science fiction – Page 3

Caramel reviews Tiger Honor by Yoon Ha Lee

A while back Marshmallow reviewed Dragon Pearl, a book involving various themes from Korean mythology, written by Yoon Ha Lee. Today Caramel reviews a second book by the same author, Tiger Honor, published in 2022. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, today you wanted to talk about another book with some Asian themes.

Caramel: Yeah, but this one is a novel, and it is called Tiger Honor. It is a really good book.

S: It must be. You read it rather quickly. So what is it about?

C: It is about this person named Sebin who wants to join the Space Forces of the Thousand Worlds and maybe become a captain like their uncle Hwan, but then Hwan is named a traitor. Sebin is shocked of course, but they join the Force nonetheless, hoping that they can perhaps clear their uncle’s name.

S: There is something special about Sebin, right?

C: Yes, they are a tiger spirit, and so you get the ”Tiger” in the title of the book. And their tribe the Juhwang Clan has a strong honor code. Again, that is the second part of the title of the book. Honor is very important to Sebin. Sebin wants to save their family’s honor by clearing Hwan’s name.

S: I see. What is a tiger spirit? Does it become clear in the book?

C: Yeah, it is explained in the first chapter. Sebin is a human but can shapeshift into a tiger and is exceptionally strong.

S: Are there other kinds of spirits in the book?

C: Yes, there are foxes, and ghosts, and I think others, but I’m not sure. But from what I understand these kinds of spirits show up in Korean myths and that is what inspired the author.

Caramel is reading Tiger Honor by Yoon Ha Lee. — Caramel is reading *Tiger Honor* by Yoon Ha Lee.

S: Oh, yes, in the first book of this series, the main character was a fox spirit. In fact, as far as I understand, that character shows up in this book, too. Her name is Min.

C: Hmm, yes, Min does show up. She is an important character here actually. But I did not read that first book.

S: I have not read the book yet, but again from what I understand from everything I read about it, even though Min shows up here, too, and both books involve the Dragon Pearl and the Space Forces of the Thousand Worlds, they are actually independent stories. So I think it is okay that you did not read that one before reading this one.

C: That is good to know. I might still go ahead and read Dragon Pearl at some point though. This world is interesting!

S: Can you tell me more about this world then?

C: Sure, there are mostly human-like people, like the tiger and fox spirits, and some mercenaries.out-of-galaxy mercenaries fighting against the Space Force. There are a lot of planets and civilizations that came together and signed a treaty to form the Thousand Worlds, which is kind of like the United Federation of Planets in Star Trek. And the Space Force is basically Starfleet.

S: Okay, that is cool. It sounds like a neat mixture of science fiction and Korean mythological themes. So then tell us a bit more about what happens in the book.

C: So, Sebin joins the space force, and then the ship they join is sabotaged, and by Uncle Hwan no less. And it gets more and more exciting and a lot messier from there on, but maybe in order to really see this, one should read the book. And it is a good book so it is very much worth it.

S: Sounds like it. So maybe this is a good place to end this review

C: And maybe I should go and read Dragon Pearl next.

S: Makes sense to me. What do you want to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Tiger Honor by Yoon Ha Lee and is considering whether it is time to go and read Dragon Pearl. — Caramel enjoyed reading *Tiger Honor* by Yoon Ha Lee and is considering whether it is time to go and read *Dragon Pearl*.

Marshmallow reviews Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels by Tọlá Okogwu

A while back Marshmallow read Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu and, as you can see from her review, enjoyed it a lot. Today she reviews Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels, the second story recounting Onyeka’s adventures, published in 2023.

The book bunnies will be taking off for a short summer break during the month of July. We look forward to seeing you in August with many new books!

Marshmallow reviews Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels by Tọlá Okogwu. — Marshmallow reviews *Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels* by Tọlá Okogwu.

Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you like books about magic, friends, family, and new magical worlds, or have enjoyed reading the previous Onyeka book, then this is the book for you!

Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): When Onyeka first came to the Academy of the Sun, she learned that there is a whole new world of magic hidden in Nigeria. The Academy shelters and teaches Solari children and young adults, who all have Ike or special magical powers. Doctor Dòyìnbó, who runs the Academy, trained them all to “serve Nigeria” with their Ikes. Until recently, Onyeka believed–just like all the other Solari–that their powers came from exposure to a leaked material. At the end of the first Onyeka book, she learned that the material was leaked by Doctor Dòyìnbó, who intentionally “gave” the Solari their Ike. While this might sound noble, the children who gained Ike were taken from their families to be trained by Dòyìnbó at the Academy to “serve Nigeria,” or more precisely himself. Naturally, once Onyeka and her friends discovered that basically everything Doctor Dòyìnbó told them was a lie, they rebelled.

Now at the beginning of this second book, they are hiding as fugitives since the whole Academy has turned against them, with Doctor Dòyìnbó keeping the truth secret from the rest of the students and staff of the Academy. Onyeka, her friends, and her aunt have to plan their next course of action, and find themselves at a crossroads: they can storm the Academy to try to reveal the truth, or they can search for the Rogues (a group Dòyìnbó characterized as the Solaris’ enemy, likely because they uncovered his plan) to join forces.

At the same time, Onyeka’s scientist aunt has been working to fabricate a formula that corrects the Ike’s negative side effects; normally, all Solari suffer from nausea, sickness, and, after years of using their Ike, death. Luckily, she figures it out! Onyeka and her friends soon elect to find the Rogues, yet Onyeka is reluctant to trust them. After Dòyìnbó’s betrayal and elaborate falsities, she feels as though it is too risky. She does not tell the Rogues (who are also Solari, but they live in a secret base hidden from Dòyìnbó and the Academy) about the formula they made, waiting for proof that they won’t misuse it.

Onyeka, her friends, and the Rebels mount their defenses and plan for how they will overtake Dòyìnbó. But the whole time, Onyeka has been visited by Dòyìnbó in her dreams. She keeps this a secret too. But as Paul Tournier once said, “Nothing makes us so lonely as our secrets.” Throughout the book, Onyeka faces inner turmoil like nothing she has experienced before as secrets are revealed, wars are waged, and her life is forever changed.

Marshmallow is reading Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels by Tọlá Okogwu. — Marshmallow is reading *Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels* by Tọlá Okogwu.

Marshmallow’s Review: I think that this was a very well thought-out book. Onyeka’s character is front and center, but I am also glad that we got to see more of the other characters. That said, I was so mad that she does the same “I have to be the hero” thing as every other teenage protagonist (*cough, cough* Harry Potter). I would have presumed she would have been able to think about the situation with more understanding of depth. But she still makes the same mistakes because she is looking at everything in a very 2D way. I was a little surprised because her struggles and thoughts were almost identical to Harry Potter’s, which shows how this book is also another great fantasy series. However, I would also warn readers that you might be tempted to yell at the book because of how precisely she follows the same silly hero pitfalls. The plot is definitely unique though and the same can be said for the world Okogwu has created. I really love how the new magical aspects of the Academy and the futuristic tech the Solari use blend into the rich Nigerian culture the characters celebrate. That really makes this book special.

I think reading books like Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels is definitely vital for a diverse society. It is neat to see heroes from different backgrounds that many people have never really been able to see before. It’s heart-warming to see that there are more and more stories like this! But setting that aside, Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels is a really good book on its other merits too. The plot is on-point, sharp, and doesn’t lull. Even when the characters are not physically doing much, there is still a lot going on in terms of social dynamics and emotions. This is a really good book and–though it resolves at the end, sort of–I am excited to read the next one!

This being our last post till August, I have to say… Happy summer reading and stay tuned for more amazing reviews from the Book Bunnies!

Marshmallow’s Rating: 100%.

