W_L

And in non-reading news, I finish binging on The Expanse, the 23rd century of the show is far more realistic than Star Trek, but quite a bit depressing as well. It's a good Sci-Fi TV show, on par with Babylon 5 in its epic scope and characters, plus it has 2000's Battlestar Galactica's bleak outlook. Still there's a few elements of "wonder" that reminds me of classic Star Trek: Next Generation, which is surprising since there's so few alien species humanity encountered in 200 years and the one encountered is so far advanced than us, they're more akin to Lovecraft's cosmic entities than Trek's Klingons, Romulans, or even the Borg. Essentially, the show inspires and it also humbles humanity in comparison to our petty struggles; the universe is far older an its occupants far more alien than us.

I'm interested now in buying the book series The Expanse is based on to read,  probably will take me most of the holidays, but that's my next major reading. The show inspires and humbles, great science fiction should do that.

For parents or young LGBT readers, if you are a fan of Greco-Roman themed mainstream fantasy with a LGBT lead character, I highly recommend Rick Riordan's Trial of Apollo series, a sequel to Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series. I've followed the book series for decades and despite changes in the world, I still enjoy this world like visiting an old friend, who always has good cup of tea or coffee and a story to share with you.

The series has just completed with the Tower of Nero and I've just finished it.

For a young adult mainstream series, the idea of having a 1st person narrator with bisexual interests would have been unlikely in my teen years in the early 2000's. Stories like that I had to look around on places like here on GA, fictionpress, and nifty. Many of us, most prominently if you look at old fan-fiction stories, dreamed of a day when our voices could be heard and expressed. While many of our stories were fantasy of shipping/pairings same sex characters in unlikely situations, I think beneath all the window dressing of sexual orientation, all of us yearned to be heard and made...real, like a proof of existence through our words.

Finished Tyack and Frayne Mysteries for now, waiting for next book (Damn you Harper Fox for that cliffhanger! ). From a nice mystery procedural to modern fantasy elements with fun Celtic references, it's very unique for a series with short novelette reading times of 90 or less minutes. Book 10 currently is making me uneasy, I won't spoil the plot, but it's a "what might have happened"/"Alternative Road" story type, which I love for sci-fi and fantasy, but I am emotionally invested in these characters and hate what has happened.  To top it off, I am left with a horrible cliffhanger and need to wait for the author

So I am switching to a different genre, still LGBT fiction but more fantasy. starting the Alphabets series. I have never been into Shifter stories before, nor the interactions of "Alphas"/"Omegas", but I do like the premise and it reminds me of @Bill W Castaway Hotel in a fantasy premise.

One thing I can say, I have been thoroughly exploring various LGBT genres of fiction during this Pandemic induced stay at home, I feel like that guy from Twillight Zone and Yes "There's time now". It has definitely gotten my muses running

Reading a new novella series: Tyack & Frayne, a British LGBT mystery series set in the rugged area of Cornwall England. Pairing an obstinate small town constable and a empathetic psychic as they solve mysteries in the British countryside. It's very atmospheric and quite charming little romp at 2 hours a book, it's a simple sitting reading.

My muse is talking to me, feel like writing something new in a direction I haven't tried yet. I'll test the waters with a short story/backdoor pilot story

I have ended my diet as of today, stating from 222 pounds back in March 24th 2020, when Covid-19 forced me to work from home and begin dieting and working out methodically, to now September 12th 2020, I weigh 155 pounds.

Basically, I am not a muscle bound guy, nor a pencil. It's going to take a while to get myself into the runner body type I prefer, high stamina/energy and lean muscle. I started my diet limiting my intake to 500 calories per day and walking 2.5 miles, now I am averaging 8 miles a day at jogging pace of 3.8 mph and eating around 1300 calories.

Weight loss turns out to be the easy part, building your body to what you want is much harder. For those who have succeeded on this 1st step, I'd appreciate learning if you guys have ideas on how to get rid of excess skin.

For those wondering how I did it? 6 months to lose 67 pounds isn't a miracle cure/diet plan/workout from some actor, it's just a lot of work. I have a google sheet to prove what happened and what I did.

Reading No Shame Series by Nora Phoenix, interesting story of vulnerable emotionally scarred gay guys with complex backstories and a close knit poly relationship between males. I was going to stop after chapter 1 of the 1st book, but as I continued to finish book 1, I found myself enjoying the complex characters and their backgrounds.

This is a good series for the unconventional with a decent amount of m/m romance and spicy sexual details.

Reading non-LGBT sci-fi series: Harry Turtledove Worldwar

This is fun alternate history fiction series with the basic premise: what would happen if a 21st century equivalent alien civilization traveled to earth via controlled atomic fusion (relativistic speed) on a mission of conquest during World War II in year 1942? The alien technology is only a century ahead of WWII combatants and their invasion sparks a lot of interesting questions on the meaning of "humanity", persistence of prejudice and bigotry despite proof that humanity or "races" or "classes" among its populations are "divinely chosen", and so many more topics.

Also, for heterosexual/bisexual audiences, there's a good amount of lurid sex scenes between male/females.

Re-reading Harry Potter Series, Book 1-7, finished book 1 and am now in the middle of book 2

I am wondering if Time Lords and Wizards co-existed in the same multi-verse; a Ford Anglia that can fit 8 people, luggage, broomsticks, and animals sounds pretty similar to a good Doctor

May the Fourth Be With You!