Joel Stainer
@joelstainer.bsky.social
Currently my random interests are post-apocalyptic and disaster fiction, economics, and running. Lots of other things distract me as well.
Just found out about local Edmonton Publisher @mythicroads.bsky.social and grabbed two of their books that I ran across today. Always fun to support smaller publishers and new authors, particularly when they are local!
November 22, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Just found out about local Edmonton Publisher @mythicroads.bsky.social and grabbed two of their books that I ran across today. Always fun to support smaller publishers and new authors, particularly when they are local!
Needed a reading palate cleanser so broke out this cheesy classic I had last read decades ago. Pure nostalgia. Dragons of Autumn Twilight. Now, back to some SF.
November 11, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Needed a reading palate cleanser so broke out this cheesy classic I had last read decades ago. Pure nostalgia. Dragons of Autumn Twilight. Now, back to some SF.
My home for the next 24 hours.
November 1, 2025 at 2:37 PM
My home for the next 24 hours.
I struggled to get through Man Plus by Frederik Pohl. Some interesting ideas but an ending that felt like it mostly came out of nowhere (there was a bit of foreshadowing, I guess) and characters I mostly wasn't too interested in. I'm glad to check it off the list.
October 26, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I struggled to get through Man Plus by Frederik Pohl. Some interesting ideas but an ending that felt like it mostly came out of nowhere (there was a bit of foreshadowing, I guess) and characters I mostly wasn't too interested in. I'm glad to check it off the list.
Thanksgiving pumpkin decorating contest. Always a fun time!
October 13, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Thanksgiving pumpkin decorating contest. Always a fun time!
Well, this book was a ride. As cheesy as they come, with writing that me laughing out loud. The most corny "manly" men as protagonists, and stereotypical hordes of aliens wanting to wipe out humanity. Four formulaic stories. They were fun but I think that's enough Laumer for me.
October 5, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Well, this book was a ride. As cheesy as they come, with writing that me laughing out loud. The most corny "manly" men as protagonists, and stereotypical hordes of aliens wanting to wipe out humanity. Four formulaic stories. They were fun but I think that's enough Laumer for me.
Stretching the bounds of my suitcase for the way home but hit up a used bookstore here in Ottawa and snagged a few more for my post-apocalyptic collection. This Deluge/Dawn set of two by S Fowler Wright was not on my list so a new find for me! The Tepper book I had been hunting for in the wild.
October 3, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Stretching the bounds of my suitcase for the way home but hit up a used bookstore here in Ottawa and snagged a few more for my post-apocalyptic collection. This Deluge/Dawn set of two by S Fowler Wright was not on my list so a new find for me! The Tepper book I had been hunting for in the wild.
The Orchid Cage by Herbert Franke was a struggle for me to get through. I didn't care for the protagonists, the slow unfolding of the storyline was plodding and convoluted, and the portrayal of the singular woman was particularly egregious in this story.
October 2, 2025 at 2:01 PM
The Orchid Cage by Herbert Franke was a struggle for me to get through. I didn't care for the protagonists, the slow unfolding of the storyline was plodding and convoluted, and the portrayal of the singular woman was particularly egregious in this story.
When a severed, but living, infant head appears on her dresser one morning, Dr. Trish Russo needs to figure out how to cope with the situation. This is 'The Head' by Robyn Braun. A bizarre, but intriguing, look at how trauma impacts someone, as well as how those around them treat them differently.
September 30, 2025 at 11:10 AM
When a severed, but living, infant head appears on her dresser one morning, Dr. Trish Russo needs to figure out how to cope with the situation. This is 'The Head' by Robyn Braun. A bizarre, but intriguing, look at how trauma impacts someone, as well as how those around them treat them differently.
An excerpt from 'Resistance and Recognition at Kitigan Zibi' by Dennis Leo Fisher which had me laughing a little too loudly on the plane today.
September 27, 2025 at 7:01 PM
An excerpt from 'Resistance and Recognition at Kitigan Zibi' by Dennis Leo Fisher which had me laughing a little too loudly on the plane today.
Just wrapped up City by Clifford Simak and absolutely loved it. So much to think on about human nature, the future of mankind, philosophy, violence, and more. Highly recommend it.
September 27, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Just wrapped up City by Clifford Simak and absolutely loved it. So much to think on about human nature, the future of mankind, philosophy, violence, and more. Highly recommend it.
Picked up the final book in @premeemohamed.com post-apocalyptic series. Think I may need to go back and read all three of them in one go to wade back into the world she created. Looking forward to it.
