This was a Birthday gift which was somewhat delayed due to Corona, but it was definitely worth the wait! I really enjoyed, as I always do with the comics of Tom Gauld.

They are funny in such a nice way, I cannot help but get a little smile upon my face whenever I think of them, or send them around to friends. This one being focused on science in a broad way, was something that made me like it extra.

Only small downside was that I already knew some of the comics, which can not be helped as I like to browse his social media.

Definitely recommended!

The Crimson Meniscus: 7 Mind-Blowing Sci...

The Crimson Meniscus, 7 Mind-Blowing Sci-Fi Stories from the Bubble by Jason Werbeloff did not disappoint. I've enjoyed this author's writing for a while and although some of it is a touch creepy, it's nevertheless intriguing. I gave it five stars.

Manufacturing Margaret is an intriguing science fiction/futuristic story about an android named Margaret.

"But my speech routines aren't programmed to express such thoughts. Instead, I find myself blurting my only programmed response to these situations. 'Please note that all activities in this cab are recorded.'"

Margaret drives a cab and observes thousands of humans. "I fly over Canal Street, parallel to the river, as though my grav motors are propelled by the spirits of the humans coursing through the thoroughfare below. From up here they look like an army of blood cells pumping through an artery."

Margaret discusses her increasing consciousness. "It's strange to think that everyone, everything, had a first moment of awareness. A point before which nothing was, and after which nothing would ever be the same."

Investing Isobella begins on a puzzling note. "'Look,' he says, 'I'm not going to lie to you, Paul. There's a risk. Sure.'

Jono Falanges slicks back his hair--his fingers leave track marks through the grease. He interlaces his hands behind his head. Stretches.

He knows I'm waiting with a thundering heart. Knows he has my full attention. I'm a desperate man."

It is a creepy tale indeed.

Oscillating Olaf tries to remain in an erotic dream but is interrupted by a phone call. He then has a sense of deju vu when the Roach called. Everything is going wrong. "My jaw was so tight, my teeth sang." He was learning to oscillate between two phases simultaneously. He was receiving messages from the future. A nice surprise twist at the end.

Patenting Peter is married to Cassandra who has what he called 'Lizard Eyes'. "Her gaze tore off me like a waxing strip. Landed on the frayed edge of the fedora on my head." She hated when he wore his father's hat.

His neighbor, Misaki with whom he had been flirting over the past few months as she came to borrow items arrived to borrow milk. He grabbed her wrist. "In the confusion, Misaki dropped the milk, which erupted in an ic spray over my naked feet. It took every fiber of my masculinity not to squeal."

Severing Sidney is an intriguing story about Geppetto's daughter Simona's merging with Neville. It's hauntingly poignant.

Aborting Andromeda is a twisted tale that is unusual to say the least. Christian works for the post-natal abortion clinic. A lovely surprise ending.

Defragmenting Daniel is a mesmerizing, yet somewhat creepy book. I gave it five stars.

"After six years working in the Organ Farm, Daniel still didn’t know why it was green – the Rejek they pumped through the organs. They’d said something in class about photosynthesis. All Daniel knew for sure was that after you ran Rejek through an organ, it was good for transplant."

Even those who work with harvesting organs have had many of their own taken away. "The knee was cybernetic, and you’d think it wouldn’t mind the cold. But ever since they’d harvested it when Daniel was nine, winters had been difficult. It was summer now, but the cold air in Administration wasn’t helping."

Daniel changed after they removed a segment of his brain. "He counted the full 49 seconds this time. Didn't feel the icy jets on his back. Daniel stood resolute against the arti spray. Even as the tears streaked down his cheeks, his mind tucked into itself. Numbed within a crease of a fold of a distant dream."

I received a complimentary copy from the author. That did not change my opinion for this review.

Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073PNRHK3

Growing up in the 21st century in Australia I sometimes forget how fortunate I am. This century is a great time to be alive, almost zero injustices, the government looks after us and values our freedom of speech and opinion right?

Apparently not everywhere. Even now people are being mistreated on what others call 'annoyances' and 'crimes' against the government. not sure what i mean? here I'll show you something mind blowing that I've come across.

RedTHaws (partial) review:

'So it came to pass. . . 

that in the 1950s, China began their Re-education by Labor Program, in which they sent their professors and teachers and scientists and politicos and intellectuals and religious and dissidents and revolutionaries and many others who did not fit their definition of proper citizens to prison camps where they were punished, humiliated, beaten, and mistreated until such time that they became "new men" and "new women" and were deemed worthy of re-entry into society.  

