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Joel Stainer

@joelstainer.bsky.social
115 followers 162 following 991 posts

Currently my random interests are post-apocalyptic and disaster fiction, and running. Lots of other things distract me as well.

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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Time of the Great Freeze by Robert Silverberg. A YA post ice-age book with a bunch of interchangeable dudes who are forced out of their underground New York city and decide to sled across the ocean to London. The plot is as weak as it sounds and the characters are entirely forgettable.
The front cover of Time of the Great Freeze by Robert Silverberg. It features a retrofuturistic looking sled with some supposedly modern men in and around it, with some less modern humans surrounding it.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
A little mini book haul today to beef up my Post-apocalyptic and disaster collection. A Strugatsky chaser as well.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Another Lois McMaster Bujold completed. Falling Free is set before the usual books in the Vorkosigan series but is still a fun romp with some crunchy engineering bits for those who like it. Little guys take on the big guys type story. Enjoyed it.
The front cover of Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold. Features a woman in a space suit, smiling, with a futuristic space station looming in the background.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
I must admit I really enjoy Lois McMaster Bujold's books so far. Barrayar is the second I have read and it was even better than Shards of Honor. Fairly straightforward but with characters to root for and enough drama and excitement to keep things moving nicely.
The front cover of Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold features a woman holding a pointed weapon in an aggressive stance standing on some steps in front of a piece of futuristic machinery.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Just completed Angela Carter's Heroes and Villains. While more interested in the post-apocalyptic angle, the back of the book suggested it was a romance. Uh, what? It seemed like it totally tore down the idea of romantic relationships entirely. An interesting book, and well written, but also odd.
The front cover of Angela Carter's Heroes and Villains. It features a naked man and woman holding a red piece of fruit together in one hand each.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Well done! I am approaching halfway, but lots of good reading to go yet. You should let us know your favourites when you are done.
A graphic showing 29 of 61 Nebula award winning booka having been reas.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Really struggled to wrap my head around Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury. Seems like one I would get a lot more out of if I read it for academic purposes rather than to enjoy as a reading experience. Time for something a little lighter now!
The front cover of William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury which features a sky full of black and red clouds.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
The mommas may want to tear off your face but the babies sure are cute!
A huddle of yellow baby geese with momma goose in the background keeping watch.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Lunch time walk at the Riverlot.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
The final read for May is 'All the Fiends of Hell' by Adam Nevill and it was a ride. Consumed it in about 2 sittings and thought it was great. Never read any of his horror before but this one appealed to my post-apocalyptic tastes.
Front cover of All the Fiends of Hell by Adam Nevill. Features a creepy red-faced alien with an open toothy mouth.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
After Atlas by @emmanewman.bsky.social was fantastic. my first of her books and it was an entertaining and thoughtful read from start to finish. I was missing out. Likely would not have given it a shot without coming across the Starship Alexandria podcast which is also excellent. Go read it!
The front cover of After Atlas by Emma Newman, featuring the profile of the upper half of an individual constructed by 1's and 0's.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Thrift store find for $3.00. Oltre Mare. This game was a Mashup of Sushi Go, Settlers of Catan, and Bohnanza and was a lot of fun! More strategic than all 3 of them for sure. Will definitely play it again.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Wrapped up Greg Egan's short story collection 'Axiomatic' this morning. Superb. Hard pressed to think of a story collection I've enjoyed more. It was my first of his books and the experience of reading it felt like some of my first read throughs of Stephen King's short works. So glad I read it.
The front cover of Greg Egan's 'Axiomatic'  Features a pattern of criss-crossing colored star-like shapes.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Just wrapped up Orbital by Samantha Harvey. Was unsure headed into it if it would be something I would enjoy but I really liked it overall. Contemplative and a celebration of people and the world. Not much of a plot but I didn't care.
Front cover of Orbital by Samantha Harvey.  A splash of colours and planets.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Tore through Red Mars on the last few days of vacation. It started slow but really enjoyed the ride by the end. Looking forward to the next two books at some point.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Vacation read #2 is A Clockwork Orange. Having some idea of the content (never seen the movie either) I had put this off for a long time but finally gave it a go. While it lived up to its reputation, I found it very readable and thoughtful in ways that surprised me. Glad I read it.
The front cover of A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. It features a smiling skeleton leaning lazily in front of us, while holding a bottle of milk and wearing a bowler hat.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Today's beach read was another of Time's top 100, this time Falconer by John Cheever and oh boy was it a ride. Quite an interesting read but still unsure how to process it.
