Shelf Care: Trope Aware Science Fiction

Welcome to Shelf Care, where I review three books related by a theme.  These aren't necessarily the latest releases, but are hopefully books you can't believe you missed.This column's theme:  Trope Aware Science Fiction – books that know you’re a reader who has seen this before, but put in some new twists to keep it fresh.Given how big science fiction, horror, and fantasy stories have gotten over the last fifty years, it’s very difficult to write a story where the characters aren’t aware of pop culture. I mean, the least believable bit of a zombie movie is when the characters can’t believe it’s happening and don’t know what to do, because after decades of movies and video games showing us how to deal with the unexpectedly animated we should all know how to:1 – Run, because it is happening and because Rule #1 is always: Cardio.2 – Aim for the head, because video games have taught you that you that’s harder to hit than you think,3 – Dress like you’re gonna ride a motorcycle over broken glass because those things are bitey!With all that in mind, here are three books where the authors know the readers have seen the source material, and throw in a bit extra while tipping their hats to the tropes.So if you likeDouglas AdamsThe tone of Buffy The Vampire SlayerAction/comedy moviesYou might likeThe Last Adventure of Constance Verity, by A. Lee. MartinezWhere readers will recognizeThe Scream movie seriesOverviewConstance Verity has been living a life of constant adventure since she was born, and is more than ready to start letting the call to adventure go to voicemail. Of course it’s not going to work out that way...Sample passage

“I just need a job,” said Connie. “If you don’t want to give it to me—”“Are you Constance Verity?” interrupted Jan.“No, I’m Connie Smythe.”Tom went to his smartphone. This was so much easier before Google.“Yes, that’s me,” said Connie. “But that’s my old life.”Next came the questions.Most people had questions.“What is it like in the future?” asked Jan.“Like now but with more evil robots. Good ones, too. No flying cars, though.”“Is it true you’ve died twice?”“Three times. But one of those times, I was a clone, so it doesn’t really count.”“What’s Dracula really like?”“Good guy, once you get past the creep vibe.”“I read on the Internet that you have telekinesis. Can you move this pencil?” Jan rolled it forward. The interviewers stared at it, expecting it to dance.“I had telekinesis. For about a week,” said Connie. “I don’t see how that’s relevant.”Frowning, Jan took back her pencil.“I can see I’ve wasted your time.” Connie stood up.“Wait, Ms. Verity... Ms. Smythe. We might have a position available for you.”“Really?”Tom smiled. “Yes. In fact, I can think of the perfect use for someone with your skills.”Connie shook her head. “I’m trying not to do that kind of stuff anymore.”He chuckled. “Oh, Ms. Smythe, I’m not talking about any of your more colorful talents. Although I’m certain those will come in handy eventually. No, we have an opening in the mailroom. Or would that be a problem?”“No, not at all.” She shook their hands. “You won’t regret this. I promise.”

TakeawayThe Last Adventure of Constance Verity superbly satirizes the action/horror/science fiction movie cliches we’ve become all too familiar with by creating a heroine who’s very aware that the extra ordinary does happen to her on a daily basis, and everything is trying to kill her, so she’s two steps ahead of the reader when reacting to those nice people who are probably actually part of snake cult, or aliens, or any other sketchy thing the reader is pondering, because she’s lived the movies we’ve seen and know how these things usually turn out.Apart from its satirical aspects,  the book is also serious enough to maintain internal logic and tell a story with actual stakes and consequences when it could have become just a collection of ridiculous circumstances.  So if you’re looking for a good action-comedy book, you’re in luck, and if you’re looking for sequels, you’re also in luck because there are at least two more Constance Verity novels out there. Or if you likeGiant monsters, and how they might possibly work in the real worldTaking a vacation from the pandemicGetting the gig, even though you’re probably underqualifiedScience fiction on the lighter sideYou might likeThe Kaiju Perservation Society, by John ScalziWhere readers will recognizeFilms like Godzilla and Pacific RimOverviewA recently laid off literature major gets a new job involving travel to exotic places, and working for a secret agency dedicated to the study of city destroying, nuclear powered monsters.Sample passage

