YOUNG ADULT FANTASY REVIEW: Miss Felicty Beedles The World of Poo - Terry Pratchett

Release Date: 07/06/12

SYNOPSIS:

From "Snuff": 'Vimes' prompt arrival got a nod of approval from Sybil, who gingerly handed him a new book to read to Young Sam. Vimes looked at the cover. The title was "The World of Poo". When his wife was out of eyeshot he carefully leafed through it. Well, okay, you had to accept that the world had moved on and these days fairy stories were probably not going to be about twinkly little things with wings. As he turned page after page, it dawned on him that whoever had written this book, they certainly knew what would make kids like Young Sam laugh until they were nearly sick. The bit about sailing down the river almost made him smile. But interspersed with the scatology was actually quite interesting stuff about septic tanks and dunnakin divers and gongfermors and how dog muck helped make the very best leather, and other things that you never thought you would need to know, but once heard somehow lodged in your mind.


REVIEW:

I’ve been a fan of Terry’s work for years and absolutely loved his Where’s my Cow book for the young reader. As such I expected something similar this time especially after the descriptions within Snuff, but was sadly mistaken. Don’t get me wrong it is a fun read, but its more an informative book as the lead character collects “samples” for his museum rather than a fun journey around Ankh Morpork I was expecting with Sam Vimes making the grunts and noises along the lines of What noise does Foul Ol Ron make “Oooohhh, its hard buggeritt.”

All in this was a bit of a disappointment but for the young reader (around 8) it could well be a book to interest them although perhaps not quite the way that a lot of the toilet humour will.

FANTASY REVIEW: Warhammer Fantasy: Ulrika the Vampire 3: Bloodsworn - Nathan Long

Release Date: 07/06/12

SYNOPSIS:

I turned to Luke and reached for him. My blood felt as though it had seized up in my veins. "Lanny, what is it?" Luke asked. I clutched his lapel desperately "It's Adair. He's free". For 200 years she's been hiding. He gave her immortality. She tried to destroy him. Now he is searching for her. They must not meet. Or there will be a reckoning.


REVIEW:

Ulrika has really been through the ringer, whether its during her adventures with Felix and Gotrek or after she’s been turned but events within this title bring things to the fore as she has to war against her new instincts alongside what has gone before. The inner turmoil is presented well, the characters interactions vying against her character and when added to Nathan’s prose that leave little space for nonsense.

Add to this some solid combat, a great deal of double dealing with the addition of politics and this title is perhaps Ulrika’s most comprehensive battle yet. Great stuff all in.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Psy-Changeling Series 17: Tangle of Need - Nalini Singh

Release Date: 07/06/12

SYNOPSIS:

Adria, wolf changeling and resilient soldier, has made a break with the past. Now comes a new territory, and a devastating new complication: Riaz, a SnowDancer lieutenant already sworn to someone else. For Riaz, the primal attraction he feels for Adria is a staggering betrayal. For Adria, his dangerous lone-wolf appeal is beyond sexual. It consumes her. It terrifies her. It threatens to undermine everything she has built of her new life. But fighting their wild compulsion toward one another proves a losing battle. Their coming together is an inferno ...and a melding of two wounded souls who promise each other no commitment, no ties, no bonds. Only pleasure. Too late, they realise that they have more to lose than they ever imagined. Drawn into a cataclysmic Psy war that may alter the fate of the world itself, they must make a decision that might just break them both.


REVIEW:

With some author’s feeling that what you need is sex after sex scene, as a reader I want something that allows the passion to develop organically and feel right for the characters. What Nalini Singh’s writing does is allow all that but works by carefully building the characters so that they have multifaceted emotions and that everything that happens feels that it takes not only time but also a lot of work on their parts.

In this, the 17th Instalment of the Psy-Changeling series the author builds complex emotional context alongside a wonderfully woven and inventive story. It has some wonderful touches with great pace, solid prose and of course dialogue that is not only addictive to read but really draws you in as a reader. Finally add to the mix a bit of a cliff-hanger and the readers really will be demanding the next instalment to find out how events unfold.

FANTASY REVIEW: DestinyQuest 1: The Legion of Shadow - Michael J Ward

Release Date: 17/05/12

SYNOPSIS:

You have no memory of your past. With only a sword and a backpack to your name, you must discover your destiny in an unfamiliar world full of monsters and magic. As you guide your hero through this epic adventure, you will be choosing the danger that they face, the monsters that they fight and the treasures that they find. Every decision that you make will have an impact on the story - and, ultimately, the fate of your hero. With hundreds of special items to discover in each book, you can completely customise your hero. You can choose their weapons, their armour, their special abilities - even the boots on their feet and the cloak on their back! No two heroes will ever be alike, which means your hero will always be unique to you. Welcome to a new world. Welcome to Valeron. Welcome to DestinyQuest.


REVIEW:

For those of us with a certain age you’ll have fond memories of Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson’s Fighting Fantasy that started with Warlock of Firetop Mountain and with these memories comes nostalgia alongside a want to recapture those days. So into this arena steps Michael J Ward with a modern retake on these classics.

What you get within this, the first book of the series, is a story that works its numerous ways through the quests where what you’ve done prior can effect what you’ve undergone before. Add to this fun maps to follow alongside a writer who has a whole host of additions alongside a simple, easy to follow combat system and its hours of fun within. For me I loved revisiting this genre and will eagerly await others in the series, the only thing that I’d perhaps recommend would be a laminated pull out for the stats in order for you to keep up with whats what, and also perhaps pull out maps to help make things easier. That said, it was fun and I absolutely loved getting back to my roleplaying roots. Great stuff.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Anita Blake 21: Kiss the Dead - Laurell K Hamilton

Release Date: 07/06/12

SYNOPSIS:

Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton returns with another exciting, thrilling and addictive adventure for her vampire hunting heroine Anita Blake. I knew without doubt that if any more of the vampires tried to attack us I'd kill them, too, regardless of apparent age, race, sex, or religious affiliations. I was an equal-opportunity executioner; I killed everybody. My name is Anita Blake and I am a vampire hunter and necromancer, as well as a US Marshal. So when a fifteen-year-old girl is abducted by vampires, it's up to me to find her. And when I do, I'm faced with something I've never seen before: a terrifyingly ordinary group of people - kids, grandparents, soccer moms - all recently turned and willing to die to avoid serving their vampire master. And where there's one martyr, I know there will be more...But even vampires have monsters that they're afraid of. And I'm one of them...


