Brian

Prey

by

BLU-RAY Prey

The epic Predator legacy continues with this action-thriller set in the Comanche Nation. When Naru, a fierce and highly skilled young warrior, sets out to protect her people, the prey she stalks turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator leading to a vicious and terrifying showdown.

I am a sucker for Sci-Fi action movies of the 80s including Predator. Prey is the perfect example of how to do a prequel--it's an awesome movie with inventive action and visuals that stands on its own, but also has cool callbacks and references to the original films. -Brian

The mountain in the sea

by Ray Nayler

SCIENCE FICTION Nayler Ray
Science Fiction

"Following a mysterious murder on an island off the coast of Vietnam, a research team convenes to study an octopus community that seems to be developing its own language and culture. Humans, AIs, and animals are swept up in the machinations of governments and corporations in this near-future thriller about the nature of intelligence"--

This is an incredibly intelligent slow burn, Sci-Fi thriller with interesting and complicated characters. It's going to stick with me for a long time, and I'm definitely going to read everything that Nayler writes in the future. -Brian

Ancillary sword

by Ann Leckie

SCIENCE FICTION Leckie Ann
Science Fiction

"What if you once had thousands of bodies and near god-like technology at your disposal? And what if all of it were ripped away? The Lord of the Radch has given Breq command of the ship Mercy of Kalr and sent her to the only place she would have agreed to go -- to Athoek Station, where Lieutenant Awn's sister works in Horticulture. Athoek was annexed some six hundred years ago, and by now everyone is fully civilized -- or should be. But everything is not as tranquil as it appears. Old divisions are still troublesome, Athoek Station's AI is unhappy with the situation, and it looks like the alien Presger might have taken an interest in what's going on. With no guarantees that interest is benevolent"--

Breq's story continues as she tries to make up for her sins the only way she knows how. The book also explores the destruction and assimilation of cultures during the creation of empires, and the personhood of AI. I'll say this again--I can't believe that I slept on these books for so long. If you are a Sci-Fi fan, this is a must read. -Brian

The scourge between stars

by Ness Brown

SCIENCE FICTION Brown Ness
Science Fiction

"A tense, claustrophobic sci-fi/horror blend set aboard a doomed generation ship harboring something terrible within its walls. As acting captain of the starship Calypso, Jacklyn Albright is responsible for keeping the last of humanity alive as they limp back to Earth from their forebears' failed colony on a distant planet. Faced with constant threats of starvation and destruction in the treacherous minefield of interstellar space, Jacklyn's crew has reached their breaking point. As unrest begins to spread throughout the ship's Wards, a new threat emerges, picking off crew members in grim, bloody fashion. Jacklyn and her team must hunt down the ship's unknown intruder if they have any hope of making it back to their solar system alive"--

Join is for our Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Club discussion of this book on Thursday, September 14: https://www.icpl.org/events/49631/sci-fifantasy-book-club-scourge-between-stars-ness-brown -Brian

Lesser evil

by Timothy Zahn

SCIENCE FICTION Star Wars Thrawn
Science Fiction

"The fate of the Chiss Ascendancy hangs in the balance in the epic finale of the Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy from bestselling author Timothy Zahn. For thousands of years The Chiss Ascendancy has been an island of calm, a center of power, and a beacon of integrity. Led by the Nine Ruling Families, their leadership stands as a bulwark of stability against the Chaos of the Unknown Regions. But that stability has been eroded by a cunning foe that winnows away trust and loyalty in equal measure. Bonds of fidelity have given way to lines of division among the families. Despite the efforts of the Expansionary Defense Fleet, the Ascendancy slips closer and closer toward civil war. The Chiss are no strangers to war. Their mythic status in the Chaos was earned through conflict and terrible deeds, some long buried. Until now. To ensure the Ascendancy's future, Thrawn will delve deep into its past, uncovering the dark secrets surrounding the ascension of the First Ruling Family. But the truth of a family's legacy is only as strong as the legend that supports it. Even if that legend turns out to be a lie. To secure the salvation of the Ascendancy, is Thrawn willing to sacrifice everything? Including the only home he has ever known?"--

Goodness, do I love Thrawn! Just give me more Thrawn books, okay? I swear, if they mess him up in his live action debut in Ahsoka, I am going to be one sad panda! -Brian

