3.5
Too many Nimrods. Kill the future.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about X-Men – Uncanny X-Men 525 Second Coming 10
Fight or get my axe in the head fatboy.
3.5 out of 5
Going to be late, dear.
3.5 out of 5
Could really use a doctor. And a few less bad guys with swords.
3.5 out of 5
Dying like lions. Tasty.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Secret Six – 21 Cats In the Cradle 3 The Precipice
What’s this world then?
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about DV8 – Gods and Monsters 1 The Day I Tried To Live
Navigator man.
3.5 out of 5
“And it all goes to show just how strange Robert A. Heinlein was.
From a devoutly religious upbringing, we have a teenager who threw off religious belief and embraced atheism at a time when this would have been profoundly shocking. From the 1920s we have an enthusiastic practitioner of free love and “companionate” (read: open) marriage—in [...]
Continue reading about Through a backward telescope: Heinlein’s context – Charles Stross
And those Atlas guys are real it seems.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Atlas – 1 The Return of the Three Dimensional Man
A Black Widow? Bad? Nah.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Black Widow – 02 The Name of the Rose 2
A couple of Tamarans, a new planet.
3.5 out of 5
Sketch of the character from The Windup Girl.
3.5 out of 5
“She approached the Jaguar’s body, which was already dwindling and decaying and slumping-in on itself. She knelt, peering at the wreckage, until she spied the seed at its heart, a carving of a jaguar in black glass, about half life-sized. That had been the focus for Mutex’s spell – the foundation for the god’s body, [...]
Catman kid kill revenge.
3.5 out of 5
Bad Rag sister showdown.
3.5 out of 5
The Scarlet Pimpernel – Emmuska Orczyhttp://www.gutenberg.org/etext/60
Set in France, the Scarlet Pimpernel is a pro royal, or at least anti-guillotine proto superhero, who leads the followers of Robespierre a merry dance as her rescues plenty of people from their fate.
He has his friends and helpers, this dashing Englishman, and it is through them that the French [...]
Continue reading about The Scarlet Pimpernel 01 – Emmuska Orczy
Atmosphere fixing, spying, and sped up gestation soldier breeding.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about WildCATS – 23 The Protectorate 1 Groundwork
An old Network forger gets into trouble and ends up in prison. He asks Modesty for help, but not what she expects.
He knows where some loot is, and has a relative in trouble with drugs. He wants to set up a fund to help people like that.
Which leads Modesty and Willie to Stutely [...]
Continue reading about Modesty Blaise – 33 The Greenwood Maid
No, get that thing.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Swords and Dark Magic – 17 The Fool Jobs
Better if you geas don’t think about it, brothers.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Swords and Dark Magic – 14 Two Lions A Witch And The War-robe
A Bluebeard in this sense is a male black widow, not a pirate, as you might think.
This particularly variety goes after rich wallflowers, and after an appropriate length of time, gets rid of them with the help of his two creepy daughters.
When a relative of Rene’s is the next target, Modesty decides to investigate.
She [...]
Continue reading about Modesty Blaise – 25 The Bluebeard Affair
No, killing them all isn’t ensuring their future, old guys.
3.5 out of 5
Back to an unstable little Central American town for Modesty – where she has found a new boyfriend.
The woman of whom he was the old boyfriend does not take this too kindly, and she is the daughter of the British envoy. She is also soon a hostage as the local terrorist group who wants [...]
Continue reading about Modesty Blaise – 20 The Green-Eyed Monster
The mafia decide they’d like to move in and take over the heterogeneous British criminal underworld, in efficient ruthless style. They use a film studio as a cover – and a good place to practise crimes.
Brookie mentions the problem to Modesty – who promptly tells him she isn’t Batman, and doesn’t go looking for [...]
Willie saves a drugged out hippie chick from breaking her neck – and given the pair’s hatred of drugs, they decide to do some investigating, after getting some advice from a friend in the police.
Sometimes it is the little old ladies who are the evil bad guys in this, the most dated of the stories. [...]
Cover of a Dynamite comic :-
Willie Garvin accidentally blowing the cover on a French agent and old girlfriend leads them to tangle with a highly professional gang out to hit a train. How do they plan to carry out their heavy gold loot? An exoskeleton.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Modesty Blaise – 11 The Magnified Man
Don’t kill us, we’re on your side.
