Beth Tabler's Blog, page 183

Review – Ghosts of Tomorrow by Michael Fletcher

This book reads like a big-budget sci-fi action movie and is one of the most entertaining reads I’ve had in 2017

 

Michael R. Fletcher remains one of the most underrated authors of fantasy today and I am continually impressed by his amazing achievements in terms of making stories which are both rich, well-characterized, and pardon my French but fucked up. He is one of the voices of independent grimdark and we are all the better for his work. Interestingly, my favorite of his works isn’t dark fantasy but something much more modern in the stylized hyper-violent GHOSTS OF TOMORROW.

It is a cyberpunk shoot-em-up crime thriller with a samurai cowboy cyborg, a sentient tank, and an autistic girl goddess A.I.The books premise is the future is now dependent on Scans. Scans are a process where a human being’s consciousness is copied from their organic brains but, in the process, said brain is destroyed. Rather than result in countless humans wanting immortality, though it appeals to some, it’s created a trade in copied humans necessary to keep the hyper-technological future running. Scans are used for assassin-robots, running massive businesses, and more with there never being enough Scans to go around.

The solution is at once both believable and horrific with cartels forming to supply the need with children bought or stolen from their parents.This is mostly a metaphor for human trafficking in the real world with the demand having created a monstrous need which plenty of people will do their best to fulfill as long as its profitable. The fact our villains are the scum of the Earth doesn’t keep them from being humanized. Their evil is a function of their being human rather than a divergence from it. The boss of the cartels, for instance, treats his Scan child-soldiers with warmth as well as affection despite the fact they’re all people he’s murdered as well as would send to their deaths again.

The heroes are also, in proper grimdark fashion, just this side of psychotic themselves as they can’t see the horrors they’ve witnessed without being affected themselves. Griffin, the protagonist, loses a bit of his soul when his attempt to make a bust “properly” gets a bunch of children executed so their kidnappers can get away clean. He then becomes the kind of cowboy cop which exists in movies willing to do whatever it takes from torture or murder to stop the cartels–and really, who can blame him. His companion, Nadia, a reporter finds herself also affected as it’s clear the horror she wants to expose is at the base of the society she lives in.

I’m actually really fond of the child-characters in this book as well, which I never thought I would say about any of them in fiction. 88 is a girl who desperately wants to find her mother but may not even have ever had one. Archaeidae is a cyborg assassin who only a person who was raised by ultra-violent video games could take seriously–except for the fact he really is a man with a body count in three to four figures that is all but unstoppable yet possesses a child’s ethics. The most fascinating character for me, though is Abdul who is a soldier who had the chance to “survive” by being scanned and now copes with phantom everything syndrome.

It’s a violent book but the violence is stylized and overthetop so you get the sense of both how dangerous this new world has become while enjoying it from a reader’s perspective. It also gives a sense of just how ruthless every party is becoming in order to combat each other. While it’s not a metaphor for anything, the story has applicability for discussing things like the War on Drugs as well as War on Terror.

It also can simply be appreciated as a science fiction story. This book reads like a big budget sci-fi action movie and is one of the most entertaining reads I’ve had in 2017. The fact some of the elements which I loved about it turned up in Metal Gear: Revengeance just goes to show you that geniuses think alike. I actually hope Michael R. Fletcher does a sequel to this novel but I can’t really see how he’d improve on an already self-contained masterpiece. It has the same psychedelic crazy appeal of Snow Crash or Neuromancer.

Read Ghosts of Tomorrow

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Interview With Author Travis Baldree

Former Game Developer, turned Audiobook Narrator, turned Indie Novelist Travis Baldree is someone that should be familiar to many by now. His cozy-fantasy Legends & Lattes – about an orc who opens a coffee shop – has skyrocketed to the top of the charts pretty much everywhere and has since been acquired by Tor. I read the book this past month and personally believe it deserves all the praise it’s getting (see my full review here), but I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to sit down with Travis himself for a little chat and can confirm the man behind the book is just as delightful.

First off, how are you?

