u/jfincher42 — reddlx

Another killer Humble Bundle, starring Gene Wolfe

In what is becoming somewhat old news, the Humble Bundle again provides (at least to US readers) another great collection of DRM free EPUBs, this time from Hugo Award winner Gene Wolfe.

Back in June, the Meal of Thorns podcast discussed "The Fifth Head of Cerberus" by him -- yes, it's in the bundle. Also included are the New Sun, Long Sun, and other series, as well as collections of his short fiction. The charity for this one is Alzheimer's Research UK, if that makes a difference.

I'm turning into an EPUB collector recently -- I'm not sure I will ever live long enough to read them all, but I'll definitely leaving my collection to someone in my will. If only I could start a Little Free -Library....

Anyway, check the bundle out at https://www.humblebundle.com/books/ultimate-gene-wolfe-library-by-tor-books-books, and don't forget to adjust the donation in favor of the charity...

u/jfincher42 — 13 days ago

▲ 16 r/scifibooks+1 crossposts

Elizabeth Moon books available at Humble Bundle

Humble Bundle is killing it lately -- now they have a bundle of Elizabeth Moon books. She wrote some decent military space opera stuff with female protagonists with the Heris Serrano series. The bundle has the complete seven book set in the bundle, along with some fantasy stuff in the Paksearrion universe.

One downside -- this is a limited set of books, and contains none of her award winning stuff (she's got a Nebula and a Hugo for previous novels). Still, if you like military space opera, and like the Honor Harrington novels, you might give it a try.

Details are here.

u/jfincher42 — 1 month ago

▲ 72 r/sciencefiction+1 crossposts

C. J. Cherryh books available via Humble Bundle

A whole shedload of C.J. Cherryh books, including most of the Foreigner series, her Chanur books, short story collections, and some of her fantasy works, are up for grabs at the Humble Bundle. Thirty-eight (38) books in all for a song, and you support charity as well.

The only drawback I see is that they have "Regenesis", but not "Cyteen", but that's about it.

Link is here.

Oh, and while you're there, check out the Timothy Zahn stuff too...

u/jfincher42 — 1 month ago

▲ 12 r/whatsthisbug

Hanging out on the front porch

Hanging out near the front porch light in southern Illinois. Gorgeous wings, no idea what it mignt be.

u/jfincher42 — 2 months ago

▲ 4 r/whatsthisbug

Confirm my ID

Looks like a black swallowtail caterpillar, hanging out on my pole beans, but would like some confirmation.

Spotted July 7 in rural southern Illinois, Franklin County.

u/jfincher42 — 3 months ago

▲ 10 r/bassclarinet+1 crossposts

How to do a conductor search

I'm the President of a small community band (~13 members) in the rural midwest. Our conductor announced, after our last performance of the season yesterday, that next year would be his last year leading the band. So as President, I get to start the search for a new conductor.

Degree of Difficulty: I'm not entirely certain how to structure the search.

My first thought was to go to some of the school districts in the area, and see if there is interest in any of the music directors there. I'm in another community band, as well as a community orchestra, and can put the word out there for candidates. Our conductor burned some bridges with some folks a few years ago, so maybe this will help bring folks back to the band.

But from there, I'm at a loss -- we've promoted from within in the past, but we don't have anyone with the right experience to do that now.

For anyone who has done this: how did you structure the process? What worked/didn't work for you? What tactics should I avoid/embrace? How did you make your ultimate selection?

How about from community band members who have lived through a conductor change: what do you wish the band leadership had done? What are you glad they did do? How was the transition, and what could make it smoother?

We'll get through this, I know, but I'll feel better with a blueprint, roadmap, or at least a piece of paper showing where the dragons to avoid might be located.

reddit.com

u/jfincher42 — 3 months ago