Christopher > Recent Status Updates

Book of the New Sun is, perhaps, my top 5 of all time. I realised recently I had never really read Wolfe beyond that though. So I'm going to absorb these novellas, then perhaps move onto Litany and Short Sun too.

Everything he writes is so esoteric yet grounded in cold-bitterness at the same time. It's such a strange visage to penetrate.

Been awhile since I've really been able to sit down and read. A slow road of trying to fix what's broken upstairs :) been focused on films, video games & my own writing but now I'm working my way back in with my favourites!

Le Guin - whether it's short, long, philosophical, non-fiction, fantasy, sci fi whatever - is a true master. But it's always amusing to remind myself how goddamn much she wrote.

I am really loving this. It reminds me the most of TCOL49 than his other works. It has that same quirky, overly complicated, deeply paranoid style about it. The names are as good as always. But my main issue is that it's temporally a bit confusing compared to past works. There really feels like some "missing" passages or segments. I'm very much enjoying learning about cheese though.

This is unbelievably dense but so rich in history, science, perspective and feeling. Ken Liu's translation is absolutely masterful, and I'm loving the little author & translator note's included in this deluxe edition.

I've finally returned from my self-imposed exile. Been a little over 6 months since I've updated anything properly on here, so there'll be a small surge of reads, reviews and list updates in the coming weeks.

What are the quintessentially English books? And then within that, what books are quintessentially Scottish?

I am moving to Edinburgh on Wednesday, and felt like looking into some books that people think really embody that part of the world.. for something to read in my downtime during the first few hectic months. :D

This is one of those things that I feel 90% of the hype was timing. I find myself *enjoying* almost all of it, and even agreeing with much of the ideas and philosophy contained within, but it does feel a little rudderless and as a result it's somewhat sloooow progress.

I feel like this book is numerous individual, beautifully written chapters that have been caught in a net together, with no binding thread to them.

Alternating between this & Ted Chiang is like being sandwiched between two of the most delicious buffets in the world, and having to choose which to engorge myself on first.

This is a bad metaphor but you get it. This is crazy good.

In 5 days I will be leaving NZ permanently. First is Portugal, for my first academic conference in 3 years, then... who knows? Hanging out in Europe while I look for a postdoc/research opportunity. Little excited, little scared, insanely nervous... But we'll see where life takes us!

I won't be super active the next few weeks, but I've got a stack of 7 books to take with me, so a chunk of reviews in the future!

I'm not sure I can say I'm *enjoying* this so far? I've seen so much hype over this series, I think I'm just a little disappointed so far.

There's something weird about this novel.. It's like all the imagination and innovation went into the magic systems, and the surrounding world. The actual plot is... weirdly bland? It's enjoyable enough to get through, but it's no revelation so far, that people promised.

Haven't had a chance to read a lot the last week or so (PhD submission deadline in a week.... zzz). But this book is mind-blowing. The entire premise (2 cities in the same physical space) feels like something a lesser writer would lose sight of, under the quagmire of other narrative details. But China's masterful craft is on full display here.

Two cities co-exist in the same physical space, hijinks ensue (but seriously, this book is bizarre, weird, wonderful, strange, creepy... all at the same time). I've read a lot of Mieville in the past, but this is just top shelf stuff.

Not quite as mind-bogglingly amazing as the first collection so far, but still a top tier read.

Ted Chiang is easily the greatest science fiction short story writer working today, and perhaps ever.

Been slow going because of being sick, and Christmas etc.

But Ted Chiang is consistent and engaging across a wide variety of stories, themes, ideas, settings, characters... the man's just brilliant.

Perhaps the most engaging science fiction writer active, and it's all just in short stories.

Some of the most thought provoking and beautifully written short stories I've ever encountered.

"The Lifecycle of Software Objects" esp. is a wonder of the genre.

Ted Chiang is a modern master. I think he and Ken Liu are the strongest short-story/novella writers in the science fiction game.

Going to alternate stories from both Ted Chiang collections alongside some bigger fantasy epics the remainder of December. :)

Going to alternate stories from both Ted Chiang collections alongside some bigger fantasy epics the remainder of December. :)

On a Cliffside in the rain for my birthday. Time to feel things.

Can confirm I feel *really* fucking bad as usual reading this book, but simply can't look away. Enthralled in a sea of bad emotions and loneliness.

Time to feel sad. REAL sad.