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Categories
Meta
Monthly Archives: August 2022
November 2017 books
This is the latest post in a series I started in late 2019, anticipating the twentieth anniversary of my bookblogging which will fall in 2023. Every six-ish days, I’ve been revisiting a month from my recent past, noting work and … Continue reading
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Tagged bookblog 2017, bookblog nostalgia
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The Massacre of Mankind, by Stephen Baxter
Second paragraph of third chapter: Eric’s suite contained the pampered luxury I expected, with overstuffed furniture and a magnificent view of the Plaza outside. A bottle of champagne stood on a low glass table, uncorked. The air was filled with … Continue reading
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Tagged bookblog 2022, writer: stephen baxter
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The impact of EPH
The system by which the Hugo nominations are converted into the final ballot, known as E Pluribus Hugo, is coming up for renewal at this year’s business meeting, and I thought it would be interesting to see what the actual … Continue reading
Saturday reading
CurrentThe Traders’ War, by Charles Stross Last books finished“Tangents”, by Greg BearThe Light Fantastic, by Terry PratchettSecondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets, by Svetlana AlexievichThe Carhullan Army, by Sarah Hall Next booksSpeaker for the Dead, by Orson Scott CardMr Britling … Continue reading
Ms Marvel
We watched the new Ms Marvel TV series over the last few weeks, and loved it. I very much enjoyed the first volume of the G. Willow Wilson comic and voted for it (along with the majority) for the 2015 … Continue reading
Sprawl, ed. Alisa Krasnostein
Second paragraph of third story (“How to Select a Durian at Footscray Market”, by Stephanie Campisi – third if you count the opening poem): There are blobs of fruit flesh on the ground where people have pestled kumquats or grapes … Continue reading
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Tagged bookblog 2022, world: australia
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The Curse of Fenric, by Una McCormack (and Ian Briggs)
When I first watched The Curse of Fenric in 2007, I wrote: The Curse of Fenric had been strongly recommended to me, and I adopted the suggestion that I watch the extended director’s cut version on the DVD rather than the … Continue reading
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Tagged bookblog 2022, doctor who, doctor who: 07, doctor who: black archive, writer: una mccormack
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October 2017 books
This is the latest post in a series I started in late 2019, anticipating the twentieth anniversary of my bookblogging which will fall in 2023. Every six-ish days, I’ve been revisiting a month from my recent past, noting work and … Continue reading
Manifesto: On never giving up, by Bernardine Evaristo
Second paragraph of third chapter: Romantic love. Random sex. Hopeless crushes. Short-lived flings. Proper relationships. All of these experiences contributed to making me the person and writer I became, one for whom the pursuit of freedom was paramount: freedom to … Continue reading
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Tagged bookblog 2022, writer: bernadine evaristo
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The Lost Skin, by Andy Frankham-Allen; Scary Monsters, by Simon Forward
Two more in the Candy Jar series of Lethbridge-Stewart stories, a novella by the “showrunner” and a novel by a veteran Who writer. The Lost Skin, by Andy Frankham-Allen. Second paragraph of third chapter: He eventually found the Docherty house, … Continue reading
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Tagged bookblog 2022, doctor who, doctor who: companions: brigadier, writer: andy frankham-allan, writer: simon forward
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The Initiate, by Louise Cooper
Back in 2017 I read a Doctor Who novella by Louise Cooper, who I had not previously heard of, and was really impressed. Her best known work is the Time Master trilogy, which I picked up pretty cheaply at Eastercon, … Continue reading
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Tagged bookblog 2022, writer: louise cooper
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Saturday reading
CurrentThe Traders’ War, by Charles StrossThe Light Fantastic, by Terry PratchettSecondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets, by Svetlana Alexievich Last books finishedDoctor Who and the Time Warrior, by Terrance DicksThe Time Warrior, by Matthew KilburnRoger Zelazny’s Chaos and Amber, … Continue reading
Inception
Inception won the 2011 Hugo for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form, and also SFWA’s Ray Bradbury Award for that year. Hugo voters gave it a thumping win at both stages of the ballot. IMDB users rank it the top film … Continue reading
Dalek Combat Training Manual, by Richard Atkinson and Mike Tucker
First page of Section III: This is a lovely lovely book about the Daleks, supposedly by the Time Lords, citing all of the Doctor’s televised adventures with them and constructing as much continuity as is possible. Nothing very new for … Continue reading
September 2017 books
This is the latest post in a series I started in late 2019, anticipating the twentieth anniversary of my bookblogging which will fall in 2023. Every six-ish days, I’ve been revisiting a month from my recent past, noting work and … Continue reading
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Tagged bookblog 2017, bookblog nostalgia
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Alaska Sampler 2014: Ten Authors from the Great Land, eds Deb Vanasse and David Marusek
