-genres, styles and take interesting risks. Keon Shore's debut, The Bad Apothecary, is a perfect example of the kind of cool, genre challenging variety that's coming out of the indie scene.

I received an ARC copy of this book without knowing anything about cultivation novels or their history. For those uninitiated, this style of writing draws its roots from Asian literature and was popularized by webnovels, focusing on a style of magic system called “cultivation”. In practice, this means the characters are focused on developing their abilities through a sort of defined leveling system, in this case called tiers. Comparisons can be drawn to the massively popular LitRPG genre, but these novels have a whole slew of their own tropes and conventions, and it was interesting to dive into this new world for someone who's spent his life mostly safely nestled in the embrace of western speculative fiction.

I freely admit that at first, the structure and style took some getting used to. But once I got into the rhythm it was quite enjoyable and I found myself flying through this and having quite a bit of fun with it. Shore's story is dark and gritty, but heavily emotional and full of strong moments that help you develop a real sense of connection to these characters. She does an excellent job of balancing her characters strengths with their struggles and weaknesses. Big wins feel earned and we are allowed appropriate room to properly feel their failures.

The story moves at a quick pace, throwing you into a world that is both alien yet easily accessible. The Asian inspired, “arcane punk” setting is fun and feels different than most other fantasy. Between the setting, the magic system and the characters, I found myself reminded of some of the classic anime shows movies I remember watching as a teenager, but with a more mature edge. If that sounds like it would be up your alley, I would recommend you check out this awesome new series!

As a life long Stephen King fan, I have long been curious about the work of his son, novel, comic book, and screenplay writer Joe Hill. His various projects have always sounded interesting to me, but had ended up relegated to the limbo of my endless To Be Read list in favor of other works. However, when his most recent novel launched back in October to rave reviews, I decided it was finally time to give the throne of modern horror's heir apparent his due regard. After finishing the absolute tome of a novel that is King Sorrow, I’m happy to report I really enjoyed it!

Let's get the most obvious talking point out of the way first; I think there are obvious influences from Stephen King's work (as I would expect there to be for just about any modern horror writer). But Hill does an excellent job of creating a distinct voice and style. His authorial voice reads like someone who is a fan of his father's work, not someone trying to imitate it. Which is more than I can say for many up and coming horror authors in the modern age.

For the full review, please visit; https://mikecahoon.com/book-review-king-sorrow/

Quick Thoughts

We live an age where the metaphorical veil is easily pulled back on many of the darker sides of life for those who wish to peak behind it. In the age of the omnipresent and unrestricted internet, there is a raw, unfiltered confessional available for every walk of life. So it is that this biting and bleak story of self-destruction, addiction and the realities of life on the road that blurs the line between reality and fiction doesn’t feel quite as revolutionary as it might have a few decades earlier. But, despite this, the author lives up to his name as his talent for evocative and engrossing writing is on full display. An unflinching odyssey into the depths of depravity that will surely entertain those of strong stomachs and a worthy entry into the illustrious ranks of gonzo journalism style narratives.

For my Full Review, please visit: https://mikecahoon.com/book-review-running-the-light/