The front cover of Falconer by John Cheever.  A purple cover with stylized writing and little else.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Finally got around to reading Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. An absolute classic and for good reason. My 29th read of Time's top 100 novels.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Wrapped up Ann Leckie's Ancillary Justice and really enjoyed it. I wasn't sure what to expect going in. Knew nothing about it really but more recent SF is hit or miss for me. Very worthy of the awards it won in my opinion.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Also completed the Moon the Sun Forgot by BJ Wagner - a local Alberta author. Always happy to support new authors nearby and have now read both book by small publisher @mythicroads.bsky.social . I wouldn't say I am the target audience for these books but glad to have read them.
Front cover of the book titled The Moon the Sun Forgot. A phallic looking ship is surrounded by colourful lights.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Been busy but still fitting in reading. Recently completed The Doloriad by Missouri Williams. Post-apocalyptic fever dream of a book that was tough to read both for its prose and its subject matter. Didn't hate it and its stuck with me a while. Lots to unpack even if I am not smart enough to do so.
The front cover of The Doloriad by Missouri Williams featuring evergreen  trees and simple green writing.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
This chonky boy has had my attention since the start of the year but finally finished it in February. Back to more SF. Amazing book of course.
The front cover of War and Peace, translated by Constance Garnett.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Had a day off and decided to sit down and read 'Nuclear War A Scenario' by Annie Jacobsen. I am making more of an effort to read more non-fiction this year but this was quite a "fictiony" non-fiction book. From the moment a quote from Louis XIV was attributed to Napoleon I struggled with it.
The front cover of Nuclear War A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen  Features a mushroom cloud on the front cover with little else.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Dipped into my post-apocalyptic collection to read this short play called 'After the Rain' by John Bowen. A bizarre tale which takes place a couple hundred years after a global flood occurs and the new society is reenacting, based on historical documents, the activities of a small group on a boat.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Moon Dust in my Hairnet was one of two books I picked up by a local Edmonton Publisher @mythicroads.bsky.social . I wouldn't say I was the target audience for this one, which is that hopepunk/cozy style that I don't have a lot of experience reading.
A helmeted figured stands on the moon with the silhouette of a dome covered civilization far in the background on the front cover of Moon Dust in ny Hairnet by J R Creaden.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
I had plans to wrap up The Snow Queen as my final book of 2025 but I couldn't stay awake long enough, so it becomes the first completed read of 2026. This was entertaining but certainly dated and overlong. I can see why it has its place in people's memories. I will leave the series at one book.
Joan D Vinge's book 'The Snow Queen' features a woman with a feathered white mask covering her face and the sea in the background behind her.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 26/12/2025
Not sure I can get one last harvest out of this garden of mine or not.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 25/12/2025
Freezing cold and snowy on Christmas Day. Before the rest of the house wakes up I'll spend a little time with the Snow Queen.
Front Cover of The Snow Queen by Joan D Vinge. Features a woman with an elaborate white head dress and mask covering her face.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Wandered way out of my reading zone and took up 'The Everlasting' by Alix E. Harrow. Fantasy Romance would normally have little interest for me but a lot of people who I follow seem to have spoken highly of it. I can now see why. It's a book I instantly wanted to discuss once I finished it.
The front cover of The Everlasting by Alix E Harrow. Features a downward facing sword surrounded by leaves.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
Really love The Sea and Summer by George Turner. Enjoyed the characters, it was extremely readable, and I found myself nodding along at several points. Also read a bit about Turner's life which could be a story itself.
Two boats float on water, on the cover of The Sea and Summer by George Turner.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
Love that picture! We followed this little guy in the backcountry for a while this past summer as well. Love porcupines.
Photo of a porcupine wandering along a little trail in the back country.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Early surprise Christmas gift from one of the members of the online book club I am in. We also have traded books from time to time. Brown Girl in the Ring by @nalohop.bsky.social is one I am particularly looking forward to reading. Expanding the post-apocalyptic and disaster collection!
Front cover of Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson and Doomsday Warrior by Ryder Stacey.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Fauna by Christiane Vadnais. A random library pickup. One of those books with great prose that has a tough to nail down story (for me at least). I guess it's a story of the end of humanity though I couldn't quite tell if it was maybe just a localized event.
The front cover of Fauna by Christiane Vadnais. Features the eye of some sort of creature that is both plant and animal like.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
Well, I can't say that I loved Stand on Zanzibar but I can respect what Brunner did with it. Glad I finished it. Took me most of November to slowly plod my way through.
