Good Morning Blue Sky! Hope you’re all ok? Today I’m currently reading Heartwood - A Mythago Wood Anthology edited by Dan Coxon and never having read that book I’m still enjoying it! What are you reading at the moment?
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Morning Womble! I'm reading I Crossed the Minch by Louis McNeice - a 1937 account of a visit to the Western Isles which is a delightfully eclectic mix of travelogue, poetry and imagination.
Morning Womble, I am switching between Landmarks by Robert MacFarlane and Let This Radicalize You by Kelly Hayes & Mariame Kaba.
I've got Heartwood and must get to that before too long, as I loved the Mythago series.
I just finished Written On The Dark and my immediate impression is that it's as good as anything I've read. Kay is one of the best writers around and this sits among the top tier of his work.
And, if anyone else fancies a book in a post-apocalyptic future with magic, laser drones, shapeshifters, and LGBTQIA+ rep and romance, then you can get it on KU, ebook, print, or Audible audiobook.
It's so good. I had no experience with LitRPG before this, started the first book somewhat doubtfully and have fallen for it hook, line and sinker. Such incredibly empathetic, witty writing.
Hello Womble! I'm reading Some Kind Of Fairy Tale by Graham Joyce, and it may be somehow the most English fiction I have read since The Dark Is Rising series. Fewer pre-teen adventurers, though.
Hullo, Womble! I’m reading a small supplement to the RPG Heart: The City Beneath called “Sanctum”, as well as Jon Peterson’s magisterial Playing at the World 2e, Vol 1: the History of D&D.
Also on the docket is Adrian Tchaikovsky’s House of Open Wounds, hot on my reread of the City of last Chances
Morning Womble. This week I read More Than Just A Dog by Simon Wooler (@sociabledog.bsky.social) - a wonderful book for anyone who has or is about to have a dog in their life. Now started The Night House by Jo Nesbo.
Happy Sunday, Womble! I'm on the road with @ebbband.bsky.social and my #gigreads are William Goldman's Adventures in the Screen Trade (as well written as his Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid and The Princess Bride) and Bethany Jacobs On Vicious Worlds. SO good. I've preordered book three already.
Morning Womble, just in after a lovely long walk.
I've just started Reality and Dreams by Muriel Spark after reading a review of the latest biography that's just out.
Good morning Womble. Nominally, I'm reading Ania Ahlborn's "The Shuddering" (chilly horror in remote wilderness retreat), but right now I'm on a booklet called "Theremin selber bauen" as I struggle once more to assemble this daft instrument.
Evening! I've just finished the oldest physical book on my 'to read' mountain: Christopher Priest's The Islanders (11 years!)
I mainly enjoyed it - more than I expected, to be honest - but I feel that it didn't quite stick the landing.
Good morning Womble, still on The Malazan Book of the Fallen. Midnight Tides now (book 5). The mechanics of the storybuilding in each book are much more apparent when you read them back to back like this. I'm still hooked and even more in awe of this series!
Morning Womble! I am currently re - reading Paved With Good Intentions by Peter McLean which is due out later this month. Whilst on audio I am listening to The Man Who Mistook his Wife For A Hat by Oliver Sacks, which a series of case histories of strange neurological conditions.
Happy Sunday Womble! I'm rereading one of my own books (well, I'm the translator) as it's being launched next week. The True Way Out, by Patrik Banga, a memoir of growing up Roma in 🇨🇿 in the 1990s. Gritty & hardhitting. And faintly weird... don't think I've ever reread a book I translated before!
Just finished Midnight and Blue by Rankin, the latest Rebus, and reading Cleeves' Rising Tide, in a bit of a mystery mood, I guess. Also still reading Hastings' Secret War and Rackham's Trees and Woodland. Reread parts of Barker's King of Assassins earlier this week, too.
Morning Womble! I'm most of the way through Strange New Worlds: The High Country by John Jackson Miller which is enormous fun, and just starting in on Food for Thought by Alton Brown which is excellent so far. This week's graphic novel is Rare Flavours by Ram V and Filipe Andrade and it's GREAT
Morning Womble, I have just started Will Carver's 'Kill Them With Kindness,' a story about a manufactured pandemic and a cure that makes everybody nice to each other!
Good Day!
Work was very stressful last week so I'm trying a sci-fi heist novel, The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei
Also reading I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman because I kept seeing it on tiktok, and I'm not sure how I feel about it
Bore da, Womble! This morning I'm reading How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin, which has been sitting in my Kindle app for way too long and is pretty wonderful. Forgot how much I loved cosy mysteries with a paranomal element 👀
Morning, Womble! I am trying to reduce my To Read Pile and have just started THE INTERNATIONALISTS AND THEIR PLAN TO OUTLAW WAR by Oona Hathaway and Scott Shapiro, which is about the Paris Peace Pact 1928 which shifted opinion on when war is justified. Not too academic and very interesting.
