Author Archives: JC

Second-Rate Sci-Fi

In the Black by Patrick S. Tomlinson, Tor Books, October 13th, 2020 I can’t begin this review without at least briefly discussing the author as it was his online antics that led me to seeking out this book in the … Continue reading

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Rhetorical Retards

This post will be similar in theme to one I wrote about books and bookshelves some four years ago. The short of the last one is that many people in elite positions like to project themselves as well-read though they … Continue reading

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Book Reviews and Articles

As I have now written a large number of book reviews, I decided I should collect them together for easy reference. This is similar to what I have done with articles and reviews of video games. This blog originally began … Continue reading

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The Concerns of Australian Foreigners

The last time I covered the Australian ABC’s execrable Q&A program was almost ten years ago when Peter Hitchens was a guest. Time has not been kind to this show which has changed hosts a number of times but is … Continue reading

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Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Review

Though I was not a backer of the original Kickstarter campaign in early 2014, I was certainly enthusiastic about the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance which (KCD) was released in early 2018. I bought the game in 2020 but my aging … Continue reading

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Shōgun Review

Shōgun by James Clavell, Hodder & Stoughton, June 20th, 2013 (originally published in 1975) The last review I did of a fictional work about the Japanese by someone who is not Japanese was my review of Rising Sun by Michael … Continue reading

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The People Vs. Slush Funds

There has been a lot happening in the United States since Donald Trump’s inauguration particularly surrounding the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which is headed by Elon Musk. Unlike mass media, I don’t have a short memory and so … Continue reading

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A Caution to Converts

Whether to Christianity, a political “ism”, some weird cult or regrettably even veganism, there is nothing more likely to infuriate those around you than the sudden zealous condemnation of behaviour you used to engage in or at least not disapprove … Continue reading

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The Feast of Selenoth Continues

  A Sea of Skulls by Vox Day, Castalia House, February 9th, 2024 While I now regret the gastronomic metaphor I originally used in the title for my review of Summa Elvetica and continued in my review of A Throne … Continue reading

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Appendix N Review

APPENDIX N: The Literary History of Dungeons & Dragons by Jeffro Johnson, Castalia House, June 28th, 2017  This is a book that I’ve been meaning to get to for a while though I’m not necessarily the target audience. I have … Continue reading

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