FANTASY REVIEW: The Hammer - KJ Parker

Release Date: 20/01/11

BOOK BLURB:

The colony was founded seventy years ago. The plan was originally to mine silver, but there turned out not to be any. Now an uneasy peace exists on the island, between the colonists and the once-noble met'Oc, a family in exile on a remote stronghold for their role in a vaguely remembered civil war. The met'Oc are tolerated, in spite of occasional cattle stealing raids, since they alone possess the weapons considered necessary protection in the event of the island's savages becoming hostile. Intelligent, resourceful, and determined, Gignomai is the youngest brother in the current generation of met'Oc. He is about to realise exactly what is expected of him; and what it means to defy his family.


REVIEW:

If there is one thing that you can tell, it’s a KJ Parker novel, the writing style, the prose and the dialogue all scream this author and to be honest you know what you’re going to get, a story with guts, glory and above all else a principle character facing not only personal dilema’s but also overcoming the odds to succeed.

Its definitely beautifully written, the characters vibrant and above all else a dialogue style that really is enjoyable so much so that you feel that you know the principle player pretty well. Back that up with a reasonably paced tale backed up with an established history (The Company) and you know that it’s a title that really will fulfil all the promise of the book blurb.

GUEST BLOG: In Praise of the Personal Essay - Diane Girard

Here's a new feature that we're introducing this year, guest posts by friends of the blog. Here, in the debut, is a post by our friend Diane Girard, writer and observationist...

I enjoy reading and writing personal essays. If your only experience with the essay format was writing the academic essay during your school years, then you could discover that reading a personal essay or perhaps writing one, is not at all boring. It can be fun and even, dare I say it, enlightening. Imagine that! And allow me to tell you why I believe it.

Fortunately, especially for writers like me, a personal essay need not adhere to a strict format. To quote Wikipedia, the source of many definitions, both dubious and correct, “the definition of a personal essay is vague.” Although like any other piece of writing, it should have a subject, thoughts about the subject and an ending, there is room for opinion and for tangential thoughts. It can even include an aside like this one:

My earliest memory of writing an essay for school is not pleasant. We were charged with the task of writing about our summer vacations and I did. Unfortunately, I did it so well that the teacher assumed my mother had written it and she blessed my words with an F.

Personal essays can include anecdotes and mini-stories that illustrate the subject and allow the readers to draw their own conclusions and very occasionally, because it wouldn’t be wise to do it often, they might point gently toward a moral. I use anecdotes frequently and readers tell me they enjoy them.

The focus of a piece can be as small as what kind of pajamas you prefer. In the winter, I like flannelette ones and I have written about them and other types of lingerie, in Keep Those Paws off My Pajamas. Or, the focus can be on something that most people have experienced, or will experience; like the possibly negative effects of gym membership, which I attempted to explain in Fitness Follies: My Life at the Gym. (These essays and others appear on www.seniorwomen.com.)

There is really no limit to what you can write about, provided you are not the only person who would be interested in your thoughts. I’ve considered serious subjects like greed, (the stock market fiasco and the desire for higher and higher returns on money), Canada’s decision not to participate in the Iraq war, and Remembrance Day among other topics.

Since most personal essays are not very long, they do not require the months, and in some cases years of concentration that are required to write a novel. And, if you have are opinionated -- I’ll bet you are -- you have an opportunity to present your personal view on a topic of your choice.

I’ve found it’s the concrete details that make words come to life and since the personal essay is a form of creative non-fiction, an occasional slight exaggeration of the facts is permissible and sometimes more humorous than the literal truth.

I should also tell you that there are a lot of markets for personal essays. You’ll see them on the Op Ed pages of newspapers, in magazines and journals, and collected in books. Although I haven’t worked hard at marketing my essays (I’m lazy) and I don’t write tons of them, they have been published in diverse places including Adbusters Magazine, The Western Producer (newspaper) The Waterloo Record (newspaper) and my blog at http://upwritewoman.blogspot.com/

So, if you are tempted to write one, read some: you can find them everywhere, and then take the plunge. The water is warm and full of other friendly swimmers. Have fun.

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: The Demi-Monde: Winter - Rod Rees

Release Date: 13/01/11

SYNOPSIS:

EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE IN VIRTUAL REALITY. The Demi-Monde is the most advanced computer simulation ever devised. Created to prepare soldiers for the nightmarish reality of urban warfare, it is a virtual world locked in eternal civil war. Its thirty million digital inhabitants are ruled by duplicates of some of history's cruellest tyrants: Reinhard Heydrich, the architect of the Holocaust; Beria, Stalin's arch executioner; Torquemada, the pitiless Inquisitor General; Robespierre, the face of the Reign of Terror. But something has gone badly wrong inside the Demi-Monde, and the US President's daughter has become trapped in this terrible world. It falls to eighteen-year-old Ella Thomas to rescue her, yet once Ella has entered the Demi-Monde she finds that everything is not as it seems, that its cyber-walls are struggling to contain the evil within and that the Real World is in more danger than anyone realises.


