The Calculating Stars is an alternative history, where a meteor destroys Washington DC. But even more devastating, it looks to be an extinction event, leaving humanity not a huge amount of time to try and save themselves. Continue reading
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Book review: The Spanish Ambassador’s Suitcase
The book publishes ‘amusing’ dispatches from ambassadors in posts around the world, mostly from the 1960s on. While in the introduction of the book, the editors talk about some of the racism that permeates some of these dispatches, sadly lacking is a similar apology for the rampant sexism. Continue reading
Book review: Sorcerer to the Crown
The plot of Sorcerer to the Crown is mainly straightforward. It’s early 19th century (or so I guess because of the references to Bonaparte) and there is a noticeable decline in English Magic. Zacharias Wythe, the Sorcerer to the Crown needs to discover what that’s all about. Continue reading
Book review: Gods of Jade and Shadow
Like the two previous novels, the author takes elements of fantasy and mixes them in with the real word. In this case it’s Mayan gods alive in Mexico during the jazz age. Continue reading
Episode 15: Phyllis Esposito: Interdimensional Private-Eye
This month We talk to Christiana Ellis, author of Phyllis Esposito: Interdimensional Private-Eye and Professor Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones, Emeritus professor of history at the University of Edinburgh. Continue reading
Book review: Why Nations Fail
Why Nations Fail is an interesting examination of the reasons why countries fail to build functioning democracies and economies. It’s ultimate argument is that it comes down to whether or not a state can build and maintain inclusive institutions – such as political representation and property rights Continue reading
Book Review: Agent to the Stars
The story is pretty straight forward: a rather blob like alien race had decided the best way to introduce themselves to humanity was through a film agent. Continue reading
