Out in space, coast to coast
May. 7th, 2026 11:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sovayLeaving the jewelry store this afternoon with a couple of options for repairing the clasp on my necklace which has finally broken down beyond my abilities with needle-nose pliers, I got back into the car just in time to catch an interview with a geophysicist that not only tipped me off to the 1859 Carrington Event which sounds like the science fiction of its day with its spark-throwing wireless sets and tropically lapped auroras and telegraphers communicating through atmospheric influence alone, it introduced me to the Pangaean block of the Piedmont Resistor which seems to lie beneath most of the Eastern Seaboard, just one more piece of deep—two hundred million years down to the mantle—strangeness underfoot. I may never have heard of the United States Magnetotelluric Array and I understand its utility to the fragile electrical grids we have made to stand between the crochets of solar flares and the conductivity of the earth, but in a country that preserved any care for knowledge its map of melted, sutured, fractured time would be its own payoff. I love how much is banked and shifting beneath the surfaces we interact with, from earth and sea to the structures of the universe. I have missed so many meteor showers this year.
Guardian Slo-Mo Rewatch: Round Four sign-ups!
May. 8th, 2026 05:05 pmchina_shop posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
sid_guardian
Hello, Guardian Rewatchers! Thanks so much to everyone who's been part of the discussion, or has been reading along. ♥
Come join us for round 4 of the Guardian Slo-Mo Rewatch. We're watching half an episode a week (about twenty minutes) so we can talk and squee about our beloved 镇魂 | Guardian drama. With the fourth batch of episodes, we have nosebleeds and aggressive nose-wiping, Zhao family backstory, and Chu Shuzhi in a singlet! We also get trapped in an Absolute Zero laboratory, and the SID celebrates the Reunion Festival!
For those who remember our last rewatch, this time we're aiming for a lighter touch. Posts are on the minimalist side - a brief summary, one quote, one screencap, maybe one noteworthy detail and some discussion-starter questions. Minimalist comments are more than welcome, too!
We're looking forward to some fun discussions as we revisit Haixing, Dixing, and the SID – and of course you can always drop in on any of the previous discussions at any time.
Fans of the novel, the drama, or both are very welcome! You don't have to keep up with the rewatch – it's absolutely fine to dip in and out. We want to hear what you think! Those of us who participated in the Readalong or are otherwise familiar with the novel are likely to compare and contrast the two canons, but it's 100% okay to focus purely on the drama.
Please consider hosting a post or two! Comment with a date from the schedule below! Posts should ideally be made sometime on the Friday or Saturday, in any time zone.
Schedule for round 3
Weekend of 15 May - no new post; catch-up time!
Weekend of 22 May - no new post; explore the 520 Day collection time!
Weekend of 29 May - episode 16 up to 23:53
Weekend of 5 June - episode 16 from 23:53
Weekend of 12 June - episode 17 up to 22:31
Weekend of 19 June - episode 17 from 22:31
Weekend of 26 June - episode 18 up to 23:38
Weekend of 3 July - episode 18 from 23:38
Weekend of 10 July - episode 19 up to 20:18
Weekend of 17 July - episode 19 from 20:18
Weekend of 24 July - episode 20 up to 22:26
Weekend of 31 July - episode 20 from 22:26
Wednesday Reading Meme for May 7 2026 which is a Thursday
May. 7th, 2026 10:52 pmkitewithfishI am getting this done ! I am completing the task!
What I Read
The Other Bennet Sister – Janice Hadlow – What an excellent book! Really well constructed story and deeply enjoyable arc. I think the romance was nicely done, but the center of the book was reflection – Mary the least loved Bennet sister gets to really take her time and observe the people in her life and know them deeply. It felt slightly self-indulgent (Mary is indeed going to the garden to eat worms) and yet I am here as the self and I am being indulged.
The Ancient Magus’ Bride Vols 1, 2, 3 – Kore Yamazaki – A fun read! Interesting world building and a slow burn romance between Chise and Elias Ainswroth, a horse/deer-skulled maybe human magus who bought her (not from One Direction!) in order to save her life and also marry her, maybe, at some point? It’s also deeply indulgent to the exact kind of big symbolic magic that I love, and gives a lot of time to the slow unfolding of their connection and what Chise’s magical powers will do. The story with the cats has been my favorite so far, but the Succubus in love with the random farmer who can’t see her at all is also a sweet tragedy. Really enjoying it.
