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Books read in June
Jun. 30th, 2026 09:16 amThis month I read three sff books and two really old (1690) cookbooks.
Platform Decay by Martha Wells
Murderbot spends more time with Mensah's extended family, has a mental health program running during a grueling mission, and begins to see the results of releasing the SecUnit independence program into the wild. Without giving any spoilers, I did really like this.
The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter
A couple of years ago I read "The High Meggas", Pratchett's short story that the Long Earth universe is based on, and enjoyed it. But I was hesitant to start the series which came out in 2012, six years after Pratchett's Alzheimer diagnosis. The book feels less like Pratchett and more like a story based on him written by someone with an entirely different style. Not bad, but I probably won't read any further into the series.
The Simarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien
The last time I revisited LOTR I skipped this, but a couple of years ago I bought a beautiful hardcover edition so I plunged into this book first. Still an enjoyable read.
Rare and Excellent Receipts by Mary Tillinghast
Largely devoted to savory pastries and pies with a wide range of meat, game, fish, and birds.
The Gentlewoman’s Delight in Cookery
This was a short but fairly comprehensive book. There's a recipe for roast hare that calls for placing it on top of a savory bread pudding, letting the juices help flavor the entire dish. This might be good substituting chicken for the rabbit, I think I'll give it a try.
Platform Decay by Martha Wells
Murderbot spends more time with Mensah's extended family, has a mental health program running during a grueling mission, and begins to see the results of releasing the SecUnit independence program into the wild. Without giving any spoilers, I did really like this.
The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter
A couple of years ago I read "The High Meggas", Pratchett's short story that the Long Earth universe is based on, and enjoyed it. But I was hesitant to start the series which came out in 2012, six years after Pratchett's Alzheimer diagnosis. The book feels less like Pratchett and more like a story based on him written by someone with an entirely different style. Not bad, but I probably won't read any further into the series.
The Simarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien
The last time I revisited LOTR I skipped this, but a couple of years ago I bought a beautiful hardcover edition so I plunged into this book first. Still an enjoyable read.
Rare and Excellent Receipts by Mary Tillinghast
Largely devoted to savory pastries and pies with a wide range of meat, game, fish, and birds.
The Gentlewoman’s Delight in Cookery
This was a short but fairly comprehensive book. There's a recipe for roast hare that calls for placing it on top of a savory bread pudding, letting the juices help flavor the entire dish. This might be good substituting chicken for the rabbit, I think I'll give it a try.
Inspired by Tafadhali's recent vid Oh, What a World that premiered at VidUKon, I recently had an urge to rewatch all of Wes Anderson's movies starting with Bottle Rocket on through The Phoenician Scheme. Guess what - not streaming anywhere. Tried Justwatch and came up empty. Tried the Roku search on my tv - nada. Places to rent, sure, but if I want to spend money on stuff I would rather have something I could rewatch when the mood strikes. This right here is why I continue to buy physical media
Books read in May
May. 31st, 2026 10:46 amSharing Recipes by Seldovia Village Tribe
One thing I like about community cookbooks is the way it reflects the culture and community of the people who contribute the recipes. This one comes from the people of Seldovia, Alaska. A small isolated village only accessible by ferry, it is full of recipes for local seafood and game. In fact, it's the only one I've ever read with recipes for bear and caribou.
Beyond the Blue Horizon by Frederik Pohl
I was so impressed by Gateway, I decided to read the next book in the series. Gateway was a tightly written book, this was a meandering mess.
Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
I'd read a lot of glowing reviews for this and decided to give it a try. Very cozy and enjoyable book about a found family of robots recently granted personhood who are trying to find a place for themselves. It's up for Best Novella in the Hugo Awards this year and I was happy to put it at the top of my ballot.
When Late the Sweet Birds Sing by Kate Wilhelm
Published in 1976 & won the 1977 Best Novel Hugo, but it's the first book I'd ever read by Wilhelm. An interesting study in what make us human.
