James Davis Nicoll
@jdnicoll.bsky.social
Reviewer, Essayist, Hugo, Aurora, and Darwin Award finalist.
2024: Scutigera coleoptrata become established in the UK, a Trident missile suffers performance anxiety during a test and refuses to leave its sub, and Labour sweeps to victory, with surprising little effect on the subsequent frequency of cruel and vindictive legislation.
#ClarkeAward
#ClarkeAward
December 1, 2025 at 4:05 PM
2024: Scutigera coleoptrata become established in the UK, a Trident missile suffers performance anxiety during a test and refuses to leave its sub, and Labour sweeps to victory, with surprising little effect on the subsequent frequency of cruel and vindictive legislation.
#ClarkeAward
#ClarkeAward
Last night I dreamed I had a house-sitting shift in UW's Math and Computer Building, which in my dream had been expanded about a thousandfold. The floor maps were terrible and I never did find the room.
November 30, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Last night I dreamed I had a house-sitting shift in UW's Math and Computer Building, which in my dream had been expanded about a thousandfold. The floor maps were terrible and I never did find the room.
Books Received, November 22 — November 28
Eight books new to me. Five fantasy, one horror, two science fiction, of which two are series and six may not be. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
Eight books new to me. Five fantasy, one horror, two science fiction, of which two are series and six may not be. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
November 29, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Books Received, November 22 — November 28
Eight books new to me. Five fantasy, one horror, two science fiction, of which two are series and six may not be. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
Eight books new to me. Five fantasy, one horror, two science fiction, of which two are series and six may not be. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
Context for Southern Former British North America: the Beaverton is a parody news site. The SFBNA ambassador is a fellow who had he been ambassador to Genghis Khan, would have been sent home in instalments, possibly as book covers, but he didn't say this. Yet, anyway.
November 28, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Context for Southern Former British North America: the Beaverton is a parody news site. The SFBNA ambassador is a fellow who had he been ambassador to Genghis Khan, would have been sent home in instalments, possibly as book covers, but he didn't say this. Yet, anyway.
Shaw's The Palace of Eternity earned its trippy Dillon cover. Starts off as a sort of gloomy Northern Irish take on Niven, then heads off in a totally different direction...
November 27, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Shaw's The Palace of Eternity earned its trippy Dillon cover. Starts off as a sort of gloomy Northern Irish take on Niven, then heads off in a totally different direction...
People did notice the talking dog or so the article says.
Now, I've never read the strip so until yesterday I had no idea what Tige looked like. I am pretty sure it was a demon.
Now, I've never read the strip so until yesterday I had no idea what Tige looked like. I am pretty sure it was a demon.
November 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
People did notice the talking dog or so the article says.
Now, I've never read the strip so until yesterday I had no idea what Tige looked like. I am pretty sure it was a demon.
Now, I've never read the strip so until yesterday I had no idea what Tige looked like. I am pretty sure it was a demon.
This old LSH panel makes it pretty clear Karate Kid is lining up to kiss Element Lad, while Vi is eagerly waiting her turn with Light(ning) Lass.
The panel makes me wonder if after the kids saw the data, there were a few "Huh. That explains a lot," moments.
The panel makes me wonder if after the kids saw the data, there were a few "Huh. That explains a lot," moments.
November 26, 2025 at 3:54 AM
This old LSH panel makes it pretty clear Karate Kid is lining up to kiss Element Lad, while Vi is eagerly waiting her turn with Light(ning) Lass.
The panel makes me wonder if after the kids saw the data, there were a few "Huh. That explains a lot," moments.
The panel makes me wonder if after the kids saw the data, there were a few "Huh. That explains a lot," moments.
Speaking of Bova, his 1976 The Multiple Man gave us this classic scene:
"The last real memory I have of that night is of our two sweaty bodies plunging in rhythm, her firm little breasts bobbing above me and her knees clamping my torso tight. We forgot about a lot of things before dawn broke."
"The last real memory I have of that night is of our two sweaty bodies plunging in rhythm, her firm little breasts bobbing above me and her knees clamping my torso tight. We forgot about a lot of things before dawn broke."
November 26, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Speaking of Bova, his 1976 The Multiple Man gave us this classic scene:
"The last real memory I have of that night is of our two sweaty bodies plunging in rhythm, her firm little breasts bobbing above me and her knees clamping my torso tight. We forgot about a lot of things before dawn broke."
"The last real memory I have of that night is of our two sweaty bodies plunging in rhythm, her firm little breasts bobbing above me and her knees clamping my torso tight. We forgot about a lot of things before dawn broke."
2023: King Charles III is the most unpopular British King in the last 60-odd years, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case’s comic routine is poorly received, and Sunak’s government ushers in a golden age of soaring STD rates.
