Jay
@tarvolon.bsky.social
SFF book blogger, sports pluralist (mostly Vols, Canes, and Courage, some USA, O’s, Dockers, Ravens, Valencia CF), Dad x3.
Pinned
Jay
@tarvolon.bsky.social
· 6d
Here with a roundup of what I read and reviewed in October, as always including some enthusiastic short fiction recommendations: www.tarvolon.com/2025/11/03/o...
October 2025 Round-up and Short Fiction Miscellany
A round-up of sci-fi fantasy stories read and reviews posted in October, with standouts by Octavia Butler and Justin C. Key.
www.tarvolon.com
As always, let’s do a thread of my favorite short fiction I read last month
C.S. Lewis had a whole thing about this
One thing people kind of tell you, but not really, about middle age:
One day you'll be like "oh [thing] looks fun but people will think I'm a loser" about a thing
And then you'll say. Wait a second.
Fuck 'em
One day you'll be like "oh [thing] looks fun but people will think I'm a loser" about a thing
And then you'll say. Wait a second.
Fuck 'em
Darn Tough turned me on to Cute Socks and I've never looked back
November 11, 2025 at 2:05 AM
C.S. Lewis had a whole thing about this
Reposted by Jay
Another day, another Weird Memory Stuff review. I read the rewritten cult classic There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm, and I was very impressed www.tarvolon.com/2025/11/10/s...
Sci-fi/Horror: There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm
Review of the weird science fiction horror novel There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm, a cult favorite of conceptual sci-fi.
www.tarvolon.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Another day, another Weird Memory Stuff review. I read the rewritten cult classic There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm, and I was very impressed www.tarvolon.com/2025/11/10/s...
Reposted by Jay
As others have noted in the quotes, if you like the story, you may also enjoy House Traveler in @bourbonpenn.bsky.social and The Sort in @clarkesworldmagazine.com, which may share some loose ties with the novelette.
www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/34/hou...
clarkesworldmagazine.com/ha_08_24/
www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/34/hou...
clarkesworldmagazine.com/ha_08_24/
Thomas Ha > House Traveler > Bourbon Penn
The five of us were gathered on the floor of one of the last houses, trying to decide which of the group would be the one to go outside. Sitting around an electric camping lantern, our legs crossed li...
www.bourbonpenn.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:23 PM
As others have noted in the quotes, if you like the story, you may also enjoy House Traveler in @bourbonpenn.bsky.social and The Sort in @clarkesworldmagazine.com, which may share some loose ties with the novelette.
www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/34/hou...
clarkesworldmagazine.com/ha_08_24/
www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/34/hou...
clarkesworldmagazine.com/ha_08_24/
Another day, another Weird Memory Stuff review. I read the rewritten cult classic There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm, and I was very impressed www.tarvolon.com/2025/11/10/s...
Sci-fi/Horror: There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm
Review of the weird science fiction horror novel There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm, a cult favorite of conceptual sci-fi.
www.tarvolon.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Another day, another Weird Memory Stuff review. I read the rewritten cult classic There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm, and I was very impressed www.tarvolon.com/2025/11/10/s...
Reposted by Jay
Got a couple Weird Memory Stuff ARC reviews this week. I liked The Merge by Grace Walker a whole lot www.tarvolon.com/2025/11/09/s...
Sci-fi Book Review: The Merge by Grace Walker
Review of an exciting dystopian sci-fi debut novel The Merge by Grace Walker, featuring ambitious technology and a protagonist with Alzheimer's.
www.tarvolon.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Got a couple Weird Memory Stuff ARC reviews this week. I liked The Merge by Grace Walker a whole lot www.tarvolon.com/2025/11/09/s...
