A Blog on Books

Philip K. Dick continues his trend of writing some of the strangest novels imaginable, and I’m all here for it! His works are endlessly fascinating, and Dr. Bloodmoney: Or How We Learned to Get Along After the Bomb is no exception—it’s a fever dream of a story, a brilliant exploration of Cold War fears, though with an oddly optimistic outlook. Sort of. Either way, it was an absolute thrill to read. First off, I love the title. It’s perfect. As a huge fan of Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb , I find this novel to be a bizarre yet fitting science fiction counterpiece to Kubrick’s classic film. The two are completely unique, but they make for fascinating companion pieces. Interestingly, the book was actually written before the movie was released, but when it came time for revisions, editor Donald Wollheim suggested that Dick reference Dr. Strangelove —a change that, in my opinion, really works. As stated, this book is bizarre, but that’s what makes it...

Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology was a lot of fun to read. It’s nothing too serious or in-depth, but it delivers an enjoyable experience all around. Gaiman takes us from the story of creation in Norse culture to its fated end—the legendary Ragnarok . Before reading this, I wasn’t well-versed in Norse mythology. I wouldn’t say that’s changed much, as Norse lore is vast, with countless stories and interpretations. However, this collection offers a great starting point. Gaiman selects a handful of tales, giving readers a taste of the myths without overwhelming them. It’s an excellent way to dip your toes into the world of Odin, Thor, and Loki. One of the best things about Gaiman’s retelling is how much personality he infuses into the gods, making them feel like real, flawed, and often hilarious individuals rather than distant mythological figures. His signature wit is on full display, particularly in the way he writes Loki. Loki is undoubtedly the scene-stealer. Gaiman brings out the humour...

Roadside Picnic was written by two brothers, Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, in 1971 and published in 1972 in the Soviet Union. I'm a huge fan of film and an avid reader, though I have never seen the movie Stalker . Still, the image of three men standing in what looks like dust, surrounded by the ruins of a massive old factory, is striking and iconic. It’s beautiful. I recently saw that same image on a book cover at the bookstore— Roadside Picnic . The cover alone sold me. This is a very short but incredibly dense book, packing a lot into its limited page count. I went into it knowing nothing, and honestly, that’s the best way to experience it. The mystery, the slow revelations—it all made for an extremely engaging, intellectually stimulating read. Since it’s a Russian-to-English translation, I didn’t know what to expect. Russian literature has a reputation for being deeply philosophical and intense, though I haven’t explored many of the greats yet (something I hope to change soon). ...