3.5 out of 5
The backstory, briefly, of Modesty’s survival as a young orphan, introduction into The Network, and rise to power with Willie Garvin.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Modesty Blaise – 08A In the Beginning
Modesty has taken on the upkeep of a young man named Weng, now a university student. When he learns that his sister has joined the Viet Cong he goes to a drug lord for money, rather than ask Blaise for help.
This means some drug dealing and disguise for Modesty and Willie, and a foray [...]
“Some science-fiction-themed songs take a few paragraphs of background info and analysis to be truly appreciated and enjoyed. Others mostly speak for themselves. Loudly.”
3.5 out of 5
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/08/frequency-rotation-sigue-sigue-sputnik-21st-century-boy
Continue reading about Frequency Rotation: Sigue Sigue Sputnik 21st Century Boy – Jason Heller
“Charlie: Partly it’s because there was a gap of five years between each of the first three books. To avoid ending up with Bob receding into the past, I decided to reposition them so that he’s ageing, roughly in step with wall-clock time (at least for now). In “The Atrocity Archives” he was in his [...]
“In many ways, though, it’s not just a science-fiction novel, right? Most of the technology you describe, at least in terms of non-biological technology, is older than what we have now.
Yeah, it’s more like throwback technologies. When I say science fiction, I think of classic Foundation, I think of rocket ships. But there’s this other [...]
Continue reading about Interview: talks about The Windup Girl – Paolo Bacigalupi
Slymire crystal revelation.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Swords and Dark Magic – 12 Dapple Hew the Tint Master
First swale or anything, Neuter Kimball.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about That Leviathan Whom Thou Hast Made – Eric James Stone
“Jason Nahrung is the other half of an Aussie spec-fic writing duo – the other half is Kirstyn McDermott. I’d love to say that, as a duo, they dress up at night and fight crime, but it would be (a) a little too personal, and (b) untrue. Realistically, they’re more likely to be fomenting some [...]
“It would be absurd to over-generalise from my experience, but equally absurd to treat it as singular. Perhaps neurologists will eventually pin down a particular mechanism associated with the kind of religious practice I’ve described, but to me it seems equally likely that the mechanisms will be diverse. What I do suspect I once shared [...]
Godridden good riddance, virgins.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Swords and Dark Magic – 11 The Undefiled
“The sculpture had been mounted on a rock which, though far from the Northern Mountains of the continent, Chanter knew to be the tip of a mountain itself submerged in the underlying tricone-generated soil of the planet Masada. After studying the screen display for a moment longer, he turned to the other displays arrayed before [...]
“The sculpture had been mounted on a rock which, though far from the Northern Mountains of the continent, Chanter knew to be the tip of a mountain itself submerged in the underlying tricone-generated soil of the planet Masada. After studying the screen display for a moment longer, he turned to the other displays arrayed before [...]
Mostly about reading gadgets.
3.5 out of 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjERw9ZZFJ4&feature=related
Continue reading about Interviewed at ReaderCon 2010 – Charles Stross
DeadHeadroom for improvement.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Swords and Dark Magic – 06 A Rich Full Week
Tewk me. I’m an illusion Master.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Swords and Dark Magic – 05 A Wizard Of Wiscezan
There’s a death trap for every type of superhuman.
3.5 out of 5
http://media.podiobooks.com/swc3wwl/PB-SecretWorldChronicle3-15.mp3
Continue reading about Secret World Chronicle – 03 World Well Lost 15 She Blinded Me With Science 3
“Androgeos had the irritating habit of replying to questions with variations of “Don’t worry about that,” shrugging off detailed explanation. The team was not to worry about interchange of disease, the problem had been solved millennia before. They were not to be curious about other alien beings. The alien humans’ ship moved; Victoria must not [...]
http://michaelnetzer.com/mnop/wp-content/flagallery/commissioned-art/scan_xmen141_legion.jpg
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Legion of Future Past – John Byrne and Terry Austin
http://naa12.naa.gov.au/NAAMedia/ShowImage.asp?B=11469572&T=P&S=1
“Title : Research – Astronomy and space – A sculpture entitled “Symbol of Woomera” on display at the NASA deep space tracking station in Woomera Village, South Australia, 1967
Date : 1967″
3.5 out of 5
http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/PhotoSearchItemDetail.asp?M=0&B=11469572&SE=1
One of the better magazine issues in a mostly disappointing year so far. There are two very good stories here. One by Rajaniemi, which is sort of a mashup of Murray Leinster and Terry Dowling, Finnish style, and also Gord Sellar and his worldbrane experiments. A decent zombie story by McHugh, too.