REVIEW:

2011 is going to be a year of top quality reads if, the recent selection I’ve read is a cross section of releases is anything to go by. So far, there has been some great crime tales, some serious fantasy and now a science fiction story that just blew me away.

Contained within the pages of this tale by Rod Rees is a tale that has multiple storylines. Part Matrix, part Escape from New York, with a dash of Film Noir and a whole host of imagination. Beautifully written, this title also has a whole host of unforgettable characters which, when blended with a serious kick ass plot alongside a great sense of pace made this book a seriously guilty pleasure to enjoy. So much so that I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that others have hit the “One more chapter” phrase during reading. With over 500 pages the pace hardly lets up and flies by in a flash, so much so I expect a few jobs to have workers taking a day or two off due to lack of sleep. Just don’t hold us accountable if the boss catches you out.

INTERVIEW: Dan Abnett

As huge fans of Dan Abnett with the recent rerelease by Titan of Primeval: Extinction Event (reviewed a few days ago) we thought that it would be best to have a word with the master wordsmith.

So thanks to our Friends at Titan, here for your viewing pleasure is an interview with Dan. Here he talks about what he wish he's learned earlier as well as what to do when faced with critism, its an interview no writer can afford to miss...


Falcata Times: How would you say that your perspective has changed about selling your own work with multiple novels under your belt?

Dan Abnett: It’s given me a greater opportunity to do so. My published work helps me to get people to take me seriously when it’s a project of my own. Over all, there’s no great change. It’s very hard work, and the hardest part is persevering.


FT: How would you sell yourself as an author?

DA: I’d show someone what I’ve done and invite them to read a little. I talk to them about what I can do, and what they might like me to do. Actually, profile is increasingly important, so making myself available on blogs, Facebook, interviews like this one...


FT: How would you say that your experience of writing and publishing has changed your method's of writing?

DA: I lot of what I do is called tie-in or franchise fiction, and the same goes for comics, so I think I’ve developed a fairly decent skill-set when it comes to taking someone’s franchise apart so I can understand it and write in or about it effectively. It’s also taught me to be very dedicated and diligent. A deadline is a serious thing. I don’t just write ‘when the muse takes me’. It’s a proper job.


FT: With the experience that you've gained now, what do you wish you could have told yourself when you were starting out that you now know?

DA: Funnily enough, show don’t tell. So I’d rather have had the experiences to learn from rather than be told about them.


FT: What characteristics of your protagonists do you wish that you had yourself and why?

DA: A thirty-two inch waist and a chainsword?


FT: Which of your characters are most like you and why?

DA: They’ve all got to be a little bit like me, somewhere. There is a characte rint he Inquisition novels called harlon Nayl who I always joke is supposed to be me, but he’s far too heroic and tough. There’s a minor character in Triumff: Her Majesty’s Hero, called William Beaver, who is the hero’s biographer. I think he’s probably more me.


FT: What of lifes little addictions could you not live without and why?

DA: Tea. Movies. Reading. I actually had to give up quite a few of life’s pleasures (like alcohol, coffee and driving) last year when I developed late onset epilepsy. I should be able to drive again soon, but the others are gone forever.


FT: With regular trips for book tours around the country as well as to various Conventions, what is an absolute travel essential that you couldn't do without?

DA: A book. A good book. And a notebook and pen.


FT: Previously you've had some problems when others have critised your work, how do you think you've changed to adapt to it or would you say that you're just the same?

DA: Not sure specifically what you’re referring to. I listen to criticism and try to take things into account. If you can do something that your readers will like more, you should try and do it. But I don’t listen to plain bad-mouthing. Criticism needs to be constructive.


FT: On long journey's, reading is often the pleasure of choice, who's work will you grab at the airport to ensure a good journey?

DA: Peter Temple, Stephen King, Kelly Link, John Buchan, Borges, Lovecraft...


FT: Out of all your novels, which is your favourite and why?

DA: I am very fond of my books, because I’ve spent a lot of time with each one, but the answer has to be it’s always the one I’m working on next...the one I’m most invested in.


FT: With everyone having thier own personal view as to who should be cast in a film version of their work, who do you think should play your principle protagonists and why?

DA: I wouldn’t even know where to begin with that. On my blog, readers regularly come up with their own cast lists and we play the casting game. It changes over time. Ibram Gaunt used to be James Coburn circa The Magnificent Seven, but I’m not sure who he is now.


FT: Authors are generally a superstitious lot and upon completion of novels follow a certain ritual, what is yours and how has it changed from the original?

DA: I don;t know. Does a good long lie-down count? Actually, I usually spend the first day or two after finishing a book tidying the office and the house, doing all the chores that have been put off by the deadline.


FT: What was your impression of an authors lifestyle and status and how has that interpretation changed since you've published a number of books?

DA: I’m not sure what I expected, really. A corona typewriter, an ascot, a villa in the Bahamas, and a cigarette holder. By the time I got there, it was PCs, a tee-shirt, my basement and there was a smoking ban.


FT: What are the best words of wisdom or tip that you'd give to a new or soon to be published author?

DA: Keep reading.

