Quantum of Nightmares (New Management #2)[November 8, 2023]

[Yanique, Thread Master]

This is a Buddy Read for Quantum of Nightmares by Charles Stross starting November 8, 2023.

[Nirkatze]

I've been sorting my books for the month, and it's weird... Hoopla has this book named "In His House" while the picture and description clearly states Quantum of Nightmares...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Hoopla is all buggy with the series... it's trying to merge Laundry Files & New Management into a single series, and hasn't been doublechecked by anyone I don't think...

[Nirkatze]

It was very weird... it didn't show up in the app when I searched for it, but showed it on the web browser--thankfully I was able to check it out in the browser...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I do most of my checkouts from browsers, unless I'm doing it from work... I like doing searches and adding things to my Hoopla favorites for future checkout from browser... I can't sort/filter results from app without it crashing sometimes...

[Nirkatze]

That's good to know--this was my first time trying the Hoopla Browser v. just doing it in app. I like to click what I already checked out, go to the series, and get the next one... haven't found how to jump to the series from the book in browser.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

On my browser, the book page looks like this, and all the blue words are hyperlinks:



Book 3 of the Alex Verus series is right above the blurb...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I definitely think Hoopla has solid recommendations based on recent borrows (mostly just the next books in the series, or other works by the same authors)... I use that alot, on browser and in the app to check things out... since I'm usually working through 3-5 series, once a month, with my local library checkout limits... leaving room for a few side reads that aren't BRs...

[Nirkatze]

Hm. Maybe the books I looked at just didn't have more books in hoopla...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

It's possible... Hoopla doesn't show books it doesn't have... it can show books your library doesn't have access to tho, sometimes... as long as Hoopla does...

At one point, In Death had 1-3 and 50-51... now it's just 1-3... also, they're narrated by someone OTHER than Susan Ericksen...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Started my re-read today... this one is pretty bonkers...

The first entry to this series was "standard fare" after nearly a dozen Laundry Files books... plus a few curveballs...

This one is the consequences/fallout of the previous book, plus like a half dozen other bonkers elements...

I'm pretty hyped for a new release to read, next month...

This trilogy also seems hellbent on messed up euphemisms... mantool... (view spoiler)[meat glove... half the stuff regarding the gimp suited muppets, in general, really... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Starting! Chapter Two... huh... Well, I think I see why the incorrect name for this on Hoopla is "In This House" (view spoiler)[Agency member acting as Nanny... and the kids are not just kids...

This is Mhari, right? Not a new "Mary"?

Love Eve's checklist: "Relearn how to Human." (hide spoiler)]

I enjoy Mary (Mhari?)'s curses...

Through Chapter Six... but it might actually be track 6, chapter 4? I swear, when Hoopla showed "Five" it said "Chapter 3"... Anyway, 4:00 hours in--(view spoiler)[Holy crap, Eve was married against her will to her asshole boss... who might not be as dead as we hope??? That is just twisted.... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

It’s a new mary

[Nirkatze]

Thank you for that information... I thought it might be, but wasn't 100% sure...

[Nirkatze]

Finished! Really enjoyed this one. Wasn't sure how it was all going to come together in the end.

[Tonari no Emily]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Started my re-read today... this one is pretty bonkers...

The first entry to this series was "standard fare" after nearly a dozen Laundry Files books... plus a few curveballs...

This one is the c..."
LOL yes the euphemisms are wild.

[Tonari no Emily]

Nirkatze wrote: "Starting! Chapter Two... huh... Well, I think I see why the incorrect name for this on Hoopla is "In This House" Agency member acting as Nanny... and the kids are not just kids...

This is Mhari, r..."
And she didn't even know she was(view spoiler)[ married until her "husband" died. I didn't know Mr Big could get any more horrendous! (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

I'm kind of relieved about that--(view spoiler)[it was already so cringeworthy--the phone sex stuff... I'm glad her boss never had a chance to take that "marriage" further... (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

Nirkatze wrote: "I'm kind of relieved about that--[spoilers removed]"

Oh same!

[Tonari no Emily]

This one really was wild! (view spoiler)[ the whole people in body condoms (isn't that what they called it? Am I making stuff up? lol) with digitized voices and faces is peak dystopian!

The Mary Poppins arc was my favorite I think. I'm glad she's just punished with more baby sitting :D

I like seeing Eve be competent and slightly terrifying.. She's still awful but by far better than alternatives

I really do like the world Stross built. He can throw basically anything into it and it still fits with world mechanics. Kind of impressive really! (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Tonari no Emily wrote: "This one really was wild! ..."

Exactly... James Bond trope story... Elf invasion... Nazi cult... time travel... D&D campaign warping reality... etc etc etc...

It's what I love about the Joe Ledger series as well, but that one is darker...

[Tonari no Emily]

I'm thinking about reading Joe Ledger as my not BR series because I'm pretty intrigued now...

[Nirkatze]

Dittoing you Emily, on the world Stross built... it is really amazing how he fit so many different tropes into one bundle... and can really toss anything else in as he feels like it... Also dittoing (view spoiler)[Mary Poppins plotline--actually, both that and the fake wife plotline had me thoroughly intrigued the whole book. (hide spoiler)]