Absolutely terrific read on the history of invented languages, which is weirder, sadder, funnier and more heartwarming than you might think. Great stoAbsolutely terrific read on the history of invented languages, which is weirder, sadder, funnier and more heartwarming than you might think. Great stories here about some really, uh, unique people, as well as a lot of interesting stuff on the nature of language and our relationship to it. Well written, funny and extremely involving. I wolfed it down with great enjoyment and have a newfound and unexpected respect for people who speak Klingon (not to mention the guy who invented it, who is clearly a genius living his best life)....more
Hmm. An interesting look at breathing (how very much of human culture has treated it as important, how we in the modern West don't, and what differencHmm. An interesting look at breathing (how very much of human culture has treated it as important, how we in the modern West don't, and what difference scientists have shown it can make). Some really interesting stuff in here when it's actually evidence based, especially on why it's important to breathe through the nose and into the abdomen, both of which I've heard a lot but never thought much about. And 'email apnea' is clearly a thing (when your attention is skittering around the internet and you gasp for breath and realise you've not been breathing properly for some time.
There's an awful lot of fairly unlikely assertions in here, eg breathing through the left nostril affects a different nervous system than breathing through the right one which...I'd like a bit more explanation on how that works, honestly. Lots of subjective responses as well. But clearly breathing requires a bit more attention than I've hitherto given it, anyway. Engagingly written, also, with lots of humour and some really interesting case histories. ...more
Very interesting overview of con-men in the US. It was used as the basis for The Sting, which is pretty obvious (as in, if you haven't seen The Sting Very interesting overview of con-men in the US. It was used as the basis for The Sting, which is pretty obvious (as in, if you haven't seen The Sting for some reason, watch it first before reading this or it will give away all the twists.)
Written in 1940 and it shows in the casual asides re race and gender, so heads up.
Oddly amoral too. The author clearly admires the con-men and takes the view that you can't con an honest man, therefore all the conned people must be dishonest, therefore it's basically all right. I think that stance could use a tad more ethical analysis, myself.
A rather lovely short featuring the cleric Chih, on a storygathering mission without their talking bird this time, plus mammoth-riders and weretigers.A rather lovely short featuring the cleric Chih, on a storygathering mission without their talking bird this time, plus mammoth-riders and weretigers. It's a layered tale where we get Chih telling a story to the tigers which they then correct, within the frame of the tigers planning to eat them once the story is over.
Charming and involving, though a much smaller scale story to book 1, but tbh it was about all my brain could cope with (I am virtually unable to read fiction atm). Lovely writing. I really like this world, I hope we get more. ...more
Very solid and exceedingly informative history of swords and swordfighting hung off the hooks of real examples. The author's own swordfighting experieVery solid and exceedingly informative history of swords and swordfighting hung off the hooks of real examples. The author's own swordfighting experience really makes this sing. Wide ranging in time (from Tutankhamun to the US Civil War); mostly Western but with one good chapter on Japan including modern sword-making. Heavy on the mechanics rather than the social history, which suited me, though might be a bit niche for general reading. ...more
Some useful information in here about historical smuggling (mostly in England), especially interesting in how widespread it was. Unfortunately it's wrSome useful information in here about historical smuggling (mostly in England), especially interesting in how widespread it was. Unfortunately it's written in a matey style with laboured jokes which wears thin quite quickly, and the author's repeated promotion of her novels in the text is something the editor should have sat on. ...more
Very thorough overview of this forgotten branch of law, and how women used it in ways ranging from a sole means of redress against shitty men through Very thorough overview of this forgotten branch of law, and how women used it in ways ranging from a sole means of redress against shitty men through to blatant blackmail and abuse. Really interesting on the gendered aspects and what light that casts on British society of the various times....more
All you need to know about racetrack crime, which may or may not be anything. Incredibly detailed and specific. Workmanlike writing with a few bursts All you need to know about racetrack crime, which may or may not be anything. Incredibly detailed and specific. Workmanlike writing with a few bursts of enthusiasm (rarely do you read a nonfiction book from a history publisher where the author mentions someone getting the living shit kicked out of them in those words, ahaha). ...more
