Words are amazing, arent they?
Mind if we have a nose at your bookshelf?
What are you currently reading?
Lord Of Light by Roger Zelazny.
The conceit is that Buddhist reincarnation is enforced through tech.
When someone nears death, their ‘Karmic record’ (a brain-scan) determines their new body.
Of course, because the so-called gods are really just tech bros, morality becomes politicised.
It’s like if Elon Musk could turn you into a snail.
What did you last read?
The Faithful Executioner by Joel F. Harrington.
The trouble is, once you’ve lopped off a head or two, nobody else will employ you.
Harrington does a fascinating job of deconstructing the medieval justice system to reveal why punishments were often so brutal.
What are you eyeing up next?
I also want to grab Technofeudalism when it’s out in paperback.
What quote or scene from a book has stuck with you?
It’s an obvious one, but at uni 1984 just blew my mind.
Specifically, how O’Brien crushes Winston’s individualism at the end.
It’s kind of an indisputable argument, and it chilled me to the bone.
What book do you find yourself bothering friends to read?
Everything You Ever Wanted by Luiza Sauma.
Also, The Gallows Pole by Benjamin Myers, about a Yorkshire coin-forgery gang in the 18th century.
Also, Blindsight by Peter Watts.
Plus it has vampires.
What book would you like to see someone adapt to a game?
Cant be helped, I suppose!
So, pop back next week for another cool industry person telling us about their favourites.