REVIEW:

To be honest I think that Anita should be allowed to rest for a while as to me this book felt more like a filler than anything else. Not a lot was accomplished and whilst the sex was restrained about half the title, once it started it really didn’t stop. It’s disappointing and a real let down for someone who has been a fan of the series for years.

All in, in my opinion, the book is a disappointment and not worth shelling out the full price for, if you want it to keep your collection looking nice, that’s one thing, but when it feels that it is just a case of what can I do, insert (no pun intended) sex scene here or emotional inner turmoil then it really does leave you wondering about motivation for the character as well as if you really want to keep reading as a paying customer.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: The Concrete Grove 2: Silent Voices - Gary McMahon

Release Date: 12/04/12

SYNOPSIS:

Twenty years ago three young boys staggered out of an old building, tired and dirty yet otherwise unharmed. Missing for a weekend, the boys had no idea of where they'd been. But they all shared the same vague memory of a shadowed woodland grove…and they swore they'd been gone for only an hour. When Simon returns to the Concrete Grove to see his old friends and unearth painful memories from his childhood, things once buried begin to claw their way back to the surface. The hummingbirds are flying again, bringing a warning of something terrible. Bad dreams take on physical form and walk the streets of the estate. A dark, hideously patient entity is calling once again from the shadows, reaching out towards three terrified boys who have now grown into emotionally damaged men. And the past is about to catch up with them all, staining their lives with a darkness they could never truly escape. Welcome back to the Concrete Grove. The place you can never really leave...


REVIEW:

Following on from Gary’s previous title Concrete Grove, this tale brings together three characters that readers will love as this horror story wends its way into the darkest recesses of your mind. Its quirky, it brings together a bleakness that few have explored and really sets itself up well as a second book in a trilogy.

Add to this Gary’s unnerving ability to work on the readers own fears as well as giving them an adrenaline packed adventure and all in this is a book that really should be read in sunlit hours rather than in the depth of the night. Cracking fun and with Gary’s usual ability to add a spartanesque descriptive prose that speak volumes alongside a tightly woven story leave the reader in no doubt that this could be a new British Classic horror series that is just demanding either a TV series or film.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: The Armageddon Rag - George RR Martin

Release Date: 12/04/12

SYNOPSIS:

Onetime underground journalist Sandy Blair has traveled far from his radical roots in the '60s-until the bizarre and brutal murder of a millionaire rock promoter draws him back. As Sandy sets out to investigate the crime, he finds himself on a magical mystery tour of the pent-up passions of his generation. For a new messiah has resurrected the once legendary rock band Nazgul-but with an apocalyptic new beat that is a requiem of demonism, mind control, and death only Sandy may be able to change in time...


REVIEW:

Whilst this tale was released in 2007 for many readers of GRRM, its one that will be new to them and probably rereleased to fulfil readers demands whilst awaiting the next instalment from the Song of Fire and Ice series. As with all of Georges work, it repeats certain themes that are not only familiar but also allows the reader to delve into a world that has a reality about it that is hard to not love.

It’s cunningly crafted, brings back the good old days of rock and when backed with a lead protagonist that is not only knowledgeable but one you want to spend time around, gives the reader a murder mystery that will keep them gripped from start to finish. Back that up with George’s dry wit, a bit of mischief and of course a tale that is every bit as mysterious as the fantasy tales and all in the reader will be hooked. Great stuff.

NEWS: David Gemmell Legend Award Winners Announced

Hail Mighty Readers,

Hot off the press is this years announcement for the winners of the David Gemmell Legend Award and thier special announcement about next years ceremony.  The information is as follows:

 "This year’s David Gemmell Awards For Fantasy were presented tonight in a ceremony held at London’s Magic Circle headquarters.

The winners were:
Ravenheart Award (best cover art): Raymond Swanland - Blood of Aenarion
Morningstar Award (best debut): Helen Lowe - Heir of Night
Legend Award (best novel): Patrick Rothfuss - The Wiseman's Fear

For further details, or to request photos of the ceremony, please reply to stanjnicholls@tiscali.co.uk or millerlau@clara.co.uk


2013: The Gemmell Awards and World Fantasy Convention

We were also pleased to announce this evening that next year’s Gemmell Awards ceremony will take place as part of 2013’s World Fantasy Convention.

The convention takes place in Brighton, UK between 31st October and
3rd November.  The only other times that the World Fantasy Convention has moved outside North America was in 1988 and 1997, when it was staged in London, so we feel privileged to be a part of this prestigious international event.

Held at Brighton’s Metropole Hotel and the West Pier, WFC 2013 boasts an impressive line-up of honoured guests, including Richard Matheson, Richard Christian Matheson, Brian Aldiss, Alan Lee and Tessa Farmer.  The Master of Ceremonies is China Mieville; and a host of other authors, artists, publishers and industry insiders will also be attending.

For full details of the convention visit the official website at http://wfc2013.org/

We hope to see as many of our regular attendees and supporters as possible at WFC 2013.  

