Today on SF Signal I review “The Churn”, the latest novella in the Expanse series by the writing team who dub themselves James S.A. Corey.

“The Churn” was released this past Tuesday and before the day was midway through I had greedily devoured the story. I caution fans of the series: DO NOT read the story summary on sites like Amazon. I’m not sure if it was the publishers who wrote that advertising copy or who is to blame, but it spoils the end of the story within the first line.

My review is brief, and entirely spoiler-free, so you may check it out without fear. It also stays away from any spoilers of the previous short stories or novels. What can I say? I want readers to have their own adventure of discovery in reading these page-turning, character-focused space operas.

While you are over there be sure to check out some of the other great material that SF Signal has to offer.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Earth is suffering the effects of overpopulation, disease, starvation and lack. When salvation comes, it comes in the form of an accident. The haan are an alien race whose ship crashed on our planet, killing millions. With them came advanced technology that proved to be just what was needed to improve food production and to begin to stem the tide of humanity’s march towards extinction. That technology comes at a price, for the haan need a significant portion of the area’s food supply to survive, and human existence depends on the survival of the haan.

Dragan Shao has been a model soldier, defending his nation’s resources by guarding the borders and dealing with the hunger-driven people who see the haan not as our saviors, but as parasites that need to be destroyed. Something has driven Dragan Shao to turn in his resignation, to return to civilian life. What that something is, even Dragan Shao is not sure of, but his return to Hangfei, in what would be the equivalent of future China, will find him examining those reasons as his former skill set thrusts him into the fray of what some citizens feel is necessary to survive.

Ember is a prequel novella to James K. Decker’s series which began with last year’s The Burn Zone and continues with this week’s release of Fallout. It is an exciting introduction to Decker’s imagined future Earth. I review it in more detail, while remaining spoiler free, over on SF Signal. Please join me over there where I do my best to convince you that this is one you’ll want to pick up.

Today on SF Signal I have a review/discussion of Hugo, Nebula, Locus and World Fantasy Award winner Ken Liu’s new work of original short fiction, “The Clockwork Soldier“.

Alex is a bounty hunter on her way back through hyperspace to deliver her prey, a young man named Ryder whose father hired Alex to bring him home.  Alex doesn’t get to know those she captures, they are her source of income, not companionship.  On this trip, however, Alex unwittingly becomes aware of Ryder’s story when she sits down an begins playing an old-fashioned text adventure game that Ryder has written called “The Clockwork Soldier”.

Liu’s story uses an interesting device, telling the ending of the story first.  This gives away less than you would think, instead inspiring the reader to discover why Alex is taking a particular action with Ryder and what her cryptic parting words mean.

Ken Liu is one of the best of the new crop of short story authors working today.  His stories are often innovative while remaining satisfying and accessible.  This story holds true.  It has a clever story-within-a-story element that reveals much about Ryder’s character.

Over on SF Signal I give the link to the print and audio version of the story followed by a more spoiler-filled discussion of the story.  I would encourage you to head over there, give the story a read or listen, and join in on the discussion.

“The Clockwork Soldier” is one of three new works of fiction featured in the January 2014 issue of Clarkesworld.