Mike The Speculative Page
@conumbra.bsky.social
Sci-fi/fantasy/horror-loving nerd, Ursus Maritimus, eager reader, he/him
#Review of Bury Your Gays, edited by Sofia Ajram
4/5
One of the strongest anthologies I've read in a while, there's only one story that I'd call "bad", and the rest are enjoyable to amazing. No frills on this, just several well-chosen bangers all trying to be "tragic queer horror".
#booksky 🩸📚🪐
4/5
One of the strongest anthologies I've read in a while, there's only one story that I'd call "bad", and the rest are enjoyable to amazing. No frills on this, just several well-chosen bangers all trying to be "tragic queer horror".
#booksky 🩸📚🪐
November 7, 2025 at 2:50 AM
#Review of Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
3/5
A strange, tragic relationship drama, a meditation on grief and loss. When it focuses on that, it's at its strongest, but too often it gets distracted. I do appreciate the intent, but am left thinking that something has gone awry.
#booksky 📚🪐
3/5
A strange, tragic relationship drama, a meditation on grief and loss. When it focuses on that, it's at its strongest, but too often it gets distracted. I do appreciate the intent, but am left thinking that something has gone awry.
#booksky 📚🪐
November 6, 2025 at 3:36 AM
#Review of The Book of Queer Saints Volume 2, edited by Mae Murray
3.5/5
An improvement on the first volume, more daring and visceral in terms of subject matter. A tad larger as well, and there are a few what I'd call "filler" stories, but these don't overstay their welcome.
#booksky 🪐📚🩸
3.5/5
An improvement on the first volume, more daring and visceral in terms of subject matter. A tad larger as well, and there are a few what I'd call "filler" stories, but these don't overstay their welcome.
#booksky 🪐📚🩸
October 30, 2025 at 3:41 AM
#Review of Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt
4.5/5
An extremely ambitious novel. The tone is bleak, loaded with very real horror, look up triggers. The narrative voice challenges the reader, is blunt but sophisticated, panic inducing. Looks into a festering wound in the UK's heart.
#boosky 🩸📚
4.5/5
An extremely ambitious novel. The tone is bleak, loaded with very real horror, look up triggers. The narrative voice challenges the reader, is blunt but sophisticated, panic inducing. Looks into a festering wound in the UK's heart.
#boosky 🩸📚
October 26, 2025 at 3:05 AM
#Review of The Book of Queer Saints, edited by Mae Murray
3.5/5
A horror anthology featuring queer villains, or at least antiheroes. Fairly good. A lot of experimentation with prose styles and narrative voices that don't always land. "Morta" and "The Last Disgrace" are the highlights.
#booksky 🩸📚🪐
3.5/5
A horror anthology featuring queer villains, or at least antiheroes. Fairly good. A lot of experimentation with prose styles and narrative voices that don't always land. "Morta" and "The Last Disgrace" are the highlights.
#booksky 🩸📚🪐
October 19, 2025 at 8:22 PM
#Review of Red X by David Demchuk
5/5
A novel of queer horror, a community dealing with predators both real and ethereal.
When the horror shows itself it is folkloric and grotesque, the perfect blend of alluring and creeping dread.
Recommended if a looser structure isn't a problem.
#booksky 🩸📚🪐
5/5
A novel of queer horror, a community dealing with predators both real and ethereal.
When the horror shows itself it is folkloric and grotesque, the perfect blend of alluring and creeping dread.
Recommended if a looser structure isn't a problem.
#booksky 🩸📚🪐
October 15, 2025 at 2:24 AM
#Review of SS-GB by Len Deighton
9/10.
SS-GB executes a ruthlessly clever plot, half espionage thriller and murder mystery.
The men are varied, the women are doting ladies or tragic victims.
A thoroughly fulfilling read, it's a shame the author never really tapped into this vein again.
#booksky 📚🪐
9/10.
SS-GB executes a ruthlessly clever plot, half espionage thriller and murder mystery.
The men are varied, the women are doting ladies or tragic victims.
A thoroughly fulfilling read, it's a shame the author never really tapped into this vein again.
#booksky 📚🪐
October 3, 2025 at 3:58 AM
#Review of Children of Dune by Frank Herbert
4/5
Herbert's writing continues to be at his height. The first 70% feels gradual, a bit self-indulgent, mind-game focused. Then the pace picks up a lot, brings in a Deus Ex Machina. Still an enthralling read, ruminations remain ever-relevant.
#booksky 📚🪐
4/5
Herbert's writing continues to be at his height. The first 70% feels gradual, a bit self-indulgent, mind-game focused. Then the pace picks up a lot, brings in a Deus Ex Machina. Still an enthralling read, ruminations remain ever-relevant.
#booksky 📚🪐
September 21, 2025 at 3:39 PM
#Review of Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert
4/5
Compared to the original, this entry is smaller, which keeps things moving along at a steady pace.