Slow AF run club : the ultimate guide for anyone who wants to run

by Martinus Evans

796.42 /Evans
Nonfiction, Health

"Ten years ago, Martinus Evans got some stern advice from his doctor: "Lose weight or die." First defensive, but then defiant, Evans vowed that day to run a marathon, though his doctor thought he was crazy. Since then, Evans has run eight marathons and hundreds of other distances in his 300-something body, created his own devoted running community, and has been featured on the cover of Runner's World. This book is a blueprint for those who may not fit the image of a "traditional" runner-that is, someone who is larger in size, less athletic, out of shape, or dealing with any kind of health issue that slows them down-to feel empowered to lace up their shoes and embrace the body they have right now. As Evans says, the incredible benefits of running-better sleep, strong muscles and bones, better cardiovascular and mental health, and a sense of community-can and should be available to all of us. This practical handbook contains specialized advice to make getting started less intimidating, covering everything from gear and nutrition to training schedules, recovery tips, races (it's okay to come in DFL! [i.e., dead f*cking last]), and finding a running group. Full of essential advice and humor from a former newbie who fell off a treadmill on his first run (literally), The Slow AF Run Club is for anyone who wants to pick up running for the sheer joy of it"--

I'm a big guy. I've always been a big guy. I've also always enjoyed running--cycling is my exercise of choice, but running comes in close--but I'm not knowledgeable about HOW to run. I've just been freestyling this whole time. Evans is a kindred spirit--big dude who loves to run. He has great tips and attitude to spare. I recommend this to any non-traditional runners! -Brian

Witch king

by Martha Wells

SCIENCE FICTION Wells Martha
Fantasy

"After being murdered, his consciousness dormant and unaware of the passing of time while confined in an elaborate water trap, Kai wakes to find a lesser mage attempting to harness Kai's magic to his own advantage. That was never going to go well. But why was Kai imprisoned in the first place? What has changed in the world since his assassination? And why does the Rising World Coalition appear to be growing in influence? Kai will need to pull his allies close and draw on all his pain magic if he is to answer even the least of these questions. He's not going to like the answers"--

I picked this up because I'm a huge fan of Well's Murderbot Diaries. This is another display of her talent for world building and characters. There is a lot to keep track of, and, if you listen to the audiobook, try not to be overwhelmed by the cast of characters listed off at the beginning. -Brian

John Wick. Chapter 4

by

DVD MOVIE ACTION John

John Wick uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful associations across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.

If you love Keanu Reeves shooting people, then this is the movie for you. Seriously, though, how do these keep getting better? Also, there's a sequence that would make Michelangelo proud. The ninja turtle, not the Italian sculptor. -Brian

How high we go in the dark : a novel

by Sequoia Nagamatsu

SCIENCE FICTION Nagamatsu, Sequoia
Science Fiction, Short Story

"For fans of Cloud Atlas and Station Eleven, a spellbinding and profoundly prescient debut that follows a cast of intricately linked characters over hundreds of years as humanity struggles to rebuild itself in the aftermath of a climate plague-a daring and deeply heartfelt work of mind-bending imagination from a singular new voice. Beginning in 2030, a grieving archeologist arrives in the Arctic Circle to continue the work of his recently deceased daughter at the Batagaika crater, where researchers are studying long-buried secrets now revealed in melting permafrost, including the perfectly preserved remains of a girl who appears to have died of an ancient virus. Once unleashed, the Arctic Plague will reshape life on earth for generations to come, quickly traversing the globe, forcing humanity to devise a myriad of moving and inventive ways to embrace possibility in the face of tragedy. In a theme park designed for terminally ill children, a cynical employee falls in love with a mother desperate to hold on to her infected son. A heartbroken scientist searching for a cure finds a second chance at fatherhood when one of his test subjects-a pig-develops the capacity for human speech. A widowed painter and her teenaged granddaughter embark on a cosmic quest to locate a new home planet. From funerary skyscrapers to hotels for the dead to interstellar starships, Sequoia Nagamatsu takes readers on a wildly original and compassionate journey, spanning continents, centuries, and even celestial bodies to tell a story about the resiliency of the human spirit, our infinite capacity to dream, and the connective threads that tie us all together in the universe"--

This is an amazing and devastating novel. I had to psych myself up each time to read it, because I would always end up sobbing. I'm glad I read it though. It's beautiful and cathartic. -Brian

Dungeons & dragons. Honor among thieves

by

DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Dungeons

A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people in this hilarious and action-packed adventure.