FANTASY REVIEW: Harbinger of the Storm - Aliette De Bodard

Release Date: 12/01/11

SYNOPSIS:

The year is Two House and the Mexica Empire teeters on the brink of destruction, lying vulnerable to the flesh-eating star-demons – and to the return of their creator, a malevolent goddess only held in check by the Protector God’s power.

The council is convening to choose a new emperor, but when a councilman is found dead, only Acatl, High Priest of the Dead, can solve the mystery.

When he hears rumours of a sinister cabal of sorcerors he must face up to demons, not all of them his own.


REVIEW:

Having had problems with Aliette’s principle character in her original release, I wondered how this next title would improve upon what has gone before. Here, Aliette has gone back and done some major reworking which when backed with the depth to which this tale develops allows the reader to find some hooks to get behind for this, the principle player which when added to the hard work and world building of what has gone before makes this something pretty special. Its unique it has a great concept behind and above all else it has mystery and magic which takes this crime thriller into a whole new theatre.

Back that up with some seriously descent prose, some cracking story telling as well as a serious sense of pace which allows the lulls and peaks to take you by surprise and it’s a treat all the way through. Finally back that up with characters that the reader can associate with and you know that Aliette is an author to not only watch but one to set your standards by. Great stuff.

ART BOOK REVIEW: Cartoon 360 - Harry Hamernik

Release Date: 26/11/10

SYNOPSIS:

With the help of this title, readers of all skill levels and ages, particularly beginners who may have little or no experience, learn how to draw a wide variety of fun, simple cartoon people. The author starts with basic lines and shapes, and then lets them in on great secrets to redrawing their characters in many different poses that bring them to life. This encouraging book is loaded with techniques, exercises and step-by-step demonstrations that give readers results that they can be proud of.


REVIEW:

In a world of creativity there has been a lot of information as well as help out there to take your writing to another level as well as aiding you to sell your work. For years finding a lot of information has been hard as well as nearly impossible so it’s a great delight when I originally came across the Writers Market by Writers Digest. Now I find that they also have one for Screenwriters as well as one for the songwriter within.

What this title contains is a guide to helping submit not only your work but also demo’s, some tips to avoid getting ripped off as well as a great guide to finding out about royalties as well as contracts and long term prospects. Add to this some great articles about the industry by people who have been there as well as the usual useful information such as agents, contacts etc. and you’ll never leave this title far from your instrument of choice as well as recorder which makes this a book that will become indispensible and one that will be bought time and again for the Songwriter in your life.

ARTS AND CRAFTS REVIEW: The Songwriters Guide 2011 - The Writers Group

Release Date: 26/11/10

SYNOPSIS:

Containing comprehensive information you need, this book helps you to learn what to do and how to do it.

REVIEW:

In a world of creativity there has been a lot of information as well as help out there to take your writing to another level as well as aiding you to sell your work. For years finding a lot of information has been hard as well as nearly impossible so it’s a great delight when I originally came across the Writers Market by Writers Digest. Now I find that they also have one for Screenwriters as well as one for the songwriter within.

What this title contains is a guide to helping submit not only your work but also demo’s, some tips to avoid getting ripped off as well as a great guide to finding out about royalties as well as contracts and long term prospects. Add to this some great articles about the industry by people who have been there as well as the usual useful information such as agents, contacts etc. and you’ll never leave this title far from your instrument of choice as well as recorder which makes this a book that will become indispensible and one that will be bought time and again for the Songwriter in your life.

CRIME REVIEW: The Killing Place - Tess Gerritsen

Release Date: 24/06/10

BOOK BLURB:

Something terrible has happened in the snowbound village of Kingdom Come, Wyoming. Twelve eerily identical houses stand dark and abandoned. Meals remain untouched on dining room tables. Cars are still parked in garages. The human occupants have vanished, seemingly into thin air. This is the unsettling place where Maura Isles finds herself trapped during a snowstorm. She has joined a group of friends on a drive to an isolated ski lodge, but when a wrong turn leaves her car stranded in deep snow, she stumbles down a private road into the valley of Kingdom Come, where she takes shelter - and disappears. Days later, Jane Rizzoli flies to Wyoming to search for her missing friend. A crashed vehicle has been found with four badly burned bodies still inside. The authorities assume that one of the women is Maura. But is it? Jane Rizzoli's search for the truth leads her to Kingdom Come, where a terrifying and gruesome discovery lies buried beneath the snow.


REVIEW:

As a long time fan of Tess’ writing, it probably won’t come as a surprise to find out that I loved this book. There’s danger, there’s emotional conflict and the reader will have their heart in their mouth for a good part of this tale. Beautifully written, backed up with great supporting characters alongside some top notch dialogue and the reader is in of a real thrill. Add to the mix that the tale can be read as a stand alone and its something that a number of people will soon be turned on to. With luck, so much so that the TV series featuring these characters will be picked up by UK TV.

