You can’t like ‘em all (even if the cover is awesome).

Reading Carrington is my new happy place.

This is a very sexy book. Also a heap of fun. Especially the sorry about the bear.

I really enjoyed this—more than Some Desperate Glory—and I’m expecting it to get a Hugo, World Fantasy and BFA nod next year. As pointed out to me, though, conversation around the novel dried up shortly after publication.

This is very true. Locus does provide some wriggle room where I can review a novel published in September for the November issue. But once you hit Fall season with so many books coming out at once, it’s impossible to review them all if you need to stick to pub dates.

Hopefully this will review will help the novella find an audience. open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

I read very few plays and only read this one because of @backlisted.bsky.social. I now suggest that you read this play.

Seventy years old and yet Taylor’s satirical take on publishing, “low brow” culture and belligerent creatives, could have been published three days ago.

I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with a novel set in a 14th Century Norfolk nunnery. But here we are.

I really liked Trust Exercises. Not so much Flashlight.

“CURANDERA is a novel that smiles kindly on those patient readers who take the time to learn its rhythm and wrestle with its deeper truths.” @mondyboy74.bsky.social reviews new work from @IrenosenOkojie

An under appreciated classic (says the guy who has taken fifty years to get around to it). open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

If you like the work of Jonathan Evison (I do), you’ll like this. open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

“At its core, THE LADY, THE TIGER AND THE GIRL WHO LOVED DEATH is a story about stories.” @mondyboy74.bsky.social reviews @manuscriptgal.bsky.social

The WTF things you learn on a Friday.

Anyone who tells you that either Titus Groan or Gormenghast is a bit dull an uneventful is simply wrong or hasn’t read the books or both. open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

One of two excellent books from Bora Chung out this year. (Translated by the excellent Anton Hur).

“THE RED LABYRINTH is a compact, incisive meditation on power, the way it seeps into the bedrock of society and corrodes everything it touches.” @mondyboy74.bsky.social reviews new work from @nosubstance (@nosubstance.bsky.social) locusmag.com/2025/08...

I liked it. Didn’t love it. But it is doing something interesting and fresh with robots and so worth your time (not least of which because I can see it pop up on award lists).

I was also separated from large amounts of dough by one of these CEOs. Can confirm I would not trust any statement from him. And I'm very sad about everyone who was ripped off - and about innocent people at places like the (wonderful) Backlisted podcast who have been made victims by association.

Can people please leave Andy and Backlisted the fuck alone.

If you have any interest in proper, well considered, and sharp criticism you should buy this. It’s also worth supporting publishers who support critics (and are not a Uni press).

One of my longest reviews. You’ll find out why when you read it.

Stephen King, you may have heard him of, wrote this nearly a decade ago. Think about that! It’s a good end to a great trilogy. open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

My review of this came out in the July issue of @locmag.bsky.social. Go read that if you want my detailed thoughts about this excellent novella. This review is about why I review my writer mates. open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

I’m cognisant of the recent flurry of posts regarding Substack and Nazis. I have no plans of leaving Substack. That’s my choice. It’s your choice, which I respect, not to access my reviews on Substack. Most of my reviews—those I don’t write for Locus—will be available on Goodreads. Most. Not all.

I’d say tbhis was a nostalgic read, but I don’t recall reading this when I was a teen. (I was probably re-reading Destiny of the Daleks for the 19,000th time). open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

The last thing I expected Katie Kitamura to write was a novel inspired by David Lynch. But here we are people! HERE WE ARE!!! open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

“You don’t need to be aware of Ligotti’s work to enjoy BLACK BRANE; you just have to be open to a type of weird fiction... more invested in the uncanny and testing the fabric of reality” @mondyboy74.bsky.social reviews @michaelcisco.bsky.social locusmag.com/2025/07...

I don’t know if this is an Ian problem or other reviewers/critics have the same issue. open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

Rant ahoy. Not about the book. I loved the book.

I’m gonna post here more shit that I’m enjoying. This guy is incredible. Yes. It’s TikTok. Get over it. vt.tiktok.com/ZSBKLtyov/

Terrific review as always from @abigailnussbaum.bsky.social. I think the chemistry between Corenswet and Brosnahan makes up somewhat for the fact that their characters are a bit thin. (Don’t read if you haven’t seen the film). wrongquestions.blogspot.com/2025/07/rece...

Gonna be right up there as the best book of the year open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

I probably shouldn’t comment on this because each to their own. But I’ve found Substack to be a joy. I’ve encountered a generous and warm community and its open me up to a bunch of critics and writers I would never have encountered without it. Like all social media, you need to curate.

Terrific novel. Everything I read feels timely at the moment, but this book especially so. open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

Stephen King just knocking out another page turner. open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

Bluesky brought in post notifications (of users you follow)-yay! It’s not a very good implantation-boo! I’ll keep using @bluenotify.app because it’s very good.

This is an abridgement of “Journey to the West”—translated with the knowledge that those reading it know the Chinese epic from the Japanese TV series. open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

A helpful guide to how the Trump Administration is going to rule for the next century. And also a damn fine book. open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

I loved this and not just because I live a stone throws away from the where the book is set. open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

Dark and confronting with a touch of the surreal. open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

This novel features mutant cows, the God Particle, an obssession with Tender is the Night, a stolen manuscript and the Karma’s—the wealthiest family on Earth. open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

This isn’t a re-read. I’ve never read the bugger. Until noooooow. (Well, two months ago, I’m behind on these reviews). open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

Highly recommend @bluenotify.app. It’s made @bsky.app more useable/relevant. (Obviously would be better if this functionality was integrated into BS, but this is an excellent workaround and its existence has increased my time on here…)

In the coming months I’m going to review a lot more contemporary (published in 2025) novels (including the odd Substack Summer novel assuming Ross Barkan’s latest ever makes its way to Australia).

Alright, fine, the ending is nonsense. Still enjoyed it. open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

Not as disturbing as Earthlings, but still not a cozy read. open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...

Great cover. Great book. open.substack.com/pub/ianmond/...