Honor Among Thieves is funny, has a ton of heart, and it perfectly captures the thrill of a great D&D campaign. This was a surprising treat after the Dungeons and Dragons movie from the year 2000 was a dreary mess. -Brian

Caliban's war

by James S. A Corey

SCIENCE FICTION Corey James
Science Fiction

We are not alone. On Ganymede, breadbasket of the outer planets, a Martian marine watches as her platoon is slaughtered by a monstrous supersoldier. On Earth, a high-level politician struggles to prevent interplanetary war from reigniting. And on Venus, an alien protomolecule has overrun the planet, wreaking massive, mysterious changes and threatening to spread out into the solar system. In the vast wilderness of space, James Holden and the crew of the Rocinante have been keeping the peace for the Outer Planets Alliance. When they agree to help a scientist search war-torn Ganymede for a missing child, the future of humanity rests on whether a single ship can prevent an alien invasion that may have already begun . . .

I'm late to the party on continuing this series, but I highly recommend it to Sci-Fi fans. I absolutely love the characters, and I'm pleasantly surprised by the scope of the story. -Brian

The adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi : a novel

by S. A. Chakraborty

SCIENCE FICTION Chakraborty, Shannon
Adventure, Fantasy

"The first book of "a new trilogy of magic and mayhem on the high seas in this tale of pirates and sorcerers, forbidden artifacts and ancient mysteries, in one woman's determined quest to seize a final chance at glory--and write her own legend ... Amina al-Sirafi should be content. After a storied and scandalous career as one of the Indian Ocean's most notorious pirates, she's survived backstabbing rogues, vengeful merchant princes, several husbands, and one actual demon to retire peacefully with her family to a life of piety, motherhood, and absolutely nothing that hints of the supernatural. But when she's tracked down by the obscenely wealthy mother of a former crewman, she's offered a job no bandit could refuse: retrieve her comrade's kidnapped daughter for a kingly sum. The chance to have one last adventure with her crew, do right by an old friend, and win a fortune that will secure her family's future forever? It seems like such an obvious choice that it must be God's will. Yet the deeper Amina dives, the more it becomes alarmingly clear there's more to this job, and the girl's disappearance, than she was led to believe. For there's always risk in wanting to become a legend, to seize one last chance at glory, to savor just a bit more power ... and the price might be your very soul"--

This book was exactly what I wanted it to be: a swashbuckling adventure that had just enough fantasy in it to keep it from being historical fiction. I absolutely love the characters, and I'm excited to spend more time with them. I recommend this to anyone who needs more piracy on the high seas in their life! -Brian

God Emperor of Dune

by Frank Herbert

SCIENCE FICTION Herbert, Frank
Science Fiction

Warner Bros released the trailer for Dune Part II, and it got me interested in continuing my re-read of the series. God Emperor of Dune has always been my favorite--and revisiting it has not disappointed. -Brian

Shadow of the Sith

by Adam Christopher

SCIENCE FICTION Star Wars

"The Empire is dead. Nearly two decades after the Battle of Endor, the tattered remnants of Palpatine's forces have fled to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. But for the heroes of the New Republic, danger and loss are ever-present companions, even in this newly forged era of peace. Jedi Master Luke Skywalker is haunted by visions of the dark side, foretelling an ominous secret growing somewhere in the depths of space, on a dead world called Exegol. The disturbance in the Force is undeniable ... and Luke's worst fears are confirmed when his old friend Lando Calrissian comes to him with reports of a new Sith menace. After Lando's daughter was stolen from his arms, he searched the stars for any trace of his lost child. But every new rumor leads only to dead ends and fading hopes--until he crosses paths with Ochi of Bestoon, a Sith assassin tasked with kidnapping a young girl. Ochi's true motives remain shrouded to Luke and Lando. For on a junkyard moon, a mysterious envoy of the Sith Eternal has bequeathed a sacred blade to the assassin, promising that it will answer the questions that have haunted him since the Empire fell. In exchange, he must complete a final mission: Return to Exegol with the key to the Sith's glorious rebirth--Rey, the granddaughter of Darth Sidious himself. As Ochi hunts Rey and her parents to the edge of the galaxy, Luke and Lando race into the mystery of the Sith's lingering shadow and aid a young family running for their lives" --

I am not a fan of "The Rise of Skywalker," but this book goes a long way to fill in information that should've been in that movie. Also, it's fun to have Luke and Lando go on a mission together, and the connections to other Star Wars stories--in the comics and elsewhere--are a great payoff. I consider this essential reading for Star Wars fans. -Brian