REISSUE: FANTASY REVIEW: Primeval: Extinction Event - Dan Abnett

Release Date: 23/01/09

BOOK BLURB:

When strange anomalies in time start to appear Professor Cutter and his team have to help track down and capture a multitude of dangerous prehistoric creatures from Earth's distant past...and distant future.An Entelodon goes on the rampage down Oxford Street in central London causing untold damage and loss of life, and Cutter decides a new approach to tackling the anomalies is needed. When a mysterious Russian scientist arrives at the ARC, Cutter thinks he might have found the answer...In this brand new original never-seen-on-TV Primeval adventure Cutter and the team are forced to travel to Siberia to confront an anomaly problem on an epic scale...


REVIEW:

If you’re a fan of the show, then you’ll really love this tale as Abnett puts his twist on the mythos of shows parameters, that of gateways in time to everything from dinosaurs to future species. Well written, gripping and full of action as you’d come to expect from Abnett, add to the mix that its set just before the opening of the third season and it is a tale that must be grabbed and devoured quicker than a T-Rex in an all you can eat steakhouse. Fun, adventurous and hopefully a taste of things to come in this superb series. Titan have done themselves proud by grabbing Abnett for this latest adventure.

DVD REVIEW: Resident Evil: Afterlife - Milla Jovovich, Wentworth Miller, Dir: Paul WS Anderson

Release Date: 10/01/11

SYNOPSIS:

Experience a new dimension in action horror as director Paul W.S. Anderson uses the 3D technology pioneered by James Cameron and Vincent Pace to take movie lovers on a nightmare thrill-ride. It's been five years since the zombie virus swept across the globe, and Alice (Milla Jovovich) is still traveling tirelessly in search of survivors. When the Umbrella Corporation ratchets up the stakes, an old friend turns up to lend Alice a helping hand. Rumor has it that some survivors have found sanctuary in Los Angeles, but when Alice and friends show up they find the city overrun with zombies, and quickly realize they've stumbled into a diabolical trap. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi


REVIEW:

As a huge fan of all things Resident Evil I was a little disappointed with the third film and hoped that they’d really pick things up for this, the fourth. Alas my hopes were dashed as the title started out being ridiculous and ended up keeping the silly outline that felt flat whilst appearing to be nothing we haven’t seen before

Within the film there were nods to Dawn of the Dead as well as the Walking Dead (also with a tip of the hat to a certain villain in Silent Hill) and when backed with what felt like type casting for Wentworth Miller (he starts off in a prison cell) really left me feeling like I didn’t know what the hell the franchise was trying to achieve. Effects wise they seemed to borrow heavily from the Matrix, which whilst cutting edge for its time is now feeling a little more than dated and over used.

Finally back that up with lacklustre plot with the characters just seeking to go from A-B without any real depth or reasoning and you were left with a film that followed a basic set of numbers without achieving anything. I really hope that if a fifth instalment is made that they get someone in to script it that knows what they’re doing or perhaps even open it for fans to writer as I personally felt that they could have done a better job.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch

Release Date: 10/01/11

BOOK BLURB:

My name is Peter Grant and until January I was just probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (as the Filth to everybody else). My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit - we do paperwork so real coppers don't have to - and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Leslie May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from someone who was dead but disturbingly voluable, and that brought me to the attention of Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England. Now I'm a Detective Constable and a trainee wizard, the first apprentice in fifty years, and my world has become somewhat more complicated: nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and goddess of the Thames, and digging up graves in Covent Garden . . . and there's something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious vengeful spirit that takes ordinary Londoners and twists them into grotesque mannequins to act out its drama of violence and despair. The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it's falling to me to bring order out of chaos - or die trying.


REVIEW:

Whilst Ben is known for some of his adaptations, this is his debut urban fantasy based in a world of his own devising. What makes this tale so engaging is that he’s taken a London that many are familiar with, added a secretive branch of the London Met and backed it up with a cracking paced, action packed story arc with some magic, some ghosts and of course a villain of huge proportions.

Back that up with a fairly unique voice as well as some great characters that you can’t help but care about and its going to be interesting to see what arrives from Ben’s imagination. US readers please be aware that this book has been released in the US as Midnight Riot. All in a great start to a very promising series and one that will be popular with fans of Mike Carey’s Felix Castor alongside Suzanne McLeod’s Spellcracker series which makes this a British Institution in the making.

ART BOOK REVIEW: Draw Comic Book Action - Lee Garbett

Release Date: 05/11/10

BOOK BLURB:

Superhero feats and exhilarating fights are the climax of a comic book; with How to Draw Comic Book Action you will learn to draw this fun and vital part of comic art. Techniques for drawing every dynamic action are explained from running, swinging and flying through to fist fights, group rumbles, and battles.


REVIEW:

If you’re a fan of comics then you more than likely have come across a lot of action sequences by Lee Garbett. Whether its through Batgirl or perhaps the now almost legendary Batman RIP as well as cult favourites like Strontium Dog. So who is better qualified to take the reader through a step by step guide on how to get action into your own sequences as well as helping you to avoid the cunningly concealed pitfalls and traps that many beginners and amateurs fall into.

