Lynne M. Thomas's Blog, page 13
May 17, 2017
Verity Episode 137 – Team of Oxygen
New Verity!
A proper space episode! Join Erika, Liz, and Lynne as we discuss non-zombies, evil capitalism, disability, and racism. Doctor Who was pulling no punches this week! What did you think of this ep? Let us know in the comments!
^E
Also covered:
Liz recommends King Charles III , starring Doctor Who alum Tim Pigott-Smith!
Lynne enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 , starring Doctor Who alum Karen Gillan!
Erika apologizes for being totally wrong about the amazing make-up in “Knock Knock”–it wasn’t CGI at all!
Bonus link:
The Incomparable covers Luna: New Moon
Download or listen now (runtime 1:05:50)
May 10, 2017
Episode 136 – Knock Knock, Who’s Here.
NEW VERITY! NEW EPISODE!
A spooky house, an unreachable tower, a creepy landlord, and a bunch of young folks moving in together. Join Deb, Erika, and Liz as we discuss what these ingredients add up to. Was it a delightfully scary tale or something less than that? Let us know what you think in the comments!
^E
Also covered:
Liz
is thrilled to have Doctor Who back regularly!
watched “The Face of Evil”, which is fine!
Erika
live-tweeted Peter Capaldi’s Q&A at Calgary Expo!
appeared (with Liz!) on the TeeVee Podcast to talk about “Thin Ice”!
got to watch new Doctor Who with her mom!
Deb is delighted by Doctor Who rap battles!
Bonus links:
P-Cap at the Science March
Reality Bomb live from New York
Foolproof
Agatha Christie’s Poirot
Liz “reviews” series 10 eps
Peter Pan Goes Wrong
The “Knock Knock” house on Airbnb
Download or listen…
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May 9, 2017
Book review: A Taste of Honey by Kai Ashante Wilson
A Taste of Honey by Kai Ashante Wilson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Excellent novella. Stands alone quite well–I had not read the first one yet, but this story was totally understandable as it is. A kind of sweet, thoughtful, meditation on paths-not-taken, particularly in relation to the choices that will make us happy vs. the choices we feel we must make based on socialization.
This is an unabashedly queer story, in the best possible way. Beautifully written, strong characterization, and really interesting worldbuilding. Recommended.
May 8, 2017
(P)Review: Space Unicorn Tea Blends by Adagio
[note: I was compensated for this review with an Adagio teas gift certificate]
I’m a happy Adagio Teas customer–my taste trends towards “nice versions of loose black teas” for me (I particularly love their Assam Harmony) and “fruit flavored black teas” (Blackberry and Pumpkin Spice) for Michael.
Over a month ago, Ashley from Adagio Teas contacted me with the offer of a gift certificate code in exchange for a review on my blog. She pointed out their fandom collections (of which I was actually aware, having been gifted a set or two).
So, first and foremost, I refilled a couple of our staple teas we had run out of: Pumpkin Spice and English Breakfast. They included a sample of Rooibos Vanilla Chai, which I’m looking forward to trying.
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I don’t think Ashley was aware that one of my tasks this month was to develop tea blends for our Uncanny Magazine Year Three Kickstarter Backers… but her timing was great.
So, I polled the Uncanny staff, and we came up with some possibilities, and I’m here to reveal and preview our Space Unicorn blends, and tell you what they taste like. For our “Space Unicorn Sips” backers, we will have two choices.
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Space Unicorn “Light”: Tart and light, as a space unicorn should be. White snowbud, lemon soleil, summer rose, and a hint of rosehips. This is a bit more on the floral side, which is not usually my initial tea-based impulse, but I still really liked it. On opening, it smelled kind of like potpourri, to be honest. However, BREWED, it is a lovely, more muted floral tea that screams “garden party.” Less caffeine than in a hard-core black tea, lighter red color. This is a relaxing tea. Goes well with leftover baklava.
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Space Unicorn “Dark”: Assam harmony, chocolate chai, and a hint of vanilla for a Space Unicorn Pick Me Up. This is a little sweet and spicy, highly caffeinated, to get you ready for Space Unicorn Adventures. ALSO good with leftover baklava.
(Yes, I know that the tins don’t quite match the teas. I might re-do the covers to reverse them before we order them for backers.)
These blends are just the beginning–we also have an Uncanny author fan pack in the works that will have 6 different teas blended by authors to go with their stories! (Again, exclusive for a time to the folks that backed that Kickstarter level). Unless, of course, we get to 150 backers with our Weightless Books subscription drive, and one lucky winner gets some tea as part of a swag pack…
So, there you go! Custom tea blends from Adagio. Definitely one of our better ideas.
May 3, 2017
Book review: Borne, by Jeff VanderMeer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A scavenger, a squidlike biotech lifeform, and a flying bear walk into a bar…
Borne is exceptionally subtle on a prose level. I kept having to catch myself and re-read sentences because there was SO MUCH going on in deceptively simply constructed descriptions and dialogue.