Metroid Prime Remastered

by

ON ORDER VIDEO GAME

Get behind the visor of intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran in her critically-acclaimed first-person adventure Step into the boots of Samus Aran as you navigate the winding paths and interconnected environments of an alluring-yet-dangerous alien planet. Use powers like the iconic Morph Ball and Grapple Beam to revisit hard-to-reach areas and find a path forward. With revamped graphics, sound, unlockable art, and updated control schemes, Samus’ 3D platforming debut has reached greater heights. Calm and capable, Samus takes on this solo mission…but she is far from alone.

Metroid Prime quickly became one of my favorite games ever when I played it 20 years ago. Remastered shows that the gameplay has aged well while the visuals have gotten an upgrade. Playing this game in handheld mode is immersive and the updated control scheme is a welcome change. This is the best way to experience Metroid Prime. -Brian

Legends & lattes : a novel of high fantasy and low stakes

by Travis Baldree

SCIENCE FICTION Baldree Travis
Fantasy

"The much-beloved BookTok sensation from Travis Baldree, Legends & Lattes is a novel of high fantasy and low stakes. *The new paperback edition will include a very special, never-before-seen bonus story, 'Pages to Fill.'* Come take a load off at Viv's cafe, the first & only coffee shop in Thune. Grand opening! Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv, the orc barbarian, cashes out of the warrior's life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen. However, her dreams of a fresh start filling mugs instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune's shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners, and a different kind of resolve. "Take a break from epic battles and saving the world. Legends & Lattes is a wholesome, cozy novel that feels like a warm hug. This is my new comfort read."-Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's Heart"--

It has been a while since I've read anything that was so delightful. "Legends & Lattes" is a cozy fantasy novel, and it reads like a side-story of someone's pet D&D character. I repeat--it is delightful! Fantasy fans will eat it up, but I think it will also appeal to those who enjoy a gentle, romantic read. -Brian

Ancillary justice

by Ann Leckie

SCIENCE FICTION Leckie Ann
Science Fiction

On a remote, icy planet, the soldier known as Breq is drawing closer to completing her quest. Once, she was the Justice of Toren - a colossal starship with an artificial intelligence linking thousands of soldiers in the service of the Radch, the empire that conquered the galaxy. Now, an act of treachery has ripped it all away, leaving her with one fragile human body, unanswered questions, and a burning desire for vengeance.

Have you ever had a book on your "To read" list, and think to yourself--"Why do it take me so long to start this one?!?!?" "Ancillary Justice" was one such title. I've had my eye on it for a long time. Someone told me that it's a "Murderbot Diaries" read-alike (it kind of, sort of is), so it jumped to the top of my list. It's a fantastic Sci-Fi series opener with interesting characters and a great premise. Seriously, I want to start the next book right now, but I feel like I should ration them out. I highly recommend this to Sci-Fi fans. -Brian

Greater good

by Timothy Zahn

SCIENCE FICTION Star Wars Thrawn
Science Fiction

When a mysterious enemy strikes at the very foundation of the Ascendancy by widening the rifts between the Nine Ruling Families and Forty Great Houses, Thrawn and his allies must decide what matters most--the security of their family or the survival of the Ascendancy itself.

This series continues to be an outstanding Sci-Fi adventure in an unfamiliar part of the Star Wars universe. I've got one book left, and I don't want it to end! I definitely enjoy my Star Wars with a dash of political intrigue and plenty of original characters. -Brian

House of the dragon. 1

by

DVD TV House s. 1

"Set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, the series finds the Targaryens ruling over the Seven Kingdoms -- and on the brink of civil war within their own house. Prior to the birth of a son, King Viserys sent shockwaves through the kingdom and declared his daughter, Rhaenyra, his heir. Once a healthy boy entered the picture, plans were afoot to make sure she would never sit on the Iron Throne. Now, with schemes hatched on both sides -- and the kingdom in the balance -- viewers will see the house that dragons built and learn how they tore it all down" --Container.

