Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Colin Murtagh

@colinmurtagh.bsky.social

310 followers 470 following 290 posts

Old Analytical Chemist, loves his books, Prog Rock fan. From Glasgow now living in Wales. Follower of SMFC, supporter of British Fantasy Society https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/15240416-colin-murtagh Photo by @giorgiotrovato unsplash.com

www.goodreads.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 1d

Not as bad as the Greece game but that's not saying much

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 1d

Books read in 2025

Nudes by Elle Nash

A collection of short stories, that are uncomfortable, uplifting, and ultimately rewarding.

Full review on Goodreads

#booksky 📚

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Colin Murtagh's review of Nudes

4/5: Short stories collections always have a risk of being a mixed bag, and this is the case here. On the positive side where the stories are good, they are very good. Some of the issues I had with co...

www.goodreads.com

3 6

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 4d

Books read in 2025

Physics for Cats by Tom Gauld

A wonderful Whimsical witty collection of Science based cartoons you must read.

Full review on Goodreads

#booksky 📚

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Colin Murtagh's review of Physics for Cats

5/5: I will admit, I adore Tom Gauld. I've been following his cartoons both in the Guardian and in New Scientist for years, and will always pick up a new collection when it comes out. This is a colle...

www.goodreads.com

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 5d

Books read in 2025

The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft

A Magical Holmes style story

Full review on Goodreads

#booksky 📚

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Colin Murtagh's review of The Hexologists (The Hexologists, #1)

4/5: This was a lot of fun, and not quite what I was expecting. This is an almost steampunk Britain, where magic still exists. One branch of magic is Hexology, the magic of Hexes, as exemplified by I...

www.goodreads.com

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 8d

Another of my preorders just arrived. Wasn't expecting it for a few more days, but it instantly jumps to the top of my TBR pile. @tomgauld.bsky.social is a genius.

Hardback copy of the Tom Gauld Collection called "Physics for Cats - Science Cartoons by Tom Gauld"

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 9d

If I was in NY I would come just to watch. There's something magical in watching an artist make pictures appear, I wish I had that talent

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 9d

Ooh. I'd forgotten about them.

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 11d

Still not as bad as the Apache, or the Rabies ones

1 1

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 11d

Another of my preorder books just showed up. Past me was very clever if a little spendy

A hardback signed copy of
The Bora Chung collection titled "The Midnight Timetable "

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 11d

My theory is that I have all the others, so I would be wrong to leave a gap 🙃

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 11d

Got this on pre-order. May have spent too much on books this month

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 11d

My new book of science cartoons, PHYSICS FOR CATS is out in a week! Order a copy today from you local bookshop or at one of the links here: www.tomgauld.com/comic-books-v2

1 3

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 13d

More book post. I am having a good day. Looking forward to some @garethlpowell.bsky.social short stories.

Paperback copy of Gareth L Powell collection of short stories "Who Will You Save"

1 2 6

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 13d

Spooky book post from the wonderful @okcomics.bsky.social
Who killed Nessie by @paulcornell.bsky.social and @rachaelsmith.bsky.social
As a Scotsman, I am so looking forward to diving into this. Do hope it's not the English at fault.

The Packaging from OK comics, with Spooky artwork, mirroring some of the artwork on the book

Paperback copy of Who Killed Nessie by Paul Cornell and Rachael Smith

2 4

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 13d

Books read in 2025

Black Summer by M.W. Craven

Celebrity Chef is a psychopath? Never!

Full review on Goodreads

#booksky 📚

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Colin Murtagh's review of Black Summer (Washington Poe, #2)

4/5: After devouring the first book in the series, book 2 arrives. Washington is dealing with the fall out of book 1, although the book starts with a bit of a curve ball set a few days in the future ...

www.goodreads.com

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 13d

Books read in 2025

Rise of the Elves by Heide Goody & Iain Grant

The Christmas trilogy concludes with more hilarity and bullets. This was just so much fun.

Full review on Goodreads

#booksky 📚

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Colin Murtagh's review of Rise of the Elves (The Festive and the Furious Book 3)

5/5: And so the trilogy concludes. Following on from book 2, Charlotte is trying to get back with Jack, and as expected disaster follows. Snomann is still at Hedgelords, and his role in things is goi...

www.goodreads.com

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 15d

I'll get a couple through the link on your profile. May be thinking Christmas present as well as one for me 😊

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 16d

Is there an easy way to get signed books from you?

1 1

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 18d

Putting the England squad on would ensure no-one in Scotland has it

Reposted by Colin Murtagh

Damian Barr @damianbarr.bsky.social · 20d

That's a wrap on series 7 of Big Scottish Book Club. Now the only books show on British tv. Produced by IWC, commissioned by BBC Scotland, available to all on BBC iPlayer. Please share with the readers in your life.

Feat Elif Shafak, Jackie Kay, Tash Aw & more.

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

The Big Scottish Book Club - Series 7: Episode 3

Fresh from the Edinburgh International Book Festival and Fringe, Paula Hawkins, Chris McQueer and Rachel Parris join Damian Barr to discuss their latest books and favourite reads.

www.bbc.co.uk

3 12 43

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 23d

Just bought this. Good review

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 24d

Amazing the stuff you find in a charity shop. Yes, they did come home with me

Copies of 2 books by John Emsley published by Royal Society of Chemistry. Titled Molecules of Murder and More Molecules of Murder

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 24d

Books read in 2025

The Puppet Show by M.W. Craven

I think I have a new favourite dark psychological thriller writer. Not for the weak at heart,

#booksky 📚

Full review on Goodreads
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Colin Murtagh's review of The Puppet Show (Washington Poe, #1)

5/5: Not an author I've heard of, but he popped up on the Book Off Podcast, and it sounded interesting so I had to pick it up. I am so glad I took the chance. While this feels like a few of the usual...

www.goodreads.com

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · 28d

Books read in 2025

A Litter of Bones by J.D. Kirk

An interesting new to me addition to the Tartan Noir school of writing.

#booksky 📚

Full review on Goodreads

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Colin Murtagh's review of A Litter of Bones (DCI Logan Crime Thrillers, #1)

4/5: I was listening to the excellent Podcast, Book Off, with the author, and discovered I'd never read any of his novels, so this seemed like a good place to start. This was a fun short novel, that d...

www.goodreads.com

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · Sep 13

Bit of a Japanese theme to the latest #lego build

Trio of mini bonsai trees and a Japan postcard all lego sets

Colin Murtagh @colinmurtagh.bsky.social · Sep 13

There's a running story with the supporting cast, so that makes jumping in anywhere tricky. Probably better starting at the beginning