I’m doing well! It’s been a really surprising and gratifying few months. Very, very unexpected.

Alright, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s start with the most obvious question. How does it feel to have not only authored a runaway success but also kicked off a sort-of genre craze?

Did I already say unexpected? I guess I did. The response has been unbelievably nice, and I’m humbled and grateful. I feel like I just happened to hold my bucket under the right rain cloud, and all I did was make sure the bucket didn’t have any holes in it. I’m pretty sure this subgenre already existed in a few different forms, and maybe this book is simply a lightning rod for recognizing it. T. Kingfisher and Diana Wynn Jones and many others have already explored the territory with intention I think. I just accidentally bumbled into it.

Where/when did the idea for Legends & Lattes begin to germinate? And, more importantly, why coffee specifically?

Honestly, it was based on an offhanded joke I made during some live narration. I read a lot of fraught, high-stakes adventure fiction, and I said something about wishing I could read a Hallmark fantasy movie. I think the initial joke was – “hard-charging dwarven lawyer goes home to save her dad’s mine from financial disaster and finds love and purpose” or something equally ridiculous. Eventually I arrived at the orc and her coffee shop. As to why a coffee shop – it was October of 2021 and I would’ve given anything to hang out in one and see people’s faces. I love coffee, and the thought of being able to just sit quietly inside a coffee shop was the height of escapist fantasy for me.

What’s your secret for making the most mundane of activities so damned compelling?

I wish I knew. I assume it’s because I’m only talking about those things because it’s important to the characters themselves, and I’m trying to relate why – so hopefully the audience relates too?

You’ve been a sort of all-star audiobook narrator for years. What spurred the jump to the other side of the page (so-to-speak)?

I’ve always wanted to write a novel. I have a lot of failed NaNoWriMos behind me – this just happened to be my first success. My friend Aven Shore-Kind (also a narrator) encouraged me to give it another go, and we kept each other on the straight and narrow until we both finished.

Did you find that having read and narrated other peoples’ fiction influenced the writing style and structure of Legends & Lattes?

Honestly it was a pretty huge factor for me. Reading fiction out loud (without skimming) very rapidly teaches you what you like and don’t like, and which things translate well, and which things don’t – pace, dialogue, feeling. All of those things are very noticeable, and you are constantly learning mechanically about why prose functions. It’s incredibly instructive. Reading hundreds of books out loud is a huge amount of iteration on your own personal writing taste. People always say you should read aloud to edit because of how much becomes clear to you – the same can be said for reading other people’s work out loud.

I always find going back and reading my own books a bit of a painful process since I tend to find a lot of places where things could always be better. Similarly, how did it feel to narrate your own work for a change?

It was actually the easiest narration I’ve ever done. The author’s intent was never, ever in doubt, and I knew everyone’s voices and mannerisms. When writing, I was basically narrating in my head. It was the most pleasant audiobook I’ve ever narrated.

Seanan McGuire has been a huge champion for L&L on twitter and elsewhere, which is awesome. How’d you manage to score that?

I had nothing to do with it! Pure good fortune on my part. She saw my initial offhanded post about the cover artwork on Twitter and mentioned it – and then later picked up the paperback and said very nice things – and I will be eternally grateful to her. She’s an amazing author, and a kind person who looks out for others, and I hope I get to thank her personally one day.

Did you have any ambitions of traditionally publishing Legends & Lattes, or was indie pubbing it at first always the goal?

I didn’t – not even a twinkle in my eye. I only self-published it because I wanted to go through the full process many of the indie authors I work with go through, largely out of curiosity. I just hoped to pay for the cover artwork and sail obliviously on.

L&L has since been acquired by Tor. How’s that process going, and what can we expect from the trad-pubbed version due out in December?

It’s going well, and I’ve really enjoyed e-meeting everyone there. I can’t really say anything specific about the new version that’s coming – they’ll announce any particulars – but I’m excited to see how it all works out! They have all been very lovely and heroically getting things done in a VERY accelerated way.