Front cover of John Brunner's Stand on Zanzibar.  A human being with arms raised above its head is standing inside a test tube. Another line of humans is in the background.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 30/11/2025
Dug out the old Illustrated Tolkien Calendars. Such fantastic art in these.
Artist's rendition of Sam encountering Mordor for the first time. Mount Doom erupts in the background.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
Just found out about local Edmonton Publisher @mythicroads.bsky.social and grabbed two of their books that I ran across today. Always fun to support smaller publishers and new authors, particularly when they are local!
The front covers of two books - The Moon the Sun Forgot by BJ Wagner and Moon Dust in my Hairnet by JR Creaden.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
Needed a reading palate cleanser so broke out this cheesy classic I had last read decades ago. Pure nostalgia. Dragons of Autumn Twilight. Now, back to some SF.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
My home for the next 24 hours.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
I struggled to get through Man Plus by Frederik Pohl. Some interesting ideas but an ending that felt like it mostly came out of nowhere (there was a bit of foreshadowing, I guess) and characters I mostly wasn't too interested in. I'm glad to check it off the list.
Front cover of Man Plus by Frederik Pohl. Features a genetically and physically altered human with wings. Set in a dark blue and black colour.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
Thanksgiving pumpkin decorating contest. Always a fun time!
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
Well, this book was a ride. As cheesy as they come, with writing that me laughing out loud. The most corny "manly" men as protagonists, and stereotypical hordes of aliens wanting to wipe out humanity. Four formulaic stories. They were fun but I think that's enough Laumer for me.
The front cover of The Undefeated by Keith Laumer. Features a robotic looking craft of someone kind, parked inside a spaceship.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
Stretching the bounds of my suitcase for the way home but hit up a used bookstore here in Ottawa and snagged a few more for my post-apocalyptic collection. This Deluge/Dawn set of two by S Fowler Wright was not on my list so a new find for me! The Tepper book I had been hunting for in the wild.
The front cover to The Gate To Women's Country by Sheri S Tepper. A brown cover with a carved image on the front.Two battered hardcover books with no dust jackets. Deluge and Dawn by S Fowler Wright.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
The Orchid Cage by Herbert Franke was a struggle for me to get through. I didn't care for the protagonists, the slow unfolding of the storyline was plodding and convoluted, and the portrayal of the singular woman was particularly egregious in this story.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
When a severed, but living, infant head appears on her dresser one morning, Dr. Trish Russo needs to figure out how to cope with the situation. This is 'The Head' by Robyn Braun. A bizarre, but intriguing, look at how trauma impacts someone, as well as how those around them treat them differently.
The front cover of 'The Head'by Robyn Braun. It features a severed doll-like infant head laying on a black surface and staring back at the viewer.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
An excerpt from 'Resistance and Recognition at Kitigan Zibi' by Dennis Leo Fisher which had me laughing a little too loudly on the plane today.
An excerpt from Resistance and Recognition at Kitigan Zibi by Dennis Leo Fisher which describes an incident where two Algonquin men were hunting a moose with an axe (to avoid the sound of a rifle) and the axe became buried in the moose's head but it wandered off. When the father was asked what they should do if a warden appeared, the reply was "Tell him it's a fucking unicorn."
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
Just wrapped up City by Clifford Simak and absolutely loved it. So much to think on about human nature, the future of mankind, philosophy, violence, and more. Highly recommend it.
The front cover of City by Clifford Simak. Features a robot with two dogs on either side. All three are seated in front of a small fire.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Picked up the final book in @premeemohamed.com post-apocalyptic series. Think I may need to go back and read all three of them in one go to wade back into the world she created. Looking forward to it.
The front covers of Premee Mohamed's trilogy of books. The Annual Migration of Clouds, We Speak Through the Mountain, and The First Thousand Trees. All three feature birds on the front.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
Just wrapped up 'The End Of The World As We Know It'. For fans of The Stand its a fantastic romp back into the world Stephen King created. There is something for everyone I would imagine, including some stuff for those who go deep into King's worlds in other books. Quite enjoyed it!
The front cover of The End of the World as we know it by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene. large red lettering and a picture of a crow in the bottom right.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
He knows about this guy then I hope.
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Joel Stainer @joelstainer.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Oh boy. Just started The End Of The World as We Know It and this is going to suck me in, I just know it.
The cover of The End Of The World As We Know It - New Tales of Stephen King's The Stand. Large bright red lettering and a picture of a red eyed crow.
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