BeijingPalmer
@beijingpalmer.bsky.social
Deputy editor at Foreign Policy, China nerd, gaming nerd, reads a lot
look Homer was just a very prescient author
November 11, 2025 at 3:46 AM
look Homer was just a very prescient author
the real alpha version of the Iliad
November 11, 2025 at 3:24 AM
the real alpha version of the Iliad
We're back following Parker - who is tracing Stubbs to find Wells, and in whose hands Wells is, at the end of the book, short-lived. Parker has a, uh, distinctive way of proving to the doctor's staff that he caught the bad guy.
November 8, 2025 at 12:09 AM
We're back following Parker - who is tracing Stubbs to find Wells, and in whose hands Wells is, at the end of the book, short-lived. Parker has a, uh, distinctive way of proving to the doctor's staff that he caught the bad guy.
That's mostly Stubbs in this case, though we get a bit from the perspective of his target - a con-man who specialized in ripping off newly flush GIs after the war. I love the tight, sardonic passages Stark uses to show us how scams work.
November 8, 2025 at 12:04 AM
That's mostly Stubbs in this case, though we get a bit from the perspective of his target - a con-man who specialized in ripping off newly flush GIs after the war. I love the tight, sardonic passages Stark uses to show us how scams work.
In a book where the heist was the main plot, things would get a lot messier than this. As it is, disposing of Alma, who has already disposed of Skimm, is almost an afterthought.
November 8, 2025 at 12:00 AM
In a book where the heist was the main plot, things would get a lot messier than this. As it is, disposing of Alma, who has already disposed of Skimm, is almost an afterthought.
But that's a problem for later. Parker's immediate problem is Alma, who he rapidly figures out is planning to betray them all, kill Skimm, and take the money. Poor Skimm gets short-shrift from Parker, who seems to blame him for not working out that he's being betrayed.
November 7, 2025 at 11:56 PM
But that's a problem for later. Parker's immediate problem is Alma, who he rapidly figures out is planning to betray them all, kill Skimm, and take the money. Poor Skimm gets short-shrift from Parker, who seems to blame him for not working out that he's being betrayed.
But Parker needs money, so the heist has to come first - leaving poor Stubbs stuck in a dark cellar with only food and a bucket. Unfortunately for Parker, Stubbs' damaged brain is perfectly suited to cope with this - and with tasks like patiently scraping at a concrete block.
November 7, 2025 at 11:54 PM
But Parker needs money, so the heist has to come first - leaving poor Stubbs stuck in a dark cellar with only food and a bucket. Unfortunately for Parker, Stubbs' damaged brain is perfectly suited to cope with this - and with tasks like patiently scraping at a concrete block.
Parker immediately understands this to mean an armored car robbery, with three guards - but he understands $50k to be his share, not the total. That leads to him almost leaving the job when Skimm first presents it - except he's short of funds, and the problem starts itching his brain.
November 7, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Parker immediately understands this to mean an armored car robbery, with three guards - but he understands $50k to be his share, not the total. That leads to him almost leaving the job when Skimm first presents it - except he's short of funds, and the problem starts itching his brain.
This heist, an armored car robbery, is a lot less high-profile than most - it's Parker getting back on his feet, and Stark finding his. But, like almost every heist in the series, there's a bad element. Parker was bought into this by Skimm, who is marked for doom from the start.
November 7, 2025 at 11:41 PM
This heist, an armored car robbery, is a lot less high-profile than most - it's Parker getting back on his feet, and Stark finding his. But, like almost every heist in the series, there's a bad element. Parker was bought into this by Skimm, who is marked for doom from the start.
His handyman/enforcer - who sets out to find Parker - is a fantastic minor character, a sort of Red Lenny.
November 7, 2025 at 11:37 PM
His handyman/enforcer - who sets out to find Parker - is a fantastic minor character, a sort of Red Lenny.
Cooke did only a very shortened adaptation of this book, but I really like the first page
November 7, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Cooke did only a very shortened adaptation of this book, but I really like the first page
a more sophisticated (and famous) human example, staying in the same genre.
November 7, 2025 at 3:13 AM
a more sophisticated (and famous) human example, staying in the same genre.
like, I'm going to pop three examples here, two written by people and one AI slop, and I will bet everyone can instantly tell which is which.
November 7, 2025 at 3:07 AM
like, I'm going to pop three examples here, two written by people and one AI slop, and I will bet everyone can instantly tell which is which.
I refer you again to the greatest thing ever written about Dominic Cummings.
November 6, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I refer you again to the greatest thing ever written about Dominic Cummings.
seeing a lot of people misinterpreting this, this is before and after working as a GP.
November 6, 2025 at 6:36 PM
seeing a lot of people misinterpreting this, this is before and after working as a GP.
if you're in line to bribe Eric Adams, stay in line
November 5, 2025 at 5:37 PM
if you're in line to bribe Eric Adams, stay in line