The Dreamstone (Ealdwood, volume 1) by C J Cherryh
Jul. 1st, 2025 09:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
james_davis_nicoll
Only the brave, the arrogant, the naïve, or the desperate Men trespass in Arafel's Ealdwood. Into which category does the latest visitor fall?
The Dreamstone (Ealdwood, volume 1) by C J Cherryh
July 2025 Patreon Boost
Jul. 1st, 2025 08:58 amjames_davis_nicoll
Jealous of all the people who support Aurora-finalist James Nicoll Reviews? Want to join them? Here are your options:
July 2025 Patreon Boost
Bundle of Holding: Broken Tales
Jun. 30th, 2025 03:44 pmjames_davis_nicoll
The English-language rulebook and supplements for Broken Tales, the tabletop fantasy roleplaying game of upside-down fairy tales from Italian game publisher The World Anvil Publishing.
Bundle of Holding: Broken Tales
Clarke Award Finalists 2003
Jun. 30th, 2025 10:28 amjames_davis_nicoll2003: PM Blair embraces hilariously transparent lies to justify the invasion of Iraq, two million Britons reveal the power of public outrage when they protest the Iraq War to no effect, and the Coalition of the Billing (UK included) faces an occupation of Iraq that will no doubt be entirely without unforeseen challenges or consequences.
Bold for have read, italic for intend to read,, underline for never heard of it.
Which 2003 Clarke Award Finalists Have You Read?
The Separation by Christopher Priest
Kiln People by David Brin
Light by M. John Harrison
The Scar by China Miéville
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
Poll #33305 Clarke Award Finalists 2003
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 60
Which 2003 Clarke Award Finalists Have You Read?
View Answers
The Separation by Christopher Priest
10 (16.7%)
Kiln People by David Brin
18 (30.0%)
Light by M. John Harrison
16 (26.7%)
The Scar by China Miéville
26 (43.3%)
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
30 (50.0%)
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
32 (53.3%)
Bold for have read, italic for intend to read,, underline for never heard of it.
Which 2003 Clarke Award Finalists Have You Read?
The Separation by Christopher Priest
Kiln People by David Brin
Light by M. John Harrison
The Scar by China Miéville
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
June 2025 in review
Jun. 30th, 2025 09:06 amjames_davis_nicoll
I survived another dance season. Go me.
21 works reviewed. 11 by women (52%), 9 by men (43%),1 by non-binary authors (5%), 0 by authors whose gender is unknown (0%), and 8 by POC (38%).
More details at the other end of the link.
Survived another dance season
Jun. 29th, 2025 10:43 pmjames_davis_nicollFinal show: a 5.5 hour bhangra show that was only 6.5 hours long.
Among my final achievements this season, discovering as I hoisted the last of many garbage bags into the dumpster that the bag was leaking coffee. My last achievement was ducking to the men's to wash my hands, discovering someone had plugged the sinks and turned on the taps, and stopping the flood in time.
Among my final achievements this season, discovering as I hoisted the last of many garbage bags into the dumpster that the bag was leaking coffee. My last achievement was ducking to the men's to wash my hands, discovering someone had plugged the sinks and turned on the taps, and stopping the flood in time.
To Walk The Night by William Sloane
Jun. 29th, 2025 09:03 amjames_davis_nicoll
Jerry's romance with the brilliant, beautiful, eccentric Selena is book-ended with death: first, Selena's husband's, then Jerry's.
To Walk The Night by William Sloane
Books Received, June 21 — June 27
Jun. 28th, 2025 10:14 amjames_davis_nicoll
Three books new to me, all fantasy (Although the Stross is an edge case), and only one is clearly part of a series.
Books Received, June 21 — June 27
Poll #33298 Books Received, June 21 — June 27
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 57
Which of these look interesting?
View Answers
Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow (February 2026)
18 (31.6%)
The Regicide Report by Charles Stross (January 2026)
35 (61.4%)
The Beasts We Raise by D. L. Taylor (March 2026)
5 (8.8%)
Some other option (see comments)
3 (5.3%)
Cats!
