An Introduction to Paranormal Diplomacy by Matthew S. Cox

Cox adds a nuanced portrayal of the United Kingdom to his fresh take on new vampirism, allowing both power and obstacle to organically increase. This novel is the ninth volume of Cox’s Vampire Innocent series. Totes spoilers and other youthful expressions. After months of vampirism, Sarah has become both comfortable with unlife and resigned to …

Ethically Dicey?

From lucky socks to not having sex at particular times, hobbies are full of superstitions; and tabletop roleplaying games are no exception. But are they something to be embraced, countered, or just ignored? I'm currently playing in two tabletop games. During the last two sessions of both of them, at least one friend has commented …

the Light by Jim Alexander

Alexander portrays a world fundamentally different from our own yet also almost identical, creating an exciting and immersive tale that also casts a light on humanity’s relationship with death. Following a sublime event, humans gained the ability to know that this is the day they will die—although not how. A knowledge that can be confirmed …

Time Is an Aside

Those of you who were paying really close attention might have noted hints that it was Valentine's Day last Friday. One of the hints I received was being asked how I was going to celebrate: to which I responded that I wasn't and yet I was. Ignoring the liminal zone during which our friends commented—after …

Deceived by Stephanie Flint

Flint draws upon the combination of rebellion and naivety in the normal teenage mind to create a science-fiction conspiracy that provides emotional complexity without requiring byzantine convolutions. While this novella is set in the same universe as Distant Horizon and events happen shortly before that book, it is an independent narrative rather than a prequel. …

The Call of the Void

Rather enjoying the cosmic dread in The Call of the Void podcast. Set in modern day New Orleans, the story follows Topher, a young man trying to save his father from a mysterious condition affecting him physically and mentally, and Etsy, a young woman who must confront a dark past and overcome the destructive forces …

My Dad is a Mad Scientist by Matthew S. Cox

Cox demonstrates that accessible prose and cinematic action don’t have to come at the cost of emotional depth, creating superhero fiction that will appeal to readers of all ages and power levels. Life is hard if you’re a nine-year-old who loves maths, especially if you’re smart enough to skip a grade. Kelly Donovan’s parents tell …

Where the Heart Is

As most of you probably know, the (not very) United Kingdom officially left the European Union on Friday. As many of you also probably know, this was not my preferred option. I have plenty of thoughts about it, but perhaps the strongest is irony: those of the Leave camp who are not indulging in triumphalism …

Termination Shock by Gillian Andrews

Andrews mixes space opera tropes with fresh ideas to create science fiction that escalates sharply from personal to galactic without seeming superficial. Ryler Mallivan expects mandatory military refresher to be a short break in his life as the owner of a space freighter. However, when his training ship is caught in the middle of interstellar …

Caterwinning

This struck me as a slightly different take on Lovecraftian audio books: a female narrator reading in modern voice. https://youtu.be/A6hBiue2q-o One of the biggest barriers to immersion I experience listening to audio versions of Lovecraft stories is Vincent-Pricing; while I love the performances of Vincent Price and can see the similarity in archaisms, the slightly …