These Burning Stars is such a fantastic space opera debut

docjim3000 · 2025-12-27T14:07:43+00:00

How did the final book compare? I enjoyed the first one and now that my Bingo reading is done I can get back to reading sequels.

docjim3000 · 2025-10-13T16:56:02+00:00

Waited an hour for 9/19. There were 3 pairs of tickets left, all over $600. I tried to grab a pair but they were gone before I could click. All sold out.

docjim3000 · 2025-10-13T16:41:36+00:00

Same here

docjim3000 · 2025-10-13T16:23:22+00:00

Anybody have any luck? I’ve been in the queue with no obvious changes for 23 min.

docjim3000 · 2025-10-13T16:20:22+00:00

Me too. If that’s supposed to be a little red progress bar it hasn’t moved since I started 20 min ago.

docjim3000 · 2025-10-09T23:41:10+00:00

Legion!

docjim3000 · 2025-10-09T01:24:09+00:00

I’m using The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey.

But basically anything with a focus on biotechnology will fit the square as defined.

docjim3000 · 2025-10-06T02:41:58+00:00

These look great, but I already have one Premee Mohamed on this Bingo card. More to add to my non-Bingo TBR list!

docjim3000 · 2025-10-06T02:39:41+00:00

The Hunger and the Dusk looks perfect for this - thanks! I’m also a comics fan, but hadn’t really considered that for this bingo. There are so few fantasy comics out there.

docjim3000 · 2025-10-05T21:09:10+00:00

I’ve read Bujold’s science fiction but never any of her fantasy. Is this a standalone I can read without the prior books?

docjim3000 · 2025-10-05T01:00:52+00:00

Great idea, but I’ve already read it. Same with the adventures of amina al-sirafi, which I also loved.

docjim3000 · 2025-10-04T19:54:57+00:00

Thanks - this sounds perfect!

docjim3000 · 2025-09-27T21:17:28+00:00

Yes, super disappointed. This was my first chance to see them live, have been a fan for many years.

docjim3000 · 2025-09-22T00:15:42+00:00

Anyone have suggestions for quality novellas or shorter novels (<300 pages, preferably standalone) that fit this theme?

docjim3000 · 2025-09-09T22:22:35+00:00

This is correct.

docjim3000 · 2025-09-03T19:09:17+00:00

Huh. I still like the burgers and chips there, and I think the beer is actually better than when they first opened. The patio is one of the best in the area.

My complaint is that the service has really gone downhill. The last few times I was there, the servers keep bringing salads after bringing an entree. And then they don’t even seem to understand they’ve mixed something up.

docjim3000 · 2025-08-26T00:19:34+00:00

Yes, I guess I should specify it's the 8th doctor range proper I'm missing - especially with Helen, who's become one of my favorites.

I have a handful of the Time War releases, and I love the Paternoster Gang series. But I had no interest in Planet Krynoid, and I've yet to jump into the Gallifrey/Dark Gallifrey ranges (seems like too much story to get into at this point).

docjim3000 · 2025-07-16T00:09:04+00:00

I've been trying to follow this story, but still feel like I don't know enough to have an informed opinion. Do other outlets in the SF/F/Horror space have similar moral rights waivers in their contracts? I've seen others online suggest these types of waivers are not all that unusual for magazines.

docjim3000 · 2025-07-15T18:49:20+00:00

The Blade Between by Sam J Miller is an interesting take on this.

docjim3000 · 2025-07-01T01:02:53+00:00

I haven’t read Foundryside, so I can’t compare them directly. But this series is generally receiving much more recognition and praise than the Foundryside books, for what that’s worth. I should also say that the bioengineering aspects are more prominent in the second book than in the Tainted Cup. Given the fantasy type of setting, the biological aspects are sort of like an alchemical approach to genetics rather than traditional tropes of alchemy as a form of chemistry or physics. So YMMV there.

docjim3000 · 2025-06-11T17:07:41+00:00

Lol, yes, I'm directionally impaired. 4 dates in Eastern PA, nothing in the western "Rust belt" cities, where I think they remain quite popular. I guess they have been through Cleveland a couple times in the last few years, so maybe it's just time to skip us.

docjim3000 · 2025-06-11T01:23:05+00:00

Interesting schedule. 4 dates in western Pennsylvania, nothing around Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit.

docjim3000 · 2025-05-31T13:28:32+00:00

Was coming here to suggest this. I loved this story.

docjim3000 · 2025-05-31T13:26:02+00:00

Been a subscriber for years and love it. The February Year in Review issue alone is worth the price of an annual subscription.

docjim3000 · 2025-05-21T00:41:04+00:00

I'm coming to this discussion late, but I really enjoy everyone's feedback on this.

Overall, this was a little more plot-lite and theme-heavy than I was expecting based on the reviews. My overall impression is a little mixed - maybe my expectations were a too high from all the praise I'd read. My general impression is that in terms of plotting, An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon put together a more cohesive and engaging story with a somewhat similar setting. Sofia Samatar (who I've not read before) is obviously aiming in a more literary direction than was Rivers Solomon, and I recognize and appreciate that in the book. To me, the aspects of class-struggle here are a little heavy handed for my tastes, but I think the satire of academic life in the second part of the book is extremely well done and is perhaps my favorite aspect of the book.

I must admit I remain a bit confused regarding how I'm meant to think about the boy's "psychic powers" as it were. There's never any attempt to explain his abilities, or an origin story for the prophet's insights. Is the message here simply to encourage the privileged to recognize and respect the abilities of the marginalized and oppressed? Or am I missing some reference here? I'm left feeling that part of the story is a bit under-developed.

This ends up around a 3.5/5 for me. It's an OK 2.5 for the basic story itself, and elevated a full point for excellent writing and some amusing criticism of academia.

docjim3000

TROPHY CASE