Second in this alt-African-set epic fantasy series, which I'm really enjoying. Exceedingly dense, and do not even think about starting at volume 2, itSecond in this alt-African-set epic fantasy series, which I'm really enjoying. Exceedingly dense, and do not even think about starting at volume 2, it took me a while to click into the story even having read the first. Great worldbuilding, and a really complex story with lots of strands and magic and politics, human and divine. Looking forward to the next, and a shout out to the covers department for these also. ...more
Old school horror novel set on a devil-train, with a framing device of it being the story of an unmade Hammer horror movie, which unbalanced the book Old school horror novel set on a devil-train, with a framing device of it being the story of an unmade Hammer horror movie, which unbalanced the book for me because I found myself just wanting to read more about Cushing and Lee, and now I may have to go on a Hammer binge of some kind. ...more
AI gods and Lovecraftian Other collide as an autistic scientist attempts to save the worlds from tyranny exercised by technologically enhanced thugs kAI gods and Lovecraftian Other collide as an autistic scientist attempts to save the worlds from tyranny exercised by technologically enhanced thugs known as angels. It's a terrific premise which takes a while to get your head round but is well developed, and the neurodivergence aspect is really well explored IMO, showing the effects of societies and well as situations on individuals. Highly engaging once I'd got into it. Also entirely queer in a low key way. I liked this a lot....more
I bought this for the setting (1930s Singapore), which was great. Tons of potential here including some intriguing relationships, but the book needed I bought this for the setting (1930s Singapore), which was great. Tons of potential here including some intriguing relationships, but the book needed a lot more editing (jerky writing, repetition, POV lurches, inconsistencies), which is really disappointing from Constable. A lot of fatphobia, not sure if that was meant to be a period element. ...more
The history of alphabetical order, which is so pervasive in the Western world now that it's surprising how long it took to become dominant, or how disThe history of alphabetical order, which is so pervasive in the Western world now that it's surprising how long it took to become dominant, or how disturbing it was as a concept--its rise tied to the decline of religion as well as the expansion of print. We also forget how hard it (or any order) was to achieve in the days before sort functions. ...more
A highly meta detective story/collection where an editor goes through an old book of detective stories that supposedly showcase all possible permutatiA highly meta detective story/collection where an editor goes through an old book of detective stories that supposedly showcase all possible permutations of the form and in analysing them, discovers something about the author.
I didn't find this satisfying. The point of this exercise is that the editor picks up inconsistencies in the stories that lead her to a conclusion, but the stories are, let us say, not unburdened with frequent inconsistencies which appear to be just editing errors (real ones, not meta ones), so that made my head hurt. The framing device didn't allow sufficient involvement in the 'real' characters for this to feel more than an intellectual exercise to me. Clever concept on paper but didn't come off for me....more
Interesting as far as it goes, but focusing entirely on character arcs as the basis for story (and a fairly specific type of character arc at that). WInteresting as far as it goes, but focusing entirely on character arcs as the basis for story (and a fairly specific type of character arc at that). Which is fine, but the marketing of this as a much more wide-ranging Theory of Story book is a bit off imo. An interesting deep dive into this specific aspect of story-telling. ...more
Interesting read on a man's journey from finding the supernatural ridiculous to becoming an unwilling believer, to learning where he's been fooled, whInteresting read on a man's journey from finding the supernatural ridiculous to becoming an unwilling believer, to learning where he's been fooled, where he's fooled himself, and where areas of doubt remain. Storr picks this all apart intelligently, recording and analysing his emotional responses, pointing out that without investigation, both belief and disbelief are just articles of faith rather than considered views. My notes on this also say "good on quantum" which I'm going to have to take Past Me's word for, since I can never remember anything about quantum....more
A thoroughly enjoyable read for any Dickens fan, taking a deep dive into his technical tricks and quirks across the oeuvre to see how he gets his effeA thoroughly enjoyable read for any Dickens fan, taking a deep dive into his technical tricks and quirks across the oeuvre to see how he gets his effects. Excellently specific and sharp; I rolled around in this with great pleasure....more
A lot more about people's opinions on foxes (mostly modern, some historical) than on foxes themselves. The nature writing there is works well. A lot more about people's opinions on foxes (mostly modern, some historical) than on foxes themselves. The nature writing there is works well. ...more
I love Buchan but his historicals are a bit like Conan Doyle's, burdened by research and dialect to a point where the story can barely stagger under tI love Buchan but his historicals are a bit like Conan Doyle's, burdened by research and dialect to a point where the story can barely stagger under their weight, and it felt a lot too much like hard work in my current state of mind....more
Loading...
