Steve Wright
@stevewright22.bsky.social
Former ed of SciFiNow and Horrorville, now Future ed ops. Books, AFC Bournemouth, film and pasta enthusiast.
28) A Woman Of No Importance by Sonia Purnell. An under-the-radar story of one woman’s contribution to the war effort and the impact and legacy of her actions. So many stories have come out of this time period, and this falls in at the more compelling end.
November 28, 2025 at 9:19 AM
28) A Woman Of No Importance by Sonia Purnell. An under-the-radar story of one woman’s contribution to the war effort and the impact and legacy of her actions. So many stories have come out of this time period, and this falls in at the more compelling end.
27) Star Wars: The Eye Of Darkness by George Mann. I was never fully sold on the Nihil as a threat, but this comes close to justifying it them. The nature of missing out all the comics and YA novels in between makes the catch-up process jarring, but it’s still very engaging.
November 27, 2025 at 3:33 PM
27) Star Wars: The Eye Of Darkness by George Mann. I was never fully sold on the Nihil as a threat, but this comes close to justifying it them. The nature of missing out all the comics and YA novels in between makes the catch-up process jarring, but it’s still very engaging.
26 The Corfe Castle Murders by Rachel McLean. Appealed to me due to being a rare Dorset-set book, and the result is a nicely compelling murder mystery.
November 27, 2025 at 3:32 PM
26 The Corfe Castle Murders by Rachel McLean. Appealed to me due to being a rare Dorset-set book, and the result is a nicely compelling murder mystery.
25) Yellowface by RF Kuang. Shows a different string to this author’s bow, showing a more low-key, intimate tale than the kind of grand thematical stories she has previously been known for. Probably her most divisive novel, but also one of her most compelling.
November 27, 2025 at 3:30 PM
25) Yellowface by RF Kuang. Shows a different string to this author’s bow, showing a more low-key, intimate tale than the kind of grand thematical stories she has previously been known for. Probably her most divisive novel, but also one of her most compelling.
24) Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor. Definitely a case to be made for this being one of the best novels of the year, following a talented writer who overcomes extreme misfortune to change the world.
November 27, 2025 at 3:27 PM
24) Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor. Definitely a case to be made for this being one of the best novels of the year, following a talented writer who overcomes extreme misfortune to change the world.
23) The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich. Feels a lot like a modern-day Steinbeck novel - I would say ‘a good way’, but there’s no way it could be a bad way. Demands your attention, and rewards you when you give it.
November 27, 2025 at 3:24 PM
23) The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich. Feels a lot like a modern-day Steinbeck novel - I would say ‘a good way’, but there’s no way it could be a bad way. Demands your attention, and rewards you when you give it.
22) We Solve Murders by Richard Osman. If I’m completely honest, I would have probably preferred another Thursday Murder Club book, but this is absolutely fine. A compelling page turner, if a tad forgettable.
November 27, 2025 at 3:11 PM
22) We Solve Murders by Richard Osman. If I’m completely honest, I would have probably preferred another Thursday Murder Club book, but this is absolutely fine. A compelling page turner, if a tad forgettable.
21) Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. Very much in the Hunger Games mould of dystopian future novels, only with a more subtle political commentary. Doesn’t pander to the reader, and there are no obvious outcomes, making this all the more compelling.
November 27, 2025 at 3:09 PM
21) Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. Very much in the Hunger Games mould of dystopian future novels, only with a more subtle political commentary. Doesn’t pander to the reader, and there are no obvious outcomes, making this all the more compelling.
20) Book Lovers by Emily Henry. Always wondered if this was as good as the millions of Goodreads ratings suggested, and while the outcome is predictable, I was still somehow compelled to carry on reading. Has to count for something.
November 27, 2025 at 3:03 PM
20) Book Lovers by Emily Henry. Always wondered if this was as good as the millions of Goodreads ratings suggested, and while the outcome is predictable, I was still somehow compelled to carry on reading. Has to count for something.
19) Godkiller by Hannah Kaner. A perfectly accessible entry into a fantasy world of myth-inspired fury and companionship. Still making my mind up as to whether I’ll check out the sequel, but definitely worth a look.
November 27, 2025 at 3:01 PM
19) Godkiller by Hannah Kaner. A perfectly accessible entry into a fantasy world of myth-inspired fury and companionship. Still making my mind up as to whether I’ll check out the sequel, but definitely worth a look.
18) A Thread Of Violence by Mark O’Connell. Truly stranger than fiction, aspects of this are incredibly hard to believe - for example, how on earth he spent such a short time in prison. Even so, it’s compulsive and very well written.
October 17, 2025 at 12:58 PM
18) A Thread Of Violence by Mark O’Connell. Truly stranger than fiction, aspects of this are incredibly hard to believe - for example, how on earth he spent such a short time in prison. Even so, it’s compulsive and very well written.
17) Cribsheet by Emily Oster. Two economists on how best to bring up a baby. While saying that there’s no ‘right way’ to be a parent has gone long past cliche, it’s still interesting to see someone else crunch the data.
October 17, 2025 at 12:56 PM
17) Cribsheet by Emily Oster. Two economists on how best to bring up a baby. While saying that there’s no ‘right way’ to be a parent has gone long past cliche, it’s still interesting to see someone else crunch the data.
16) The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman. A thoughtful treatise on the impact AI may well have. Obviously, things have moved on a fair bit since this was released, but there’s still plenty to take from it.