I will say, I feel some conflict about one of the villains (so far) being revealed as the folkloric character of The Wandering Jew. Particularly because he’s a villain, and secondarily because I have no concept of how this character is understood by the author or by a Japanese audience, who are largely not dealing with the kind of hegemonic pressures to be Christian that shaped the folklore around that character. I weirdly adored the way that character trope was used in A Canticle for Leibowitz, because he was so very much Just Some Guy, and in particular, still identifiably, cantankerously Jewish in the face of being immortal, in a world where we only otherwise see Christians. So. I'm putting in a pin in that character for now.
AMB is interesting to read in context of My Happy Marriage, which also features a young woman with hidden magical powers escaping an uncaring/abusive family to a Perfectly Arranged Marriage. In the context of what Spouse is reading, this led to a discussion about the nature of isekai (a favorite Spousal genre) and the idea of different kinds of escape. Romance the genre often has an element of escapism baked in, and it’s sort of odd to think that some people in these novels are getting a Person to whisk them away to another magical world where they are treasured and important as a bride, and other people are getting hit by a bus.
What I’m Reading
The Everlasting by Alix E Harrow – A romantic and Romantic story. I love Sir Una Everlasting and I love Owen Mallory and the loving depiction of his flaws and how he becomes a useful idiot to a certain kind of patriotism that he also clearly sees thru and yet and yet and yet.
Platform Decay – Martha Wells – New Murderbot! No spoilers! I’m having a good and also bad time!
What I’ll Read Next
SciFi/Fantasy Book Club
Tomb of Dragons Katherine Addison - reread
Necromancy Book Club
The Everlasting Alix E. Harrow
The Isle in the Silver Sea Tasha Suri
Platform Decay (murderbot 8) Martha Wells
Ancillary Justice Ann Leckie
Hugo nominations!
Novels
A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett (Del Rey; Hodderscape) - read, it was great
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (William Morrow; Gollancz) - know the author, know nothing about this
Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Tor UK; Orbit US) - haven't read this, looking forward to it
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow (Tor US; Tor UK) - already on the to-read list
The Incandescent by Emily Tesh (Tor US; Orbit UK) - read, it was great (tho a bit obvious)
The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson (Orbit US; Hodderscape)- never even heard of this one
Novellas
Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz (Tordotcom)
Cinder House by Freya Marske (Tordotcom; Tor UK) - read it, very interesting
Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite (Tordotcom)
The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar (Tordotcom; Arcadia UK)
The Summer War by Naomi Novik (Del Rey US; Del Rey UK)
What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher (Nightfire; Titan UK) -read it, solid, not a standalone without the first two novellas
The other categories also merit attention but the funny thing is just the movies - I have already seen all of them except Mickey 17.
What I Read
The Other Bennet Sister – Janice Hadlow – What an excellent book! Really well constructed story and deeply enjoyable arc. I think the romance was nicely done, but the center of the book was reflection – Mary the least loved Bennet sister gets to really take her time and observe the people in her life and know them deeply. It felt slightly self-indulgent (Mary is indeed going to the garden to eat worms) and yet I am here as the self and I am being indulged.
The Ancient Magus’ Bride Vols 1, 2, 3 – Kore Yamazaki – A fun read! Interesting world building and a slow burn romance between Chise and Elias Ainswroth, a horse/deer-skulled maybe human magus who bought her (not from One Direction!) in order to save her life and also marry her, maybe, at some point? It’s also deeply indulgent to the exact kind of big symbolic magic that I love, and gives a lot of time to the slow unfolding of their connection and what Chise’s magical powers will do. The story with the cats has been my favorite so far, but the Succubus in love with the random farmer who can’t see her at all is also a sweet tragedy. Really enjoying it.
I will say, I feel some conflict about one of the villains (so far) being revealed as the folkloric character of The Wandering Jew. Particularly because he’s a villain, and secondarily because I have no concept of how this character is understood by the author or by a Japanese audience, who are largely not dealing with the kind of hegemonic pressures to be Christian that shaped the folklore around that character. I weirdly adored the way that character trope was used in A Canticle for Leibowitz, because he was so very much Just Some Guy, and in particular, still identifiably, cantankerously Jewish in the face of being immortal, in a world where we only otherwise see Christians. So. I'm putting in a pin in that character for now.
AMB is interesting to read in context of My Happy Marriage, which also features a young woman with hidden magical powers escaping an uncaring/abusive family to a Perfectly Arranged Marriage. In the context of what Spouse is reading, this led to a discussion about the nature of isekai (a favorite Spousal genre) and the idea of different kinds of escape. Romance the genre often has an element of escapism baked in, and it’s sort of odd to think that some people in these novels are getting a Person to whisk them away to another magical world where they are treasured and important as a bride, and other people are getting hit by a bus.
