Books Received, April 11 — April 17 poll
Apr. 18th, 2026 09:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
james_davis_nicollPoll #34492 Books Received, April 11 — April 17
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 38
Which of these look interesting?
View Answers
The Thrice-Bound Fool by Christopher Buehlman (Ocober 2026)
13 (34.2%)
The Slantwise Histories and Other Stories by Alix E. Harrow (October 2026)
23 (60.5%)
Nightcurse by Emma Hinds (October 2026)
4 (10.5%)
The Killing Spell by Shay Kauwe (April 2026)
10 (26.3%)
Claimed by the Orc King by Roxy Taylor (November 2026)
3 (7.9%)
Some other option (see comments)
1 (2.6%)
Cats!
27 (71.1%)
Books Received, April 11 — April 17
Apr. 18th, 2026 09:13 amjames_davis_nicoll
Five books new to me. At least four are fantasy (the collection might be a mix of genres). At least one is part of a series.
Books Received, April 11 — April 17
(no subject)
Apr. 18th, 2026 09:38 ambeccaelizabethThe front door to the building lets you dial a flat number to call a flat to be let in.
Simples.
Yet:
There are people who will get the 'you have dialled an incorrect number' message
and phone someone to say the door isn't working
rather than imagine
they are dialling
the wrong building.
There is an entire street, go try the other stairs, they have their numbers written on them, why is this conceptually difficult so often???
Simples.
Yet:
There are people who will get the 'you have dialled an incorrect number' message
and phone someone to say the door isn't working
rather than imagine
they are dialling
the wrong building.
There is an entire street, go try the other stairs, they have their numbers written on them, why is this conceptually difficult so often???
Creative Jam
Apr. 18th, 2026 01:01 amysabetwordsmith posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
crowdfundingWelcome to the 153rd Crowdfunding Creative Jam! This session will run Saturday, April 18-Sunday, April 19. The theme is "Progress."
Crowdfunding Creative Jam
Everyone is eligible to post prompts, which may be words or phrases, titles, images, etc. Prompters may request a specific creator, but everyone else may still use that prompt if they wish. Prompts may specify a particular character/world/etc. but creators may use the prompt for something else anyway and post the results. Prompters are still encouraged to post mostly prompts that anyone could use anywhere, as this maximizes the chance of having creators make something based on your prompt. Please title your comment "Prompt" or "Prompts" when providing inspiration so these are easy to find.
Prompt responses may also be treated as prompts and used for further inspiration. For example, a prompt may lead to a sketch which leads to a story, and so on. This kind of cascading inspiration is one of the most fun things about a collective jam session.
Everyone is eligible to use prompts, and everyone who wants to use a given prompt may do so, for maximum flexibility of creator choice in inspiration. You do not have to post a "Claim" reply when you decide to use a prompt, but this does help indicate what is going on so that other prompters can spread out their choice of prompts if they wish.
Creators are encouraged, but not required, to post at least one item free. Likewise, sharing a private copy of material with the prompter is encouraged but not required. Creative material resulting from prompts should be indicated in a reply to the prompt, with a link to the full content elsewhere on the creator's site (if desired); a brief excerpt and/or description of the material may be included in the reply (if desired). It helps to title your comment "Prompt Filled" or something like that so these are easy to identify. There is no time limit on responding to prompts. However, creators are encouraged to post replies sooner rather than later, as the attention of prompters will be highest during and shortly after the session.
Some items created from prompts may become available for sponsorship. Some creators may offer perks for donations, linkbacks, or other activity relating to this project. Check creator comments and links for their respective offerings.
Prompters, creators, and bystanders are expected to behave in a responsible and civil manner. If the moderators have to drag someone out of the sandbox for improper behavior, we will not be amused. Please respect other people's territory and intellectual property rights, and only play with someone else's characters/setting/etc. if you have permission. (Fanfic/fanart freebies are okay.) If you want to invite folks to play with something of yours, title the comment something like "Open Playground" so it's easy to spot. This can be a good way to attract new people to a shared world or open-source project, or just have some good non-canon fun.
