Archive
I wrote a quick page about the simple rig I use to make podcasts on this site. Podcasting Rig
Here’s the thing - if you want really good science fiction you need to read. There are some great SF …
Episode 49: It’s Been A Long Time In this short episode I talk about what I’m reading now, and think about some goals for both my …
New books A couple of years ago a new Barnes & Noble bookstore opened in our neighborhood. Been trying to show …
Currently reading: The Stainless Steel Rat Sings the Blues (Stainless Steel Rat Series) by Harry …
Finished Reading 2026: Plague Ship by Andre Norton 📚
LibraryThing Revisited I’ve been using Goodreads.com for many years. I think 15 years or more. Not sure. I’ve enjoyed it. …
Andre Norton Growing up in the 1970s and 1980s there were certain authors who absolutely dominated the science …
Currently reading: Plague Ship by Andre Norton 📚 So I am about 25% though this novel, written in …
Currently reading: Plague Ship by Andre Norton 📚
Finished Reading 2026: Envoy to New Worlds by Keith Laumer 📚 Quick read. Super fun. I want to be …
Envoy to New Worlds - Retief 1 Currently reading: Envoy to New Worlds by Keith Laumer 📚 I picked up six of these books at a gamin …
Finished Reading 2026: The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted (Stainless Steel Rat Series) by Harry …
I’ve changed my mind about The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted. It’s pretty good. Entertaining. I …
Reading, distraction, and whatnot Bought this book - The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction, written by @ayjay, and started …
the Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted - not that good I am finally finishing the Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted. Why has this relatively short novel …
Made some progress on reading The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted so far this week. Been pretty …
Last week was not a good reading week. Just had a lot going on, and a lot of gaming. Finally got …
Currently reading: The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted (Stainless Steel Rat Series) by Harry …
Finished Reading 2026: Child of Earth by E.C. Tubb 📚
Finished Reading 2026: The Return by E. C. Tubb 📚
Reading on Vacation Went on vacation for a week, but managed to finish one book and get 60% through another. On Catalina …
Currently reading: The Return by E. C. Tubb 📚
Finished Reading 2026: The Temple of Truth by E.C. Tubb 📚
It turns out I have three books left in the Dumarest of Terra series! So cool!
Currently reading: The Temple of Truth by E.C. Tubb 📚
Finished Reading 2026: Symbol of Terra by E.C. Tubb 📚
Random Reading Report It’s been a good week for reading. I only failed to get my 5% read on one day, but I’v read a lot …
The Joy of Reading, eBooks, AI Slop, and Picking Your Battles Well, I have been getting my daily 5% of a novel reading done the last few days, and then some. It …
Currently reading: Goodreads by E.C. Tubb 📚 I’m nearing the end of this series, which I started …
the Hyperion Cantos, Dan Simmons, Problematic Authors, and SF I will start this somewhat long post by stating clearly that I am not a literary guy. I’m not that …
Finished reading 2023: The Deluge Drivers by Alan Dean Foster 📚 I’m getting kind of a slow start …
Reading for Sanity I can’t remember if I have discussed this before, at least in writing, on this blog. This is about …
Reading and Distractions If I don’t read for a while a weird inertia builds up. Like picking up the book and started to read …
Quick thoughts on Mission to Moulokin Finished Reading in 2025: Mission to Moulokin by Alan Dean Foster 📚 As I have previously noted, I …
Currently reading: The Deluge Drivers by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Finished Reading in 2025: Mission to Moulokin by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Classic SF with Andy Johnson This week, while looking for articles on Alan Dean Foster’s Sentence to Prism, I found Andy Johnsons …
Currently reading: Mission to Moulokin by Alan Dean Foster 📚 Starting this today, the 2nd in …
Finished Reading in 2025: Angado by E.C. Tubb 📚 I don’t write a lot about the Dumarest books. I just …
Currently reading: Angado by E.C. Tubb It’s taking me a little longer than I expected to finish this …
Planning to finish this book today. Angado by E.C. Tubb 📚
My reading goals for the remainder of 2025. Finish the Dumarest of Terra Saga Read books 2 and 3 of …
Getting back to it As I have noted, 2025 has been a rough year for reading. I actually deleted my reading blog about a …
Started reading: Angado by E.C. Tubb 📚 I have about five books left in this series.
