Author Archives: James - Page 5
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Ben Narnain [Munro #1]
I went up Ben Narnain with Alex and my brother on Sunday 29 August 2021.
How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems by Randall Munroe [Book Review]
How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems by Randall Munroe My rating: 5 of 5 stars How to explain how to: absurd scientific advice for common real-world problems is probably "don't try this at home!" How to is a follow on to What There's a fantastic set of well-researched out of the box suggestions for alternative solutions to things we've probably all done, wondered about, or will need to do sometime in our lives. How The science is very real, and plausible, and totally absurd. I laughed out loud a lot when reading How to. Another fab book from Randall Munroe, the genius behind xkcd. It's a perfect follow on to What I think my favourite set of advice was the chapter on moving house. It offered some advice on packing, and then on what you needed to…
Tales from the Folly by Ben Aaronovitch [Book Review]
Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection by Ben Aaronovitch My rating: 5 of 5 stars A good collection of short stories from the Rivers of London universe, half of which are not from Peter Grant's perspective. I read the whole collection over two days, quite rapid progress in the current climate! Each story is easy to read in a short sitting, and from there page turn onto the next. As a long-standing follower of the Peter Grant stories I loved the way these expanded the universe out into new spaces, or filled in gaps. Tales from the Folly I'd read a couple of these before on the web, or possibly tucked into another book. However they were just as enjoyable the second time round. Also most of the stories were new to me, even though…
The Half-Drowned King by Linnea Hartsuyker [Book Review]
The Half-Drowned King by Linnea Hartsuyker My rating: 5 of 5 stars It took me a very long time to read The Half-Drowned King, mostly because it's a long story, although it never felt that long when I was reading it. Based on a couple of sagas the Half-Drowned King starts the story of Ragnvald and his sister Svanhild that continue in two more volumes. The Half-Drowned King is historical fiction done well, rather than fantasy. The characters are credulous enough that there's an element of the latter there, with visions and a fight with a draugr. The Half-Drowned King Ragnvald is a descendant of a King, in a time where there were many Kings. His stepfather tries to have him murdered, and the story is a combination of how Ragnvald gets his inheritance and gets involved in the rise…
Bargain [Fiction] [Write Club]
Back at the end of January I wrote The Bargain for February's Write Club. In genre it's closest to urban fantasy, although it's set in a small central European village sometime in the early to mid-nineteenth century. The sort of place where traditions are still important, but where the outside world is still there. February's Write Club had a change in the weather as the theme. Bargain Tomas strode towards the Baron's house. He wore his best clothes, a dark green wool suit with yellow braid. He'd had it ready for the midsummer celebrations. The Baron's house was off the village green, near the inn. Before Tomas got there, the front door swung open. Rupert, the steward, beckoned him in. 'What's going on, Rupert?' 'His Lordship was insistent you come in the front.' 'Well best I come in then.' 'Let…