Nick Fisher

CB editions February newsletter - it's been a bad month - as archived on the blog: sonofabook.blogspot.com/2026/02/cbe-...

As someone said - I forgot who, but probably Stephen Fry - why listen to Kemi Badenoch over breakfast when you could be listening to Mozart?

It's terrific. A vast cast of characters (and worlds), hard SF space opera (Dyson spheres!), noir, politics, an utterly brilliantly realised alien antagonist.

Peter F Hamilton’s ‘Pandora’s Star’ is excellent if you’re unacquainted. (Also a +1 for Baxter’s ‘Titan’).

A very sad loss. 'IBM 1401' is well worth your time if you don't already know it.

He’s a fancy boy. But he’s still quite feral in his behaviour.

Coco sitting on a hawthorn trunk. Daffs and cuckoo pint.

Morning.

As my friends tell me, you could have done a law degree, but where would that have got you?

Nanoleaf.

They're fine until they refuse to speak to the router, then all sorts of weird incantations are necessary to get them to reconnect.

The bloke working on my roof is swearing a lot 👍

Feral girl Izzy, who doesn’t like lawnmowers.

I arrive home, and the village is awash with the sound of lawnmowers. Madness. Anyway, here’s Izzy.

See that ginkgo? I prepared plastocyanin from it in 1994. ANYWAY. Great job opportunity for someone.

No mention of the light reactions either!

Tough guy Coco.

Apparently none the worse for wear today. “You should see the other cat” he says.

New Editorial: "Celebrating photosynthesis" rdcu.be/e6oTm

Photosynthesis is both an elegantly simple and dazzlingly complex process. The year 2026 marks anniversaries of the discoveries of both of these layers.

One of the neutered toms got into an almighty scrap with a stray in the pasture next door. He's currently rather quiet and nursing his pride in the greenhouse. No obvious injuries other than a few superficial scratches (he let me pick him up for an examination). Will keep an eye on him. Cats, eh?

I made the mistake of making rosehip vodka that I’m still trying to filter all the hip hairs from. Lesson learned.

What was the disease if I may ask? I used to work on rare mitochondrial disorders, but it was always very difficult to get funding for it.

Thank you for your (and your team's) dedication to the programme over the years. Looking forward to the next book!

A sprouting Gunnera. At least I think that’s what it is.

“You don’t seriously suggest that they’re talking when they make that rattling noise?”

This is why ice forms in your freezer. The decrease in entropy in turning liquid water into ice is less than the increase in entropy inside your freezer due to the heat released as the ice forms. The Universe always takes a cut.

Bath towels in the mirror are closer than they appear.

😔

I've got one of those high-sided boxes for my indoor boy, which works reasonably well when he excavates. (And the box is sitting on one of those big plastic Wellington boot trays...most of the litter is under control).

Hm. Let me know if East Lansing gets a mention.

Writing from Cornwall & very much in favour of a quiet spell of weather at the moment...

Yes, exactly. (He became a management consultant, so you can understand why we're no longer in contact).

(I did of course explain who Williams was after he told me!)

In the late 90s a German colleague of mine at Cambridge moved into Williams' former flat in NW1. He was unaware of Williams' significance at the time, but was occasionally pestered by fans wanting to take a look. I'd pass on his details but sadly we've long since lost touch.