Finished Reading in 2025: Melome by E.C. Tubb 📚
I am back Well, it has been a bad year for reading thus far. It is mid-May, 2025, and I’ve not read a single …
Well, I have taken a few months off reading. I have been giving my eyes a rest and working a lot on …
Episode 48: Icerigger A very short check-in
Finished Reading 2024: Icerigger by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Reading Icerigger, by Alan Dean Foster. I swear, no one does world building and alien/human …
Currently reading: Icerigger by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Finished Four-Day Planet Finished Reading 2024: Four-Day Planet by H. Beam Piper 📚 This is the second chronologically …
Podcast Episode 47: Various Things In this episode, I talk about being too tired to read for the last week, and also about my …
Podcast Episode 46: The Four Day Planet An extremely short episode in which I talk about what I’m reading right now.
Currently reading: Four-Day Planet by H. Beam Piper 📚
Finished Dumarest 27: Earth is Heaven Finished Reading 2024: Earth is Heaven by E.C. Tubb 📚 Another enjoyable Dumarest of Terra novel. The …
I’m 38% into Dumarest 27. It’s good. It’s nice to have a series I can come back to between other …
Currently reading: Earth is Heaven by E.C. Tubb 📚
Finished Dumarest 26 Finished Reading 2024: The Coming Event by E.C. Tubb 📚 This book was a continuatoin of #25. A good, …
Reading Dumarest 26, which is a continuation of #25. It’s good. Exciting!
Currently reading: The Coming Event by E.C. Tubb 📚
Finished Uller Uprising Finished Reading 2024: Uller Uprising by Henry Beam Piper 📚 This was a short book that took me a …
Podcast Episode 45: The Uller Uprising, Dungeons And Dragons, Etc. Just a little bit more discussion of my reading, and a little talk about our gaming group.
Episode 44: Still Reading, And A New Blog In this episode, I talk about the book that I’m still reading and I talk about the blog that I set …
I’m a bit behind on my reading. We’ve had guests the last two weekends, which is unusual. We also …
Podcast Episode 43: What I’m Reading Now, And Fallout Just a few thoughts about the novel I’m currently reading, and the recent series released on …
Podcast Episode 42: Deathworld 1 In this episode, I talk about my experience reading and now listening to Harry Harrison‘s novel, …
Currently reading: Uller Uprising by Henry Beam Piper 📚 This is chronologically the first in Piper’s …
The Terridae Finished Reading 2024: The Terridae by E.C. Tubb 📚 Another enjoyable installment in the Dumarest of …
I created a new page, linked to from my info page, about my 5% per day reading practice.
Currently reading: The Terridae by E.C. Tubb 📚
Star King Finished Reading 2024: Star King by Jack Vance 📚 Just finished Star King, first in Jack Vance’s Five …
I have wondered why so many SF novels are so damned long these days. In this Reddit thread, author …
Currently reading: Star King by Jack Vance 📚 The protagonist of this series is, like Slippery Jim …
A Stainless Steel Rat is Born Finished Reading 2024: A Stainless Steel Rat is Born by Harry Harrison 📚 I read a collection of …
Want to read: Dust of Far Suns by Jack Vance 📚
Currently reading: A Stainless Steel Rat is Born by Harry Harrison 📚
Finished Reading 2024: The World of Null-A by A. E. van Vogt 📚 Just straightening out my …
Hawksbill Station Finished Reading 2024: Hawksbill Station by Robert Silverberg 📚 This is maybe the fifth Silverberg …
Want to read: The Deluge Drivers by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Currently reading: Hawksbill Station by Robert Silverberg 📚 Almost done with this one
Podcast Episode 40 Just a few comments on the topics listed in the title.
