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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 28m

New Stephen King / Peter Straub - was considering rereading 1st 2 but bus broke down on way home after picking it up so got started. New rather lovely looking spooky novella from @casskhaw.bsky.social and I drank the Malazan kool-aid a long time ago so will always pick up new books in that series

Stephen King and Peter Straub - Other Worlds than These, Steven Erikson - Legacies of Betrayal (book 3 of 4 in sequel quadrilogy to main 10 book series of Malazan) and Cassandra Khaw - Find Me Where it Ends

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Escaped briefly from the lab and pick up new @stephenking.bsky.social - i think since It came out a very long time ago, I've always managed to get the new one in week of release and happy to continue the tradition. Musing on not jumping in as i read other 2 a while back (2001?) so maybe a reread 1st

Other Worlds than These by Stephen King and Peter Straub

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Got home to new music in the mail with the latest releases from The Beatles (Rubber Soul deluxe 4CD), Anthrax (latest album Cursum Perficio) and Swans(a final live album of the big sound)

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

If your taste runs a little more B-movie, I'll recommend Kim Newman's Video Dungeon as a supplemental reading. I'm close to the end of The Rouse by China Mieville and just picked up US release of Scratch Moss by David Barnett and a novella, The Nudge by Night Vale creator Joseph Fink

The Nudge by Joseph Fink and Scratch Moss by David Barnett

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

3/3 movie for the day. Only a handful of people at it and grumbling at end suggests most did not like it. I'm not sure how to describe it, its obviously Cruise Oscar bait and im not sure enjoyed it is the right term but there is so much it did right that I won't say because of #spoilers

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Movie number 2/3 for today. Not too bad, I can see it was going for more of the playing the game experience than the over the top bombastic narrative of the original movie series which I do have soft spot for (they are good looking bad movies). Dinner and movie#3 next

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Getting away from it all and triple bill at the cinema. Surprise start since didn't expect an upper Midwest US cinema to show a quirky Scottish piece like the Incomer. Absolutely fantastic movie, shades of Local Hero meets Iain Banks The Wasp Factory and just so well done

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Yesterday's Bookmail. Yes I know i have snd am reading a regular HC edition but I've been picking up all the signed Mieville books from @thebrokenbinding.bsky.social so could not say no to this. As usual, lovely looking book which will remain untarnished while I finish my regular copy.

Broken Binding Edition of the Rouse by China Mieville

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

~500 pages into this behemoth, its definitely not light reading clocking in at more than 1200 pages and there are periods I feel lost in terms of where it is going but beautifully crafted and worth the investment. In its shadow I continue to work through epubs of volume 8 and 9 of The Horus Heresy

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Got soaked heading out but rather lovely bookhaul. Obviously The Rouse dominates the stack but did not know latest titles by Charles Cumming (Box 88) and Jussi Adler Olsen et. al (Dept Q) had made it stateside. Stephen King was justified on basis i had a pile of rewards but still looks awesome.

The Rouse by China Mieville, Icarus 17 by Charles Cumming, No Song for the Dead by Jussi Adler-Olson and the Art and Craft of Stephen King

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Ooh i like that cover for Blitz. U S was not bad but that one is nice

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

On the road for Riotfest but my main bookbrick is not shown which will be The Rouse by China Mieville which comes out tomorrow. My other reading almost wraps up #4 of Charlie Parker reread by @jconnollybooks.bsky.social then kicks into #5 and I'm starting the Bookman Histories by Lavie Tidhar too.

The Bookman by Lavie Tidhar and The White Road and the Black Angel by John Connolly

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

One week til I fly to Chicago for Riotfest, my annual escape from semester start blues so Playlist are Heavy on bands playing. Many standouts - Sugar, Elvis Costello, Iggy, Pixies, Patti Smith etc. Most torn on PIL, Album and Second Edition are such amazing releases but Lydon seems to have lost it

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Alas 3rd Barnett (Scratch Moss) only just came out over in US so we are lagging. This week, more Bobiverse, reread of volume 3 in Robert McCammon's Matthew Corbett historical mystery and a weird cosmic horror thing by Megan Bontrager (started it a month or so back and mislaid my copy so back to it)

Bobiverse Book 3 - For We Are Many by Dennis Taylor, Mister Slaughter (Matthew Corbett Book 3) by Robert McCammon and The Sea Hides It's Dead by Megzn Bontrager

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Back from conference so rereading Elder Race by @aptshadow.bsky.social since sequel comes out tomorrow. Seeing if its all its hyped up to be and starting 1st Bobiverse and picked up a nice used hardcover of Dominion, an alt history where Britain essentially surrenders to Germany in 1940

Dominion by CJ Sansom, We Are Legion (Bobiverse Book 1) by Dennis Taylor and Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