Marshmallow rates Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels by Tọlá Okogwu 100%. — Marshmallow rates *Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels* by Tọlá Okogwu 100%.

Caramel reviews All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

Today Caramel reviews All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, written in 2017 and the winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novella in 2018. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, today we are talking about All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries.

Caramel: Yep.

S: So tell us a bit about this book.

C: Sure. All Systems Red is about a SecUnit, a security oriented robot who is an augmented human.

S: What is an augmented human Caramel?

C: A person that is a mix between a robot and a human.

S: They used to call that a cyborg, I think. I guess “augmented human” makes it sound more like you begin with a human and modify them. Kind of scary to think about. Like the Cybermen of Doctor Who.

C: Yeah kind of, but this one is more, docile

S: Docile but he is called Murderbot! That sounds a bit violent.

C: Yeah, I think he calls himself that, as an ironic name, I think. Apparently, he went out of control and killed a lot of people some time ago, but now humans trust him again. He just calls himself Murderbot because he has dreams of being scary and powerful and so on.

S: Wait, so he has dreams or aspirations?

C: Yes, he is sentient. He also realizes at some point that he has free will. So he can override the commands he is being given, but chooses not to, because he does not want others to know.

S: Ooh, that is so interesting! So many questions! Is his free will coming from his human part? Or maybe the machine part is somehow capable of sentience and free will?

C: I don’t know, but I think it has something to do with some other SecUnits who attacked and one of them installed an override module to its neck.

S: So if nobody else knows of this, are we reading his own thoughts?

C: Yes. He is the narrator. I guess that is why it is called a diary after all.

Caramel is reading All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. — Caramel is reading *All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries* by Martha Wells.

S: So what does he do with his free will? What does he want to do?

C: He mainly watches TV in his free time.

S: Oh, that is hilarious! Kind of like how when TV and the internet first came to be, people thought about all the amazing things we would do with these new tools, but almost everyone uses these to watch soap operas or post cat photos or funny dance videos.

C: Yes, it is sad in a way. He could be planning to rebel or build a free world for his kind or something grand like that, but all he wants to do is watch soap operas without being bothered.

S: But also realistic. I mean not everyone wants to be a leader or a revolutionary, but everyone enjoys funny cat videos.

C: Almost everyone. I’d rather watch funny bunny videos.

S: You are right of course. Bunny videos are so much better! Anyways, do you like Murderbot? Is he likeable? Funny?

C: Yeah, he is very funny. And he is laid back and he does not take himself seriously.

S: That is cool! Did you know that they are making a TV show about Murderbot?

C: No! But that sounds awesome! Can we put the trailer on this thing?

S: Sure, here we go:

C: Thank you! That does look cool! I think it is not only the book I read though.

S: Yes, there are a few followup books about Murderbot.

C: Ooh, can I read them?

S: Hmm, I am not sure if they were published as paper books but we can definitely look into it.

C: Yes, please let’s!

S: Okay, sounds like you did enjoy reading All Systems Red.

C: Yep, it was super cool.

S: Okay, then, we will figure something out. It seems like this is a good place to end our review. What do you want to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells and is wondering if he can read the sequels as well. — Caramel enjoyed reading *All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries* by Martha Wells and is wondering if he can read the sequels as well.

Caramel reviews The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Today Caramel is talking to Sprinkles about The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the 1979 book by Douglas Adams that originated from a 1978 radio show and then went on to evolve into a whole “comedy science fiction franchise”, according to Wikipedia.

Sprinkles: So we are talking about The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy today. I am excited! I had really enjoyed reading this book myself.

Caramel: Yup, this book was surely a really good read. I had a lot of fun reading it.

S: Yay! So maybe we can start with a brief introduction to the story for anyone reading our blog who might not know about it.

C: Sure. It is a scifi book that is infused with a lot of comedy.

S: It is funny, I agree. Tell us more.

