#linus ward

[wildflower-otome]

Mistonia no Kibou Official Wallpapers

[wardsutton]

Happy Halloween - my latest for The Boston Globe:

[comicwaren]

From Punisher Vol. 14 #001, “The Bullet That Follows”

Art by Dave Wachter and Dan Brown

Written by David Pepose

[hauntedppgpaints]

Goalie Goals: a brief history

Hey y'all. Resident goalie lover coming at you with something that I have been obsessed with since I got into hockey: goalie goals!

There are two kinds of goalie goals: a goal that was awarded to the goalie because they were the last to touch the puck before the opposing team got an own-goal, and an actual SOG.

In total, there have been 18 goalie goals across NHL history, scored by 15 different goalies. 11 of those goals have been SOG, while 7 have been own-goals.

The first goalie to be credited with a goal is Billy Smith of the Islanders, during the 79-80 season. It was an own-goal, with a player on the opposing team (Rockies) accidentally shooting into their own net. As of right now, this is the only goalie goal where the goalies' team still lost the game (the Islanders lost, 4-7)

The next two goals would be scored by Ron Hextall of the Flyers. The first (1) would be in the 87-88 season, against the Bruins. The second (2) would be in the 1989 playoffs (first playoff goalie goal!), against the Capitals. Both goals would be actual SOG's, making Hextall the first goalie to score with an actual SOG.

The fourth goal (SOG) would be scored by Chris Osgood of the Red Wings, during the 95-96 season, against the Whalers.

The fifth goal (SOG) would be scored by Martin Brodeur (1) of the Devils during the 1997 playoffs (second playoff goalie goal), against the Canadiens.

The sixth goal (own goal) would be scored by Damian Rhodes of the Senators, during the 98-99 season, against the Devils. This is the first goalie goal to help with a shutout for the scoring goalie.

The seventh goal (own goal) would be scored by Martin Brodeur (2) of the Devils, during the 99-00 season, against the Flyers. This is the first, and so far, only goal to be considered the GWG.

The eighth goal (SOG) would be scored by Jose Theodore of the Canadiens, during the 00-01 season, against the Islanders. Second goalie goal to help with a shutout.

The ninth goal (SOG) would be scored by Evgeni Nabokov of the Sharks, during the 01-02 season, against the Canucks.

The tenth goal (own goal) would be scored by Mika Noronen of the Sabres, during the 03-04 season, against the Maple Leafs.

The eleventh goal (own goal) would be scored by Chris Mason of the Predators, during the 05-06 season, against the Coyotes.

The twelfth goal (own goal) would be scored by Cam Ward of the Hurricanes, during the 11-12 season, against the Devils.

The thirteenth goal (own goal) would be scored by Martin Brodeur (3) of the Devils, during the 12-13 season, against the Hurricanes.

The fourteenth goal (SOG) would be scored by Mike Smith of the Coyotes, during the 13-14 season, against the Red Wings. This one holds the record of being the closest to the end of the game, being scored with less than a second left on the clock.

The fifteenth goal (SOG) would be scored by Pekka Rinne of the Predators, during the 19-20 season, against the Blackhawks.

The sixteenth goal (SOG) wouild be scored by Linus Ullmark of the Bruins, during the 22-23 season, against the Canucks.

The seventeenth goal (SOG) would be scored by Tristan Jarry of the Penguins, during the 23-24 season, against the Lightning.

The eighteenth goal (SOG) would be scored by Filip Gustavsson of the Wild, during the 24-25 season, against the Blues.

Some fun facts!!:

There hasn't been a goalie goal scored at home since Mike Smith, over 10 years ago

7 goals have been scored at home. 11 have been scored away.

Only one team has had more than one goalie goal scorer: the Predators, with Mason and Rinne

Only two goalies have scored during the playoffs: Hextall and Brodeur

Only one goal was scored with a backhand: Theodore's

Only three goalies that have scored are currently playing: Ullmark, Jarry, and Gustavsson

Two teams are tied with most goalie goals against (2): Devils and Canucks

it's been 45 years since the first goalie goal was scored

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Adult SFF Books Bracket: Round 2

Book summaries and submitted endorsements below:

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune (The Cerulean Chronicles)

Endorsements from submitter: "Utterly delightful book about found family and queerness and building community and questioning authority."

