#Binti series

[totally-ikea]

Yeah I like science fiction, Star Wars is pretty cool.

ANDY WEIR 🥶🥶🥶🥶💯💯💯💯💯🗣️🗣️🗣️🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️NNEDI OKORAFOR🗣️🗣️🗣️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊💯💯💯💯🥶🥶🥶🥶

[ellyann]

Binti the Series Guarantees Adventure this May

Let’s fall into adventure. Binti is an amazing series that I got into this May. Read it in one sitting, falling into Binti’s world. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to…

[joncronshawauthor]

The Charm of the Rogue: Unpredictable Characters in Fantasy

Fantasy is filled with brave heroes, wicked villains, and wise old mentors. But some of the most memorable characters are the rogues—those lovable scoundrels and rapscallions who charm their way into readers’ hearts. Who doesn’t love a witty, wildcard rule-breaker? Let’s take a look at what makes fantasy rogues so dashingly appealing. What is a Rogue? While definitions vary, a fantasy rogue…

[book-quotes-and-moodboards]

On the Third Fish, I had accidently found myself in the middle of something. This time I was that middle.

Binti: The Night Masquerade (by Nnedi Okorafor)

[specialagentartemis]

Black Women writing SFF

The post about Octavia Butler also made me think about the injustice we do both Butler, SFF readers, and Black women SFF writers by holding her up as the one Black Woman Writing Sci-Fi. She occupies an important place in the genre, for her creativity, the beauty and impact of her writing, and her prolific work... but she's still just one writer, and no one writer works for everybody.

So whether you liked Octavia Butler's books or didn't, here are some of the (many!!! this list is just the authors I've read and liked, or been recommended and been wanting to read) other Black women writing speculative fiction aimed at adults, who might be writing something within your interest:

N. K. Jemisin - a prolific powerhouse of modern sff. Will probably have something you'll like. Won three Hugo awards in a row for her Broken Earth trilogy. I’ve only read her book of short stories, How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? and it is absolutely story after story of bangers. Creative, chilling, beautifully written, make you think. They’re so good and I highly recommend the collection. Several of her novels have spun out of premises she first explored through these short stories, most recently “The City Born Great” giving rise to her novel The City We Became. Leans more fantasy than sci-fi, but has a lot of both, in various permutations. 

Nisi Shawl - EDIT: I have been informed that Nisi Shawl identifies as genderfluid, not as a woman. They primarily write short stories that lean literary. Their one novel that I’ve read, Everfair, is an alternate-history 19th century that asks, what if the Congo had fought off European colonization and became a free and independent African state? Told in vignettes spanning decades of political organization, political movements, war tactics, and social development, among an ensemble of local African people, Black Americans coming to the new country, white and mixed-race Brits, and Chinese immigrants who came as British laborers.

Nnedi Okorafor - American-Nigerian writer of Africanfuturism, sci-fi stories emphasizing life in present, future, and alternate-magical Africa. She has range! From Binti, a trilogy of novellas about a teenage girl in Namibia encountering aliens and balancing her newfound connection to space with expectations of her family; to Akata Witch, a middle-grade series about a Nigerian-American girl moving to Nigeria and learning to use magic powers she didn’t know she had; to Who Fears Death, a brutal depiction of magical-realism in a futuristic, post-war Sudan; to short stories like "Africanfuturism 419", about that poor Nigerian prince who’s desperately sending out those emails looking for help (but with a sci-fi twist), and "Mother of Invention" about a smart house taking care of its human and her baby… she’s done a little bit of everything, but always emphasizes the future, the science, and the magic of (usually western) Africa.

Karen Lord - an Afro-Caribbean author.  I actually didn’t particularly like the one novel by her I’ve read, The Best of All Possible Worlds, but Martha Wells did, so. Lord has more novels set in this world—a Star Trek-esque multicultural, multispecies spacefuture set on a planet that has welcomed immigrants and refugees for a long time, and become a vibrant multicultural planet. I find her stories rooted in near-future Caribbean socio-climatic concerns like "Haven" and "Cities of the Sun" and her folktale-fantasy style Redemption in Indigo more compelling.  And more short stories here.

Bethany C. Morrow - only has one novella (short novel?) for adults, Mem, but it was creative and fascinating and good and I’d be remiss not to shout it out. In an alternate-history 1920s Toronto, scientists have discovered how to extract specific memories from a person—but then those memories are embodied as physical, cloned manifestations of the person at the moment the memory was made. The main character is one such “Mem,” struggling to determine who she is if she was created from and defined by one single traumatic memory that her original-self wanted to remove. It’s mostly quiet, contemplative, and very interesting.  (Morrow has some YA novels too. I read one of them and thought it was okay.)

Rebecca Roanhorse - Afro-Indigenous, Black and "Spanish Indian" and married into Diné (Navajo). I’ve read her ongoing post-apocalyptic fantasy series starting with Trail of Lightning, and am liking it a lot; after a climate catastrophe, the spirits and magic of the Diné awakened to protect Dinetah (the Navajo Nation) from the onslaught; and now magic and monsters are part of life in this fundamentally changed world. Coyote is there and he is only sometimes helpful. She also has a more traditional second-world epic high fantasy, Black Sun, an elaborate fantasy world with quests and prophecies and seafaring adventure that draws inspiration from Indigenous cultures of the US and Mexico rather than Europe. She also has bitingly satirical and very incisive short stories like “Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience” about virtual reality and cultural tourism, and the fantasy-horror "Harvest."