What I’m Reading
The Everlasting by Alix E Harrow – A romantic and Romantic story. I love Sir Una Everlasting and I love Owen Mallory and the loving depiction of his flaws and how he becomes a useful idiot to a certain kind of patriotism that he also clearly sees thru and yet and yet and yet.
Platform Decay – Martha Wells – New Murderbot! No spoilers! I’m having a good and also bad time!
What I’ll Read Next
SciFi/Fantasy Book Club
Tomb of Dragons Katherine Addison - reread
Necromancy Book Club
The Everlasting Alix E. Harrow
The Isle in the Silver Sea Tasha Suri
Platform Decay (murderbot 8) Martha Wells
Ancillary Justice Ann Leckie
Hugo nominations!
Novels
A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett (Del Rey; Hodderscape) - read, it was great
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (William Morrow; Gollancz) - know the author, know nothing about this
Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Tor UK; Orbit US) - haven't read this, looking forward to it
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow (Tor US; Tor UK) - already on the to-read list
The Incandescent by Emily Tesh (Tor US; Orbit UK) - read, it was great (tho a bit obvious)
The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson (Orbit US; Hodderscape)- never even heard of this one
Novellas
Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz (Tordotcom)
Cinder House by Freya Marske (Tordotcom; Tor UK) - read it, very interesting
Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite (Tordotcom)
The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar (Tordotcom; Arcadia UK)
The Summer War by Naomi Novik (Del Rey US; Del Rey UK)
What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher (Nightfire; Titan UK) -read it, solid, not a standalone without the first two novellas
The other categories also merit attention but the funny thing is just the movies - I have already seen all of them except Mickey 17.
polyamships' 3 weeks 4 dreamwidth fanart rec post
May. 7th, 2026 10:25 pmmaevedarcy posting in recthethingpolyamships is participating in 3weeks4dreamwidth and today's post is all about reccing art (you can see that post here)This is my own post answering that call for recs.
Fandoms included in my post:
Teen Wolf
Arcane
The bastard son and the devil himself
All for the game
Sense8
Proof of life
May. 7th, 2026 06:49 pmazurelunaticnorabombay is visiting! We hung out yesterday afternoon and had dinner. Additional dinner plans for tonight.Dotted Cloud Sunset
May. 7th, 2026 08:37 pmyourlibrarian posting in common_nature
A recent sunset seemed to be highlighting the dotted clouds in the area, which made the sky look more patterned than usual.
( Read more... )
Reading Wednesday 2: Thursday Boogaloo
May. 7th, 2026 08:26 pmtroisoiseauxSince my last update in War and Peace (yesterday), I'm back to The Great Comet of 1812 territory with the scene that's the source for "No One Else"— interestingly, it's Natasha's song in the musical but Andrei's experience in the book, after seeing Natasha for the first time while visiting the Rostovs on business and feeling the first stirrings that life might be worth actually living again, post-Austerlitz and post-Lise: First time I heard your voice / Moonlight burst into the room vs.
(On the other hand, the lyric I feel like putting my arms around my knees / and squeezing tight as possible / And flying away is an almost verbatim quote from Natasha, and the differences might only be in translation.)
I also forgot to mention that I've turned back to China Miéville's Three Moments of an Explosion, a collection of short stories that mostly take either a frog-in-boiling-water approach—you'll start out reading about a couple on vacation, or a therapist who's kind of unhealthily overinvested in one of her patients but in a normal way, and then halfway through it slips into folk horror, or a world where therapists are also assassins ("Sometimes the externalized trauma-vectors in dysfunctional interpersonal codependent psychodynamics are powerful enough that more robust therapeutic intervention is necessary"); I very nearly laughed out loud on the metro at the latter twist— or a peeling-the-onion one, where it starts out in a world that is overtly not our own and the parameters reveal themselves, slowly, as you keep reading. ( ... ) I'm a little over halfway through, although I did end up skipping one story after very quickly realizing that it was not a flavor of horror I had the stomach to read.
As soon as he opened the shutters the moonlight, as if it had long been watching for this, burst into the room. He opened the casement. The night was fresh, bright, and very still. . . .
His room was on the first floor. Those in the rooms above were also awake. He heard female voices overhead.
"Just once more," said a girlish voice above him which Prince Andrei recognized at once.
(On the other hand, the lyric I feel like putting my arms around my knees / and squeezing tight as possible / And flying away is an almost verbatim quote from Natasha, and the differences might only be in translation.)