As the Gemmell Awards will be presented in October/November next year, and not in mid-June as usual, we’ll be altering our voting cycle to accommodate the change of date.  To keep abreast of the changes check the awards website - http://gemmellaward.ning.com/ - where you can sign-up for our free newsletter.  The change of venue and date is for one year only - 2014 will see the awards returning to the Magic Circle. "

HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: A Ship of War - Sean Thomas Russell

Release Date: 29/03/12

SYNOPSIS:

It's 1794, the height of the French Revolution. Charles Hayden sets off aboard the ill-fated HMS Themis with orders to destroy a French frigate sailing from Le Havre and to gather intelligence from a royalist spy. On discovering French plans for an imminent invasion of England, Hayden must return to Portsmouth to give warning before it's too late. But the enemy have been lying in wait for him, and so begins a dangerous chase out into the Atlantic and into the clutches of a powerful French squadron. After a failed attempt to masquerade as French sailors, Hayden and his officers are taken prisoner. A shipwreck following a storm and a case of mistaken identity befall Hayden and his men as they try in desperation to escape in order to warn the Lords of the Admiralty. Failure will mean the invasion of England - and the guillotine for Hayden.


REVIEW:

For me, Sean is one of these authors who does extremely well as turning his hand to multiple genre writing, always presenting a story that not only thrills but keeps you firmly within its fist from the first chapter onwards. As usual with his Historical Fiction the reader is transported back in time with the authors wonderful ability to bring the scenes to life with wonderful prose alongside an ability to almost have you feeling the sea breeze on your face.

It’s got some wonderful twists, a great set of prose alongside a pace that is hard to live up to as each new elements wends its way into the readers imagination that makes it extremely difficult to put down. All in another great adventure and one that I loved from start to finish. Magic.

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: Exogene - TC McCarthy

Release Date: 15/03/12

SYNOPSIS:

Catherine is a soldier. Fast, strong, lethal, she is the ultimate in military technology. Bred by scientists, indoctrinated by the government, she and her sisters will win this war, no matter the cost. And the costs are high. The life span of these genetic soldiers is short, and they become unstable as they age. Then on their eighteenth birthday, when their duty is fulfilled, they are discharged - lined up and shot. But the truth is, Catherine and her sisters may not be strictly human, but they aren't animals either. Catherine may have only known death, but she dreams of life - and is prepared to pay any price to get it.


REVIEW:

Having loved TC’s first title Germline, I really couldn’t wait to embark into this dark future society again as it was not only inventive but had all the elements to not only continue to kick ass with the wars but bring to the fore the chance to get to know the Warrior Female Clones to the fore who are the super soldiers. Its well written, the lead characters point of view wonderfully understandable for a reader and expands to increase the readers comprehension of these characters that was glimpsed in the previous instalment.

Add to this a great understanding of pace, some solid dialogue and a whole new set of characters to help flesh out this dark world and all in you can’t help but fail to enjoy TC’s writing. Great stuff for me.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Home Improvements: Undead Edition - Ed. Charlaine Harris and Toni LP Kelner

Release Date: 01/03/12

SYNOPSIS:

There's nothing like home renovation for finding skeletons in the closet or otherworldly portals in the attic. Now here's the perfect treat for any homeowner who's ever wondered, 'What's that creaking sound?' (just before the ceiling comes crashing down!). Editors Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner return with an all-new collection, this time on the paranormal perils of Do-It-Yourself. As well as a brand-new Sookie Stackhouse story by the Number 1 Sunday Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris, there are 13 more cautionary tales of home renovation by bestselling authors Patricia Briggs, James Grady, Heather Graham, Melissa Marr, amongst others. This is an outstanding line-up of frightening and funny fixer-upper tales guaranteed to shake foundations and rattle readers' pipes. This is the fourth anthology following on from Wolfsbane and Mistletoe, Many Bloody Returns and Death's Excellent Vacation.


REVIEW:

If there’s one thing that Charlaine and Toni do, is bring together a whole host of talent from the Urban Fantasy genre in order to present a series of stories that not only work their way into the readers imagination but give the reader a chance to try out other names for a smaller outlay to see if the writing and characters are to their taste.

Each book has a theme and whilst each story has their own way of dealing with them, it presents the reader with something from all aspects of the genre that will work their way deep into their imagination. They’re all snappy, they all have wonderful prose and solid pace which, when you add the ability to dip in as and when you want, gives you a book that is a cracking addition to any collection as well as giving the reader a solid sense of tales for all occasions. Great stuff and a wonderful collection for the Jo Fletcher stable.

URBAN FANTASY COMEDY REVIEW: The Spellmans #5: Trail of the Spellmans - Lisa Lutz

Release Date: 28/02/12

SYNOPSIS:

FOR THE FIRST TIME in Spellman history, Isabel Spellman, PI, might be the most normal member of her family. Mom has taken on an outrageous assortment of extracurricular activities—with no apparent motive. Dad has a secret. Izzy’s brother and sister are at war—for no apparent reason. And her niece keeps saying “banana” even though she hates bananas. That’s not to say that Izzy isn’t without her own troubles. Her boyfriend, Henry Stone, keeps wanting “to talk,” a prospect Isabel evades by going out with her new drinking buddy, none other than Gertrude Stone, Henry’s mother. Things aren’t any simpler on the business side of Spellman Investigations. First, Rae is hired to follow a girl, only to fake the surveillance reports. Then a math professor hires Izzy to watch his immaculate apartment while he unravels like a bad formula. And as the questions pile up, Izzy won’t stop hunting for the answers—even when they threaten to shatter both the business and the family.


REVIEW:

Merging comedy and crime together is often something that is not only tricky but can come off as either the author being too smart and full of themselves or a title that often falls by the wayside as one element or the other overtakes and doesn’t quite present what the reader wanted.

What this title by Lisa does is a wonderful amalgamation of the two, it has solid characters who over the previous books in the series have developed and grown with their own quirks with laughs that work wonderfully well to the reader. Add to this a great set of ideas, wonderfully inventive prose as well as a lead protagonist that you can’t help but love and all in the reader is in for a treat.

