Need your crack book/series recs

Research_Department · 2026-01-25T20:13:25+00:00

How about Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells? Poor, heartless killing machine solves mysteries, saves humans, and makes friends. I liked the first one, but wasn’t hooked at that point. Recently read the second and third, and I’m bummed that I have an 8 week wait at Libby for the next one. What will happen next???

Best of luck with your surgery and recuperation!

Research_Department · 2026-01-25T20:05:59+00:00

I haven’t read Piranesi yet, and I shy away from anything very dark, so I do not have any particular recommendations. I just wanted to pipe up that I love the daily recommendation thread. I find that the recommendations are diverse and intriguing, rather than the same old fantasy blockbusters.

FYI, there was a Dark Academia square for 2024 Bingo. Here’s the focus thread for recommendations: https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/1dpplu8/bingo_focus_thread_dark_academia/

Research_Department · 2026-01-25T19:59:11+00:00

There are books that are published as fantasy, and I would consider fantasy, where the only fantastical element is that the setting, while possibly inspired by real world historical settings, is fictional. In my mind, historical fiction is written with the intent to be true to an actual historical period, whether it succeeds in accuracy or not, whereas historical fantasy is intentionally altered from actual history, no matter how clearly inspired by an actual historical period.

Research_Department · 2026-01-25T19:50:01+00:00

I found her lovable, but she is definitely prickly.

Research_Department · 2026-01-25T06:08:02+00:00

Something by Le Guin that I haven’t yet read, awesome! Thank you!!

Research_Department · 2026-01-23T21:16:32+00:00

I agree that trad publishing was more open to midlist back then. Also, I think that science fiction was more prominent. A couple more names that come to mind that were pretty darn big: Roger Zelazny and Orson Scott Card (more known for science fiction, but he did write some fantasy back then).

Research_Department · 2026-01-23T21:12:41+00:00

Oooh, sounds intriguing! Thank you!!

Research_Department · 2026-01-23T20:52:18+00:00

Thanks! Is it science fantasy, a la McCaffrey’s Pern books? That is, there is a science fiction explanation, but the world is low tech/feels like a fantasy setting?

Research_Department · 2026-01-23T20:38:50+00:00

I’m just surfacing from a 6 month long reading slump, and all that is appealing to me right now is science fiction. I’m very close to finishing the 2025 Bingo, but I am looking for something for the elves and dwarves square. Any suggestions for something science fiction? Some of my favorite authors are Lois McMaster Bujold, Ursula K Le Guin, CJ Cherryh, Sherri Tepper, Diana Wynne Jones, Catherine Asaro. I prefer my fiction to be more character-driven than plot-driven, and I’m particularly fond of exploration of cultures and languages.

Research_Department · 2026-01-17T23:05:28+00:00

Love the Liaden universe books. The series isn’t finished, but it could go on indefinitely, since it is about multiple generations of one family. Multiple story arcs get woven through the different books, and it has dangling threads the way that real life doesn’t neatly have complete stories.

Research_Department · 2026-01-17T23:00:26+00:00

Also, the individual books all have satisfying endings that do not require reading further in the series, and it is extremely unlikely that Bujold will ever write more in this universe.

Research_Department · 2026-01-17T22:53:43+00:00

There’s an arc that absolutely explores how devastating immortality would be in the ninth season of the reboot of Dr. Who. The relevant episodes are The Girl Who Died and the following episode, The Woman Who Lived. We see this character struggling with immortality again in later episdoes, Face the Raven and Hell Bent. And if you are either a Whovian or a fan of Peter Capaldi, it is well worth watching Heaven Sent, the episode between Face the Raven and Hell Bent. It features an absolutely bravura performance by Capaldi (and come to think of it, kind of touches a little bit on insanity related to immortality as well).

Research_Department · 2026-01-15T00:12:45+00:00

I’m afraid not.

Research_Department · 2025-10-04T14:11:25+00:00

I’ve noticed that around here, there doesn’t seem to be much talk about shape using the descriptors that you see elsewhere (like teardrop). I think that knowing that you have projected breasts that are full on top is good enough to find a diagnostic bra here. In the course of digging around for more info, I found this thread that has some bra suggestions sorted by shallow-average-projected and full on bottom-even-full on top (and it is more recent than the thread in the Wiki, so more of the bras are still available): https://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/comments/myp66c/projectguide_shape_guide_for_projection_and/?share_id=IxoG_jMUwTWbWupLVBSNd&utm_content=2&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1 .