October 17, 2025 at 12:52 PM
16) The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman. A thoughtful treatise on the impact AI may well have. Obviously, things have moved on a fair bit since this was released, but there’s still plenty to take from it.
15) Feeding The Monster by Anna Bogutskaya. Not only one of the best books on horror I’ve read, but one of the best about film. The author’s passion and knowledge shines through on every page, leaving me with a whole new watch list as a consequence.
October 15, 2025 at 9:03 PM
15) Feeding The Monster by Anna Bogutskaya. Not only one of the best books on horror I’ve read, but one of the best about film. The author’s passion and knowledge shines through on every page, leaving me with a whole new watch list as a consequence.
14) Western Lane by Chetna Mario. Short and sweet, a friendly rivalry is galvanised by experiences on the tennis court. Takes some getting used to, but memorable once you do.
October 15, 2025 at 9:01 PM
14) Western Lane by Chetna Mario. Short and sweet, a friendly rivalry is galvanised by experiences on the tennis court. Takes some getting used to, but memorable once you do.
13) Prophet Song by Paul Lynch. Award winners don’t always live up to the hype (at least for me), but this one definitely bucks the trend. Taking place in a world on the brink of violent collapse, everything is vividly sketched and recognisable, making it even more haunting as a result.
October 15, 2025 at 8:59 PM
13) Prophet Song by Paul Lynch. Award winners don’t always live up to the hype (at least for me), but this one definitely bucks the trend. Taking place in a world on the brink of violent collapse, everything is vividly sketched and recognisable, making it even more haunting as a result.
12) What by John Cooper Clarke. Reading it doesn’t quite match up to listening to him (what does?), but there’s still a lot to enjoy here. Mainly if you sit there and read it to yourself out loud. In fact, you should definitely do this.
October 15, 2025 at 8:57 PM
12) What by John Cooper Clarke. Reading it doesn’t quite match up to listening to him (what does?), but there’s still a lot to enjoy here. Mainly if you sit there and read it to yourself out loud. In fact, you should definitely do this.
11) Picnic At Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay. A stunning achievement - atmospheric, eerie and very, very elusive. One I probably won’t ever stop thinking about, this is strange, get simple and utterly brilliant.
October 15, 2025 at 8:55 PM
11) Picnic At Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay. A stunning achievement - atmospheric, eerie and very, very elusive. One I probably won’t ever stop thinking about, this is strange, get simple and utterly brilliant.
10) The Illustrated Football Hall of Fame by David Squires. National treasure territory - some laugh-out-loud stories about some of the best and most unique footballers of all time. Would be nice to see one for his Little White Lies cartoons too.
October 15, 2025 at 8:54 PM
10) The Illustrated Football Hall of Fame by David Squires. National treasure territory - some laugh-out-loud stories about some of the best and most unique footballers of all time. Would be nice to see one for his Little White Lies cartoons too.
The last day of Island Man is here - follow the link to help Peter Wright raise money for some very worthwhile causes: sportsgiving.co.uk/sponsor/acti...
October 9, 2025 at 6:21 AM
The last day of Island Man is here - follow the link to help Peter Wright raise money for some very worthwhile causes: sportsgiving.co.uk/sponsor/acti...
9) The Children of Ash and Elm by Neil Price. If you wanted a concise yet well-researched and composed history of the Vikings, this is it. Revealing more layers than you would have been expected to think possible, this is one of the best history books I’ve read in a long time.
October 3, 2025 at 6:56 AM
9) The Children of Ash and Elm by Neil Price. If you wanted a concise yet well-researched and composed history of the Vikings, this is it. Revealing more layers than you would have been expected to think possible, this is one of the best history books I’ve read in a long time.
Today’s the day - Peter Wright takes on Island Man, in which he’ll attempt to complete 7 Ironmans in 7 days! He’ll be raising money for a number of worthwhile causes - follow the sponsorship link here: sportsgiving.co.uk/sponsor/acti...
October 3, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Today’s the day - Peter Wright takes on Island Man, in which he’ll attempt to complete 7 Ironmans in 7 days! He’ll be raising money for a number of worthwhile causes - follow the sponsorship link here: sportsgiving.co.uk/sponsor/acti...
8) The Wood At Midwinter by Susanna Clarke. Probably won’t quite scratch the itch left by Strange & Norrell and Piranesi, but it’s nice to have something from the author so soon after her last work. A great introduction to her work for younger readers.
September 27, 2025 at 8:41 PM
8) The Wood At Midwinter by Susanna Clarke. Probably won’t quite scratch the itch left by Strange & Norrell and Piranesi, but it’s nice to have something from the author so soon after her last work. A great introduction to her work for younger readers.
7) The White Darkness by David Grann. Shorter than his other stories, but no less brilliantly penned, this continues in his theme of seeing extraordinary people push themselves to extremes that the majority of us could barely contemplate.
September 27, 2025 at 8:39 PM
7) The White Darkness by David Grann. Shorter than his other stories, but no less brilliantly penned, this continues in his theme of seeing extraordinary people push themselves to extremes that the majority of us could barely contemplate.
6) Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Doesn’t quite top Half of a Yellow Sun, but it’s not far off. Seeing a love story jumping back and forth between the US, UK and Nigeria, the level of detail and authentic human emotion on show is breathtaking.
September 27, 2025 at 8:37 PM
6) Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Doesn’t quite top Half of a Yellow Sun, but it’s not far off. Seeing a love story jumping back and forth between the US, UK and Nigeria, the level of detail and authentic human emotion on show is breathtaking.