Micaiah Johnson - her multiverse-hopping novel The Space Between Worlds plays with alternate universes and alternate selves in a continuously creative and interesting way! The setup doesn’t take the easy premise that one universe is our own recognizable one that opens up onto strange alternate universes—even the main character’s home universe is wildly different in speculative ways, with the MC coming from a Mad Max-esque desert community abandoned to the elements, while working for the universe-travel company within the climate-controlled walled city where the rich and well-connected live and work. Also, it’s unabashedly gay. 

And if you like audiobooks and audio fiction (I listened to The Space Between Worlds as an audiobook, it’s good), then Jordan Cobb is someone you should check out. She does sci-fi/horror/thriller audio drama. Her works include Janus Descending, a lyrical and eerie sci-fi horror about a small research expedition to a distant planet and how it went so, so wrong; and Descendants, the sequel about its aftermath. She also has Primordial Deep, about a research expedition to the deep undersea, to investigate the apparent re-emergence of a lot of extinct prehistoric sea creatures. She’s a writer/producer I like, and always follow her new releases. Her detailed prose, minimal casts  (especially in Janus Descending), good audio quality, and full-series supercuts make these welcoming to audiobook fans. 

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Nalo Hopkinson - a writer who should be considered nearly as foundational as Octavia Butler, honestly. A novelist and short story writer with a wide variety of sci-fi, dystopian futures, fairy-tale horror, gods and epics, and space Carnival, drawing heavily from her Caribbean experiences and aesthetics.

Tananarive Due - fantastical/horror. Immortals, vampires, curses, altered reality, unnerving mystery. Also has written a lot of books.

Andrea Hairston - creative and otherworldly, weird and bisexual, with mindscapes and magic and aliens. 

Helen Oyeyemi - I haven’t read her work but she comes highly recommended by a friend. A novelist and short story writer, most of her work leans fairytale fantastical-horror. What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours is a collection of short fiction and recc’ed to me as her best work. White is for Witching is a well-regarded haunted house novel. 

Ashia Monet - indie author, writer of The Black Veins, pitched as “the no-love-interest, found family adventure you’ve been searching for.” Magic road trip! Possibly YA? I’m not positive. 

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This also doesn’t include Black non-binary sff authors I’ve read and liked like An Owomoyela, C. L. Polk, and Rivers Solomon. And this is specifically about adult sff books, so I didn’t include Black women YA sff authors like Kalynn Bayron, Tomi Adeyemi, Tracy Deonn, Justina Ireland, or Alechia Dow, though they’re writing fantasy and sci-fi in the YA world too.

And a lot of short stories are out there in the online magazine world, where so many up and coming authors get their start, and established ones explore offbeat and new ideas.  Pick up an issue (or a subscription!) of FIYAH magazine for the most current Black speculative writing.

[fernthewhimsical]

Hopepunk Primer pt. 3

How to practice Hopepunk

Find joy in the small things. The flowers growing through concrete, the way the sunlight hits the grass. There is beauty and joy in the small things, but it takes a bit of training to find them. Mindfulness or a gratitude journal (or even a Tumblr sideblog) helps with this training. Hope can be learned, I promise.

Be a pebble. [8] Imagine a tall glass that is half-full with water. Imagine you are a crow. You try to drink the water but you can't reach, the glass is too deep. So you take a pebble and throw it in. The water level rises slightly. Other crows come in with pebbles, and with each pebble the water level rises until finally you all can drink from the glass. There is a lot of focus nowadays in activism circles to be aware of every horrible thing that is going on in the world and to work on each and every one of them. The tough reality is: we can't. We're only human and right now we are all very prone to burn-out. We can't bring change if we are burnt out or have compassion fatigue. So be a pebble. Stay small, perhaps even stay local. If everyone focuses on one thing and focuses their efforts and energy there, we will make it. We'll make the water rise so everyone can drink. Be a pebble.

Stop doom scrolling. It's ineffective and only serves to make us feel more hopeless and demoralized.

Be responsible for your own internet experience. This is related to doom scrolling. Unfollow people who make you feel hopeless and like the fight is useless. Block trolls and don't engage them. Find people who make you feel inspired, invigorated, hopeful. Blacklist tags, block, delete.

Look into hopepunk media. Be inspired by the stories told. Some examples are movires: Lord of the Rings, Mad Max: Fury Road, Pacific Rim. Series: Sense8, the Good Place, Star Trek. Books: Binti by Nnedi Okorafor, A conspiracy of truths by Alexandra Rowland, the Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin. Music: Torches by X Ambassadors, This Yeah by the Mountain Goats, Be More Kind by Frank Turner.

Build/Find your Community. Share what you have, ask for what you need. We're in this together. If you grow your own fruits and vegetables share them with friends and neighbours. Exchange favours like doing a grocery run or offering to watch the kids for a night. Make a tiny library or give & take cabinet. Share skills and resources. This can be done both online and in person, but making a difference locally is easier with boots on the ground, so to speak.