One thing I like about community cookbooks is the way it reflects the culture and community of the people who contribute the recipes. This one comes from the people of Seldovia, Alaska. A small isolated village only accessible by ferry, it is full of recipes for local seafood and game. In fact, it's the only one I've ever read with recipes for bear and caribou.
Beyond the Blue Horizon by Frederik Pohl
I was so impressed by Gateway, I decided to read the next book in the series. Gateway was a tightly written book, this was a meandering mess.
Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
I'd read a lot of glowing reviews for this and decided to give it a try. Very cozy and enjoyable book about a found family of robots recently granted personhood who are trying to find a place for themselves. It's up for Best Novella in the Hugo Awards this year and I was happy to put it at the top of my ballot.
When Late the Sweet Birds Sing by Kate Wilhelm
Published in 1976 & won the 1977 Best Novel Hugo, but it's the first book I'd ever read by Wilhelm. An interesting study in what make us human.
Books read in April
May. 1st, 2026 07:07 amEyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky
The second book in The Final Architecture series, the character work is great. But for a book focusing on the unknowable, it felt like there was far to much time spent on trying to describe muddle explanations that fail to illuminate them at all.
Raised Embroidery: A Practical Guide to Decorative Needlework by Barbara and Roy Hirst
As an embroiderer who used to do medieval reenactment, I was familiar with stumpwork, a technique that added raised figures to an piece. The Hirsts take these tools and apply them to contemporary work. This gives me some great ideas for a piece I've been planning of an astronaut floating against a background of deep black velvet.
The Doctor Who Cookbook by Gary Downie
I picked this up on a whim at a dealer's table at Gallifrey One this year. Published in 1985, early in the sixth Doctor's era, Downie gathered recipes from Doctors, companions, crew, recurring actors, and many of the crew. Humorous commentary and funny drawings are great additions.
The Glimmering by Elizabeth Hand
This is a post-apocalyptic sf book from 1997. It's set on the cusp of New Years Eve 1999 on an alternate timeline where man made climate manipulation coincided with a massive solar flare to cause catastrophic changes to the atmosphere and ozone layer. The book follows two characters: a middle-aged man tackling his worsening AIDS and the failures of his family's fortunes and prestigious literary magazine and a teenager from a Christian cult on the verge of becoming a rock star as the structure of society unravels around them.
The second book in The Final Architecture series, the character work is great. But for a book focusing on the unknowable, it felt like there was far to much time spent on trying to describe muddle explanations that fail to illuminate them at all.
Raised Embroidery: A Practical Guide to Decorative Needlework by Barbara and Roy Hirst
As an embroiderer who used to do medieval reenactment, I was familiar with stumpwork, a technique that added raised figures to an piece. The Hirsts take these tools and apply them to contemporary work. This gives me some great ideas for a piece I've been planning of an astronaut floating against a background of deep black velvet.
The Doctor Who Cookbook by Gary Downie
I picked this up on a whim at a dealer's table at Gallifrey One this year. Published in 1985, early in the sixth Doctor's era, Downie gathered recipes from Doctors, companions, crew, recurring actors, and many of the crew. Humorous commentary and funny drawings are great additions.
The Glimmering by Elizabeth Hand
This is a post-apocalyptic sf book from 1997. It's set on the cusp of New Years Eve 1999 on an alternate timeline where man made climate manipulation coincided with a massive solar flare to cause catastrophic changes to the atmosphere and ozone layer. The book follows two characters: a middle-aged man tackling his worsening AIDS and the failures of his family's fortunes and prestigious literary magazine and a teenager from a Christian cult on the verge of becoming a rock star as the structure of society unravels around them.
Books read in March
Apr. 1st, 2026 03:15 pmShroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Really phenomenal worldbuiding, humans and aliens so different it's hard for them to recognize that the others are alive and sentient. His writing is so addictive I found myself reading very late every night long after I should have gone to bed.
There and Back Again: Diaries, 1999-2009 by Michael Palin
The latest in his published diaries, I've reading a bit off and on for a couple of months. I really wish some of his travel shows that he talks about in them were streaming in the US.
Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsy
The first book in his Final Architecture series, I liked it quite a bit. I am grateful that he added a glossary to back to help keep everything straight in a complicated universe.
In the Ravine and Other Stories by Anton Chekhov
I'd never read anything by him before and these were interesting. For the most part they felt more like little slices of life in Tsarist Russia than plotted stories.
Women in the Kitchen by Ann Willan
The book focuses on women who published cookbooks from 1661 through the early 20th century, providing a brief biography and few recipes from their works. She seemed overly focused on the past 50 years, the balance of history seemed a bit off.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Enjoyable reread after having seen the movie.
Really phenomenal worldbuiding, humans and aliens so different it's hard for them to recognize that the others are alive and sentient. His writing is so addictive I found myself reading very late every night long after I should have gone to bed.
There and Back Again: Diaries, 1999-2009 by Michael Palin
The latest in his published diaries, I've reading a bit off and on for a couple of months. I really wish some of his travel shows that he talks about in them were streaming in the US.
Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsy
The first book in his Final Architecture series, I liked it quite a bit. I am grateful that he added a glossary to back to help keep everything straight in a complicated universe.
In the Ravine and Other Stories by Anton Chekhov
I'd never read anything by him before and these were interesting. For the most part they felt more like little slices of life in Tsarist Russia than plotted stories.
Women in the Kitchen by Ann Willan
The book focuses on women who published cookbooks from 1661 through the early 20th century, providing a brief biography and few recipes from their works. She seemed overly focused on the past 50 years, the balance of history seemed a bit off.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Enjoyable reread after having seen the movie.
Memories of my first convention
Mar. 28th, 2026 07:09 amEarlier this month I realised that it was exactly 20 years since my first convention: Highlander Worldwide 7 in Leeds. It was also my first international trip. I found a welcoming community of friends there and many, many fond memories.
This also reminded me of the film crew that came to make a documentary of the event, directed by David Abramowitz. Driven by a desire to rewatch that (where I'm one of the fans interviewed) I looked through my dusty old collection of DVDs. It had been bonus material on something. A lot of detective work followed and I figured out that it had been part of the 2007 Highlander Best of the Best box set. A box set that I had long ago given to someone. Thanks to eBay I now finally found it and uploaded it to Youtube. After posting on Facebook (the only place I connect to some of my old HL friends) I got a thanks from David A. for posting it.
This also reminded me of the film crew that came to make a documentary of the event, directed by David Abramowitz. Driven by a desire to rewatch that (where I'm one of the fans interviewed) I looked through my dusty old collection of DVDs. It had been bonus material on something. A lot of detective work followed and I figured out that it had been part of the 2007 Highlander Best of the Best box set. A box set that I had long ago given to someone. Thanks to eBay I now finally found it and uploaded it to Youtube. After posting on Facebook (the only place I connect to some of my old HL friends) I got a thanks from David A. for posting it.
Decisions, decisions
Mar. 23rd, 2026 03:35 pmI just got through reading two really long books around 500 pages each. Now I'm on the fence over what to read next - Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky (576 pages) or reread Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary (476 pages). It would be nice to be lured in by a short book for a change.
Books read in February
Mar. 10th, 2026 09:08 amOnly three books last month, although I also spent a lot of time reading short fiction at Uncanny, Apex, Clarkesworld, Reactor, and Lightspeed.
Gateway by Frederik Pohl
A really excellent book told with transcripts of counseling sessions, narrative flashbacks of the protagonist's life as a potential scavenger of alien artifacts, and various documents interspersed throughout the book. I'd, of course, heard of Pohl but never read anything by him. I'll definitely look for more.
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
This is making a lot of people's Hugo noms lists and I've liked her books, but I won't be adding it to my nominations. The time travel gimmick here felt a bit forced and contrived and the book just didn't work for me.
The Compleat Servant-Maid or Young Maiden's Tutor
Published in 1670 for young women looking for work in service in wealthy or noble houses, the emphasis on being literate, having fashionable handwriting, and knowing math to assist in keeping household accounts had me reassess what I had assumed about literacy for women in 17th century England who were neither noble or wealthy.
