So, came back from the grandparents’, surviving sunstroke in the process. (memo, get a hat next time, and stop forgetting that I’m now much less tolerant to sunlight than I used to be a few years ago). Still, it was a good weekend.

Fixed my random quotes plugin (which had replaced one keyword with another–I was rather relieved it turned out to be so simple, as I was already gearing myself to deactivate my plugins one by one to work out which one had the compatibility issue).

Downloaded myself a Chinese-English dictionary for the ipod, Dian Hua (thanks to wistling‘s recommendation). It’s got a bunch of great expressions (my favourite so far is “arm-flinging shopkeeper”, “someone who asks others to work but does nothing himself”. If you factor in the long sleeves the Chinese used to favour, this has a very visual flavour).

Sigh. I would so love to learn Chinese, but have so not the time to actually make a stab at it. In another lifetime maybe…

Medley of reviews for Ys (Interzone 222)

• Colin Harvey at Suite101:

  One of the delights of reading de Bodard is that sense of otherness, be it a Chinese legend re-worked, or a straight SF-nal alternate history like ‘The Lost Xuyan Bride.’ De Bodard is one of the candidates for the John W Campbell Award for Best New Writer of 2008, and rightly so. Recommended.

Read More »