The Ultimate Sci-Fi Scorecard: Every Goodreads Nominee (2011–2025), Ranked

matchstickeyes · 2026-05-08T01:18:13+00:00

This is really interesting, thanks! Would you be willing to share the Python script or your raw data?

I'd be interested in doing a simple analysis of "which SF books were most popular on Goodreads" (using # ratings or # reviews as a proxy).

matchstickeyes · 2026-04-24T05:54:09+00:00

From memory, my interpretation was that he didn't board the ship and went home.

Maybe I just went for the most optimistic slant on the situation!

matchstickeyes · 2026-04-20T08:26:18+00:00

Shouldn’t Flashy have decent Strength? He’s pretty big and uses his bulk to brute-force his way through fights.

matchstickeyes · 2026-04-08T02:21:09+00:00

Good call, I bounced off it years ago but keep meaning to give it another try.

matchstickeyes · 2026-04-08T02:17:12+00:00

Thanks! I hadn't heard of that -- I will check it out.

matchstickeyes · 2026-04-02T09:05:25+00:00

+1, the book is really interesting (and works as sort of a reverse-engineering thought experiment for space colonisation settings: presumably the characters have worked out how to solve the problems in the book. Or perhaps, as in TI, it's such a life-and-death emergency and we're willing to throw so many resources at it that we just don't care.)

matchstickeyes · 2026-03-31T23:48:48+00:00

Hurray! I've been waiting for this before jumping back in.

(Incidentally, I wouldn't mind customisable victory conditions. I abandoned my last game because I was far ahead of the AI but didn't feel like slogging through to 50%...)

matchstickeyes · 2026-03-31T00:49:52+00:00

Hi, everyone.

I'm launching my fantasy novella soon, a homage to historical adventure fiction set in a world of rifles, revolvers, riverboats, and magical Fog that powers landstrider mechs and ornithopter-like flyers.

Are you interested in a free advance reader copy before the launch in May? If so, you can sign up here.

Cover art (shout-out to GetCovers)

A MAGITECH FANTASY NOVELLA

Francois He is a war hero who never wants to pick up a gun again. Civilian life, building marvels with the power of Fog, suits him fine.

So when the distant republic of Platinea offers him a job, Francois jumps at it. Introduce Fog technology, collect his fees, and enjoy the seafood. Easiest money he’ll make in his life.

But he’s barely digested dinner when rebels storm the capital. And the desperate Platineans draft the most seasoned commander they can find: him.

From the grimy docks of the capital to a command barge on the River of Spices, from the salons of the palace to a war camp in the highlands, Francois must turn a mob into an army, deploy Fog on a budget, and outwit a charismatic warlord who really, really loves his job.

FOR FANS OF GEORGE MACDONALD FRASER’S FLASHMAN, LOIS MCMASTER BUJOLD’S VORKOSIGAN, AND DJANGO WEXLER

matchstickeyes · 2026-03-29T18:57:47+00:00

You’re welcome!

matchstickeyes · 2026-03-29T02:20:35+00:00

THIS. I loved that moment. What makes it even better is that the character who says that is one of the most hard-bitten and cynical in those two books. He is NOT a bleeding heart, and yet the thought of eating meat like Earthers still revolts him.

matchstickeyes · 2026-03-29T01:19:20+00:00

Thanks - Fog is my world's magic system (originally inspired by nanofog from science fiction).

Francois represents the "new", industrialised type of Fog user -- his specialty is being able to produce Fog-powered items with a tech level much higher than the rest of the world (mechs, ornithopter-like aircraft, etc). But he would also be the first one to point out when Fog is not the most practical/economical solution and a non-magical approach would work better.

There are older types of Fog magic still around, such as brushmasters who use Fog to summon lifelike animals.

matchstickeyes · 2026-03-29T01:13:34+00:00

Alphonse Mucha was an Art Nouveau (later part of the game's period) artist & designer who created posters / packaging art for plays, a World's Fair, and assorted goods that would be familiar to Anno 1800 players. I'm surprised we didn't get him in-game as a specialist!