Second paragraph of third chapter (an extract from Still Points North: An Alaskan Memoir, by Leigh Newman): Some identifiers: The Great Alaskan Dad flies his plane on floats in the summer and on skis in the winter. He hunts for … Continue reading
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Tagged bookblog 2022, writer: david marusek
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Operation Volcano, by Ben Aaronovitch and Andrew Cartmel
I realised a couple of weeks ago that I had paid for a couple of Humble Bundles of Doctor Who comics published by Titan over the years, and now had dozens of unread books to add to my Librarything catalogue. … Continue reading
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Tagged bookblog 2022, comics, doctor who: 01, doctor who: 07, writer: andrew cartmel, writer: ben aaronovitch, writer: paul cornell, writer: richard dinnick
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Three books from the Hugo packet
Hugo voting is over for this year, and the winners will be revealed in three weeks. The Hugo voter packet included several books that were not themselves on the final ballot (though their authors or editors were). I’m therefore giving … Continue reading
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Tagged bookblog 2022, hugos 2022
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Heaven Sent, by Kara Dennison; Hell Bent, by Alyssa Franke
The two next in sequence in the generally wonderful Black Archives series of monographs on particular Doctor Who stories. In general I write one post per Black Archive, but that’s partly because in general I have already written a lot … Continue reading
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Tagged bookblog 2022, doctor who, doctor who: 12, doctor who: black archive
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Saturday reading
CurrentRoger Zelazny’s Chaos and Amber, by John BetancourtThe Light Years, by Elizabeth Jane HowardThat Damn’d Thing Called “Honour”: Duelling in Ireland, 1570-1860, by James KellyDoctor Who and the Time Warrior, by Terrance Dicks Last books finishedScary Monsters, by Simon A. … Continue reading
Midnight’s Children, by Salman Rushdie
I finished rereading Midnight’s Children almost two weeks ago, but had not yet got around to blogging it until yesterday’s terrible news pushed me into action. It’s good to hear that Salman Rushdie is likely to survive this dreadful attack, … Continue reading
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Tagged bookblog 2022, world: india, writer: salman rushdie
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August 2017 books
This is the latest post in a series I started in late 2019, anticipating the twentieth anniversary of my bookblogging which will fall in 2023. Every six-ish days, I’ve been revisiting a month from my recent past, noting work and … Continue reading
The Life of Col. Samuel M. Wickersham, based on his writings 1863-1894, ed. Edward Wickersham Hoffman
After a few days off (and very relaxing holiday) I’m back to bookblogging again. I have built up quite a backlog thanks to general downtime an also some shorter books, though this one is not very short. Second paragraph of … Continue reading
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Tagged bookblog 2022, genealogy
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The report on the Hugo Awards Study Committee report
Way back in 2017, my then Deputy Hugo Administrator and I proposed that a study committee should be set up by the WSFS Business Meeting to revise the Best Professional Artist and Best Fan Artist categories, which are difficult to … Continue reading
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Tagged hugos 2022, sf: hugos
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Lenin the Dictator, by Victor Sebestyen
Second paragraph of third chapter: For the next three nights, unknown to the five prisoners who could hear no sound through the thick walls, carpenters were hard at work erecting gallows and gibbets in the fortress courtyard. At 3.30 a.m. … Continue reading
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Tagged bookblog 2022
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Saturday reading
CurrentThe Massacre of Mankind, by Stephen BaxterScary Monsters, by Simon A. ForwardSprawl, ed. Cat Sparks Last books finishedMidnight’s Children, by Salman RushdieLenin the Dictator, by Victor SebestyenSwordheart, by T. KingfisherDoctor Who: The Seventh Doctor: Operation Volcano, by Ben Aaronovitch and … Continue reading
July 2017 books
This is the latest post in a series I started in late 2019, anticipating the twentieth anniversary of my bookblogging which will fall in 2023. Every six-ish days, I’ve been revisiting a month from my recent past, noting work and … Continue reading
2022 Lodestar Award
As before, just noting without specifying my preferences that I have read all of this year’s finalists for the Lodestar Award for Best New Writer. Chaos on CatNet, by Naomi Kritzer. Second paragraph of third chapter: “Yes, ma’am,” I say. … Continue reading
Ninth Doctor Adventures: Old Friends
Trailer: As previously noted, I’ve been increasingly enjoying the Big Finish audio adventures with Christopher Eccleston reprising his role as the Ninth Doctor, and this was another good set installment. Unusually the three stories are a singleton and a two-parter, … Continue reading
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Tagged audio, doctor who, doctor who: 09
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Make Your Brain Work, by Amy Brann
Second paragraph of third chapter: As he heard Stuart’s voice on the other end of the phone he felt his shoulders relax slightly. Although he wasn’t sure what he would work on with his coach today, he knew that for … Continue reading