A Conventional Boy by Charles Stross

June 7, 2025

A Conventional Boy by Charles Stross

Welcome to Camp Sunshine. It rains a lot. Specializing in cult deprogramming, Camp Sunshine is part of The Laundry, the government department that defends Great Britain from occult threats. Most residents stayed a few months, were rehabilitated, and returned to society. But Derek has been there since 1984, when he was rounded up with some of his mates as part of the Satanic Panic, since they were avid Dungeons & Dragons players, and therefore cultists. Due to what was essentially a clerical error, it took the government too long to realize he was just a harmless nerd, and by that time he was institutionalized. But after many years at Camp Sunshine, Derek gets his hands a local newspaper with an announcement that DiceCon, an annual gaming convention, would be coming to one of the local towns. Derek decides that no matter the consequences, he is going to DiceCon. 

Part of the Laundry Files series. I haven’t read any of the series because it seemed like it was a little too science-geeky (don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against geeky types since I lean toward the nerdy myself), but this was so entertaining that I am rethinking that. Derek has been incarcerated at Camp Sunshine, a cult deprogramming center, for over 20 years, and he interprets everything through a gaming lens, quickly finding a gaming parallel to any unfamiliar situation (enthusiastic women with big boobs trying to sell him something? Obviously a Wandering Monster encounter). Creative and entertaining, recommended for sci-fi/fantasy/horror readers who like a little humor in their reality. 

If you don't know what the Satanic Panic was, look it up on Google and spend a couple of hours down the rabbit hole.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Nerds, er, fans at a gaming convention

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

 December 16, 2020

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

Shortly after winning the Oasis contest, Wade Watts discovers a new development in the Oasis vaults, one that will make the game even more addictive.  With the new challenge comes a new and dangerous rival, willing to kill to get what he wants.  Wade and his friends must band together to defeat this new enemy.

Ready Player Two is the sequel to Ready Player one.  It's no where near as good as the first book.  It was really disappointing because I loved Ready Player One so much.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

July 15, 2022

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Hello - I've been missing in action for a while.  I retired, I had a hip replacement, my sweet rescue dog Asia went to the Rainbow Bridge, etc.  Life happened.  All along, I've been reading, so I'm planning to reactivate my reading blog so I can inflict my reading taste on even more people (I already share them on GoodReads and NetGalley).

Sam and Sadie were childhood friends who bonded over illness and a love of games.  After being estranged for many years, they meet again in college and decide to collaborate on a video game.  With their friend Marx, they design and create several popular games.  Over the course of two decades, they experience friendship, love, and loss.

I've read several of Zevin's books and I really enjoyed this one - so far, it's one of the best books that I've read this year. The main characters in this novel are young adults but it's not a YA book.  It's also about gaming but you don't have to play games to enjoy it or connect with the characters.  Even though I'm over 60, I play games online like many people do, so I understood the definitions about the different types of games and the abbreviations, although the terms are explained well enough for non-gamers to understand.  (While I don't care for shooter or racing games, I do enjoy world-building games and puzzles - there is something out there for everyone.)

I highly recommend this title to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction, well-developed characters, and a good storyline.  

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.