James Davis Nicoll
@jdnicoll.bsky.social
Reviewer, Essayist, Hugo, Aurora, and Darwin Award finalist.
For a moment, I thought there was a manga of Conjure Wife
November 18, 2025 at 4:03 AM
For a moment, I thought there was a manga of Conjure Wife
Gosh, that seems a bit high.
November 17, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Gosh, that seems a bit high.
2022: Partygate reveals that the Tories celebrated in trust gatherings barred to the rabble during Covid, the UK goes through 3 Prime Ministers in less than 3 months, and Queen Elizabeth II escapes discovering how exactly the UK would continue its downward political arc.
(cont)
#ClarkeAwards
(cont)
#ClarkeAwards
November 17, 2025 at 3:28 PM
2022: Partygate reveals that the Tories celebrated in trust gatherings barred to the rabble during Covid, the UK goes through 3 Prime Ministers in less than 3 months, and Queen Elizabeth II escapes discovering how exactly the UK would continue its downward political arc.
(cont)
#ClarkeAwards
(cont)
#ClarkeAwards
One drawback is that the Bonds only remember what worked, not what got previous Bonds killed. There is considerable survivorship bias. This is why Bond is so keen on extremely risky methods, because as far as he remembers, they always work.
November 11, 2025 at 6:26 PM
One drawback is that the Bonds only remember what worked, not what got previous Bonds killed. There is considerable survivorship bias. This is why Bond is so keen on extremely risky methods, because as far as he remembers, they always work.
2021: The Johnson government proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that herd immunity does exist… but only to shame, and only amongst Tories.
✓ for read, * for intend to read, ! for never heard of it. Or whatever amuses you.
#ClarkeAward
✓ for read, * for intend to read, ! for never heard of it. Or whatever amuses you.
#ClarkeAward
November 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
2021: The Johnson government proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that herd immunity does exist… but only to shame, and only amongst Tories.
✓ for read, * for intend to read, ! for never heard of it. Or whatever amuses you.
#ClarkeAward
✓ for read, * for intend to read, ! for never heard of it. Or whatever amuses you.
#ClarkeAward
So, I've never seen a photo of Dashiell Hammett before today. This is him in 1951, when he would have been in his mid-50s.
November 8, 2025 at 4:52 PM
So, I've never seen a photo of Dashiell Hammett before today. This is him in 1951, when he would have been in his mid-50s.
Books Received, October 1 — October 7
Six books new to me: two fantasy, one science fiction, one that seems to be a mix of both, one horror, and one non-fiction. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
Six books new to me: two fantasy, one science fiction, one that seems to be a mix of both, one horror, and one non-fiction. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
November 8, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Books Received, October 1 — October 7
Six books new to me: two fantasy, one science fiction, one that seems to be a mix of both, one horror, and one non-fiction. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
Six books new to me: two fantasy, one science fiction, one that seems to be a mix of both, one horror, and one non-fiction. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
Uplifting thought that completely fails to acknowledge the reality with which you are contending, with an undercurrent of disapproval for not being more positive in your outlook!
November 3, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Uplifting thought that completely fails to acknowledge the reality with which you are contending, with an undercurrent of disapproval for not being more positive in your outlook!
Final cover! Two Little Mice won the number of covers is one higher than a number divisible by four lottery.
November 1, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Final cover! Two Little Mice won the number of covers is one higher than a number divisible by four lottery.
Books Received, October 25 — October 31
Five works new to me: two horror, one and a half science fiction, one half fantasy, and one TTRPG that's hard to classify. Two could be said to be series works. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
Five works new to me: two horror, one and a half science fiction, one half fantasy, and one TTRPG that's hard to classify. Two could be said to be series works. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
November 1, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Books Received, October 25 — October 31
Five works new to me: two horror, one and a half science fiction, one half fantasy, and one TTRPG that's hard to classify. Two could be said to be series works. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
Five works new to me: two horror, one and a half science fiction, one half fantasy, and one TTRPG that's hard to classify. Two could be said to be series works. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
2020: Boris Johnson proposes an unbuildable bridge between Scotland and Ireland, Universal Credit successfully sends stress levels soaring, and the Tories handle Covid as skilfully as they did Brexit.
#ClarkAward
#ClarkAward
October 27, 2025 at 1:15 PM
2020: Boris Johnson proposes an unbuildable bridge between Scotland and Ireland, Universal Credit successfully sends stress levels soaring, and the Tories handle Covid as skilfully as they did Brexit.
