From time to time I think that we should all remember to thank those who add something to our lives.

If you like speculative fiction, I hope that like me you look forward each month to Lisa Tuttle’s book recommendations in the Guardian. Short, well-written, non-spoilerish, and with an authority not possessed by book influencers on TikTok. Far be it from me who cannot review, to review a reviewer, or to condescend to a well-established writer long active in SF, I will just give a taste of her recommendations I have recently enjoyed, some of which I may not have come across otherwise, in case you are missing out:

Tillinghast by Clare Cavenagh – I like a good vampire story, but because there are so so so MANY rubbish ones out there, I generally do not bother. Because of LT’s recommendation, I bought, read and enjoyed this one very much

No Ghosts by Max Lury – I may have picked this up, but LT’s recommendation certainly swung me. There are aspects of this story I am still not sure about, but the interesting thing about that is that I am still thinking about it weeks later. A definite M John Harrison feel, also a little reminiscent of Hilary Mantel’s Beyond Black

Loss Protocol by Paul McAuley – I would have read this anyway because I really like Paul McAuley’s work – he has such a range, never settling into one type of SF

Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman – I had already read this book before it was reviewed. I loved it. It provided many of the pleasures I seek from reading, whether mundane fiction or SF, and it moved me. I did not want to leave these characters.

Halcyon Years by Alastair Reynolds – I suspect I would not have read this without seeing LT’s review. My own inferior review is here I am grateful for the recommendation to read it

There Is no Antimemetics Division by qntm – I confess, I had already read both versions of this book before reading the review, but I was very happy to see the love being shared. I love love love this book. My inferior comments are here

There are a bunch more backed up on my Kindle that I have not got to yet because we do not have a universal income yet.

Ms Tuttle, thank you very much for your reviews, I enjoy reading them and they feed my need!

Guardian, thank you for publishing these reviews.