Hello

Hello & Welcome
ugh face

I’m currently rebuilding the website as the old one got totally messed up when i was playing around with things (no idea what happened).

So i thought that while it was a total clusterfuck mess of SQL, i would take the opportunity to give it a whole new life and everything.

So if you go clicking on things you might find that very strange things happen. Don’t moan, i know a lot of things are broken, i’m working on it, it takes time.

I’ve got tons of old posts and pages from three websites that i’m working through and will be gradually posting all the stuff i want to keep on here while fixing all the broken things as i go through, one post, one page, at a time.

On top of doing all that, i will, of course, be continuing to add more new content and my latest posts will always appear directly below.

Or, if you prefer, you can also follow me on Twitter and Pinterest where i put a link to all new posts.

Enjoy


How to Raise a Kraken in Your Bathtub — P. Djèlí Clark

Another great story from this master wonderful story teller.   A silly man decides to buy a kraken egg to hatch in a bathtub because he thinks it’ll make him rich: how foolish some people are.

You can read it for free at Uncanny Magazine.

If you would prefer to listen to the audio book then you can listen to it in the ‘Uncanny Magazine Podcast’.

Bye for now.

P. Djèlí Clark’s Page

#fantasy #pdjeliclark

For the Ages — Alastair Reynolds

For the Ages -- Alastair ReynoldsAvailable in Belladonna Nights and Other Stories and Solaris Rising 1.

A really good story.   Not too long, just long enough for Alastair to make his point about the universe.

Alastair has a good physicist moment in this when two characters are discussing about the expansion of the universe and what it will mean for future peoples of the universe: very interesting and well worth reading this story for alone.

Next up from Alastair will be Magic Bone Woman.

Bye for now.

Alastair’s Page

#scifi #alastairreynolds

The Old Man and the Martian Sea — Alastair Reynolds

The Old Man and the Martian Sea -- Alastair ReynoldsAvailable in the collection, Beyond the Aquila Rift.

Another of Alastair’s Mars stories.   This one is set in Mars’ future after a few goes at terraforming have happened before getting things right.

But what happened to all that old terraforming equipment?

I really thought this was a wonderful story, a lost stowaway girl meets an old man who takes her to see a Martian sea.

Next up in Alastair’s timeline is Ascension Day.

Bye for now.

Alastair’s Page

#scifi #alastairreynolds

Fortune’s Fool — Kathleen McClure

Fortune's Fool -- Kathleen McClureA super good story continuing Gideon Quinn’s adventures after all the shenanigans we all totally enjoyed in Soldier of Fortune.

I found the pacing of this quite different to Kathleen and her co-writer’s other books, which was not a bad thing at all, i rather liked it.   While the story mostly drives along in Kathleen’s usual fast paced style we are also left with the crew back at Doyle Street who have no idea what is going on with Gideon — and all the others who have gone missing — while getting the cafe ready to open and having a baby.   So it’s quite nice to get these little breathers between the fast paced scenes involving Gideon and co. to catch our reading breaths.

And not only do we have all our favourite characters back and in the thick of it, but we have a few new ones to meet and enjoy reading about, yes, even those nasty ne’er-do-wells.

All in all, once again, brilliant writing, great characters, and great story telling.   I just can’t wait for Kathleen to add the finishing touches to the next Fortune book, The Crew Who Came in From the Cold, which i will be diving into with absolute joy.

And i’ll say it again, like i say on all of books coming out of Outrageous Fiction, if you’re looking for some great action packed character driven story telling then look no further than their website for all your reading needs.   You shall be satisfied.

Kathleen’s Page

#steampunk #kathleenmcclure

The Longest Shard — Kathleen McClure

The Longest Shard -- Kathleen McClureIf you like really good steampunk with really good characters navigating a really good world then The Fortune Chronicles by Kathleen McClure will be right up your alley.

Every one of the Fortune books i’ve read so far has left me really glad i bought it and always leaves me eagerly awaiting more.   Kathleen is one of those writers who, once she’s got you started in a book, just ain’t gonna let you off the hook until the very last word.   It’s just non-stop, gritty, character driven stuff with great world building that will keep you up late reading when you should be getting some sleep.

The Longest Shard is a really well written, fast paced novella giving us the full tale of Gideon Quinn’s time in Morton Barrens up to the time he leaves at the start of Soldier of Fortune.   I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to have read it before Soldier of Fortune, so if you missed it and want some more Fortune and Gideon Quinn then jump straight into this as soon as finished Soldier of Fortune.

Seriously folks, if you like steampunk give Kathleen, Fortune and Gideon Quinn a chance: you won’t regret it.

Kathleen’s Page

#steampunk #kathleenmcclure



Currently

Fiction

Prelude to Foundation -- Isaac Asimov With the rise of the machines on the horizon . . .
 
. . .me thinks it’s a good time to re-read Asimov.

Fiction

Four Seasons in Japan -- Nick Bradley The Cat and The City was excellent, let’s hope this is too.

Nonfiction

Why Work? -- Collection Yeah, why?

Nonfiction

More Zen.