35. Beggars in Spain

By Nancy Kress (451 pp, ebook)

I have had this on my to read list for decades. It was published in 1993 and the original novella won a Hugo and a Nebula. The novella was developed into a novel which is what I read. It's set in the future and genetic abilities allow people to modify their children to be born not needing sleep. (An infant that doesn't sleep, can you imagine?) But they have greater intellectual capacity, too. There's a lot going on in this book but basically the question is about the sleepless and their special capabilities v sleepers who are less productive and the rifts this creates between the two groups. A lot of complex questions considered. Overall I enjoyed it but it did get a tad long for me.

34. The Compound

By Aisling Rawle (304 pp, ebook)

The book is vague about the details but the real world is in a grim state. The story is about a shallow but beautiful young woman who is competing in a reality show in a fancy compound. The competitors have group challenges to win things for the house such as food and basic necessities. The individual competitors also have challenges to win things they need or luxury items. Also: every night the competitors need to be paired up with someone or they are kicked out. I found it riveting. The TV show has a whiff of Hunger Games about it -- they will let the partipants go far to win. Recommend.

33. The Gospel of Z

By Stephen Graham Jones (292 pp, ebook)

It always amazes me when writers find new ways to write super disgusting details. This book delivers! The writing is a sort-of dreamy style and it's about a world that's been living in a zombie apocolypse for years. The MC is obsessed with a woman he's managed to connect with but she disappears. There are intense military people, a creepy church, and lots of hairy zombie missions. Recommend!