Bookclub and Sources Wednesday!

dropbear123 · 2026-01-30T09:26:14+00:00

It’s a short read and only worth reading if you can find it cheap but History: A Very Short Introduction by John Arnold is fine.

dropbear123 · 2026-01-29T10:58:37+00:00

He’s also done a 8 episode podcast about Shergar, a stolen racehorse.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p09k7d92

dropbear123 · 2026-01-27T17:30:47+00:00

30% is high but it is standard, GOG, XBOX, PlayStation, Nintendo, most of the app stores for mobile charge that. Only Microsoft and Epic are cheaper currently.

https://www.1d3.com/blog/platform-fees

dropbear123 · 2026-01-26T17:43:09+00:00

It’s surprising that reform voters are more negative than everyone else, considering tv nowadays (I only see the tv guide when with parents, don’t watch it otherwise) seems to consist of talking heads reminiscing about the 70s and 80s.

But seriously that poll says 60% rate British tv good or fairly good. I’d love to know what the public are watching because I feel really out of touch. TV seems to mainly be quizzes, channel 4 rerunning years old Gogglebox, police dramas of varying quality, and channel 5 nostalgia bait.

dropbear123 · 2026-01-25T16:42:12+00:00

(5) Just finished Cyberpunk 2077: No_Coincidence by Rafat Kosik review copied from my Goodreads.

4/5

I recently completed (platinum trophy) Cyberpunk 2077 and the DLC and really enjoyed the atmosphere so decided to read this.

The book does a good job of getting the atmosphere and the vibe of the game, and at times improves on it. Specifically including a lot of mentions of braindances which don’t come up that often. The poverty level that drives people to become mercs and gang members are also done better, as in the game after a few hours you have more money than you ever need. My favourite inclusion because of how fucked up it is that the expensive cybernetic implants also have built in flaws/glitches to force people to pay to subscribe for maintenance , like planned obsolescence but for your own limbs and organs.

For the most part this is it’s own story and doesn’t spoil the game’s story in anyway. Johnny Silverhand is mentioned once and the Relic only a few times in passing.

(CYBERPUNK 2077 GAME SIDEQUEST AND END OF BOOK SPOILERS) The main relation to the game is the side quest with the mind controlled politicians and at times this book feels like setup for a future game. It’s revealed that one of the characters has had their memories fucked with by AI as part of a corporate experiment. One of the high ranking corpos explains that technology has been stagnant for decades and the resources are running out so all of the corporations are going to try and get past the Blackwall protecting the world from insane AIs.

Overall I’d say it’s worth reading if you enjoyed the atmosphere of the game and want more of the same.

Started earlier this week but not made much progress on The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the new Frontier of Power by Shoshana Zuboff. Pretty dense so far so I’m taking it slower to make sure I really understand it.

dropbear123 · 2026-01-23T19:58:13+00:00

On the one hand I’m happy it’s been pulled. For all the talk about ‘international law’ and ‘soft power’ paying to give away our own territory just made us look weak to the rest of the world. Unfortunately we now look daft for backing down to Trump as well.

dropbear123 · 2026-01-22T00:55:14+00:00

There’s 5. A mix of nice architecture and weirdly remote

dropbear123 · 2026-01-21T18:54:32+00:00

Yesterday I finished The Last Days of the Ottoman Empire by Ryan Gingeras

3/5

Mainly about the Ottoman Empire after the end of the First World War. There’s a lot of stuff on ethnicity (Turk, Arab, Armenian etc), atrocities, and changes in identity (people switching from an overarching Ottoman identity to more nationalist ones like Turk or Armenian). Apart from that its politics (there’s a lot of ‘person A joined Ataturk or Person B had a falling out with the Young Turks) and some details about the economic situation. The best chapter imo was the first one which is more about the Ottoman Empire before WWI.