Boost the signal! The more people who participate, the more fun this will be. Hopefully we'll see activity from a lot of folks who regularly mention their projects in this community, but new people are always welcome. You can link to this session post or to individual items created from prompts, whatever you think is awesome enough to recommend to your friends.
Crowdfunding Creative Jam
Everyone is eligible to post prompts, which may be words or phrases, titles, images, etc. Prompters may request a specific creator, but everyone else may still use that prompt if they wish. Prompts may specify a particular character/world/etc. but creators may use the prompt for something else anyway and post the results. Prompters are still encouraged to post mostly prompts that anyone could use anywhere, as this maximizes the chance of having creators make something based on your prompt. Please title your comment "Prompt" or "Prompts" when providing inspiration so these are easy to find.
Prompt responses may also be treated as prompts and used for further inspiration. For example, a prompt may lead to a sketch which leads to a story, and so on. This kind of cascading inspiration is one of the most fun things about a collective jam session.
Everyone is eligible to use prompts, and everyone who wants to use a given prompt may do so, for maximum flexibility of creator choice in inspiration. You do not have to post a "Claim" reply when you decide to use a prompt, but this does help indicate what is going on so that other prompters can spread out their choice of prompts if they wish.
Creators are encouraged, but not required, to post at least one item free. Likewise, sharing a private copy of material with the prompter is encouraged but not required. Creative material resulting from prompts should be indicated in a reply to the prompt, with a link to the full content elsewhere on the creator's site (if desired); a brief excerpt and/or description of the material may be included in the reply (if desired). It helps to title your comment "Prompt Filled" or something like that so these are easy to identify. There is no time limit on responding to prompts. However, creators are encouraged to post replies sooner rather than later, as the attention of prompters will be highest during and shortly after the session.
Some items created from prompts may become available for sponsorship. Some creators may offer perks for donations, linkbacks, or other activity relating to this project. Check creator comments and links for their respective offerings.
Prompters, creators, and bystanders are expected to behave in a responsible and civil manner. If the moderators have to drag someone out of the sandbox for improper behavior, we will not be amused. Please respect other people's territory and intellectual property rights, and only play with someone else's characters/setting/etc. if you have permission. (Fanfic/fanart freebies are okay.) If you want to invite folks to play with something of yours, title the comment something like "Open Playground" so it's easy to spot. This can be a good way to attract new people to a shared world or open-source project, or just have some good non-canon fun.
Boost the signal! The more people who participate, the more fun this will be. Hopefully we'll see activity from a lot of folks who regularly mention their projects in this community, but new people are always welcome. You can link to this session post or to individual items created from prompts, whatever you think is awesome enough to recommend to your friends.
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A stranger light comes on slowly
Apr. 18th, 2026 12:18 amsovayLong story tired, within a week of recovering from last month's double ear infection I was exposed to some other viral crud and now I have a double ear infection all over again. Next I return to the ophthalmologist. I am rethinking the entire concept of having a head. In the meantime I lay on the couch and watched Hiroshi Inagaki's Musashi Miyamoto (宮本武蔵, 1954) while Hestia basked in the cat tree. WHRB introduced me to Pansy's "Woman of Ur Dreams" (2021) and Nia Nadurata's "i think i like your girlfriend" (2023). I like this color study which feels a levitation away from being a surrealist painting. If it played vaguely near me, I would watch a film about Mark Fisher.
Infection from birdshot?
Apr. 17th, 2026 10:16 pmsubversivegrrl posting in little_detailsSo, my character gets shot running away and catches several pellets of birdshot in his calf. Post-apocalyse setting, he doesn't have a chance to tend to it right away - can anyone give me a rough estimate of how long it would take before he would develop an infection that could disable him? (Fever, altered mental state.)
Thanks in advance for any feedback. I may need to revamp my idea about what kind of injury is going to put him out of commission for several days (he will have access to someone who can remove the pellets and provide reasonable, situation-appropriate medical care.)
Thanks in advance for any feedback. I may need to revamp my idea about what kind of injury is going to put him out of commission for several days (he will have access to someone who can remove the pellets and provide reasonable, situation-appropriate medical care.)