Whilst Lee won’t take you through anatomy, he does take you through the various steps from finding your medium (some like pencils, some like computers etc) as well as through the various poses and construction to help create the hero of your imagination. Add to this a step by step guide to lighting, angles and action shots and you know that you’ll not only end up with something special but something that can help take your graphic novel to the next level. All in, this title is a real find and one that takes the time to explain why things are done in certain ways rather than others alongside giving the reader the chance to understand as well as take the lessons to heart in order to avoid a lot of major problems. Great stuff all in and one that will be used time and again.

2011 Book Challenges

Hail Mighty Readers,
As fan's of all things written, we thought that we should perhaps take up some book challenges for the year, after all nothing feels sweeter than acheiving your goal and carrying the flag to help not only authors but also readers find that something special.

As such, we'll be adding more challanges as we hear about them and feel that we're not only supporting the written word but also bringing new talent to the fore.

We'll hope you too will join.

So far our challenges for the year include:
100 Books in a Year set by Book Chick City (100 Books)
Mystery and Suspense Challenge by Book Chick City (12 Books)
Horror and Urban Fantasy Challenge by Book Chick City (24 Books)
New Author Challenge - Literary Escapism (50 Books)
Fantasy Reading Challenge - Darlyn and Books (30 Books)
Chivalrous Deeds - Bippity Boppity Book (unlimited)

All the best with your own challenges as well as enjoying the new year,


Gareth

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: Engineering Infinity - Ed. Jonathan Straham

Release Date: 06/01/11

BOOK BLURB:

The universe shifts and changes: suddenly you understand, you get it, and are filled with a sense of wonder. That moment of understanding drives the greatest science-fiction stories and lies at the heart of Engineering Infinity. Whether it's coming up hard against the speed of light and, with it, the enormity of the universe, realising that terraforming a distant world is harder and more dangerous than you'd ever thought, or simply realising that a hitchhiker on a starship consumes fuel and oxygen with tragic results, it's hard science-fiction where sense of wonder is most often found and where science-fiction's true heart lies. This exciting and innovative anthology collects together stories by some of the biggest names in the field, including Stephen Baxter, Charles Stross and Greg Bear.


REVIEW:

With the science fiction genre taking off, there’s a huge choice about the subgenres for readers to pick from, so how do you narrow it down what to try and especially with finances getting tighter who is worth spending your hard earned cash on?

Well worry no more. What has been created in this title is a book full of Hard Science Fiction, with authors like Stephen Baxter, Charles Stoss and Gynneth Jones whilst also bringing new talent to the fore such as Hannu Rajaniemi. Each individual tale brings a whole host of talent to the fore as well as bringing some great storytelling alongside great prose. It’s a serious piece of fiction and one that deserves a lot of readers attention whilst allowing readers to try people new as well as a chance to get involved in the harder edge of the genre.

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: The Age of Odin - James Lovegrove

Release Date: 06/01/11

BOOK BLURB:

Gideon Dixon was a good solider but bad at everything else. Now the British Army doesn't want him any more. So when he hears about the Valhalla Project it seems like a dream come true. They're recruiting fromer service personnel for execellent pay, no questions asked, to take part in unspecified combat operations. The last thing Gideon expects is to finding himself fighting alongside the gods of the ancient Norse pantheon. The world is in the grip of one of the worst winters it has ever known, and Ragnarok-the fabled final conflict of the Sagas-is looming.


REVIEW:

As with the previous two titles in this series, Age of Odin brings an ancient Pantheon back to the modern day and reimagines events that unfold as they prepare for a catastrophe. Whilst you do get to follow the tale from an everyman point of view (in this case through the eyes of Gideon Coxall who discovers more about himself as he aides the gods in their predestined war. Beautifully written, this, the third part in the trilogy is perhaps James’ best work to date, each has built upon the successes of the previous titles and when backed with solid plot, great prose and a serious amount of world construction alongside research you know that this series will hit the spot.

All in a seriously great bit of fun and whilst you have to keep your brain fully engaged the subtle changes and nuances from the original mythology will more than please readers making this a great title and one that really has set the standards for 2011.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Death's Disciples - J Robert King

Release Date: 06/01/11

BOOK BLURB:

SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS DEAD.

When she woke up in the hospital, she could barely remember getting on the flight, let alone the terrorist bomb of which she was the only survivor.

But she can hear the voices in her head, for they are the spirits of the dead passengers. They cannot rest until they have delivered their terrifying message: the terrorists know she survived.

And they’re coming for her!


REVIEW:

J Robert King is the type of author who lets you think that you have your finger on the pulse and know what’s coming, just before he pulls the rug out from underneath you. That’s exactly what you get with this title and the author makes no apologies for keeping you up in the air.

It is beautifully written, it has some great prose and backed with a story arc that really does leave you wondering where you turned into the Twilight Zone from the Outer Limits. Whilst this is absolutely amazing what King does well is create characters that you care about and once he’s gotten his claws into you, its pretty darn hard for him to let you go. All in a fun read and one that really played with the imagination so much so that it just has to be made into a film.