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.

Fantasy, romance, series, adult

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson (The Space Between Worlds series)

Multiverse travel is finally possible, but there’s just one catch: No one can visit a world where their counterpart is still alive. Enter Cara, whose parallel selves happen to be exceptionally good at dying—from disease, turf wars, or vendettas they couldn’t outrun. Cara’s life has been cut short on 372 worlds in total.

On this Earth, however, Cara has survived. Identified as an outlier and therefore a perfect candidate for multiverse travel, Cara is plucked from the dirt of the wastelands. Now she has a nice apartment on the lower levels of the wealthy and walled-off Wiley City. She works—and shamelessly flirts—with her enticing yet aloof handler, Dell, as the two women collect off-world data for the Eldridge Institute. She even occasionally leaves the city to visit her family in the wastes, though she struggles to feel at home in either place. So long as she can keep her head down and avoid trouble, Cara is on a sure path to citizenship and security.

But trouble finds Cara when one of her eight remaining doppelgängers dies under mysterious circumstances, plunging her into a new world with an old secret. What she discovers will connect her past and her future in ways she could have never imagined—and reveal her own role in a plot that endangers not just her world, but the entire multiverse.

Science fiction, multiverse, politics, mystery, series, adult

[cattatonically]

The House in the Cerulean Sea - TJ Klune

Synopsis

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he’s given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.

My Thoughts 

It’s been a while since I’ve read anything by T. J. Klune. Starting this book felt like a familiar, warm blanket wrapping around my shoulders. The tone and vibe felt familiar, and I was completely enthralled immediately. Needless to say, it only took a couple of pages for me to be completely hooked into this magical world where nothing is quite what it seems.

Linus Baker wants nothing more than to do his job, and do it adequately. But of course, the universe has other plans in the form of a mysterious island, and an even more mysterious man, who is the caretaker of six very extraordinary children.

And it’s the children that make the whole book. Because they’re children, first and foremost. But society has not treated them as such. And their caretaker, Arthur Parnassus, is bound and determined to show them that they more than deserve to be loved and cared for and cherished.

It didn’t take long for me to see the themes of this book, to see the parallels between the systems in the universe of this book and what has happened in our own history. And that absolutely broke my heart in a massive, massive way. But through that, Arthur fought for the care and safety of his children every step of the way.

Though Linus was sent to do a specific job, meeting Arthur and the children has changed his life exponentially. Watching Linus grow and bloom was truly wonderful. Not only did he grow to care about the children – which he always had, just in a very different way – but his confidence in himself grew by leaps and bounds.

But the part that really hit me the hardest was the friendship that bloomed between Linus and Arthur. It was slow, and steady. They learned to trust each other, and grow comfortable with each other. And together, they built a foundation for something that has the promise to be absolutely magnificent.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is absolutely mesmerizing, enthralling, and heartbreakingly beautiful. And as much as this was Linus’ book to grow and blossom into who he truly is, it was so much more about the children, and showcasing how magnificent each child truly is. There are few things more beautiful than children being able to have safe, secure spaces to express themselves, learn, and grow.

[kierrasreads]

The House in the Cerulean Sea (Cerulean Chronicles #1) by TJ Klune Review

Plot

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret. Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages. When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they're likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren't the only secret the island keeps.

Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn. An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place-and realizing that family is yours.

Discussion

This ending made me cry happy tears! Some of the humor/dialogue can be a bit flat, but that’s okay. Also, I love that the main couple are men in their forties, that makes a nice change of pace!

Does anyone else want to hug those children and never let them go? Just me?

Rating

5/5

[stinky-fuck-swag]

Aaand here's the brackets!

Wacky ass formatting, i know- Matchups under the cut, polls will be starting soon!