In addition to the human atrocity, the people in power also took the opportunity to purge national treasures in the form of art and literature, architecture, and religious icons.  Most Chinese people consider it to be a tragedy.

If it crossed my mind at all, here in my sheltered state of living with guarantees of freedom and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, I would have thought that Chinese work camps were a thing of the past.

imagine my amazement when I went to google the history and found that these places still exist.  It's estimated that hundreds of thousands of people may have lived in these places until they were either killed or died.  As late as 2012, people were still being sent away to re-education camps for crimes against the state.  

This is the current news story that caught my attention: One woman was sent to such a place because she dared to protest about the too-lenient sentences given to the men who had abducted her eleven-year-old daughter, and used her as a prostitute in the child-sex-slave trade for three months before she could be located and rescued.  The mother's protests were inconvenient to the police force, and when she became too strident to be ignored anymore, they sent her away.  Because they can.

Amid expressions of outrage from bloggers, humanitarian organizations and the media from all over the world, for this example and countless others, China finally agreed to shut down the camps.  Here's the result:

"'You just change the sign at the entrance of the camp and instead of being called labor camp it is called drug rehabilitation center,' the expert said." Here's the link: http://www.dw.com/en/no-end-to-chinas-notorious-re-education-camps/a-17362570 

So, yes, it's an important book.  It points out the historical abuses, and reminds us that abuse is still occurring.'

rest of review here

I urge you to read the rest of this enlightening review, it has quotes, more information, etc. I just wanted people to realise stuff like this still happens. everyone needs to know. if nobody knows, nobody will care, and if nobody cares it will never be stopped. Now wouldn't that be a horrendous crime against humanity.

Definitions of humanity : "our differences matter but our common humanity matters more"
synonyms: compassion, kindness, consideration, understanding, sympathy, tolerance,  gentleness, mercy, charity, generosity.

Star Rating: 5 Stars, Buy it

Self Purchase for Kindle, Re-read review

If you haven't read this series, you really have no idea of what you are missing. The writing style is so unique and superb and adds so much to the series. I must admit though sometimes the writing can be hard to follow. Also, there is so much politics in this series, that sometimes I just can’t follow it all. That being said though, it’s still an incredibly original and unique series.   This is a reread for me, having read this originally years ago.  I had forgotten how long the prelude was on this book. At 9% in, I’m only now getting to chapter one. Yes, Michelle Sagara West can be very wordy. Normally I don’t mind but I wanted to get sucked back into this world so it was hard to plow through the opening which I barely remembered- but this time I actually understood what it was about since I know the novel.

Part of what makes this book so amazing is that it’s so unique, not only in the writing style I mentioned above but also in the world building. It’s so incredibly detailed, you can’t keep track of it all. Especially the names, I find the names hard to keep track off. But as this is my second time around, I'm finding it a smidgen easier than the first time.  While I’ve given this book a high rating, If I were to rate it again, I might do so just a smidge less than 5 stars. Some points of this book are so hard to plow through.

Another thing I want to mention is that I remembered this book differently. The writing style was exactly how I rememebered but the plot was different. I’m wondering if I am remembering the wrong book in the series or a different book. But I know I had the characters right.  I will answer this question when I get around to reading the second book in the series.  But for now, some notes on my favorite characters:

Jewel- where to start with her. She has her own series related to this one in which we learn all about her past leading up  to this series (These are called the House War books). I love her character but she is barely in this first volume.  

Diora- The Flower of the Dominion- is my other favorite character. She is a very complicated, intelligent and very sneaky young woman.

Cover- I absolutely adore the cover and think is a perfect depiction of the novel.

Description (Amazon): Tor Leonne—the heart of the Domionion of Annagar, where the games of state are about to become a matter of life or death—and where those who seek to seize the crown will be forced to league with a treacherously cunning ally… Tor Leonne, ancestral seat of power, where Serra Diora Maria di’Marano—the most sought-after beauty in the land, a woman betrayed by all she holds dear—may strike the first blow to change the future of Dominion and Empire alike…

Averalaan Aramarelas—the most ancient of civilized cities, the home of the Essalieyan Imperial Court, has long been a center of magics both dark and bright.  And though the Enpire won its last war with the Dominion, and survived a devastating, magic-fueled battle with a far deadlier foe, both those victories were not without their cost… But now the realm is on the brink of a far greater confrontation, faced with an unholy alliance that could spell the end of freedom for all mortalkind…

I willl finish this soon!!!  This is a reread for me but I read it years and years ago. I'd forgotten how hard parts of this are to follow. I will try to do a decent review.