I also forgot to mention that I've turned back to China Miéville's Three Moments of an Explosion, a collection of short stories that mostly take either a frog-in-boiling-water approach—you'll start out reading about a couple on vacation, or a therapist who's kind of unhealthily overinvested in one of her patients but in a normal way, and then halfway through it slips into folk horror, or a world where therapists are also assassins ("Sometimes the externalized trauma-vectors in dysfunctional interpersonal codependent psychodynamics are powerful enough that more robust therapeutic intervention is necessary"); I very nearly laughed out loud on the metro at the latter twist— or a peeling-the-onion one, where it starts out in a world that is overtly not our own and the parameters reveal themselves, slowly, as you keep reading. ( ... ) I'm a little over halfway through, although I did end up skipping one story after very quickly realizing that it was not a flavor of horror I had the stomach to read.
quick trigger deflected wide
May. 7th, 2026 08:20 pmmusesfoolWednesday reading on a Thursday:
what I've just finished
Saint Death's Daughter and Saint Death's Herald by CSE Cooney, which I enjoyed. The first book is A Lot in terms of both worldbuilding and plot, but it's a fun ride and Lanie Stones is a fantastic character - a necromancer who has an allergy to violence. Her growth as a necromancer is really well done, especially when set against the various members of her family she tells you about over the course of the books. The second book is a lot more straightforward in terms of plot, which I found less enthralling, but the character work and worldbuilding remain fascinating. I couldn't find any info about whether there's going to be a third book, but I would read it if there were!
what I'm reading now
The Last Contract of Isako, the new book by Fonda Lee. I'm only 20 pages in so I can't say much about it one way or another yet, but Isako is a middle-aged lady contractor (possibly also an assassin?) in a far future world. I imagine this is going to be a "one last job" kind of thing? I don't remember the blurb, but I found Lee's Green Bone trilogy* excellent so I have high hopes for this.
*Second world East Asian-style mob story where the made men have what basically amount to Force powers. Very violent and most of the characters are morally gray at best, but I enjoyed it a lot.
what I'm reading next
Dungeon Crawler Carl book 8: Parade of Horribles. Tuesday! I AM EXCITE!
*
what I've just finished
Saint Death's Daughter and Saint Death's Herald by CSE Cooney, which I enjoyed. The first book is A Lot in terms of both worldbuilding and plot, but it's a fun ride and Lanie Stones is a fantastic character - a necromancer who has an allergy to violence. Her growth as a necromancer is really well done, especially when set against the various members of her family she tells you about over the course of the books. The second book is a lot more straightforward in terms of plot, which I found less enthralling, but the character work and worldbuilding remain fascinating. I couldn't find any info about whether there's going to be a third book, but I would read it if there were!
what I'm reading now
The Last Contract of Isako, the new book by Fonda Lee. I'm only 20 pages in so I can't say much about it one way or another yet, but Isako is a middle-aged lady contractor (possibly also an assassin?) in a far future world. I imagine this is going to be a "one last job" kind of thing? I don't remember the blurb, but I found Lee's Green Bone trilogy* excellent so I have high hopes for this.
*Second world East Asian-style mob story where the made men have what basically amount to Force powers. Very violent and most of the characters are morally gray at best, but I enjoyed it a lot.
what I'm reading next
Dungeon Crawler Carl book 8: Parade of Horribles. Tuesday! I AM EXCITE!
*
L&O season 3: Episode 4
May. 7th, 2026 07:14 pmsabotabbyAfter having taken a wee break to watch some movies and the Great Pottery Throwdown (excellent telly btw), I am officially Back On My Bullshit.
Okay episode four of Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, entitled "Forget Me Not," was...good? That's two decent episodes in a row. Granted I'm grading on a curve because, and I can't say this often enough, this is low-budget trashy copaganda, but I actually enjoyed this one as a story. And this is the first time that neither I nor Reddit have been able to determine what this is based on, so it's possible that the writers actually made up a story.
Also this deals with care homes and dementia, so if this is a sensitive topic for you, maybe skip it.
( Forget Me Not )
Okay episode four of Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, entitled "Forget Me Not," was...good? That's two decent episodes in a row. Granted I'm grading on a curve because, and I can't say this often enough, this is low-budget trashy copaganda, but I actually enjoyed this one as a story. And this is the first time that neither I nor Reddit have been able to determine what this is based on, so it's possible that the writers actually made up a story.
Also this deals with care homes and dementia, so if this is a sensitive topic for you, maybe skip it.
( Forget Me Not )
What fascinating timing
May. 7th, 2026 05:38 pmjames_davis_nicollSeen in email:
(QWOP)
Free League Announces Legends of Stormbringer RPG Based On Dragonbane Mechanics
Elric returns to the tabletop in an officially licensed RPG powered by the award-winning Dragonbane system
Hello!
