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Friday Fun Thread for December 19, 2025

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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Great haul from a nearby half-price books today.

  • Absolution, Jeff Vandermeer. I adored the original trilogy for reasons touched on here, and while I was colder on the third book, I still absolutely endorse it. When I saw a new book with sweet cover art, I had to try it.
  • Triplanetary, Edward E. Smith, Ph.D. That's how he's billed on the cover. I've never read a Lensman book, but it's well-known enough to have gotten a reprint listing all sorts of awards. Said reprint is still endearingly retro.
  • Red Mars, K.S. Robinson. I was sure this came up on the Motte recently; all I can find is discussion of Years of Rice and Salt. Ah well.
  • The Road, Cormac McCarthy. I have it on good authority that this is an unpleasant read. That doesn't actually tell me what to expect. Perhaps it will be improving literature in some way. Regardless, it's influential apocalyptica, so I feel the need to try.
  • Co. Aytch, Sam Watkins. A Confederate memoir. Picked up on the recommendation of a random Reddit thread.
  • The Killer Angels, Michael Shaera. Also Civil War, but historical fiction.
  • A sweet cutaway book about armored vehicles. What more can I say?

Let me know what you think of The Killer Angels, I was just talking about it with someone.

Joss Whedon based a lot of the dialog in Firefly off it.