“They told you you’d be working with big animals, right?”“Yeah, and?”“Okay, so…” Dr. Lee pointed to the closest syringes in the new tray. “Those are for the diseases the animals could give to you.” She pointed farther down. “Those are for the diseases their parasites could give you.” She pointed to the last of those. “And those are for the diseases you can catch just by existing in the open air.”“And yet you’re going to put them all into my body.”“Also, really quickly, let’s talk side effects. For the next couple of days you might feel achy or sore, and you might run a slight fever. If that happens, don’t panic, that’s perfectly normal. It just means your body is learning about the diseases we want it to fight.”“All right.”“Also, at least a couple of these are going to make you feel ravenously hungry. Go ahead and eat all you want, but avoid excessively fatty foods, since one of these is going to tell your body to purge fats in a way that absolutely challenges normal sphincter control.”“That’s… not great.”“It’s a mess. Seriously, don’t even think about trying to fart for the next eighteen hours. It’s not a fart. You will regret it.”“I don’t like you.”“I get that a lot. Also, you may find the color blue giving you a migraine for the next couple of days.”“Blue.”“Yeah. We don’t know why it happens, we just know it does. When it does, just look at something not blue for a while.”“You know the sky is blue, right?”“Yes. Stay indoors. Don’t look up.”“Unbelievable.”“Look, I don’t make it happen, I just give you the shots that make it happen."

TakeawayWith The Kaiju Preservation Society,  Scalzi is having quite a bit of fun digging in to what the backstory of monsters from movies like Godzilla and Pacific Rim might actually be. Where do they come from? How can something that big possibly be alive? What would governments do about it? And, most importantly, how could the Kaiju Preservation Society be a secret society, with, you know, the Internet and all?The vehicle for this exploration is recently laid off Jamie Gray, a literature major whose thesis was on bioengineering in science fiction which makes him ideally suited to handle both what he’s about to encounter on the job and to ask the questions that will be immediately asked by readers who know monster movies are a thing. This angle provides a level of believability that sells the whole concept of the book and maintains suspension of disbelief.If you’re looking for a quick read, or are a fan of giant monsters stomping out cities, you’ll have to give this one a read.Or if you likeThe Truman ShowBlack Mirror90’s pop cultureYou might likeThis Is Not the Jess Show, by Anna CareyWhere readers will recognizeMainstays of basic cable programming. The Truman Show.OverviewSeventeen year old Jess Flynn starts noticing things in her life are a bit off, and, even for a teenager, everything feels a bit overly dramatic?Sample passage

The table was quiet and for a second I thought I heard it again, that same chanting from the other morning. It was hard to be sure because the stereo in the kitchen was still on. The radio station played a Dave Matthews song I hadn’t heard before. Something about not drinking the water.“Forages…” I stared down at my plate, to the last grisly bits of meat. “That just means to look for food, right? It’s not like there’s some other obscure definition?”My mom tilted her head and studied me. “Where’d that come from?”“I just…” I started. “I heard it the other morning. It sounded like it was coming from outside, like someone yelling. Forages, power. Forages, power. Over and over like that. But then I couldn’t hear it anymore.”“That’s what you were asking about yesterday?” Sara said.“And for a minute or two today, right when I got up.”Sara turned to Lydia. Her dark brows knitted together the way they did when she was pissed. Lydia stared straight ahead. It was like she was purposely ignoring her.“What?” I asked. “What’s wrong?”“Very strange…” My mom said it in this chipper, high-pitched voice. “Does anyone want more steak? There’s two more pieces.”“I’m good,” I said.

TakeawayMuch as I hate mentioning plot details in a review, there are reasons that the series Black Mirror (particularly the second episodes of the first and second seasons) and the movie The Truman Show keep coming up when this book is discussed. I’ll leave it at that in an attempt to not drop spoilers.  That said, Carey takes what one might expect to be a predictable trope, throws in a number of clever twists, and sets the pacing such that events I was sure were going to happen at the end of the book occur in the middle taking both the characters and the reader off into uncharted territory.  Carey has written a number of young adult novels, and that experience shows in  This Is Not The Jess Show as it is polished, well-paced, and features fully fleshed out characters – a great read for anyone that is, or has ever been, a teenager.So, what else should have been on this list. Leave your comments below or on the Sweatpants & Coffee Facebook page, and stay tuned for my next column.