Maria Haskins's Blog, page 48
March 13, 2016
Book review – MORT(E), by Robert Repino
The official book blurb: The “war with no name” has begun, with human extinction as its goal. The instigator of this war is the Colony, a race of intelligent ants who, for thousands of years, have been silently building an army that would forever eradicate the destructive, oppressive humans. Under the Colony’s watchful eye, this… More Book review – MORT(E), by Robert Repino
Listen to my brand new short story on the Word Count Podcast
Head over to author R.B. Wood’s website to listen to me, and other writers, read brand new short stories written for the Word Count Podcast. The three-word prompt this time was: Dog. Wheelchair. Addiction. My story is called ‘Nemesis’, and the podcast also features stories by Eden Baylee and C. Thomas Smith. Listen the The… More Listen to my brand new short story on the Word Count Podcast
March 6, 2016
Book review – EASY STREET (THE HARD WAY), by Ron Perlman
The blurb: The candid, hilarious, and inspiring memoir of the iconic star of Beauty and the Beast, the Hellboy movies, and Sons of Anarchy. A classically trained actor who cut his teeth in the East Village’s Off-Broadway scene, Ron Perlman—a Golden Globe winner (Beauty and the Beast) with starring roles in the Hellboy movies, Drive,… More Book review – EASY STREET (THE HARD WAY), by Ron Perlman
March 3, 2016
9 strange & captivating science fiction & fantasy short stories
“Read intensely”, Ray Bradbury said once upon a time, and I’m trying to take his advice to heart. Here are 9 stories, published online, that caught my eye and interest the past few weeks. Tom, Thom, by K. M. Ferebee, at tor.com. This short story about war, loss, wolves and not-wolves, brothers and not-brothers, and about… More 9 strange & captivating science fiction & fantasy short stories
March 1, 2016
Book review – THE BALLAD OF BLACK TOM, by Victor LaValle
The blurb: People move to New York looking for magic and nothing will convince them it isn’t there. Charles Thomas Tester hustles to put food on the table, keep the roof over his father’s head, from Harlem to Flushing Meadows to Red Hook. He knows what magic a suit can cast, the invisibility a guitar… More Book review – THE BALLAD OF BLACK TOM, by Victor LaValle
February 28, 2016
5 reasons why I love Ray Bradbury’s THE ONE WHO WAITS
I live in a well. I live like smoke in the well. Like vapor in a stone throat. I don’t move. I don’t do anything but wait. Overhead I see the cold stars of night and morning, and I see the sun. And sometimes I sing old songs of this world when it was young.… More 5 reasons why I love Ray Bradbury’s THE ONE WHO WAITS
February 22, 2016
‘The Unicorn’ – a story for R.B. Wood’s Word Count Podcast
You can hear me read this story on Episode #54 of R.B. Wood’s The Word Count Podcast. The three-word story prompt was: Chocolate, thorns, and lust. Give the podcast a listen for great stories by Eden Baylee (‘The Letter’), C. Thomas Smith (‘Take Me’), and Bill Kirton (‘Genesis’). It was my first time on the podcast, and I… More ‘The Unicorn’ – a story for R.B. Wood’s Word Count Podcast
February 19, 2016
Farewell, Umberto Eco
Author Umberto Eco has passed away. He was one of my favourite writers, and two of his books: Foucault’s Pendulum, and The Name of the Rose, are imprinted in my brain because I’ve read them so many times. His books were complex, multi-layered, beautiful, sometimes bewildering, but usually mesmerizing creations. The first book I read by… More Farewell, Umberto Eco
February 16, 2016
Good night, Clementine
We lost one of our guinea pigs the other day. She fell asleep and left her sister behind. I was the grave digger. Good night, Clementine. Good night, Clementine Pull the wet earth over you, smooth the grass and mud out with tiny paws Shuffle in beneath the darkness, and hold onto that last, tired… More Good night, Clementine
February 14, 2016
These old books: Larry & Stretch / Bill & Ben, and Marshall Grover
In Sweden, where I grew up, there’s a certain kind of books that are called “kiosklitteratur”, meaning the kind of cheap, pulpy, massmarket paperbacks you pick up at the local corner store. Often, they’re characterized by shallow characters, formulaic storytelling, and bad dialogue… but they can also be a lot of fun to read. My favourite… More These old books: Larry & Stretch / Bill & Ben, and Marshall Grover
