Each week it gets more and more difficult to share anything about the newly-released episode for fear of spoiling the story for those who are either behind on their episodic reading or are waiting to read the story in its entirety when it comes out soon in novel form.

This past Tuesday saw the release of episode eleven of The Human Division, leaving us with only two more to go. “A Problem of Proportion” returns readers to the Clarke with Lieutenant Wilson taking center stage. The crew of the Clarke find themselves interacting with a crew from the Conclave and in so doing find what could be a key piece of the puzzle of who is orchestrating the attacks that begin in episode one.

Whenever we are with the Clarke I am a pleased reader and this week was no exception. I continue to be concerned about how this can possibly be wrapped up satisfactorily with so little time left but that has not stopped me from enjoying the experience and looking forward to each week’s episode.

If you want to join me for a more detailed discussion of the story, please follow after the break.

Continue reading A Problem of Proportion ~John Scalzi →

Episode 10 of John Scalzi’s novel The Human Division breaks with form while holding with form. In the past 9 episodes readers have been treated to stories alternating between the Clarke and its crew and other events happening in the universe. This week we leave behind the Clarke, as per schedule, but travel home with a member of the crew–Hart Schmidt of the Diplomatic Corp.

Schmidt has returned to his home colony of Phoenix for the annual Harvest Day celebration, the one time a year he steps away from his job as assistant to Ambassador Ode Abumwe, to visit his wealthy, ambitious and connected family. As we all know from personal experience, nothing says family like the drama that ensues during the holiday season.

In previous stories Hart has been relegated to being a sidekick of sorts to Harry Wilson. “This Must Be The Place” gives Schmidt an opportunity to shine on his own and John Scalzi allows Schmidt to make the most of this opportunity, including reassessing who he is and what he does for a living.

While it is hard to see how John Scalzi will be able to wrap up the conspiracy in the three remaining episodes of The Human Division, this was a nice fleshing out of one of the more interesting characters in the story.

Hereafter there be spoilers.

Continue reading This Must Be The Place ~John Scalzi →

(Image Credit)

“If cultural imperialism is what it takes to make the world a better place, then we’ll happily arrange the world’s information to ennoble the human race.”

In “The Perfect Match” author Ken Liu serves up a story of paranoia and control, crafting a tale that takes the age-old idea of our creations rising up and ruling us and making it more plausible by predicting a not too distant future when social media and online information consumption can be used not only to track our tastes and make recommendations but also to suggest beforehand what we might like and think we need.

Liu’s is a slightly different take on “Big Brother” stories and if you enjoy the thrill of people fighting back against control as happens in films like Gattaca, Minority Report, Equilibrium and a whole host of other books and films then I have no doubt you’ll enjoy this story.

“The Perfect Match” is featured in the December 2012 issue of Lightspeed. Click on the link above and give it a quick read and then come back for a spoiler-filled discussion.

Continue reading The Perfect Match ~Ken Liu →