jdnicoll

jdnicoll, 10 hours ago to random

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association is pleased to announce that the 2024 Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award will be presented posthumously to Jennell Jaquays at the 59th Annual SFWA Nebula Awards® ceremony on June 8, 2024.

https://www.sfwa.org/2024/05/29/announcing-the-2024-kate-wilhelm-solstice-award-recipient/

jdnicoll, 1 day ago to random

Five Works of SF Inspired by Pseudoscience

Some good (or at least interesting) SF has been based on truly bonkers pseudoscience.

https://reactormag.com/five-works-of-sf-inspired-by-pseudoscience/
#ReacTor

jdnicoll, 1 day ago to random

Manshape by John Brunner

Why would a colony world of nihilistic jerks refuse the chance to be re-integrated with Earth society?

https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/hello-again
#booktodon #ShockwaveReader

jdnicoll, 3 days ago to random

Alchemy and Academe edited by Anne McCaffrey

A anthology of original stories concerning themselves with transmutations, mental and elemental, alchemical and academic. Also, as close to England Swings SF as McCaffrey would ever produce.

https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/strange-alchemy
#Booktodon #BecauseMyTearsAreDeliciousToYou

jdnicoll, 6 days ago to random

You Sexy Thing (Disco Space Opera, volume 1) by Cat Rambo

A start-up restaurant's staff unexpectedly finds themselves eyeball deep in space pirates and not the bodacious variety.

https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/a-nourishing-thing
#booktodon

jdnicoll, 7 days ago to random

A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon

Jobless, with debts she cannot pay, a suicidal woman is astonished when she is informed she is a Magical Girl destined to save the world... if the 29-year-old can work out how to use her powers.

https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/whos-that-girl
#booktodon

jdnicoll, 9 days ago to random

Looking for Classic SF by Women? Here Are Five Places to Start…

These collections and anthologies are invaluable resources, featuring often hard-to-find stories from the first half of the 20th century.

https://reactormag.com/looking-for-classic-sf-by-women-here-are-five-places-to-start/

#reactor

jdnicoll, 10 days ago to random

The Chrysalids by John Wyndham

Post-apocalyptic coming-of-age in theocratic Labrador.

https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/re-birth
#Booktodon #BecauseMyTearsAreDeliciousToYou

jdnicoll, 12 days ago to random

Unvaccinated child dies of easily preventable, highly contagious disease.

https://www.cp24.com/news/ontario-sees-first-measles-death-in-more-than-a-decade-after-young-child-dies-1.6890989

jdnicoll, 13 days ago to random

Ranking Science Fiction’s Most Dangerous Awards

A scientific survey of the relative heft, pointiness, and durability of SFF's most sought-after trophies.

https://reactormag.com/ranking-science-fictions-most-dangerous-awards/
#ReacTor

jdnicoll, 15 days ago to random

334 by Thomas M. Disch

An examination of one New York community in the unimaginably distant year of TWO! THOUSAND! TWENTY-FIVE!

https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/so-hard-to-find
#booktodon

jdnicoll, 17 days ago to random

Going to run an intro RuneQuest adventure out of the Starter Box. Promised myself not to go into the usual paralyzing Glorantha lore spiral. Just using the box.

Well, and maybe the (really badly packaged) GM pack. And the Bestiary. Weapons & Equipment. But that's it.

jdnicoll, 17 days ago to random

A Pride of Monsters by James H. Schmitz

Five answers to "What's eating you?"

https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/scratching-through-the-wall
#booktodon #BecauseMyTearsAreDeliciousToYou

jdnicoll, 20 days ago to random

Five SF Novels About Rediscovering Ancient Tech

Forget planned obsolescence—the creators of these enduring technological marvels built them to last (for better or worse).

https://reactormag.com/five-sf-novels-about-rediscovering-ancient-tech/
#ReacTor

jdnicoll, 21 days ago to random

The Apothecary Diaries, volume 10 by Natsu Hyuuga (Translated by Kevin Steinbach)

In which the consequences of short-sighted political machinations come back to haunt the Empire of Li.
#booktodon

https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/when-theyre-starving

jdnicoll, 22 days ago to random

In the Red Lord’s Reach (Tales of Alaric the Minstrel, volume 2) by Phyllis Eisenstein

The second and thus far final fix-up of Alaric the Minstrel stories.

https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/walk-of-life
#booktodon

jdnicoll, 23 days ago to random

Another week, another round of Nebula finalists. This set is from the 1982 Nebula Awards.

✓ for read, * for intend to read, ! for never heard of it, and # for "what the fuck, SFWA voters?" Or whatever amuses you.

#nebula

jdnicoll, 24 days ago to random

The Devil’s Game by Poul Anderson

Desperate strangers are enticed into a competition to win ... one! ... Million! ... DOLLARS! (tax-free)

https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/each-perfect-day
#booktodon #BecauseMyTearsAreDeliciousToYou

jdnicoll, 26 days ago to random

The Princess of Thornwood Drive by Khalia Moreau

Laine's world is one of mundane debts and expenses. Her sister Alyssa's is one of magical menace. Yet the two worlds are connected, despite the seemingly unbridgeable gap.

https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/in-dreams
#booktodon

jdnicoll, 27 days ago to random

A blast from the past for Traveller players (or at least the Trillion Credit Squadron subset):

Doug Lenat's source code for AM and EURISKO (+Traveller?) found in public archives. Lenat used Eurisko to win 2 TCS tournaments. Organizers considered ending the contest.

https://white-flame.com/am-eurisko.html

jdnicoll, 27 days ago to random

The Siege of Burning Grass by Premee Mohamed

A pacifist is drafted by his bellicose empire to deliver the final blow to a powerful enemy who proved immune to every previous final blow.

https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/the-war-prayer
#booktodon