Summer is here! For some that means long holidays, time on the beach, and probably some kind of sporting event. For me, it means shearing is just around the corner, and the lambs are getting nice and fat. It also means it’s time for another look at the TBR.

TBR

Once again, I’m not committing to a concrete reading schedule this month. I’m kicking off the month with Galactic Medal of Honor by Mack Reynolds, a fairly well-known author I’ve never read before. I’m also planning to tackle some more Orson Scott Card, dive back into Venture SF courtesy of Roger MacBride Allen, maker a start on Greg Bear with Eon and return to H. Beam Piper’s Fuzzy novels. If you know anything about those books, you’ll know I’ve got a whole lot of the 1980s headed my way.

I’m going to balance that dated feeling with some 2024 releases from Adrian Tchaikovsky (Alien Clay) and Christopher Ruocchio (Disquiet Gods), which will bring me back into relevancy with the reading public.

Finally, I want to get on top of my Star Trek reading, which means the A Time To series is squarely in my sights. These are really short, easy reads, and there’s a good chance I’ll finish the series this month, but I’m likely to use them more as palate cleansers than anything else.

& BEYOND

I’m taking it easy this month, with no firm plans beyond reviews. I might even bundle some of those together.

Given that election fever is currently sweeping the UK (by which I mean we’re all more sick of politics than we usually are) I have a vague idea for a look at some of science fictions prominent politicians, but we’ll have to see if anything comes from that.

Mostly, I’m taking it easy and enjoying some good TV. Sugar was a great blend of film noir and puzzle box SF, and I’m now enjoying the immaculate weirdness of Outer Range. I’ll probably move onto Discovery‘s final series once I’ve finished the current shows. And if you want some non-SF cosy mysteries to entertain you, you can’t go wrong with Monk.

RELEASE SCHEDULE

4th – Star Wars: The Acolyte (Disney+) – Star Wars is finally breaking away from its Clone Wars obsession with a new series that takes us back to the days before the prequel trilogy. Plenty of Jedi, plenty of mysteries, and minimal opportunities for cameos. I have high hopes for this one.

6th – Service Model, by Adrian Tchaikovsky – Tchaikovsky is back with another standalone novel, this time tackling that timeless classic of a robotic rebellion. I’m interested to see what he can do with a path that’s so well worn, but I’m sure it will be a good read whatever happens.