November 24, 2025 at 2:26 PM
2023: King Charles III is the most unpopular British King in the last 60-odd years, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case’s comic routine is poorly received, and Sunak’s government ushers in a golden age of soaring STD rates.
November 23, 2025 at 5:41 PM
I wonder if any of the little kids in family have this yet?
November 22, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I wonder if any of the little kids in family have this yet?
Books Received, November 15 to November 21, 2025
Three books new to me. All are fantasies, two are series.
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
Three books new to me. All are fantasies, two are series.
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
November 22, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Books Received, November 15 to November 21, 2025
Three books new to me. All are fantasies, two are series.
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
Three books new to me. All are fantasies, two are series.
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
These days, kids have to learn about lanthanides and actinides on the street. This wasn't always true.
November 22, 2025 at 5:12 AM
These days, kids have to learn about lanthanides and actinides on the street. This wasn't always true.
For a moment, I thought there was a manga of Conjure Wife
November 18, 2025 at 4:03 AM
For a moment, I thought there was a manga of Conjure Wife
Gosh, that seems a bit high.
November 17, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Gosh, that seems a bit high.
2022: Partygate reveals that the Tories celebrated in trust gatherings barred to the rabble during Covid, the UK goes through 3 Prime Ministers in less than 3 months, and Queen Elizabeth II escapes discovering how exactly the UK would continue its downward political arc.
(cont)
#ClarkeAwards
(cont)
#ClarkeAwards
November 17, 2025 at 3:28 PM
2022: Partygate reveals that the Tories celebrated in trust gatherings barred to the rabble during Covid, the UK goes through 3 Prime Ministers in less than 3 months, and Queen Elizabeth II escapes discovering how exactly the UK would continue its downward political arc.
(cont)
#ClarkeAwards
(cont)
#ClarkeAwards
One drawback is that the Bonds only remember what worked, not what got previous Bonds killed. There is considerable survivorship bias. This is why Bond is so keen on extremely risky methods, because as far as he remembers, they always work.
November 11, 2025 at 6:26 PM
One drawback is that the Bonds only remember what worked, not what got previous Bonds killed. There is considerable survivorship bias. This is why Bond is so keen on extremely risky methods, because as far as he remembers, they always work.
2021: The Johnson government proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that herd immunity does exist… but only to shame, and only amongst Tories.
✓ for read, * for intend to read, ! for never heard of it. Or whatever amuses you.
#ClarkeAward
✓ for read, * for intend to read, ! for never heard of it. Or whatever amuses you.
#ClarkeAward
November 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
2021: The Johnson government proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that herd immunity does exist… but only to shame, and only amongst Tories.
✓ for read, * for intend to read, ! for never heard of it. Or whatever amuses you.
#ClarkeAward
✓ for read, * for intend to read, ! for never heard of it. Or whatever amuses you.
#ClarkeAward
So, I've never seen a photo of Dashiell Hammett before today. This is him in 1951, when he would have been in his mid-50s.
November 8, 2025 at 4:52 PM
So, I've never seen a photo of Dashiell Hammett before today. This is him in 1951, when he would have been in his mid-50s.
Books Received, October 1 — October 7
Six books new to me: two fantasy, one science fiction, one that seems to be a mix of both, one horror, and one non-fiction. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
Six books new to me: two fantasy, one science fiction, one that seems to be a mix of both, one horror, and one non-fiction. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
November 8, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Books Received, October 1 — October 7
Six books new to me: two fantasy, one science fiction, one that seems to be a mix of both, one horror, and one non-fiction. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
Six books new to me: two fantasy, one science fiction, one that seems to be a mix of both, one horror, and one non-fiction. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
Uplifting thought that completely fails to acknowledge the reality with which you are contending, with an undercurrent of disapproval for not being more positive in your outlook!
November 3, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Uplifting thought that completely fails to acknowledge the reality with which you are contending, with an undercurrent of disapproval for not being more positive in your outlook!
Final cover! Two Little Mice won the number of covers is one higher than a number divisible by four lottery.
November 1, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Final cover! Two Little Mice won the number of covers is one higher than a number divisible by four lottery.
Books Received, October 25 — October 31
Five works new to me: two horror, one and a half science fiction, one half fantasy, and one TTRPG that's hard to classify. Two could be said to be series works. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
Five works new to me: two horror, one and a half science fiction, one half fantasy, and one TTRPG that's hard to classify. Two could be said to be series works. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
November 1, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Books Received, October 25 — October 31
Five works new to me: two horror, one and a half science fiction, one half fantasy, and one TTRPG that's hard to classify. Two could be said to be series works. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...
Five works new to me: two horror, one and a half science fiction, one half fantasy, and one TTRPG that's hard to classify. Two could be said to be series works. First four!
jamesdavisnicoll.com/post/books-r...