I’ve mentioned many times that I’m a sucker for a reading challenge and I have especially loved the themed challenges Carl has run at Stainless Steel Droppings. There’s Once Upon A Time for fantasy from March until June. There’s Readers Imbibing at Peril for dark fantasy, supernatural and horror over the Halloween period. And there’s […]
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2017 Reading Challenges
If you’ve been following me for even a short time, you probably know I’m a sucker for a reading challenge. Many of the ones in which I participate are seasonal or only run for a short time. However, I usually sign up for a couple of year-long challenges, just to keep things interesting. 2016 Challenge […]
Reviews of Awards-eligible Works
With 2016 almost done, the SFF community is already gearing up for the 2017 awards season. To assist with the nominating process, I thought I’d share a list of works I’ve reviewed that are eligible. Ditmar Awards The Ditmars are Australia’s popularly-voted award for SFF. Traditionally, they’re presented at NatCon. In 2017 that will be […]
Dewey’s read-a-thon: October 2016
Dewey’s 24-hour Read-a-thon took place on Sunday, Australian time. For those who have somehow managed to miss my incessant posting about it, the event is basically a chance for book geeks across the world to get together and read as much as possible. It is also held in honour of its founder, a book blogger who […]
Read-a-thon mini-challenge: Books and Beverages
Welcome Read-a-thoners and regular readers! We’re deep into Dewey’s 24-hour read-a-thon, with Hour 17 just about to get underway. It tends to get a bit quiet around this time of day… because it’s not day for participants in most other time zones. It’s the time where we’re all reaching for some additional caffeine or sugar. […]
Preparation for Dewey’s read-a-thon: October 2016
Mt TBR hit 300 books last week. That’s far and away the highest it has ever been and it’s freaking me out a little. Fortunately, my very favourite reading challenge is on this weekend. Dewey’s read-a-thon runs twice a year–in April and October. It runs for 24 hours, but participation for the full length is optional. Which […]
Conflux 12, Part 2
Conflux 12 took place from Friday 30 September until Monday 3 October. As is always the case, there was a lot of good programming to see, so I had to split my report into two parts. You can read the first part here. Craig Cormack moderated an excellent panel on disability in SFF featuring K.J. Taylor, Gillian […]
Conflux 12, Part 1
Last weekend I attended Conflux, Canberra’s speculative fiction convention for writers and fans. The theme this year was Red Fire Monkey, in line with the Chinese astrological year. Special guests were David Farland, writing instructor and author of the Runelords series, and Alan Baxter, author of the Alex Caine series. Sean Williams served as the Master of Ceremonies. As is always […]
Preparing for Conflux 12
Conflux, Canberra’s annual convention for speculative fiction writers and fans, begins next week! This year it is taking place from Friday 30 September until Monday 3 October and the theme is Red Fire Monkey, after the Chinese astrological year. Special guests are David Farland, a best-selling fantasy author and writing instructor all the way from […]
Bout of Books 17 report
Round 17 of Bout of Books wrapped up on Sunday, so it’s time for me to check in with my progress! In my sign-up post, I mentioned my goal was to get through a minimum of three books. For a while there, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it. I started out with Peter S. Beagle’s Summerlong. […]
