Summary: <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250264930/sweepofstars"></a>This week, Patrick and Tracy welcome <a href="http://mauricebroaddus.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maurice Broaddus</a>, author of <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250264930/sweepofstars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SWEEP OF STARS</a>.<br> About <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250264930/sweepofstars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SWEEP OF STARS</a>: The Muungano empire strived and struggled to form a utopia when they split away from old earth. Freeing themselves from the endless wars and oppression of their home planet in order to shape their own futures and create a far-reaching coalition of city-states that stretched from Earth and Mars to Titan.<br> With the wisdom of their ancestors, the leadership of their elders, the power and vision of their scientists and warriors they charted a course to a better future. But the old powers could not allow them to thrive and have now set in motion new plots to destroy all that they’ve built.<br> In the fire to come they will face down their greatest struggle yet.<br> Amachi Adisa and other young leaders will contend with each other for the power to galvanize their people and chart the next course for the empire.<br> Fela Buhari and her elite unit will take the fight to regions not seen by human eyes, but no training will be enough to bring them all home.<br> Stacia Chikeke, captain of the starship Cypher, will face down enemies across the stars, and within her own vessel, as she searches for the answers that could save them all.<br> The only way is forward.<br> About <a href="http://mauricebroaddus.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maurice Broaddus</a>: An accidental teacher (at the Oaks Academy Middle School), an accidental librarian (the School Library Manager which is part of the IndyPL Shared System), and a purposeful community organizer (resident Afrofuturist at the Kheprw Institute), his work has appeared in such places as Magazine of F&SF, Lightspeed Magazine, Black Panther: Tales from Wakanda, Weird Tales, and Uncanny Magazine, with some of his stories having been collected in The Voices of Martyrs. His novels include the science fiction novel, Sweep of Stars, the steampunk novel, Pimp My Airship and Buffalo Soldier; and the middle grade detective novel series, Unfadeable and The Usual Suspects. He’s an editor at Apex Magazine. His gaming work includes writing for the Marvel Super-Heroes, Leverage, and Firefly role-playing games as well as working as a consultant on Watch Dogs 2.<br> This week’s picks:<br> <br> * Maurice Pick #1: <a href="https://www.tor.com/2021/09/14/book-announcements-the-lies-of-the-ajungo-by-moses-ose-utomi/">The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi (Forthcoming from Tor)</a><br> * Maurice Pick #2: <a href="https://littlesimz.ffm.to/simbi.oyd">Sometimes I Might Be Introvert – Little Simz (Hip Hop Album)</a><br> * Tracy: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_cuisine">Indian Cuisine</a><br> * Patrick: <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Best-Science-Fiction-of-the-Year-Volume-6-Audiobook/B09R35Q5DV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Best Science Fiction of the Year Volume 6 – edited by Neil Clarke (Audiobook)</a><br> <br> Links:<br> <br> * <a href="https://twitter.com/mauricebroaddus" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Maurice Broaddus on Twitter</a><br> * <a href="https://twitter.com/TracyATownsend" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tracy Townsend on Twitter</a><br> * <a href="https://twitter.com/atfmb" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Patrick Hester on Twitter</a><br> * <a href="https://www.patreon.com/functionalnerds?ty=h" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Functional Nerds Patreon Page</a><br> <br> © 2022 Patrick Hester<br>
