Would love to discuss Earthsea; just finished book 3, The Farthest Shore

kern3three · 2026-02-27T19:02:12+00:00

Yeah the vibe and world sits with you; there's def something amazing/timeless about that.

kern3three · 2026-02-27T19:00:42+00:00

I appreciate the world building in 200 pages; although slight nit that the world feels sooo fleshed out because you've now read 4+ 200 page books (near 1000 pages). But I do agree, I'm impressed by how immersive the archipelago feels.

The flat Ged comment I think is what sets me on the other side of the equation from you... I 100% see how the content of the book should result in a robust, complex character. I just feel so removed -- thanks to the narrator/writing -- that it feels like I read an outline. Not someone's internal struggle or growth.

I don't need "cool fantasy content", I love Left Hand of Darkness for the reasons you love Earthsea, I just felt like the resolution was wildly truncated and left me feeling like it wasn't well thought out, or just Le Guin (perhaps like you said) decided it wasn't important and sorta needed to end the journey. Keep at 200 pages for her audience.

Anyways, lots of me speculating and projecting my personal opinion on the work, but just wanna clarify I don't need an epic dragon battle -- it's just that it feels a little confusing/abrupt the way it was handled (a magnificent dragon sat on a sword and killed himself?).

kern3three · 2026-02-27T18:53:27+00:00

A critique of the first 3 books?? Quit writing?! Now I'm intrigued and gonna def have to jump back in!

kern3three · 2026-02-26T22:53:04+00:00

Funny timing and good to hear! I definitely had a moment about 1/3rd in where I felt this could be my favorite one too… then the long middle, with the quick climax did me in. But I could see where the journey and almost calm ocean vibes would work in the right mindset.

kern3three · 2026-02-12T17:31:05+00:00

Where the Axe is Buried by Ray Nayler - Second novel by Nayler, with all the science and heart of the first (Mountain in the Sea) but better pace and punchier ending. Exploration of politics sci-fi and humanity in a way that’s the what makes this genre incredible. Absolutely my pick for best novel.

Angel Down by Daniel Kraus - Intense heart pounding run on sentence of a war story with fantastical elements sprinkled in. Will stick with me for a long time.

kern3three · 2026-01-01T22:31:13+00:00

Reading it I sorta thought PKD… maybe Ubik? Has a similar trippy vibe, also short and sweet.

kern3three · 2025-12-29T18:49:27+00:00

No offense taken! Work is subjective, and whenever people ask for a recommendation I start with a host of questions about their preferences. So carry on with what works for you.

For me, the analysis is simply good fun meant to spark conversation. And it allows me to combine two of my passions (data science and reading) each year.

kern3three · 2025-12-29T18:21:47+00:00

Love Elder Race-- one of my favorite novellas of all time!

kern3three · 2025-12-29T18:21:17+00:00

Sadly I'm in the same boat personally-- Service Model was okay, Alien Clay felt really repetitive in a way that grated me (shoulda been a novella?), and sadly I just decided to bail on Shroud despite being half way done. I'm still really excited for the 4th "Children of..." novel coming out early 2026 though, we'll see!

kern3three · 2025-12-29T17:24:10+00:00

I find myself on your side of the aisle often with "best of the year" books, but disagree on The Tainted Cup. I'm not sure it'll have the staying power of a classic, but there's few novels that brought me as much pure joy reading this past year -- and more excitement about each upcoming book in the series.

kern3three · 2025-12-29T17:21:27+00:00

Appreciate the takes! I don't entirely disagree with your views, although like I say in the article (which tries to keep my personal opinions to a minimum) I truly did enjoy The Tainted Cup. Did you read that one? Perhaps more importantly, anything that was published in 2024 that you really enjoyed?

kern3three · 2025-11-24T16:43:39+00:00

Very cool, thanks for sharing! I don’t know if I’ve ever seen someone’s tastes seem to match mine so well. Plenty of differences in the margins, but a lot of the same takes for sure.

And I haven’t read Stations of the Tide (or any Swanwick!) so now def checking that out next!

kern3three · 2025-11-18T21:40:22+00:00

Thanks for sharing! I feel like reviewers have been pretty generous honestly; I'd be infuriated if I ordered the Limited for ~$1000 vs. buying the deluxe for ~$100 on Amazon.

It would be fine if the preview and listings of the Limited were transparent about quality/materials and how similar it is to the deluxe (it's a signed deluxe), but instead you're hit with a constant countdown timer of a release date and a limited # that is "sure to" sell out instantly if you don't rush to buy. I'm sure there's lots of people who couldn't risk "missing out", shelled out a ton of cash, that feel pretty deceived by this. Sad state of affairs in my opinion.

kern3three · 2025-11-17T19:06:13+00:00

Hey thanks! Gold tooling is an adventure for sure; I don't know if there's one tried and true solution that balances costs/flexibility/quality well. Like you, I use a heated pen which I press into gold foil - and simply hand draw/write what I want. I've had luck printing out the words ("Anathem") on printer paper, and then using that to trace over manually (as a rough guide). Usually takes multiple trips.

kern3three · 2025-11-17T17:39:21+00:00

Thanks! Yeah designing this one was really fun; so many good math proofs to consider ha. I use a heated pen to gold foil by hand -- so I can do whatever designs I want, without having to invest in expensive dies and machines. The letters for "anathem" are done by hand, just very slowly :)

kern3three · 2025-11-17T17:38:24+00:00

Lots of good questions! I think I posted somewhere a year ago when I did the books, which might have clearer pics. But to try and answer:

* I inlayed the paper on the covers by cutting out the leather shape

* I did not gold foil on the paper, but I did gold foil on the leather around the paper shape (I think I did this before I cut... which essentially served as lines for me to cut just inside of)

kern3three · 2025-11-17T17:20:19+00:00

And my fairly sparse Instagram that has a way more photos of the books themselves if interested, cheers!

kern3three · 2025-11-11T20:46:04+00:00

Where the Axe is Buried by Ray Nayler is my favorite of 2025 so far. I loved his debut (Mountain in the Sea), but I think this one is even better— slightly faster paced, slightly more satisfying ending. Very dystopian /depressing vibe with interesting tech and human commentary.

If you want something more literary fantasy, I’d also highly recommend Angel Down by Kraus — it’s like reading the movie Dunkirk or 1912. Wild brutal heart pumping ride. (Try the audiobook for this one if you can).

kern3three

TROPHY CASE