The scale of life is fascinating. People are happy with the basics. I'll avoid the obvious comparisons with American culture.

And the frequency of statements that life in Botswana is so much better, no internal fighting, no political prisons and never had any. It's an interesting take on the typical detective story, where there are bodies everywhere. Here, people just need some help checking things out, it makes consulting a detective very reasonable.

I imagine some of that is the Scotsman's perspective. I mean, for one thing, a quarter of adults have HIV. Although maybe it wasn't that bad when the books were written?

No, HIV comes up later in the series.

Yeah, I think I just read the first one, maybe two.

Exciting news for fans of Mira Grant!

Which includes some people here.

The new Newsflesh novel is a book Seanan's been wanting to write for years: Rewind, which is Feed from the perspective of the Democratic campaign.

Best review of Seanan's (well, Mira's) writing listed in P-C's link:

“Horrifying, riveting, and a bit too plausible”

I saw that on FB! I'm excited, but even more excited to know about The new Newsflesh novel is a book Seanan's been wanting to write for years: Rewind, which is Feed from the perspective of the Democratic campaign.

ION: I was just glancing at the selection for this year's "One Book, One San Diego" program ("a community reading program that aims to bring San Diego County residents closer together through reading and discussing one book"). Previous titles hadn't really caught my attention, but I thought this year's sounded interesting, then I glance at the author's name and it's a guy I went to high school with. Not just went to the same school, we were in a play together and everything! Though we lost touch so in my head he's still a freshman - now he's a published freshman!

[link]

Guess I'll have to participate this year!

Very cool, Epic!

Jay Lake has passed away.