36 (63.2%)
Vanya and the Wild Hunt (Vanya, volume 1) by Sangu Mandanna
Jun. 27th, 2025 10:11 amjames_davis_nicoll
A schoolgirl abandons the UK's post-Brexit educational system for the comparative safety and comfort of a magical school designed to turn out magical soldiers in the war on eldritch horrors.
Vanya and the Wild Hunt (Vanya, volume 1) by Sangu Mandanna
podcast friday
Jun. 27th, 2025 07:07 amsabotabby Hmm, let's see. I really liked Conspirituality's "Dems Ask: What Is a Man?" episode. In general they've been doing a lot of coverage of Masculinity Crisis stuff lately and this episode, which focuses on quite pathetic attempts from the less-right wing of the American Party to re-capture the young male vote, via...studies and focus groups.
Well, fuck.
You can look to the wonderful example of New York to see a good counter-example of how to do it right, though this episode dropped before Zohran Mamdani's inspiring victory. If I were a more conspiratorial thinker, I'd say that the less-right wing of the American Party loses on purpose, and you need look no farther than their attempts to sabotage Mamdani's campaign for evidence. At any rate, the analysis in this episode lines up with what actually happened—we don't need a Joe Rogan of the left, we need people who can speak to frustrations and channel popular anger, not just for young men but for all genders.
Well, fuck.
You can look to the wonderful example of New York to see a good counter-example of how to do it right, though this episode dropped before Zohran Mamdani's inspiring victory. If I were a more conspiratorial thinker, I'd say that the less-right wing of the American Party loses on purpose, and you need look no farther than their attempts to sabotage Mamdani's campaign for evidence. At any rate, the analysis in this episode lines up with what actually happened—we don't need a Joe Rogan of the left, we need people who can speak to frustrations and channel popular anger, not just for young men but for all genders.
Add more Newtons
Jun. 26th, 2025 08:25 pmmetawidgetI was having bike seat issues lately, and took it in to get it looked at. The mechanic diagnosed it as needing more Newtons and cranked the relevant bolt hard with a longer Allen wrench than I possess. I hope that's it; if it doesn't do the trick he says it's a head-scratcher.
I did some keychain triage -- my keys had become an interconnected poly-ring affair and many people said they could hear me coming by my keys. I got it down to one generous ring; we'll see if I'm any stealthier.
I've put up a bunch of pictures and certificates, and got a portable AC to help mitigate the heatwave. Then The Ministry for the Future came in at the library. Started reading it and felt distinctly uncomfortable. Elizabeth has been putting books in boxes for me at the old place; I think she wants to claim it as much as I want to get settled here. I'm going to enlist my sister's help for a big push to get things (including all those books) where they need to be. On Canada Day, because we're both lifelong Québec residents.
I did some keychain triage -- my keys had become an interconnected poly-ring affair and many people said they could hear me coming by my keys. I got it down to one generous ring; we'll see if I'm any stealthier.
I've put up a bunch of pictures and certificates, and got a portable AC to help mitigate the heatwave. Then The Ministry for the Future came in at the library. Started reading it and felt distinctly uncomfortable. Elizabeth has been putting books in boxes for me at the old place; I think she wants to claim it as much as I want to get settled here. I'm going to enlist my sister's help for a big push to get things (including all those books) where they need to be. On Canada Day, because we're both lifelong Québec residents.
Five SFF Stories About Making Amends
Jun. 26th, 2025 10:20 amjames_davis_nicoll
People adopt very different strategies when it comes to making up for mistakes.
Five SFF Stories About Making Amends
Golem100 by Alfred Bester
Jun. 26th, 2025 08:50 amjames_davis_nicoll
What could possibly go wrong with a little harmless Satanism between friends?
Golem100 by Alfred Bester
Bundle of Holding: His Majesty the Worm
Jun. 25th, 2025 03:43 pmjames_davis_nicoll
His Majesty the Worm, a megadungeon-crawling fantasy roleplaying game from Josh McCrowell at Rise Up Comus.
Bundle of Holding: His Majesty the Worm