honey and sting

2 books I recently read that I very much enjoyed:

Rebecca Ore's "Centuries Ago and Very Fast" and Tanya Huff's "The Enchantment Emporium".

Rebecca Ore is a very interesting writer. I've enjoyed everything I've read of hers, beginning with "Becoming Alien", the first of a trilogy about a human who lives as an alien in an interplanetary civilization. It had some really interesting perspectives on insider/outsider realities, and was a very enjoyable read.

"Centuries Ago and Very Fast" is written as a connected series of narratives by and about a gay character who has lived since humans hunted mammoths. He's not only very long-lived, he has the ability to jump around in time. In sum, a gay, time-traveling immortal. What I especially loved about this story, in addition to its deliberate slash sensibility (the book closes with an essay on slash) is that, unlike the Highlander immortals, for example, or the many vampire stories in which the long-lived character pays a terrible price for his longevity, this character gets to live with a family who loves and supports him through the ages (the descendants, generation after generation, of his sister's children). Yes, he gets to be a happy, loved gay man. Not without his off days, for sure, but basically sound. For a very long time.

"The Enchantment Emporium" is the latest from Tanya Huff, who brought us Henry Fitzroy, among other characters. There's not much I could say about this novel without spoiling, but let's say it's a very satisfying read, full of lots of plotty stuff, great characters (who, come to think of it, also get to live in a family that, like all families, can be aggravating at times, but is also very, very supportive when it counts). And there's plenty of magic and mysterious creatures (and dragons!) and a good dose of mythology and some yummy sexiness and an over-arching sensibility that embraces all kinds of people and paths in a very matter of fact and pleasing way.

Go, read, tell me what you think! :)