Good morning! Current fiction: Reread of The Disposessed by Ursula K. Le Guin. The non-SFF member of our podcasting team asked for an SFF rec, and we’re planning an episode to see what she thought.
Non-fiction: Inventing the Renaissance by Ada Palmer, which is delightful and thought provoking.
I loved The Dispossessed. I need to read it again as well really - it's such a nuanced book I'm sure there's so much more to experience than you can get from a single readthrough.
Morning Womble. I'm listening to part two of Adrian Tchaikovsky's The Final Architecture series, 'Eyes of the Void'.
I'm on holiday this week though so also have Robert Harris' 'V2' with me to finish (started 6 months ago and then kind of stalled) and Ben Aaronovitch's 'What Abigail did that Summer'
Agreed. I really enjoyed Shards of Earth, great set of characters and world/universe building. Eyes of the Void has had a good start re-establishing them all and where they are now, I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes.
Greetings, Womble! I'm finally getting into Tchaikovsky's Days of Shattered Faith, and starting T. Kingfisher's What Moves the Dead and Jendia Gammon's Atacama. Not as far along as I'd like on any of them, as Real Life stuff has had the unmitigated gall to intrude on my reading time. 😐
Happy Sunday! Last night I finished The Lamb by Lucy Rose, which was dark and wonderful. Today I will dig into Daddy's Boy by Michael David Wilson and The God of the Woods by Liz Moore.
I do love how the protagonists of these books talk about how they feel. Such great books for teenagers to have available, especially, but not only, queer ones.
I'm reading an advance copy of MERCUTIO by Kate Heartfield and having just THE TIME OF MY LIFE omg it is so far up my alley that it's living in my bedroom
Mornin Womble! My current hard copy read is Miraculous Abundance: 1/4 acre, 2 french farmers & enough food to feed the world. E copy is still Stories of Hope & Wonder anthology & audiobook ive gone through Pompeii: My Story & A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft & am onto A day of Fire :D
Good evening, Womble. I’m reading Stephen King’s Hearts in Atlantis. I wondered if you, or any of your followers, had suggestions for similar coming-of-age stories set in 1970s/80s UK?
Good morning Womble. I’m in the final chapters of the new Stephen King “Never Flinch” and in French I’m halfway through the 🇨🇦thriller “L’Affaire Mélodie Cormier” by Guillaume Morissette.
Morning Womble, I'm still reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab. In comics I've just finished the excellent Judge Dredd epic Necropolis. I've slowly been reading the Case Files and the increased depth in scope, narrative and character has been impressive as I head into the 90's.
Morning Womble! I’m rereading A God In Ruins by Kate Atkinson on my kobo because I love it so much! and also about to start my library book The Cats Table by Michael Ondaatje .
Good morning! I've recently finished Labyrinth's Heart, the final book in the Rook and Rose series by M. A. Carrick. I absolutely loved the whole series.
I've just started The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson and I'm really enjoying it so far.
Time poor week, but I'm still reading Alex White’s August Kitko and the Mechas from Space, which is really about giant robots from space. It’s a fine balance to give it emotional weight and not just make it a lot of fighting. It’s managing it so far. And The Devils is still in my ears.
Hello! Finished Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky last night to put an end to Hugo Best Novel reading (...not my favourite shortlist ever...) and now finishing off Lodestar with the unexpectedly chonky Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao.
Currently rereading the Well of Ascension by Mr Sanderson. Read this a while ago and never got round to the 2nd era books so going to go all 7! May take me a while!!
Good morning Wambo, though not for the country. Truly sad.
I am reading – and thoroughly enjoying – 'Love and Need: the Life of Robert Frost's Poetry,' a new analysis of Frost's poetry by Adam Plunkett. This excellent article by Maggie Doherty sold me on it:
Hello all. A re-read of Iain Banks' 'The Steep Approach to Garbadale' (not his very best, but still entertaining) and a re-read of Malcolm Bradbury's 'The History Man' (very much of its time).
Dragon Keeper, by Robin Hobb. The first of 4 novels in the series Rain Wild Chronicles. It's probably my 5th or 6th time to read the entire series, The Realm of the Elderlings. I love it!
#RobinHobb
Hi Womble! I’ve just started Katherine Arden’s The Warm Hands of Ghosts, and so far I’m hooked. A masterclass in writing sharp dialogue, for one thing.
Just finished The Chase by Ava Glass - fantastic! I think @cartoonbeardy.bsky.social recommended it - if so thank you. About to re-read Bad Company by Jack Higgins
Morning, lovely Womble! There is a lot of sports on this weekend, but in between I have been reading Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch, and remain on the fence about the series in general.