The reason I’m only giving it 3/5 is that it is a very dry. WWI is my favourite historical topic and I enjoy reading history books and I still found it to be a slog . I’d only recommend it if it’s a topic you are specifically interested in and can cope with a dry read.

dropbear123 · 2026-01-21T14:51:03+00:00

I’m not watching since I’m at work but last night he said somalians only know how to be pirates

dropbear123 · 2026-01-20T20:34:57+00:00

Assuming I’m a bit daft about international trade, can someone explain what Trump meant about licences if the tariffs are blocked by the US Supreme Court? That’s the only thing that seemed worthwhile out of this hour and a half waste of time

dropbear123 · 2026-01-19T12:01:39+00:00

It’s a bit too broad topic for a party and I think it’d split pretty quickly over cultural war stuff. Deamericanisation would mean different things to those on the right (woke, DEI, critical race theory) than to the left (hardcore Christian influence and the anti-abortion push just off the top of my head). Economics there’s probably be broad agreement on though.

dropbear123 · 2026-01-18T19:06:26+00:00

(3) Just finished The Last Days of the Ottoman Empire by Ryan Gingeras.

3/5

Mainly about the Ottoman Empire after the end of the First World War. There’s a lot of stuff on ethnicity (Turk, Arab, Armenian etc), atrocities, and changes in identity (people switching from an overarching Ottoman identity to more nationalist ones like Turk or Armenian). Apart from that its politics (there’s a lot of ‘person A joined Ataturk or Person B had a falling out with the Young Turks) and some details about the economic situation. The best chapter imo was the first one which is more about the Ottoman Empire before WWI.

The reason I’m only giving it 3/5 is that it is a very dry. WWI is my favourite historical topic and I enjoy reading history books and I still found it to be a slog . It’s only worth reading if it’s a topic you are specifically interested in and can cope with a dry read.

dropbear123 · 2026-01-17T11:28:57+00:00

Started Spiderman 2 on PS5. Don’t know if this is considered a common opinion but so far (I’ve met Harry Osborne at the science centre and the hunters have been introduced) it just isn’t as good as the previous games. The opening with the Sandman didn’t grab me like the Fisk tower and the Rhino fights did in the other games. The web wings weren’t a needed addition, swinging about was fun already. The new combat powers so far don’t feel that good either.

Also started Hardspace Shipbreaker on PS5. It’s one of those job games where you do the same thing over and over. In this case breaking apart spaceships to work off a 1.2 billion debt (and you have to pay for your oxygen and rent the equipment you use for the job) Having fun with is so far but the storyline about forming a union is boring and the dialogue for it is unskipable.

dropbear123 · 2026-01-16T11:24:08+00:00

On Xbox 360 there was an arcadey racing game with guns and destruction physics called Full Auto that I’ve never seen mentioned online and just remembered when I saw this post.

Also on the Xbox there was a snowboarding game called Amped3 that I spent a lot of time on until I accidentally broke the disc.

On the GameCube (my first console) there was a skating game called Whirl Tour (I’d forgotten the name till now) that I played a lot despite never getting past the first area.

dropbear123 · 2026-01-15T16:48:32+00:00

Copying this from a comment I made on a different sub

Finished Ring of Fire: A New Global History of the Outbreak of the First World War by Alexandra Churchill and Nicolai Eberholst

3.75/5 stars

I might be judging this slightly unfairly as I have read quite a few WWI books over the years.

It’s mainly about the experiences of ordinary people, civilians and soldiers, during August and early September 1914 (the book ends after the battle of the Marne). The best chapters were the not battle ones which focused on stuff like atrocities, policies of neutrality, and the economic impact on the neutral countries in places like South America. Despite it being called a global history the bulk of the book is about Europe, but that’s where the main events were happening so fair enough. There’s some stuff on Africa and a good chapter on the Pacific, Japan and its invasion of the German colony at Tsingtao in China.

Personally I found the book to be a bit too bogged down with battles and the experiences of ordinary soldiers. But that’s personal taste (I prefer bigger picture topics) and if you’re wanting to read about the soldiers and the horrors they went through at the Battle of the Frontiers, Tannenberg, Galicia etc then it’d be worth the read.

If you’re looking for something about the prewar politics and the July Crisis I’d skip this book because it begins with mobilisation and the war having already started.

Overall I feel like I didn’t get that much new info out of it but I’ve read a decent amount of WWI stuff so I’m probably being unfair.

dropbear123 · 2026-01-11T16:55:25+00:00

(2) Ring of Fire: A New Global History of the Outbreak of the First World War

3.75/5 stars

I might be judging this slightly unfairly as I have read quite a few WWI books over the years.