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: Warhammer 40K: Horus Heresy: Propero Burns - Dan Abnett

Release Date: 06/01/11

BOOK BLURB:

The Emperor is enraged. Primarch Magnus the Red, of the Thousand Sons Legion, has made a catastrophic mistake that endangers the safety of Terra. With no other choice, the Emperor charges Leman Russ, Primarch of the Space Wolves, with the apprehension of his brother from the Thousand Sons home world of Prospero. This planet of sorcerers will not be easy to overcome, but Russ and his Space Wolves are not easily deterred. With wrath in his heart, Russ is determined to bring Magnus to justice and cause the fall of Prospero.


REVIEW:

Fans of the Horus Heresy will absolutely love this title as the Space Wolves take to the fore in this epic story. Add to the mix the typical Abnett charm, a good dollop of combat meted out alongside some seriously good dialogue and prose which will leave the reader sated at the tales conclusion.

Finally add the fact that this title really adds to the overall story arc of the Heresy in such a way that its going to follow key events and the readers will find that they’ve got that something special that only Abnett can bring to the table. A great title and a serious Science Fiction title to kick off the New Year with.

HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: The Oath (Templar 28) - Michael Jecks

Release Date: 06/01/11

BOOK BLURB:

1326. In an England riven with conflict, knight and peasant alike find their lives turned upside down by the warring factions of Edward II, with his hated favourite, Hugh le Despenser, and Edward's estranged queen Isabella and her lover, Sir Roger Mortimer. Yet even in such times the brutal slaughter of an entire family, right down to a babe in arms, still has the power to shock. Three further murders follow, and bailiff Simon Puttock is drawn into a web of intrigue, vengeance, power and greed as Roger Mortimer charges him to investigate the killings. Michael Jecks brilliantly evokes the turmoil of fourteenth-century England, as his well-loved characters Simon Puttock and Sir Baldwin de Furnshill strive to maintain the principles of loyalty and truth.


REVIEW:

Readers who love Historical Fiction set in the time of the Black Prince will absolutely love this title by Michael Jecks. Its got something for every fan. You want combat, you got it, you want a serious storyline, you’ve got that as well. Add to the mix some good solid prose, a great understanding of dialogue and an overall story arc that’s going to take the reader on an adventure over the next few titles.

Seriously good fun and one that will take the reader on an adventure that will keep them glued to the last page as you try to figure out exactly what’s happening. Great stuff.

FANTASY REVIEW: Warhammer Fantasy: Time of Legend's: Sigmar Trilogy 3: God King - Graham McNeill

Release Date: 06/01/10

BOOK BLURB:

Sigmar, the first Emperor, is a god amongst men, a peerless leader and an unbreakable warrior. Having defeated the Chaos invasion of Middenheim, the Empire knows a measure of peace. But in the vast deserts of Nehekhara, another empire is rising. Nagash, the most feared of necromancers, is determined to claim dominance over the Old World, crushing all before him with an unstoppable and nightmarish army. Legions of unnatural creatures swarm the Empire. Sigmar must defend the lands of the living from the hordes of the dead and prevent Nagash's terrible vision of power coming true.


REVIEW:

Fans of the Time of Legends series will have been biting at the bit to get their hands on this title by David Gemmell Legend Award Winner Graham McNeill’s third part of the Sigmar Trilogy. Within is a tale deeply woven within the mythos of the Warhammer world and one where two of the world’s heavyweights prepare to meet each other in a battle to the Death (or Undeath in one of the combatant’s cases.)

Woven to the level that this title not only demands but deserves, Graham’s prose alongside his almost eldritch ability to interweave a tale with known facts makes this one of his best books to date. Add a huge dollop of serious combat alongside massive bloodshed and you know that it’s a battle that will have fans talking about it for ages.

Finally add to this some great dialogue as well as some seriously good battlefield humour and the reader will not leave this series disheartened, a serious reread may just be around the corner and to be honest with you, I started the whole series from scratch just so that I could relive the epic life of the Empires greatest hero.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Autumn - David Moody

Release Date: 28/10/10

BOOK BLURB:

In less than twenty-four hours a vicious and virulent viral epidemic destroys virtually all of the population. Billions are killed, within minutes. There are no symptoms and no warnings; within moments of infection each victim suffers a violent and agonising death. At the end of ten minutes, only a handful of survivors remain. By the end of the first day those survivors wish they were dead. By the end of the first week, as the dead get up and walk, they know they are in hell.


REVIEW:

David Moody is one of those authors who can definitely talk the talk on the book blurb, but at times his writing is pretty similar and can leave the reader feeling a little cheated in much the way that they did in his last release in the Haters series. Here in this book, you get a story that has emotional content and if that’s what you want in a book blended with a tale of zombies then its going to be ideal. However if you want blood, guts and brain matter everywhere this may not be your best choice.

All in it’s definitely cleverly written with the lead character having some great hooks to keep you going and personally generated a story that I found acceptable if not totally novel in its concept. A good bit of escapism all in and with the way that the weathers set in could be something that might keep you interested whilst you ignore the cold outside.

