The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

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A surprise. Normally I don’t like fantasy fiction — but this one is more of a murder mystery.

A high Imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. … it’s a death at once terrifying and impossible.

The Tainted Cup is a 2024 fantasy murder mystery novel by Robert Jackson Bennett. 

… won the 2025 Hugo Award for Best Novel …

The two main characters are very likeable.

Anagosa “Ana” Dolabra is hilarious. She’s the troublesome but brilliant, eccentric investigator. 

Known for her almost impossibly insightful deductions, she is often depicted wearing a blindfold to limit sensory input.

If Ana is Sherlock Holmes, Dinios “Din” Kol is Watson, narrating the story.

He’s young. Inexperienced. Unconfident. BUT Ana needs Din because he has augmented perfect memory. He is her eyes and ears.

Din stumbles around the crime scene, later recounting what he heard and saw to Ana. She then makes sense of what’s happened.

Very original.

Slow Horses – season 5

On By Rick McIn books, TVLeave a comment

Slow Horses series 5 may be my favourite, so far.

Roddy Ho features prominently in the plot. Honey trap.

Nick Mohammed as Zafar Jaffrey, the Mayor of London is good.

James Callis as Claude Whelan (series 4–5), the bumbling, over-promoted new Director General of MI5 or ‘First Desk’ is fantastic.

Bad guys are Libyans.

I laugh out loud at every episode. Especially at Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) being so hilariously inappropriate. 😀

Looking forward to season 6.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Farewell Singapore

On By Rick McIn cycling, hiking, travel1 Comment

My new home away from home in S.E. Asia.

I used to consider Hong Kong my jumping off point for Asia — but I don’t like the dictator-for-life who now runs that city.

I first got to Singapore in 1996. Amazing airport. Fantastic zoos.

Everything WORKS in Singapore. It’s ultra-modern in most ways.

Very welcoming for tourists.

Public transportation is a dream. You tap a credit card to take any subway or bus. And they run everywhere frequently.

I stay in Little India, the least expensive area. Most of the hostels are there.

Mustafa Centre is a highlight. Open 24 hours. Packed at all hours of the day and night. An experience. 

YES, Singapore is expensive. But there are plenty of free attractions to keep you busy if you don’t want to pay $30 for a museum entrance.

For example, Shimano Cycling World will rent you a high end road bike for $150. Or you can take one of their mountain bikes for free. Nice.

I did a lot of hiking on my most recent trip. The Botanic Gardens are excellent and mostly free.

It’s a surprisingly green city.

Aerial view of Gardens by the Bay

I explored Sentosa island more this time.

My A.I. Halloween costume in front of Universal Studios globe.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

More PHOTOS

Too OLD for Adventure Travel?

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6-7 is oh so last year.

I turned 68-years-young today.

I’m finally old enough to join the Old Fart Adventure Travel TikTok Crew. 😀

On the road in Singapore.

I’ve had many birthdays on the backpacker trail.

Tam and Les bought me birthday lunch in Little India. We had a robot waiter — though it was too uncoordinated to actually make it to our table. A waiter brought it the last mile.

For decades already I’ve been the oldest person in most hostels. I’ve grown used to the distinction.

Mostly, the kids treat me as a bit of a novelty: How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?

Life is short ➙ If you want to travel, travel.

Against the Grain by Terry O’Reilly

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Terry O’Reilly is one of the most beloved radio personalities on CBC, host of the CBC Radio One series O’Reilly on Advertising, The Age of Persuasion and Under the Influence, which examine the cultural and sociological impact of advertising and marketing on modern life.

He has a few books.

I read Against the Grain: Defiant Giants Who Changed the World (2025) and was much impressed. It’s non-fiction.

… mavericks who go “against the grain” in their work …

People who chose to ignore conventional wisdom, found or invented a better way, questioned the status quo at great sacrifice and pushed for change against all odds.

Some were drummed out of their careers for it but in the end were proven right (Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis).

Some were celebrated but had to fight every inch of the way (Norman Lear).

