drpaisley | Reading

This new Ninja Crusade Bundle presents The Ninja Crusade, the tabletop fantasy roleplaying game from Third Eye Games of ninja, conspiracies, and martial arts.

Bundle of Holding: Ninja Crusade

james_davis_nicoll

Two pair of linked speculative fiction stories.

I'm Waiting for You And Other Stories by Kim Bo-Young

james_davis_nicoll

It seems comments of mine quoted on Wikipedia has angered someone.

This bit caught my eye: " I only paid attention to this page after looking up those for several authors whose works I'd enjoyed, only to be surprised by how Nicoll's opinions had been added to criticisms of their works. Looking at the edit history, it showed they had all been added by the same person - Nicoll."

Except I didn't and looking at the Simmons entry, which I did suspect is what set this off, I don't see why anyone would think I had.

james_davis_nicoll

Benford and Bear in the Epstein files

As far as I can tell, they weren't involved in Epstein's sex trafficking. Just there as big name authors. Bear at least is reported as unimpressed.

Oddly, the third Killer B doesn't seem to have been invited.

james_davis_nicoll

Stories about nuclear war don't usually feature popular, pre-existing characters...

Four Times Familiar Characters Faced Nuclear Armageddon

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A rescue places two space miners in the cross-hairs of a ruthless corporation.

Heavy Time (Devil to the Belt, volume 1) by C J Cherryh

james_davis_nicoll

Interactive .PDF maps and floorplans for ready-made tabletop roleplaying campaigns from 0one Games.

Bundle of Holding: Campaign Starters

james_davis_nicoll

The nomination period for the 2026 Aurora Awards is officially open! All CSFFA members can log into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association website at and submit up to five works in each our ten categories. Please only nominate what you're familiar with. Nominations close 11:59pm EST on April 4th, 2026.

Nominate here

james_davis_nicoll

In this, Young People Read Old SFF's 10th year, a new project!

Young People Read Old Science Fiction Stories Edited By Cele Goldsmith: April in Paris by Ursula K. Le Guin

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You too can fund James Nicoll Reviews, a never-dimming beacon of joyful optimism in a burning dumpster world!

March 2026 Patreon Boost

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The Ringworld is doomed! Doomed to subpar sequels!

The Ringworld Engineers (Ringworld, volume 2) by Larry Niven

james_davis_nicoll

20 (!) works new to me: almost all fantasy. It's striking how little prose SF here is in the mix and how what there is is confined to the older works I acquired.

Books Received, February 21 — February 27

Poll #34301 Books Received, February 21 — February 27

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 41

View Respondents

Which of these look interesting?

View Answers

Mirrorwoven by Bori Cser (July 2026)
7 (17.1%)

Bodies of Magic by Marske Freya (September 2026)
16 (39.0%)

The Wretched Divine by Adalyn Grace (September 2026)
5 (12.2%)

Hawk & Sparrow by Ayana Gray (September 2026)
5 (12.2%)

When Shadows Burn by Vanessa Le (December 2026)
4 (9.8%)

Call Me Traitor by Everina Maxwell (October 2026)
14 (34.1%)

Trunk No. 3 by Allie Millington (October 2026)
8 (19.5%)

Lightning and Thunder by Sara Raasch (December 2026)
4 (9.8%)

East of Envy by Nikki Saint Crowe (November 2026)
5 (12.2%)

Outgunned — Action Flicks Vol. 3 by by Riccardo “Rico” Sirignano and Simone Formicola with art by Daniela Giubellini (February 2026)
4 (9.8%)

Outgunned Superheroes by Riccardo “Rico” Sirignano and Simone Formicola with art by Daniela Giubellini (February 2026)
5 (12.2%)

The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls by Jessica Spotswood (August 2026)
4 (9.8%)

Antilia: Sword And Song by Kate Story (June 2018)
2 (4.9%)

Antilia: Seer and Sacrifice by Kate Story (May 2019)
2 (4.9%)

