François Dominic Laramée, PhD 🇨🇦
@fdlaramee.bsky.social
Writer and adjunct professor of history. Lapsed game developer, TV personality and computer scientist. FR/EN
Auteur et chargé de cours en histoire. Défroqué de l'informatique, du développement de jeux et de la télévision.
Auteur et chargé de cours en histoire. Défroqué de l'informatique, du développement de jeux et de la télévision.
Today's loot was selected in part by Milady. Does she have great taste or what?
(For books, I mean.)
(For books, I mean.)
October 18, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Today's loot was selected in part by Milady. Does she have great taste or what?
(For books, I mean.)
(For books, I mean.)
Today's loot is somewhat eclectic.
@courtney-floyd.com
@markwaddell.bsky.social
@badancient.bsky.social
@courtney-floyd.com
@markwaddell.bsky.social
@badancient.bsky.social
October 7, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Today's loot is somewhat eclectic.
@courtney-floyd.com
@markwaddell.bsky.social
@badancient.bsky.social
@courtney-floyd.com
@markwaddell.bsky.social
@badancient.bsky.social
So... This happened. I have committed a novel.
UNCONQUERED MAGIC (working title) weighs in at 44 chapters, including an epilogue, as well as 23 interludes, for a slightly pudgy total of 95 000 words.
#BookSky
UNCONQUERED MAGIC (working title) weighs in at 44 chapters, including an epilogue, as well as 23 interludes, for a slightly pudgy total of 95 000 words.
#BookSky
August 12, 2025 at 10:52 PM
So... This happened. I have committed a novel.
UNCONQUERED MAGIC (working title) weighs in at 44 chapters, including an epilogue, as well as 23 interludes, for a slightly pudgy total of 95 000 words.
#BookSky
UNCONQUERED MAGIC (working title) weighs in at 44 chapters, including an epilogue, as well as 23 interludes, for a slightly pudgy total of 95 000 words.
#BookSky
Ça y est: j'ai commis un roman.
UNCONQUERED MAGIC pèse 44 chapitres, incluant l'épilogue, ainsi que 23 interstitiels, pour un total d'un peu plus de 95 000 mots. Sa gestation a requis 1 253 heures de travail réparties sur 32 mois.
UNCONQUERED MAGIC pèse 44 chapitres, incluant l'épilogue, ainsi que 23 interstitiels, pour un total d'un peu plus de 95 000 mots. Sa gestation a requis 1 253 heures de travail réparties sur 32 mois.
August 12, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Ça y est: j'ai commis un roman.
UNCONQUERED MAGIC pèse 44 chapitres, incluant l'épilogue, ainsi que 23 interstitiels, pour un total d'un peu plus de 95 000 mots. Sa gestation a requis 1 253 heures de travail réparties sur 32 mois.
UNCONQUERED MAGIC pèse 44 chapitres, incluant l'épilogue, ainsi que 23 interstitiels, pour un total d'un peu plus de 95 000 mots. Sa gestation a requis 1 253 heures de travail réparties sur 32 mois.
The 1950s-era passenger ship ss Rotterdam, in Rotterdam (obviously). The machine room was amazing. So was the indoor swimming pool in the lower decks. Here's a taste:
August 1, 2025 at 4:46 PM
The 1950s-era passenger ship ss Rotterdam, in Rotterdam (obviously). The machine room was amazing. So was the indoor swimming pool in the lower decks. Here's a taste:
Stretching the rules of #breadsky a little, here is a recent batch of scones I baked because my sweetie loves them. We typically eat them with smoked salmon, butter and/or sour cream, but apple jelly is also a winner.
July 5, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Stretching the rules of #breadsky a little, here is a recent batch of scones I baked because my sweetie loves them. We typically eat them with smoked salmon, butter and/or sour cream, but apple jelly is also a winner.
June 12, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Anyone want an Irish scone? (Catherine Fulvio's recipe.)
June 8, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Anyone want an Irish scone? (Catherine Fulvio's recipe.)
I am Locutus of Borg
May 9, 2025 at 10:07 PM
I am Locutus of Borg
Quel outil de stupidité artificielle a-t-on bien pu utiliser, chez Radio-Canada, pour traduire "World Trade Center" par "notre centre commercial" dans le contexte d'une mention des attentats du 11 septembre?
April 2, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Quel outil de stupidité artificielle a-t-on bien pu utiliser, chez Radio-Canada, pour traduire "World Trade Center" par "notre centre commercial" dans le contexte d'une mention des attentats du 11 septembre?
And a good time was had by all. Quatre heures de pur délice.
January 12, 2025 at 11:00 PM
And a good time was had by all. Quatre heures de pur délice.