Today, we are thrilled to announce Legends of Stormbringer, a new officially licensed tabletop roleplaying game based on the iconic fantasy works of Michael Moorcock, planned for release in 2027.
Legends of Stormbringer will carry you into the Young Kingdoms – a world of dying empires, warring gods, and doomed heroes – and bring Moorcock’s richly imagined setting to the tabletop using rules mechanics based on our award-winning Dragonbane RPG. The game will feature the same accessible, dynamic, and deadly approach that has made Dragonbane one of our most celebrated titles.
Returning to the Young Kingdoms as setting writer is Richard Watts, whose work on previous Stormbringer RPGs helped define how generations of roleplayers have experienced Moorcock’s world.
“This has been in the works for several months and we’re thrilled to finally share the news,” said Tomas Härenstam, CEO of Free League Publishing. “We are honored to bring Elric and the Young Kingdoms to the tabletop once more.”
Further details – including crowdfunding plans and additional creative team announcements – will be revealed at a later date.
Seen online:
Goodman Games secures official Elric of Melniboné license for 2027 release
(QWOP)
Free League Announces Legends of Stormbringer RPG Based On Dragonbane Mechanics
Elric returns to the tabletop in an officially licensed RPG powered by the award-winning Dragonbane system
Hello!
Today, we are thrilled to announce Legends of Stormbringer, a new officially licensed tabletop roleplaying game based on the iconic fantasy works of Michael Moorcock, planned for release in 2027.
Legends of Stormbringer will carry you into the Young Kingdoms – a world of dying empires, warring gods, and doomed heroes – and bring Moorcock’s richly imagined setting to the tabletop using rules mechanics based on our award-winning Dragonbane RPG. The game will feature the same accessible, dynamic, and deadly approach that has made Dragonbane one of our most celebrated titles.
Returning to the Young Kingdoms as setting writer is Richard Watts, whose work on previous Stormbringer RPGs helped define how generations of roleplayers have experienced Moorcock’s world.
“This has been in the works for several months and we’re thrilled to finally share the news,” said Tomas Härenstam, CEO of Free League Publishing. “We are honored to bring Elric and the Young Kingdoms to the tabletop once more.”
Further details – including crowdfunding plans and additional creative team announcements – will be revealed at a later date.
Seen online:
Goodman Games secures official Elric of Melniboné license for 2027 release
Further Le Guin thoughts
May. 7th, 2026 06:02 pmoursinA further trail of thought more or less kicked off by this comment by flemmings on yesterday's post about Ursula as an anthropologist's daughter and the way that inflected her fiction -
- and then I went, hey, wasn't he part of that whole Franz Boas group that I read that book about at the beginning of 2020 (Charles King, The Reinvention of Humanity) and would she not have been aware of Significant Lady Anthropologists and their work (not just her own ma) -
Like, Margaret Mead and Ruth Benedict?
(Maybe the forthcoming biography will shine some light there???)
Or was that going on in some entirely different compartment to the requirements of fictional narrative? (thinking of my 1920s gals and the gulf between what they were up to with their affairs and abortions and propagating birth control and what the protags in their novels were permitted to get up to.)
Or was there a whole generational thing going on there, which I sort of touched on in commenting about Mitchison on this post, though I think I could make a larger case about that generation that had had to fight for a lot of rights that were already accepted as given by UKleG's day even if there were still major constraints.
(Seem to recollect that I did not think Julie Phillips in that book on writers and motherhood quite brought out the extent to which she was writing of a very specific generation/time-period. With some exceptions.)
Trailer: Star City
May. 7th, 2026 12:28 pmjo posting in tv_talkApple TV+'s For All Mankind spin-off, Star City, premieres on May 29.
From the blurb: Star City is a propulsive paranoid thriller that takes us back to the key moment in the alt-history retelling of the space race — when the Soviet Union became the first nation to put a man on the moon. But this time, we explore the story from behind the Iron Curtain, showing the lives of the cosmonauts, the engineers and the intelligence officers embedded among them in the Soviet space program, and the risks they all took to propel humankind forward.
From the blurb: Star City is a propulsive paranoid thriller that takes us back to the key moment in the alt-history retelling of the space race — when the Soviet Union became the first nation to put a man on the moon. But this time, we explore the story from behind the Iron Curtain, showing the lives of the cosmonauts, the engineers and the intelligence officers embedded among them in the Soviet space program, and the risks they all took to propel humankind forward.
a random MSW observation
May. 7th, 2026 12:25 pmsixbeforelunchOne of the great things about Murder She Wrote is all of the actors doing terrible Maine accents. It never fails to amuse.