Two recent speculative fiction novels that reveal in their metropolitan settings - New York and London, respectively - are Spaceman Blues and The Red Men.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 7:41 AM on July 24, 2008

'The New Puritans' by Toby Litt from his collection Exhibitionism is the creepiest thing I've ever read.

I'm amazed that someone thought Was was creepy!
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 4:07 AM on July 23, 2008

Sugar Rush by Julie Burchill was also adapted for Channel 4.

The film of Angus, Thongs And Perfect Snogging is just about to be released so that might well coincide with her trip.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 5:54 AM on July 18, 2008

Courgette Flowers stuffed with Monte Enebro cheese and drizzled with honey at Salt Dog. They are justifiably proud of this.

Keeping on a Kingsland Road Vietnamese tip, Huong Viet specialise in barbecue dishes and the prawns wrapped in pork is a signature dish.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 5:45 AM on July 10, 2008 marked best answer

In addition to i_am_a_Jedi's list, PS Publishing specialise in publishing SFF at novella length.

I'd echo what you already know that it will be hard to sell them both as a package.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 8:08 AM on July 9, 2008

It is probably true that there is a smaller ratio of chippies to fried chicken/kebab/etc in London than elsewhere in the country but there are still hundreds of them. I'd particularly recommend Faulkner's in Hackney (yes, it's Zone 2.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 4:28 AM on July 8, 2008

Flat: book, another book, lamp, tissues, glass of water, mobile phone, pencil

Top: passport, digital camera, various leads, hayfever pills, cheque book, a couple of (dead?) batteries, some photos of my family

Middle: pants

Bottom: ties
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 9:14 AM on July 2, 2008

There's no such thing as a 'normal' amount. I would always have at least a bottle of wine between two but different people drink different amounts.

As le morte de bea arthur says lots of place do half bottles but since you are visiting places that don't sell wine by the glass (!?) then I guess that isn't an option.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 3:27 AM on July 1, 2008

Seconding skewedoracle: Mieville is a really good example of this. For example one of the areas of his city, Bas-Lag, is called The Ribs. Because they are gigantic fossilised ribs. It is the fantasy version of the Martians in the Kovacs books.

Something similar happens in Scott Lynch's Locke Lamora novels with lots of artefacts of a more powerful previous civilisation being present in the world.

As has also be mentioned it... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 3:26 AM on June 30, 2008

For your chips don't peel the potatoes and then double fry them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 7:40 AM on June 23, 2008

I have those red Typhoon scales linked above. They are very nice.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 5:21 AM on June 13, 2008

Siberia by Ann Hallam and Exodus by Julie Bertagna are both post-global warming YA disaster novels.

Does nuclear war count as a natural disaster? There are several good YA novels on that topic.

The disaster in How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff is not natural either but shares the same qualities.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 8:39 AM on June 12, 2008

I eat meat but my partner doesn't and I do most of the cooking. There are some meals where it is really easy to do two versions - bangers and mash, for example - and if people are coming round I'll often two one meat and one non dish but mostly we just eat vegetarian. I adapted really quickly from a pretty meaty diet to a pretty unmeaty diet. I always eat meat when we go out for dinner and sometimes make it for my lunch or breakfast so I don't feel like it has been banished from my diet.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 3:41 AM on June 6, 2008

Kelis f/Nas - In Public - a+++ electrosleaze

Although it does contain possibly the worst couplet of all time:

The pussy or the mouth, that is the question
Like Shakespeare but my erection is the case here

And what is sleazy about Angel by Massive Attack?!

Seconding that Princess Superstar is sleaze on toast. The electro of Perfect Exceeder might sound a little clean for your tastes but its soul is dirty. Also Buck 65.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 8:55 AM on June 4, 2008

Veniss Underground by Jeff Vandermeer

I wouldn't reccommend The City of Ember, it is very much a children's book.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 2:36 AM on June 3, 2008

Thanks! I tell you, the youth of today with their bloody ks...
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 6:04 AM on May 16, 2008

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Oscar And Lucinda by Peter Carey, one of the greatest literary romances ever.

