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Lafferty, Mur (Mur Lafferty)
Mur Lafferty, the grandmaster of the offbeat and quirky in speculative fiction, has a bibliography that reads like the bucket list of any self-respecting SFcrowsnest dweller with a penchant for the extraordinary. Lafferty's work is an eclectic mixtape of genres, blending the beats of science fiction with the rhythm of fantasy and the occasional baseline of horror. Her stories are a bit like a cosmic DJ set; you never know what universe you'll be spinning into next, but you can bet it'll have a beat you can groove to.
Take for instance, her breakout novel, "The Shambling Guide to New York City." It's a travel guide with a twist – the readership is the not-quite-living. Here, Lafferty takes the mundane – the occupational hazards of a travel book editor – and crashes it into the undead, creating a narrative that’s part city guide, part workplace comedy, and entirely enchanting. With zombies, sprites, and the occasional god making up the demographics of her New York, you'll never look at a city guide the same way again.
And then there's "Ghost Train to New Orleans," where Lafferty doubles down on her penchant for the paranormal commuter. Our intrepid editor of the undead is back at it, ensuring that the spirits, were-creatures, and the un-dead have their go-to guide for the Big Easy. It’s not just the humidity that will get you in this New Orleans; it's the ghosts, ghouls, and possibly a vampire or two having a tipple in the French Quarter.
But Lafferty’s not just about giving the afterlife a new lease... on life. In "Six Wakes," she flings her readers into the void of space aboard a ship with a crew of clones. It's a locked-room mystery with a science fiction twist, where everyone – including the victim – has a shot at being the detective. Or the murderer. It's Agatha Christie with a cloning device, and it’s as mind-bending as a Möbius strip.
Her podcasting prowess is just as renowned, with "I Should Be Writing" offering a lifeline to the floundering writer swimming in a sea of syntax and story arcs. It’s a buoy of wisdom in the turbulent waters of word-smithery, and a testament to Lafferty's commitment to the craft and community of writing. It’s the writer’s equivalent of a night at the pub with the most fascinating person at the bar – you’re there for the camaraderie but you leave with nuggets of gold.
In an oeuvre where the everyday is usually entangled with the extraordinary, Lafferty's works stand as a beacon to the imaginative and the adventurous. For those who like their fiction with a side of snark and a wink to the whimsical, Mur Lafferty's stories are your ticket to the fantastical. So, dear SFcrowsnest readers, if you're itching for a tour of the peculiar, with Mur Lafferty as your guide, you’re guaranteed one hell of a literary ride. And isn't that just the kind of journey we’re all here for? You can search the Nest for articles on Lafferty, Mur (Mur Lafferty) over at https://www.SFcrowsnest.info/tag/Mur-Lafferty