Tor Tuesdays

This series is brought to you by Tinka (short for Katinka), my perpetual kitten who’s short of stature but also short of attention span. 

Two things to know about me: I love sci-fi, and I almost certainly have ADHD. So every Tuesday I’ll look at novellas, short stories, and the occasional full-length work (because even Tinka likes to settle in for a good extended pet every now and then), mostly from that bastion of short-form awesomeness, Tordotcom.

  • Cover of "Tommy Cabot Was Here" which is just block text against a red background
    Tommy Cabot Was Here by Cat Sebastian
    Ugh, this book is so sweet!! 2 parts Our Flag Means Death, 1 part academic nostalgia, and 7 parts gay joy, this book is all heart.
  • Cover of "The Thrill Club," with the title at the bottom in bold yellow font, over an illustration of 3 girls (one white with long blonde hair, one Black with a blue hat and yellow vest, and one dead and transparent in the center, wearing a veil and dress. The living girls look scared.)
    A Walk Down Fear Street, pt. 3
    Here we go again…
  • Cover of "The Secret Bedroom," with the title in red font over an illustration of a short-haired white girl in blue turtleneck and jeans holding a partially open door against a skeletal hand that's trying to shut it. In the room with the hand, there's a green glow.
    A Walk Down Fear Street, pt. 2
    Pick your poison for today’s walk down Fear Street: one’s bonkers and silly and features some good gore, and one’s basically incels r’ us, aka an adult thriller in YA clothing. Guess which one I preferred??
  • Cover of 'Haunted,' with the title in blue-green font at the bottom, and author R. L. Stine and series title "Fear Street" at the top in signature gothic-style red font. In the background is an illustration of a white, blonde girl in bed, clutching her covers, and in the background is a see-through white, brunette boy wearing a jean jacket (with popped collar) and jeans.
    A Walk Down Fear Street, pt. 1
    For the month of October, instead of Tordotcom novellas, Tuesdays will be devoted to the (equally short) works of Mr. R. L. Stine. Tinka’s stoked for the change-up, and so am I.
  • Cover of 'Fugitive Telemetry,' featuring author Martha Wells' name in thin, large green font above a CGI-style image of Murderbot and a 8-limbed bipedal robot walking through a warehouse-like space.
    Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
    Boy do I love Murderbot. And this time, Murderbot’s a detective! But while being in its head is always a neurodivergent delight, this is more a playful romp (with admittedly serious themes at the periphery) than most of the other entries. 
  • Cover of "The Black Tides of Heaven," with title in small print toward the top, under author Neon Yang's name in larger font. The majority of the image is an illustration of a person wearing black robes with longer black hair and pale skin, wrapped in clouds and hovering over green mountains.
    The Black Tides of Heaven by Neon Yang
    What I thought was mainly a ‘political machinations’ fantasy turned out to be a sibling love/queer love/rebellion of the oppressed kind of fantasy, which is very much my jam
  • Cover of "The Lamb will Slaughter the Lion," with title and author Margaret Killjoy's name in black text over a blue water image. In the water is reflected an upside-down deer-demon, with huge antlers and red eyes.
    The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion by Margaret Killjoy
    This book positively DEMANDED my attention. From the portentous inverted title to the punk fantasy-horror synopsis, I was primed for greatness, and that’s precisely what I got.
  • Cover for "A Psalm for the Wild-Built: A Monk and Robot Book," with title and author Becky Chambers' name over an earth-tone background of greenery and brown and yellow leaves, with dirt paths wending throughout from the top to bottom. At the top left corner there's a robot, and in the bottom right there's a person sitting on an old-fashioned cart.
    A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
    Reading this is like experiencing the most perfect, anxiety-free day: laying on a blanket outside in the shade of a massive tree, grass everywhere and wind gently blowing; or cuddling up in the Fall with a cat [or six…], a blanket, and some herbal tea; or sitting in front of the fireplace in the middle of winter with the smell of gently burning embers lulling you to sleep. If you’re into calm, quietly funny stories with true cottagecore vibes, or if you like weird friendships developed over lengthy conversations, read this.
  • Cover of Fireheart Tiger, featuring the title and author's name over an illustration of a woman (face cropped above the nose) wearing flowing red and white robes, with flames bursting from a vessel she's holding. In the slit of her sleeve, a Vietnamese palace is visible
    Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard
    I’m not going to do justice to the complexity and nuance of this story, but if you’re into somewhat slow (but short) sapphic romance triangles with a dose of political intrigue and a big helping of the fantastical (and you can deal with an emotionally-and briefly physically- abusive character), definitely check this out. And/or if you’re interested in pre-colonial southeast Asian imaginings, give this a read.