I'd also suggest Air And Fire by Rupert Thomson and The Cryptographer by Tobias Hill.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 5:35 AM on April 22, 2008

I always make a base of onion and garlic and fry the rice in that for a minute before adding the wine. Actually I use vermouth instead of wine. I always stir in butter and parmesan at the end, once it is off the heat, and then let it sit for a minute.

If I was making a chicken risotto I'd add pancetta to this base. (Unlike bl1nk I don't bother removing the pancetta, I just leave it in all through the cooking process.) I often when I use left over chicken I make more... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 2:51 AM on April 16, 2008 marked best answer

These are great answers!

I should have mentioned Zetter in my original question. I thought about it but it seems a little clinical in its design. It also doesn't have the most secluded location.

I sort of discounted Malmaison as being too big but I was probably wrong and I will have a look.

The Fox & Anchor and Threadneedles look very interesting.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 3:16 AM on February 27, 2008

The Rookery is shut on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which is when I want to be there.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 8:30 AM on February 27, 2008

Andaz's website is bloody awful! I'm unable to get any basic information out of it. Thanks for the strong endorsement though, I will check it out.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 8:42 AM on February 28, 2008

It is a novel but Dumb House by John Burnside is a very interesting book based on the Gang Mahal myth.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 6:05 AM on January 15, 2008

Hello and OK are not really trashy; just supine, boring, tastless shit. Heat is the daddy and Closer and Now are its two nearest rivals (although they both waste time on "real life" stories.) In conclusion: Heat!

For my money Uncut is the best of the UK music monthly.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 7:26 AM on October 23, 2007

I'd second greycap's advice about not worrying too much. If you made it through the selection process you are obviously capable and you will get loads of training - both job specific and developmental - when you start.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 12:56 PM on October 1, 2007

chocolatepeanutbuttercup, you might be interested in this post I made about slipstream. "Magical Realism used in a modern/postmodern technological setting" is pretty good way of describing a lot of this sort of fiction. I'll suggest Bruce Sterling's Zeitgeist - which fits this description perfectly - since it is Sterling who coined the term slipstream.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 7:47 AM on September 26, 2007

There's a catering equipment shop on Shaftesbury Avenue.

It's called Pages and I buy a lot of my stuff from there.

I would second going to your local Woolworths. I bought a 16 piece cutlery set for something like £4 from them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 7:39 AM on September 24, 2007

I can't answer the first question because I am waiting for the paperback to come out before I read it. I would agree, however, that his most recent books haven't been up to the standard of his earlier ones. The are still always worth a read though. And its not really his "new" novel since Matter - a new Culture novel - is out soon.

As for other writers I would third Ken MacLeod. He is a long time friend and they have clearly both influenced... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 6:39 AM on September 19, 2007

While Chasm City is set in the same Inhibitors universe it isn't actually part of the trilogy that started with Revelation Space. As such I'd recommend it to people who haven't read Reynolds before since it works as a standalone. I also think it is his best.

His latest novel The Prefect is set in the same location as Chasm City but prior to the nano-plague so it is interesting to read for the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 2:57 AM on September 20, 2007

I think it's entirely ethical to sell free books, but it does represent a conflict of interest if you profit from a book you actually get around to reviewing.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. What conflict of interest?

It is perfectly ethical not review a book a publisher sends you. In fact it is completely ethical to sell on a book a publisher has sent you without even cracking the cover. It is equally ethical to read and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 6:57 AM on September 13, 2007

Oh, and this:

If I provide an honest, balanced review of a mediocre book, will I stop getting review copies?

is probably the worst way a reviewer can think. Put this out of your head. When you review the book you are reviewing the book. If other considerations come into it - what does this mean for my relationship with the publisher? should I try and include a pull quote? - thenyou have stopped being a reviewer and become a PR flack.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 6:59 AM on September 13, 2007

The several major newspapers I've worked for universally had strict policies that freebie copies of tangible goods provided with the intent of their being review copies were not to be re-sold.

I would be interested to hear the names of these newspapers since I find it very hard to believe they actually exist. In fact I find it very hard to believe you have ever reviewed or come into any contact with the PR industry. Your hypothetical has literally... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 4:35 PM on September 13, 2007

Sorry, Cool Papa Bell, I was drunk and rude last night. I should just have said your experience does not match mine and left it at that.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 8:10 AM on September 14, 2007

Uncrate, Nightlab and Naked & Angry all look good. A shame they are not in the UK.

Selfridges was my first port of call. I will try Liberty, though I hate the place. Museums and galleries is also a good idea.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 5:31 AM on August 24, 2007

Those TieLab ones are exactly what I had in mind. It's just a shame my nearest store is in Portugal.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 6:55 AM on August 24, 2007

Don't preempt it and if your boss asks about it just tell the truth.

To others in this thread: being a heavy drinker doesn't neccessarily mean you have a drink problem and being able to go teetotal for a month doesn't neccessarily mean you don't have a problem.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 3:07 AM on August 22, 2007

Umm, I can't imagine GTA or any other game being any help at all. Once you get there and start driving and all the other cars are doing the same it quickly becomes second nature. Presumably she will be driving an automatic so its not even like she has to worry about the gear stick being on the other side which is the most confusing thing for a British person driving on the Continent. The only tricky thing about driving in America is all the retarded intersections. As for signs, there must be an... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 1:45 AM on August 16, 2007

Corky: that is one of the benefits of tea tree/menthol shampoo or shower gel.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 2:43 AM on August 14, 2007

I wouldn't use lemon, just oil, garlic and chili.

However I'm going to me more controversial and say so what if they stick in there shells? Just eat the shells! I've never had a problem with them sticking but sometimes if they are too hot to peel instantly or I just feel like it I will tear off the head and then eat the rest, except the base of the tail where there is no flesh.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 2:32 AM on August 14, 2007

Like koahiatamadl I'm slightly baffled by this and the previous washing machine question as I've hardly ever seen a non-front loading washing machine. However, I did have a toploader in rented accomadation once and treated it exactly the same as a frontloader. I can't imagine why you would need a different washing powder.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 6:58 AM on August 8, 2007

Greg Egan's Permutation City.

Charlie Stross's Accelerando.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 2:50 AM on August 1, 2007

Probably worth mentioning that Stross is a member of MetaFilter and likely has some good answers of his own.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 2:53 AM on August 1, 2007

By the way, Blindsight is available as a free download.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 2:37 AM on August 2, 2007

Yeah, what the last two commenters said. The idea that talking about money is vulgar is a form of social control.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 7:09 AM on July 29, 2007

Ken Loach and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Mike Leigh.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 2:41 AM on July 25, 2007

To those of you pointing out the obvious that universal healthcare doesn't magically grow on trees and in fact is funded by taxpayers it might be worth noting that per capita spending on healthcare in the US is much higher than in any other developed nation.

This Commonwealth Institute comparison of Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the Uk and the US might also be of interest:

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/publications_show.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 8:05 AM on July 6, 2007

The civil service final salary pension is the best deal going if you plan to stay in the civil service for any length of time. However I think you have to work for two years to come into effect. If you leave before two years are up they will just refund your contributions.

Final salary works like this:

Final salary times number of years of service divided by forty

So if you left the scheme on £20k after working for five... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 1:25 AM on June 8, 2007

Sorry, I've just spotted you've said 1/60, not 1/40. I have a civil service pension on 1/40 but apparently this isn't standardised.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 1:28 AM on June 8, 2007

I'm not sure ninebelow has got it right above.

Yeah, I've just got my pension statement out and I have indeed inflated it. Still a good deal though.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 5:59 AM on June 8, 2007

The film of Enduring Love differs from the source material in quite important ways.

I agree with Lockeownzj00 that films should be thought of as seperate entities to the source material. However I would disagree that: "The most boring thing in the world would be a book to be recreated page by page, line by line into a movie script." Fight Club is a pretty good counter-argument to this.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 6:35 AM on May 21, 2007

Stay where you are.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninebelow at 3:05 AM on April 27, 2007