After the garbage fire that was the last few seasons of "Game of Thrones," I was hesitant to watch this prequel series, "House of the Dragon." My worries quickly evaporated as I was treated to phenomenal acting, writing, and visuals. It made me remember why I fell in love with this world in the first place. I highly recommend it to any disillusioned "Game of Thrones" fans. -Brian

Magic, the Gathering : the visual guide

by Jay Annelli

793.93 /Magic
Nonfiction, Fantasy

"Magic: The Gathering is a fantastical Multiverse of mystical beings, fabled realms, and mythical creatures. Dominating all are the mighty sorcerers known as planeswalkers. To be a planeswalker is to be powerful beyond measure--a wizard who can bend magic to their will and step through the veil of reality itself. These fearsome mages cross between the planes of existence, battling to save others or to destroy them, to fight darkness or to create it. Magic: The Gathering Visual Dictionary illuminates the wondrous worlds they traverse, reveals their arcane lore, weapons, artifacts, and spells, and recounts their legendary exploits. Produced in close collaboration with Wizards of the Coast and featuring never before published profiles of new planes, such as Strixhaven and Kaldheim, this book is the first time MTG's key characters and locations are showcased in one sumptuous, indispensable, and up-to-date guide to its vast and expanding Multiverse" --

If you've read any of my other reviews, you know that I'm a huge nerd. One of my many geeky interests is Magic: The Gathering. Even though I've played the game for 30 years, I don't know a lot of the lore. This book filled me in and also displayed card art in big, beautiful fashion. -Brian

The banshees of Inisherin

by

DVD MOVIE COMEDY Banshees

Two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them.

Beautifully shot with amazing performances throughout, "The Banshees of Inisherin" is a pitch black comedy that is going to depress the hell out of you. I loved it, but know that it's going to create a raincloud for the rest of your day. -Brian

Under the whispering door

by TJ Klune

SCIENCE FICTION Klune Tj
Fantasy

"A Man Called Ove meets The Good Place in Under the Whispering Door, a delightful queer love story from TJ Klune, author of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller The House in the Cerulean Sea. When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead. And when Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he's definitely dead. But even in death he's not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days. Hilarious, haunting, and kind, Under the Whispering Door is an uplifting story about a life spent at the office and a death spent building a home"--

Wallace Price, a Scrooge like character, dies and gets a chance to reevaluate his life. This touching fantasy really won me over. It has been a while since a book made me cry, and this one made me cry A LOT. -Brian

The golden enclaves : a novel

by Naomi Novik

SCIENCE FICTION Novik Naomi
Fantasy

"The one thing you never talk about while you're in the Scholomance is what you'll do when you get out. Not even the richest enclaver would tempt fate that way. But it's all we dream about: the hideously slim chance we'll survive to make it out the gates and improbably find ourselves with a life ahead of us, a life outside the Scholomance halls. And now the impossible dream has come true. I'm out, we're all out--and I didn't even have to turn into a monstrous dark witch to make it happen. So much for my great-grandmother's prophecy of doom and destruction. I didn't kill enclavers, I saved them. Me and Orion and our allies. Our graduation plan worked to perfection: We saved everyone and made the world safe for all wizards and brought peace and harmony to all the enclaves everywhere. Ha, only joking! Actually, it's gone all wrong. Someone else has picked up the project of destroying enclaves in my stead, and probably everyone we saved is about to get killed in the brewing enclave war. And the first thing I've got to do now, having miraculously gotten out of the Scholomance, is turn straight around and find a way back in"--

"The Golden Enclaves" ties everything together in a way that makes sense without feeling cheap. It's rare that a trilogy of books really satisfies, but Novik pulled it off. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Fantasy. -Brian

Parable of the sower

by Octavia E Butler

SCIENCE FICTION Butler, Octavia E.
Science Fiction

When global climate change and economic crises lead to social chaos in the early 2020s, California becomes full of dangers, from pervasive water shortage to masses of vagabonds who will do anything to live to see another day. Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina lives inside a gated community with her preacher father, family, and neighbors, sheltered from the surrounding anarchy. In a society where any vulnerability is a risk, she suffers from hyperempathy, a debilitating sensitivity to others' emotions. Precocious and clear-eyed, Lauren must make her voice heard in order to protect her loved ones from the imminent disasters her small community stubbornly ignores. But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of a new faith . . . and a startling vision of human destiny.