Added my “Want to Read” page to the page menu on my blog.
Currently reading: Hawksbill Station by Robert Silverberg 📚 I’ve read a few Silverberg novels now. …
Finished Reading 2024: Nectar of Heaven by E.C. Tubb 📚 I enjoy all the Dumarest novels. This one was …
Podcast Episode 39 In this very quick episode, I talk about starting to watch the Netflix adaptation of the Three Body …
Been reading Dumarest 24. Will finish in the next couple of days and try to squeeze in another short …
Started reading Dorsai!, a 1960 military science fiction novel. Got about 4% in. While it is pretty …
Currently reading: Nectar of Heaven by E.C. Tubb 📚
hmmmm…the next book in Alan Dean Foster’s Pip & Flinx series (the 6th in the series) is not …
Finished Reading 2024: Flinx in Flux by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Oh man. Listening to Dune the last week. There’s a lot in that book that hasn’t aged well since …
Most of the SF novels I’ve read over the last year have been excellent, entertaining, and great …
For “reasons” I didn’t do my reading last night. First time in quite a while, but justified. I’m …
Podcast Episode 38 Just a quick report on seeing the second part of the new Dune movie. A few thoughts on it and how it …
Currently reading: Flinx in Flux by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Trying to decide what to read next. Might read something a bit heavier. We’ll see.
Finished Reading 2024: The End of the Matter by Alan Dean Foster 📚 Another enjoyable adventure by …
Podcast Episode 37 In this episode, I talk about the BookTube phenomenon. I have discovered on YouTube. I also ran a …
Currently reading: The End of the Matter by Alan Dean Foster 📚 60% in. Really enjoying this book.
As I’ve watched videos about people’s reading practices and advice for people who want to read but …
Podcast Episode 36 In this episode, I talk a little bit about what I’m reading now, as well as a little discussion over …
Currently reading: The End of the Matter by Alan Dean Foster 📚 Yes, I’m going right back into the …
Finished Reading 2024: Orphan Star by Alan Dean Foster 📚 This is the third Pip & Flinx novel. Once …
I’m going to start making some brief notes on this blog about each book I read. Characters, plot, …
I’ve been reading about 7% - 10% of a novel every day, so I’m typically exceeding my 5% goal. The …
Currently reading: Orphan Star by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Finished Reading 2024: For Love of Mother Not by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Podcast Episode 35 In this episode, I talk a little bit about collecting books for my Traveller game, and what’s going …
Them! With some time to myself this weekend I’ve started working on my SF film watching. Friday night I …
In this quick episode, I discuss my failure to complete my reading goal yesterday. It had to happen …
Podcast Episode 34 In this episode, I discuss the book I’m currently reading, For Love of Mother Not, by Alan Dean …
Currently reading: For Love of Mother Not by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Finished Reading 2024: World of Promise by E.C. Tubb 📚
Well, it is January 30 and I’m just about to finish reading my second novel of the month. So I’m …
Podcast Episode 33 In this episode, I discussed getting a little bit bogged down in my reading, and how I’m getting out …
Currently reading: World of Promise by E.C. Tubb 📚
Finished Reading 2024: The World of Null-A by A. E. van Vogt 📚 This is an absolutely horrible novel.