So…we started with an obvious question. Let’s end with one. For symmetry! What’s next?

I’m knee-deep in preparing the next book, and generally mortally terrified now that there are actual expectations. I’ve got a pile of notes and a huge outline and I’m hoping to start in on the daily writing very soon…

Read Legends & Lattes

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Review – PLEASE DON’T TELL MY PARENTS I’M A SUPER VILLAIN by Richard Roberts

this is a great novel and the start of an equally great series which I’ve enjoyed from the beginning to the end

 

PLEASE DON’T TELL MY PARENTS I’M A SUPER VILLAIN is a work which I think is probably the best superhero fiction out there barring possibly SOON I WILL BE INVINCIBLE and my own work (but I have to say the last). It’s funny, cute, and just plain full of joy whereas so much else in the genre is dark or dry. This is not a work deconstructing the grimdark world of saving people or with great power coming great responsibility, it’s about fun and how awesome it is to be a supervillain (or hero but mostly supervillain).

Did I mention the protagonists are middle schoolers? Yeah, you would think that would be an automatic turn off as the only thing adults hate more than reading about children is reading about children who are going against adults. However, the Inscrutable Machine (the kids’ team) is such an adorable group of fun that I don’t mind reading about them across five or six books. It’s almost like superheroes can be for enjoyable without grimdark angst! Who knew!

The premise is Penelope “Penny” Akk is the daughter of two of the most respected superheroes on the planet, both of whom are super geniuses. Penny is anxious to become a superhero but her parents have no interest in letting her try to become one until she’s an adult. However, she is precocious and attempts to stop a minor crime at the Science Fair with her best friends Ray and Clair–which results in her being branded as a pint-sized supervillain.

I love the central characters and their not-inconsiderable talent at being bad guys despite the fact they’re not even old enough to get a learner’s permit to drive. Supervillainy is depicted as a fun pasttime and not an act of evil, which is assisted by the criminal organizations of the city being more dastardly than vile. Characters like Spyder, LucyFar, and others are just plain awesome and help cement this goofball Silver Age world.

I particularly liked the character of Generic Girl, who is basically Supergirl and someone who doesn’t want all the fame and silliness that defines the genere. She wears a hoodie, runs around stopping crime, and just does good things for people. It’s a great concept and her storyline makes me feel sad for her as it’s clearly taking its toll on her. Watching her deal with the increasing antics of the Inscrutable Machine is also one of the best parts of the book.

Generic Girl: You’re mining a trash heap. Not for uranium, just for junk. Stop pretending to be a supervillain, Penelope. This isn’t a game.
Penny: Then why are you playing, Claudia?

I like the relationship between Ray and Penny as well. Neither of them are really old enough to date but the two of them are obviously attracted to one another and at that awkward stage where it could turn into something else or not. Claire is a character with a great ability too, the power to distract people by looking adorable. The fact she dresses up in a teddy bear onesie makes her even more awesome.

The Inscrutable Machine don’t get into any perilous conflicts of good versus evil but more or less just cause a bunch of mischief. Sometimes, this mischief is bigger than they expected like acquiring an enormously valuable magical relic, but most of the time it barely qualifies as crime. The fact they keep getting a worse reputation is part of the fun and shows how the superheroes in town have gotten complacent. Even if they are led by the smartest couple in the world.

In conclusion, this is a great novel and the start of an equally great series which I’ve enjoyed from the beginning to the end. I think if you want superhero fiction that serves as a pallete cleanser after all the Dark Knights and Superman vs. Batman grit then this is a great one to pick up. The audiobook version is especially good.

Read Don’t Tell My Parents I am a Super Villain

 

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Review – Gunmetal Gods by Zamil Akhtar

 

Akhtar definitely makes you wait for the information- but it’s 100% worth it when all of those points add up

 

 

When I first picked Gunmetal Gods up, the pacing felt too fast for me and like I didn’t have time to get to know characters before we were moving on to the next scene, but by the end, I was absolutely glued to the pages and couldn’t put it down. I attribute my initial feeling to the fact that I had just come off of reading slower paced fantasy (such as The Veiled Throne), but I liken the change I felt to listening to an audiobook at 2x speed. At first it feels garbled, but once you adjust, you can’t imagine another speed.

