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Short story review: A Rich Full Week by K.J. Parker
I’ve never had the opportunity yet to read a K.J. Parker book so have not fully invested myself in the mystery of the author’s identity: however, having just finished ‘A Rich Full Week’ – collected in the anthology ‘Swords and Dark Magic’ – that may very well change. A Rich Full Week is basically an [...]
Short story review, Nov 2012: Erikson, Lynch, Abnett and Niffenegger
Joshua S Hill rounds up the best short stories he has recently read. Goats of Glory by Steven Erikson The first story in another anthology that I’ve had the pleasure of browsing recently – Swords & Dark Magic: the New Sword and Sorcery edited by Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders – is by one of [...]
Batman the Dark Knight Rises Review
Here I sit in a bed that is not mine writing a quick review for the latest installment in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises. I live in Australia, and I’m just home from seeing the midnight session. Went up the coast to visit a friend and see it with him. My GOSH [...]
Inside Straight by various authors, edited by George R.R. Martin reviewed
In the six decades since the alien plague known as the “Wild Card virus” spread a wave of mutations across the globe, humanity has begun to come to terms with its consequences. Grotesque half-human creatures known as “jokers” inhabit an underworld of their own, while legendary prodigies known as “aces” have become real-world superheroes, complete [...]
The Mystic Accountants by Will Macmillan-Jones reviewed
I’m the first to admit that I’ve never been a big fan of comedy-fantasy. It’s not that I’m surly or lacking in humour—indeed I enjoy amusing lines and scenes within novels—it is simply that satirising fantasy doesn’t do it for me. I am certain that this originates from an intrinsic need to defend the genre [...]
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan Volume 1 reviewed
“While the day belongs to the humans, the night belongs to yokai, supernatural creatures that thrive on human fear.” This is not the beginning of a book based on Disney’s Monsters Inc, rather the opening lines from the manga (Japanese comic), written by Hiroshi Shiibashi. It is one of my favourite, lesser known manga’s and [...]
Color Bleach+: The Bleach Official Bootleg by Tite Kubo reviewed
The reasons for this book come from manga artist and writer Tite Kubo being asked to provide a one page, one panel rough sketch of a part of Bleach he wasn’t able to work on at that time. The V. Jump editorial department liked it so much that Tite did more than just a rough [...]
A Crown Imperilled by Raymond E Feist reviewed
Now THIS is more like it. 28 books into a 29 book series and the old mojo is back. If you’ve been reading the stories of the sons (usually) of Midkemia as long as I have (going back to the original Magician in early to mid 1980′s) you know exactly what the “Magician” series has [...]
Sela by Jackie Gamber reviewed
Peace was fleeting. Vorham Riddess, Venur of Esra Province, covets the crystal ore buried deep in Leland’s mountains. His latest device to obtain it: land by marriage to a Leland maiden. But that’s not all. Among Dragonkind, old threats haunt Mount Gore, and shadows loom in the thoughts of the Red who restored life to [...]
The Gathering of the Lost by Helen Lowe reviewed
I have found over the years that an author who has a great imagination and story to tell does not necessarily need to be perfectly technically proficient to entertain me. However, an author who is technically proficient but doesn’t have a healthy imagination is always going to leave me disappointed. Long story short, tell me [...]
Four books - old and new alike - that were a joy to read are selected each month. See past winners.
The Sacred BandDavid Anthony Durham
No ReturnZachary Jernigan
NOS4R2Joe Hill
AvilionRobert Holdstock
Fantasy series we recommend