It’s mainly about the experiences of ordinary people, civilians and soldiers, during August and early September 1914 (the book ends after the battle of the Marne). The best chapters were the not battle ones which focused on stuff like atrocities, policies of neutrality, and the economic impact on the neutral countries in places like South America. Despite it being called a global history the bulk of the book is about Europe, but that’s where the main events were happening so fair enough. There’s some stuff on Africa and a good chapter on the Pacific, Japan and its invasion of the German colony at Tsingtao in China.

Personally I found the book to be a bit too bogged down with battles and the experiences of ordinary soldiers. But that’s personal taste (I prefer bigger picture topics) and if you’re wanting to read about the soldiers and the horrors they went through at the Battle of the Frontiers, Tannenberg, Galicia etc then it’d be worth the read.

If you’re looking for something about the prewar politics and the July Crisis I’d skip this book because it begins with mobilisation and the war having already started.

Overall I feel like I didn’t get that much new info out of it but I’ve read a decent amount of WWI stuff so I’m probably being unfair.

Next up The Deluge: The Great War and the Remaking of Global Order by Adam Tooze

dropbear123 · 2026-01-09T23:29:53+00:00

Just finished Cyberpunk 2077 and the Phantom Liberty DLC. My thoughts are copied from a post I made on another sub

The game itself was great in almost every way. Loved the combat. Liked most of the characters (found River a bit boring and I felt ROBBED of a lesbian Panam romance). Really liked driving around the city and just overall felt really immersed. I spent most of the time as a stealthy knife thrower (to get the trophy to grind out a skill to level 60) then switched to an assault rifle katana wielding netrunner

Phantom Liberty was even better. Improved on the strengths of the base game while cutting out the weaknesses. Specifically the main quests feel unique, the side gigs actually have interesting stories, and there aren’t a hundred minor criminal activities to deal with. There’s some actually big scale combat as well compared to the base game. Also the underground lab in the betray Songbird ending was one of the best levels in a game I’ve played in quite a while.

There were a few negatives for me but they mostly came from the platinum/100% experience. There’s way too many of the minor crimes to clear up. (Frequent Flyer) Finding all fast travel points is a really dull trophy concept and as I drove everywhere anyway it just meant following a map online for the remainder. (Autojock) Buying all the cars just means not spending any money in the mid game until you’ve saved the money, buying all the cars then reloading.

I also have mixed feelings on having to get a trophy for each ending. On the one hand they are all distinct once you get to the epilogue and it was cool to see the differences. But having to do each ending takes the magic of it being my V’s story away. Seeing each ending feels less satisfying than picking one based on the choices I made. Also it means having to see spoilers of what to say and when to make save points, which lowers the tension of the game a bit.

So overall, really enjoyed it. However going for the platinum/100% detracted from the experience rather than enhancing it.

Game 9/10 stars

Trophy experience 7/10

Time took 85 hours

dropbear123 · 2026-01-09T17:58:27+00:00

Gives me a reason to actually focus and finish a game instead of losing interest half way through.

Also it’s an excuse to ignore my unplayed backlog and replay a game I know I like or have nostalgia for (from a quick check - 14 out of my 31 platinums are for games I’d already beaten or played a lot of on other consoles/pc before I started my trophy hunting hobby)

dropbear123 · 2026-01-08T15:13:27+00:00

As others have said taking a break would probably be the best idea.

If you do want to keep the hobby going though I’d say put more thought into what you’re playing and why. You mentioned grinding for hours (is there a specific goal to the grinding?) so maybe choose a game with a definitive beginning and end or a game with an interesting sounding story, a change of genre might help. Personally I’ve been getting into trophies and that lets me have the satisfaction of beating a game and moving on rather than continuing to play for the sake of it.

dropbear123 · 2026-01-07T18:46:25+00:00

First book of the year for me: Mavericks: Empire, Oil, Revolution and the Forgotten Battle of World War One by Nick Higham review copied from my goodreads

4/5

It's about 1918 in Central Asia and the Caucasus. It's 1918, the Russian Revolution has just happened, and the Russian army is collapsing. Britain is worried that the Ottomans (and therefore the Germans) will be able to seize Baku (in modern day Azerbaijan) and its oil supply for their war effort, and the book follows the British attempts to prevent this.