It’s been so long since I read the start of the series. But just reading the end of that book again, I’d say if you’re not invested, I don’t think you’d like the rest - the lore grows, but the cast remains. Though I hope you read eight more to get to one of my favourite novellas. 😅
The lore I like - I really like the rivers and their politics, for example. But I find the male gaze a bit too uncomfortable - the main character's voice grates at times.
Ahh. Yes, actually, it could apply to both 😂 Just goes to show that the reason for 'she breasted boobily down the stairs' is because we don't have a lone complaint when it comes to male gaze in writing!
Got you. I ‘think’ that improves with the series. The politics and the rivers deepens. I listened to Kobna Holdbrook-Smith’s narration. so I have his version of Peter in my ears of I read it.
I think it definitely improves and the series goes on. I feel like Aaronovitch realises there’s more depth as he goes on: the way Peter learns more about himself, his family, his values
Ah interesting that you are also reading Rivers of London. I've been reading the first book and I thought I was the last person in the world to get to this series.
I read the first one ages ago when it was first released and never moved on to the next, but I thought I would give the series a go now that there are a few, but I'm not sure about it, honestly.
I reread the first one after 4 or 5 years but i ended up enjoying it more the second time round. I rather enjoy the clash between whimsical fantasy and hard core acronym Met life procedurals.
I'm enjoying it, but it does feel a bit... dated, I think? I definitely think about the Met Police, for instance, differently now than I did when the book was first published. So it reads like another era.
Hey Womble! I'm reading Small Boat, which explores the banality of evil in terms of Europe's response to migrants coming over the Mediterranean. It's really good and grim.
Also audiobook'ing Threads of Life (nonfic about embroidery) while playing a video game haha, not paying 100% attention
Afternoon, Womble. I've started City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Only a few chapters in but it feels gothic, inventive, sparkling, witty, chewy. Also the hardback coincidentally weighs the same as a richly-imagined fantasy city.
Good noon! I just finished Megan Bannen's newest (The Undercutting of Rosie and Frank), which was exactly as charming as the previous two in the series. Now about to fall into Robin Hobb's Fool's Errand, which puts me exactly at the halfway mark of my Realm of the Elderlings reread.
Heyo Womble! Just started reading fiction again after wrapping up a couple of very hectic months at work; currently enjoying the very well-written Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw.
I read This is How You Lose the Time War & had to stop myself from reading it all over again.
The sheer level of imagination on display is fantastic. The characters are clear & relatable. And I've not come across a book with such a laser focused lyricism running through it.
Loved it.
I just finished The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar last week, I had picked it up based on my adoration of Time War. It is also absolutely wonderful, I think she's turned into an automatic preorder writer for me
It is. I'm a sucker for retold or restructured fairy tales to begin with, add the strong sister relationship a d the gorgeous writing and it's a contender for my favorite book this year.
I also just recently read The River Has Roots and absolutely loved it. I also recommend Travel Light, the book mentioned in This Is How You Lose the Time War. Here’s El-Mohtar’s review of it, which led to her meeting Gladstone and their writing together.
Rereading Cartmel's Ashram Assassin. Next up is I Want That Twink Obliterated! - an LGBTQ+ SFF anthology that I came across at Super Relaxed Fantasy Club, and again at Comicon.
Good morning, Womble! I'm reading Deviant Burial in the Archaeological Record by Eileen M. Murphy (non-fiction) for research and just finished Paladin's Grace (Saint of Steel #1) by T. Kingfisher and The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones. I haven't picked new fiction yet.
One fleeting character appearance, someone leaving an office as someone arrives. But yes, that links the universe. And given that Cartmel has written Rivers of London with Aaronovitch, not surprising.
Doppelganger by Naomi Klein, which is brilliant so far but/and shares all my anxieties. So it's not exactly a FUN read, but a bit comforting to know I'm not alone in all this angst.
Hello Womble and company. I have just finished Erasue by Percival Everett which was good. Halfway through The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett,which I am really enjoying.
Getting my non-fiction fix with Between Two Hells : The Irish Civil War, and my fiction jollies with Q by the mysterious group of Italian writers: Luther Blissett. Although the latter is a novel, I’m learning a lot about Thomas Müntzer, his opposition to Luther, and the disastrous peasant’s revolt.
Morning Womble. I’m taking a brief detour from genre to read Wilson’s translation of the Iliad. It’s been a while since I’ve read some Homer, and it’s so nice to come back.
Hi Womble, happy Sunday! I'm absolutely galloping through The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin (clever, subtle, enormously readable, I'll be having the rest oh yes). Next up on digital I'll be starting Saltblood by Francesca de Torres, which I've been looking forward to since it came out.