Podcast Episode 32 In this episode, I discuss what I’m reading right now, as well as some activities in my Science …
Making progress on The World of Null-A. It’s a pretty weird book. I’m going to go out on a limb and …
Book 27 of last year as it turn out will be the first book finished in 2024. 2023 was the best year …
Being interviewed by a gaming podcast in the morning about my 5% per day SF reading project, as well …
Today is Christmas, 2023. My reading goal for the year was 20 books. Thus far I have read 26. I …
Currently reading: The World of Null-A by A. E. van Vogt 📚
Finished reading 2023: I Am Legend by Richard Matheson 📚
Currently reading: I Am Legend by Richard Matheson 📚
Finished reading 2023: The Terra Data by E.C. Tubb 📚
Currently reading: The Terra Data by E.C. Tubb 📚
Podcast Episode 30 A quick reading update. I finished my 24th novel of the year, Cachalot by Alan Dean Foster. I’m …
Podcast Episode 31 A quick reading update. I finished my 24th novel of the year, Cachalot by Alan Dean Foster. I’m …
Finished reading 2023: Cachalot by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Podcast Episode 29 A quick check in. I’m about halfway finished with the novel I’m reading, and I went to see the film …
Podcast Episode 28 In this episode, I talk about the novel that I just finished, the one I’m about to start, and I talk …
Currently reading: Cachalot by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Finished reading 2023: Iduna’s Universe by E.C. Tubb 📚
Currently reading: Iduna’s Universe by E.C. Tubb 📚
Finished reading 2023: Sentenced to Prism by Alan Dean Foster 📚 Best Commonwealth novel yet!
Podcast Episode 27 Just a quick podcast about another podcast while I sit here in a parking lot waiting for my cat at …
Podcast Episode 26 In the short episode I just do a quick reading update.
Currently reading: Sentenced to Prism by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Finished reading 2023: Howling Stones by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Well, a week after returning from vacation I finally had the energy to get back to my SF reading …
Podcast Episode 25 A quick check in. I’ve been on vacation. Didn’t get any reading done but I did watch a movie or two.
Currently reading: Howling Stones by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Finished reading 2023: Quofum by Alan Dean Foster 📚 This is the first time, EVER, that I’ve made my …
Podcast Episode 24 A very quick episode checking in on my reading progress.
Currently reading: Quofum by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Finished reading 2023: Drowning World by Alan Dean Foster 📚 Yet another solid Alan Dean Foster …
As it turns out, in this Alan Dean Foster novel I’m reading now, Drowning World, two aliens races …
I made an attempt to read And Chaos Died the other night, by the late Joanna Russ. I say “attempt” …
Podcast Episode 23 Another quick episode where I update you on my reading.
Currently reading: Drowning World by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Finished reading 2023: Blood Music by Greg Bear 📚
It is Wednesday night. I’ve had a four day break from reading, and I’m about to get back into Blood …
Podcast Episode 22 In this quick episode, I just talk about taking a three day break from reading and also playing our …
A session report from Sunday’s session of my Classic Traveller RPG campaign. …
Podcast Episode 21 A quick check in. I am reading the novel Blood Music right now. I managed to read for complete …
Currently reading: Blood Music by Greg Bear 📚
Finished reading 2023: Web of Sand by E.C. Tubb 📚 This was book 17 for me for the year. Not sure …
Podcast Episode 20 Another quick podcast in which I discussed reading my third book this month, by Robert Silverberg.
Currently reading: Web of Sand by E.C. Tubb 📚 Yup, hitting the brutal galaxy of Earl Dumarest again. …
Finished reading 2023: To Open the Sky by Robert Silverberg 📚
Want to read: And Chaos Died by Joanna Russ 📚 My wife told me about this author last night. This …
Currently reading: To Open the Sky by Robert Silverberg 📚
Hugo Nominees/Winners I have read. Winners in Bold Entry starts with award year 1954: Childhood’s …
Finished reading my 15th novel of the year today at lunch. I know I keep harping on this, but it …
Finished reading 2023: Midworld by Alan Dean Foster 📚 This was a damned good read. Highly recommend.
Let me start by admitting that I don’t know why this sticks in my craw so much. But it does. And …
Podcast Episode 19 In this episode, just a few more thoughts on the novel that I’m reading, and the James Cameron movie …
Podcast Episode 18 In this episode, I talk about the novel Midworld, and possible influences on the movie Avatar.
Podcast Episode 17 A few remarks on Alan Dean Foster’s novel “Voyage to the City of the Dead”, and a few comments on …
Currently reading: Midworld by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Finished reading 2023: Voyage to the City of the Dead by Alan Dean Foster 📚 Boom! Fun book.
