FF: Proofs and Promises

Mei-Ling Catches the Scent

Late this week, the page proofs arrived for the next Over Where novel, House of Rough Diamonds.  This follows close upon the events in Library of the Sapphire Wind and Aurora Borealis Bridge. All I’ll say for now is that those of you who wanted to see more of the interior of the Library will get your wish!

For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week.  Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines.  The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list.  If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.

Once again, this is not a book review column.  It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.  And it’s also a great place to tell me what you’re reading.  I love seeing the tapestry of what people choose.

Completed:

Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook.  Miles has a very difficult incident to unravel, especially as no one seems to want to tell him the whole story about anything.

False Scent by Ngaio Marsh.  Vivid characters and some nice twists and turns.  Her use of “theater people” always rings true.

In Progress:

My Brother’s Keeper by Tim Powers.  Nope.  You haven’t read this, because it isn’t out yet.  I have an advanced copy.  Powers moves the secret history of various literary figures to embrace the Bronte sisters and their very difficult brother.  So far, creepy and engrossing.  If you like this sort of thing, you might want to try his novel The Stress of Her Regard.

Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold.  I listened to this one not all that long ago, but am listening as part of my listen to the series in order.  The wedding scene made me laugh aloud, repeatedly.

Also:

Proofs for my own House of Rough Diamonds.  Look for it in September.

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FF: Spared By Bad Luck

Late Bloomer

Sometimes what seems like bad luck turns out to be not so bad.  This week, as we enjoy our richly blossoming catalpa tree, I’m appreciating the irony.  Normally, our catalpa begins blooming early in the second week in May.  However, the cooler temperatures (which have played havoc with my schedule for growing tomatoes from seed and other things) meant that the tree was just beginning to flower when we were hammered by hail storms last Saturday and Sunday.  (See this week’s WW for pictures.)  So, that was bad luck that turned out to be good…  Or something like that.

For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week.  Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines.  The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list.  If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.

Once again, this is not a book review column.  It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.  And it’s also a great place to tell me what you’re reading.  I love seeing the tapestry of what people choose.

Completed:

Boundaries of Infinity by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook.  A collection of short stories (some quite long), filling in key events between the novels.

Princess Holy Aura by Ryk E. Spoor.

In Progress:

Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook.  Miles has a very difficult incident to unravel, especially as no one seems to want to tell him the whole story about anything.

My Brother’s Keeper by Tim Powers.  Nope.  You haven’t read this, because it isn’t out yet.  I have an advanced copy.  Powers moves the secret history of various literary figures to embrace the Bronte sisters and their very difficult brother.  So far, creepy and engrossing.  If you like this sort of thing, you might want to try his novel The Stress of Her Regard.

Also:

The new Smithsonian. 

FF: Haven’t Decided

Princess Persephone Knows Her Job

I finished what I was reading just as the time came for me to write this, and I haven’t chosen my next one.  I’m not sure what my mood for pleasure reading it, and that’s probably influenced by how tight my focus is on my writing right now.

For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week.  Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines.  The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list.  If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.

Once again, this is not a book review column.  It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.  And it’s also a great place to tell me what you’re reading.  I love seeing the tapestry of what people choose.

Completed:

A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook.  Bujold does an amazing job playing a variety of plotlines off each other.  This novel is as complex and elegant as an elaborate Regency dance.  And, in case you’re wondering, what I thought of the butter bugs, I only wish they were real and I could have a colony, even if only the ostensibly “ugly” early version..

Between Princesses and Other Jobs by D.J. Butler.  A collection of short stories featuring Indrajit and Fix, the amiable would-be heroes of In the Palace of shadow and Joy.  I preferred this to the novel, as it had more plot and fewer chase scenes.

In Progress:

Boundaries of Infinity by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook.  A collection of short stories (some quite long), filling in key events between the novels. 

Also:

Some books on kumihimo I was “handed down.”  Definitely stimulating.

FF: Business Done

Roary Ears a Good Book

With the copyedit of House of Rough Diamonds turned in, I’ve returned to working on SK5 (the yet-untitled next book in the Star Kingdom series).  I’ve also had some time to read for pleasure.

For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week.  Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines.  The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list.  If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.

Once again, this is not a book review column.  It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.  And it’s also a great place to tell me what you’re reading.  I love seeing the tapestry of what people choose.

Completed:

Singing the Shrouds by Ngaio Marsh.  A nice variation on the “country house” murder mystery, with the setting shifted to a cargo ship.  Another I hadn’t read.

In the Palace of Shadow and Joy by D. J. Butler.  If you like old-fashioned sword and sorcery with lots of action, wild description, and two amiable—if occasionally clueless—protagonists, I think you’ll like this book.

In Progress:

A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook.  Bujold does an amazing job playing a variety of plotlines off each other.  This novel is as complex and elegant as an elaborate Regency Dance.  And, in case you’re wondering, what I thought of the butter bugs, I only wish they were real and I could have a colony, even if only the ostensibly “ugly” early version..

Between Princesses and Other Jobs by D.J. Butler.  A collection of short stories featuring Indrajit and Fix, the amiable would-be heroes of In the Palace of shadow and Joy.

Also:

“Gorgopotomos Bridge” by Harry Turtledove.  A short story with a very interesting narrator.

“Best Laid Plans” by David Weber.  Honor meets Nimitz.

The most recent Vogue.

FF: Tired Eyes

Persephone Poses

This week I’m reviewing the copy edit for House of Rough Diamonds.  Between peering at a computer monitor, trying to pull apart the layers in Word’s Review function, and allergies, my eyes are so very, very tired!

For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week.  Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines.  The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list.  If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.