Fic recs from FFFX, AU5k, and Fic In A Box
Apr. 17th, 2026 01:36 pmbeatrice_otterI have had recs from several recent exchanges, but haven't actually posted them. So! Here we go.
Five Figure Fanwork Exchange is the most recent! I received two fics, both of them lovely:
a star or two beside (5070 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Goblin Emperor Series - Katherine Addison
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Maia Drazhar, Chenelo Drazharan, Shaleän Sevraseched, Shaleän Sevraseched's Wife, Ursu Perenched, Original Characters
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Chenelo Lives, Alternate Universe - Maia Has a Good Childhood, POV Multiple, sailing ships, References to Illness
Summary:
Before, After, Always, Already (9151 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Kira Nerys/Keiko O'Brien/Miles O'Brien
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Post-Canon Bajor (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
Summary:
Other faves from FFFX include:
( Five Figure Fanwork Recs )
( AU5k Rec )
( Fic In A Box Recs )
Five Figure Fanwork Exchange is the most recent! I received two fics, both of them lovely:
a star or two beside (5070 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Goblin Emperor Series - Katherine Addison
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Maia Drazhar, Chenelo Drazharan, Shaleän Sevraseched, Shaleän Sevraseched's Wife, Ursu Perenched, Original Characters
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Chenelo Lives, Alternate Universe - Maia Has a Good Childhood, POV Multiple, sailing ships, References to Illness
Summary:
It is something out of a wonder-tale when a stranger arrives at Isvaroë and whisks Maia and his mother away.
Before, After, Always, Already (9151 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Kira Nerys/Keiko O'Brien/Miles O'Brien
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Post-Canon Bajor (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
Summary:
Keiko was over Miles's shoulder in the video message. "Hi, Nerys!" she said. She looked the same, too, although her hair was up, and she was in uniform. "We're moving to Bajor!"
Other faves from FFFX include:
( Five Figure Fanwork Recs )
( AU5k Rec )
( Fic In A Box Recs )
The Measure, by Nikki Erlick
Apr. 17th, 2026 10:05 amrachelmanija
One day every adult on Earth gets a box that contains a string that measures out the length of their life.
This premise seems designed in a lab to create a book to be read for book clubs, where everyone gets to discuss whether or not they'd open their box and how they'd react to a long or short string. It worked, too. And it is absolutely about the premise. Unfortunately, the book is bad: flat, dull, sappy, American in the worst possible way, and emotionally manipulative.
It follows multiple characters, all American, most New Yorkers, and all middle or upper class. Some get long strings. Some get short strings. The ones with short strings agonize over their short strings. The ones with long strings who are in relationships with people with short strings agonize over that.
One of them is black, a fact mentioned exactly once in the entire book, and one has a Hispanic name. One set is an old right-wing politician and his wife. But all of them have identical-sounding narrative voices. Other than the Hispanic-named dude, who is mostly concerned about job discrimination, and the politician, who just wants to exploit the issue, everyone is worried about having a relationship and children with someone who will die young/worried that they'll get dumped and not be able to have children because they'll die young.
Ultimately, isn't everything really about baaaaaabies? Shouldn't everyone have baaaaaaabies no matter what?
The book is so bland and flat. The strings are a metaphor for discrimination, as short stringers are discriminated against. It explores some other social issues, all extremely American like health insurance discrimination and mass shootings, but only peeks outside America for brief and stereotypical moments: North Korea mandates not opening the boxes, China mandates opening them, and in Italy hardly anyone opens their box because they already know what really matters: family. BARF FOREVER.
It was obvious going in that the origin of the boxes would never be explained, but no one even seemed curious about that. Once all adults have received them, they appear on your doorstep the night you turn 22. Video of this is fuzzy. No one parks themselves on the doorstep to see if they teleport in or what. No one has a paradigm-upending crisis over this absolute proof of God/aliens/time travel/magic/etc that the boxes represent. No one comes up with inventive ways to take advantage of the situation a la Death Note. No one is concerned that this proves predestination. No one wonders why they appeared now and what the motive of whoever put them there is.
