🔖 I laughed at the Bookmark Adventure Time story! 🫖 I’ve read that “Imperial Radch” trilogy, but I was way more into it by the third book than just after the first, so it might be one of those… I’ve since bought more Leckie books, so I was clearly won over in the end. 🐦 I love it when somebody can clearly and confidently say, “no, THIS is the book that you’re looking for.” Brilliant, well done that person at 😡🤖 for having such confidence. Can’t wait to hear how you get on with it, especially as I’ve never heard of it before. 📚 I think I would have come away with off-piste picks that I would not have normally considered, like your “…Bird Watching” book, and probably more than I ought to. Though I have learned that being the one with a rucksack is *not* a good idea when in a group at a thing, as you end up carrying everything for everybody! Been there, done that 😤
I would read a book called Imperial Radish. I remember liking Ancillary Justice, although I never made it to the third book, I'm awful at series. You can never have enough bookmarks.
Ooo, I liked seeing your own ranking of Hugo contenders. My own primary interest is in “Witch King”, but likewise my familiarity with Wells comes from “Murderbot”.
I also edited some short vlogs for Worldcon on TikTok; it was so much fun! I wish it could have lasted longer 🛸 I think we attended a few of the same panels 😊
I loved the Daevabad Trilogy so looking forward to The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. Also guilty of liking a basic adventure/quest story, so will keep an eye out for the Martha Wells book.
I liked Tesh's two little fantasy novellas but I haven't read Some Desperate Glory, I kinda didn't like the sound of it because every YA book ever has a teenage girl ultimate warrior plot these days so I can't be bothered with them, was kinda surprised it won as she is definitely not as famous as some of the other authors nominated. Amina al-Sirafi sounds really interesting. I still need to finish Murder Bot before i check out more Wells.
I didn't know there were some novellas so maybe I will check them out just to see if I prefer them - obviously full endorse you picking up amina it was a lot of fun!
The only one I have read is translation state Which I really enjoyed. I have a project to read all of the nebula and Hugo winners And I must admit that I am feeling a little bit apprehensive about this year's winners. Thanks for your thoughts.
Thankyou for dropping by and I'm definitely going to give translation state another try after reading the trilogy to see if that helps me - also interesting project that would be fun
So will we get to see a longer video about your Worldcon experiences, Robin? I'd be very interested to see how similar/different it was to cons in years gone by....
You need to up your romantasy game it seems! Those books do indeed have the most beautiful covers. Thanks for sharing your Blogger Brunch experience as well. They sound like a lot of fun. Looking forward to catching up. Hope you're doing well. :)
I have read the book, I am kind of confused regarding those structures. What are they? A Cenotaph? Whatever those structures are what purpose do they serve? Why is that Planet's biology keen on building it?
I also feel like a bit of a stalker 😅 by the end of the year I will have seen Adrian Tchaikovsky 4 times! And yes, I struggle a lot to find things to say/ask to the authors when I go to get my books signed. No matter how many times I do it, it doesn’t get any less awkward! 🙈
Awesome video! Glad you had a good time at the Con. I do struggle with coming up with questions to ask authors, yes. Service Model sounds like an interesting book.
ohh very good question and sorry i didnt add the answer in the video that was a miss - he stated that his work is always improving and therefore, he recommends one of his lastest ones which is the City of Last Chances and house of open wounds series
I noted that the cover for “Evocation” stated it was a Tour 2024 edition. Which led me to wonder if the cover was just a special bonus over a regular book - I think you mentioned people were just buying the cover and you said it was over the regular blue cover - and therefore what happens if they don’t bring enough. Do you have to get to the merch stall promptly to get the limited special editions at events such as this? You asked about meeting authors and asking Q’s. I’m not really a meet the author/signed books type, but every now and then I’ll join a live show on BookTube. Even in the chat/comments section I still want to ask interesting Q’s, and the pressure is there to not ask the same Q’s they must get a majillion times. What I’ll often do is prepare a few Q’s in advance within Notes on my iPad so I can just paste them into the chat window as they become relevant. That way I can note them as them pop to mind, and maybe refine them ahead of time. So I’d definitely prepare in advance if ever I were at some event!
I think each character was a metaphor. Talia represented religion, Pushkin dude represented survival, life lead by riches. Chen represented innocent people swayed by either party, and Alex lived cause of his wife. In the end Alex found that he not only lived for his wife.. In the end he decided to live his life to help others like he lived for his wife.