Once again, this is not a book review column.  It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.  And it’s also a great place to tell me what you’re reading.  I love seeing the tapestry of what people choose.

Completed:

Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook.  Nice use of two different narrators, each of whom has information the other would really like to have. 

Death and the Dancing Footman by Ngaio Marsh.  I think I read this one a long, long time ago.  Nonetheless, quite enjoying. 

Night at the Vulcan by Ngaio Marsh.  The second novel set at the same theater.  Changing the theater’s name didn’t remove the memory of past tragedies.

In Progress:

Singing the Shrouds by Ngaio Marsh.  A nice variation on the “country house” murder mystery, with the setting a cargo ship.  Another I hadn’t read.

A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook.  Just starting.

Also:

Copy edit for House of Rough Diamonds as mentioned above.  A few small articles.

FF: Yellow Iris

Mei-Ling Says “MY book.”

In case those of you who read the WW wondered, the yellow iris did indeed bloom, as did several more purple. But it’s hard to get Mei-Ling to hold still for a picture, so she won the top model contest this week. However, there is picture of the yellow iris at the end.

For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week.  Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines.  The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list.  If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.

Once again, this is not a book review column.  It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.  And it’s also a great place to tell me what you’re reading.  I love seeing the tapestry of what people choose.

Completed:

Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook.  Very closely tied to the events in Mirror Dance.  This might also be called “Miles Grows Up,” because he does a lot of reassessing his goals and priorities, as well as solving a major crisis.  I quite liked.

Death in a White Tie by Ngaio Marsh.  I’m not sure I ever read this one.  Very exciting to have a “new “book by a long-gone author.  I quite enjoyed.

In Progress:

Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook.  Nice use of two different narrators, each of whom has information the other would really like to have.

Death and the Dancing Footman by Ngaio Marsh.  I think I read this one a long, long time ago.  Nonetheless, quite enjoying. 

Also:

Finished the most recent Smithsonian and give it a thumbs up.

Yellow Iris, Backdropped With Purple

FF: Aware

Roary Peeks Into the DreamForge

I’m aware my website link was broken.  I think we have it fixed now.  Thanks very much to those of you who let me know, as I don’t go to my website very often, except to update.

For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week.  Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines.  The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list.  If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.

Once again, this is not a book review column.  It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.  And it’s also a great place to tell me what you’re reading. 

Completed:

DreamForge Anvil, issue eleven.  This one has a solarpunk theme, which is very challenging for short fiction in particular because there needs to be a lot of setting detail for the story to work, and this leaves less for characters.  Several pieces met this challenge to my grumpy level of expectation.

And done with the Nebulas for another year.

In Progress:

Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook.  Very closely tied to the events in Mirror Dance.  Denial of his infirmities has long been a way for Miles to power through.  Now he must face he can’t deny everything.  A new challenge may be his way.

Death in a White Tie by Ngaio Marsh.  I’m not sure I ever read this one.  Very exciting.

Also:

The new Smithsonian.  So far, my favorite piece has been a very well-explained article a trend to recycle organic waste, producing methane and other useful by-products.  Solarpunk is here in reality as well!

FF: Apple Blossoms

Apple Blossoms

Our not-quite-thriving young apple tree (it hasn’t liked the very hot summers) is just beginning to bloom.  I celebrate this as a reminder to enjoy the moment, as the moment may be all you get.

For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week.  Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines.  The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list.  If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.

Once again, this is not a book review column.  It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.  And it’s also a great place to tell me what you’re reading. 

Completed:

Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook.  Personal and emotional complications of Brothers in Arms come home in this much longer, more complex novel.

In Progress:

Reading toward the Nebula awards.  At least for a few more days…

Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook.  Very closely tied to the events in Mirror Dance.  Denial of his infirmities has long been a way for Miles to power through.  Now he must face he can’t deny everything.

Also:

The new Smithsonian, as well as a few odds and ends of articles, and scattered research.

FF: Tell Them, Tell Me

Persephone Contemplates a Latte

This week, I realized that most of what I was reading was due to some variation on word of mouth.  This does seem to be the best way to learn about books or even—as with the Mile Vorkosigan books, which I now love—learn that your first impression needs adjustment.  If it hadn’t been for my friend Rowan Derrick giving me her honest opinion about why I was wrong, I’d really have missed out on something I enjoy.

For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week.  Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines.  The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list.  If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.

Once again, this is not a book review column.  It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.  And it’s also a great place to tell me what you’re reading. 

Completed:

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree.  Very kind and friendship affirming.

Brothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook.  SF Espionage thriller done very well.

In Progress:

Reading toward the Nebula awards.  Still.

Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook.  Personal and emotional complications of Brothers in Arms come home in this much longer, more complex novel.

Also:

Finished the new American Archeology.  Much better written than usual.  I wonder if it’s the new editor.  Some interesting different takes on the material, too.  Will be starting the new Smithsonian. 

FF: Lots of…

Roary Reflects On His Third Birthday!

I’m still mostly reading toward the Nebula Awards, which means lots of shorter fiction, and looking at quite a few novels, since there are two novel awards, what with the Andre Norton for YA.  I don’t feel requirted to finish all of a work if it doesn’t grab me, but I’ve read a lot of the works all the way through.

For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week.  Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines.  The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list.  If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.

Once again, this is not a book review column.  It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.  And it’s also a great place to tell me what you’re reading. 

Completed:

Ethan of Athos by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook.  Not focused on Miles, which is a nice change, although I do like Miles.  Some excellent speculation on the impact of telepathy.

In Progress:

 Reading toward the Nebula awards.

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree.  On the Neb ballot, but I planned to read it anyhow, so I’m mentioning it here.

Brothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Audiobook. 

Also:

Finished Smithsonian, moved to the new American Archeology.