The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein
Feb. 1st, 2026 09:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
james_davis_nicoll
Can the world, and more importantly, AMERICA! (patriotic song here) fend off a subversive attack from space?
The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein
james_davis_nicollCan the world, and more importantly, AMERICA! (patriotic song here) fend off a subversive attack from space?
The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein
January 2026 in Review
Jan. 31st, 2026 11:01 amjames_davis_nicoll
Another year begins! I have a new In Review banner image!
The first new project this year is Homeward By Starlight, which will review twelve of Poul Anderson’s most notable short works.
January 2026 in Review
Books Received, January 24 — January 30
Jan. 31st, 2026 09:20 amjames_davis_nicoll
Ten books new to me. Five are fantasy, one non-fiction, two horror, one magazine, and I am not sure how to categorize the Tingle. Three are definitely fantasy.
Books Received, January 24 — January 30
Poll #34150 Books Received, January 24 — January 30
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 35
Which of these look interesting?
View Answers
The Wolf Queen’s Curse by Kaylee Archer (September 2026)
4 (11.4%)
Knight of the God King by Lauren Blackwood (October 2026)
5 (14.3%)
A Plagued Sea by Kim Bo-Young (August 2026)
14 (40.0%)
FIYAH Literary Magazine Issue # 37 published by FIYAH Literary Magazine LLC (January 2026)
16 (45.7%)
Among the Thorns by Jennifer K. Lambert (July 2026)
2 (5.7%)
Anne’s Cradle: The Life and Works of Hanako Muraoka, Japanese Translator of Anne of Green Gables by Eri Muraoka & Cathy Hirano (May 2021)
12 (34.3%)
To Vex & to Hex by Neena Noon (November 2026)
2 (5.7%)
Fear Farm by Vincent Ralph (September 2026)
0 (0.0%)
Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle (July 2026)
15 (42.9%)
Kokun: The Girl from the West by Nahoko Uehashi & Cathy Hirano (January 2026)
13 (37.1%)
Some other option (see comments)
0 (0.0%)
Cats!
27 (77.1%)
Huh
Jan. 30th, 2026 11:06 amjames_davis_nicollA detail about the 2017 Hugo nomination long list I've never noticed before:
I checked and I did notice at the time James Nicoll Reviews was treated as different from me, but I seem to have failed to correct the typo for a decade.
I checked and I did notice at the time James Nicoll Reviews was treated as different from me, but I seem to have failed to correct the typo for a decade.
The First Thousand Trees (Annual Migration of Clouds, volume 3) by Premee Mohamed
Jan. 30th, 2026 09:03 amjames_davis_nicoll
A young man sets out to reinvent himself, far from home.
The First Thousand Trees (Annual Migration of Clouds, volume 3) by Premee Mohamed
When Voiha Wakes (House of Kendreth, volume 3) by Joy Chant
Jan. 29th, 2026 09:00 amjames_davis_nicoll
What can be done about Mairilek's obsession with matters beyond male ken?
When Voiha Wakes (House of Kendreth, volume 3) by Joy Chant
Outgunned
Jan. 28th, 2026 11:47 pmjames_davis_nicollRIP Agents Nevada and Alcala, whose reaction to a building-sized rooster was to empty their Mac 10s in its direction, thus ensuring it noticed them.
The player-characters, on the other hand, handled their immediate threat, a truck-sized centipede, more effectively.
( Read more... )
The player-characters, on the other hand, handled their immediate threat, a truck-sized centipede, more effectively.
( Read more... )
Someone Hertz, volume 1 by Ei Yamano (Translated by David Evely)
Jan. 28th, 2026 08:56 amjames_davis_nicoll
What dark motive leads a successful teen comedian who has vowed never to date anyone less funny than her to help an unfunny but otherwise personable young man work on his comedic skills?
Someone Hertz, volume 1 by Ei Yamano (Translated by David Evely)
So, in my Outgunned
Jan. 27th, 2026 10:26 pmjames_davis_nicollI think the schtick is the crew gets sent out to investigate potentially revolutionary tech and it's always legitimately amazing but also not what they're expecting. Case in point, they were looking into a supposed teleporter and now everyone is ant-sized.
