It's time for my seasonal wardrobe change

 Four times a year I change over my wardrobe and now it's time to do that. Exchanging my winter clothes for spring. I do this for a number or reasons not least that there's no point in filling my closet with thick sweaters during summer. But it also helps to keep my wardrobe fresh. After a few months of looking at the same black and gray skirts everyday I'll grow tired of most of most of them and want something different. Maybe something with more color. I considered adding a note to myself about things I need to buy mainly new knitted gloves and wool skirts that aren't black, gray or black and white. But in the end I didn't because while I'm considering a more colorful wardrobe I'm also thinking about making it more gothy. We'll see what I'll decide.

Changing the wardrobe does take some time so I decided to do it during Easter when I had some time to do it thoroughly (I know that was a while ago but I have a publishing schedule). Doing it thoroughly meant taking the time to wash everything including my hats and scarves or at least rinse of my coats. I also removed any pilling. Making sure that everything is nice and clean for when I unpack it in the fall. There are some things that are going to need a bit more care my red coat needs an other button and a new lining. (Note to self when sewing coats don't buy the cheapest lining fabric) But that's a bit more work and will have to wait until summer.

And so it's done everything it packed away and my wardrobe is ready for spring. I would have showed before and after pictures but frankly even I can barely see the difference and the lighting by my closets is terrible. Of course a few days after this the weather turned and I had to walk through the snow in my spring coat. 

The Android's Dream by John Scalzi

 Before I begin, I should say that yes the title does indeed refer to the Philip K. Dick novel. Though in this case it refers to a breed of genetically modified bright blue sheep.

Plot

Android's dream is a science fiction novel and it begins with a diplomatic incident between representatives of Earth and that of the alien race Nidu. Nidu has been Earth's ally, but relations have been strained for some time now as many on Earth feel exploited. To restore Nidu's goodwill, Harry Creek is tasked with finding a sheep needed in the coronation of Nidu's new ruler. This is made more difficult by the fact that there is only one sheep of that kind left. It is also complicated by conspirators from Earth, Nidu and a religious order.

And then the book gets really weird.

My thoughts

The book partly reminds me of the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy or Terry Pratchett in that it constantly interrupts the plot to tell stories about the different characters, peoples, organizations and other things. It's the kind of absurd writing style that I quite enjoy when it's done correctly.

I have previously read Scalzi's book Redshirts (which I recommend to anyone who has seen the original Star Trek) and this is similar in many ways. Redshirts is definitely the weirder of them (especially at the end) but androids dream I'd say is more exciting and maybe even the funnier of them. Assuming you're into bizarre humor. 

If you have read it what did you think? Leave a comment. If you haven't read it you can check it out here Androids dream.

The Scum Villain's Self-saving System by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

This is a meta story about a person being transported into the plot of a book he's read.

Shen Yuan has a love hate relationship with the immensely popular web-novel series "Immortal demon way". Having just finished the last book and upset about the unresolved plot threads, the cliche plot and bland side characters he dies. Only to find himself waking up inside the book. Not as the male power fantasy protagonist Lou Binghe but rather as his horrible teacher Shen Qingqiu. Who routinely encourages the other students to bully Bingue and will in later parts of the series try to kill him. 

He will also (as Yuan knows) later be gruesomely killed by the protagonist. Something Yuan (since he is in Qingqiu body wants to stop). Using his knowledge of the books, Qingqius magical powers and along with the unhelpful system (a google translate voice that only Yuan can hear that arbitrarily assigns him points and quests) he must set out to fix the plotholes and avoid his fate of death by protagonist. Except until that feature is unlocked he can't act too out of character.  

My thoughts

I like it a lot. Yuan arguing with the system is very funny and I like him although he is a bit slow to realize that his actions has consequences for the plot going forward. Also that Bingues respect for him as a teacher becomes hero worship once he is shown the least bit of kindness and self sacrifice. 

Although not getting murdered is one of the reasons for Yuan wanting to change the plot it is mostly just that Yuan is a mostly decent person and seeing a child bullied is just wrong. 

Unfortunately it doesn't have the best view on women. the female characters are mostly there to be saved by Binghe and then ignored. Which isn't surprising considering that the story is supposed to be a male power fantasy (In the Original book Bingue ends with a harem of 300 women) but it's also not questioned by Shen. Hopefully that will change in the later books. 

If you have read it what did you think? Leave a comment. If you haven't read it you can check it out here Scum Villain