The only downside is that you can’t pick up these tales part way through, you have to start at the beginning to get the full flavour. All in it’s a great series and one that I’ll continue to enjoy as this was a wonderful way to spend a sunny day.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Apocalypse Cow - Michael Logan

Release Date: 10/05/12

SYNOPSIS:

When scientists with warped imaginations accidentally unleash an experimental bioweapon that transforms Britain's animals into sneezing, bloodthirsty zombies with a penchant for pre-dinner sex with their victims, three misfits become the unlikely hope for salvation. Abattoir worker Terry Borders' love life is crippled by the stench of death that clings to his skin from his days spent slaughtering cows; teenage vegan Geldof 'Scabby' Peters alternates between scratching furiously at his rash and baiting his overbearing New Age mother; and inept journalist Lesley McBrien struggles forlornly in the shadow of her famous war correspondent father and the star journalist at the Glasgow Tribune. When Britain begins a rapid descent into chaos and ministers cynically attempt to blame al-Qaeda, Lesley stumbles upon proof that the government is behind the outbreak. During her bumbling quest to unveil the truth, she crosses paths with Terry and Geldof, and together they set out to escape a quarantined Britain with the evidence and vital data that could unlock a cure for the virus. Standing in the way are rampaging hordes of animals, a ruthless security agent and an army ready to shoot anybody with a case of the sniffles on the off-chance the virus has mutated. Three losers. Overwhelming odds. A single outcome: the world is screwed.


REVIEW:

Having felt disappointed by the other winner of the inaugural Terry Pratchett Anywhere but Here, Anywhere But Now Award, I wasn’t expecting that much from tale and thought that it would be a book that I’d take my time with rather than indulge within a very short time.

So as such I found that it sat on my TBR pile for a little while and as such with great worry I picked it up to begin (after making sure I had a real gem to enjoy after.) What unfurled within was a story that for me should have been the clear winner in its own right. I loved the lead trio of characters, I relished the new take on the Zombie myth and of course I thoroughly devoured the pages as the tale wove its unusual story with great aplomb.

The prose was crisp, the laughs when they came were witty and whilst the subject was quite dark all in it was a story I enjoyed from start to finish. Throw into the mix that this is a debut author and for me, if future titles live up the standards set here, I’ll have a firm favourite for that much needed laugh.

HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: Empire of the Moghul 4: The Tainted Throne - Alex Rutherford

Release Date: 10/05/12

SYNOPSIS:

The brutal battle for power continues in the fourth book in the epic Empire of the Moghul series. Agra, India, 1606. Jahangir, the triumphant Moghul Emperor and ruler of most of the Indian subcontinent, is doomed. No amount of wealth and ruthlessness can protect him from his sons' desire for power. The glorious Moghul throne is worth any amount of bloodshed and betrayal; once Jahangir raised troops against his own father; now he faces a bloody battle with Khurram, the ablest of his warring sons. Worse is to come. Just as the heirs of Timur the Great share intelligence, physical strength and utter ruthlessness, they also have a great weakness for wine and opium. Once Jahangir is tempted, his talented wife, Mehrunissa, is only too willing to take up the reins of empire. And with Khurram and his half-brothers each still determined to be their father's heir, the savage battle for the Moghul throne will be more ferocious than even Timur could have imagined...


REVIEW:

Whilst I’ve not always been enamoured of the writing style of this team, I have to admit that the bravery exuded by the two to explore a rich and varied culture brings to the western audience a set of stories that are not only dark but invigorating as the lead characters play the old game of thrones to the best of their abilities.

That said, the story creates its own path which whilst fascinating from a historians point of view, does leave a reader who likes the cut and thrust a little disappointed as the pace can be infuriatingly slow at times. Don’t get me wrong, the concept and story is gripping, however, when the writing for me takes its time with overly flowery prose I tend to get a little lost and disappointed as I wait for the next development to slowly dawn. Whilst many will love this style, for me the series is one that whilst I should have loved fell far short of what I felt it should be achieving. A great shame all in but you can’t please everyone.

FANTASY REVIEW: Wintercraft: Legacy - Jenna Burtenshaw

Release Date: 13/05/12

SYNOPSIS:

The veil which marks the division between life and death is falling. Lost souls are seeping through to roam Albion's graveyard city of Fume. Kate Winters' recent memory is lost. Relieved to be heading home to Albion, Kate can't shake the feeling that Dalliah Grey, the woman she's supposed to be working for, is not to be trusted. Disgraced warrior Silas Dane plans to rescue Kate and save Albion from the advancing armies seeking to profit from the confusion. But the veil will not be easy to repair and Silas knows sacrifices have to be made. Kate must return to the dark secrets detailed by her ancestors in the ancient book of WINTERCRAFT and learn from their mistakes to save herself.


REVIEW:

Having enjoyed the first two Wintercraft titles I really couldn’t wait to see how the story would conclude in the third title of this trilogy especially with so many threads yet to be concluded. After all, with the reader left on tenterhooks from the previous releases it really should come as no surprise that this book has been one of the most awaited by many a Young Fantasy fan.

The writing as usual is addictive with the author bringing the tale to the reader by the hand and letting it work its own way organically which when added to the solid prose and lovingly crafted dialogue really work well for the reader. Back that up with cracking lead characters alongside an easy to visualise world and all in it was a real treat. For me the only real downside is that this is the end to the series. Great stuff all in and a cracking series for your young reader to get into.

VIDEO GAME REVIEW: Sniper Elite V2 - 505 Games, Rebellion

Release Date: 04/05/12

SYNOPSIS:
The sequel to Rebellion’s highly-acclaimed 2005 game Sniper Elite, Sniper Elite V2 continues to offer gamers the most authentic World War II sniping experience by putting them in the middle of war-torn Berlin amidst the frenzied final battle between German and Russian forces.

Berlin 1945. V2 Rockets with deadly nerve gas are primed to launch. An army of German and Russian soldiers stand in your way. Make every single bullet count or the world dies with you.

It’s a heart-stopping race against time to save millions of people…

Game Features:

* X-Ray Kill Cam
Amazing “kill cam” technology showcases what really happens when a bullet enters an enemy’s body, allowing players to see hearts and lungs tear, livers burst, bones and teeth shatter, and entrails fall out.

