Stoner is one of the two books I've decided to write my thesis on, come next term. It's that rare thing, a work that perfectly encompases the full strengths of the novel as a form. It's worth deeper study. So, then, this will be a short review -- I'd hate to be caught plagiarising my... Continue Reading →
Previous || Next Here it is, the last chapter in Simon Spurrier's Doctor Aphra run. It's a love letter to the character he spent three years writing, through some excellent ups and a few mediocre downs. A Rogue's End concludes on a high note, however, and one that convinces me that following this character has... Continue Reading →
Previous || Next Joy to the world, I'm but a step away from the seventh and last volume of Doctor Aphra's first run. Between you and me, dear reader, I loved this volume. Loved it. Remember how I told you not to get used to the consistent art style and direction of the previous volume?... Continue Reading →
Previous || Next The good Doctor is back, and running for her life with her dearest pal, the homicidal protocol droid Triple-Zero. The two frenemies are in quite the bind--as soon as they grow further than 20 metres apart, the explosives implanted in their necks will arm, and go ka-BLOOEY! Grizzly, but what's a little... Continue Reading →
Hullo everyone, and welcome back to Saturday Star Wars! It has been a while, hasn't it? Rest assured, I'm riding high on a Star Wars wave which'll keep me pumping out regular editions of this column for a few weeks, at least! Today, I'll share with you an excerpt of my Chaos Rising review, which... Continue Reading →
The world of middle-grade fantasy fiction must be charming indeed, if Jack Meggitt-Phillips' debut is anything to judge by. The Beast and the Bethany is the charming story of 511-year-old Ebeneezer Tweezer, the most selfish man in all the world; and of the orphan Bethany, the naughtiest kid in all her orphanage. What connects these... Continue Reading →
Over the last ten months, I've began to look to Rachel Cusk's work with a reverence bordering on religious fervour. Her Outline trilogy* is revelatory, and does what few novels ever manage - it updates character, changes the narrator's role to little more than a lens to look through. Further, it sacrifices that central individuality... Continue Reading →
This is my penultimate Philip Marlowe novel and I am so happy with it, you guys. The Little Sister is as self-reflective, exhausted and close to broken that I've seen Raymond Chandler's PI get. He's not having an easy time with what promised to be a simple enough missing person case, full of deceptive femme... Continue Reading →
Series: The Black Iron Legacy # 1Published by: OrbitGenre: Dark Fantasy, Grimdark, High FantasyPages: 544 (kindle edition)Review Format: e-bookPurchased Copy. I enjoy playing catch-up at year’s end – time is ever a limited resource and great books fall through the cracks more often than I’d like. One such prime example is The Gutter Prayer by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan,... Continue Reading →
Previous || Next There is a difference between "Someone stole the priest's thing!" and "The abbot's lover absconded with his most prized Bible!" and that difference is owed to word choice. The more exact the words you make use of, the better. Words are the writer's tools; you'll want to avoid those with a blunted... Continue Reading →
