Ironwidget

Depends if it's one of the legion of UK public school 20somethings who unselfconciously affect 'street' slang (to what end I'm never entirely certain, as they never want to actually be seen as working class)

Version 10 I think

Since the update my otherwise perfectly functional android phone is 'no longer compatible' with the app, it's not that old of a phone...

The Expanse! I feel James Holden is very much the paladin of the future, overly moral and committed to openness even in the face of overwhelming evidence that it might be a bad idea. Also always imposing his idea of 'right' onto those around him (although obv does grow over the series).

MAN: What's that, girl? Trouble at the old mine?
LEFT-WING LASSIE: Woof! [The miners are striking for better pay and conditions]
MAN: B-but Billy's down there!
LEFT-WING LASSIE: Woof! [BILLY'S A SCAB]

My conversation with my Wife in having passed my Final SOE today...

Is Gollum redeemed though? I always read his ending as a final act of betrayal towards Frodo as they both succumb to the corruption of the ring.

Not sure if it is achieved but much of Use of Weapons (Ian M Banks) centers around a quest for redemption, that and furniture design...

Their perspectives are treated very sympathetically in the text, while other characters around them argue over their their very existence, and question their humanity due to the degree to which their thoughts deviate from 'normal'

I bang on a lot about @adapalmer.bsky.social's Terra Ignota series in these replies, but I think the Set-Sets are an example of 'induced' neurodivergence. Presented at the start of the series as an extreme and by the end, more of a spectrum. Also, often debated without much by way of representation!

Outside of 'consume at home' media, back in the 2010s the South East corner of Glastonbury festival had a peri-apocalyptic storyline that ran over several years, with immersive booths and stalls all playing into the plot. Very 'a new life awaits you in the off world colonies' vibes...

I recommend the webcomic Dresdencodak. Some great short form long panel comics early on (Dungeons and Discourse) and now a cyberpunk-esqe series called The Tomorrow Girl. All beautifully illustrated, very slow update schedule though...

Two panels, left panel has a picture of a gloved hand squeezing an IV bag with the caption “something is wrong”, right panel has a picture of an IV bag with the caption “everything is ok”

A Surgeon’s Guide to Anesthesia Care:

There was something wonderfully proto-Pratchett about it

As a teenager I remember loving The Sleeper Awakes (HG Wells), the concept of one sleeping man being used as a mad wealth accumulation scheme by a bunch of victoriana Finance Bros (who never had a plan for if he actually woke up) resonated a lot with me in the early 2000s...

Gods, witches, monsters, non-linear storytelling.... It can only be The Odyssey. The OG of high fantasy storytelling

It does seem a little nebulous, but there are mentions of crime and punishment (slap drones etc) within The Culture, and the purpose of SC is definitely to work outside the parameters of acceptable behaviour

I feel most of The Culture novels that feature SC revolve around protagonists working 'outside' the law

Outside the world of literature (or maybe on its periphery, it's more of an interactive novel) the game 1000xresist has multiple layers of parent/child dynamics, as it explores parenthood and the immigrant experience through dystopian SciFi

The concept of parenting is explored throughout the Terra Ignotia series by Ada Palmer, albeit rarely in a nuclear or strictly biological sense. The contrasting upbringings of Bridger and J.E.D.D Mason being a key thematic throughline within the story.

I feel like this is going to be a big question for NAP8; what actually is the safety data currently? Personally I would be happy with awake or GA and would be most concerned by the half way house of sedation.

I think the Wheel of Time is a fun example of how this can be done in a subtle way. It's far from the focus of the plot but little hits contained in the gleeman's tales and the items found in Tanchico, referencing our world as a part of the turning of the wheel, just add an enjoyable touchstone

Recently taken to spreading it on cheese-on-toast, absolute revelation!

In our final 2 years of secondary school, all the triple science gcse kids (ie nerds) got streamed into our own PE group for timetabling reasons. The class actually voted to do an extra season of rugby as we all found we were enjoying it for the first time!

Marriage isn't about finding someone who thinks you're amazing. It's about finding someone who accepts you are an idiot. And you accept they are as well.