The novel is from the POV of Rachel, a scavenger in a post-disaster/apocalypse/biotech Major Problem world caused at some point by The Company, and Borne, her name for an innocuous looking sentient cross between a squid and an eggplant with a penchant for wordplay that she originally scavenged off of a flying bear named Mord, who is fighting a turf war with The Magician for dominion over the destroyed city where Rachel scavenges.
Rachel initially sees Borne as a project, or a childlike creature to raise. This is a problematic assessment.
Borne examines what makes us human, and what does not. Who draws the line? Who makes the choices, the most important of which is: Nice, or Not Nice.
I won’t say whether I think Borne himself as a character is Nice, or Not Nice. I will say, though, that this is definitely a Nice novel.
Episode 135 – Thin Ice, Ice, Baby
NEW VERITY! THE REGENCY ONE! AAAAAHHHH!
Lynne’s dream has finally come true! But was it as good as she imagined? Join Deb, Lynne, and Tansy as they discuss their expectations, racism, classism, frocks, and poop.
Did you enjoy this dip into the past? Let us know in the comments!
^E
Also covered:
Lynne
is psyched that David Suchet (Poirot) will be in the next ep!
is still really enjoying Class !
Tansy is delighted by the ABC’s aftershow, The Whovians !
Deb has secondhand-squee after Erika livetweets Peter Capaldi’s interview at Calgary Expo!
Download or listen now (runtime 1:03:49)
April 26, 2017
Episode 134 – We’re (Not) All Smiles
NEW DOCTOR WHO AAAAAHHHH
Two weeks in a row with new Doctor Who to watch! We’re practically beside ourselves. Join Deb, Erika, Top Kat, and Lynne as we chew on “Smile”. Feelings are mixed about this one, and as always, that leads to a great discussion. Also as always, there’s aheaping helping of silliness–this time, in the form of mashed potatoes. (Just listen. It’ll make sense. Probably.)
What did you think of “Smile”? And how do you feel about mashed potatoes? Let us know in the comments!
^E
Also covered:
Kat enjoyed fellow Who-fan Alton Brown’s #worldbookday tweet!
Erika talked about “Smile” on Radio Free Skaro!
Lynne cannot wait for “Thin Ice” because it’s not only the Regency era, but during a frost fair!
Deb appreciates conventions like (Re)Generation Who, LI Who, and others making the safety of their guests a priority!
Bonus–here’s the emoji Kat was talking…
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April 19, 2017
Episode 133 – A Well-Bill(t) Pilot
NEW DOCTOR WHO! NEW DOCTOR WHO!
IT’S HERE IT’S HERE IT’S HERE! FINALLY! We have watched a new episode of Doctor Who! Join Deb, Erika, Lynne, and Tansy as we talk about Bill, the Doctor, (possibly) dead lesbians, fat jokes, re-treaded ground, callbacks, and lots more.
Are you as excited to have Who back on the airwaves/internets as we are? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments!
^E
Also covered:
Erika discovers the @dailycapaldi Twitter account!
Lynne enjoys David Tennant’s birthday via the @David_Tennant Twitter account!
Tansy watches all of series 8 with her family to prepare for series 10!
Deb appreciates fandom standing up to stupid gatekeeping directed at Pearl Mackie!
Download or listen now (runtime 1:07:34)
April 12, 2017
Episode 132 – Meta Mind Robbery
New Verity, about the Mind Robber, one of my fave stories, too!
It’s time to talk about something Tansy loves! Join Deb, Erika, and the aforementioned Tansy as we delve into the Land of Fiction and talk about metatextuality, rearranging faces, Medusas, and unicorns!
Have you seen this story? Did you love it like we did? Do you have other metatextual recommendations? (And yes. We did totally miss The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who, though that’s kind of the opposite!) Let us know in the comments!
^E
Also covered:
Erika cannot wait to see two Masters!
Tansy enjoys a video of 10 potential next Doctors!
Deb looks forward to Doctor Who Comics Day!
Bonus links:
Erika and Tansy are nominated for Hugo Awards
Tansy’s new novella, Dance Princes, Dance
The first book in the series, Glass Slipper Scandal, is currently FREE
Download or listen now (runtime 1:23:53)
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April 11, 2017
Book review: All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
[NB: This novel is out in paperback today, coincidentally]
All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
If I said that this book takes a slightly playful look at the apocalypse, you might look at me strangely. But I’m not wrong.
This strong, tightly paced story encompasses the conflict between Technologists (represented by Laurence) and Magicians/Witches (represented by Patricia) as both groups attempt to avert the oncoming apocalypse, firm in their belief that whatever the OTHER group is doing is CAUSING the aforesaid apocalypse.
Laurence and Patricia have known each other since they were children. Both are fundamentally broken and put back together in their own complementary and highly specific ways. Both need to reconcile their perceived duties with their feelings.
Apocalyptic shenanigans ensue, as they are wont to do. And they feel like shenanigans because the narrative tone that Charlie manages to provide somehow completely takes into account the deep seriousness of the world ending with a wry, slightly … askew voice that understands that one cannot be totally serious all the time, and that’s okay.
This is a really enjoyable novel about the apocalypse.