Subterranean [...]
Continue reading about Subterranean Online 14 – Jonathan Strahan
Songeen of the elder race, I think I like you.
3.5 out of 5
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/7/0/32709/32709-h/32709-h.htm
Retired beat and making them.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Whose Ghosts These Are – Charles L. Grant
Pulp painting potted.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Simeon Dimsby’s Workshop – Richard A. Lupoff
“”I’m not joining the enemies of the All-Sovereign,” I said. “I’m already in the club, you boobs! I’ve got the membership card and the god-damn secret decoder ring! He killed the Doc and tried to kill me! He declared war on Violet DeVere, and Violet DeVere is happy to return the favor!”
“That seems adequate to [...]
Continue reading about Queen of the Iron Sands 5 Part 1 – Scott Lynch
Ghost girlfriend resident.
3.5 out of 5
Interior illustrations from the Planet Stories magazine version:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_cNxVxKzFadA/TBtdAdlgYwI/AAAAAAAAC9Q/nDI0DZRu7hQ/s512/Planet%20Stories%20Fall%201949%20page%20004.jpg
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_cNxVxKzFadA/TBtdA8uaaBI/AAAAAAAAC9U/jCei03LntTo/s512/Planet%20Stories%20Fall%201949%20page%20005.jpg
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_cNxVxKzFadA/TBtdBa3j4dI/AAAAAAAAC9Y/mmywTMWFh-g/s400/Planet%20Stories%20Fall%201949%20page%20031.jpg
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_cNxVxKzFadA/TBtdBljXI3I/AAAAAAAAC9c/Q1BBfvAi4Lw/s512/Planet%20Stories%20Fall%201949%20page%20038.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_cNxVxKzFadA/TBtdBzBM3wI/AAAAAAAAC9g/QiFuurmmqZk/s512/Planet%20Stories%20Fall%201949%20page%20039.jpg
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Enchantress of Venus – Leigh Brackett
“In Zendegi, Greg Egan has created a beautiful, brilliant, near-future world that expertly explores the consequences of mind-mapping technology in the politically volatile world of Iran.”
3.5 out of 5
http://io9.com/5564075/with-zendegi-greg-egan-plunges-us-into-the-techno+future-of-iran
Novella
Number of words : 17700
Percent of complex words : 16.0
Average syllables per word : 1.7
Average words per sentence : 14.4
READABILITY INDICES
Fog [...]
A tome for the young.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about A Boy’s Guide to Nomenclature : Seventy-two Letters – Ted Chiang
Hold that violent upheavals caused species to become extinct.
3.5 out of 5
Technorati : 3.5, z concept, zz seventy-two letters
Continue reading about Catastrophists : Seventy-two Letters – Ted Chiang
That name which reflects the divine name in the same manner as the object reflects God.
3.5 out of 5
Technorati : 3.5, z concept, zz seventy-two letters
Continue reading about True name : Seventy-two Letters – Ted Chiang
The science of naming.
4 out of 5
Technorati : 3.5, z concept, zz seventy-two letters
Continue reading about Nomenclature : Seventy-two Letters – Ted Chiang
As all things are reflections of God, so are all names reflections of the divine name.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Doctrine of names : Seventy-two Letters – Ted Chiang
Can be grown from foetuses.
3.5 out of 5
Technorati : 3.5, z technology, zz seventy-two letters
Continue reading about Homunculi : Seventy-two Letters – Ted Chiang
Robert’s favorite clay toy as a kid.
3.5 out of 5
Technorati : 3.5, z technology, zz seventy-two letters
Continue reading about Dolls : Seventy-two Letters – Ted Chiang
English scientific group.
3 out of 5
Technorati : 3.5, z organisation, zz seventy-two letters
Continue reading about Royal Society : Seventy-two Letters – Ted Chiang
A guild.