My goodness, Svechnikov is on one (even if that didn’t lead to anything)
November 10, 2025 at 2:26 AM
My goodness, Svechnikov is on one (even if that didn’t lead to anything)
Yeah really not getting fussy about individual results right now given (1) the team’s record, and (2) all the guys out injured
(Also, the whole post situation for this game in particular)
(Also, the whole post situation for this game in particular)
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Yeah really not getting fussy about individual results right now given (1) the team’s record, and (2) all the guys out injured
(Also, the whole post situation for this game in particular)
(Also, the whole post situation for this game in particular)
I hadn’t seen this mentioned yet, but it is a compelling point that makes me reconsider
they explicitly made this deal to set up another cliff, and this time we’ll go off it with the explicit understanding that we’re shutting down the government *but not payments to starving people*, and we’ll be doing it over health care.
November 10, 2025 at 1:09 AM
I hadn’t seen this mentioned yet, but it is a compelling point that makes me reconsider
Reposted by Jay
I am so weary of running around explaining contemporary politics to Democratic senators but Trump has taken the power of the purse from Congress and has made good on his promise to not fund anything he doesn't want to so "guaranteeing a vote in the Senate" is not a thing.
November 10, 2025 at 12:24 AM
I am so weary of running around explaining contemporary politics to Democratic senators but Trump has taken the power of the purse from Congress and has made good on his promise to not fund anything he doesn't want to so "guaranteeing a vote in the Senate" is not a thing.
Svechnikov easily Canes player of the week
November 10, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Svechnikov easily Canes player of the week
This is also my read
They're treating Trump illegally firing federal employees like it's leverage, not a criminal act.
“A bipartisan Senate deal has been reached to fund the government through January 30 and to set a vote on an Affordable Care Act bill in December, in a major sign the government shutdown is poised to end, according to a source…
The deal includes a reversal of Trump’s firings of federal employees”
The deal includes a reversal of Trump’s firings of federal employees”
November 10, 2025 at 12:41 AM
This is also my read
So what this shows is threatening a bunch of illegal stuff is effective, because “don’t illegally deny backpay or fire people” appears to be the literal only concession here? Unless I’m totally misreading something
November 10, 2025 at 12:39 AM
So what this shows is threatening a bunch of illegal stuff is effective, because “don’t illegally deny backpay or fire people” appears to be the literal only concession here? Unless I’m totally misreading something
Got a couple Weird Memory Stuff ARC reviews this week. I liked The Merge by Grace Walker a whole lot www.tarvolon.com/2025/11/09/s...
Sci-fi Book Review: The Merge by Grace Walker
Review of an exciting dystopian sci-fi debut novel The Merge by Grace Walker, featuring ambitious technology and a protagonist with Alzheimer's.
www.tarvolon.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Got a couple Weird Memory Stuff ARC reviews this week. I liked The Merge by Grace Walker a whole lot www.tarvolon.com/2025/11/09/s...
What a pleasant surprise! Don’t miss this one, y’all. And if you gave the time for it, read House Traveler and The Sort first and look for the connections!
Hey! Sort of a surprise new story day. @undertow.bsky.social is making my novelette, "Uncertain Sons," (original to the collection) available online for a short time for folks catching up on end-of-year reading. Eligible for most novelette/long fiction categories. Online until end of November!
Uncertain Sons — Undertow Publications
undertowpublications.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:36 PM
What a pleasant surprise! Don’t miss this one, y’all. And if you gave the time for it, read House Traveler and The Sort first and look for the connections!
Very nice way to hold on after a third period that’s been mostly bad
November 9, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Very nice way to hold on after a third period that’s been mostly bad
First good shift in like ten minutes
November 9, 2025 at 2:24 AM
First good shift in like ten minutes
Reposted by Jay
Alright y'all. This is finally happening.
November 8, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Alright y'all. This is finally happening.
Huge save from Pyotr there
November 9, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Huge save from Pyotr there
What a horrendous power play that Blake *almost* redeemed
November 9, 2025 at 12:37 AM
What a horrendous power play that Blake *almost* redeemed
Wish you had an experienced goal-scorer like Taylor Hall with the mentality to not panic and just hit the empty net 🙃
November 9, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Wish you had an experienced goal-scorer like Taylor Hall with the mentality to not panic and just hit the empty net 🙃