And finally, TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROE, by Gabrielle Zevin -- A decades-long saga set in the world of video game development. I have lived through most of this time period from within the industry and found this book incredibly touching.
January 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
And finally, TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROE, by Gabrielle Zevin -- A decades-long saga set in the world of video game development. I have lived through most of this time period from within the industry and found this book incredibly touching.
NUCLEAR WAR: A SCENARIO, by Annie Jacobsen -- Nothing is more terrifying than the truth, and this thoroughly researched scenario (I can't believe that the author secured some of these sources!) is the scariest thing you'll read all year.
January 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
NUCLEAR WAR: A SCENARIO, by Annie Jacobsen -- Nothing is more terrifying than the truth, and this thoroughly researched scenario (I can't believe that the author secured some of these sources!) is the scariest thing you'll read all year.
ALL RHODES LEAD HERE, by Mariana Zapata -- The quintessential slow burn romance, with lovely main AND side characters and a Virgin River atmosphere.
January 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
ALL RHODES LEAD HERE, by Mariana Zapata -- The quintessential slow burn romance, with lovely main AND side characters and a Virgin River atmosphere.
SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN: AUX ORIGINES DE L'AMÉRIQUE FRANÇAISE by Éric Thierry (in French) -- The definitive biography of one of New France's founders. Thoroughly researched, well balanced, will be read for decades.
January 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN: AUX ORIGINES DE L'AMÉRIQUE FRANÇAISE by Éric Thierry (in French) -- The definitive biography of one of New France's founders. Thoroughly researched, well balanced, will be read for decades.
IN A HOLIDAZE, by Christina Lauren -- The perfect wintertime romance, to be read at the cottage in your comfiest pyjama.
January 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
IN A HOLIDAZE, by Christina Lauren -- The perfect wintertime romance, to be read at the cottage in your comfiest pyjama.
COME AND GET IT, by Kiley Reid -- A thoroughly enjoyable campus novel that feels more real than the real thing. If my own campus fantasy turns out as well, I'll die a happy man indeed.
January 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
COME AND GET IT, by Kiley Reid -- A thoroughly enjoyable campus novel that feels more real than the real thing. If my own campus fantasy turns out as well, I'll die a happy man indeed.
SEA OF TRANQUILITY, by Emily St. John Mandel -- A smart, thought-provoking time travel story that you'll read in one day and re-read the next day to make sure you caught all of the subtleties.
January 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
SEA OF TRANQUILITY, by Emily St. John Mandel -- A smart, thought-provoking time travel story that you'll read in one day and re-read the next day to make sure you caught all of the subtleties.
Next, a tie between two of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden novels: DEAD BEAT and PROVEN GUILTY. I've read eight Dresden Files novels so far; these two are my favourites. If you can handle a little macho in your freelance urban wizard, don't hesitate.
January 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Next, a tie between two of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden novels: DEAD BEAT and PROVEN GUILTY. I've read eight Dresden Files novels so far; these two are my favourites. If you can handle a little macho in your freelance urban wizard, don't hesitate.
LIES AND WEDDINGS, by Kevin Kwan -- If you enjoyed CRAZY RICH ASIANS, you will love this one: just enough of the same and just enough of the new to make it worthwhile.
January 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
LIES AND WEDDINGS, by Kevin Kwan -- If you enjoyed CRAZY RICH ASIANS, you will love this one: just enough of the same and just enough of the new to make it worthwhile.
Next, THE LEFTOVER WOMAN by Jean Kwok -- A suffocating but supremely touching story of social class and family.
January 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Next, THE LEFTOVER WOMAN by Jean Kwok -- A suffocating but supremely touching story of social class and family.
Next, A MEMORY CALLED EMPIRE, by @byzantienne.bsky.social -- A murder mystery wrapped in high-flying political intrigue. The protagonist represents a tiny speck of space surrounded by a bullying empire. Not topical at all for a Canadian reader these days.
January 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Next, A MEMORY CALLED EMPIRE, by @byzantienne.bsky.social -- A murder mystery wrapped in high-flying political intrigue. The protagonist represents a tiny speck of space surrounded by a bullying empire. Not topical at all for a Canadian reader these days.
I have read 68 books this year, not including technical or scholarly material. Here are my 12 favourites, in no particular order, starting (appropriately enough) with STARTER VILLAIN, by @scalzi.com -- a funny and weird and kinda scary novel where the cats have way too much power over humans.
January 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I have read 68 books this year, not including technical or scholarly material. Here are my 12 favourites, in no particular order, starting (appropriately enough) with STARTER VILLAIN, by @scalzi.com -- a funny and weird and kinda scary novel where the cats have way too much power over humans.