GIVING THANKS: Noah Shachtman emails: “A few months back, you recommended Charles Stross’ “The Atrocity Archive.” I finally got around to reading it – sheer, unadulterated genius. I’ve ordered three more books by him, as a result. Thanks for the heads-up — and Happy T-Day.”

Thanks for the thanks! And The Jennifer Morgue is good, too. As I’ve noted before, it’s kind of reminiscent of Tim Powers’ Declare.

UPDATE: And reader Louis Gifford emails: “While people are thanking you for books you recommended, let me also thank you for The Collapse of Complex Societies by Joseph Tainter and A Farewell to Alms by Gregory Clark. Because of you, I know a little better about how human civilization works.” Both excellent books. Thank the authors!