The character work and world building are done in very piecemeal fashion-Akhtar definitely makes you wait for the information- but it’s 100% worth it when all of those points add up. I loved the characters in this story; all of them were multi-faceted gray characters that you could loathe on one page and then sympathize with on another (I would die for Kinn and Sadie). I also adored how much the Gods in this book are directly on the pages, and book two promises to show us even more of that which I am over the moon about.

By far the strongest aspects of this book are the themes it deals with and the political machinations. Themes of faith, sacrifice, mortality, and mercy are wonderfully explored through the masterful webs of political alliances/betrayals and the power structures of religion. I love when religion is viewed from a broader lens of cultural development and that was done wonderfully here. However, at the heart of all of these lofty schemes and meddling gods, the core of this book lies in the soul of the individual humans that inhabit the page.

Be aware going into this that it’s a very brutal world, and Akhtar is not afraid to make his characters hurt. But honestly I think that’s one of the best things about this book. You truly never know what’s going to happen.

Overall this is a wonderful world that I hope we get to spend a bit more time exploring in Book 2…which I will be reading ASAP.

Follow Taylor here. 

Read Gunmetal Gods

 

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Review – Justice Calling by Annie Bellet

“I wouldn’t touch a gun even if it snuggled and made me waffles.” 












About

From the publisher, “Jade Crow lives a quiet life running her comic book and game store in Wylde, Idaho. After twenty-five years fleeing from a powerful sorcerer who wants to eat her heart and take her powers, quiet suits her just fine. Surrounded by friends who are even less human than she is, Jade figures she’s finally safe. 

As long as she doesn’t use her magic. 

When dark powers threaten her friends’ lives, a sexy shape-shifter enforcer shows up. He’s the shifter world’s judge, jury, and executioner rolled into one, and he thinks Jade is to blame. To clear her name, save her friends, and stop the villain, she’ll have to use her wits… and her sorceress powers. 

Except Jade knows that as soon as she does, a far deadlier nemesis awaits. 

Justice Calling is the first book in The Twenty-Sided Sorceress urban fantasy series. Readers who enjoyed The Dresden Files or The Iron Druid Chronicles will likely enjoy this series.

 

My Thoughts

“Life-changing moments are sneaky little bastards. Often we don’t even know that nothing will ever be the same until long after, only in hindsight can we look and say “There! That was it! That changed everything.” 

Justice Calling – Annie Bellett

“Justice Calling,”  is an absolute treat for lovers of Urban Fantasy with strong female characters. A la Mercy Thompson, Kitty Norville, and my favorite Rachel Morgan. Holla at “The Hallows!”  Justice Calling is an exciting, albeit too short romp through a new world created by Anne Billet. The protagonist is fun, saucy, and not at all annoying. Something that I have missed in the last few Urban Fantasy novels I have read as of late.

Jade Crow, Sorcerous, shop owner, and gamer finds herself in a pickle of a situation. Does she stay or does she run? Does she out herself, and possibly bring ruin upon her future? Can she do all that she needs to do, and not use magic? I think if you are a fan of the Mercy Thompson Series or the world of Kate Daniels this might be a good series for you. Although definitely not as well developed as those worlds, it has the bones of a great series. Good plot points, fun characters, and I have to admit I absolutely love the gamer bent. Me being a gigantic geek myself, I can relate to her quite a bit. I hope that in her later books the author can flesh out the characters a lot more and give us more to read but, great start! Also, Jade has a very cool superpower. She knows every language. That is a superpower for a total geek. I love it!

“A girl needs options. To me, video games are like shoes. But with more pixels and a plot.”