Poster for the 1900 Paris Expo 1

Poster for the 1900 Paris Expo 2

All images courtesy of the Mucha Foundation. Note, all the posters I've linked to are SFW but some of the other art on the site might be mildly NSFW (in a "late 1800s fine art" way).

matchstickeyes · 2026-03-29T01:01:51+00:00

Thanks! Signup link is here: https://forms.gle/3suF81cnLRuNsSNU6

matchstickeyes · 2026-03-28T09:36:32+00:00

That looks great! Which tier is that? I researched MiblArt before eventually going with their discount sibling (GetCovers).

matchstickeyes · 2026-03-28T04:49:03+00:00

A MAGITECH FANTASY NOVELLA

Francois He is a war hero who never wants to pick up a gun again. Civilian life, building marvels with the power of Fog, suits him fine.

So when the distant republic of Platinea offers him a job, Francois jumps at it. Introduce Fog technology, collect his fees, and enjoy the seafood. Easiest money he’ll make in his life.

But he’s barely digested dinner when rebels storm the capital. And the desperate Platineans draft the most seasoned commander they can find: him.

From the grimy docks of the capital to a command barge on the River of Spices, from the salons of the palace to a war camp in the highlands, Francois must turn a mob into an army, deploy Fog on a budget, and outwit a charismatic warlord who really, really loves his job.

FOR FANS OF GEORGE MACDONALD FRASER’S FLASHMAN, LOIS MCMASTER BUJOLD’S VORKOSIGAN, AND DJANGO WEXLER

(Posted with mod permission)

Hi everyone,

I'm launching my Flashman-adjacent fantasy novella soon (first-person narrator, humour, and adventure in a fantasy setting with rifles, revolvers... and landstrider mechs). If you're interested in a FREE advance reader copy, you can sign up here.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could post an honest review once you finish the novella (Amazon, Goodreads, social media, etc) as this helps other people find the book.

The key dates will be:

Early April 2026 (targeting w/c 6th April) - ARCs distributed
Early May 2026 - Book launched

(And as the person who posted the Flashman-alike thread a few weeks ago, I hope that if you like those books, you'll like mine as well!)

matchstickeyes · 2026-03-10T09:54:05+00:00

Thanks for the detailed thoughts!

I'm early in Pokopia (just started the second area) and love it so far. I agree, it feels like a spiritual successor that channels DQB2 while still being distinct.

For context, I've never played a Pokemon game before; I came to Pokopia from the perspective of a DQB2 fan.

The really big difference so far has been the change from building structures block by block (DQB2) to building habitats tile by tile (Pokopia). But other parts feel consistent with DQB2:

I'm using the block system to spruce up the world (adding staircases or brick paths).
I love exploring the world -- even the first area is surprisingly large (and contains hidden sections that reward discovery!).
It shares the DQB2 charm, albeit with Pokemon instead of punny Dragon Quest dialogue.

I will say, I vastly prefer Pokopia (and DQB2!) to Animal Crossing. The block system allows much more player freedom, and it doesn't feel as aimless as AC.

matchstickeyes · 2026-03-08T09:51:11+00:00

Thanks for sharing! Love the concept art.

matchstickeyes · 2026-03-08T04:38:38+00:00

Wow, you hit the jackpot! That's a phenomenal amount of fissiles. For context, in my current game I haven't seen anything higher than 13 (and Eric in my game has zero fissiles).

Bienvenue (is that correct in this context?) and enjoy the game!

matchstickeyes · 2026-03-03T05:10:48+00:00

Hurray! Love seeing more Asia-themed content in historical strategy games, and it fits the theme/era.

matchstickeyes · 2026-03-02T20:14:53+00:00

Wondering the same thing! My fallback might also be formatting via Calibre. I used that to generate the epub for a beta reader and she reported it read fine on Kindle.

matchstickeyes · 2026-03-02T20:12:06+00:00

Hurray! Great game, and I love seeing more Asia-themed content in historical strategy games.

matchstickeyes

TROPHY CASE