* Sniping Simulation
Sniper Elite V2 features detailed sniping simulation with advanced ballistics, taking into account gravity, wind, velocity, bullet penetration, aim stability and more. Guaranteed to provide players with the most realistic simulation of military sharpshooting yet available.

* Sniper's Choice
Players will often find themselves facing a choice of the perfect shot that leaves them catastrophically exposed or a more difficult route that means they can continue their mission.

* Authenticity
The game features authentic World War II Berlin locations as well as vehicles, weapons such as the Springfield M1903, the Gewehr 43 and the Mosin-Nagant 1891/30, and uniforms modeled after the original versions.

* Use The Environment
The slightest changes in the environment need to be taken into account to move into the perfect position, observe the quarry, take the shot and slip away unnoticed.


REVIEW:

OK, I do play the odd shooting game however I’m not one that likes to have to charge hell for leather blasting randomly hoping that you take out the enemy. Whats my style? To be honest I love sniping, that getting into the right position to deliver the assassination blade or bolt or to take that longshot to take out the enemy quite a distance away that feels rewarding when you hit the mark,

What Sniper Elite does for me as a player is bring all the elements I love together, gives me chance to take out difficult targets but also allows me to lay traps for my own protection when facing overwhelming numbers. The graphics are solid, the sound effects decent but my favourite element is seeing the damage done to the body with carefully placed shots. Add to this having to keep picking up ammunition, target raids as well as enemies that adjust to your playing style and for me this is a game I’ll have fun playing through quite a few times. Great stuff.

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: Railsea - China Mieville

Release Date: 24/05/12

SYNOPSIS:

On board the moletrain Medes, Sham Yes ap Soorap watches in awe as he witnesses his first moldywarpe hunt.

The giant mole bursting from the earth, the harpoonists targeting their prey, the battle resulting in one’s death and the other’s glory are extraordinary. But no matter how spectacular it is, travelling the endless rails of the railsea, Sham can't shake the sense that there is more to life. Even if his philosophy-seeking captain can think only of the hunt for the ivory-coloured mole she’s been chasing – ever since it took her arm all those years ago.

When they come across a wrecked train, at first it's a welcome distraction. But the impossible salvage Sham finds in the derelict leads to considerably more than he'd bargained for. Soon he's hunted on all sides: by pirates, trainsfolk, monsters and salvage-scrabblers.

And it might not be just Sham's life that's about to change. It could be the whole of the railsea.

Playful and clever, this is the new gloriously imagined novel from China Miéville.


REVIEW:

If there’s an author that is the infamous box of chocolates, its China Mieville as he has an ability to take an idea and develop a reality that is not only fascinating but one that you could see as functional in the future. It’s quirky, it brings imaginative prose to the fore and with the writing skills of the author make this not only a hard to put down title but one that will bring in many more fans as his fame spreads.

Add to this some cracking twists, some wonderful characters and a principle player that the reader will just love to hang around and all in you have all the elements for a best seller. Finally throw into the mix the authors no nonsense style of storytelling, a spartan set of prose and developments that feel natural and all in it’s a wonderful adventure to embark upon. China really is an author to enjoy and for me, one that really makes my day when his new book lands.

GUEST BLOG: Mike Shevdon interviews Niall Petersen

With the launch of Strangeness and Charm, I thought it would be fun to interview one of the characters and find out how Niall’s doing after the Road to Bedlam, with the adventures of the new book still to come. Of course, there is something circular about interviewing a character in your own head, and anyone with an aversion to multiple personality disorders should probably look away now. With that, I will invite Niall Petersen, protagonist of Sixty-One Nails, The Road to Bedlam, and now Strangeness and Charm, to come forward.

Shevdon: Hello, Niall. Please sit down. Make yourself comfortable.

Niall: Who are you? Where is this place? Am I dreaming?

Shevdon: Yes, you could call this a dream. This place does not exist and I am not exactly here. Technically neither are you.

Niall: (Wandering around, touching the furniture, lifting things up and weighing them in his hand) Do I know you? Your voice sounds….familiar.

Shevdon: We’ve met before, many times, though you will not remember me. After this meeting you will forget all about this. You can say whatever you want. No-one you know will ever hear of it.

Niall: It’s strange. You’re telling the truth - I can hear it in your voice, but it doesn’t make any sense.

Shevdon: I’m in your head, or you’re in mine. Does that help? I wanted to ask how you’re doing?

Niall: Is Blackbird here? Can she hear this?

Shevdon: No, it’s just us. I thought we’d have a private chat. Well, almost private.

Niall: (Finally taking a seat) You know, I’ve seen some weird things in the last year, but this is really strange.

Shevdon: You’ll get used to it. You’ve got used to a lot of things over the past year, haven’t you?

Niall: That’s an understatement.

Shevdon: How does it feel to be super-human?

Niall: Is that what you call it? I’m not sure that’s the term I would use.

Shevdon: Okay, what term would you use?

Niall: I’m not sure. The Feyre call it gifted - isn’t there something about accepting gifts from strangers?

Shevdon: Then how does it feel to be gifted?

Niall: It doesn’t feel like a gift, that’s for sure. More like a burden. Something to be carried.

Shevdon: So you feel like it’s holding you back?

Niall: No, I didn’t say that. If anything it’s dragging me forward, making me do things I don’t want to do. Some of the things I’ve done recently - I wouldn’t have contemplated….not even imagined myself doing them.

Shevdon: You’ve killed people.

Niall: Only in self-defence, I swear. I haven’t killed anyone on purpose.

Shevdon: What about the people on the boat? What about the fishermen?

Niall: That was different.

Shevdon: Was it? You could have left them. You could have informed the authorities - got them arrested, charged, imprisoned?

Niall: They came at me. They started it. They got what they deserved.

Shevdon: That’s what I meant. You acted like a Warder. You judged them, and then you acted on that judgement.

Niall: You weren’t there. You don’t know what they were doing.