Among my other ideas
( Read more... )
Among my other ideas
( Read more... )
City on Fire (Metropolitan, volume 2) by Walter Jon Williams
Jan. 27th, 2026 08:45 amjames_davis_nicoll
Having successfully fled her home city with the proceeds of a spectacular heist, Aiah must now build a new life on that foundation.
City on Fire (Metropolitan, volume 2) by Walter Jon Williams
Another fantasy bundle - Shadowdark Compatible
Jan. 26th, 2026 07:33 pmffuturesThis is an offer of material from multiple publishers compatible with the RPG Shadowdark, a modernized "old school" game of dungeons, monsters, etc.
https://bundleofholding.com/presents/ShadowCompat
This doesn't include the Shadowdark rules, but you can get a free Shadowdark Quickstart Set from Drivethru RPG.
I'm not really into dungeon-bashing games any more, but Shadowdark is apparently state of the art for the genre, and this bundle adds a lot of adventures at a reasonable price. If you're into the system it's probably worth a look.
https://bundleofholding.com/presents/ShadowCompat
This doesn't include the Shadowdark rules, but you can get a free Shadowdark Quickstart Set from Drivethru RPG.
I'm not really into dungeon-bashing games any more, but Shadowdark is apparently state of the art for the genre, and this bundle adds a lot of adventures at a reasonable price. If you're into the system it's probably worth a look.
Bundle of Holding: Shadowdark Compatible
Jan. 26th, 2026 02:30 pmjames_davis_nicollThird-party tabletop fantasy roleplaying sourcebooks and adventures for The Arcane Library's old-school FRPG, Shadowdark.
Bundle of Holding: Shadowdark Compatible
The Memoirs of a Survivor by Doris Lessing
Jan. 25th, 2026 09:01 amjames_davis_nicoll
Fostering a teen is a challenge at the best of times. The end of civilization is not the best of times.
The Memoirs of a Survivor by Doris Lessing
Fanfic - Harry Potter / Buffy / Bedazzled - Harry Potter: Undazzled - VII
Jan. 24th, 2026 10:49 pmffuturesThis is a crossover between the Harry Potter books, the Buffy The Vampire Slayer TV series, and the film Bedazzled (1967, not the 2000 remake), with some other crossovers and Easter eggs, so far including Dogma (1999) and Time Bandits (1981). All characters belong to their respective creators / owners / megacorporations of doom and not to me, please don't sue...
( VII - Out of Time )
Comments please before I post to archives. Previous chapters are posted on these sites:
On Twisting the Hellmouth - https://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-34251/MarcusRowland+Harry+Potter+Undazzled.htm
On Fanfiction.net - https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14336114/1/Harry-Potter-Undazzled
On Archive of Our Own - https://archiveofourown.org/works/54407350
( VII - Out of Time )
Comments please before I post to archives. Previous chapters are posted on these sites:
On Twisting the Hellmouth - https://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-34251/MarcusRowland+Harry+Potter+Undazzled.htm
On Fanfiction.net - https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14336114/1/Harry-Potter-Undazzled
On Archive of Our Own - https://archiveofourown.org/works/54407350
This is interesting
Jan. 24th, 2026 12:19 pmjames_davis_nicollI got an email from Riotminds providing me with a free preview of their upcoming Wicked Dew - Victorian Horror RPG. What caught my eye is that it seems to be entirely online. I've asked if there's a downloadable rulebook I overlooked, but I can see why a company might adopt a purely online approach.
[Update]
There will be a printed book.
[Update]
There will be a printed book.
The Angsana Tree Mystery (Crown Colony, volume 8) By Ovidia Yu
Jan. 23rd, 2026 10:41 amjames_davis_nicoll
Su Lin dutifully accepts a social obligation, only to find herself embroiled in another murder and further colonial machinations.
The Angsana Tree Mystery (Crown Colony, volume 8) by Ovidia Yu
Tragic
Jan. 22nd, 2026 10:39 pmjames_davis_nicollCanada denied spot on the Bored of Peace.
This is roughly on par with being denied a lifetime supply of dogshit popsicles.
This is roughly on par with being denied a lifetime supply of dogshit popsicles.
The Iowa Baseball Confederacy by W. P. Kinsella
Jan. 22nd, 2026 08:49 amjames_davis_nicoll
An unhappily married man's quest for the truth leads into a past almost everyone has forgotten.
The Iowa Baseball Confederacy by W. P. Kinsella