On the road for a conference so main two books are new @chuckwendig.bsky.social - The Calamities - 1/2 way through and very much enjoying it and on the e-reader, I'm rereading a couple of Virgin Books Era Doctor Who missing adventures as felt like a wee bit of #5 nostalgia

Virgin - 5th Doctor Missing adventure: The Crystal Bucephalus

Virgin - 5th Doctor Missing adventure: Goth Opera

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Excellent gig last night from Swervedriver at Thalia Hall in Chicago with Raise album playthrough and a second set from other albums. Great sound and whoever was doing projection/visuals did an amazing job expanding to cover the front half of theater beyond stage

Swervedriver live at Thalia Hall - last song which of course was Duel

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Quick to the bookstore with what I was going to say shiny new releases by @chuckwendig.bsky.social and @aptshadow.bsky.social but they are both rathef goth and moody instead of shiny :-) Also arrived just in time before I'm hitting the road for a conference

The Calamities by Chuck Wendig and Preaching to the Choir by Adrian Tchaikovsky

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

After last week's sheep adorned Scottish folk Horror (Home Sick by Rhiannon Griest), we keep the sheep but go Welsh with Hill in the Dark Grove by Liam Higginson. Also a wee Korean lovecraftian novella and continuing reread of the Denise Mina series featuring Alex Morrow with Gods and Beasts.

Hill in the Dark Grove by Liam Higginson, A Plagued Sea by Kim Bo-Young and Gods and Beasts by Denise Mina

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Spent the day dealing with reports and committee work for upcoming conference with new Sparks album on continuous play - absolutely superb album, highly recommended and glad I got to finally catch them last year at Riot Fest

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

2nd attempt at End of Oak Street successful- ended up leaving first showing due to 2 bawbags who started by sitting pretty much next to me in an empty cinema and escalated from not shutting up to actively yelling insults. Got a raincheck and some vouchers and did a later show and Busan reissue

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Today's cinema excursion. Not expecting a masterpiece but hoping for something fun and escapist

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Enjoying the last few weeks with no students on campus so cranked this beast up on lab stereo. Catchy hooks and an insane sound production - the US bonus tracks on the CD - Never Lose That Feeling/Never Learn still sound amazing 33 years after this came out...

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Yesterday's bookmail was this brick. Still one of my favorite novels of all time and maybe time for a reread but while its a nicely done book and retains inside illustrations, I'm still partial to original hardcover which I have both black and white copies of which I think is an iconic look

Broken Binding subscription copy of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Still working on Queen of Bedlam by Robert McCammon, onto End of Wasp Season, a reread of volume 2 of Alex Morrow series (some of the best Glasgow set mysteries I've read) and staying in Scotland with a new bit of folk horror, Home Sick, just arrived from Night Worms book subscription

Home Sick by Rhiannon Grist, End of the Wasp Season by Denise Mina and Queen of Bedlam by Robert McCammon

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Avoiding writing script for a science on stage performance so doing a movie double bill. Spiderman: Brand New Day and why not a second trip to the Odyssey

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Long lunch and hit up the 50% off Arrow Sale st B+N. Didn't get much in recent Criterion sale but a few must haves here - Soylent Green, Mouth of Madness, Salems Lot and Excalibur. Also picked up the physical Stranger Things box on regular BluRay as well.

4K Arrpw releases of Soylent Green, Excalibur, In the Mouth of Madness and Salems Lot

Stranger Things complete boxset from Arrow Video

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

A great series I need to read it again. My stack this week has one of her other alter egos and book 3 - Last Song of Penelope as i started a reread of the trilogy after seeing The Odyssey. Also rereading book 1 of Denise Mina's Alex Morrow series and Book 2 of Robert McCammons Matthew Corbett series

Still Midnight by Denise Mina (Alex Morrow Book 1)

Queen of Bedlam by Robert McCammon (Matthew Corbett Book 2)

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Decent book thrift haul. Kennedy 35 is an upgrade as i own it in paperback and do need to order book 4 in series now. Broken Fields by Marcie Rendon is 4th in a series set where I live so great find and I know nothing about the M. M. Buckner but read their first - Watermind so giving this a go.