Create. Live authentically. Do things just to do the thing. So much needs to be "content", these days. So much needs to be a "side hustle" or "monetized". Resist. Create because it makes you feel good. Because you want to. Create bad art, sing off key, swing your arms wildly and call it dancing, write edgy poetry, create Mary Sue self-inserts. Live.

Resist capitalism. Reuse, recycle, repair, thrift, make, trade, etc.

Vote. If you really want to make a difference get out there and vote. Especially in the US they do not want you so rebel and vote. Not just for the president. Voting locally for your representatives will have more of an influence.

Unionize. Alone you beg, together you negotiate. Only together can we make change

Spread hope. Do random acts of kindness, compliment people, share positive things that happened, spread love and joy where you go.

[8] Be a pebble

Further reading:

Alexandra Rowland's Hopepunk Manifesto What is Hopepunk by Vox.com Hopepunk-Humanity blog on Tumblr Hopepunk: A Genre, Philosophy and Movement by Lexi Drumonde (Video) Intro to Hopepunk by Morgan Hazelwood (Video)

Part 1: Intro and history Part 2: Philosophy of Hopepunk Part 3: How to practice hopepunk and further reading Part 4: Extra! Hopepunk and magic

[kug-the-carrot]

Really hate that when I want to look at the very few Murderbot videos on YouTube I am forced to see the thumbnail of that guy complaining about TMBD in order to praise another series

I mean he's allowed his opinion obviously but I know he already made a separate video on tmbd being "overrated" so let Binti stand on its own for fucksake. Binti is a wonderful book, it is so rich and beautiful, but it's completely different thematically, the things it has in common with TMBD are being an award winning sci-fi novella and being published by Tor

Like why are we pitting two bad bitches (gn) against each other

[thatonebirdwrites]

Soft asks: 4,11,15,28. ♡ Also, I know you answered 21 in the notes. So if it's okay to ask do you have any tea recommendations? and how do you prefer your tea?

4. Whats your favorite feeling?

A favorite? I'm not sure if I've ever really thought about it that way.

I'd say introspective. Not the introspective where I hyper-analyze everything I do, but the introspective where I let myself ponder the fact that I exist at the same time as all of you. That we are on this Earth together, and we are chatting in this manner, sharing thoughts and dreams and creativity. Where despite all the evils of the world and the horrors, we still find ways to show love to others, to show we care. That even in times of disaster, people are more likely to go out and help one another survive.

And I think of how, despite the horrors we face, many of us persevere, we fight the good fight, and isn't that lovely?

Isn't that the ingredients for hope? Where we plant that hope, tend to it together, and build it up? That even when we fuck up, we can hold one another accountable and do better? Isn't that growth marvelous to experience?

To exist in a time with you, the asker, and be able to hold this conversation is an incredible honor.

I don't know what to call that feeling, but I tear up when I think about it.

Maybe awe of the world and our existence?

11. Do you have a comfort item? Tell us about it!

Dog. I wrote about him here. I'm actually scared of large dogs, but I've had this husky plushie since I was three years old. He always sits by my pillow, regardless of where I am, and always will. The link is to a nonfiction tale detailing his life story.

My other comfort item is books. There's a few that I have read over and over: Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic series, Diane Duane's Young Wizards series, Nancy Garden's Annie on my Mind, J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Ryko Aoki's Light from Uncommon Stars, Nnedi Okorafor's Binti trilogy, Madeline L'Engle's A Ring of Endless Light, N.K. Jemisen The City We Became....

I can't choose between these books, hence why it's a list...

15. Comfort food?

Pho or Miso Soup. Seriously, these are the best ever.

Miso is one that is easy to learn how to make, but I have no idea how to make Pho, so I have to go to a local Pho place for it. (We have a large community of Vietnamese and Thai people in my city, so there's a lot of good Pho here.)

21. Infodump on tea for this question! I hope I don't scare you off with this, but I just LOVE talking about teas!!!

For tea recommendations, it depends on what flavor profile the person seeks. I'll cover tea from the typical tea plant, then dive into some of the herbal teas that come from different plants. This will be a massive infodump, so settle in I guess? lol

First we have the tea categories: Pu'er, Black, Oolong, Green, Yellow, and White.

Pu'er

Pu'er is from Yunnan, China, and often called the Emperor's Tea. The tea leaves are parched and then fermented, and thus have a fairly strong taste. It's also expensive. (Seriously, one rolled up ball of this cost 40 dollars, and that is just one teapot!)

If one can score good quality Pu'er, then be sure to have a glass pot, as many styles of it come as a ball that unfurls as it steeps. It's neat.

Black

Black tea is a more oxidized version of tea leaves than oolong, green, yellow, and white. The type of Black tea is named after the region from which its grown and produced.

There's the Chinese Black Teas:

Fuijan (has a bit of honey after taste and a favorite of mine)

Lapsang souchou (strong smoky flavor),

Keenum (has hints of fruity, flowery, or pine-y flavors and one of my favorites)

Yunnan (dark malty flavors),

Yingdehong (has an almost cocao-like aroma and sweet taste),

Red Plum (long, smooth after taste).

Taiwanese Black Teas:

Taicha No. 12 (starts bitter then smooths out to an almost sweet taste)

Taicha No. 18 (hint of cinnamon and mint, not as bitter as 12)

Sun Moon Lake (honey-like tones that's almost minty at times, one of my favorites).