#ClarkAward
#ClarkAward
Books Received, October 18 — October 24
Eight works new to me. Three fantasies, two horror, two SF, and one hard-to-classify RPG. One SF book is horrory, so maybe that should be three fantasies, three horror, one SF, and one hard-to-classify RPG.
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
#BooksReceived
Eight works new to me. Three fantasies, two horror, two SF, and one hard-to-classify RPG. One SF book is horrory, so maybe that should be three fantasies, three horror, one SF, and one hard-to-classify RPG.
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
#BooksReceived
October 25, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Books Received, October 18 — October 24
Eight works new to me. Three fantasies, two horror, two SF, and one hard-to-classify RPG. One SF book is horrory, so maybe that should be three fantasies, three horror, one SF, and one hard-to-classify RPG.
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
#BooksReceived
Eight works new to me. Three fantasies, two horror, two SF, and one hard-to-classify RPG. One SF book is horrory, so maybe that should be three fantasies, three horror, one SF, and one hard-to-classify RPG.
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
#BooksReceived
Once again, an American government does to the US what, if any other nation did it to them, would be deemed a war crime.
October 21, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Once again, an American government does to the US what, if any other nation did it to them, would be deemed a war crime.
Young People Read Old Nebula Finalists: True Names by Vernor Vinge
The young people wrestle with what is arguably an early example of Cyberpunk.
youngpeoplereadoldsff.com/story/true-n...
The young people wrestle with what is arguably an early example of Cyberpunk.
youngpeoplereadoldsff.com/story/true-n...
October 20, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Young People Read Old Nebula Finalists: True Names by Vernor Vinge
The young people wrestle with what is arguably an early example of Cyberpunk.
youngpeoplereadoldsff.com/story/true-n...
The young people wrestle with what is arguably an early example of Cyberpunk.
youngpeoplereadoldsff.com/story/true-n...
2019: The Tories find someone worse than May to be PM, UK pleas to the EU for a Brexit negotiation do-over because “our negotiators were numpties” fall on deaf ears, and Tory MPs reject multiple Tory Brexit proposals, for which UK voters rebuke the Tories with a massive majority.
#ClarkeAward
#ClarkeAward
October 20, 2025 at 1:01 PM
2019: The Tories find someone worse than May to be PM, UK pleas to the EU for a Brexit negotiation do-over because “our negotiators were numpties” fall on deaf ears, and Tory MPs reject multiple Tory Brexit proposals, for which UK voters rebuke the Tories with a massive majority.
#ClarkeAward
#ClarkeAward
Books Received, October 11 to October 17
Seven books new to me. Well, six and one replacement. Four fantasy, one historical, one horror, one science fiction. Two appear to be part of series. First four covers!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
#BooksReceived
Seven books new to me. Well, six and one replacement. Four fantasy, one historical, one horror, one science fiction. Two appear to be part of series. First four covers!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
#BooksReceived
October 18, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Books Received, October 11 to October 17
Seven books new to me. Well, six and one replacement. Four fantasy, one historical, one horror, one science fiction. Two appear to be part of series. First four covers!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
#BooksReceived
Seven books new to me. Well, six and one replacement. Four fantasy, one historical, one horror, one science fiction. Two appear to be part of series. First four covers!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
#BooksReceived
There was a lot of glittery stuff on this sidewalk. Wonder why?
October 17, 2025 at 2:30 AM
There was a lot of glittery stuff on this sidewalk. Wonder why?
It's the 63rd anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, so I suggest a triple-header: The War Game, followed by Threads, followed by When the Wind Blows.
October 16, 2025 at 4:14 PM
It's the 63rd anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, so I suggest a triple-header: The War Game, followed by Threads, followed by When the Wind Blows.
That fellow is lucky to have encountered someone with that sort of deep, introspective interest in history.
October 16, 2025 at 4:08 AM
That fellow is lucky to have encountered someone with that sort of deep, introspective interest in history.
Or perhaps not.
October 14, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Or perhaps not.
2018: Tories vote to pitch the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, PM May’s Brexit progress is strangely uneven, while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle conduct an experiment to determine the depths of British racism.
#ClarkeAward
#ClarkeAward
October 13, 2025 at 2:59 PM
2018: Tories vote to pitch the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, PM May’s Brexit progress is strangely uneven, while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle conduct an experiment to determine the depths of British racism.
#ClarkeAward
#ClarkeAward