[books 2015] Airship Shape and Bristol Fashion

2. Airship Shape and Bristol Fashion edited by Roz Clarke and Joanne Hall

Disclaimer: I know the editors and practically all the contributors.

Like the previous anthologies put out by the lovely folks from BristolCon, this punches well above its weight for your local sci-fi group's collection. (In fact, I gave my spare copy to my brother[1] and he didn't entirely believe that it was a load of stories written by people I go to the pub with regularly).

The theme for this one is steampunk tales set in Bristol. But they went for stories with a point and social commentary rather than a bunch of posh blokes crashing around the empire in airships. Because thankfully the editors have as little tolerance for that sort of thing as I do.

Like all short story collections, I liked some more than the others, and not surprisingly to anyone who's ever met me my favourite was the Lovecraftian one.

I enjoyed the three at the end less but can't swear to whether that's because they were less good, or because I read the whole thing at once (we're doing it in book club tomorrow) rather than over time and may have been cogged-out towards the end.

Recommended, and I'm not just saying that because they're my mates. I am privileged to know such talented people and humbled that they put up with me.

[1] Two launch events, they didn't have the hardcover from the press yet at the first...

[books 2015] Dark Fire

3. Dark Fire by CJ Sansom

I liked Dissolution so much I started the next book right away.

It's three years later. Since we last met him, Matthew Sheldrake has become disillusioned with the reform movement (he still believes in reform but has seen that actually it's only going to profit the already-rich) and distanced himself from Cromwell, concentrating instead on his private legal practice.

A client comes to him asking him to defend a girl accused of murder. It's an almost-impossible task, but is made possible because Cromwell intervenes. On the condition that Sheldrake helps him out one last time (Cromwell is rapidly falling out of favour at court), to track down the people who have stolen Greek Fire, which has recently been rediscovered.

This one's another page turner. I've been up too late every night this week reading it. Two compelling mysteries, political intrigue, wonderful snapshots of daily life in Tudor England - what's not to love?

Sheldrake himself is a much more sympathetic character now. The self-righteousness is gone.

As in Dissolution, Sansom portrays the social upheaval and atmosphere of terror caused by the Reformation far better than any history book I've ever read.

I have six more library books already, and a room full of my own books, but the temptation to order the third volume from the library right now is almost overwhelming.

[meme] Places I slept in 2014

Somewhat belatedly, here is the list:

(* indicates multiple non-consecutive stays)

London, England*
Chicago, IL, USA
Madison, WI, USA
Paw Paw MI, USA
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Traverse City, MI, USA
Appleton, WI, USA
Manchester, England*
West Wycombe, England
Birmingham, England
Regina, Sask, Canada

Er - I think that's it.