Shevdon: You’d be surprised what I know. You’ve done some good things too, though, haven’t you? You’ve made a difference?

Niall: With Shelley? Perhaps. Maybe it’ll work out.

Shevdon: I didn’t mean with Shelley. I meant you saved the world.

Niall: Did I? (Laughs ironically) No, I don’t think so. Postponed the inevitable maybe. That’s all.

Shevdon: You think the return of the Seventh Court is inevitable?

Niall: It’s not just them, though is it? You should have seen what they were doing at Porton Down. There was stuff going on down there that just shouldn’t be happening. I’m not naive enough to imagine that’s the only place they’re doing things like that. Genetics, nuclear, bio-weapons, something will get loose eventually, and it will all come crashing down.

Shevdon: That seems like a very bleak view of the future. If you feel like that, why strive? Why risk yourself?

Niall: Someone has to, don’t they?

Shevdon: But why does it have to be you?

Niall: Because I’m the one that’s there. There isn’t anyone else. It’s just me. We come into the world in blood and tears and we leave the same way. Hopefully we leave it better than we found it. If we don’t, what’s the point?

Shevdon: You want to leave the world better than you found it. Is this for Alex? For your son?

Niall: Yeah, my son. How about that? (He smiles for the first time) I didn’t expect to be a father again, not at my age. And Blackbird’s doing well, thanks for asking. And Alex too, of course. A better world for her.

Shevdon: How is she?

Niall: Alex? Traumatised…emotional. She dreams she’s back there, I know she does. I can hear her screaming before she wakes up, before she realises she’s awake and it’s dark.

Shevdon: Because it was never dark there.

Niall: It’s funny. When she was little she used to be afraid of the dark.

Shevdon: Are you afraid of the dark?

Niall: Why? (Laughs) Because there might be monsters? Let me tell you, not all the monsters have big teeth and claws. I’d rather have the ones with teeth and claws. At least you know what you’re dealing with.

Shevdon: And what about Raffmir?

Niall: Speaking of monsters….

Shevdon: You don’t really believe that.

Niall: He’s a piece of work.

Shevdon: You’re quite alike, you know. In other circumstances….

Niall: We are not alike. We are quite, quite different.

Shevdon: If you say so. Do you think there are others like you? Other fey-humans with an affinity for the void?

Niall: It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Has one of them being playing away from home? Is there a woman somewhere, or a man, come to that, who’s fallen for those charms? Hard to imagine.

Shevdon: I thought it could just happen randomly? I thought that’s why you are like you are?

Niall: That’s what they tell you. I don’t think they know. Not really. Something happened, that’s for sure.

Shevdon: And what about the others? Alex wasn’t the only one you set free from Porton Down. There were other half-fey down there, slipping away in the shadows.

Niall: You didn’t see it. I couldn’t leave them there.

Shevdon: And now they’re free.

Niall: For what it’s worth. Until they do something to upset the status quo, whereupon Garvin will send in the dogs.

Shevdon: You’re a Warder too, you know?

Niall: Yeah, well sometimes I don’t feel like one.

Shevdon: Can you save them? Is that what you want to do?

Niall: Maybe no-one can save them. Maybe they have to save themselves.

Shevdon: And what about you, Niall? Can you save yourself?

Niall: What do you mean by that?

Shevdon: Nothing. We’ll let that one pass.

Niall: No, hang on a minute. You know something don’t you? Who’ve you been talking to? Is it Blackbird? Kareesh?

Shevdon: We have to close now, Niall. I’m sending you back.

Niall: No, wait, I need to know……

Shevdon: Thanks to Niall for sharing that moment with us. Maybe we’ll pick up again with him a little later. Right now he has his hands full, and it’s going to stay like that for a while. If you’d like to know how he gets on, pick up his adventurers in Strangeness and Charm, the third volume in the series, The Courts of the Feyre. Thanks for joining us.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: The Courts of Feyre III: Strangeness and Charm - Mike Shevdon

Release Date: 07/06/12

SYNOPSIS:

The Courts of the Feyre, Vol III

Alex has been saved from the fate that awaited her in Bedlam, but in freeing her, Niall has released others of their kind into the population. Now, as Warder, he must find them and persuade them to swap their new-found liberty for security in the courts – but is the price of sanctuary to swap one cage for another?


REVIEW:

Since it leaped onto my Door Mat, I’ve been a huge fan of Mike Shevdon’s Courts of the Feyre series. I’ve loved the way that the characters have changed over time, how personal relationships have bloomed and also how other minor cast members have worked with the main. Its ideal, it has the double dealing of political machinations with the author blending old ceremonies with the worlds of magic and fey into a modern amalgamation that is purely British.

Add to this an author who knows how to lull you into a false sense of security, one who knows how to twist the reader emotionally as well as allowing the world to expand and you know that he’s setting it all up for something huge. All in, this wonderful series is more than worth the readers time as different types of fey and half human’s work to create something unique that no other author has tried to date. It’s fresh, it is spectacular and if you’re looking for a UK author to lead the way, then this is the man for you. The only downside that I’ve found with this series is that if you’re new to it, you have to start with book one. That said, its not a downside, it’s a pure reading pleasure.

GUEST BLOG: Dramatis personae – introducing the characters of The Imperial Banner - Nick Brown

I hope it’s not giving too much away to reveal that not many of the characters from The Siege return for the second Agent of Rome novel. In The Imperial Banner, Cassius Corbulo finds himself investigating a conspiracy that threatens a peace treaty between Rome and Persia, and encountering numerous colourful characters along the way.

I don’t want to disclose anything about the most important of them – Indavara – because readers will meet him on the very first page, but another significant figure is Aulus Celatus Abascantius, Cassius’s superior in the Imperial Security Service. Abascantius is a man who better represents what historical sources tell us about Rome’s “agents” than the dilettante Cassius. Ruthless and cunning, Abascantius knows the secrets of all the most powerful men in Syria, and has spent decades watching them for his spymasters in the capital. Referred to throughout the province as “Pitface” (on account of his pock-marked features) the agent hopes to exploit Cassius’s breeding, charm and intelligence as he despatches him to the desert city of Palmyra to begin his investigation.