(note: i know nothing about like. 80% of these characters. if their names or where theyre from is incorrect, just lmk cuz i have NOO IDEAA) also i am fully aware of every mistake made in this bracket. whoops

BRACKET A, SIDE A

Henry Oak (Dungeons and Daddies) VS Normal Oak (Dungeons and Daddies season 2

Zora Salazar (Epithet Erased) VS Stink (Epithet Erased)

Anders (Dragon Age) VS Isabela (Dragon Age)

Deandra the new girl (Most Popular Girls in School) VS Peach (real life)

Randy Jade (Dialtown) VS Phonegingi (Dialtown)

Stunky (Pokemon) VS Stinkeye (Yo-kai Watch)

Reigen Arataka (Mob Psycho 100) VS Dimple (Mob Psycho 100)

Moonbeam McSwine (Li'l Abner) VS Marc Spector (Marvel Comics)

Link (BOTW) VS Lt. Columbo (Columbo)

Yoda (Star Wars) VS Shaggy (Scooby Doo)

Dob the Half Orc Bard (Oxventure Dungeons and Dragons) VS Caleb Widogast (Critical Role campaign 2)

Shinjiro Aragaki (Persona 3) VS Ryuji Sakamoto (Persona 5)

Gyro Zepelli (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure) VS Guido Mista (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Tokkori (Kirby right back at ya) VS Jotaro Kujo (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Elon Musk (real life. sadly) VS Berdly (Deltarune)

Spamton G. Spamton (Deltarune) VS Susie (Deltarune)

BRACKET A, SIDE B

The Great Mighty Poo (Conker) VS The Poop Smith (Homestar Runner)

Michael Afton (Five Nights at Freddy’s) VS Springtrap (Five Nights at Freddy’s)

Manjoume Jun/Chazz Princeton (Yu-Gi-Oh! GX) VS Datz Are'bal (Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice)

Aragorn (Lord of the Rings) VS Humans in general (Star Trek)

Captain Rockhopper (Club Penguin) VS King Micah of Bright Moon (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)

Frank Gallagher (Shameless) VS Remus Sanders (Sanders Sides)

The Riddler (Batman: Arkham Knight) VS Power (Chainsaw Man)

Charlie Kelly (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia) VS Every Dog (real life)

c!Technoblade (Dream SMP) VS c!Wilbur Soot (Dream SMP)

Harrier Du Bois (Disco Elysium) VS Bruno Madrigal (Encanto)

Submitters Brother (real life) VS Prosperity Redding (The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding)

Izutsumi (Dungeon Meshi) VS Goobleck (Just Roll With It)

Enoch O'Connor (Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children) VS Smores (real life)

Lady Macbeth (Macbeth) VS Erik (The Phantom of the Opera (Andrew Lloyd Webber musical & movie))

The Voters (Tumblr) VS Equius Zahhak (Homestuck)

Rotten Apple (Showvember) VS Loki (real life)

BRACKET B, SIDE A

Calvin (Calvin and Hobbes) VS Smudge (Cascão) (Monica’s Team (Turma da Monica))

Oscar the Grouch (Sesame Street) VS Stinky Pete (Toy Story 2)

Toko Fukawa (Danganronpa) VS L (Death Note)

Stink Bomb (Skylanders: SWAP Force) VS Slugcat (Rain World)

Thorfinn (Vinland Saga) VS Vice (Kamen Rider Revice)

Dr. Iceberg (SCP Foundation) VS Dr. Alto Clef (SCP Foundation)

Ash Ketchum (Pokemon) VS Doug Eiffel (Wolf 359)

Estinien Wyrmblood (Final Fantasy XIV) VS Alphinaud Leveilleur (Final Fantasy XIV)

Raphael Hamato (Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) VS Gobber (How To Train Your Dragon)

Keaton (Fire Emblem Fates) VS Sniper (Team Fortress 2)

Bill Lenz (Black Christmas 1974) VS Stinkor (Masters of the Universe)

The Sewer Urchin (The Tick (1994 Animated Series)) VS Macaque (Lego Monkie Kid)