Good morning Womble! I have started listening to a new audiobook - MI6: Life and Death in the British Secret Service, written and read by Gordon Corera
The Four Sisters Overlooking The Sea by Naomi Kritzer for Hugos
Also I have a hardcover of Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros from the library but my body has forgotten the muscle memory for reading something that huge! (I'm nearly always ebooks these days)
Good afternoon! I've gone back to Bloody Rose after a break to read Jessica Lewis's Nav's Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love which was great, even though I don't usually read YA romcoms! If you want a cute sapphic romance I recommend it.
Good morning! I finally finished James S.A. Corey's Tiamat's Wrath and started the last Expanse novel (😢) Leviathan Wakes. Glad there's another novella after this one.
Nearly finished Jeff Vandermeer's wonderful Wonderbook (revised and expanded edition). Will revisit a lot, I think.
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(And I'm gonna say it again, read Mythago Wood!!)
I've got Heartwood and must get to that before too long, as I loved the Mythago series.
Listening to Written On The Dark by Guy Gavriel Kay and it has been as beautiful, thoughtful and elegantly written as ever. A master at work.
And, if anyone else fancies a book in a post-apocalyptic future with magic, laser drones, shapeshifters, and LGBTQIA+ rep and romance, then you can get it on KU, ebook, print, or Audible audiobook.
https://www.linktr.ee/bryerson
Also continuing to reread Target novelisations for a talk I’m doing in July. And some non-fic.
"The Emperor's Edge"
"Kimmy"
Just finished the latest Dorley Hall chapter...
Also on the docket is Adrian Tchaikovsky’s House of Open Wounds, hot on my reread of the City of last Chances
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217589453-a-forgery-of-fate
I've just started Reality and Dreams by Muriel Spark after reading a review of the latest biography that's just out.
I mainly enjoyed it - more than I expected, to be honest - but I feel that it didn't quite stick the landing.
(Gwendoline Christie to play Vigga)
In the eyes: Black Hearts by Doug Johnstone
In the ears: The Ragpicker King by Cassandra Clare
Work was very stressful last week so I'm trying a sci-fi heist novel, The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei
Also reading I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman because I kept seeing it on tiktok, and I'm not sure how I feel about it
🐀 The Red Wolf Conspiracy - Robert VS Redick
👄 The Centre - Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi
I'm currently reading Extremophile by Ian Green. Not that far in yet but very much enjoying the energy and vibes so far.
Non-fiction: Inventing the Renaissance by Ada Palmer, which is delightful and thought provoking.
I'm on holiday this week though so also have Robert Harris' 'V2' with me to finish (started 6 months ago and then kind of stalled) and Ben Aaronovitch's 'What Abigail did that Summer'
I do love how the protagonists of these books talk about how they feel. Such great books for teenagers to have available, especially, but not only, queer ones.
I am actually ENJOYING MYSELF hugely
I've just started The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson and I'm really enjoying it so far.
I am reading – and thoroughly enjoying – 'Love and Need: the Life of Robert Frost's Poetry,' a new analysis of Frost's poetry by Adam Plunkett. This excellent article by Maggie Doherty sold me on it:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/03/03/love-and-need-the-life-of-robert-frosts-poetry-adam-plunkett-book-review
#RobinHobb
Just started Martha Wells' The Witch King
Also, I’d give Mythago Wood a punt, if you have time. It’s a classic for a reason.
It's rather good.
Also audiobook'ing Threads of Life (nonfic about embroidery) while playing a video game haha, not paying 100% attention
Histories of textiles are my niche comfort genre 🙂 Here's a few more I enjoyed:
https://bsky.app/profile/schenior.bsky.social/post/3ll747jh7oc25
Those Who Dwell in Darkness. It really sinks its teeth in you…
The sheer level of imagination on display is fantastic. The characters are clear & relatable. And I've not come across a book with such a laser focused lyricism running through it.
Loved it.
I'll add it to the teetering fiction to read list.
https://www.npr.org/2014/01/01/258384937/crossroads-and-coins-naomi-mitchisons-travel-light
Follow them for more great author events.
Luna Station Quarterly June 2024
The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison
Mother Rebel Misfit Sleuth by Lisa Nicholas
The Four Sisters Overlooking The Sea by Naomi Kritzer for Hugos
Also I have a hardcover of Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros from the library but my body has forgotten the muscle memory for reading something that huge! (I'm nearly always ebooks these days)
Wish me luck
Nearly finished Jeff Vandermeer's wonderful Wonderbook (revised and expanded edition). Will revisit a lot, I think.
💙📚🪐
I'm reading The Incandescent by Emily Tesh. Not sure what I think of it yet.