Once there, Cassius meets an even more powerful man: Oppius Junius Venator, Roman aristocrat and prefect of the Fourth Legion. Hailing from an immensely rich and influential family, Venator commands five thousand men and is effectively guarantor of the Empire’s eastern border. Like most in his position, the prematurely white-haired Venator is pursuing a career in the Senate, and has to balance the demands of the army with the whims of the local governor and the emperor himself. Though he does his best to help, this apparently cultured, urbane man soon reveals a brutal side that shocks the inexperienced Cassius.

Venator’s second-in-command is Legion Quartermaster Lollius. As the ancient equivalent of a regimental sergeant-major, this twenty-five year veteran treats Cassius with suspicion and disdain. Seeing the Security Service as a shadowy organisation populated by men lacking the honour and courage for the legions, Lollius must be won over if he is to provide Cassius with the cooperation he desperately needs.

A more willing collaborator is Simo, Cassius’s Gaulish servant, who has remained in his employ for the two years since the siege of Alauran. A kind-hearted man and skilled medic, Simo finds himself returning to Antioch, city of his birth. Whilst always providing unwavering support for his master, Simo must deal with his own challenges when his father is arrested and imprisoned by the Roman authorities.

Also thrown into the mix are Palmyran brigands, female agents, cultists, slaves, a general, a procurator, a governor, a marshal and two emperors. With only Simo and Indavara by his side, Cassius certainly has his work cut out as he races against time to recover the imperial banner.

HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: Agent of Rome: The Imperial Banner - Nick Brown

Release Date: 07/06/12

SYNOPSIS:

272 AD The Roman Emperor Aurelian has defeated Queen Zenobia and crushed the Palmyran revolt. Faridun's Banner, hallowed battle standard of the Persian Empire, has fallen into Roman hands and is to be returned to the Persians as part of a historic peace treaty. But on the eve of the signing the banner goes missing. Recalled to Syria, imperial agent Cassius Corbulo is charged with recovering the flag. Accompanied by his faithful servant Simo and ex-gladiator bodyguard Indavara, Cassius must journey across the dangerous wastes of Syria to the equally perilous streets of Antioch. He and his companions face ruthless brigands, mysterious cults, merciless assassins and intrigue at every turn.


REVIEW:

Having fallen for Nick’s writing style with his debut title The Siege, I couldn’t wait to catch up with Cassius Corbulo to see what adventures the “Grain Man” would be thrown into next. What occurs within is a story of intrigue, politics, double dealing and of course a treasure that needs to be found for the good of the Empire.

Its wonderfully crafted with sharp prose, wonderful pace and of course wit throughout as the cast play off each other to drag you into the past with relish. Add to the this the addition of an ex-gladiator some neat twists and of course a character who can’t help but get himself into all sorts of trouble and the reader is in for a treat. Definitely a second solid offering and one to make sure that readers reaching for something special in the Roman Period will grab this series. If you love Scarrow, adore Iggulden and of course admire Scott, then make sure you add Brown to your list. Great stuff.

HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: Hellfire - James Holland

Release Date: 10/05/12

SYNOPSIS:

August, 1942. North Africa. The desert war hangs in the balance. When the commander of the Eighth Army, General Gott, is killed, it's clear that foul play is at work. An impenetrable Axis spy circuit is compromising any hope the Allies have of stemming the Nazi tide. Jack Tanner, recovering from wounds in a Cairo hospital, is astonished to receive a battlefield commission which will propel him into a very different world when he returns to action. Fit once more, he finds himself facing the full onslaught of Rommel's latest offensive. In its aftermath, Tanner and his trusty sidekick Sykes are recruited to work behind the Axis lines in a desperate attempt to fight back. But the murky world of deceit and murder they find themselves in is a million miles away from the certainties of the battlefield. Somehow they must discover who they can trust in the cat-and-mouse world of counter-espionage before it's too late...


REVIEW:

Whilst I’m not always a big fan of modern warfare tales, I make an exception for James Holland as for me he’s the English Sven Hassel, able to present a believable tale set during the hardships of war. Its dark, its brutal and of course with a lead hero who seeks to do what he has to for Queen and Country leads the reader into a whole set of affairs that bring the modern day Sharpe to the reader’s attention.

The prose is sharp with the author presenting a solid woven arc to the reader with no nonsense prose that keep you glued from start to finish. Add to this some great historical accuracy backing up the overall arc and the reader really is in for a treat as history and fiction merge with wonderful clarity. Great stuff all in.

VIDEO GAME REVIEW: Summer Stars - Deep Silver

Release Date: 01/06/12

SYNOPSIS:

Summer Stars lets players experience a large variety of events, special challenges and competitions at exciting venues, including London, the scene of the Summer Olympics and well-known stadiums and arenas around the world.

Summer Stars offers a challenging and deep career mode, multiplayer modes for up to four players and a large variety of disciplines and venues, and will deliver high replay value and hours of fun for players.

With more than 18 different disciplines & challenges, Summer Stars covers a whole range of summer sports. Players can prove their talent in disciplines like Triple Jump, Mountain Biking, Diving or Sprinting and become a top athlete in the career mode. In multiplayer mode, they can compete directly with up to three friends or family members on split screen - delivering a gripping "just one more go" experience. Summer Stars also leaves it up to the players to decide how far they will be physically involved in the gameplay: the game supports traditional arcade-style controls, as well as motion control.

* Kinect exclusive features: Fitness optimised input, Customised fitness reports and trends for the player, fitness diary and calendar
* 18 thrilling arcade-style sporting events
* Freeplay mode with 4 player split screen support and family feature



REVIEW:

In a time when getting fit feels like a chore, it’s always fun when a game arrives that not only gives you some fun to get on with working out, but also brings something of a flavour of the time to the user. After all, in a year of the Olympics, what could be more fun than tackling some of the events to earn your own medals as well as trying to beat your own personal best.