Blasted by Kate Story (August 2008)
5 (12.2%)

Ferry Back the Gifts by Kate Story (November 2022)
3 (7.3%)

This Insubstantial Pageant by Kate Story (October 2017)
6 (14.6%)

Nightjars by Michael Wehunt (September 2026)
2 (4.9%)

The Dreamless by Jen Williams (May 2026)
6 (14.6%)

It Looks Like You in the Dark by Mathilda Zeller (October 2026)
12 (29.3%)

Some other option (see comments)
1 (2.4%)

Cats!
29 (70.7%)

james_davis_nicoll

It's almost March 2026, somehow. I hope March 2026 to January 21, 2029 goes by as quickly...

20 works reviewed. 10 by women (50%), 8 by men (40%), 1 by non-binary authors (5%), 1 by authors whose gender is unknown (5%), and 8 by POC (40%).

More details here.

james_davis_nicoll

Seen on the Watsfic discord, qwp

Hey everyone,

**It is with great pride that I announce WATSFIC's 50ᵗʰ Anniversary!** On January 13th, 1976, we were officially recognized by the Federation of Students as a student club. For 50-years since then we have been nerding out to all facets of Sci-Fi and Fantasy. From the original release of Star Wars and the animated Lord of the Rings films, to Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and Wargaming.

To celebrate our first half-century as a club at UW, **we are hosting our 50ᵗʰ Anniversary Event on March 7ᵗʰ. Join us from 11 AM to 11 PM in MC 4041 and 4042** as we take a walk down memory lane. With stops along Ravenloft and the White Plume Mountain, glimpses of the wonders and horrors of space with Mothership and Warhammer, casual pitstops with Board Games and Magic: The Gathering, and some nice R&R complete with classic films and painting.

**Please Sign-Up using this form :**
Walk-Ins are welcome, however, we cannot guarantee space for everyone at every activity.

**We'd like to thank everyone** for helping keep this club going strong for 50 years, **and invite you all, first-year to alumni, to join us in this once in a 50-year celebration** of nerdom at the University of Waterloo!

( Read more... )

james_davis_nicoll

Noted author, bigot Dan Simmons reported dead of stroke.

james_davis_nicoll

The Sicilian debacle leaves Syracuse with seven thousand Athenian prisoners slowly starving in a quarry. What better time to stage a play?

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon

james_davis_nicoll

"What is this thing, and where the heck did it come from?" is a great way to start any story!

Five Science Fiction Stories About Investigating Enigmatic Artifacts

james_davis_nicoll

What better cure for melancholy than to serve under a captain whose obsessed pursuit of a leviathan will surely doom all involved?

Hell’s Heart by Alexis Hall

james_davis_nicoll

The Good Society Bundle featuring Good Society, the Jane Austen-inspired tabletop roleplaying game from Storybrewers Roleplaying.

Bundle of Holding: Good Society (from 2024)

james_davis_nicoll

What could possibly go wrong with playing along with an unhappy teen's delusions?

Babel no Toshokan by Tsubana

Intergalactic House of Paisley

Teh Right People Will Get This

Bundle of Holding: Ninja Crusade

I'm Waiting for You And Other Stories by Kim Bo-Young

How odd

It could be worse

Four Times Familiar Characters Faced Nuclear Armageddon

Heavy Time (Devil to the Belt, volume 1) by C J Cherryh

Bundle of Holding: Campaign Starters

Aurora Awards are now open

April in Paris by Ursula K. Le Guin

March 2026 Patreon Boost

The Ringworld Engineers (Ringworld, volume 2) By Larry Niven

Books Received, February 21 — February 27

February 2026 in Review

Watsfic's 50th

Dan Simmons (April 4, 1948 – February 21, 2026)

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon

Five Science Fiction Stories About Investigating Enigmatic Artifacts

Hell’s Heart by Alexis Hall

Bundle of Holding: Good Society (from 2024)

Babel no Toshokan by Tsubana

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