Gateway by Frederik Pohl
A really excellent book told with transcripts of counseling sessions, narrative flashbacks of the protagonist's life as a potential scavenger of alien artifacts, and various documents interspersed throughout the book. I'd, of course, heard of Pohl but never read anything by him. I'll definitely look for more.
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
This is making a lot of people's Hugo noms lists and I've liked her books, but I won't be adding it to my nominations. The time travel gimmick here felt a bit forced and contrived and the book just didn't work for me.
The Compleat Servant-Maid or Young Maiden's Tutor
Published in 1670 for young women looking for work in service in wealthy or noble houses, the emphasis on being literate, having fashionable handwriting, and knowing math to assist in keeping household accounts had me reassess what I had assumed about literacy for women in 17th century England who were neither noble or wealthy.
(no subject)
Feb. 8th, 2026 09:24 amThis year I made 2 vids for ![[community profile]](/%20https://www.npmjs.com/package/ocr-https-www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
festivids.
As a gift for Vialana I made this vid for Clue. I hadn't seen the movie until last Spring after seeing a really good high school theater production of it. I rushed to see the movie version and have been thinking of vidding it ever since.
AO3
Last year while screening fandoms for Festivids rarity I stumbled down a classic Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies rabbit hole. I methodically when through a chronological list of Bugs Bunny shorts from 1944-1963, scouring online sources for copies, adding info to a lengthy spreadsheet. Armed with a year's worth a work I had fun making this vid for![[personal profile]](/%20https://www.npmjs.com/package/ocr-https-www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tafadhali
AO3
festivids. As a gift for Vialana I made this vid for Clue. I hadn't seen the movie until last Spring after seeing a really good high school theater production of it. I rushed to see the movie version and have been thinking of vidding it ever since.
AO3
Last year while screening fandoms for Festivids rarity I stumbled down a classic Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies rabbit hole. I methodically when through a chronological list of Bugs Bunny shorts from 1944-1963, scouring online sources for copies, adding info to a lengthy spreadsheet. Armed with a year's worth a work I had fun making this vid for
tafadhaliAO3
Books read in January
Feb. 5th, 2026 08:40 amI think poetry often works better for me if it's read aloud. This was especially true with What by John Cooper Clarke. Short but enjoyable.
I picked up Just Kids by Patti Smith to give as a gift and decided to read it first. She details her early life in NYC when both she and Robert Maplethorpe where young artists trying to find their artistic voice. Their relationship, sometimes lovers and lifelong friends, is touching. I loved this and plan to look for more of her books.
My February food blog observes Black History Month, so last month I read the 1848 book Hotel Keepers, Head Waiters, and Housekeepers Guide by Tunis G. Campbell. A fascinating man, he was not only skilled in hotel management, but worked in many ways to help fellow African Americans both before and after the US Civil War.
My Real Children by Jo Walton is something I've been meaning to read for quite a while. A young woman's decision splits her life into two timelines. Walton is a wonderful writer and this book focuses on women and the choices they make throughout their lives.
My son, knowing that I've been reading Michael Palin's published diaries, gave me So, Anyway... by John Cleese for Christmas. Cleese details his life, from school and university to his partnership with Graham Chapman in his burgeoning career as a comedy writer, ending at the point where they join up with the other Pythons to create their tv show. A very funny, self-deprecating book.
I picked up Just Kids by Patti Smith to give as a gift and decided to read it first. She details her early life in NYC when both she and Robert Maplethorpe where young artists trying to find their artistic voice. Their relationship, sometimes lovers and lifelong friends, is touching. I loved this and plan to look for more of her books.
My February food blog observes Black History Month, so last month I read the 1848 book Hotel Keepers, Head Waiters, and Housekeepers Guide by Tunis G. Campbell. A fascinating man, he was not only skilled in hotel management, but worked in many ways to help fellow African Americans both before and after the US Civil War.
My Real Children by Jo Walton is something I've been meaning to read for quite a while. A young woman's decision splits her life into two timelines. Walton is a wonderful writer and this book focuses on women and the choices they make throughout their lives.