C: This book tells the story of a guy named Arthur Dent and another one named Ford Perfect.

S: It is actually Prefect, as in Ford Prefect, the car.

C: Yes, I knew that but somehow forgot. Yes, he is actually named that because he came to Earth fifteen years before the start of this story, maybe around when the car came out, you see Ford Prefect is an alien from Betelgeuse Seven.

S: Yes, apparently the author at some point said that Ford “had simply mistaken the dominant life form on Earth” (again according to Wikipedia).

C: Yes, when you look at it from outer space, apparently, humans don’t look like the dominant species on Earth. So Ford Prefect thought he should blend in and gave himself the name of a common car. But actually humans are really not the dominant species on Earth, according to The Hitchhiker’s Guide. It is the mice who are the smartest species on our planet.

S: That is funny! I mean, we have read many books about clever mice, remember Poppy and Ragweed?

C: Yes, then there is Ralph and Babymouse. So to me it sounds reasonable!

S: But this book is not really about mice, is it?

C: No, it is about the adventures of Arthur and Ford. So Ford comes to Earth to work on a guide book, and then is stuck. At the time when the book starts, Ford knows that the planet is going to be destroyed soon and wants to save Arthur and he tries to teach him about life in the universe. He tells him about this amazing guide book, The Hitchhiker’s Guide, that anyone who is going out traveling in space should have.

S: So the book The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is about a book called The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy?

C: Kind of, but it is more about Ford and Arthur.

S: So what happens? Do they leave the Earth together? And why on earth is the Earth going to be destroyed?

C: Because the planet is in the way of an intergalactic highway that some people want to build.

S: Ouch! That’s rough! Okay, so Earth cannot appeal and they have to leave, right? What do they do? Does the Earth really get destroyed in the book?

C: Yes, the entire planet is destroyed and turned to ash.

S: You said this was a funny book. That sounds pretty terrible.

C: Yes, but you know it is fiction when you are reading it. And the book is funny! Really funny. And they do not go into the details of the destruction at all really; that is almost an excuse to get Ford and Arthur traveling together.

S: And also telling us that our planet is one of many and maybe we should not be so full of ourselves if they can just demolish it to make a highway, like we do not really matter in the grand scheme of things.

C: When you say it like that, it maybe does not sound so funny, but it is really funny Sprinkles.

S: I know Caramel, and actually I like being reminded that we should not be too full of ourselves. Our lives matter, what we do matters, but we are not at the center of the universe. It is a small world after all but it is inside a very big universe.

Caramel is reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. — Caramel is reading *The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy* by Douglas Adams.

S: Anyways back to the book. So what happens in the end? You know there are many more books in the series?

C: They get picked up on accident by an alien ship, and are then thrown out of the ship, and then are picked up by another ship. Apparently Arthur is the only human remaining from Earth, and it is kind of funny because he is just a normal guy. Anyways, along the way a lot of hilarious things happen and we learn from Ford about the Guide and all sorts of weird facts from it.

S: Oooh, you like facts! But of course these are probably fictional facts, right? Can you tell me a couple?

C: Yep, they are fictional but also really fun. One is about the Babel fish which feeds off of brain waves and can translate any language.

S: Ooh, cool, like the universal translator in Star Trek or in Doctor Who, but it is a fish! Awesome! One more?

C: There is a thing called the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster, which is a cocktail that contains Ol’ Janx Spirit, a particularly vicious alcoholic drink, and is so strong that you will need to recuperate in a hospital.

S: That sounds bad. Okay, so maybe it is time to wrap up this review. Overall it seems like this book kept you entertained, right? Do you want to read the next book in the series? It is called The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. I think there are five more books in total.

C: Sure, why not?

S: Alright, we will see if we can get you a copy. Okay, Caramel, what would you like to tell our readers as we wrap up this review?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams and is keen to read more from this series. — Caramel enjoyed reading *The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy* by Douglas Adams and is keen to read more from this series.