Each user can challenge friends as well as family (and for me that’s the best part) as you all seek to outdo each other. Whether you want to beat them at long jump or out fence them or even hit the bull’s-eye in the archery challenge there’s something here for everyone and perhaps a great way to beat the Summer blues on those rainy days. However if you’re not into doing things the Kinect way it is compatible with the controller, although be aware of the Daly Thompson Decathlon or Hypersport frenzied action that could lead to damage on the controller in the long term.

For me this was a game that was a lot of fun, a great way to have a bit more fun getting fit and a wonderful way to get the whole house to improve their fitness and see who rules the podium. Great stuff.

HISTORICAL URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Act Two of the Assassini: The Outcast Blade - Jon Courtenay Grimwood

Release Date: 24/05/12

SYNOPSIS:

As the Byzantine and German emperors plot war against each other, Venice's future rests in the hands of three unwilling people: The newly knighted Sir Tycho. An ex-slave and trained assassin who defeated the Mamluk navy but cannot make the woman he loves love him back. Tortured by secrets, afraid of the daylight, he sees no reason to save a city he hates. The grieving Lady Giulietta. Impossibly rich, deeply spoilt. A virgin, a mother, a widow ...Both emperors want her hand for their sons in marriage. All she wants is to retire from the poisonous world of the Venetian court to mourn her husband in peace. And finally a naked, mud-strewn girl who crawls from a paupers' grave on an island in the Venetian lagoon and begins by killing the men who buried her.


REVIEW:

Having loved Jon’s original story, I couldn’t wait to embark on this next adventure, so much so that when it landed I had a hard time saving it for a time when I wanted something not only special but to transport me to a world that should have been. What Jon presents within this latest release is a story of mystery, treachery and of course plots that interweave flawlessly as each element comes to the fore.

Add to this an overall arc that is complex, wonderfully rich with solid prose and characters that you can’t help but want to spend time with and all in, the reader is in for a solid adventure. My only tip however is if its been a while since you read the original a reread is in order to bring everything fresh to your mind to get the most out of this extravagantly rich tale.

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: Warhammer 40K: The Grey Knights: The Emperor's Gift - Aaron Dembski-Bowden

Release Date: 24/05/12

SYNOPSIS:

The Grey Knights are all that stands between mankind and the ravages of Chaos. Since their secretive beginnings during the Horus Heresy, these legendary Space Marine daemon hunters have journeyed into the dark realms of the warp - and beyond - in pursuit of their supernatural enemies. Through an intensive regime of psychic training, new recruits are brought to the clandestine fortress of Titan to join the hallowed and vaunted ranks of the 666th Chapter. More than ever, these legendary battle-brothers must be vigilant and ever ready to defend the Imperium for the forces of Chaos are never truly defeated, and Armageddon beckons -


REVIEW:

As a huge reader of the Warhammer 40K universe, there are some authors whose names just demand that I pick up the latest title and devour it in as short a time as possible. One of these is Aaron and a such you know that he’s going to bring heavy bloody fighting, great conflict and of course a story that challenges the protagonist to the maximum.

What this story brings to the fore is the uneasy relationship between the Grey Knights and the Space Wolves who whilst fierce and independent mistrust those they see as traitors to the Emperor’s cause. Add to this dark tale differing ways of doing things, inter-character conflict and of course dialogue that brings it all to the fore and it’s a solid release.

But throw into the mix that the mistrust is with allies alongside a darker mystery that requires them all to work together and all in this tale is one that really works well for this apocalyptic future. All in this tale was crafted with cunning and cleverly figured to challenge all within which when added to Arron’s spartanesque no nonsense writing style makes this a book that cuts the fat keeping to a tightly woven epic worthy of both chapters. Great stuff.

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier 2: Invincible - Jack Campbell

Release Date: 25/05/12

SYNOPSIS:

Continues the story begun in "Dreadnaught", following the trials and tribulations of Admiral John 'Black Jack' Geary and Captain Desjani.


REVIEW:

As a fan of historical fiction naval stories, I really couldn’t’ wait to rejoin Captain Geary as he takes the reader into a futuristic war where new discoveries surprise and add new elements to this already wonderfully explosive world. It’s carefully crafted, the author has a clear understanding of pace and brings it altogether with a wonderful set of elements that work wonderfully on the imagination.

Back that up with an author who believes in letting events reveal themselves naturally rather than forced and all in this is a wonderful set of tales for the young at heart of all ages. All in a great bit of fun but for me the real triumph is the authors use of character dialogue to futher the tale as well as help the reader to enact with this future. Magical elements all round and for me a real treat to indulge.

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Dishonoured Gameplay Trailer - Bethesda

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,

Our Friends at Bethesda have let us have a sneaky peak at the forthcoming Dishonored Gameplay.  

To us it looks amazing, Lady Eleanor is preparing herself to explore the Steampunk world, practicing her assassination techniques via Assassin's Creed and of course is working out what snackages will be required to sustain her on her campaign of vengeance.

So here, for your viewing pleasure is the snippet that got us so excited...

Game Blurb:

Dishonored casts you as a supernatural assassin driven by revenge. You are Corvo, the once-trusted bodyguard of the beloved Empress. Framed for her murder, you become an infamous assassin, known only by the disturbing mask that has become your calling card. In a time of uncertainty, when the city is besieged by plague and ruled by a corrupt government armed with strange technologies, dark forces bestow supernatural abilities upon you.

In Dishonored, creatively eliminate your targets with the flexible combat system as you combine supernatural abilities with weapons and gadgets at your disposal. Pursue your targets under the cover of darkness or ruthlessly attack them head on with weapons drawn. The outcome of each mission plays out based on the choices you make.

Dishonored will be available throughout Europe on October 12, 2012, and is slated for release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.