Author Archives: Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

About Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

I'm the Librarian for the Kinrowan Estate. I do love fresh brewed teas, curling, English mysteries and will often be playing Scandinavian or Celtic  music here in the Library here in Kinrowan Hall if the Neverending Session is elsewhere. I'm a violinist too, so you'll me playing in various contradance band such as Chasing Fireflies and Mouse in the Cupboard as well as backing my wife Catherine up on yearly Christmas season tours in the Nordic countries.

What’s New for the 12th of October

Posted on 12th October 2025 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

“I really didn’t mean to steal it.”  Mr. Williams shook his head. He scratched at his chin nervously. “Why not? That’s what they’re there for. Tunes belong to everybody. So do stories.” — Robert Holdstock’s Mythago Wood Finch ‘ere. I’m … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 28th of September: Appalachia in books, music and more

Posted on 28th September 2025 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

She hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but she was a bit like a cat herself, forever wandering in the woods, chasing after squirrels and rabbits as fast as her skinny legs could take her when the fancy struck, climbing trees … Continue reading →

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New SF from James S. A. Corey; Terry Gillian’s Excalibur; Rolling Stones do Aaron Copland’s ‘A Fanfare for The Common Man’; An offbeat history of coffee; an interview with Russian folk singer Zhenya Wind; and a grab bag of folk music

Posted on 31st August 2025 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

There’s always hope for something. Just not always… not always what we want.  James S. A. Corey’s The Mercy of Gods I smelled something quite enticing in the hallway out of our Kitchen. So I handed Pub duties over to Finch … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 17th of August: Lots of Cropredy reports and reviews, and some new jazz and Americana;

Posted on 17th August 2025 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

O I forbid you, maidens a’ That wear gowd in your hair, To gae by Carterhaugh, For young Tam Lin is there. Child Ballad 39A Ingrid, our Steward, declared earlier this week that today would be an Estate work free day as much … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 3rd of August: A mix of Heinlein reviews; new jazz out of Vermont and a grab bag of archival reviews; Italian American food writing, and more

Posted on 3rd August 2025 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

If you see a faded sign at the side of the road that says “15 miles to the love shack” Love shack, yeah, yeah I’m headin’ down the Atlanta highway Lookin’ for the love getaway Heading for the love getaway … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate story: Commedia dell’Arte. Possibly.

Posted on 13th July 2025 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

From The Sleeping Hedgehog, date unknown. No idea if it’s a story retold there, or a true story transcribed into written form. Not that it really matters, does it? There, my friend. I am not good company tonight, but if you can … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 22nd of June: books about baseball, air travel most unusual, some music about baseball (and some not)

Posted on 22nd June 2025 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

The truth of some promises is not as important as whether or not you can believe in them, with all your heart. A game of baseball can’t really make a summer day last forever. A home run can’t really heal … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 8th of June: kibbles and bits — lots of fairy tales, steamy anime, a Cairo comic, new jazz, an archival grab bag, and a Kitchen tale

Posted on 8th June 2025 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

Sophie: You can’t possibly know that’s the true story. Nate: No, but that’s the best story. Leverage series, “The Van Gogh Job” I awoke well before dawn as I wanted to watch the Northern Lights as they’ve been particularly outstanding right … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 13th of April: Anthony Bourdain in print and video; Calexico, Giant Sand and related music; new recordings of ragas, Nordic songs, and vocal jazz, ‘The Night They Drive Old Dixie Down’ performed by The Band

Posted on 13th April 2025 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

The night they drove old Dixie down And the bells were ringing The night they drove old Dixie down And the people were singing They went, “Na, na, la, na, na, la” The Band’s ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 30th of March: Space Opera by Niven & Pournell, Arkady Martine, C. J. Cherryh, Elizabeth Bear, Simon Jimenez and more; Kage reads for us ‘The Empress of Mars’, a novella she wrote; a grab bag of music including new Buryat folk music; The Ukrainians; live music from the Scottish band Iron Horse; Gail Simone graphic novels; Farscape; and of course chocolate

Posted on 30th March 2025 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

  I danced in the morning When the world was begun, And I danced in the moon And the stars and the sun, And I came down from heaven And I danced on the earth, At Bethlehem I had my … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Comments Off on What’s New for the 30th of March: Space Opera by Niven & Pournell, Arkady Martine, C. J. Cherryh, Elizabeth Bear, Simon Jimenez and more; Kage reads for us ‘The Empress of Mars’, a novella she wrote; a grab bag of music including new Buryat folk music; The Ukrainians; live music from the Scottish band Iron Horse; Gail Simone graphic novels; Farscape; and of course chocolate