The point that life is precious regardless of length is hammered in with a thousand sledgehammers, to the point where it felt like a bad self-help book in the form of a novel. The romances are flat and sappy. In the truly vomitous climax, someone pedals around on a bicycle with the stereo playing "Que Sera Sera" and it quotes the entire song.
It's only April but this will be hard to top as the worst book I read all year.
(no subject)
Apr. 17th, 2026 05:50 pmbeccaelizabethToday I spent all day sitting in the living room
waiting on a delivery
which turned out to arrive tidily in the predicted time slot
but once Waiting Mode is activated it does not go away easily.
I have many Books now :-D
But in preparation for one of the many books I started rereading Wayward Children from the beginning, so I will be a couple more days before I get to the new one...
the reading is why it has been a quiet week here
lots of rereading, no pressing need to re review, so I was quiet.
I still want to start doing an output sort of a thing, a story or something, but still pondering that.
... I keep getting stuck on practicalities, like, there is a Mysterious Castle and a team of people from half a dozen canons are now Shut In The Castle...
... how much Mysterious Loo Roll do they need and how can we get it in the Castle without the mist eating it...
and there is a time and a place for that but I feel it is just turning a plot bunny into a shopping list
which really gets in the way of the porn.
bunnies will return eventually.
... *sigh* ...
👋🖖🌞
waiting on a delivery
which turned out to arrive tidily in the predicted time slot
but once Waiting Mode is activated it does not go away easily.
I have many Books now :-D
But in preparation for one of the many books I started rereading Wayward Children from the beginning, so I will be a couple more days before I get to the new one...
the reading is why it has been a quiet week here
lots of rereading, no pressing need to re review, so I was quiet.
I still want to start doing an output sort of a thing, a story or something, but still pondering that.
... I keep getting stuck on practicalities, like, there is a Mysterious Castle and a team of people from half a dozen canons are now Shut In The Castle...
... how much Mysterious Loo Roll do they need and how can we get it in the Castle without the mist eating it...
and there is a time and a place for that but I feel it is just turning a plot bunny into a shopping list
which really gets in the way of the porn.
bunnies will return eventually.
... *sigh* ...
👋🖖🌞
Winner Takes All (Harlow, volume 1) by Claris Lam
Apr. 17th, 2026 09:12 amjames_davis_nicoll
Aubri Harlow wins an all-expenses-paid holiday with three exes and murder.
Winner Takes All (Harlow, volume 1) by Claris Lam
Attention Pitt Fans! Interview with Noah Wyle
Apr. 17th, 2026 08:45 amjo posting in tv_talkNoah Wyle gave a really interesting (and long!) interview to GQ. The original is paywalled so I've provided an archived link.
WARNING: It contains spoilers for the season 2 finale, so if you've not watched it yet, or are only part-way through season 2 or whatever, proceed at your own risk.
This one section really caught my attention (does not contain spoilers):
I hadn't even noticed that there's no music! And it is true that The Pitt is one of the shows that I pay full attention to while watching -- never occurred to me that the absence of music might be partly behind that.
WARNING: It contains spoilers for the season 2 finale, so if you've not watched it yet, or are only part-way through season 2 or whatever, proceed at your own risk.
This one section really caught my attention (does not contain spoilers):
“It’s a couple of things that work beautifully in concert. First: no music. Audiences are so sophisticated, but what they’re not accustomed to is being told how to feel,” Wyle says. “You take all that out and it forces a level of engagement where you’re now looking for clues within the frame of the screen, which forces you to look up from your phone. And I think that is extremely engaging, especially to young viewers who aren’t accustomed to being asked to participate in a nonpassive way in the viewing experience."
I hadn't even noticed that there's no music! And it is true that The Pitt is one of the shows that I pay full attention to while watching -- never occurred to me that the absence of music might be partly behind that.
(no subject)
Apr. 17th, 2026 08:27 amaurumcalendulaDoes anyone know if there's plans for a Wiscon Vidparty this year (and what the submission deadline would be, if so)?