…he sutras, and how you need to think on them and work out which bits are appropriate; because like all sutras they’ve been written by human beings with an imperfect comprehension….

…, Jeanne-A Debats First of my many French panels Sat 9:00-10:00 (P-513D) Medieval Technology People of previous ages weren’t stupid. We discuss the pinnacles of medieval technology, and the best fantasy/science fiction for reading about it. Aliette de Bodard, Emma Hawkes, Phillip Nanson Sat 12:30-1:30pm (P-521B) Kaffeeklatsch Sat 5:00pm-6:30pm (P-522B) Researching Your World A discussion of research techniques and pitfalls for writers; what are yo…

…as one of 20 most promising young novelists in this Guardian article. The company is kind of… impressive, to say the least. -Over at The Shake, Zucchini Bikini reviews On a Red Station, Drifting:: All in all, I highly recommend this book, both for itself and for what is represents – a different way of writing hard sci fi, a way that includes and magnifies stories and pasts that haven’t been represented well in this genre before. -Calvin N. Ho on…

…. 9. Maryse: a maryse is a very particular kind of spatula; I’ve looked around a bit but haven’t found an English equivalent (if any reader of this blog knows, please speak up!) It’s a (flexible) rectangle which enables you to scrape from a pan or salad bowl. It looks a bit like this (the left-hand one; the right-hand one is what we’d call a “demi-maryse”). It’s invaluable for any kind of pastry, as it enables you to get almost all your dough from…

…of the less cluttered areas. “My best guess,” The Dragons in the Peach Garden said. “That’s assuming they’ll take the obvious path,” Sixth Aunt said, her eyes still on the map. “Security reasons?” Thuy asked. “They’ll assume there isn’t a ship that can touch them; and ordinarily they’d be right.” She stared at the map again, willing the truth to emerge from the jumble of debris–but the only truth that would come was the same Chi already knew; tha…

…From the WIP: “Have you become a historian, all of a sudden?” Thuy couldn’t help the sarcasm that came bubbling up to her lips. “You never cared for that when you were younger.” “I had to care,” Chi said, simply. “To know what ruins it was that we grew up among.” (yes, the grammar is wonky. Will fix this in later drafts) 1500 words to go. I can do this. Current mood: kind of exhausted actually. But plodding on….

…tent of what happened to her, or how to reverse it. “You look well, elder sister,” Chi said. The words would have suited the imperial court; would have been appropriate for an elder of Chi’s generation. There were other, more familiar ones, more suitable for the sister’s of one’s blood; and Chi could have used them. She could have pretended to care. But of course she no longer bothered. With two mindsships–and orbitals–and horrific weapons! And wh…

…iting Stars” (with mindships, and attack drones; and cousins making snarky comments at each other), as well as stories by Ken Liu, Alex Dally MacFarlane, Nisi Shawl, Vandana Singh and many other fine writers. You can buy direct from Candlemark and Gleam here, either the physical copy or the ebook (and physical copies come with a DRM-free ebook), or on amazon. If not in the US, check the Book depository here. And, if you still need extra motivation…

…of dead ancestors, I wasn’t excited, science-fictionally. Still, one can’t deny its engagement with important contemporary issues. Uh. Interesting. I didn’t see the main point of the story being the revelation of the reason for the exile (which is pretty self-evident about halfway through, I think? For me, it’s quintessentially a story about ancestors and memory and what memories mean and how they’re passed on), but I suppose everyone takes someth…

…unts’ knowledge or how they came by it. She does what she’s told to, an obedient daughter beholden to her elders, never raising a fuss or complaining– the shining example of filial piety extolled in the tales her girlfriend Thuy so painstakingly reconstitutes in her spare hours. Set in the postcolonial corner of Xuya (except no mindships this time around!). With my favourite secondary characters ever, the cabal of aunts who know what is good for y…