India

Assam (full-bodied and very strong malty tones, and one of the more common teas. When people think of Black tea, it's often Assam they're thinking of.)

Darjeeling (thin-bodied and more floral/fruity tones than Assam. Tho these days it's processed with Black, green, and oolong tea leaves, so finding a pure Black Darjeeling is hard).

Kangra (kind of similar to some of the Taiwanese teas but with more vegetal aromas)

Munnar (brisk and fruity)

Nilgiri (intensely fragrant and one of my favorites)

Nepali Black tea is from Nepal and tastes a bit similar to Darjeeling, but with a stronger finish I think. Another one of my favorites.

Sri Lanka produces the Ceylon tea, which is another very common Black tea. A lot of the cheaper Black teas in stores will be a mixture of Ceylon and Assam. Now the flavor of Ceylon depends on the altitude in which its grown. High altitude as a lighter flavor than low altitude, which is a stronger flavor. Mid altitude is between the two in taste.

Kenya produces a Black Tea with a rich and aromatic profile, and is a favorite of mine.

Korea, Turkey, and Iran also produce Black teas, but I have yet to try them, so I'm not sure of their flavors.

I know everyone has heard of the Earl Grey, Lady Grey, British or Irish Breakfast teas -- but those are actually blends of several different Black teas with specific oils. I still love all of them though.

Oolong

I love me a good oolong tea. It's a semi-oxidized tea.

For Oolong, it's classified more on how it's grown rather than just the region that produces it. So for example, the Fuijain Oolong teas actually have a variety of Oolongs depending on if its grown the Wuyi Mountains or Anxi County, China.

Wuyi Mountains makes the most expensive of all the Oolongs, and are often called Si Da Ming Cong teas, where they are variations of lighter colorations and smooth flavor tone. The two that aren't a Si Da Ming Cong tea is the Rougui and Shui Xian, both of which are very dark teas with rich overtones. I wish they weren't so expensive as I want to try them all! But alas, I am too poor for these teas.

Anxi Oolongs have milky tones, such as the Iron Goddess (a favorite of mine) and Huangjin Gui, which is more fragrant than Iron Goddess. I honestly love all of Anxi's teas.

Phoenix Mountain Teas rarely are seen outside China, but they tend to have flavor profiles that imitate other flowers and fruits. They are so expensive that I've only done a taste test at my local tea shop as I could never afford them. They are also seasonal.

The vast majority of Oolong teas are Taiwanese teas. These are more affordable for one thing, which is likely why people may think of Taiwanese Oolongs when the term is mentioned.

Dong Ding "Frozen Summit" is one of my FAVORITES. Has a light but distinct fragrance and a smooth finish. I just adore this tea.

Dongfang meiren "Oriental Beauty" is another favorite, and it has potent aromatics. It's typically a seasonal tea.

Alishan is seasonal and I've yet to taste it. It's also harder to find as it's only grown at very specific intervals of the year.

Lishan is like Alishan in how its grown, and I'm told Lishan tastes as sweet in tones. I've only ever had a taste test since it's hard to get this one.

Baozhong is the least oxidized Oolong, so it's lighter in tone than most oolongs and have almost a floral aftertaste. It's a favorite of mine too!

Ruan zhi is a lighter oolong that tastes a bit like an orchid tea. I never know what to think of it.

Jin Xuan is often nicknamed the "Milk Oolong" because it tastes so smooth and creamy! I honestly love it.

Black Oolong is a bit of a funny name considering it's not a Black tea since it's produced like an oolong, but it has a strong bite like a Black that some compare to coffee almost. I don't like it.

High Mountain is a family of Oolongs actually (Alishan is part of that family). They all have similar flavor profiles, which is why they are often grouped together I think. The oolongs that are not seasonal, like Alishan, are fairly expensive. From the taste tests I've done, they have a sweeter tone. I really enjoyed them, but sadly, can't afford most of them.

Taiwanese Tieguanyin is a variation of the one from Anxi, China. It's flavor profile differs in that they are less milky but still have smooth finishes. I think their aromatic profile is stronger too.

Four Seasons Oolong is the most well known of the Taiwanese teas as it is cultivated all year long. This is the one that people think of the most when Oolong is mentioned, and the one most likely to be in stores. It's okay. Still flavorful with a smooth finish, but it lacks the sweet profiles of the other teas.

Darjeeling Oolong and Assam Oolongs are made by oxidizing the Darjeeling and/or Assam teas in the same methods of Chinese Oolongs. Darjeeling Oolongs tend toward a more floral finish I think, while Assam Oolongs tend toward a more smokey finish.

A few other countries produce Oolongs as well, such as Vietnam, which has a full-bodied taste with a milky finish.

Oolong teas are also a bit harder to find. But I HIGHLY recommend them. I think they have the most rich flavors of all the teas.

Green

I admit, I am not well-versed in Green Teas, mostly because they tend to be very acidic if oversteeped and lack the smooth finish I love about Oolongs.

The Chinese Green teas range from a more grassy finish to a plum-like flavor to a flavor punch (like the Gunpowder Green tea). I'll drink them if I have no other choice, but I'm not much of a fan. Chinese greens also tend to either be pan-fried or sun-dried, which is what gives them their distinct flavors.