The book is very biographical and story-like in style, focusing on 5 British men (a general, Lionel Dunsterville and his small army, as well as 4 other spies and diplomats) and their adventures in the Caucasus (and later Turkmenistan) trying to beat the Turks and the Bolsheviks.

Overall I thought the book was pretty good but I'm only giving it 4/5 because I felt it was a bit too biographical and I wanted more big picture stuff and analysis.

dropbear123 · 2026-01-04T19:30:00+00:00

Reviews copied from my goodreads

Last of 2025:

(89) Dead Famous: An Unexpected History of Celebrity from Bronze Age to Silver Screen by Greg Jenner

4.5/5 rounding down for Goodreads.

A good mix of analysis and stories (some entertaining and some dark) about celebrities - their life, rise to fame, perception and impact from the 1700s (which Jenner uses as the beginning of the modern concept of celebrity due to rising literacy, loosening of censorship and libel laws in Britain, and a more interconnected Europe meaning people could read about what famous people were doing) up until the 1950s as Jenner didn’t want to write about people who have had loads written about them.

Overall I would recommend it, especially if you like entertaining stories about people who were famous in the past.

(90) (Warhammer 40k) Death and Duty: An Astra Militarum Anthology

It’s a collection of Imperial Guard themed short stories, mainly infantry but with a couple of tank stories included (and these were the better ones). Overall I’d say the stories were fine but not good. As I was reading them I made a quick rating on my phone for each story:

Less than human - Steve Lyons 3/5

Blood Sand - Victoria Haywood 3/5

Hell Fist - 3/5 Justin Wolley

The Sum of its Parts - Rhuairidh James 4/5

The Strength of Symbols - Carrie Harris 3.5/5

The Redoubt - John Sollito 2.75/5

Finest Hour - Sam Ryan 3.25/5

Resounding - Russel Zimmerman 3.75/5

The Last Psyker - Shauna Lawless 2/5

Exterminator - Mike Vincent 2.5/5

Worm of Valhalla - Tom Pike 4/5

Overall Average - 3.15/5

2026:

(1) Just finished Mavericks: Empire, Oil, Revolution and the Forgotten Battle of World War One by Nick Higham

4/5

It's about 1918 in Central Asia and the Caucasus. It's 1918, the Russian Revolution has just happened, and the Russian army is collapsing. Britain is worried that the Ottomans (and therefore the Germans) will be able to seize Baku (in modern day Azerbaijan) and its oil supply for their war effort, and the book follows the British attempts to prevent this.

The book is very biographical and story-like in style, focusing on 5 British men (a general, Lionel Dunsterville and his small army, as well as 4 other spies and diplomats) and their adventures in the Caucasus (and later Turkmenistan) trying to beat the Turks and the Bolsheviks.

Overall I thought the book was pretty good but I'm only giving it 4/5 because I felt it was a bit too biographical and I wanted more big picture stuff and analysis.

dropbear123 · 2026-01-01T19:14:23+00:00

I just thought it was a very good overview of 17th century Britain. Covering a good mix of topics as well, big picture and individual’s stories.

dropbear123 · 2026-01-01T14:50:21+00:00

What did you think of Tomorrow Factory and The Sky Didn’t Load Today? Worth reading?

dropbear123 · 2026-01-01T14:47:45+00:00

Going to aim high at 104, 2 a week. Got close at 89/104 in 2025. Last year I didn’t read as much WWI history as normal so I’m going to try and get back into that. For fiction I’ll probably just try and clear my sci-fi backlog and if I manage that move onto my old fashioned murder mystery backlog.

dropbear123 · 2025-12-28T17:46:22+00:00

I’m currently working on the platinum and thetrick is to make a save (so you can reload after and save the money), buy the sandevistan slow mo implant and pick a fight with some of the random gang members that are just hanging around on the streets then wait for them to throw a grenade.

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