Final poster (for now) for podcasting/gaming/home office decor changes.
📚Last night was rough. I ate a nice omelette at 11am yesterday, and didn’t have anything else until …
📚 Just a quick update declaring a Reading Victory. I have managed to read at least 5% of a novel …
📚 So I’ve decided to work through all Alan Dean Foster’s standalone novels set in the Humanx …
Currently reading: Voyage to the City of the Dead by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Well, August was another good reading month for me. Knocked out four books! I read the Founding of …
Finished reading 2023: The Quillian Sector by E.C. Tubb 📚 This was a pretty good one. A skilled …
A few months ago we had the floors replaced in the last parts of our house that needed it. We took …
Podcast Episode 16 In this episode, I give a reading update after a weekend of traveling, and talk to you at a couple …
Geeking out. I wrote an email to Alan Dean Foster just to say how much I’ve enjoyed his novels and …
Currently reading: The Quillian Sector by E.C. Tubb 📚 Taking a break from Alan Dean Foster to …
Podcast Episode 15 In this episode, I wrap up my comments about the Founding of the C yes ommonwealth trilogy by Alan …
As I have mentioned numerous times on this blog, I have been reading (and just finished) the …
Currently reading: Voyage to the City of the Dead by Alan Dean Foster 📚 OK, it looks like in …
Finished reading 2023: Diuturnity’s Dawn by Alan Dean Foster 📚
We are having what might be called “False Fall” here in North Texas. That means that for the last …
I’m pretty happy to have gotten this book. It’s a third edition GURPS source book about Alan Dean …
Podcast Episode 14 A quick update, on my reading of Alan Dean Foster‘s Founding of the Commonwealth trilogy. 🎙️
Currently reading: Diuturnity’s Dawn by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Finished reading 2023: Dirge by Alan Dean Foster 📚 Going to dive right into the final book of the …
Podcast Episode 13 Just a very quick podcast, updating my reading activities and an idea for a Science Fiction …
I picked up these two paperbacks several years ago, and finally read both of these books on my …
Currently reading: Dirge by Alan Dean Foster 📚 I drove right back into the Founding of the …
Finished reading 2023: Nor Crystal Tears by Alan Dean Foster 📚
Finished reading 2023: Prison of Night by E.C. Tubb 📚
Finished reading 2023: Incident on Ath by E.C. Tubb 📚
Finished reading 2023: Fuzzy Sapiens by H. Beam Piper 📚
Finished reading 2023: Little Fuzzy (Fuzzy Sapiens, #1) by H. Beam Piper 📚
Finished reading 2023: Endymion by Dan Simmons 📚
Finished reading 2023: Logan’s Run: Vintage Movie Classics (A Vintage Movie Classic) by William F. …
Finished reading 2023: Haven of Darkness (Dumarest of Terra, #16) by E.C. Tubb 📚
Finished reading 2023: Sargasso of Space (Solar Queen, #1) by Andre Norton 📚
Finished reading 2023: Phylogenesis by Alan Dean Foster 📚 I will probably plow right into book two …
If you have an interest in the cover art of science fiction novels of the 1970s, check out this …
“You’re an interesting species. An interesting mix. You’re capable of such beautiful dreams, and …
Podcast Episode 12 In this episode, I breakdown the results of reading 5% of a book every day. I talk a little bit …
Podcast Episode 11 In this episode, I talk about my recent reading of an Allen, Dean Foster novel, and the one I’m …
After working all day then going home and spending about 1.5 hours doing some work in our hot garage …
Currently reading: Phylogenesis by Alan Dean Foster 📚
I finished reading Nor Crystal Tears, by Alan Dean Foster, last night. I must say I was unexpectedly …
Podcast Episode 10 In this episode, I talk about watching the recent “the Flash“ movie, and the influence of that …
Podcast Episode 9 In this quick podcast, I talk a little bit about the way my reading of science fiction has changed …
Podcast Episode 8 Just a quick audio recording about this book by Allen Dean Foster that I am enjoying quite a lot …
I am currently reading Nor Crystal Tears, by Alan Dean Foster. I’m about 30% into it. I’m really …
Well, tonight I ate a hamburger and fries, listen to an album, and finish reading Dumarest 18. I …
In 1981 I was in 10th grade. In 1990 I was married. That’s a lot of change in 10 years. From …
I started reading Dumarest 17 today during lunch. 📚 None of the “break/lunch” areas at work are …
I need to start writing more detailed post, I think, in order to get the most out of this blog.