Justice Calling – Annie Bellett

Things that I don’t dig. Why is it that every Urban Fantasy with a female character needs to have some sort of love angle? No really. C’mon. Not all ladies need to have a love interest. Nor do those ladies need to be saved by the said love interest. Although, props to Anne Billet for letting this lady do the saving. Don’t get me wrong though, I enjoy a good romance now and again, but this particular possible love interest seemed a bit shoehorned. Yes, he is hot, yes he has rippling muscles, yes he turns into a (sexy?) white tiger? I wish that he was a more normal dude. He doesn’t need to speak like a combination of Dolph Lundgren and Daniel Craig to be compelling. At least that’s how I picture him. It makes him much more relatable. How many guys like Daniel Craig have you met in your life? Also, there isn’t much of a story. This is more like an introduction to the characters. Which I really like and a very quick problem that they need to overcome. That is fine for me for the start of a series.

Do yourself a favor, and read the novella. It is good light fun. Not a barn burner, but it’s funand saucy. I am looking forward to the next one.

Read Justice Calling

 

About the Author

Annie Bellet is a full-time speculative fiction writer. She holds a BA in English and a BA in Medieval Studies and thus can speak a smattering of useful languages such as Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Welsh.

Her books include Avarice (Pyrrh Considerable Crimes Division: Book 1), The Gryphonpike Chronicles series, and the Twenty-Sided Sorceress series.

Her interests besides writing include rock climbing, reading, horse-back riding, video games, comic books, table-top RPGs, and many other nerdy pursuits.

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Guest Post – Game Review of The Stanley Parable

 

From Wikipedia, “The Stanley Parable is an interactive storytelling and walking simulator video game designed by American developer Davey Wreden…”
“While both the mod and the remake use the first-person perspective common to other Source engine mods, there are no combat or other action-based sequences. Instead, the player guides Stanley, the game’s protagonist, through a surreal environment while the narrator, voiced by British actor Kevan Brighting, delivers exposition. The player has the opportunity to make numerous decisions on which paths to take, and because at times the narrator says what Stanley will do next, the player can choose to ignore the narration and make a different choice. Every choice made by the player is commented on by the narrator, and depending on the choices the player makes, they will encounter different endings to the game before it restarts.”

 

My Thoughts

“Choice: It’s the best part of being a real person, but if used incorrectly, can also be the most dangerous.” – Training video voiceover, The Stanley Parable

I think that The Last of Us was an outstanding game, and if the writers had so chosen, could have been an outstanding movie as well. To the Moon is game with a beautiful and touching story, which I believe could also be made into an outstanding novella. Baten Kaitos goes out of its way to blur the distinction between the real world and the game world, and when I pick it up for a re-play I almost feel like I’m visiting old friends; its story could stand proudly next to any of a number of fantasy epics.

But The Stanley Parable has a story – a deep, meaningful, impactful, beautiful and brilliant story – that could not be told in any other way. There could never be a Stanley Parable movie, novel, album, or television series. In order to be told this story, you have to have a controller in your hands. For this story is all about choices: the ones you make, the ones you don’t, and perhaps most importantly, the ones you don’t realize are yours to make.

The Narrator of the game has a very specific agenda: he has a story to tell, and he needs the cooperation of the player to make the decisions that will drive the story forward. By some counts, there are as many as 19 different endings to the game, and there’s only one that the Narrator considers “correct.” The Narrator will complain, cajole, insult, beg, or simply manipulate the game in order to keep things moving the way he wants. Ultimately, though, he is powerless: no matter what he says or does, he isn’t the one with the controller. But then again, neither is Stanley.

A room of many choices

One of the most clever things the game does is to describe Stanley as an employee whose job is to push buttons. “Orders came to him through a monitor on his desk, telling him what buttons to push, how long to push them, and in what order… Stanley relished every moment the orders came in, as though he had been made exactly for this job.” Then, as the game begins, you’re faced with an open door and the suggestion that Stanley moves forward to explore the office – and therefore you, as the player, know that you should push the “walk forward” button for a few seconds, and thereby relish this moment of gameplay. Thus, when the Narrator is demanding that “you” press some buttons, it’s not always obvious whether he’s talking to Stanley or to you.