3.5 out of 5
Technorati : 3.5, z organisation, zz seventy-two letters
Continue reading about Brotherhood of Sculptors : Seventy-two Letters – Ted Chiang
A lecturer at Trinity when Stratton was studying there.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Nicholas Ashbourne : Seventy-two Letters – Ted Chiang
Lord Fieldhurst, third earl of Fieldhurst and a noted zoologist and comparative anatomist.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Edward Maitland : Seventy-two Letters – Ted Chiang
In the employ of Lord Fieldhurst.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Davies : Seventy-two Letters – Ted Chiang
Robert’s friend.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Lionel : Seventy-two Letters – Ted Chiang
A dodgy band of dodgy heroes gets a dubious new member.
3.5 out of 5
http://media.podiobooks.com/swc3wwl/PB-SecretWorldChronicle3-13.mp3
Continue reading about Secret World Chronicle – 03 World Well Lost 13 She Blinded Me With Science 1
Reptile servant antagonists.
3.5 out of 5
Go in for space travel and serious body modification.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Ultras : Monkey Suit – Alastair Reynolds
Powers a spaceship.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about C-drive : Monkey Suit – Alastair Reynolds
Of the Formantera. An ultra.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Captain Luarca : Monkey Suit – Alastair Reynolds
Formantera crewman who died in very unlikely circumstanes.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Branco : Monkey Suit – Alastair Reynolds
A university current affairs program.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about EduNews : Liking What You See: A Documentary – Ted Chiang
Alters broadcasts so that people exhibit conditions such as acne and varicose veins.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Dermatology computer virus : Liking What You See: A Documentary – Ted Chiang
Culture-jamming group responsible for lots of media vandalism.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about SemioTech Warriors : Liking What You See: A Documentary – Ted Chiang
Dodgy PR firm for the cosmetics industry.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Wyatt/Hayes : Liking What You See: A Documentary – Ted Chiang
SEE. A social justice group.
3.5 out of 5
The high school Tamera went to, for calliagnostics.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Saybrook School : Liking What You See: A Documentary – Ted Chiang
Tamera’s ex-boyfriend.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Garrett : Liking What You See: A Documentary – Ted Chiang
Tamera’s roommate.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Ina : Liking What You See: A Documentary – Ted Chiang
A neurologist and calliagnosia expert.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Joseph Weingartner : Liking What You See: A Documentary – Ted Chiang
PEOPLE
Neil Fisk
Born with a congenital abnormality not caused by God.
Sarah Fish
Neil’s wife, killed by the angel Nathanael.
Nathanael
An angel.
Janice Reilly
Deformed in the womb by the angel Bardiel.
Bardiel
An angel.
Ethan Mead
Visited by the angel Rashiel.
Rashiel
An angel.
Claire Mead
Ethan’s wife.
Robin Pearson
Lost her husband to cancer, saw him via Hell.
Makatiel
An angel.
Phil Soames
One of the visitation support group.
Benny Vasquez
Lost his eyes via [...]
Continue reading about Hell Is the Absence of God – Ted Chiang
Ethan’s wife.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Claire Mead : Hell Is the Absence of God – Ted Chiang
Just A-’rowin.
3.5 out of 5
And hope she’s not a scorpion woman.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about First Catch Your Demon – Graham Joyce
FPI controls prison labor.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Federal Prison Industries : Viper – Alastair Reynolds
Murderer that is up for parole, having served his sentence and passed his psych evaluations.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Avery Culhane : Viper – Alastair Reynolds
Warden of MIF-17.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Paula Wills : Viper – Alastair Reynolds
The meltdown of Chernorange in California.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about The Big One : On the Oodnadatta – Alastair Reynolds
“J.D.’s imagination created a scene that bore no relation to the inside of a computer or to the inside of an organic system. She had wondered what she would see when her attention left the main room of the partnership’s house, whether she would enter a phantom world of hugely magnified digital gates or pulsing [...]
Portable surface to air missiles.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Stingers : On the Oodnadatta – Alastair Reynolds
In South America.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Pan American Highway : On the Oodnadatta – Alastair Reynolds
Capital of South Australia.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Adelaide : On the Oodnadatta – Alastair Reynolds
““I must sound completely paranoid,” Victoria said. “It’s not as if I think we’re in some horror movie being stalked by The Creature from the Genetics Lab.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll be back in a minute.” She started for the hallway, carrying the fruit juice. “But I sure never heard of any kind [...]
Head of the U-Life team.
3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Leitner : On the Oodnadatta – Alastair Reynolds