CRIME REVIEW: The Blue Demon - David Hewson

Release Date: 26/02/10

BOOK BLURB:

Twenty years ago, a mysterious group called the Blue Demon committed a series of bizarre and ritualistic crimes evoking the legacy of the lost race of the Etruscans, and leaving in their wake a group of dead students, a murdered couple, a cryptic message and a kidnapped child. Now, the leaders of the G8 are descending on Rome for a summit at the Quirinale Palace. But when a politician is found ritually murdered, seemingly by a strange young man dressed as an Etruscan god, detective Nic Costa suspects that the old case was never really solved. The Blue Demon appear to have returned - and planning, under the leadership of the fanatical Andrea Petrakis, to unleash a devastating sequence of attacks on the city. As Costa and his team start to dig deeper into the past, they find that there are still too many unanswered questions - and much more to the history of the Blue Demon than anyone wants to admit..


REVIEW:

Having had a disappointing offering prior to this title, it was clear to a number of Hewson fan’s that he’d have to do something special to re-establish the connection that readers had prior to its release. What unfurls is an offering (sacrificial even) on a scale that the fans have been demanding, you’ve got old pantheon mythology blended with modern psychological thriller tied up within a crime mystery. It’s pretty exciting and was an offering that I really enjoyed. Whilst Dan Brown may be the current master of the genre, Hewson isn’t far behind in my estimation.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Ghostwalker 12: Ruthless Game - Christine Feehan

Release Date: 31/12/10

BOOK BLURB:

On a mission to rescue hostages in Mexico, the last thing GhostWalker Kane Cannon expects to find is Rose Patterson - fellow GhostWalker, fugitive, and pregnant with his child. Forced into a breeding program by Dr Whitney, Rose escaped with the help of Kane after she was impregnated by him, but despite Kane's desperate need to keep her close to him, she has eluded him ...until now. But does she feel the same passion for him that he feels for her?


REVIEW:

Christine is not only an established name within the Urban Fantasy genre but she’s good at what she does, that is the Urban Fantasy Love story. You want a love story/interest, you got it. You want a kick ass heroine, you got that and if you want a descent story that continues to develop the already established series, you’ve got that as well.

Add to the mix a well written title, characters that just ooze confidence and sex appeal backed up with some good solid prose and tempting dialogue then you really have to get some of this authors work. Great stuff although on a side note, start at the beginning of the series otherwise you’ll miss not only some key background information but a lot of the journey to date that places this title in the context it needs to be read in.

FANTASY REVIEW: Stormlight Archives 1: The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson

Release Date: 30/12/10

BOOK BLURB:

According to mythology mankind used to live in The Tranquiline Halls. Heaven. But then the Voidbringers assaulted and captured heaven, casting out God and men. Men took root on Roshar, the world of storms. And the Voidbringers followed . . . They came against man ten thousand times. To help them cope, the Almighty gave men powerful suits of armor and mystical weapons, known as Shardblades. Led by ten angelic Heralds and ten orders of knights known as Radiants, mankind finally won. Or so the legends say. Today, the only remnants of those supposed battles are the Shardblades, the possession of which makes a man nearly invincible on the battlefield. The entire world is at war with itself - and has been for centuries since the Radiants turned against mankind. Kings strive to win more Shardblades, each secretly wishing to be the one who will finally unite all of mankind under a single throne. On a world scoured down to the rock by terrifying hurricanes that blow through every few day a young spearman forced into the army of a Shardbearer, led to war against an enemy he doesn't understand and doesn't really want to fight. What happened deep in mankind's past? Why did the Radiants turn against mankind, and what happened to the magic they used to wield?


REVIEW:

With all the time that this author is devoting to finishing the Wheel of Time, it’s a surprise that he has the time let alone the energy to create a new title of his own. Yet here, just before years end, is a brand new series by Brandon that just leaps from the pages into the readers imagination.

Within this book you get a story of adventure, of discovery and of mystery in a world that has been epically built. Whilst parts may seem a little strange, it’s the myriad of characters (both main and secondary) that demonstrates not only Brandon’s skill at weaving a tale but creating a world that the reader will just love to spend time in. Whilst most first novels in a new series are devoted more to world building and allowing the reader to get to grips with it, this one throws you in at the deep end and with a rather steep learning curve. It’s definitely creative, it’s definitely got something unique and demonstrates why this author has been allowed to finish the vision of Jordan’s world.

All in, Brandon is perhaps one of the most creative fantasy writers of the moment and with many other the epic series winding down, is definitely offering the readers a choice of a new selection of heroes to follow in a magical world of his own. A real treat and with the way that the weathers set in, perhaps one of the best ways to see the new year in. Great stuff.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Of Saints and Shadows - Christopher Golden

Release Date: 14/03/10

BOOK BLURB:

A secret sect of the Catholic Church, armed with an ancient book of the undead called The Gospel of Shadows, has been slowly destroying vampires for centuries. Now the book has been stolen, and the sect races to retrieve it before their purpose is discovered: a final purge of all vampires. As the line between saints and shadows grows ominously faint, private eye Peter Octavian is drawn into the search. And he'll do anything to find the book ...for Peter Octavian is also a vampire. Ostracized by his kindred for refusing to take part in the 'blood song', he cannot stand by and watch while they are destroyed. In a deadly game with a driven, sadistic assassin, the trail leads to Venice at the time of carnival, where the Defiant Ones, as the vampires are known, are engaged in a savage battle for their lives. Filled with plot twists, mystery, sex and violent death, Of Saints and Shadows is a spine-tingling thriller which opens the door to the world of The Shadow Saga.