I gotta be honest... I was really enjoying this novel up until the big reveal. Yeah, I suspected the Corporation was behind everything happening, but still... The revelations kinda of killed the relentless eerie menacing sense of dread that was the first 2/3 of the novel.
This was my first Tchaikovsky book, I finished it yesterday. I really liked the way it was written, the themes and the characters. And the ending was actually really cool.
I have read the book, I am kind of confused regarding those structures. What are they? A Cenotaph? Whatever those structures are what purpose do they serve? Why is that Planet's biology keen on building it?
Loved this - really loved how you edited the pictures into the side. I always like the filming where you show the book in your hands giving us a closer look at the cover, back and spine. Just spotted your book shrlf inbrhe fireplace 💜📚 and the Arc of Scythe in there! Literally just finished reading that, is it you or your partner who has read that. 💜📚
3:13 - how did I not realise this? That is so cool - clearly need to go back to Liberia. Think I got distracted by finding a book Immediately and the enjoying the children's area 😂💜📚
I do like a themed reading list! But getting to them in a timely fashion can sometimes be a challenge (/cough Clarke Awards). GL with this one. I think I have “Translation State” on my May releases wishlist, and I see “Witch King” is out in p/b in August, which I now realise is why I struggle with these themed reading lists with a deadline attached - the book isn’t out yet in ‘my’ edition.
Awesome video!!! I was planning to look into going myself, and then my money ran out hahaha - I need to get Starter Villain. I did a video on Scalzi then deleted it so that I could do a more up to date one. Martha Wells and Ann Leckie are good authors to see here. I don’t know some of the others. I am going to put these 6 books on my radar! Great video!!
Amina Al Sarafi seems like an interesting book! I have seen it here and there and never dove into it. Starter Villian I'm intrigued by the other cover (the one with the cat in the suit). Translation State! I definitely need to check Anne Leckie. Great video, and thanks for sharing!
I read The Adventures of Amina al Sirafi towards the end of last year during Good Reads Reader's Choice awards voting season. It got my vote for best fastasy. I thought it was a great adventure tale. But in a year when Leigh Bardugo and Brandon Sanderson both had new books out, it ended up being farther down the list of favorites.
But let me also add my thank you for taking this on as a challenge. My favorite Booktuber who used to read and comment on these declined this year. The kerfuffle over over last year's awards seems to have put a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths.
One thing to remember is that the Hugo awards are merely a popularity poll voted upon by those buying memberships and supporting memberships for the Worldcon, so a maximum of a few thousand people vote, sometimes far less. They lost any true literary credibility when J K Rowling won a Hugo for best novel for one of the Harry Potter books, which indicates that by that point, they had become mere crowdpleasers and that the cutting edge was elsewhere. Similarly, the Nebula Awards (administered and voted for by The Science Fiction Writers of America association, which used to have more credibility as you had to be a professional to join and vote- and this too has been degraded by allegations of people buying their way into the organisation- there are detailed writings about this by older SF writers, including those who were instrumental in setting up the SFWA and the Nebula in the 1960s).
@@bookendsandbiscuits It's just worth keeping in mind- decided to not do Worldcon myself due to the cost and the fact I'll be working a lot then, but I'm sure you'll have a great time!
So cool that it’s nearby for you to go along! I keep hearing lots about the Chakraborty and even though I don’t read tonnes of genre fiction it really has me intrigued. Also: always love your close up shots of the book, but these sci-fi and fantasy publishers need to up their games with better endpapers!
Oooh - I don't follow the Hugos, but am intrigued - Translation State sounds fascinating. I have Amina-Alsirafi and enjoy a sea adventure! Looking forward to watching your journey 😃💜📚
Tesh wrote some decent fantasy books so I want to read that one. Scalzi, Leckie, and Wells are always pretty good and I've heard good things about Chakraborty, so it looks like a fun list! Redshirts has one of my favourite openings ever. I generally am a fan of the Hugos, I've read a lot of the winners and they are usually good.
I'm am excited to get to read them because agreed they are all interesting authors. I now want to read red shirts even more! (Who do you think will pick it up this year?)
@@bookendsandbiscuits God knows, I think out of those Leckie is probably the best writer but I might be remembering her overly fondly. Tesh has potential too. I've just seen the cover of Starter Villain though so now I want that to win.
Thank you 😊 was lovely meeting you. Classically I have not started it yet but will give you my thoughts once I do...and Ty I'm slowly adding more plants!
