Review of These Convergent Stars by Janine Southard

I bought a copy of These Convergent Stars from the author, Janine A. Southard at a local science fiction convention and I’m very glad I did. Janine Southard created a fast-paced romantic-comedy about Maya, a first contact specialist and the problems she incurs as she observes a new species and their culture.

Southard created an interesting setup and well developed characters especially the protagonist, a genetically-modified shapeshifting cat person, created to sniff out biologically compatible species. In the book, she discovers another group of cat people.

Southard has a fun way to turn a phrase especially in dialogue. One of the first idioms is “Green grass and cool water” when referring to a planet.

I recommend it if you are looking for a fun and fast read that mixes cat people in space, mistaken identity, a first contact situation and romance.

Science Fiction Birthday Recommendations?

My birthday is next month and my mom always wants to know what I want. So let’s help Mom out, I’m looking for some recommendations for some good science fiction books.

Either new or old is fine. I prefer space exploration, but don’t mind military scifi. I love gender issues, but no misogamy or misandry in the storylines as it just ticks me off.

For example: I loved Forever War by Joe Haldeman and the Memoirs of a Spacewoman by Naomi Mitchison since those books touch on gender issues and changing sexuality in the story, I hated Ring World by Larry Niven due to the outright sexism. (Don’t get me started on Heinlein’s views on women)

I am not really into romance. If the romance is the major plot, rather than a subplot I generally don’t enjoy the book. For example I enjoyed how in Dune, Paul’s marriage is important politically, but it is not the plot of the entire book.

And no erotica. Thanks.

So if you have read or written a science fiction book that you think I’ll like, feel free to post that to the comments too.