REVIEW:

Fans of the fang will undoubtedly be looking for something a little different compared to a number of the titles out there, and boy, do you get it with this offering from Christopher Golden. There’s a secret war, some literal secrets and above all else a kick ass leading man who the readers will just fall for. He’s got it all, fangs, good looks and above all else demonstrates that a body can morph into the various legends that few other authors feel that they can tackle. Add to the mix a serious supporting cast, some great dialogue alongside some descent pace bound up with a good number of twists and you know that the reader will be more than satisfied with this offering.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Pleasure of a Dark Prince - Kresley Cole

Release Date: 14/03/10

BOOK BLURB:

Can the beast seduce a beauty and make her love him...? A promise of pleasure ...from a brutal warrior determined to protect her. Never far from her bow, Lucia the Huntress is as mysterious as she is beautiful. But the secrets she harbors could destroy her-and those she loves-and every day brings more danger. It isn't safe for her to be with Garreth MacRieve, yet whenever she sees the fierce werewolf with his smoldering eyes, she finds herself surrendering to his kiss. An uncontrollable need ...that can only be sated with her touch. From the shadows, Garreth, prince of the Lykae, has long watched over Lucia, the lovely little Valkyrie who alternately maddens him and inflames his lust. He aches to claim the seductive creature as his own and keep her safe from harm, but first he must convince her to accept him as her guardian. To do that he'll exploit Lucia's greatest weakness-her desire for him.


REVIEW:

Having not read Kresley’s work before I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this offering. However what unfurled from what I can gather from friends who are fans is a tale that has been demanded for quite sometime. Whilst the plot is pretty big, I was firstly treated to a huge amount of backstory which put a lot of the events into context, however fans of the author may not be so enthused with this huge infodump. The characters are interesting, the love angle pretty intense and all in was a good bit of escapism for me as a reader. I’ll more than likely look into Kresley’s previous offerings when I get a bit more time.

HORROR REVIEW: A Dark Matter - Peter Straub

Release Date: 18/03/10

BOOK BLURB:

The charismatic and cunning Spenser Mallon is a campus guru in the 1960s, attracting the devotion and demanding sexual favors of his young acolytes. After he invites his most fervent followers to attend a secret ritual in a local meadow, the only thing that remains is a gruesomely dismembered body-and the shattered souls of all who were present. Years later, one man attempts to understand what happened to his wife and to his friends by writing a book about this horrible night, and it's through this process that they begin to examine the unspeakable events that have bound them in ways they cannot fathom, but that have haunted every one of them through their lives. As each of the old friends tries to come to grips with the darkness of the past, they find themselves face-to-face with the evil triggered so many years earlier. Unfolding through the individual stories of the fated group's members, A Dark Matter is an electric, chilling, and unpredictable novel that will satisfy Peter Straub's many ardent fans, and win him legions more.


REVIEW:

To be honest about Straub, I tend to find that he’s either hit or miss for me as an author. Whilst a lot of authors love to write and can constantly produce quality titles there is a select group that seem to fall back on grabbing short story offerings and lengthening to full novel wordage, which is sadly the case with this release from this author. It’s long, it’s overly drawn out and to be honest you really need to save your pennies for something better out there as this really isn’t up to much. I just hope that he produces something a little better next time and doesn’t take the lazy route next time as otherwise a lot of readers will soon vote with their pockets.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Pax Britannia: Ulysses Quicksilver 6: Dark Side - Jonathan Green

Release Date: 30/11/10

BOOK BLURB:

Ulysses Quicksilver visits the British lunar colonies, searching for his missing brother, Barty, believed to be on the run from gambling debts on Earth. The clues lead our detective and his faithful butler into the path of unsolved murders, battling robots, shady millionaries and stolen uncanny inventions. Used to working inside the law, Ulysses is stalled when his pursuit puts him on the wrong side of the Luna Prime Police Force. But why is Ulysses' ex-fiancee Emilia also in the colonies? Who is the strange eye-patched man following Ulysses? And what is really happening in a secret base on the dark side of the moon? Used to meeting every adventure with a devil-may-care attitude and a snappy one-liner, Ulysses will be forever changed by the revelations he discovers on this most deadly of trips.


REVIEW:

Fan’s of Jonathan’s Ulysses Quicksilver will be rushing and demanding this title quicker than Nimrod can pour a stiff brandy.

As usual, Jonathan’s writing is wonderfully descriptive alongside bringing a more vulnerable Quicksilver to the fore. Green’s latest title bring Steampunk Victoriana to the readers imagination so much so, that it’s going to be a long wait for Anno Frankenstein.

Finally, add some great dialogue alongside a return of an old friend or two which makes this Quicksilvers finest exploit to date. Whilst you can read this without having read the previous five, you’ll have lost a lot of background as well as some serious world building which generates its own head of steam that will be hard to stop once you get going.