Wombling Along
Helllooo!
Hope you’re ok? Welcome to Wombling Along the blog’s weekend supplement where I share reviews and other things I found online that I think people may enjoy.
It’s been a bit of a low energy week for me. This bug I may or may not have has made things tricky and my energy levels are a lot lower than normal for me. Still awaiting some test results but last two days I’ve felt a bit better so not sure what’s going on and happily I can work at home but I’m often very tired to read afterwards. People are sometimes so people
A very quiet weekend with a book or three is just what I need!
So what things caught my eye this week?
Reviews
Galactic Journey takes us to 1970 again and looks at four SF books from that year with mixed reactions!
While they also look at some anthologies - some better than others!
https://galacticjourney.org/november-16-1970-erogenous-or-erroneous-quark-1/
Blogger Misty Aquavenatus returns with a look at Empire of The Dawn by Jay Kristoff
https://mistyaquavenatus.com/2025/11/15/why-you-need-to-read-empire-of-the-dawn/?amp=1
Transfer Orbit meanwhile explores John Scalzi’s return to then Old Man’s War universe
https://transfer-orbit.ghost.io/john-scalzi-shattering-peace-scifi-book-review/
Jamreads is very impressed by The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes
https://jamreads.com/reviews/the-works-of-vermin-by-hiron-ennes
Grimdark Magazine look at the same book and clearly this one is gaining attention (on my slate for December!)
https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-works-of-vermin-by-hiron-ennes/
Locus again delve into short fiction with a look at Analog
https://locusmag.com/review/analog-review-by-a-c-wise/
Blue Book Balloon is very impressed by Slow Gods by Claire North
https://bluebookballoon.blogspot.com/2025/11/review-slow-gods-by-claire-north.html?m=1
Fan Fi Addict has a review really showing how impressed it was by Daytide by Chris Panatier
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-daytide-by-chris-panatier/
Lord Samper Library meanwhile gets surprised by the deliciously wicked Victorian patchy by Virginia Feito
https://lordsamperlibrary.blogspot.com/2025/11/victorian-psycho-virginia-feito-4th.html?m=1
Stewart Hotston is extremely impressed by The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed
https://stewarthotston.com/2025/11/21/the-butcher-of-the-forest-by-premee-mohamed/
James David Nicoll really like liked The Door On The Sea by Caskey Russell for what this fantasy novel achieves
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/apprehension-creeping
SF Book Reviews adds to my wish to soon read Voidbringer by Elaine Ho
https://sfbook.com/cry-voidbringer.htm
The British Fantasy Society really highlights why Daughters of Nicnevin by Shona Kinsella
https://britishfantasysociety.org/review/daughters-of-nicnevin-by-shona-kinsella/
Ancillary Review of Books looks at The Villa, Once Beloved by Victor Manibo
https://ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2025/11/19/identity-crisis/
Gavreads also competes their look at the World Fantasy Awards novella shortlist
https://gavreads.co.uk/2025/11/20/wfa25-novellas-review/
And last for now The Blerd Library really liked The Death Withheld by LD Lewis
Year end round ups
Some best of lists are starting early and first up it’s Charlie-Jane Anders with their Washington Post round up
https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2025/11/19/best-scifi-fantasy-novels-2025/
In Other News
Witty And Sarcastic Bookclub have a great idea a post explaining who they are as a reader!
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog/2025/11/17/my-oddly-specific-bookish-traits/
The British Fantasy Society has a new online event soon celebrating ESEA speculative fiction
The Society also gave us an insight in an author’s experience of working with a small press as Andrew Knighton explores their latest novella’s launch
https://britishfantasysociety.org/launching-wiz-duos-3-a-writers-perspective/
There was discourse on Romantasy this week and a lot of people surprised by exactly how big this is as a subgenre with some very impressive sales figures. People reading for me is always good and as my own reading journey earlier this week reminds me where I start is not where I go next you can’t help being a fantasy or science fiction fan and exploring a genre and for me new younger readers is great. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has some interesting perspectives on how this shift is developing and what it means for publishing and authors
https://silviamoreno-garcia.com/the-ya-boom-and-bust-story/
Round Ups
Gavreads has a weekly update
https://gavreads.co.uk/2025/11/16/sunday-summary-16-nov-25/
As does Dakegra
https://espressococo.com/2025/11/21/weeknotes-the-book-edition/
Bookjotter has a great review round up too
https://bookjotter.com/2025/11/22/winding-up-the-week-448/
The Full Lid is an essential read as always
https://mailchi.mp/1d89dfbc5e61/the-full-lid-24th-october-17242191
And for a heap of more excellent reviews, articles and more please read Renay’s Intergalactic Mixtape
https://buttondown.com/intergalacticmixtape/archive/intergalactic-mixtape-29/
and finally curl up and read this excellent and informative look at the history and evolution of Indian Science Fiction with some great graphics too - this it’s powerful Booktempting
https://altermag.com/articles/the-secret-history-of-indian-science-fiction
Have a great weekend and see you next week!
