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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

The soundtrack to my commute this week: We Are The Pipettes by The Pipettes. Just perfect early 00's pop (yes, it is nearly 20 yrs old) Riotbecki, Gwenno and Rosay will always be music royalty to me.

The US version of We Are The Pipettes. It shows Riotbecki, Gwenno and Rosay as giants standing in an American city.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#Booksof2026 64 - Grasshopper Jungle by @marburyjack.bsky.social Austin is in love with his best friend, and his girlfriend. This is a big problem, but smaller than the swarm of six ft praying mantis taking over the world. Fun, but I would have liked more of the girlfriend's point of view #BookSky

The hardback cover of Grasshopper Jungle. It's very green

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

#Booksof2026 62 - In The Footsteps of Mr Kurtz by @michelawrong.bsky.social Snapshot tales of the last days of President Mobutu's rule of Zaire (now DR Congo). It's interesting to compare the late 90s with now. I also recommend her book on Eritrea (I Didn't Do It For You) #BookSky

The paperback cover depicts a close up of a Zaire banknotes.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

#Booksof2026 61 - Oh No It Isn't by @paulcornell.bsky.social I don't think I've re-read this since it was published in 1997 It does a reasonable job of setting up Prof. Bernice Summerfield post Doctor Who, but some bits (Summerfield lusting after a teenage student) haven't aged well #BookSky

The cover of Oh No It Isn't by Paul Cornell. The design is by Jon Sullivan and features a woman with short dark hair, and a humanoid cat.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

#Booksof2026 60 - Men of Intelligence by Sir Kenneth Strong A slightly quirky book from the 1970s by the first Director General of Intelligence at the Ministry of Defence. Interesting reflections on what military intelligence is (and isn't) and how it can be used. #BookSky

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Played Carcassonne on 2026-09-05 boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/822 #bggplay via @boardgamegeek.com When you are hosting a games night for the first time in a while, a simple game that everyone knows and lets people chat and catch up is just what you need.

boardgamegeek.com

Carcassonne

Shape the medieval French landscape, claiming cities, monasteries, roads, and farms.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

#Booksof2026 59 - The White Rose of Stalingrad by Bill Yenne An interesting biography of Lidiya Litvyak, the Soviet WW2 fighter pilot, but it is a bit baggy in parts. Might have worked better with a wider scope covering the entire Soviet female fighter pilot force. #BookSky

The hardback cover depicts Lidiya's face and a fighter plane.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

The year 2002 just phoned me to ask which is the best song from the film version of Chicago. Overall, I think it is this one, performed by Queen Latifah. youtube.com/watch?v=3t6_...

youtube.com

Chicago | 'When You're Good to Mama' (HD) - Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones | MIRAMAX

YouTube video by Miramax

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

#Booksof2026 58 - Uganda's Transition Question I don't normally post about books read in mostly work capacity; but this set of interviews from figures across the Ugandan political spectrum was fascinating on the culture and nature of politics. #BookSky

The cover of Uganda's Transition Question.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

#Booksof2026 57 - Showbusiness by @markradcliffe.bsky.social I think you would have to be a bigger fan of 70s rock music than me to appreciate this book. #Booksky

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

#Booksof2026 56 - The Infernal Library by Daniel Kalder An enjoyable critique of 20th Dictator literature (i.e. books written by them, rather than about them). Shock news; some of Mussolini's works, esp parts of his WW1 diary, are not completely and utterly terrible. #BookSky

The hardback cover of The Infernal Library depicts books being dropped like bombs.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

#Booksof2026 55 - The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien It's been about 20 years since I last this and I had forgotten how much the narrator uses humour. #BookSky

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Played Quacks on 2026-08-14 boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/24... #bggplay via @boardgamegeek.com Possibly my worst results so far with this game. Finished fourth, almost 40pts behind the winner.

boardgamegeek.com

Quacks

Pull ingredients from your stock to make your pot bubble, but hopefully not explode!

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

#Booksof2026 54 - The Man Of My Dreams by @csittenfeld.bsky.social I quite enjoyed this tale of Hannah growing up in the 90s and 00s and the ups and downs of her love life. It is the first Curtis Sittenfeld book I've read, and I'm keen to read another. #BookSky

The paperback cover of The Man Of My Dreams

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

#Booksof2026 53 - Raft by Stephen Baxter What I liked most about this science fiction novel was that the plot was kick started by a character wanting to know more about his universe, and through the rest of the book, he never loses his curiosity and desire to know. #BookSky

The SF Masterworks edition of Raft by Stephen Baxter.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

#Booksof2026 52 - The Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley Holland Translations of all the significant Norse myths coupled with detailed and interesting notes. I really enjoyed it. No photo as I forgot to take one before donating it. #BookSky

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

#Booksof2026 51 - Slavic Myths edited by Jake Jackson, intro by Ema Lakinska. Interesting collection, especially as it brings out the common themes and motifs e.g. travelling to the thirtieth kingdom #BookSky

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

There are two wolves inside me: One knows that flying, light pollution and excessive night noise are all bad things. The other loves landing at airports in the dark and seeing the lights of the city set below.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

#Booksof2026 50 - Wellness by Nathan Hill I tried to like it. I thought the opening chapter was great; so maybe I would have enjoyed it if it had remained a simple love story. But the satire felt flat and too contrived. #BookSky

The paperback cover of Wellness has lots of stripes

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

#Booksof2026 49 - Something Doesn't Add Up by Paul Goodwin An informative and relatively easy to read primer on the importance of basic statistical knowledge. It was fine. #BookSky

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

#Booksof2026 48 - Dunstan by Conn Iggulden Historical fictional account of the life of St Dunstan (c. 909 to c. 988) Enjoyable to read, and seemed broadly historically accurate. #BookSky