Herbert's prose is stellar, the antagonists are well-developed, but the plot verges close to convolution. Brings a welcome perspective on Dune.
#booksky 📚🪐
4/5
Compared to the original, this entry is smaller, which keeps things moving along at a steady pace.
Herbert's prose is stellar, the antagonists are well-developed, but the plot verges close to convolution. Brings a welcome perspective on Dune.
#booksky 📚🪐
September 6, 2025 at 3:55 AM
#Review of The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities
3/5
This is noticeably weaker than the disease guide, although the stories are stronger and are given more space.
Each section of the book has its own artist, which brings variety at the expense of stylistic cohesion.
#booksky 📚🪐
3/5
This is noticeably weaker than the disease guide, although the stories are stronger and are given more space.
Each section of the book has its own artist, which brings variety at the expense of stylistic cohesion.
#booksky 📚🪐
August 30, 2025 at 10:39 PM
#Review of The Thackery T. Lambshead Pocket Guide to Eccentric & Discredited Diseases
4/5
Theming and Coulthart's art sew up an ambitious anthology. Entries aim for a wide variety, mostly succeed outside of comedy. Leaves on a sour note, putting AIDS deaths down to a cooky fake disease.
#booksky 📚🪐
4/5
Theming and Coulthart's art sew up an ambitious anthology. Entries aim for a wide variety, mostly succeed outside of comedy. Leaves on a sour note, putting AIDS deaths down to a cooky fake disease.
#booksky 📚🪐
August 24, 2025 at 1:52 AM
#Review of Rediscovery: Volume 2
4/5
The second anthology in the Rediscovery series, with stories from 1953-1957. An increase in quality, Griffith's being the standout. "Science fiction by women" is coming under a bit of strain, as almost a third of the stories are unequivocally fantasy.
#booksky 📚🪐
4/5
The second anthology in the Rediscovery series, with stories from 1953-1957. An increase in quality, Griffith's being the standout. "Science fiction by women" is coming under a bit of strain, as almost a third of the stories are unequivocally fantasy.
#booksky 📚🪐
July 31, 2025 at 1:43 AM
#Review of Rediscovery Volume 1
4/5
A collection of old sci-fi stories from the late fifties to early sixties. Quality is good for an anthology, with the expected couple of duds here and there, but there's still something of interest even then. Scyoc's entry is grim, but mature, holds up
#booksky 📚🪐
4/5
A collection of old sci-fi stories from the late fifties to early sixties. Quality is good for an anthology, with the expected couple of duds here and there, but there's still something of interest even then. Scyoc's entry is grim, but mature, holds up
#booksky 📚🪐
July 24, 2025 at 1:33 AM
#Review of A Death at the Dionysus Club by Melissa Scott & Amy Griswold
4.5/5
Fulfills every missed opportunity from the first. The mystery is more intricate, has more personal stakes, allows for more magical lore. Only one big bit of convenience mars this. A shame that this was the last
#booksky 🪐📚
4.5/5
Fulfills every missed opportunity from the first. The mystery is more intricate, has more personal stakes, allows for more magical lore. Only one big bit of convenience mars this. A shame that this was the last
#booksky 🪐📚
July 17, 2025 at 3:48 AM
#Review of Death by Silver, by Melissa Scot & Amy Griswold
3.5/5
This is a gay historical fantasy Victorian mystery. There's not much wrong with this, the mystery compels, the characters are interesting. Problems include dangling thematic elements and magic feeling underutilized.
#booksky 📚🪐
3.5/5
This is a gay historical fantasy Victorian mystery. There's not much wrong with this, the mystery compels, the characters are interesting. Problems include dangling thematic elements and magic feeling underutilized.
#booksky 📚🪐
July 9, 2025 at 3:53 AM
#Review of Furnace by Livia Llewellyn
4/5
A collection of Dark Fantasy and horror, high-quality, only a couple lesser stories. Themes of civilization meeting an otherworldly nature, or in modernity itself seeming to deform. I also really like the cover, it lends a folk aesthetic.
#booksky 🪐📚🩸
4/5
A collection of Dark Fantasy and horror, high-quality, only a couple lesser stories. Themes of civilization meeting an otherworldly nature, or in modernity itself seeming to deform. I also really like the cover, it lends a folk aesthetic.
#booksky 🪐📚🩸
July 3, 2025 at 3:05 AM
#Review of Cyteen by C. J. Cherryh
Reseune attempts to recreate a brilliant monster after her death; her last victim is still haunted, politics can never be escaped. Compelling ideas, frequent infodumps. Has one of the best gay protags ever. Chewy, sophisticated, like a perfect steak.
#booksky 📚🪐
Reseune attempts to recreate a brilliant monster after her death; her last victim is still haunted, politics can never be escaped. Compelling ideas, frequent infodumps. Has one of the best gay protags ever. Chewy, sophisticated, like a perfect steak.
