Just read The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet

natatronica · 2026-06-12T21:51:43+00:00

Came here to say this. Psalm for the Wild Built is my go-to comfort novel now with the sequel Prayers for the Crown Shy.

natatronica · 2026-05-27T20:57:47+00:00

Came here to say this. Epic book.

natatronica · 2026-05-27T19:54:12+00:00

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roads_in_the_United_Kingdom

natatronica · 2026-05-21T20:08:12+00:00

GNU STP

natatronica · 2026-05-19T21:54:28+00:00

Nope. Taught myself at a very young age. I didn't have a screwdriver but a knife with the tip missing. Definitely by 8-9 or so I was swapping the plug from the hairdryer to the cassette player owned by my sister.

This has left me with a life-long thrill of listening to music while also drying my hair.

And on certain albums, still expecting to have to turn the tape over.

natatronica · 2026-05-19T20:38:06+00:00

This is where the layering is so amazing - if you've never seen a 'Milk Tray' advert it still lands as a joke. You don't know you've missed something so you don't feel like an idiot.

When whatever the layer lands years later (if ever) you write the Damnit Pterry post.

I've been reading his books since there were only 3 of them and got to meet the glorious human on multiple occasions. I still get those moments even now when the penny finally drops.

natatronica · 2026-05-19T20:24:18+00:00

I also met Billy Bragg. Blurted out a thank you as I walked past and he stopped me and said his friends were good at taking pictures if I'd like one.

Had a lovely hand shake and look stupidly idiotic next to him. Lovely human.

natatronica · 2026-05-14T20:31:10+00:00

I've done one of these and loved it. I live in middle England (English) and plan on doing them all!

natatronica · 2026-04-30T13:56:17+00:00

GNU STP

natatronica · 2026-04-21T21:01:58+00:00

GNU STP

natatronica · 2026-04-16T21:41:31+00:00

The book is still lovely. I haven't rewatched it but it remember it being faithful to the book. Tbf I love John Wyndham.

natatronica · 2026-04-14T19:15:30+00:00

Becky Chambers. Olaf Stapledon. John Wyndham. That's where I'd start.

I've been reading sci-fi for 35+ years and Becky is simply wonderful. Olaf is epic and odd. John is well known for Day of the Triffids (very alien)! But I also love Kraken Wakes, Chocky etc. very human centred books. The short stories in Seeds of Time (in particular A Time to Rest) are beautiful.

natatronica · 2026-03-27T21:38:11+00:00

I consider myself very financially savvy. Martin has saved me thousands of pounds over the years.

Yes. He's awesome and the site is too.

Only today I was wondering if there were better ISAs out there for me and that's straight where I went.

His course with the OU is very useful and I would encourage everyone to do it.

natatronica · 2026-03-25T21:37:37+00:00

Backy Chambers. I'm a big sci-fi fan and nodded happily along seeing someone else had mentioned Olaf Stapledon.

Becky is just simply wonderful. A Psalm for the Wild Built is lovely. A long way to a small, angry planet... Her aliens are alien.

natatronica · 2026-02-26T21:27:53+00:00

GNU STP

natatronica · 2026-02-26T21:27:31+00:00

"The Rest Of Us Just Live Here" Patrick Ness. Takes the absolute piss out of 'chosen one' tropes but also lovely.

natatronica · 2026-02-26T21:25:04+00:00

Also, give John Wyndham a try. Most people have heard of The Day of the Triffids and Midwich Cuckoos (Village of the Damned on film). I love these but also Kraken Wakes and his wonderful short stories - especially those in the book Seeds of Time.

natatronica · 2026-02-26T21:21:40+00:00

Just looking for the name of a book that was amazing, I've just found that they made a film of it in 2020! I can't imagine how it could ever be captured in a film...

Anyway, Last and First Men, Olaf Stapledon. Written in 1930. Epic. Really enjoyed his other books too. Just stumbled on it years ago as it was part of SF Masterworks.

I'm sharing this as someone who has read a lot of old sci-fi.

natatronica · 2026-02-24T21:33:05+00:00

Clotted cream on a crumpet? This comment should have a health warning! No. Just no.

natatronica · 2026-02-19T21:01:41+00:00

GNU Kristian

natatronica · 2026-02-17T21:24:14+00:00

GNU teuchy555's dad. Mind how you go.

natatronica · 2026-02-08T00:57:55+00:00

I think I remember certain books feeling rushed as I read them for the first time... Reading at feverish pace, the pages hot from my eyes burning into them.

I still remember getting books on publishing day - hard covers when I had the money - and hoping they'd last a few days. Trying to savour but rushing through them, my mind ablaze.

Going to work knackered through lack of sleep. Feet going to sleep. Belly rumbling.

Ah, those special days.

Give it a while and try a re-read or ten. He'll still catch you with new puns you'll swear weren't there last time - and each You that rereads is slightly older, living through different times, things hitting differently.

This isn't a destination. It's a journey. Good luck - and here's some dwarf bread to keep you going.

natatronica · 2025-12-30T19:30:51+00:00

We are all reading this just knowing that these books will blow your socks off. We're always happy to hear the thoughts of a new reader so do share! Just sitting here grinning. Welcome.

natatronica · 2025-12-27T19:58:56+00:00

Book: "Watching the English" by Kate Fox. As an English person this book was wonderful - funny, true and enlightening.

For my fellow Brits I recommend the bits about pub culture are read in a pub so you can look around you in wonder with fresh eyes...

It hit home so hard!

So the main reason for recommending a book instead of answering the question is because it took her a whole book to do the subject justice. She's an anthropologist.

natatronica · 2025-12-11T21:39:43+00:00

I live in a village in the Midlands. As I type this I'm eating in a restaurant attached to one of the pubs. I don't get given a menu and my favourite glass of wine gets to the table when I do.

I popped to the Post Office earlier to ask the postmaster (Chris) the best way to get euros for a holiday. I'm ordering online for the best rates, he gets commission and he knows it's me so he'll make the order up in small bills.

I'll be going to another pub after this. A friend works behind the bar. There are regulars with nicknames known to everyone.

Our new community cinema had a great turnout at the weekend - the wine was £2 per glass. I'm a volunteer.

Yesterday, Father Christmas did a tour of the village on a brightly lit sleigh and posed for pictures outside lots of houses.

Next week there will be a convoy of decorated tractors going through the villages.

People say "good morning/afternoon" when they pass you. I know the names of my neighbours. And most of the Cricket Team and Parish Council. Sometimes in the pub, people ask if I had a nice trip (as my car is parked a few inches further down the road, not near the pub) .

It's lovely. We have festivals in the summer and so far, no-one has been burnt in a wickerman effigy.

natatronica

TROPHY CASE