I appreciate the 1 hour episodes that @dodoborne.com does. I get it that I can break up longer episodes into chunks, but I like the psychological feeling of a complete episode being wrapped up in an hour or less.

Final book (on audiobook) of July is To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip Jose Farmer. Very little good to say about this one. To think it won a Hugo over a book like The Lathe of Heaven is wild. I can't imagine circling back to more of his books unless they are a radical departure from this one.

From Farmer's 'To Your Scattered Bodies Go': "I wonder where those who are killed in the afterlife go? If we live long enough we might find out." How does that make any sense at all?

Wrapped up Lois McMaster Bujold's Paladin of Souls last night on audiobook. She is so great. Even though fantasy is not my preference, the characters in the story were different enough from the usual tales that I quite enjoyed it. Even her fantasy characters seem totally real to me. Well done.

Time of the Great Freeze by Robert Silverberg. A YA post ice-age book with a bunch of interchangeable dudes who are forced out of their underground New York city and decide to sled across the ocean to London. The plot is as weak as it sounds and the characters are entirely forgettable.

A little mini book haul today to beef up my Post-apocalyptic and disaster collection. A Strugatsky chaser as well.

Wrapped up Speaker for the Dead on audiobook. Kind of an odd narration with a mix of speakers and weird music that cuts in at times. The book itself was enjoyable enough. Perhaps a little blunt in its messaging but I appreciated what was being told.

Another Lois McMaster Bujold completed. Falling Free is set before the usual books in the Vorkosigan series but is still a fun romp with some crunchy engineering bits for those who like it. Little guys take on the big guys type story. Enjoyed it.

As per my kids' request, finally wrapped up the Harry Potter series. Not bad, not great. Won't be watching the movies. Onto Speaker for the Dead on audiobook next, and Falling Free by Bujold in print.

Wrapped up M John Harrison's 'The End of Everything'. Very readable, even with its surreal nature. It reminded me a little bit of Delaney's Dhalgren, but a vastly easier and more enjoyable book to read. I do enjoy his writing, even if its not the straightforward type narrative book that I choose.

Book blurbs are weird. On the back of M John Harrison's 'The End of Everything' New Statesman says 'M John Harrison is the closest thing we have to a present-day Wyndham or Ballard.' Ballard maybe but the comparison to Wyndham is bizarre to me.

Fun night of some Blood on the Clocktower. Gotta say, it's enjoyable but makes me feel a little bit old and slow!

Reading M John Harrison's 'The End of Everything' and so far quite enjoying it. However, I have a really important question. Why are there like a dozen blank pages at the back of the book? Is this some new publishing thing I am unaware of?

I managed to wrap up Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer today as well. I gave it as a gift to a graduating family member and wanted to read through a good chunk before doing so since I like to know what I am gifting. Beautiful, intelligent, challenging, wonderful book. Highly recommended.

Book club is tackling The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy this month. As I have read it multiple times, I am listening to the BBC radio show version this go round. First time and love it!

I have been on the hunt for a reasonably priced hardcopy first printing of The Dog Stars and it seems they do not exist. I don't imagine the movie is going to help this situation.

I must admit I really enjoy Lois McMaster Bujold's books so far. Barrayar is the second I have read and it was even better than Shards of Honor. Fairly straightforward but with characters to root for and enough drama and excitement to keep things moving nicely.

Just completed Angela Carter's Heroes and Villains. While more interested in the post-apocalyptic angle, the back of the book suggested it was a romance. Uh, what? It seemed like it totally tore down the idea of romantic relationships entirely. An interesting book, and well written, but also odd.

First audiobook of the month completed. Blake Crouch's Recursion, while containing some plot holes you can construct a building inside, and with a love story that was a bit too contrived for my tastes, was engaging, left me with some fun questions for our upcoming book club, and was a fun read.

Really struggled to wrap my head around Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury. Seems like one I would get a lot more out of if I read it for academic purposes rather than to enjoy as a reading experience. Time for something a little lighter now!

The mommas may want to tear off your face but the babies sure are cute!

Lunch time walk at the Riverlot.

Very interested in seeing the Clarke shortlist tomorrow I've only read 10 of the winners, but I typically get on quite well with what is chosen (the only exception being Perdido Street which was an audiobook thing and needs another try).

Satisfying or disturbing to watch? 🤓

Kicking the month off with The Sound and the Fury in the mornings and Blake Crouch's Recursion through the day on audiobook.

Pre-orders are now open through mythicroadspress.com for all three upcoming titles! Check them out and reserve your copies here: www.mythicroadspress.com/bookshop/pre... ✨🥳🤩

Mythic Roads Press

Mythic Roads Press is a fantasy, science fiction, and romance book publisher based in Edmonton, Alberta.

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The final read for May is 'All the Fiends of Hell' by Adam Nevill and it was a ride. Consumed it in about 2 sittings and thought it was great. Never read any of his horror before but this one appealed to my post-apocalyptic tastes.

Wrapped up Venemous Lumpsucker by @nedbeauman.bsky.social on audiobook today while doing yard work. Another Clarke award winner that I quite enjoyed. Both hilarious and dark and glad I spent time with it!

My monthly online book club veered WAY off the usual path by selecting 'How to Find a Nameless Fae' by AJ Lancaster, which will be my morning coffee read for the next little while. I typically do not enjoy "cozy" books (unless they are the cozy catastrophe style which is different).

Today's run will be accompanied by The Half Blood Prince. My (now adult) kids have wanted me to read/listen to the series for many years. I am certainly a bit burned out on it at this point, and the experience is impacted by the author in real life(as can often be the case). Will be glad to be done.