Union Strong

As a long-time freelancer in the publishing sphere, I stand in solidarity with the HarperCollins Union and will not promote, review, feature or buzz HC books until an agreement for a fair contract has been reached.

Note: I will, however, continue to support HC authors by buying and reading their books. I'll post my reviews and thoughts on those books once the strike has ended.

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AudioFile Magazine's 2022 Best Audiobooks in Science Fiction & Fantasy

Every December, I eagerly look forward to reading all the best-in-books lists so I can add titles to my own reading wish list. Of all the many such lists, my favorite by far are the audiobook genre lists compiled by AudioFile Magazine.

As many of you know, I've had a long association with AudioFile, both as a freelance reviewer and as a contributing editor. Thanks to that partnership, I'm very excited to share with you the magazine's picks for the Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Audiobooks for 2022.

Before we get to this year's best SFF audiobooks, here's some background information. AudioFile's lists are unique in that they take into consideration the entire audiobook experience, which is headlined by the narrator's performance. In the case of fiction, the magazine's editors weigh such things as the narrator's use of voices to differentiate characters, their sense of pacing and tension, their ability to convey the emotional heart of the story, and their delivery of humor and dialogue. When an audiobook is narrated by more than one voice actor, AudioFile's editors take a look at how well the performances blend, contrast, or compliment each other.

Each one of the six Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Audiobooks for 2022 tells a great story, which is made all the better by an outstanding audiobook narrator or full cast. Here, then are the year's best SFF audiobooks to add to your listening queue. Click the titles to read the AudioFile Magazine review.

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake (Macmillan Audio; 16 h) is the first in the Atlas science fiction series, which involves a competition and a secret library. The audiobook is performed by a full cast of narrators—Steve West, David Monteith, Damian Lynch, Caitlin Kelly, Andy Ingall, Munirih Grace, Siho Ellsmore, and James Patrick Cronin—each of whom take on a different character. Six individuals with magical talents are recruited to be part of an elite society. They have a year to prove themselves worthy: five will get in, one will die. The narrators won AudioFile's attention for capturing the characters' personalities and signaling their flaws, strengths, and growth.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas (GraphicAudio; 16 h) is the second entry in the Court of Thorns and Roses series, which is about how a teenage human copes after she's been transported to the world of the Faeries while hunting in the woods. This audiobook edition is a full-cast dramatization, performed by Melody Muze, Anthony Palmini, Henry W. Kramer, and others. The audiobook, which was released in two parts (the linked review is to part 1), includes sound effects and music to create an immersive experience. The AudioFile reviewer was particularly impressed with how the narrators homed in on the characters' emotional centers.

Even though I Knew the End by C. L. Polk (Recorded Books; 4 h) is a stand-alone mashup of fantasy and noir mystery performed by January LaVoy. If Helen, a detective with magical abilities, can find the vampire who's terrorizing Chicago, she hopes to be able to get out of her deal with the devil. One major problem: she has only three days. If she succeeds, she might have a chance to find a happy future with the woman she loves. LaVoy works her own magic, enrapturing listeners with her nuanced and thoughtful performance of this twisty historical fantasy.

Maxine Justice: Galactic Attorney by Daniel Schwabauer (Oasis Audio; 9 h) is a fast-paced legal thriller played out on a galactic stage and read by Aimee Lilly. Maxine, a struggling personal injury lawyer, gets the chance to take a high-profile case representing an alien medical researcher who claims to have a miracle cure for all that ails humans. Even in the future, big pharma isn't really looking to heal the sick, and Max soon finds herself on their enemies list. Lilly's spot-on delivery of Max's humor, feistiness, and determination makes this audiobook a winner.

Moon Witch, Spider King by Marion James (Penguin Audio; 31 h) is the second installment in the Dark Star trilogy. This audiobook puts a powerful 177-year-old female witch on center stage, where she provides an alternate perspective on the magical African-inspired world introduced in the first audiobook by a male tracker. Narrator Bahni Turpin's talents are in full bloom, as she gives each character a unique and appropriate voice all the while honoring the pace and rhythm of the author's style. The audiobook takes listeners along as the witch discovers and then learns to use her powers.

Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett (Penguin Audio; 10 h) is the twelfth entry in the beloved Discworld series, which takes listeners on adventures across a 10,000-mile-wide (and disc-shaped) world. This new audiobook edition of the story of how a godmother-witch must prevent a marriage in order to save her kingdom is principally narrated by Indira Varma, who delivers on the humor and picks up on the characters' unique traits. Peter Serafinowicz and Bill Nighy perform supporting roles. Both new and old fans of the Discworld universe will be delighted by this audiobook.

To learn about the top audiobooks of the year in other genres, be sure to visit AudioFile's Best of 2022 webpage. For exclusive interviews with the narrators of these winning audiobooks, tune in (and subscribe) to the magazine's Behind the Mic podcast.

Photo credits: January LaVoy photo by Todd Cerveri; Bahni Turpin photo Linda Posnick.