Japanese Green Teas are my favorite Green tea. They are steamed dry. I know these ones the best.

Sencha is has a bit of a grassy finish I think, but it's also the most well known of Japanese green teas.

Genmaicha is my FAVORITE green tea. It's green tea with toasted rice, and has a rich and aromatic flavor.

Bancha is picked after Sencha, and has a very bold, intense flavor. It's considered a "lower grade" tea.

Gyokuro is grown under shade at first, and this gives it a sweeter taste than most of the Japanese Greens. It's one of my favorites!

Hōjicha is a roasted Japanese tea, generally roasted with Kukicha twigs.

Kabusecha is shaded for only half the time of Gyokuro, so I think it tastes like a mix of Gyokuro and Sencha. So if Gyokuro is too strong, then this is a good alternative.

Kukicha is a blend of Sencha and twigs. I don't like it as much.

Matcha is probably the most well known. It's shaded at first like Gyokuro, but during its processing it's ground into a fine powder. It's this powder that gets marketed as the green tea. It's often used for Tea Ceremonies actually, as there is a specific way to steep and pour the tea. I really love matcha tea, but it's hard to find authentic matcha. I'm not sure how to describe the taste though. It's a unique bite to it but a tasty one.

Sincha is often called a 'first plucked' tea due to when it's plucked in the season. It's very expensive, very hard to source outside of Japan, and because of this, I've sadly never been able to try it.

Korean Green Teas are also very popular, but I know very little about them. They are categories as to when they are plucked and how they are prepared. I'm not sure if I've ever tried them to be honest. I tend so much toward Japanese Greens that I have sadly neglected Korean Green.

Vietnamese Green teas are the Green tea you are most likely to encounter in a lot of Asian restaurants. (Well, at least where I live there's a lot of Vietnamese and Thai restaurants, and many of them tend toward either a Japanese Green or a Vietnamese Green.) Vietnamese Greens also include scented Green teas, as in the tea is scented with a flower such as Lotus, Jasmine, or Chrysanthemum.

I admit I absolutely adore Jasmine tea. It's one I often have on stock, and fairly cheap to buy.

Yellow

Sometimes included with Green teas due to the light oxidation, but the difference is they are often "encased" as in sweltered to give the leaves a more yellow tone. China and Korea are the main producers of Yellow, but I've never had a chance to try it mostly due to how difficult it is to find an authentic yellow tea.

White

There isn't an international definition for this. Usually it refers to tea that has little to no processing (as in isn't oxidized hardly at all). it has the lightest flavors of all the tea types, and I cannot stand them. I feel like I'm just drinking faintly scented water. No thank you. Won't even discuss the types because I am so not a fan.

Rooibos

This is a herbal tea grown predominantly in Central and Southern Africa, so as for the taste profile, it depends on which country of origin. The plant is quite different from a typical tea plant, in that it is a bit more reed-like. It's often an earthy taste, but depending on origin can sometimes have a honey-like aftertaste.

I really love it because it pairs well with other flavors such as vanilla, raspberry, etc.

Herbal mixes

There's a lot of flowers and fruits that taste great when brewed! Some of my favorites tend to have mint leaves in the blend OR ginger.

Yaupon

This is a caffeinated plant unique to South-western United States. It has earthy tones and a smooth finish. I absolutely love it, and prefer to buy it directly from the Indigenous people who grow it.

Anyway, now that I infodumped on teas, I will share how I make them.

Black teas: I boil the water at around 200 Degrees Fahrenheit and brew for three to five minutes. I will sometimes add a teaspoon of sugar.

Oolong teas: I heat the water to 190 Degrees Fahrenheit and brew from 1 to five minutes (usually three, but some teas require only a minute of brewing while others can be up to five). I rarely add a sweetner, but if I do, it's a few drops of honey.

Green Teas: this depends on the type of Green. Matcha is a powder so its swirled into the water. Genimatcha is only brewed for 30 seconds to a minute at most. Other greens are brewed from 1 to 3 minutes. I heat the water to 175 Degrees Fahrenheit, though for Genimatcha it's okay to heat up to 190. Honey is the sweetener of choice, but I only do that for the grassier teas. I don't use any sweetener for matcha teas.

Yellow and White teas: I'm not entirely sure the heating temperature or how long to brew them. I do know that for White teas in particular it doesn't seem to matter how long I brew them, the flavor is just lacking and it makes me sad.

Yaupon: I heat water to 190 or 200 degrees Fahrenheit and brew it between 3 to 5 minutes, depending on if I want a stronger or lighter taste that day. I either use sugar or honey as a sweetener.

Herbal Teas: I heat water to 200 or 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Then brew the tea for about five minutes. I add a dollop of honey.

The only time I do NOT brew a herbal tea for five minutes is when there is hibiscus in it. Then it gets brewed one minute at best. In fact, I suggest avoiding hibiscus. That flower takes over the taste profile; it is like drinking a punch to your mouth. Why people keep adding it to herbal blends is beyond me.

Anyway, due to the nuances of how the temperature of the water can affect steeping and taste, I find it crucial to either have a tea-momenter (get it? tea thermometer?) or an electric kettle with multiple options.