My son, knowing that I've been reading Michael Palin's published diaries, gave me So, Anyway... by John Cleese for Christmas. Cleese details his life, from school and university to his partnership with Graham Chapman in his burgeoning career as a comedy writer, ending at the point where they join up with the other Pythons to create their tv show. A very funny, self-deprecating book.
Just a few more vid recs
Feb. 2nd, 2026 03:21 pmHere's a few more Festivids that I enjoyed.
殿と犬 | Tono to Inu A Good Day
Babylon 5 Marching On
Clue Weapon of Choice
Dept. Q. Tuesday Paper Club
Hamlet - Shakespeare nothing and everything
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Let's Get This Over With
Sinners Ya Ya
殿と犬 | Tono to Inu A Good Day
Babylon 5 Marching On
Clue Weapon of Choice
Dept. Q. Tuesday Paper Club
Hamlet - Shakespeare nothing and everything
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Let's Get This Over With
Sinners Ya Ya
More Festivids recs
Feb. 1st, 2026 04:02 pmFestivids has 128 vids in 86 fandoms and I've got 40 more vids to go, but they can wait until tomorrow. Here's the ones the ones that impressed me the most today (although I watched a whole bunch of other really great vids.
BL Metamorphosis (2022) The world is full of different colors
Interstellar Typhon Voices
Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies ASSHOLE
Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies Looney für Elise
Sinners Dreamwidth
The Canopener Bridge A Hard Knock Life (Mainly because it reminds me of something that happened when I worked for the National Archives in Seattle)
The Wild Robot Iron Enough to Make a Nail
Festivids recruiter vids alert:
Gastronaut Food vid is making me want to check out Gastronauts
Young Hearts reminds me that I’ve never seen Matilda. Must remedy that.
BL Metamorphosis (2022) The world is full of different colors
Interstellar Typhon Voices
Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies ASSHOLE
Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies Looney für Elise
Sinners Dreamwidth
The Canopener Bridge A Hard Knock Life (Mainly because it reminds me of something that happened when I worked for the National Archives in Seattle)
The Wild Robot Iron Enough to Make a Nail
Festivids recruiter vids alert:
Gastronaut Food vid is making me want to check out Gastronauts
Young Hearts reminds me that I’ve never seen Matilda. Must remedy that.
Festivids is live
Jan. 31st, 2026 01:45 pmEvery year I look forward to Festivids and this year I got two wonderful vids for Murderbot as gifts
Let’s Get This Over With
and
Performance Reliability = ATF
I'm slowly working my way through all the vids. There are many, many more great vids on the list but here are some I particularly enjoyed today.
The Pitt - Ordinary Day
Murderbot - The Heart Always Holds On to Missing Roads
Victor/Victoria - man
Star Trek Prodigy - Find Your People
A Man on the Inside - You Get What You Give
Let’s Get This Over With
and
Performance Reliability = ATF
I'm slowly working my way through all the vids. There are many, many more great vids on the list but here are some I particularly enjoyed today.
The Pitt - Ordinary Day
Murderbot - The Heart Always Holds On to Missing Roads
Victor/Victoria - man
Star Trek Prodigy - Find Your People
A Man on the Inside - You Get What You Give
2025 book recs
Jan. 1st, 2026 07:52 amI swear this is the last post on my 2025 reading list, but I wanted to share my favorites this year.
Fiction
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
Memory's Legion by James S. A. Corey
Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky
The Incandescent by Emily Tesh
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
Nonfiction
How We Lived Then, 1914-1918 by Dorothy Peel
A Village Lost and Found by Brian May and Elena Vidal
The Queens of Animation by Nathalia Hold
Rereads
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
The Murderbot series by Martha Wells
Fiction
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
Memory's Legion by James S. A. Corey
Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky
The Incandescent by Emily Tesh
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
Nonfiction
How We Lived Then, 1914-1918 by Dorothy Peel
A Village Lost and Found by Brian May and Elena Vidal
The Queens of Animation by Nathalia Hold
Rereads
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
The Murderbot series by Martha Wells
Books read in December
Dec. 30th, 2025 02:01 pmThe Shattering Peace by John Scalzi
The latest entry in The Old Man's War series, the shift in focus & POV characters from book to book continues, and brought things to a pretty good ending if he deices to end the series here.
