So Seanan McGuire has a new series coming out next year called InCryptid, which is about a rogue team of cryptozoologists who try to protect monsters from extinction. She's been developing a field guide for the various creatures she's inventing. She just put up the entry for the Madhura. Take a look.

(You may also enjoy learning about frickens.)

I had JUST remembered The Songlines!

I had JUST remembered The Songlines!

Clearly, whenever this topic is chosen, this will have to be my pick. But I have a feeling that "Food and Drink" will win out first.

She just put up the entry for the Madhura.

Hee. Cryptids are the new moons, apparently.

Hitchens reviews Mamet's new book, then picks his teeth with the bones. [link]

I particularly admire the craftmanship here:

Mr. Beck is among those thanked in Mamet’s acknowledgments for helping free him from "the bemused and sad paternalism" of the liberal airwaves. Would that this were the only sign of the deep confusion that is all that alleviates Mamet’s commitment to the one-dimensional or the flat-out partisan.

snerk ... I ran across this gem.

Inn at the Crossroads - a blog with recipes from A Song of Ice and Fire.

The Guardian asked authors to write about their most vividly remembered holiday read.

They're all pretty great though I particularly like AS Byatt and Antonia Fraser's contributions. Fascinating to see the mix of memory, reading and landscape come together.

Anyone who is at all interested in especially 80s Hollywood gossip has got to read Rob Lowe's autobiography. It's great! It really is all these great stories (some of which are really unbelievable), with not a ton of introspection, but that seems like the way he is, basically -- he kind of goes along and looks on the bright side and that kind of thing.

Neil Gaiman linked to a blog with posts about weird things customers say in a bookstore. It's hysterical. link