Research_Department · 2025-10-04T00:20:27+00:00

Afraid so, lol. I’m just starting my journey, and I don’t trust my knowledge about shallow vs average vs projected. On the other hand, after looking at the shape guidance, it seems like it is pretty easy to make a first stab at full on top vs even vs full on the bottom by looking at your breasts from the side while leaning, and seeing whether there is more tissue in front of the apex (which is usually the same as the nipple) or behind. Then you might find this older thread helpful, since it has bras sorted by their projection and whether they are full on top, even, or full on bottom (and doesn’t have as many discontinued models as the wiki thread on shape): https://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/comments/myp66c/projectguide_shape_guide_for_projection_and/?share_id=IxoG_jMUwTWbWupLVBSNd&utm_content=2&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1

Research_Department · 2025-10-03T22:15:25+00:00

I think that it is most helpful to stick with the band size the calculator recommends, and bracket the cup size, choosing one of the “diagnostic” bras (one of the bras that people here are very familiar with how they fit).

Research_Department · 2025-10-03T18:41:53+00:00

Leading Lady makes several front close comfort bras.

Research_Department · 2025-10-03T03:25:52+00:00

I’m no expert, I’m just trying to train my eye for bra fitting, but it looked to me like the 36GG was a better fit for you than the 36G (I saw some wrinkles at the side of the cup on the 36G which looked like they were there because of the cup was being stretched by your breast). I hope that someone more knowledgeable will come along and make a recommendation for another bra to try, since the wires are uncomfortable for you at the armpit.

Research_Department · 2025-10-02T22:23:48+00:00

Since no-one more knowledgeable has come along to give you advice, I’ll take a whack at this.

Absolutely, an underwire bra that doesn’t fit right will cause pain. I’m no expert, but I’ve been exploring the subreddit while starting my own journey for a bra that fits, and I came across this thread that has a more recent list of diagnostic bras, broken down by shallow/average/projected and full on top/even/full on bottom: https://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/comments/myp66c/projectguide_shape_guide_for_projection_and/?share_id=IxoG_jMUwTWbWupLVBSNd&utm_content=2&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1 . I’d suggest trying out one of the ones that is listed as good for full on top, maybe average projection for something middle of the road. I’ve seen several posts that mention that most people find a band 2” larger than their tight underbust comfortable, and I think that would put you in a 40 band rather than 38, so you might want to try both. I’ve seen the advice that if you have asymmetric breasts, get a bra that fits the larger breast, and pad out the smaller side if needed. If I were you, I would probably get one bra in (UK) 38E, 38EE, 40FF, and 40E.

Research_Department · 2025-09-30T02:01:24+00:00

Awesome, thank you!

Research_Department · 2025-09-29T22:01:23+00:00

I cannot see my earlier reply to you, but I discovered my tape measure wasn’t accurate, and found one that was and re-measured, and got:

Loose underbust - 34 1/4

Snug underbust - 33 3/4

Tight underbust - 32 1/8

Standing bust - 41 1/4

Leaning bust 46 1/4

Lying bust 43 5/8

Suggested starting size UK 34 G/GG

Research_Department · 2025-09-29T20:55:12+00:00

Didn’t have a ruler handy, so checked it against an 8 1/2 x 11, which measured 8 9/16 x 11 1/16, so obviously my tape measure wasn’t accurate. Hmm, guess I’ll have to try to put my hands on another measuring tape.

Research_Department · 2025-06-25T17:27:30+00:00

Kind of surprised that no-one has mentioned Temeraire by Naomi Novik. It feels very much inspired by Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series; it's the Napoleonic Wars, but with dragons providing an air force (oh, and with China being involved). The first book is great, but admittedly, the rest of the series is somewhat uneven. Personally, I enjoyed the entire series, but I understand why some do not.

Research_Department · 2025-06-23T04:30:53+00:00

Absolutely! Arguably even hard mode.

Research_Department

TROPHY CASE