joshs's recent activity
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - April 2025 - Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky in ~books
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - April 2025 - Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky in ~books
joshs Link ParentI went in blind, and it took a minute to really get into it. I wasn't sure what to make of the voice/Nyr, his way of speaking, and the sharp contrast with Lyn's world. It's not something I'd...I went in blind, and it took a minute to really get into it. I wasn't sure what to make of the voice/Nyr, his way of speaking, and the sharp contrast with Lyn's world. It's not something I'd usually go for. But once the story got going, I was engaged and I flew through it, completely exceeding expectations from when I started.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - April 2025 - Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky in ~books
joshs Link ParentHow did everyone feel about the mix of sci-fi and fantasy in this book? It felt like Lyn's world was all fantasy and Nyr's world was sci-fi. I wish the story went with one or the other. The author...How did everyone feel about the mix of sci-fi and fantasy in this book?
It felt like Lyn's world was all fantasy and Nyr's world was sci-fi.
I wish the story went with one or the other. The author can clearly do either, but to do both in such a short story is a bit much. This story in particular felt better suited as pure fantasy, and doing that would allow for more explorations of its themes without the switching, which to me felt jarring. I think we could've got more character development out of the traveling party that way. I can't remember anything about that criminal guy who joined them and I would've liked to see more of Esha.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - April 2025 - Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky in ~books
joshs Link ParentI found the DCS to be very distracting because it was used so often and the author made it a point to call attention to it every time. It at times felt like Nyr was just a vehicle to explore DCS...I found the DCS to be very distracting because it was used so often and the author made it a point to call attention to it every time. It at times felt like Nyr was just a vehicle to explore DCS instead of him existing on his own.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club - How is it going with Elder Race? in ~books
joshs LinkI just finished it yesterday and wrote down some thoughts. It's a quick read. I haven't been able to participate lately. This will be my first Tildes book club since Project Hail Mary, so I'm...I just finished it yesterday and wrote down some thoughts. It's a quick read.
I haven't been able to participate lately. This will be my first Tildes book club since Project Hail Mary, so I'm looking forward to it.
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Comment on Proton exits Mastodon with updated account bio pointing to Reddit in ~tech
joshs Link ParentIt does appear that the "Trump supporting" was blown way out of proportion. Here's some additional context that I found interesting.It does appear that the "Trump supporting" was blown way out of proportion. Here's some additional context that I found interesting.
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Comment on Common Side Effects S01E01 - Pilot in ~tv
joshs Link ParentYes, this show is fantastic. From the creator of Scavengers Reign. Mike Judge is involved too. And if you don't have Max, individual episodes are on sale on Google Play/Microsoft StoreYes, this show is fantastic. From the creator of Scavengers Reign. Mike Judge is involved too. And if you don't have Max, individual episodes are on sale on Google Play/Microsoft Store
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Comment on Do you deliberately overbuy things with the intention to return some of them? in ~life
joshs LinkI don't. I'm pretty sure this practice leads to a ton of waste. It's often cheaper for companies to simply destroy or throwaway returns than actually restock the item.I don't. I'm pretty sure this practice leads to a ton of waste. It's often cheaper for companies to simply destroy or throwaway returns than actually restock the item.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - June 2024 - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir in ~books
joshs Link ParentHe had a lot of time to make peace with his decision to with the Eridians and to adapt. It's not like he really had a choice. I saw his lack of interest in a romantic partner a way to serve the...He had a lot of time to make peace with his decision to with the Eridians and to adapt. It's not like he really had a choice.
I saw his lack of interest in a romantic partner a way to serve the story. Had he had a love interest I think would bloat the book. Most of the book is him in space by himself or with an alien, and the flash backs are an exposition dump so shoving in some romance would be too much in my opinion.
He just seemed like a quirky scientist to me.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club - 2024 summer schedule in ~books
joshs LinkI didn't read The Dispossesed but I'm halfway through Project Hail Mary. Looking forward to participating in the next book club!I didn't read The Dispossesed but I'm halfway through Project Hail Mary. Looking forward to participating in the next book club!
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Comment on Tildes Book Club - Should we read nonfiction as well as fiction and with what frequency? in ~books
joshs LinkI vote no. I think the discussions will be more interesting with fiction. No real world baggage. Non fiction discussions can quickly devolve into one-upping and heated fact-checking. And me...I vote no. I think the discussions will be more interesting with fiction. No real world baggage. Non fiction discussions can quickly devolve into one-upping and heated fact-checking.