"Parable of the Sower" is a powerful and harrowing tale told in a matter of fact tone. At its core, it is a dystopian story that shows how ugly humans can be. It ends up being surprisingly optimistic--and I encourage you to push through even when parts of the book can be difficult to stomach. This was my first Octavia Butler novel, and it won't be my last. -Brian

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow : a novel

by Gabrielle Zevin

FICTION Zevin, Gabrielle

On a bitter-cold day, in the December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees, amid the hordes of people waiting on the platform, Sadie Green. He calls her name. For a moment, she pretends she hasn't heard him, but then, she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom. These friends, intimates since childhood, borrow money, beg favors, and, before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo. Overnight, the world is theirs. Not even twenty-five years old, Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful, and rich, but these qualities won't protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts. Spanning thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond, Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a dazzling and intricately imagined novel that examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love. Yes, it is a love story, but it is not one you have read before.

Originally, I was drawn in by the cover art and the promise of video game centric plot. What I found was my favorite book of the year. At its heart, "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" is about creativity, tragedy, and the relationships--romantic and otherwise--that shape our lives. It is a beautiful story, and I'm going to automatically read any books by Zevin in the future. -Brian

Chaos rising

by Timothy Zahn

SCIENCE FICTION Star Wars Thrawn

Beyond the edge of the galaxy lies the Unknown Regions: chaotic, uncharted, and near impassable, with hidden secrets and dangers in equal measure. And nestled within its swirling chaos is the Ascendancy, home to the enigmatic Chiss and the nine ruling families that lead them. The peace of the Ascendancy, a beacon of calm and stability, is shattered after a daring attack on the Chiss capital that leaves no trace of the enemy. Baffled, the Ascendancy dispatches Thrawn, one of its brightest young military officers, to root out the unseen assailants.

It's wild to me that--if read in a vacuum--you would have no idea that this was a Star Wars book. There's no connection (outside of a minor sub-plot) to the greater universe, and none of the well-known aliens and ships that are so undeniably of a galaxy far, far away. But there's something just *very* Star Wars about it. It's adventurous, exotic, and makes the galaxy seem limitless. Also, Thrawn is possibly the most interesting Star Wars character there is. I highly recommend it for Star Wars and Sci-Fi fans. -Brian

Peaky blinders. [Series 1]

by

DVD TV Peaky 1st series

A gangster family epic set in 1919 Birmingham that follows the notorious gang, who got their name from sewing razor blades into the peaks of their caps, and their fierce boss Tommy Shelby, a man dead set on moving up in the world, no matter the cost.

A friend of mine said that this is his favorite show ever, but I was skeptical. Next thing you know, I'm so invested that I'm talking to the characters while I'm watching it. It's violent, intense, and I absolutely love it. -Brian

The matrix resurrections

by

BLU-RAY Matrix

"To truly know himself, Neo must follow the white rabbit once again into the Matrix ... What he doesn't know is that the Matrix is more dangerous than ever"--Container.

Trust me, I've got a lot of "bad" movie opinions. Like, the Star Wars prequels are good, actually. Another opinion is that the sequels to the Matrix are fantastic--no notes, just inspired cinema (and don't get me started about the soundtrack for "The Matrix Reloaded.") So, it was a waking dream for me when they announced that they were making another one. "The Matrix Resurrections" is a sequel, remake, and a reboot all wrapped in one. It is self-aware and endlessly entertaining. Honestly, I don't know why we all aren't doing backflips in the street after watching this movie. -Brian

The empress of salt and fortune

by Nghi Vo

SCIENCE FICTION Vo Nghi
Fantasy

"A young royal from the far north, is sent south for a political marriage in an empire reminiscent of imperial China. Her brothers are dead, her armies and their war mammoths long defeated and caged behind their borders. Alone and sometimes reviled, she must choose her allies carefully. Rabbit, a handmaiden, sold by her parents to the palace for the lack of five baskets of dye, befriends the emperor's lonely new wife and gets more than she bargained for."--Provided by publisher.

This is a subtle, quiet, beautiful--and short--fantasy book. I highly recommend it. -Brian

Leviathan wakes

by James S. A Corey

SCIENCE FICTION Corey, James S. A.
Science Fiction

When Captain Jim Holden's ice miner stumbles across a derelict, abandoned ship, he uncovers a secret that threatens to throw the entire system into war. Attacked by a stealth ship belonging to the Mars fleet, Holden must find a way to uncover the motives behind the attack, stop a war and find the truth behind a vast conspiracy that threatens the entire human race.