The electric kettle I use has a setting for each of the main types of teas. That way I have ultimate control of the brewing method to get the best batch of tea.

Final thoughts on teas:

To be honest, I think this is why some people think they don't like tea. They often have it oversteeped at the wrong temperature which can ruin the drink. (Do Not Trust Starbucks and Cafes that Leave The Tea Bag In. That oversteeps it and ruins the flavor. If they actually knew what they were doing, they'd time that shit and take the tea bag out to avoid oversteeping.)

I try to buy from the source when possible. Otherwise, I try to go local, as in buy from a locally owned tea shop. One of my favorite tea shops to order from is Gong-fu.

28. What are you proudest of?

I want to say my stories, but I also struggle with self-worth and doubt a lot. But if you do like my writing, check out my AO3.

It's art that I find myself proudest of, simply because I'm working in a medium that requires steady hands, and yet I have a hand tremor, so it feels like I conquered a mountain with each piece done. I rarely keep anything I make. I like to give the art to people I care about to bring them a smile, and to remind them that they aren't alone. That someone does care, even if it's little ole me and Quark.

Here are a few of the pieces I've done. One for each category.

For a friend who really liked eagles. (This is only 2.5 inches tall by the way.)

For my Legendfire chosen family, they each got a copy of this:

For a friend who ran a Legend of Zelda campaign:

I think most people here have seen the fanart I've done. I recently posted a piece with Lena and Kara, and if you go to my Tumblr blog, I have one of Korra and Asami. :)

Thanks for asking! And I hope I didn't scare you off with my tea infodump!

[bookcub]

Hii, I'm currently making my way through a pretty heavy 13 book fantasy series rn and in the lookout for some novellas to break it up. I was wondering if you had any recommendations?

Oh yeah, sure no problem!!

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E Harrow is like is the mutiverse of Sleeping Beauty and very fun and friendship focused! Pretty fast paced as well

P. Djeli Clark has three novellas that are set in 1912 Cairo. I only read his full length novel, but everyone else claims the novellas are even better. There's an investigator of magic and she solves and prevents crime! First one is A Dead Djinn in Cairo

I'm not super into scifi, but if you want very soft scifi with low stress, Becky Chambers is known for her work. A Psalm for the Wild-Built is a human and robot discussing philosophy for most of it.

Of course, any of the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire is a series of related books about children who travel to magic lands and then travel back to their first homes. These have a loose order to them but many can be read as standalones. Every Heart a Doorway is the first one.

I haven't read Binti by Nnedi Okorafor in forever but I remember really enjoying it! It's a hard scifi tale set in space!

Even Though I Knew the End by CL Polk is a noir esque fantasy novella that's very mysterious and has an interesting tone.

Hope this is a good list to start! I find graphic novels also helpful breaks if you need any of recs for those, let me know!

[lionofchaeronea]

The Shuttle by Frances Hodgson Burnett - I quite like it, it kinda goes into the (poor) english aristocracy marrying wealthy american girls and the differences in expectation of treatment and such.

A Bride's Story by Kaoru Mori - a manga series, don't know if your into that, but carefully researched, beautiful art (especially the textiles) of the time period and place, in areas around the silk road/russian steppes - Kazakhstan is one place I know the author visited.

The Ghost Bride - Yangsze Choo

Black Water Sister - Cho Zen

The Midwife's Apprentice - Karen Cushman

The House of the Scorpion - Nancy Farmer

Julie of the Wolves - Jean Craighead George

Blackbird House - Alice Hoffman

Geisha of Gion - Mineko Iwasaki - one of the main people Arthur Golden interviewed for his book. She wrote this to counteract his "white guyification" of what she told him.

Literary Studies for Rhetoric Classes - Bernard L. Jefferson - found this one at a thrift store I just really enjoyed a lot of the pieces in it.

The Story of My Life - Helen Keller

Sirena - Donna Jo Napoli

A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness

Binti - Nnedi Okorafor

What Happened to Lani Garver - Carol Plum-Ucci

The Color of Magic - Terry Pratchett

The Boxer Rebellion: The Dramatic Story of China's War on Foreigners that Shook the World in the Summer of 1900 - Diana Preston

Trudy's Promise - Marcia Preston - a very close look at one mother separated from her son when the Berlin Wall goes up.

Interview with the Vampire - Anne Rice - a very sad novel as it was written in response to when Anne Rice lost her child. A good close look at grief and loss and apathy.

Lovecraft Country - Matt Ruff - the show missed the point... the author wrote this inspired by when he and a black friend had been talking and he realized that because of skin color that while they occupied the same space, they lived in "different countries"

The Marvels - Brian Selznick

Salt to the Sea - Ruta Sepeteys

Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet - Kashmira Sheth

The Help - Kathryn Stockett

Children of Time - Adrian Tchaikovsky (or anything by him really)

The Ramsay Scallop - Frances Temple

Doomsday Book - Connie Willis - time-traveler finds herself back during the start of one of the sweeps of the black plague - it's pretty sad

Fifth Chinese Daughter - Jade Snow Wong

*some of these are middlegrade but I feel middlegrade is sometimes not appreciated enough as literature. ^_^'

*also sorry for the very long list....

No apologies needed. I really appreciate the recommendations.

