Books
The Naming Song by Jedediah Berry – I enjoyed this, as did my book club. It was both creative and coherent which can be tough to pull off together. The ending was a bit soft but the story and world building were great. My favorite fantasy stories are the ones that really explore a truly new idea (“What if all words had real power?”), and this did that.
Games
The Planet Crafter – In Progress – I love factory/automation games, and also enjoy base-building/colony games. Planet Crafter has elements of those as well as some things I don’t usually prefer like exploration and even avoid like survival (environmental, not enemies). There are things in the game that would normally be a dealbreaker such as excessively constrained inventory, mission time, and resources, and minimal creative freedom, but I’m still enjoying it. I think the peaceful vibe of bringing a planet back to life is strong enough to make this immersive and rewarding.
Blacksmith Master – In Progress – Another ~automation game, though moreso about optimizing supply and throughput. I’ve only put a couple of hours into it but it’s been fun so far.
Music
Glass Beams – Another discovery in the gap since my last post, this trio is more live-played chill beats than traditional songs but still manages to be more than background music. Pairs well with Khruangbin and a night-time drive.
Theater
Blue Man Group – The whole family went on the last day they were playing in Boston, and it was enjoyed by all. I saw them 20+ years ago and some of the show is unchanged but it still all felt fresh.
Television
Murderbot, Season 1 – A good and faithful adaptation of All Systems Red. Skarsgård plays the title role very well, and the rest of the cast was also great and supported by beefed-up roles for the humans. The production had a sparseness that was reminiscent of a theater play and it fit very well.
Department Q – A decent but not very innovative detective show. Riddled with well-executed cliches like the grumpy detective, plucky assistant and secretly masterful sidekick, it fit my mood when I started and I probably wouldn’t have finished it if it wasn’t a short series, but it wrapped things up cleanly.
Sports
Savannah Bananas – Frequently compared to the Globetrotters (who are also great), but for baseball, I think one thing the Bananas do better is stay truer to the sport. A very kid-friendly environment with music, dancing, pranks, trick plays and a fast-paced game, but it’s still a nominally competitive game at it’s heart.
Sanford Mainers – Our local summer college-level team, heading into the playoffs. Good baseball in its purest form: wood bats, talented players and a local crowd that’s watching every pitch.
Red Sox – They’ve stepped up a bit since last month, highlighted by a 10 game win streak. Postseason chances are looking better. I’m glad they apparently aren’t going to trade Duran, he’s a great player on a number of fronts and having 4 outfielders isn’t a bad thing in today’s injury-plagued game.
In Progress
Lego Masters, Season 5
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers Book 1) by Becky Chambers
Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure