“Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space!” Review

“Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space!” by Cait Gordon

In a galactic network known as the Keangal, where space is accessible.

Lieutenant Eileen Iris and the command crew of the S.S. SpoonZ haven’t a clue what it means to be disabled. An unexpected conversation with an intergalactic janitor brings up the question but offers no answers before he’s ‘ported away.

Unfazed, duties resume as Iris manages an overprotective guidebot; Security Chief Lartha and her sentient prostheses offer kick-ass protection; Mr. Herbert’s inventiveness is a godsend (although he’s not quite grasped how to flirt); Commander Davan’s affable personality comes through whether trumpeted, texted, or signed; and Captain Warq’s gracious but firm leadership keeps everyone at their best.

Until on one mission, where the crew tears through space.

Just a little bit.

Review

I really enjoyed the characters, (which included both disability and LGBQIA+ representation), and the various adventures they all had. I thought showing how well they all worked together worked for the book and it’s a great concept. Here’s the thing – I would have enjoyed this more if the first chapter hadn’t contained the scene mentioned in the description where the intergalactic janitor calls the crew disabled and the crew has no idea what it means.

I understand the intent behind the book with all access needs being taken care of and everything is just fine – similar to the Star Trek: The Next Generation universe where everything is taken care of (with some exceptions once you look beyond the Enterprise). But I also felt like the author wanted to have it both ways. Never mentioning disability, just accessibility needs but there are still moments in the book where needs aren’t always met completely or in a way that works for everyone. Also there was a sub-plot about one character who was not sensitive to diverse body-minds and had to be made to be more aware of his behavior.

Now it could also be said that the reason “disability” is never mentioned is that several, if not all, of the crew members are actually aliens who have different access needs that present as real world disabilities (autistic, d/Deaf, vision issues, non-speaking with mouth words, etc). Which would be the actual reason why disability is never brought up because they’re not disabled in a way that we’d call it. But other terminology related to disability is used the same way we would use it, accessibility, wheelchairs, guide bots (as apposed to guide dogs) and so on. While you may be able to talk about various access needs without using the word disabled it makes it awkward to read about as a disabled person.

Also everything is ideal for the crew but no mention is made of anyone with higher support needs or intellectual disabilities. How are they taken care of in this universe? Are they helped or is all of this access for only the elite? It’s implied at one point that healthcare is paid (for some at least) but there are gaps in the world building that lead to more questions.

I honestly fee torn about this review, because I think without the “but you’re disabled” scene at the beginning I would have been focusing on the characters and the plot which are very good. In many ways the book does what the author appears to want to do with regard to showcasing how things could be. Unfortunately, for me the scene in the beginning brought up all the various questions about how the universe works. How did they get where they are without needing to use the word disabled? I also do wonder if I’m being hyper critical because I’m disabled too and have certain ideas about what we need to be saying about disability seem to be different from the author’s ideas.

Warnings and additional reviews are available on the StoryGraph page for “Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space!”.

Book Details

The cover has a group of four individuals standing on a rocky surface under a field of spinning stars that are circling above them. There's a spaceship in the upper right area. The four individuals include a person using a cane for the blind with a small robot at their feet they have their hand on the bot. Next is a person holding a large gun with at least one prosthetic leg visible. Next is a blue alien with a large trunk and he has his hand raised as if he's waving. Last is another individual with his hand on the alien character pointing up towards the ship.

Author’s Website
Cait Gordon
Publisher / Date
Renaissance Press, September 2023
Genre
Science Fiction
Page Count
302
Completion Date
August 4, 2024

“Certain Dark Things” Review

“Certain Dark Things” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Welcome to Mexico City, an oasis in a sea of vampires. Domingo, a lonely garbage-collecting street kid, is just trying to survive its heavily policed streets when a jaded vampire on the run swoops into his life. Atl, the descendant of Aztec blood drinkers, is smart, beautiful, and dangerous. Domingo is mesmerized.

Atl needs to quickly escape the city, far from the rival narco-vampire clan relentlessly pursuing her. Her plan doesn’t include Domingo, but little by little, Atl finds herself warming up to the scrappy young man and his undeniable charm. As the trail of corpses stretches behind her, local cops and crime bosses both start closing in.

Vampires, humans, cops, and criminals collide in the dark streets of Mexico City. Do Atl and Domingo even stand a chance of making it out alive? Or will the city devour them all?

Review

Not quite my usual cup of tea but I ended up enjoying this book a lot. I read it because I enjoyed another of the author’s books (“Mexican Gothic” also reviewed on this site). The characters were interesting and I enjoyed reading the various points of views in the book and thought they worked well. We see not just Atl and Domingo’s perspective but also members of the rival vampire clan and the police officer that was looking for them. The book ends about like you’d expect from this sort of story with everyone converging all at once. I also felt like the resolution of Atl and Domingo’s relationship made sense given who Atl is.

Warnings and additional reviews are available on the StoryGraph page for “Certain Dark Things”.

Book Details

There is a large circle with triangles and other shapes around the circumference of the circle. In front of the circle is a the head of a dog facing left and a woman standing turned slightly to the right. She is wearing a black jacket with a high color. The title is over the bottom half of the cover and then the author's name is at the bottom.

Author
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Publisher / Date
Tor Nightfire, September 2021 (reprint, originally published 2016)
Genre
Fantasy, Horror
Page Count
336
Completion Date
August 3, 2024