1) Have you read Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax series? Set in our world (kinda), but it's the story of an older woman who applies to the CIA to work as a spy. It's fun, but reading candy.
2) It's a standalone, so violates one of your requirements, but The Color of Distance by Amy Thomson is an incredible book but also an easy read. It's capable of peeling back to be thoughtful but it's also capable of just being fun. (Technically, it has a sequel. The sequel is at best mediocre.)
3) I hesitate, but will mention. I'm biased: the author is a friend. But Seanan McGuire's new Toby Daye series is incredibly good. It is faerie in San Francisco, so - not sure if you want to check it out. If you do, it starts with Rosemary and Rue. Books two and three (A Local Habitation and An Artificial Night) are due out early and late next year, respectively. Having read the final copy of R&R and advance / proofer copies of the other two...they're good. IMO.
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Date: 2009-12-08 05:02 am (UTC)1) Have you read Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax series? Set in our world (kinda), but it's the story of an older woman who applies to the CIA to work as a spy. It's fun, but reading candy.
2) It's a standalone, so violates one of your requirements, but The Color of Distance by Amy Thomson is an incredible book but also an easy read. It's capable of peeling back to be thoughtful but it's also capable of just being fun. (Technically, it has a sequel. The sequel is at best mediocre.)
3) I hesitate, but will mention. I'm biased: the author is a friend. But Seanan McGuire's new Toby Daye series is incredibly good. It is faerie in San Francisco, so - not sure if you want to check it out. If you do, it starts with Rosemary and Rue. Books two and three (A Local Habitation and An Artificial Night) are due out early and late next year, respectively. Having read the final copy of R&R and advance / proofer copies of the other two...they're good. IMO.