I have now ready Little Fuzzy and Fuzzy Sapiens, the two Fuzzy novels published by H. Beam Piper …
I found this amazing blog yesterday. Dude is writing about classic SF and reviewing lots of books. …
Weirdly I have made less progress on my SF viewing goals than my reading goals. The collection of …
I have mentioned the Quinn’s Ideas Youtube channel. Quinn does deep dive videos about many SF novels …
I started reading Little Fuzzy, by H. Beam Piper. I had this book in paperback form many years ago …
I’m a good month behind on my reading. I just finished Endymion, one of the best SF books I’ve ever …
I am 75% through Endymion, by Dan Simmons. Yes, I have been taking my time and really relishing …
Well, some weeks (and set of weeks) are just not conducive to reading). Finally got back to readying …
Though I haven’t been posting much, I have been reading. I’ve just been taking my time, reading a …
2 chapters of Endymion tonight.
Reading has been difficult this week. Work and additional work at home has kept me pretty worn out. …
Progress is much slower on Endymion that I had hoped for. I have been very busy trying to get our …
I started reading Endymion, by Dan Simmons. Reading slowly to really savor it. I spent some time on …
I finished Dumarest 17 today. Next I will ready Endymion, the third book in the Hyperion Cantos. …
Here were my goals for April (below). I read three novels. I did not finish Deathworld 3. I will try …
A quick update as I sit here waiting for an appointment. I’m still reading Dumarest 17. It’s …
I have just a few days left in the month and decided I want to finish one more book. That would be …
Podcast Episode 7 In this episode, I talk about the book, Logan‘s Run, listening to the novel Ring World on audiobook, …
I’ve bought the paperback of Larry Niven’s Ringworld at least twice in my life but never read it. …
Podcast Episode 6 This is a very quick episode. I just wanted to check in. I’m still reading Logan‘s Run and enjoying …
Podcast Episode 5 In this episode, which is about 12 minutes long, and I talk a little bit about my impressions of …
I think I’ve mentioned on the podcast that I am a big fan of the Quinn’s Ideas channel on Youtube ( …
Finished Sargasso of Space yesterday. More on that later (I’m typing my phone!). Started Logan’s …
Podcast Episode 4 Just another update about my reading, goals, progress, and a few other things.
I’ve made some changes to my Reading Goal’s page. I may stop changing it, and simply start noting …
Reading helper. Yes, I fell asleep shortly after I took this.
Podcast Episode 3 Just a quick check in. I talk a little bit about adjusting my goals, being my own accountability, …
Well, Week 2 is nearly over. It is Sunday night, 9:15pm, and I have not finished Sargasso of Space. …
Today I ran session 26 of our Classic Traveller RPG game. We’ve been playing this campaign for quite …
Well, it is 9:02pm and I’m about to start my reading for the day. Still reading Sargasso of Space, …
Podcast Episode 2 In this episode, I talk about reading the Sargasso of Space by Andre Norton, and the pleasure of …
Slight change of reading plans. Started reading this tonight: www.goodreads.com/book/show… This is …
Podcast Episode 1 In this first episode of the podcast on my Science Fiction blog, I talk a little bit about the …
I am on schedule for reading, but not for movie viewing. Luckily movies are easy to catch up on. …
Well, last night I restarted reading Dumarest 16: Haven of Darkness. I started it last year and got …
I’ve been drawn toward science fiction my whole life. I suppose being a child in the mid–1960s it …
I have found that blogging about topics of interest is a good way for me to stay focussed, so I’m …