This post was originally published in my September 24th newsletter. It’s re-posted here with minor changes. If you haven’t yet signed up for my newsletter, you really, really should. It’s fun, it’s once every four weeks (with an occasional special issue), and it’s the best way to stay in touch. Sign up here.

Most readers, and writers too, have quirks when it comes to what they like, and I’m no exception. There are certain popular space opera tropes I tend not to favor:

1. Instantaneous (or at least very fast) travel between stellar systems via gates, or portals, or wormholes, or whatever. The distance between stars is vast. It’s really, really vast. It’s my personal quirk that I like to celebrate that fact, as anyone who’s read my far-future fiction will know.

2. Far-future monarchies/galactic empires. A great thing about the original Star Trek was that the writers thought we humans could do better, that we could “grow up” and not need to be ruled by queens and kings. I like to think so too, though I grant you, looking around at the world these days, it’s getting ever harder to hold on to that point of view.

3. Interstellar war between human cultures: because seriously, what are you fighting for? How many planets does anyone really need? Given that you command the energy-intensive ability to travel between the stars, surely you could employ some of that energy and ability to improving your home system instead of destroying other peoples’ lives? (I know. I’m an idealist at heart.)

All of this is background that’s necessary for you to know when I tell you that I recently finished the audiobook edition of a space opera with instantaneous travel between stellar systems, far-future monarchies, and interstellar war. Three strikes against it. Even so, I’m going to tell you, with enthusiasm, that it was BRILLIANT!

I’m talking about Kate Elliott’s newest novel, Unconquerable Sun — a gender-swapped far-future take on Alexander the Great. This novel is really well done on so many levels. Fantastic engaging characters, stellar writing, a riveting story — and the audiobook has excellent narration. I’m not going to review it for you, because this newsletter is already too long (and I’m lazy), but you’ll find an excellent write up at a blog called The Quill To Live.

Okay, the bad news: Unconquerable Sun came out this past July from Tor Books, and they’re asking $15 for the ebook and more for print. If you can bear that price, I hope you’ll give it a try. If you do, let me know what you think about it!

Kate Elliott has a terrific post up on the value of word-of-mouth publicity to a struggling writer. As an example of a book worth talking about, she uses Martha Well’s The Cloud Roads, which I read (and loved) only because Kate recommended it. Clear proof that word of mouth does work!

Kate concludes with:

One of the great things about the new world of social media is how easy it now is to talk about books with other book lovers. So don’t be shy: Talk up the books you love.

But go read the whole post–and check out The Cloud Roads!

Last fall I wrote enthusiastically about Kate Elliott’s Cold Magic. I’ve just finished Cold Fire, the second book in the trilogy. Consider this post my emphatic thumbs-up!

Cold Magic was set in glacial Europe. In complete contrast, Cold Fire takes place mostly in the Caribbean, in a world that is like Earth, but is not Earth in many critical ways. I loved both the setting, centered around the tropical city of “Expedition,” and the wonderfully detailed culture of that city. I loved the way the lead characters adapted and bloomed in this new world.

As in Cold Magic there are all sorts of adventures to be had along the way, not least of which is the evolving relationship within our protagonist’s forced marriage.

And the ending? I need to drop back in time and borrow from a unrelated third party for the appropriate response:

BANG-A-RANG!

Oh, and I hear you can order a signed copy of Cold Fire from Powell’s Books.

Last night–sadly!–I finished reading King’s Dragon, first in the series Crown of Stars by Kate Elliott.

This is not a new book. It was published in 1997, but back then I wasn’t reading heroic fantasy. Such a pity — because now that I have finally read it, I have to say it’s been a truly long, long time since I flat-out enjoyed a book as much as this one. This is the sort of book that got me hooked on reading in the first place—which is not to say it’s juvenile. Not at all. It’s intricate and smart, with lots of suspense and great pacing, and filled with likeable, admirable characters to whom ethics matter. Just my cup of tea.

I picked up the book because it was pointed out to me that Kate lives in Hawaii. I don’t keep up at all with science fiction and fantasy these days, so this was news to me. But I thought it was only right that I should have some familiarity with Hawaii SF&F writers (as few as we are).

As it turns out, Kate is far more productive than I am and has published multiple series. I started with Crown of Stars because it happened to be available on the local library shelf—sort of. I actually picked up another book in the series, not realizing it was a series, and promptly returned that and ordered volume 1.

It is so nice knowing I have much more to look forward to. The only thing that irritates me is that I don’t have the next book in hand. Yet.

Click here to follow Kate Elliott on Twitter

Minor updates on 07/09/2013