Barfbat (Ward (Parahumans series)) VS Kevin (Synthesizer V)

Yellowfang (Warrior Cats) VS Big Mac (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)

Heppokomaru (Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo) VS Captain 3 (Splatoon 3)

Buttercup (Powerpuff Girls) VS Linus (Stardew Valley)

BRACKET B, SIDE B

Jeong-Jeong (Avatar: The Last Airbender) VS Pigpen (Peanuts)

Beelzebub (Good Omens) VS Stinkfly (Ben 10)C

Hiravias (Pillars of Eternity) VS Chell (Portal)

Murdoc Niccals (Gorillaz) VS Bacterian (Dragon Ball)

Captain K'nuckles (The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack) VS Kimchi (Chowder)

Stinky (Moomins) VS Stinky (Animal Crossing)

Mitchell Shephard (Hunt Down the Freeman) VS Melly Plinius (Identity V)

Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece) VS Yato (Noragami)

THAT FUCKING THING IN YOUR BANNER (my banner lol) VS Harold (Fallout 1, 2, and 3)

Barik of the Stone Shields (Tyranny) VS Samuel Gladiator (Yandere High School (minecraft roleplay))

John Hart (Torchwood) VS Orochimaru (Naruto)

Dung Defender/Ogrim (Hollow Knight) VS Zane (Borderlands)

Pumbaa (The Lion King) VS Enki (Fear and Hunger)

Goro Majima (Yakuza) VS Sandalphon (Granblue Fantasy)

Finn Mertins (Farmworld) (Adventure Time) VS John Doe (John Doe / John Doe+)

Dipper Pines (Gravity Falls) VS Ed Sheeran (ginger people fandom)

[ikemenfangirl]

Newly Otome Game Project from Otomate Games (Nintendo Switch)

Title: Mystonia no Kibou -The Lost Delight- (ミストニアの翅望 -The Lost Delight-) By: Idea factory Language: Japanese Platform: Nintendo Switch Twitter: https://x.com/kibou_otomate Release: Undefined

Rose Cottingrey (nameable) An avenger who was robbed of her family, future, and pride.

นางเอกผู้ล้างแค้น เธอที่ถูกขโมยชีวิตครอบครัว อนาคต และศักดิ์ศรี

Game Trailer:

Illustrator: 清白かりん

🔻CAST

Edward Bernstein CV: Tamaru Astushi #田丸篤志

Alfred Creswell CV: Umehara Yuichiro #梅原裕一郎

Linus Ward CV: Umeda Shuichiro #梅田修一朗

Lucas Sullivan CV: Suzuki Ryota #鈴木崚汰

Ascot Lindel CV: Fukuyama Jun #福山潤

John CV: Shirai Yusuke #白井悠介

[haveyoureadthispoll]

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret. Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages. When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days. But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn. An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.

[4ragon]

Hey hi I don't do this a lot but I think I want to make a book recommendation!

Now, if you're following me (which I'm just going to loosely assume that you are if you're reading this because why else would you be) then I'm going to assume that you share a few interests with me. Interests which include:

Found family

Stories about healing

Stories about acceptance

A weird sense of humor

Magic and fantasy

Queer love stories involving what can only be described as The World's Most Boring Man

If any of the above appeal to you, or all of them, might I recommend:

The House In The Cerulean Sea

by TJ Klune

You guys. It's so good. It's sooooo good. It's such a great take on the magical meeting the mundane. It's witty and funny and sweet and hopeful, it's well written and creative, every single character has so much life and personality, it's just. AUGH. Literally every piece of this book was tailor made for me and I adore it. Probably my new favorite book. It looks like he has another queer book about ghosts and I think that's going right into the to-read pile too, at some point.

Anyway. I dunno. I'll post the blurb from Good Reads under a read more in case any of you want to know more. If you trust my reading tastes, which hey, maybe you can glean from my writing tastes, then definitely grab this book from the library. (Only real TW is mentions of child abuse and neglect, but nothing graphic.)

