Ep. 169 "Kill All Wizards" by Jedediah Berry; "Ignore All Previous Instructions" by Ada Hoffmann

Transcript: JESSICA:   Hi, this is Jessica Russell. I'm the assistant director of collection services at Sno-Isle Libraries. And welcome to Book Buzz.   Today's two reading recommendations are "Kill All Wizards" by Jedediah Berry and "Ignore All Previous Instructions" by Ada Hoffmann.  First, we're going to hear from Emily, library associate at the Marysville Library, for a world where every spell has consequences. Go ahead, Emily.   EMILY:   "Kill All Wizards" by Jedediah Berry is a witty fantasy novella with surprising emotional depth that balances action and graceful prose.  In a world where magic is king, the barbarian Gotchimus has a serious score to settle with some serious wizards. He's willing to do whatever it takes to take them out, even attending the theater. But he's no reckless himbo gate-crashing cocktail hour — this hulking warrior is as sharp as his sword. Utilizing shrewd observation, ingenuity, and rage, he tackles a sightless sorcerer with countless eyes; an actual god, and far more dangerous actors pulling strings from the shadows. He also makes some friends along the way in Hecksley, a gentleman thief with a clockwork arm and Dora, an acerbic swordswoman who's more than she appears.  Between its outsider antihero and critiques of classism, this story has big sword and sorcery energy. The scenes of Gotchimus and Hecksley trading tales over drinks also feel like a definite nod to Fritz Leiber's characters, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. Berry has built up the beginnings of a fascinating world that I'm excited to explore in the rest of this planned series. Really, I'd say this book is for anyone seeking revenge or a fresh take on a classic genre from a wildly imaginative author.  JESSICA:   Thanks, Emily! It's always exciting to find a fantasy that brings something new to the genre.   Next, let's hear from Lois, librarian at the Snohomish Library for a story about living in the age of AI. Over to you, Lois.   LOIS:   Tackling themes of neurodiversity and artificial intelligence, "Ignore All Previous Instructions" by Ada Hoffmann is a poignant sci-fi epic about the power of love and storytelling.   Kelli has always loved telling stories. In adulthood, she works as a script supervisor for a generative-AI company that regulates all media. The job is well suited to her neurodivergence as she fine tunes AI prompts to create a popular television show. For Kelli, it's easiest to follow all given instructions.   Everything is going well until she gets a message from her ex, Rowan, who's in debt from an illegal gender-affirming surgery. After she agrees to help, Kelli realizes too late that Rowan has recruited her for a dangerous heist, upsetting her orderly little world.   The story is told in alternating timelines: Kelli in present day and flashbacks to her relationship with Rowan as children. Both narratives weave together forbidden love set in a dystopian society where corporations control everything.     The relationship between Kelli and Rowan carried this book for me. As their stories build toward crisis, the tenderness of reuniting with a former love held my interest, especially in a setting where queer desire is prohibited. Ultimately, Kelli must grapple with her versions of right and wrong, and the culmination is an intricate exploration of censorship and how we relate to each other.  JESSICA:   Thanks, Lois! This is a wonderful blend of a deeply personal love story with some really big ideas.  Our recommendations this week are: "Kill All Wizards" by Jedediah Berry and "Ignore All Previous Instructions" by Ada Hoffmann.  Join us next time, when we'll explore more great reading recommendations — interesting books you can find at your favorite local bookstore or at your local library.   Until then, I'm Jessica Russell from Sno-Isle Libraries.   Thanks for joining us for Book Buzz.