Broken Fields by Marcie Rendon, Gravity Pilot by M.M. Buckner, Heresy of Dr. Dee by Phil Rickman and Kennedy 35 by Chatles Cumming

8 Repairman Jack paperbacks by F. Paul Wilson

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Fisherman's Blues was expanded to a 2CD and then we got a 6 (7 really CD box set) of sessions so do we really need another 3CD + a separate EP of more sessions from that period. OH HELL YEs and so today, the office soundtrack is the new 3CD of alternate takes by @waterboysmusic.bsky.social

Atlantic Rain collection by The Waterboys

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Weather app is saying today's high will feel like 42C or 108 F when humidity is factored in. So plan is avoid the heat Dome and catch up on TBR. First up is gorgeous @thebrokenbinding.bsky.social Railsea by China Mieville aka what if Duncton Wood and Moby Dick had a weird twisted child 😀

Broken Binding editions of China Mieville's Railsea

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Road trip for Rush at the United Center in Chicago. Made it as far as Eau Claire, WI last night so rest of the way today for the gig. I think this is around my 10th Rush show - first was Roll tye Bones at SECC in Glasgow a very long time ago..

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

I've been watching Fringe on Bluray of late after picking up complete series box. Loving the weird science - now on S2E6, the sketch of an unknown molecule is the same class of compounds I have my PhD in. And like early grad school me. They can't draw a porphyrin and get the aromaticity right 😀

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Too damn warm, air quality has gone from unhealthy to hazardous so 3+ hours including trailers in a cooled theater is prescribed

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Not sharing a certain building that can only be described in the local parlance as a jobbie? I always try to make a quick Haunter up the Hill when I'm back but if ever there was an award for wrecking the skyline...

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Rather lovely bit of bookmail yesterday with titles from @reversediorama.bsky.social and @jeffnoon.bsky.social. 2nd this year from Keenan as i picked up Boyhood, his new fiction when back in Glasgow but this one is collected music writings which starts with a piece on the mighty Pere Ubu

David Keenan - Volcanic Tongue and Jeff Noon - Moon over Brendle

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

A wee bit of @thebrokenbinding.bsky.social in the mailbox this week. Signed Railsea and my subscription copies of Malice and Valour (liking having some copy with UK spelling 🙄) finally made it - time for a reread

Broken Binding editions of Railsea by China Mieville and Valour and Malice by John Gwynne

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Today's listening throws back a few decades to end of undergrad and start of grad school. I got a copy of the Bullet Lavolta album as a trade from an American exchange student in my dorm and the Bad religion on a recommendation from a student I was the lab TA for after starting grad school

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Venturing back into the Backrooms since they added extra footage. Plus weather is best described as an armpit so 2 hrs of maxed out air conditioning is a bonus

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Today was mentoring students to present on their research then knocking out a letter of recommendation for another. Writing soundtrack was Sugar, two incredible albums in terms of both insanely catchy songs and an amazing production /sound. So psyched to see them in a few months at Riotfest

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Today is a day for the 'Big Music' and so cracked open the 1985 box by The Waterboys which is an amazing 6CD box of material from the making of This is the Sea

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Not sure if it's a good or bad thing when the music synchs up perfectly to road construction outside my office and the subsonic vibrations from them drilling concrete align with the beat. Digging this dissonant Death metal by Minneapolis's Sunless and looking forward to seeing them on Friday.

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

A little surprised by this relatively svelte volume (at least compared to volume 1) that I just picked up. Been reading Peter Hamilton's stuff since gifted a hardcover of Reality Dysfunction when it came out and really enjoyed1st vol of this

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Today's office soundtrack is the amazing Krautock /spacerock groove of Folkazoid. Don't know much about the band but it has that pulsing repetitive drone that just stretches out. We'll worth checking out on bandcamp

Folkazoid - London Sessions EP with J. Spaceman

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Nice wee bit of bookmail yesterday from @subpress.bsky.social and another title on the vandalized by @aptshadow.bsky.social stack..

Best of Adrian Tchaikovsky from Subterranean Press

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Today's dealing with emails and writing a committe proposal skews more Dark with doom metal band Paradise Lost. Saw them play Edinburgh a very long time ago on Shades of God tour (still my favorite of their albums) in early 90s and a few times since

Paradise Lost - Shades of God album cover

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Writing day as I try to crank out a small grant for science outreach activities. Soundtrack is the mighty Swervedriver whose first two albums make me feel old on realizing they are both now more than 30 years old and which are accompanied by the recent and excellent 3CD reissue of 99th Dream

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Caught Backrooms yesterday and it's a great disturbing little flick. Bonus is at the end. The credits music included a track from new Boards of Canada album which just dropped today and I've been spending the day in the office cranking it up

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Long day of science outreach and 5 x 2nd grade class visits. Relaxing with trip for Backrooms. I do appreciate the local Multiplex putting it in theater furthest away down deserted corridor and just before start, only me here.. #setsthevibe #backrooms

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DoctorGRAW @doctorgraw.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Unexpected bonus in the bookshop at Glasgow airport. I'd read and picked up Corpse Wore Tartan after getting in so this next chunky volume of Roberta Steel will keep me busy as I return to the US.

Blood, Rust and Steel by Stuart MacBride (airport edition)

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