Now that the mood is set, starting off this issue with a link to a Chosen Spirits review, the lead review in this month’s issue of Salon Futura, which definitely has the best one-line magazine description in the world this month.
Also, a very generous review in Tamaranth’s Creative Reading blog.
I had the pleasure of doing the first of what will hopefully be many Second Life Book Club events, though I have to say I had major second thoughts about my avatar choices when I saw the very glamorous and respectable digital incarnations of my copanelists. Video below:
If you’re a SLBC attendee, do let me know, I’m not quite sure how socialising works there but there’s a dragon, an intellectual watering can and a Bangalorean I’m already planning to hang out with.
Also thinking of joining/starting less visually extreme, more conventional writer groups. It’s always been a jungle out there, but now there seems to be regular meteor showers.
Getting a read
First a word from our non sponsors
Anyway, books. A book I’ve been waiting for, the final volume of the most impressive Daevabad trilogy, Empire of Gold by SA Chakraborty is out. The trilogy, which began with The City of Brass, has been an absolute delight, and made me flashback to the amazing fantasy series boom of the early 00s. Also, the internet is full of gorgeous, jealousy-inducing Daevabad fan art. Strong recommend.
Octavia Butler’s motivational notes to herself are probably better than yours.
Finished and loved Lavie Tidhar’s By Force Alone, which is a brutal, smart, gangster Arthurian legend retelling that he’s made contemporary-relevant as well without going Guy Ritchie elephant CGI on it. Must be nice to be able to look at national myths and interpret them as one chooses. Get it here if in India.
The times continue to be strange
What it’s like to be Black in publishing.
Ai Weiwei says Hong Kong’s new security law is the last nail in its coffin.
There’s a whole separate phone network for criminals and police got on it.
It has been proposed that mini submarines could make hexagonal ice blocks to refreeze the oceans. Controversial ice babies.
Invading cicadas may turn into sex-crazed fungus-controlled zombies this summer.
If you, like me, have not read any brain activity studies, you’ll be delighted to know you may have saved a lot of time, as a study claims all these studies may have got it wrong.
Microwaving library books and masks to kill covid is not good guys.
The shows must go on
There’s an all-star fan remake phone-video series of The Princess Bride for charity, with a cast too long to type, but the first few episodes are out and you must watch them.
In the Guardian, an excellent analysis: Why does Christopher Nolan hate chairs?
Hamilton is out on Hotstar. Watched it, can’t wait to rewatch it with a mixture of awe and absolute envy. There’s no form that can’t evolve, but in each medium there are certain moments of takeoff when you're glad to be around just to mark the occasion even if you're not in the room where it happened, and watching such an incredible combination of talent and confidence and teamwork and...
Seriously, I'm sure any storyteller trudging through the shitstorm/sweatshop sweetspot that is our regional arts scene in any medium would give anything to be involved in these magical world-uniting, medium-changing, era-defining projects. I certainly would. But it was good to even get to see this show on screen.
Now where is my Wicked movie?
The Oscars Academy took in 800+ new members from around the world in a welcome pro-diversity move. Shoutout to Loreto Cal hero/global casting superstar/producer Tess Joseph.
They’re pirating Margot Robbie
An interesting short film anthology from big-name directors on Netflix
Chances are you’ve come across the work of social media special effects hero Julian Bass
Hard-hitting data journalism. The movies Owen Wilson says ‘Wow!’ in and the number of times he says ‘Wow!’ in each of them.
These emotions are owned by us: The Enola Holmes lawsuit.
A Cyborg took out Joss Whedon.
Here is a duck I enjoyed
Back in a bit
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