The cover of Dunstan. A man on a horse on a snowy field.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

#Booksof2026 47 - A London Safari by Rose Rouse. I haven't lived in Harlesden since I was 9, but this 2014 book of Rose talking to people whilst they walk around the best area of London was very evocative and nostalgic. #BookSky

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

#Booksof2026 46 - Men At Arms by @terryandrob.bsky.social I love this @terrypratchett.bsky.social book so much. The bromance between Detritus and Cuddy; the romance between Carrot and Angua; the other romance between Carrot and Ankh Morpork. It is just perfection #BookSky

Josh Kirby cover for the paperback edition of Men At Arms.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

I had the pleasure of meeting Guy Scott multiple times, both in work and personal capacity. A very interesting man with incredible knowledge about the environment nature and agriculture.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

#Booksof2026 45 - Lords and Ladies by @terrypratchett.bsky.social Once a year, I get a week with my @discworldofficial.bsky.social books, so this year I re-read my favourite Witches novel. Magrat vs the Queen, the staring contest, what it takes to be the best... A completely excellent book #BookSky

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

#Booksof2026 44 - The Secret Listeners by Sinclair McKay The story of how the British Y Service intercepted enemy radio transmissions during WW2. It was interesting, but I would have liked more maps and a bit more of the technical details. #BookSky

The cover of The Secret Listeners has two people listening to radio messages with the pyramids behind them.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

#Booksof2026 43 - The Norman Achievement by Richard Cassady As well as the Duchy of Normandy and the conquest of England, I learnt a lot about the Norman kingdom in Sicily. Very interesting book #BookSky

Hardback cover of The Norman Achievement. Depicts the interior of a Norman chapel.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Secondary school Geography teacher. Fortunately mostly teaches A Level and GCSE, so this week would only have half the usual number of lessons to suck at. Make it to Friday, and I'm fine for six weeks. But come September, it will go wrong very quickly...

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

#Booksof2026 42 - Lock In by @scalzi.com Fun science fiction thriller set in a world where people with paralysis can use robots for mobility and physical engagement. The plot has a few holes, but it moves at pace. A good book to read on a flight. #BookSky

The cover is miniature figures on a white background. Most of the figures are painted entirely white, but 10% are painted red.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

#Booksof2026 41 - The Mighty Dead by Adam Nicolson An exploration of Homer, The Illiad and The Odyssey. An interesting and thoughtful read #BookSky

The cover depicts Odysseus tied to the mast of his ship whilst a siren flies past.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

#Booksof2026 40 - The Tiger and The Wolf by @aptshadow.bsky.social Not sure if this truly counts as read as I foolishly left my unfinished copy in Kigali Airport. The first 80% of this tale of magic, shape shifting, rebellion against authoritarian fathers is excellent and great to read. #Booksky

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Recently sent some time travelling around Malawi. The Zomba Plateau and the Shire River are beautiful spots. I love having the opportunity to travel around Africa.

A view of the hills of Southern Uganda, taken from a viewpoint on the Zomba Plateau

The Shire River at sunset. Taken from Liwonde National Park

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

#Booksof2026 39 - This Time The Flames by David Crackanthorpe Rhodesia in the 1930s. Secrets, racial, familial and class tensions. Has a tinge of "White Saviour" to the story. Not great. ##BookSky

The cover depicts Victoria Falls; but the events in the book don't take place anywhere near there.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

#Booksof2026 38 - Cold Storage Alaska by John Straley A sort of comic crime caper set in a tiny Alaskan village. I enjoyed it, esp how each character (even the minor ones) was distinctive. #BookSky

The paperback cover of Cold Storage Alaska

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

#Booksof2026 37 - If Morning Ever Comes by Anne Tyler I enjoyed this rather slight 1960s novel about Ben Joe returning home from university to his house full of sisters and unspoken family secrets. I was left wanting more, but also satisfied that I knew enough. #BookSky

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

#Booksof2026 36 - Mossflower by Brian Jacques. I think I was born a little too soon to read the Redwall books first time round; but having read this prequel, I'm sure a pre-teen me would have loved them. #BookSky

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

#Booksof2026 35 - Erewhon by Samuel Butler A late victorian satire building on the legacy of Gulliver's Travels. A good, short read. This book was the longest server on my To Read pile; I got it from a market stall in Lusaka, Zambia for c. 25p in early 2021 #BookSky

The Signet Classic paperback edition (from the 1960s).

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

#Booksof2026 34 - And The Ass Saw The Angel by Nick Cave I like Nick Cave's music; but this blood filled gothic tale was just a bit much. May have worked better as an opera. #BookSky

The paperback cover has a painting by Banksy of an ass dressed like an angel.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

#Booksof2026 33 - In Morocco by Edith Wharton It was interesting reading a 100+ yr old travel guide; I wonder how much has changed. The repetitive racial tropes were less pleasant to read. #BookSky

In Morocco by Edith Wharton; modern paperback cover

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

#Booksof2026 32 - Darius The Great Is Not Okay by @adibkhorram.bsky.social Darius suffers from depression and is bullied at school. A trip to Iran to meet his mother's side of the family brings friendship. A charmingly sweet novel about mental health, family heritage and being yourself. #BookSky

The hardback cover depicts two boys on a rooftop looking out over a city.

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Stephen Bickers @stephenbickers.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

#Booksof2026 31 - The Best of Sci-Fi 5 edited by Judith Merril I love collections of science fiction stories from the 50s and 60s. Often so many good stories by authors whose fame hasn't lasted. This one has an early JG Ballard, but my favourite was A Death in the House by Clifford Simak. #BookSky

This is the original UK paperback edition. It cost me 20p in a charity shop last year.

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