Some re-invented their industry but preferred to stay an outsider (Tom Laughlin—aka Billy Jack).

Some confounded their competitors with ingenious strategies (NHL coach Roger Neilson).

One even saved millions of people around the world, but was humiliated, demoted, and dismissed for her entire career (Dr. Katalin Karikó—co-creator of the COVID vaccine).

The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith

On By Rick McIn books, ethics, human rights, TVLeave a comment

Robert Galbraith is J.K. Rowling. I’m still reading her books — though disgusted with how she has made trans people miserable, driving some to suicide.

This is her legacy.

I haven’t cancelled J.K. Rowling as she’s not ALL bad. She’s donated much to charity. And may even be a good person who somehow stumbled into this issue, getting it way wrong.

She’s caused a lot of harm.

The Hallmarked Man (2025) is the 8th novel in the Cormoran Strike detective series, and a return to form.

Themes explored in the plot involve Freemasonry, human trafficking, the silver antiques trade, corruption in the media, secrecy surrounding the military and intelligence services, mental health issues …

That said, the book is too long, as are most of her books in this series.

The relationship between Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott is agonizing and stupid. I can’t believe so little has progressed over 8 books.

I used to be sympathetic for Robin, as Strike is such an asshole. But she’s just as bad.

The only person to cheer for is Office Manager Pat. 😀

Worse — perhaps — is the plot. WHY did they take on a case to identify a mutilated corpse? WHY spend so much time and manpower on this case?

Who cares?

Story line convoluted and hard to follow. At the end, I read some explainers ➙ and still can’t be bothered to understand the plot.

IF you can get past those flaws, I actually enjoyed this book.

It’s skillful, without question.

I actually like the pretentious epigraphs at the start of each chapter.

Worst in the series was Ink Black Heart (2022). I couldn’t finish that one. This one I can recommend.

BUT — for me — the Strike (TV series) is better than the books.

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

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I don’t normally enjoy fantasy — but there was something about this book that kept me going.

The pace at the beginning was encouragingly quick.

It’s set currently with mobile phones and apps. Less world building than typical for the genre.

Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain.

Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her Guild.

Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps Jasmine run an enchanted inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests’ shenanigans, tries to keep said talking fox in check, and longs for the future that seems lost to her. …

Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and staying one step ahead of the watchful Guild is a lot for anyone, but Sera Swan is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone…and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping (2025) by Sangu Mandanna

Welcome, Chaos by Kate Wilhelm

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Very original. A terrific plot.

Kate Wilhelm is the author of the Hugo Award–winning Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang. Excellent.

Welcome, Chaos (1983) is the second of her books I’ve read.

Though it’s a bit dated, I found the story intriguing.

Disillusioned and sorrowful history professor Lyle Taney retreats to the Oregon mountains to study eagles but becomes entangled with her neighbors, kindly polymath Saul Werther and his assistant Carmen, and a manipulative CIA agent, Lasater.

She discovers Werther and Carmen are part of a secret organization guarding a dangerous immortality serum from Nazi Germany. A serum that grants immortality but can also kill half its recipients and cause infertility.

When Russia independently obtains the serum and unleashes it as a flu epidemic, Lyle must choose sides in a struggle that could lead to global destruction or the start of a new civilization

AI summary

Sure you can argue the writing is not great.

BUT the 4 main characters are really well developed.

It’s a thought provoking read.

Dishonorable Intentions by Stuart Woods

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Dishonorable Intentions (2017) is in the Stone Barrington series.

More amusing fantasy. We can imagine the dramas of travel while ultra wealthy.

I read one of these books whenever I get sick of real novels. 😀

There’s a shooting at a film location in New Mexico.

In 2021, recall it was Alec Baldwin who accidentally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins at a film location in New Mexico.

In a cat-and-mouse game that trails from sun-drenched Bel-Air to a peaceful European estate and gorgeous Santa Fe, Stone and his friend remain just one step ahead of their opponent.

But their pursuer is not a man who can stand to be thwarted, and tensions are mounting…and may soon reach the boiling point.