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

[wildflower-otome]

Mistonia no Kibou Ball Outfit Official Icons

[sugoiney-weaver]

Contrary to popular belief, the sigils used in technomancy aren't actually that complex. Through generations of research, development, and refinement, we've been able to create systems that allow us to cant our intentions in almost-plain language (often English) using symbols that are already well-familiar to they laity, which then translate those intentions into their most basic datagrammical forms: 1s and 0s.

So the sigils themselves aren't actually complex compared to other schools of magic like summoning circles, hexes, and wards. They do of course require a greater investment in equipment than your basic components like iron, chalk, salt, herbs, etc. But all the hard work has already been done by technomancers of the past, from The Right Honorable Countess Ada Lovelace; to Alan Turing, Officer of the British Empire, and more modern wizards like Linus Torvalds and William Gates.

As a matter of course, we must raise the barrier of entry to this most dangerous discipline, so these wizards have created several layers between the basic binary sigils and the plain language that we deliver to The Machine. Some say that we should make these languages easier to learn and teach, while others say that it feels really cool to know things that other people don't

[comicwaren]

From Punisher Vol. 14 #003, “The Other Side of Terror”

Art by Dave Wachter and Dan Brown

Written by David Pepose

[bowokshop]

The House in the Cerulean Sea - TJ Klune

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Linus Baker leads a quiet life. At forty, he has a tiny house with a devious cat and his beloved records for company. And at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, he's spent many dull years monitoring their orphanages.

Then one day, Linus is summoned by Extremely Upper Management and given a highly classified assignment. He must travel to an orphanage where six dangerous children reside, including the Antichrist. There, Linus must somehow determine if they could bring on the end of days. But their guardian, charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, will do anything to protect his wards. As Arthur and Linus grow ever closer, Linus must choose between duty and his dreams."

This novel literally felt like a cup of hot chocolate by the fireplace. It was so fluffy and sweet and nearly burst my little gay heart at the end ❤️. I felt so connected to the main character, Linus, and each of the children - I did feel, however, Arthur's character could have been expanded upon further as he is so integral to the storyline (but lets hope this happens in the upcoming sequel).

The writing was so easy to read, I read this book in about 2 days (which at my pace, is insanely fast). The use of dialogue and the stream of consciousness style seemed to really itch my brain right in terms of getting content across. For some reason, I really love the way Linus keeps saying "Oh dear" throughout the story - even with his extraordinary character development, that one quality seemed to stay constant (and just made him more lovable, in my opinion).

Overall, I could not agree more with V.E. Schwab's review - "...like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket." - that is EXACTLY what it felt like. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs to inject some warmth back into their lives.

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Adult SFF Books Bracket: Round 1

Book summaries and submitted endorsements below:

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune (The Cerulean Chronicles)

Endorsements from submitter: "Utterly delightful book about found family and queerness and building community and questioning authority."

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.

Fantasy, romance, series, adult

A Half-Built Garden by Ruthanna Emrys

Endorsement from submitter: "Excellent first-contact book that really delves into the personal as political and centers around a queer family."

On a warm March night in 2083, Judy Wallach-Stevens wakes to a warning of unknown pollutants in the Chesapeake Bay. She heads out to check what she expects to be a false alarm--and stumbles upon the first alien visitors to Earth. These aliens have crossed the galaxy to save humanity, convinced that the people of Earth must leave their ecologically-ravaged planet behind and join them among the stars. And if humanity doesn't agree, they may need to be saved by force.

The watershed networks aren't ready to give up on Earth. Decades ago, they rose up to exile the last corporations to a few artificial islands, escape the dominance of nation-states, and reorganize humanity around the hope of keeping their world liveable. By sharing the burden of decision-making, they've started to heal the wounded planet.

But now corporations, nation-states, and networks all vie to represent humanity to these powerful new beings, and if any one accepts the aliens' offer, Earth may be lost. With everyone’s eyes turned skyward, everything hinges on the success of Judy's effort to create understanding, both within and beyond her own species.

Science fiction, first contact, climate fiction, family, adult