My Flying Lizard Circus

The appointment with the radiologist yesterday left me kind of drained even though all we did was talk about the cancer and what's going to happen with the radiation and how they do it, and so on. I'll have to have the treatments every weekday for about 3-4 weeks, probably starting mid to the end of September. My next (hopefully last) surgery is tentatively scheduled for the 29th.

And I wanted to say again I really appreciate so much everybody who comments here. I'm trying not to be overwhelmed but this is kind of overwhelming at times, and seeing your comments does help a lot.

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I also did an online thing in the afternoon with Kate Elliott and Nora Jemisin, to talk to some students about the agent-writer relationship, finding agents, etc, which was a lot of fun.

A couple of reviews:

Paste Magazine: Let My Machine Talk to Me: Having An Emotion With Murderbot by David Dark
https://www.pastemagazine.com/books/martha-wells/muderbot-diaries-emotion-meaning-legacy

This was a lovely thoughtful review about Murderbot and science fiction in general.

My favorite definition of science fiction is purloined from William Gibson whose take goes a little something like this: Science fiction is the oven mitts with which we can begin to get a handle on the burning, red hot casserole of what we are each and all going through, the strange, new, radiating world of the right about now. This isn’t to say science fiction solves or gets to the bottom of it (“It” being the escalating weirdness within and without), but, with sci-fi, a mind-body like mine can hold its experience at a different angle. I know this feelingly. Science fiction can conjure a clearing. It’s a space-making enterprise. Science fiction helps.

And in the long-range scan that is literature, we’ve never seen anything quite like Murderbot. I had no idea how badly I needed this brutally candid narrator composed of software, hardware, and cloned organic tissue in my life. First things first, Murderbot is not exactly “Murderbot.” The less dramatic moniker for the protagonist of Martha Wells’ Murderbot saga is “SecUnit” (short for “Security Unit”). “Murderbot,” however, is the sobering self-assessment SecUnit has affixed upon itself in view of the fact that killing quickly and efficiently to protect clients’ alleged interests is what SecUnit is designed to do.


Read By Dee: Review: The Book of Ile-Rien: The Element of Fire & The Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells
https://readbydee.com/index.php/2023/08/02/review-the-book-of-ile-rien-the-element-of-fire-the-death-of-the-necromancer-by-martha-wells/

This was a lovely review too:

Thomas, the captain of the Queen’s Guard, is a character of remarkable depth, just like the majority of the characters in the book, embodying shades of moral ambiguity. His multifaceted nature is truly captivating, and I found myself wholeheartedly enamored by him. While possessing a fundamentally good heart, he has learned enough cynicism and deceit from his association with Ravenna to navigate the treacherous waters of court life and survive alongside her. This intriguing blend of virtues and flaws makes Thomas an enthralling and relatable character, adding to the allure of the story.

The Dowager Queen Ravenna is a truly remarkable character in her own right. Despite her weak-willed son coming of age, she refuses to relinquish the power she has wielded throughout her entire life easily. Her tenacity and determination are awe-inspiring as she navigates the complexities of court politics. Often displaying cynicism and anger, Ravenna also showcases her exceptional cleverness and resilience, honed through the crucible of violent wars she had to face to protect her land. Her multifaceted personality, blending strength and vulnerability, makes her a compelling and unforgettable presence within the narrative.

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ETA: I forgot to mention, I've been posting more on my instagram lately: marthawellswriter