olderIn 2020 I started thinking a lot about comfort reads: characters I enjoyed spending time with; places and situations I wanted to return to again and again; books that not only let me escape from my own world for a while but also let me return to it stronger. That's my goal with THE MIMICKING OF KNOWN SUCCESSES, and I wrote about some of my favorites here: https://www.tor.com/2023/03/22/malka-older-chooses-her-top-5-comfort-reads/
don't miss the additional suggestions in the comments!
John St. Clair@older Iโll add Vivian Shawโs Dr. Greta Helsing trilogy - right up there with Wells, Kingfisher, and Addison
Alias Messier@older _Mimicking_ is 100% is on my list of suggested comfort reads (having finished it last week), so this makes good sense.
@ampersand ๐งก๐๐งก
Richard Martin-Nielsen@older Thanks to coincidences of release dates I read #TheMimickingOfKnownSuccesses and #DeadCountry @maxgladstone in quick succession - then back to #Murderbot @marthawells
I think Murderbot is cosy partly because the protagonist wants cosy (cuddling up with media) as well as the competency-porn.
Other comforts - #RiversOfLondon and the #CemeteriesOfAmalo
I have a weakness for #HappilyEverAfter.
And being able to binge a series. Hint, hint.
I think Murderbot is cosy partly because the protagonist wants cosy (cuddling up with media) as well as the competency-porn.
Other comforts - #RiversOfLondon and the #CemeteriesOfAmalo
I have a weakness for #HappilyEverAfter.
And being able to binge a series. Hint, hint.
Mary Ellen (she/her/ish/meh?)
John Scott@maryellen @rmartinnielsen @older @maxgladstone @marthawells Emphatically agree! Iโve listened all the way through 3 or 4 times when Iโve been ill. Each novella is just perfect, like my favourite long play track.
Ginnikin@maryellen @rmartinnielsen @older @maxgladstone @marthawells
I have an idea in my head to write something arguing that Murderbot is solarpunk. But then I think about interacting with strangers to explain, and I decide to rewatch episode 138 of Sanctuary Moon instead.
@older
I love your choices! The Bestof All Possible Worlds is a particular favourite of mine which has not received anywhere near the praise it deserves.
#Murderbot is at the top of my comfort reads list. I've read it so many times I've lost count. I clicked with it so hard from the very start, and I'm so happy this series exists. It has definitely improved my quality of life.
Alan ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ๐ช๐บ๐ณ๏ธโ๐@older Just found it, it was a great read. I find myself now actively shying away from work that doesn't eventually leave me (at least wryly) smiling: I have no spare spoons ever for a *leisure activity* such as reading, to leave me feeling bad any more. Concepts such as #solarpunk and #hopepunk are going to be interesting to track back, in a few years' time. My KJ Charles pick would have been different, though! :)
@alanfleming which one? I really could have gone with almost any of them
@older Charm of Magpies sequence - can't recall who introduced me to them though.