The Queens of Animation by Nathalia Holt
A history of women working at Walt Disney Productions. Primarily focusing on the era between 1937 to Disney's death in 1966, she also the most modern era of Disney through The Lion King in 2018.
She covers conditions in the workplace, WWII and its aftermath, the affects of technical development on staff & film making, racism and misogyny in the workplace and more.
For the earliest era I took the time to watch some of the early films I hadn't seen. I was really impressed by the surreal and almost psychedelic opening of Fantasia. Also, just before WWII started Disney took some of his top animators & illustrators along on a State Department sponsored trip to South America. The resulting film, Saludos Amigos, included a beautiful sequence on Rio de Janeiro made from Mary Blair's fantastic watercolor sketches she made during the trip.
Archimagus-Anglo Gallica" or Excellent and Approved Receipts and Experiments in Cookery by Sir Theodore Mayerne
Published in 1658, this was a surprisingly good book including at least a couple or recipes I hadn't ever seen in a book this early, including sweet potato pie and instructions for making an egg wash for pastry.
Hokolua Road by Elizabeth Hand
Deftly weaves Hawaiian folklore, a touch of horror, and a serial killer mystery.
Joyride by Guy Adams
This was a tie-in novel for the Doctor Who spin-off Class. The heart of the story in an unscrupulous person gets his hands on an alien machine that temporarily transfer a persons consciousness into another's body and then rents out time on the machine to some very nasty people.
The latest entry in The Old Man's War series, the shift in focus & POV characters from book to book continues, and brought things to a pretty good ending if he deices to end the series here.
The Queens of Animation by Nathalia Holt
A history of women working at Walt Disney Productions. Primarily focusing on the era between 1937 to Disney's death in 1966, she also the most modern era of Disney through The Lion King in 2018.
She covers conditions in the workplace, WWII and its aftermath, the affects of technical development on staff & film making, racism and misogyny in the workplace and more.
For the earliest era I took the time to watch some of the early films I hadn't seen. I was really impressed by the surreal and almost psychedelic opening of Fantasia. Also, just before WWII started Disney took some of his top animators & illustrators along on a State Department sponsored trip to South America. The resulting film, Saludos Amigos, included a beautiful sequence on Rio de Janeiro made from Mary Blair's fantastic watercolor sketches she made during the trip.
Archimagus-Anglo Gallica" or Excellent and Approved Receipts and Experiments in Cookery by Sir Theodore Mayerne
Published in 1658, this was a surprisingly good book including at least a couple or recipes I hadn't ever seen in a book this early, including sweet potato pie and instructions for making an egg wash for pastry.
Hokolua Road by Elizabeth Hand
Deftly weaves Hawaiian folklore, a touch of horror, and a serial killer mystery.
Joyride by Guy Adams
This was a tie-in novel for the Doctor Who spin-off Class. The heart of the story in an unscrupulous person gets his hands on an alien machine that temporarily transfer a persons consciousness into another's body and then rents out time on the machine to some very nasty people.
Books read in November
Dec. 3rd, 2025 08:49 amFinal Orbit, by Chris Hadfield
A continuation of his series of Apollo-era thrillers set in space & on Earth, this is a frantic journey through so many concurrent crises that the character development suffers a bit.
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
I continue to like Osman's style - short chapters, each focused on a different character driving the investigative plot forward in a really engaging way. But this is not a stand alone book. From the first page you need to know who 10 or so characters are and what their relationships are with each other.
Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
I've heard good things about this fantasy series for quite a while but hadn't read them. But I was killing time in a cute little New England village, stopped in a local bookstore and picked them up on a whim. I really love the way these books build friendships and bonds between diverse species of characters.
A continuation of his series of Apollo-era thrillers set in space & on Earth, this is a frantic journey through so many concurrent crises that the character development suffers a bit.
