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Oliver “Shiny” Blakemore
Oliver “Shiny” Blakemore

5.3K Followers

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May 6

Books Described Badly

In the Ocean of Night by Gregory Benford What I liked: this book had no time to get bogged down in trying to convince me that it had science in it. Benford never paused to explain anything to me. All that happens in this book is nuts as balls, but I never felt patronized by it. I like that in science fiction. In the Ocean of Night described badly: Nigel (heh, Nigel) the astronaut makes a friend through work. This friend, Snark, has new and interesting views. As all new friends should. Nigel (heh, Nigel) the Astronaut has a new perspective on the future after bonding with his new friend.

Books

1 min read

Books Described Badly
Books Described Badly
Books

1 min read


Apr 24

Books Described Badly

H.M.S. Surprise by Patrick O’Brian A book should transport you, like you have moved wholly somewhere and -when else. O'Brian always does that. This book described badly: Jack and Steve, a self-educated entrepreneur and a hobbyist bug collector, experience a series of missed connections while trying to take their girlfriends on dates. Definitely should read it. All kinds of fun. Like, a handful of stars, for sure.

History

1 min read

Books Described Badly
Books Described Badly
History

1 min read


Apr 22

Books Described Badly

The Dooms Day Book by Connie Willis Time travel ruins stories. Except, every now and then, when it’s brilliant. Connie Willis delivers a distressing, gorgeous narrative about people trying really hard to just make it through. The book described badly: Oxford Grad Student’s deep theoretical knowledge proves academic in face of new friends with better examples. Read and enjoy. Several stars.

Books

1 min read

Books Described Badly
Books Described Badly
Books

1 min read


Sep 15, 2022

Not the Dresden Files for a Reason

Magic and Music — Know what really grates my gills? All those people who make something that’s exactly like everything else and then they talk at you with long, beery breaths to explain that, no, but this is actually totally different! And here’s the Wikipedia spiral I wrote to explain how! I have, for…

Writing Life

4 min read

Not the Dresden Files for a Reason
Not the Dresden Files for a Reason
Writing Life

4 min read


Sep 8, 2022

Nova by Samuel R. Delaney

Wrong hero. Too few drugs. — This dude wants to be Jack Kerouac. This book’ll take you on a journey. Not the enlightening, transcendent rise that Delaney wants it to be, but that’s mainly due to my mistake of not taking all the drugs that would probably fill in the gaps in the narrative. Because Delaney…

Review

2 min read

Nova by Samuel R. Delaney
Nova by Samuel R. Delaney
Review

2 min read


Sep 1, 2022

Writing advice to my twelve-year-old self.

Hey, kid, no one will ask for that story. — I’m getting to that stage in life where my childhood friends are doing cool jobs. We all reach this stage, I think. For me, a lot of my friends seem to have grown into being teachers. I’m not sure why exactly. …

Writing Tips

3 min read

Writing advice to my twelve-year-old self.
Writing advice to my twelve-year-old self.
Writing Tips

3 min read


Aug 25, 2022

The Mote in God’s Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

Ah — ambition. That’s why I don’t like it. — My sister wanted to breed dogs. She doesn’t like the personalities of most dogs, though, and she’s allergic to dog hair. Her solution: the newdle. Or the poofoundland. Depends on your preference. Cross a poodle with a newfoundland and you might get the ideal dog for someone like my sister…

Books

4 min read

The Mote in God’s Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
The Mote in God’s Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
Books

4 min read


Aug 18, 2022

The Ingredients of Stories

And how to shop for them — It’d be cool if you could shop for the ingredients of stories, wouldn’t it? Like, head over to the antique store with a vague sense of “I’m going to write something!” And leave with all the elements you need in order to make that happen. That would be brilliant. Thing…

Writing Tips

3 min read

The Ingredients of Stories
The Ingredients of Stories
Writing Tips

3 min read


Aug 16, 2022

Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov

Half as clever as it should be. — Foundation and Empire tells the story of what happens when a God complex clashes with severe headaches. A person who amounts in the books a folk hero in the form of Hari Seldon has decided that he knows exactly how to direct the next thousand years in order to shorten…

Books

2 min read

Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov
Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov
Books

2 min read


Aug 12, 2022

Slan by A.E. Van Vogt

Pretty sure it’s racist. — Slan is the story of Übermensch Jommy Cross and his adventure in trying to achieve world peace through the cunning use of demonstrating superior genetics and the precise application of stealing free will through psychic superpowers. It’s cool, though. Jommy only takes free will from people who would have wasted…

Book Review

2 min read

Slan by A.E. Van Vogt
Slan by A.E. Van Vogt
Book Review

2 min read

Oliver “Shiny” Blakemore

Oliver “Shiny” Blakemore

5.3K Followers

The best part of being a mime is never having to say I’m sorry.

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