[screwzara]

Boboiboy: So Ali how come you don't use I.R.I.S. anymore?

Ali, sheepish: Well *proceeds to explain the VERY traumatising events of Ejen Ali The Movie: Misi Nero*

Ali: And then I kinda saw my mom -

Bbb, horrified *hysterical whisper shouting*: Oh my god do I call Malaysian CPS, should I call Malaysian CPS?!

Yaya, Ying, Gopal, Fang, horrified as well and maybe going into medical shock: YES, YOU SHOULD!

Bbb: Should I call my MOM!!?

Ali, who seriously believes that M.A.T.A won't stand a chance against the righteous rage of Karin Hannah binti Muhammad Hussain AKA Most Terrifying Attorney In South East Asea AKA Auntie Kar: Wait abang, just take a deep breath and -

Bbb: STOP. DOES YOUR DAD KNOW YOUR MOM DIED LIKE THAT?! MY PARENTS TOLD ME SHE DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. DOES YOUR DAD KNOW ANYTHING????!!!?

Ali, desperately trying to stop a civil war between his family and M.A.T.A: NO, but please don't tell them. Have mercy abang M.A.T.A won't survive them!

BBB, scared, shocked and angry: I don't want them to survive!

Bbb: *Starts screaming in Koncho*

Ali: *Tries to calm BBB in Koncho.

Meanwhile the young agents are kinda watching the ordeal like Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Alicia wonders if her father will loose his job because of this.

Meanwhile the Mentor -Bakar, because Bbb makes a good point. Know who Auntie Karin is and are preparing to be sued.

What do you think?

*laughing my ass off*

Bbb bouta get M.A.T.A shut down XD

But his reaction is reasonable, M.A.T.A is dead fr

I imagine the M.A.T.A agents didn't know who bbb's mom(is the name you mentioned her canon name or am i missing something? Sorry) was so they got confused then Uncle Bakar later came in and quietly explained to them who she was(god I'm dying from laughter rereading this conversation)

Edit: bbb's friends also likely don't know who his mom is(cuz i've never seen him talk about his mom in the series that much) so imagine their surprise when they find out who his mom is

[wondereads]

Weekly Reading Update (11/06/23)

Reviews and thoughts under the cut

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor (6/10)

This book has very little space for the kind of story it tries to tell, and it does its best. For an almost space opera-like plot, with intergalactic academies, alien conflict, and ancient tech, less than 80 pages is ridiculously small. As such, a lot of this book feels really rushed. A lot of worldbuilding stuff, such as the history between the Meduse and humans, what Binti’s edan is, and how otjize is so special, is just never explained. I definitely found this book interesting; there’s a major tone shift a third of the way through, and I loved the message of understanding differences and peaceful conflict resolution. However, everything is wrapped up too neatly, especially concerning Binti’s emotional state. Trying not to spoil too much, Binti goes through an incredibly traumatic event and has a very important aspect of her changed without her knowledge or consent, but she seems just fine at the end. I appreciate the attempt to wrap up such an ambitious story for a novella, but I would’ve much preferred a more open ending concerning that.

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid (6/10)

This book started out very strong. The writing style really has that drifting, surreal style that fits a book trying to emulate gothic horror, and I really liked where the plot is going. I love books where the main character can't figure out if they can trust themselves or not, and the whole idea of discovering the secrets behind a truly impactful novel was so interesting. It was a little slow, but I was fine with that. Unfortunately, the ending is all kinds of rushed. The main antagonist is defeated very easily with virtually no explanation as to how, and although there's a character that the entire story practically revolves around, she only shows up at the end once everything is said and done to fill in the holes. Then there are multiple issues, plot and character wise, that are just never resolved. Unfortunately, the ending kind of ruined it for me, otherwise this could've been a 4 star read.

Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire (9/10)

After over a year, I'm continuing the Wayward Children series, and I'm loving it so far. This book functions as a prequel, telling the story of Jack and Jill in The Moors. I loved the very obvious classic literature influences, namely Frankenstein and Dracula, and Jack and Jill are both amazingly complex characters with an incredibly interesting relationship. I will always have a soft spot for Jack, and her unexpected romance was one of my favorite parts of the book. I'd say the only thing I didn't like was that Jill is so unlikable to me. I really wanted her to face some consequences after what she did, and while I can see how she became this way, it doesn't mean she should get away with it, especially considering the context of the first book. However, the series is unfinished and has multiple books I haven't read yet, so perhaps we'll see them yet again!

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher (CR, 43%)

I'm really enjoying this one so far! After so much intense fantasy and sci-fi, it's like a little palate cleanser. I love how this book takes tropes usually used in contemporary romcoms and repurposes them for the historical setting. There's also a fair amount of worldbuilding, since this is a very different history from what we know. I'm glad it's established to be that way, because there is some pretty blatant messing with the timeline, but I appreciate it since it brings more diversity than historical romances typically have.

Lodestar by Shannon Messenger (CR, 43%)

There are things happening in this book, and I don't like it! I've grown fairly attached to these characters, and I'm constantly stressed about them. I feel like stakes are rising rather quickly in this installment, like more is happening than in the others. One thing I noticed during this segment of reading was that I quite like the addition of Tam. Linh is still sort of a half-formed character to me, but I really like how blunt Tam is and how he still has the perspective of an outsider on Sophie's group and their dynamics. He seems to say things none of them think of, and I like how he shakes things up.