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
I continue to like Osman's style - short chapters, each focused on a different character driving the investigative plot forward in a really engaging way. But this is not a stand alone book. From the first page you need to know who 10 or so characters are and what their relationships are with each other.
Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
I've heard good things about this fantasy series for quite a while but hadn't read them. But I was killing time in a cute little New England village, stopped in a local bookstore and picked them up on a whim. I really love the way these books build friendships and bonds between diverse species of characters.
Books read in October
Nov. 8th, 2025 10:27 amFlashes of Brilliance by Anika Burgess
An excellent history of the development of the art and science of photography from the late 1830s. I've worked with archival collections that contain examples of these images, but now I have a lot more understanding of how they were produced.
The Old Man's War and The End of All Things by John Scalzi
Ten years after the last book in this series Scalzi has just released another. I decided it might be a good time to read the first and last books to refresh my memory before I plunge into the new one.
Crusts: The Ultimate Baker's Book by Barbara Elise Caracciolo
A huge book (over 800 pages) I've been reading it bit by bit for a few months. Her focus in on profiles and recipes artisanal bakers and bakeries around the world. I've flagged several things that I want to try.
Accomplished Ladies Rich Closet by John Shirley
Dipping into the pdf collection of 17th c. cookbooks I downloaded a couple of years ago, this book from 1690 was very expansive in scope. The bulk of the book is devoted to instructing young women on how to conduct themselves in their lives and their households. Also, an impressively large collections of medicinal & cosmetic recipes.
A Village Lost and Found by Brian May and Elena Vidal
I bought this when it was published in 2009, but had never read it. May, a lifelong stereoscopic slide lover and collector, and Vidal, a curator who helped catalog May's collection, publish a set of 59 slides originally published in 1856, complete with a folding slide viewer. The images depict life in a rural English village. Their research identified the name of the village. Using survey maps of the area from the 1870s they were able to identify the location of buildings. May even took new stereoscopic images of extant structures. I really loved this book.
An excellent history of the development of the art and science of photography from the late 1830s. I've worked with archival collections that contain examples of these images, but now I have a lot more understanding of how they were produced.
The Old Man's War and The End of All Things by John Scalzi
Ten years after the last book in this series Scalzi has just released another. I decided it might be a good time to read the first and last books to refresh my memory before I plunge into the new one.
Crusts: The Ultimate Baker's Book by Barbara Elise Caracciolo
A huge book (over 800 pages) I've been reading it bit by bit for a few months. Her focus in on profiles and recipes artisanal bakers and bakeries around the world. I've flagged several things that I want to try.
Accomplished Ladies Rich Closet by John Shirley
Dipping into the pdf collection of 17th c. cookbooks I downloaded a couple of years ago, this book from 1690 was very expansive in scope. The bulk of the book is devoted to instructing young women on how to conduct themselves in their lives and their households. Also, an impressively large collections of medicinal & cosmetic recipes.
A Village Lost and Found by Brian May and Elena Vidal
I bought this when it was published in 2009, but had never read it. May, a lifelong stereoscopic slide lover and collector, and Vidal, a curator who helped catalog May's collection, publish a set of 59 slides originally published in 1856, complete with a folding slide viewer. The images depict life in a rural English village. Their research identified the name of the village. Using survey maps of the area from the 1870s they were able to identify the location of buildings. May even took new stereoscopic images of extant structures. I really loved this book.
Catching up on the past
Oct. 22nd, 2025 10:36 amWhen Livejournal folded I imported all my old posts to DW, but never went back to read them again. On a whim I looked to see when I joined LJ - 2003, when I was still lived in Seattle, was occasionally writing X-files fic, and just starting to dip into Highlander again.
No vidding, no Doctor Who, no fan conventions - feels like so very long ago.
No vidding, no Doctor Who, no fan conventions - feels like so very long ago.
This is Shit - a Murderbot vid
Oct. 17th, 2025 02:06 pmLife's hard for a rogue SecUnit. Here's a little Murderbot vid with a song by Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq.
AO3
AO3