September 21, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Picked up the final book in @premeemohamed.com post-apocalyptic series. Think I may need to go back and read all three of them in one go to wade back into the world she created. Looking forward to it.
Just wrapped up 'The End Of The World As We Know It'. For fans of The Stand its a fantastic romp back into the world Stephen King created. There is something for everyone I would imagine, including some stuff for those who go deep into King's worlds in other books. Quite enjoyed it!
September 14, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Just wrapped up 'The End Of The World As We Know It'. For fans of The Stand its a fantastic romp back into the world Stephen King created. There is something for everyone I would imagine, including some stuff for those who go deep into King's worlds in other books. Quite enjoyed it!
He knows about this guy then I hope.
September 9, 2025 at 12:30 PM
He knows about this guy then I hope.
Oh boy. Just started The End Of The World as We Know It and this is going to suck me in, I just know it.
September 4, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Oh boy. Just started The End Of The World as We Know It and this is going to suck me in, I just know it.
The Fountains of Paradise was not one of my favourite Clarke books. I didn't find the space elevator an exciting venture, and the "rescue" felt a little too contrived. That being said, I worked through this one pretty quickly as even a less exciting Clarke book is quite readable.
September 4, 2025 at 3:13 AM
The Fountains of Paradise was not one of my favourite Clarke books. I didn't find the space elevator an exciting venture, and the "rescue" felt a little too contrived. That being said, I worked through this one pretty quickly as even a less exciting Clarke book is quite readable.
I read less this month than any month in 2025, and nearly all of it was on audiobook. Still had some good ones though!
August 31, 2025 at 7:29 PM
I read less this month than any month in 2025, and nearly all of it was on audiobook. Still had some good ones though!
The likely final book of July is Footfall by Niven and Pournelle. A fun alien invasion tale that asks the reader to ignore the absurdity of how it is written and just embrace it for the Hollywood style adventure that it is. Elephant aliens throwing giant rocks at earth. Bring it on.
July 29, 2025 at 11:35 AM
The likely final book of July is Footfall by Niven and Pournelle. A fun alien invasion tale that asks the reader to ignore the absurdity of how it is written and just embrace it for the Hollywood style adventure that it is. Elephant aliens throwing giant rocks at earth. Bring it on.
You shall not pass!
Today's run had some scary obstacles.
Today's run had some scary obstacles.
July 27, 2025 at 4:15 PM
You shall not pass!
Today's run had some scary obstacles.
Today's run had some scary obstacles.
Always fun to hit up the local arcade with the family! 2 floors of arcade and pinball machines. Such a good time.
July 27, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Always fun to hit up the local arcade with the family! 2 floors of arcade and pinball machines. Such a good time.
I guess I had read The Last Continent last year. It's by Dell while the other two are Ballantine.
July 25, 2025 at 11:17 PM
I guess I had read The Last Continent last year. It's by Dell while the other two are Ballantine.
Mail day! I exchange books with someone on the other side of Canada from time to time and this lot arrived in the mail today. A nice addition to my post-apocalyptic and disaster collection!
July 24, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Mail day! I exchange books with someone on the other side of Canada from time to time and this lot arrived in the mail today. A nice addition to my post-apocalyptic and disaster collection!
Venus Plus X by Theodore Sturgeon started slowly but by the end of the became one of the best books I read this year. Really loved it. The back and forth between the main story and the side story was a little jarring at first but made a lot of sense for me by the end. Highly recommended.
July 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Venus Plus X by Theodore Sturgeon started slowly but by the end of the became one of the best books I read this year. Really loved it. The back and forth between the main story and the side story was a little jarring at first but made a lot of sense for me by the end. Highly recommended.
Gave The Female Man by Joanna Russ a read. Must admit I am a little too daft to keep up with her style in this one and I did my best to appreciate what she was doing in it. I probably failed, but not her fault. Still need to track down We Who Are About To at some point.
July 15, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Gave The Female Man by Joanna Russ a read. Must admit I am a little too daft to keep up with her style in this one and I did my best to appreciate what she was doing in it. I probably failed, but not her fault. Still need to track down We Who Are About To at some point.
If you are looking for more of a literary fiction book that happens to include a touch of "end of the world" and scary creatures to set up the discussion then this book may be for you.
July 13, 2025 at 11:26 AM
If you are looking for more of a literary fiction book that happens to include a touch of "end of the world" and scary creatures to set up the discussion then this book may be for you.