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5 Books for Food and Drink Lovers (Weekend Cooking)

Hello, my friends. Yes, it's been a long time. Lately, I've been talking about cookbooks on Instagram instead of here--no particular reason except I've been feeling lazy about writing.

Today I want to talk about five books that could make good presents this holiday season. I haven't cooked out of any of these, but I liked what I saw when I was looking through them. I hope you find one or two that catch your attention. (Thanks to the publishers for the review copies.)

The first book is The Christmas Movie Cookbook by Julia Rutland (Simon Element; Sept.). If you wait all year for the chance to indulge in holiday movie viewing, then you pretty much have to look for a copy of this cookbook. Before you plan your movie viewing party, take a look at the holiday menu ideas and entertaining tips before jumping into the recipes.

The cookbook is organized by common categories (such as drinks, salads, appetizers, and mains), and each recipe is linked to a specific holiday film. The introductions to the recipes explain the connections for those of us who aren't up on all their Christmas movie trivia. For example, Pigs in a Blanket is for Shrek the Halls, Old-Fashioned Meatloaf is for A Christmas Story, Really Rich Hot Chocolate is for The Polar Express, Linzer Star Cookies are for Die Hard, and Garlic and Herb Crusted Roast Beef is for How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Recommended for those who love all things Christmas.

Next is The Complete Guide to Food Photography by Lauren Caris Short (RockyNook; Sept.). I was very excited to receive a review copy of this book because I can use some serious help with my food photography. This book may be slightly above my level in terms of gear and technical knowledge, but I think I'll be able to pick up some good tips.

Chapters cover lighting, composition, styling, storytelling, editing, and finding your personal style. Though I don't own special lights or diffusers (and don't have plans to buy them), I was interested in learning about backgrounds, creating shapes (triangles, swirls, diagonals), finding the texture, and creating movement. I also plan to study the editing chapter, so I can at least learn to make the most of what I photograph and the apps I'm using for editing. Recommended for those who wish to take their food photography to the next level.

Next up is Good Housekeeping's 1, 2, 3 Cook! My First Cookbook (Hearst Home Kids; Oct), which includes 50 recipes geared to kids 4 to 8 years old. For brand new cooks, it starts with basic techniques, like how to measure, how to roll out dough, and how to grease a pan. Then it turns to the recipes.

The book designers picked bright colors and a larger font making it easy and fun for young readers to follow. Besides the ingredients and method, each recipe includes a list of needed tools and an estimated cooking time. Throughout the directions are icons that alert young cooks and their adult supervisors to steps that might require extra care (hot pans, sharp knives). The cookbook includes lots of helpful kitchen advice, such as why and how to wash greens, how to hull a strawberry, and how to use a whisk. Fun line drawings and corny jokes make the book a delight to use.

The best part about this kids' cookbook is the recipes themselves. I love that the book teaches children to make real food that anyone of any age would be happy to make, serve, and eat. Examples are chicken salad sandwiches, smoothies, cinnamon rolls, nachos, flank steak with chimichurri, pasta salad, and smoothies. I don't have little ones to cook with, but I'm looking forward to trying some of the recipes. Recommended for anyone who wants to learn to cook, but it's a great pick if you have interested youngsters in your life.

Fourth is Eating Together, Being Together by Julian Clauss-Ehlers and Caroline Clauss-Ehlers (Princeton Architectural Press; Sept.). The husband-wife authors--he's a Michelin-starred chef and she's an award-winning psychologist--want to help busy families find a way to make mealtimes stress-free (or at least less stressful) and to ensure they support family bonding.

The book is full of tips for dealing with issues almost all households face, like trying to feed picky eaters and trying to engage teenagers in meaningful conversation. In addition, each recipe comes with conversation starters and activities for the youngest of kids up to preteens and teens and even for the adults in the household.

The recipes highlight fresh foods and plenty of vegetables, but you'll also find some sweet (fruit-forward) treats and yummy snacks. All the dishes look easy to make and run the full range from grilled cheese to Cajun-style tilapia. Suggested side dishes accompany the main-dish recipes. Recommended for families looking for mealtime help and bonding ideas.

Finally, we have Midcentury Cocktails by Cecelia Tichi (NYU Press; Nov.). This is Tichi's third book about cocktails popular during a specific historical era. This book focuses on the postwar years in America: think Mad Men, the three-martini lunch, the baby boom, the cold war, and the modern housewife.

Of course, the book includes cocktail recipes, but at its core is a cultural history of America. Chapters cover Playboy clubs, bachelor pads, the bar car on commuter trains, the Jet Set, and more. Tichi starts each section with a look at contemporary culture; for example, in the "Green Book" chapter, she cites James Baldwin's story of trying to get a drink at Chicago's O'Hare airport. The chapter about the era's authors and writers delves into women's issues as well as the popularity of the cocktail party.

The drinks recipes that end each chapter are classics: gin martini, brandy Alexander, Tom Collins, the Grasshopper, and the Irish Fix. The book includes New Yorker-like drawings and ends with a bibliography for further inquiry. Recommended for those who like food history, cocktails, and/or American cultural history.

Shared with Weekend Cooking, hosted by Marg at The Intrepid Reader (and Baker)

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