I've just reread The Atrocity Archive, the first of the Laundry series by Charles Stross.
It's as good as I remembered, with the central magical conceit still feeling fresh and original even though it's over twenty years old. I guess that's what happens when you simultaneously create and own your very own sub-genre.
What I didn't expect was the nostalgia - Usenet groups, LART, the alt.polyamory FAQ, a leading edge pre-smartphone PDA+ tech level, jokes about Dilbert fans, a certain tone of acerbic cynicism.
That's the geek culture that I was part of. Even the flatting with fellow nerds brought back pleasant memories!
All in all, 9/10, well worth the re-read.
Thomas Beagle
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2026-09-19 08:06:52 UTC
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