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon (CR, 42%)

I know, I know, I've been working on this one for a while, but it's a very dense book! I've put it aside for now in exchange for Gwen & Art, since I have to review that one, but I'm hoping to finish this before the November halfway mark.

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (CR, 16%)

I’m finishing up my reread of The Infernal Devices, and this one is not that great so far. While I love the smaller interactions between Jem, Tessa, and Will, virtually everything so far has been interpersonal conflict despite the fact that a madman with a clockwork army is just out there somewhere. Like, did they forget they have like actual jobs to do? It’s mentioned that a good amount of time has passed since the last book…and you’ve done nothing? I know you’re all in the most complicated romantic relationships teenagers can be in, but please, think of the world.

[aleyalea]

About me.☘︎ ݁˖

MDA20009 Digital Communities

Hi, my name is Nur Aleyah binti Haswie Fazly but for short you guys can call me Aleya. I am a first year first semester Media & Communication in Swinburne Sarawak.

Whenever free time, I like cooking & baking (I have attached some of the photos below). Also, I love to read, listen to music mostly read the lyrics and watching movies & series. Not to forget, I like to scroll Twitter (X) because I want to keep update about the latest current issues.

As you guys know, this blog only for educational purposes. I am so excited and can't wait to explore more about this unit.

Stay tuned for more updates in the future! ⋆｡˚ ☁︎ ˚｡⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆

[chainofclovers]

tagged by @waywardted and @itsagutthing, thanks friends!

last song: "Pictures of You" by Drugdealer with Kate Bollinger UGH WHAT A GREAT SONG

currently reading: Just finished The World Keeps Ending and the World Goes on by Franny Choi (me? Reading a whole poetry book? In 2023? Things are shifting!?!?! It was a great collection)...Next up is Binti by Nnedi Okarafor, I think! Or Normal People by Sally Rooney because I deeply crave @itsagutthing's approval 😅😂.

currently watching: Rewatch of Taskmaster series 7.

tagging: @boglady @ellydash @dollsome-does-tumblr @telanu @ohtendril (also I have seen many a tag going around so if I overlapped sorry and just do this if you want whether I tagged you or not)

[harpalion]

everyone who wants media with cool or interesting or ~morally grey~ or otherwise very complex female characters for the love of god read the ancillary justice series or a memory called empire or anything nk jemisin or the binti trilogy pleaseeeeee. ok

[srabittaa]

Para Wanita Peradaban

Saya belajar banyak dari berbagai sumber, bahwa salah satu cara terbaik kebaikan seorang ayah itu berasal dari lisan ibu kepada anaknya.

Saya mengikuti series dari wanita-wanita peradaban, bagaimana para wanita peradaban ini mendampingi para syuhada, pejuang, sahabat. Mereka yang mendampingi bukanlah para wanita biasa, mereka yang visinya besar, mimpinya melewati zaman, perbuatannya pasti, rela dalam suka dan duka, dan doa-doanya melangit.

Salah satu kisah luar biasa tentulah kisah Ibrahim dan Ismail, hari ini kita terlibat dalam isu Fatherless yang luar biasa, diidentikan bahwa seorang ayah harus senantiasa mendampingi anak-anaknya dalam fisik dan batin, tapi tahukah kita Ibrahim dan Ismail hanya bertemu satu sama lain dalam hitungan jari, apakah Ismail membenci ayahnya? tentu tidak. Dari lisan Sayyidah Hajar lah diceritakan bagaimana perjuangan Ibrahim dalam dakwah kepada Ismail. Maka begitulah sebaliknya, ketika hal buruk keluar dari lisan seorang ibu kepada anak-anaknya, maka bisa dibayangkan. Berbuat baiklah kalian para ayah, suami dan anak laki-laki.

Para wanita peradaban ini, bukan lagi mereka yang bergelimang harta dan kenyamanan dalam hidup, satu kisah paling luar biasa adalah Fatimah binti Abdul Malik, istri dari Umar bin Abdul Aziz dalam mendampingi suaminya, mengikhlaskan segala kenyamanan yang dia miliki sebelumnya sebagai putri dari khalifah abdul malik dan mendampingi Umar bin Abdul Aziz dalam beratnya perjuangan.

Kisah lain dalam Ishmatuddin Hatun sang pendamping pembebasan Baitul Maqdis, visinya bertemu satu sama lain dengan Nuruddin Mahmud dalam penaklukan Baitul Maqdis, hingga wafat dan bertemu kembali dengan Shalahuddin dalam visi hidup yang sama. Ialah yang menjadi istri dan pendukung dalam dakwah penaklukan Baitul Maqdis. Ketika Nuruddin Mahmud wafat ada banyak kota yang terlepas, dan jika bukan karena dukungan Ishmatuddin Hatun maka akan sulit bagi Sholahuddin. Luar biasanya mereka menyemangati satu sama lain, surat menyurat bukan dalam perinduan di tempat nyaman tetapi dalam jarak di medan perang.

Wah sungguh kisah-kisah wanita luar biasa yang terdengar seperti dongeng dalam Abad ini. Inlah kisah cinta dan pengabdian para wanita peradaban.