This is my second time reading "Leviathan Wakes." I read it when it first came out--before it became a TV show and a Sci-Fi fan favorite. I enjoyed it the first time, but I didn't keep up with the series. I'm going to give the rest of the books a go now that the story is all done. -Brian

The Anthropocene reviewed : essays on a human-centered planet

by John Green

814.6 /Green
Nonfiction

"The Anthropocene is the current geological age, in which human activity has profoundly shaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his groundbreaking podcast, John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet-from the QWERTY keyboard and Staphylococcus aureus to the Taco Bell breakfast menu-on a five-star scale. John Green's gift for storytelling shines throughout this artfully curated collection that includes both beloved essays and all-new pieces exclusive to the book"--

John Green is silly and serious with his non-fiction debut. He meditates on our human centered planet through essays that review a wide variety of things: from Diet Dr. Pepper to sunsets to the movie "Harvey." I enjoyed the "positive" reviews far more than the "negative" ones, but it was interesting and enjoyable throughout. -Brian

Thief

by

BLU-RAY Thief

A professional thief is caught between Chicago organized crime families and corrupt police.

"Thief" had been on my "to watch" list for a long time, mainly because "Heat"--also directed by Mann--is one of my all time favorites. When James Caan passed away this summer, I made it a point to finally check the movie out. I have to say, I prefer "Heat," but "Thief"--as the kids would say--has VIBES. It's gorgeous, violent, and it has Willie Nelson in it. What more could you want? -Brian

Star wars. Thrawn

by Timothy Zahn

SCIENCE FICTION Star Wars

Rescued from exile by Imperial soldiers, Thrawn proved to be indispensable to Emperor Palpatine and the Empire. Ambitious and a warrior never to be underestimated, one promotion followed another. Follow the events that launched the blue-skinned, red-eyed master of military strategy and lethal warfare into the highest realms of power and infamy as Thrawn rises to Admiral.

Way back when I first got into Star Wars, I fell in love with the books just as much as the movies. My favorite was "Heir to the Empire," which introduced Grand Admiral Thrawn. When Disney bought Lucasfilm, all of those books were no longer considered canon. They decided to reintroduce Thrawn into the Star Wars universe in the TV show Rebels and in these books. It sounds like Thrawn will be a major part of the Ahsoka show as well. Anyway! I really enjoyed this book, and its two sequels are even better! -Brian

Upgrade : a novel

by Blake Crouch

FICTION Crouch Blake

"An ordinary man undergoes a startling transformation--and fears that all of humanity may be next--in the mindblowing new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Dark Matter and Recursion Logan Ramsay can feel his brain... changing. And his body too. He's becoming something other than himself. Maybe even something other than human. As he sets out to discover who did this to him, and why, his transformation threatens everything--his family, his job, even his freedom. Because the truth of what's happened to him is more disturbing than he could possibly imagine. His DNA has been rewritten with a genetic-engineering breakthrough beyond anything the world has seen--one that could change our very definitions of humanity. And the battle to control this unfathomable power has already begun. But what if humankind's only hope for survival lies in embracing this change--whatever the cost? Which side will Logan take? And by the time it's over, will he--and the people he loves--even recognize him? Upgrade is a stunningly inventive, ferociously plotted science-fiction thriller that explores the limits of our humanity--and asks what's at risk when technology lets us reengineer not just the world around us, but ourselves"--

I've said in the past that Crouch writes Sci-Fi thrillers like Michael Crichton but way better. David Koepp, the screenwriter of "Jurassic Park," has a blurb on "Upgrade" that says it even better: "Blake Crouch has the mind of Crichton and the heart of King." I don't think there's a way to top that. -Brian

Everything everywhere all at once

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DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Everything

Evelyn Wang, a flustered immigrant mother, is contacted from a parallel universe and told that only she can save the world. The unlikely hero must learn to channel her newfound powers and fight through the splintering timelines of the multiverse to save her home, her family, and herself in this big-hearted and irreverent adventure.

How often do you get to say that a movie is hilarious, heartfelt, action-packed, and utterly bizarre? Probably just once--go watch it and see if you agree. -Brian

The Batman

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BLU-RAY Batman

Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman, striking fear into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies, Alfred Pennyworth, Lt. James Gordon, amongst the city's corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens. When a killer targets Gotham's elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World's Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman, Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin, Carmine Falcone, and Edward Nashton/aka the Riddler. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator's plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.

This is my favorite live-action Batman movie of all-time. The cinematography is beautiful and the score and sound design are out of this world. It just feels like they adapted a long-lost comic book arc. -Brian