And me personally, I mostly read nonfiction so this being for fiction is a good break.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club - Next up The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin in ~books
joshs LinkNice. Picking this up from the library this week. So far none of these books would be the type of book I'd normally pick up, so here's to broadening horizons.Nice. Picking this up from the library this week. So far none of these books would be the type of book I'd normally pick up, so here's to broadening horizons.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - April 2024 - Piranesi by Susanna Clarke in ~books
joshs Link ParentI get that but the place has clearly warped his mind. It's like he has Stockholm Syndrome. He's held hostage to the "beauty" of the place because he's been there so long. It's actually really...I get that but the place has clearly warped his mind. It's like he has Stockholm Syndrome. He's held hostage to the "beauty" of the place because he's been there so long.
It's actually really fascinating reading the takes on the ending and how people seem to be happy for him. I guess I'm in the minority here, but to me that world was a whole crime scene and a psychological torture chamber.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - April 2024 - Piranesi by Susanna Clarke in ~books
joshs Link ParentI really enjoyed this book, it really becomes a page turner when it's spelled out that Piranesi is being manipulated by The Other and he starts questioning his sanity. Everything from the...I really enjoyed this book, it really becomes a page turner when it's spelled out that Piranesi is being manipulated by The Other and he starts questioning his sanity. Everything from the misnumbered journals to the gaslighting. After all we see just how far he's gone, and I was like the person yelling at the TV when upon rescue was thinking about maybe staying.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - April 2024 - Piranesi by Susanna Clarke in ~books
joshs Link ParentI wish he never went back after. While it makes sense that he'd want to go back, I feel like instead of the more interesting question of how to readjust to normal life, they can instead just go...I wish he never went back after. While it makes sense that he'd want to go back, I feel like instead of the more interesting question of how to readjust to normal life, they can instead just go back whenever like it was some theme park. I guess it's fitting for an ending, but to me that world felt like a horror show/prison . At the end I was like "so is this open to the public now?"
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - April 2024 - Piranesi by Susanna Clarke in ~books
joshs Link ParentWas there ever an explained reason for the random capitalized letters? It was super distracting at the beginning and I was looking for some pattern. After a while I gave up and I assumed it was...Was there ever an explained reason for the random capitalized letters? It was super distracting at the beginning and I was looking for some pattern. After a while I gave up and I assumed it was part of him going crazy from being in the world for too long.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club - We will be discussing Piranesi the third week in April in ~books
joshs LinkI'm excited to participate in this for the first time. I've been reading a lot of non fiction lately and was looking for a novel. Happened to read this post and now I'm halfway done with the book.I'm excited to participate in this for the first time. I've been reading a lot of non fiction lately and was looking for a novel. Happened to read this post and now I'm halfway done with the book.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
joshs LinkI've been playing a lot of F-Zero 99. Before the game launched I hadn't touched my Switch in years, and I've been having a blast since returning. I'm a big fan of the first three games, so of...I've been playing a lot of F-Zero 99. Before the game launched I hadn't touched my Switch in years, and I've been having a blast since returning. I'm a big fan of the first three games, so of course I had to go back to play an updated version of the original except with online and against 98 other humans.
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Comment on Fresh Album Fridays: Yeule; Doja Cat; MIKE, Wiki & The Alchemist; Kylie Minogue; and more in ~music
joshs Link ParentThe Alchemist doesn't miss but I'm not as familiar with MIKE or Wiki's discography. I'm looking forward to checking this one out today.The Alchemist doesn't miss but I'm not as familiar with MIKE or Wiki's discography. I'm looking forward to checking this one out today.
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Comment on Any people here who are also interested in a "low-tech lifestyle?" in ~tech
joshs LinkI think I like the idea of going low tech but the impracticality prevents me from actually doing it. I'm always on the go so for example if I had a dumb phone I would definitely miss having a...I think I like the idea of going low tech but the impracticality prevents me from actually doing it. I'm always on the go so for example if I had a dumb phone I would definitely miss having a decent maps app, or the NFC/payment features. Not to mention two factor apps and such for my job. The convenience factor is huge here, so the real answer for me, as others have said, is just mindful tech (phone) usage.
That's a good point. A lot of this story seems to be about "things are not what they seem." Whether it's Nyr and his "magic," Nyr and his toggling of DCS and how that's perceived, Who Lyn is to her mother, and even the demon.
From that perspective I absolutely agree.
As a reader though, it's such a big shift. It pulls me out a bit having to readjust at the beginning of every chapter, and it does get a little old after a while.