#booksky 📚🪐
June 24, 2025 at 3:59 AM
#Review of The Dark Descent, edited by David G. Hartwell
The Dark Descent edited by David G. Hartwell
An 80s anthology that's a retrospective look at horror. Plenty of hits, focusing on the eerie and atmospheric. Definition of horror is a bit too broad. Shame about the dearth of women.
🪐📚🩸 #booksky
The Dark Descent edited by David G. Hartwell
An 80s anthology that's a retrospective look at horror. Plenty of hits, focusing on the eerie and atmospheric. Definition of horror is a bit too broad. Shame about the dearth of women.
🪐📚🩸 #booksky
June 8, 2025 at 11:42 PM
#Review of From Day One: A Year 47 Omnibus by Bo Chappell et al.
3/10
This was a heartbreaker. The short stories range from awful to decent. Year 47 is a disappointment; mostly well-worn apocalypse tropes attached to a familiar arc. Then in the final chapters the plot careens off a cliff
#booksky 📚🪐
3/10
This was a heartbreaker. The short stories range from awful to decent. Year 47 is a disappointment; mostly well-worn apocalypse tropes attached to a familiar arc. Then in the final chapters the plot careens off a cliff
#booksky 📚🪐
May 11, 2025 at 11:58 PM
#Review of The Autumn Republic by Brian McClellan
7/10
While this is a satisfying read, this is where the author leans on convenience to tie up some threads while leaving others loose. The characters remain compelling to the end, even if the overall package is more ragged than the others
#booksky 📚🪐
7/10
While this is a satisfying read, this is where the author leans on convenience to tie up some threads while leaving others loose. The characters remain compelling to the end, even if the overall package is more ragged than the others
#booksky 📚🪐
April 30, 2025 at 2:55 AM
#Review of The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan
8/10
This expands the scope and ups the stakes while not falling into typical middle-book pitfalls. No sense of filler, and it doesn't go off the rails. The only hiccups are a romance that falls flat and some less conclusive arc endings.
#booksky 📚🪐
8/10
This expands the scope and ups the stakes while not falling into typical middle-book pitfalls. No sense of filler, and it doesn't go off the rails. The only hiccups are a romance that falls flat and some less conclusive arc endings.
#booksky 📚🪐
April 16, 2025 at 4:15 AM
#Review of Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan
3.5/5
The perfect example of a 7/10 book. The plot is engaging and while some of the characters draw on familiar archetypes none feel cookie-cutter. While the lore around it is hazy, Powder Magic's combat effects were thought through well.
#booksky 📚🪐
3.5/5
The perfect example of a 7/10 book. The plot is engaging and while some of the characters draw on familiar archetypes none feel cookie-cutter. While the lore around it is hazy, Powder Magic's combat effects were thought through well.
#booksky 📚🪐
April 8, 2025 at 1:01 AM
#Review of Hunting Monsters by Darren Naish
2.5/5
This was fine, but leans more on the pop-science level of detail rather than the more scholarly and thorough tone of the other cryptid book I read. It does have a wider scope and is well-researched, but overall feels a bit insubstantial.
#booksky
2.5/5
This was fine, but leans more on the pop-science level of detail rather than the more scholarly and thorough tone of the other cryptid book I read. It does have a wider scope and is well-researched, but overall feels a bit insubstantial.
#booksky
April 4, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Everything in All the Wrong Order by Chaz Brenchley
Short story collection; a fare few are tinged with horror, but there's also a sense of weary comradery throughout some. "Every Day a Little Death", "Going the Jerusalem Mile", and "Where It Roots, How It Fruits" are my favourites.
4/5
#booksky 🪐📚
Short story collection; a fare few are tinged with horror, but there's also a sense of weary comradery throughout some. "Every Day a Little Death", "Going the Jerusalem Mile", and "Where It Roots, How It Fruits" are my favourites.
4/5
#booksky 🪐📚
March 30, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Everything in All the Wrong Order by Chaz Brenchley
Short story collection; a fare few are tinged with horror, but there's also a sense of weary comradery throughout some. "Every Day a Little Death", "Going the Jerusalem Mile", and "Where It Roots, How It Fruits" are my favourites.
4/5
#booksky 🪐📚
Short story collection; a fare few are tinged with horror, but there's also a sense of weary comradery throughout some. "Every Day a Little Death", "Going the Jerusalem Mile", and "Where It Roots, How It Fruits" are my favourites.
4/5
#booksky 🪐📚
#Review of When the Lights Go Out by Tanith Lee
4.75/5
Very dreamlike, not just weird, there's the sense that there's a logic behind everything, even if you're not sure what it is. The prose is enchanting, it's full of metaphor and symbolism while not losing any of the emotional impact.
#booksky 🪐📚
4.75/5
Very dreamlike, not just weird, there's the sense that there's a logic behind everything, even if you're not sure what it is. The prose is enchanting, it's full of metaphor and symbolism while not losing any of the emotional impact.
#booksky 🪐📚
March 23, 2025 at 2:36 AM