On the whole, I spent a great deal of my play time laughing (loudly), as The Stanley Parable’s crisp sense of timing and delivery lets each of its well-written jokes shine. The little bit of time I wasn’t laughing was by design: I spent a lot of time thinking about what choices I was making and why; how the Narrator was or wasn’t able to manipulate my choices; how much of what I was doing reflected my personality versus my priorites as a game-player. It’s a game that has stuck with me for years, and I enthusiastically bring it up in any conversation about best or favorite games. Ultimately, I feel like the game is worth ten or fifteen hours of anyone’s time, and that’s about how long it should take to discover most of the endings on your own. If you’re a completionist, you’ll want to discover all 19 endings, but you shouldn’t feel bad if you need some hints or a walkthrough to find them all. I’ll also admit that there’s one ending that I’ve only ever seen via a Youtube video (the story calls for four hours of button clicking – I’m a huge fan of the game, but I have my limits). All that being said, though, I’ve never regretted a single second I’ve invested in the game, and I hope you’ll be inspired to take it for a spin.

Oh, and if you do, you should try to get the Broom Closet ending. The Broom Closet ending was my favorite.

Much of the biographical information for this post was taken from  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stanley_Parable

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Review – DAUNTLESS (The Lost Fleet #1) by Jack Campbell

Those who love big epic space battles and a guy trying to bring an unruly crew together will find a lot to love in these books

DAUNTLESS (The Lost Fleet #1) by Jack Campbell has the premise of Captain John “Black Jack” Geary being a officer who has been stuck in stasis for a century. Much to his dismay, he finds out his heroic last stand has been elevated to Davey Crocket at the Alamo/King Arthur levels of proportion. So much so that he is treated as the Second Coming when he is finally rescued, as well as the man who is to deliver them from the same enemy he “died” fighting so many years ago.

It’s not a bad premise, though I think Jack Campbell overdoes it. Tactics have degraded in the future to the point everyone just flies at the enemy and gets killed, he’s constantly reminded of how awesome he is (while thinking he’s not), and everyone who is skeptical of him is either evil or dramatically overreacting. One character assumes he’s going to either get them all killed in a heroic attack or try to take over the Alliance. Despite this, I very much enjoyed the setting and liked the focus on the laws and customs of war. John is a person who comes from a more civilized time and is appalled by the treatment of prisoners in the present. I think few books bother to treat the “enemy” characters as anything but targets so this was a nice change of pace.

The starship battles are well-designed with a focus on fleet action as well as real-world tactics (applied to space) like formation, training, and the importance of discipline. Jack Campbell worked in the Navy and its influence on his work is obvious. It’s nice to see someone who bucks the usual trend of military mavericks. Jack just wants a disciplined well-oiled machine and he’s got a bunch of Leeroy Jenkins in starships.
Characterization-wise, most of the people involved are a bit broad. John Geary is the “only sane man” on the ship as everyone is just determined to kill the enemy by attacking relentlessly. He’s also a subject of great suspicion by the civilian governments because they have no experience with any officers who don’t have utter contempt for them. There’s some similarities to Captain America as well as King Arthur with a moral paragon waking up to take the reigns, even as John is nothing like the tough-talking badass that history has made him out to be.

I feel like there’s some missed opportunities here as Jack never really takes time to mourn anyone who might have died while he was asleep as well as the sheer culture shock of waking up a century later. Instead, he’s all business and his problems are primarily with how the Navy has degenerated into a band of pirates. I feel like giving him a Peggy Carter equivalent or have him react to his initial awakening would have been more interesting.

On the other hand, I have to say I’m very impressed with the villains. I very much enjoyed the idea of the enemy being an ultra-capitalist cyberpunk state run by corporations. That’s something you don’t see often in military science-fiction and while they mostly remain targets, they eventually do get fleshed out in future books (particularly the spin-offs).

Speaking as an author of space opera fiction, I’m always on the lookout for new or classic fiction in the genre to read. Mind you, I’m one of those lumps who originally had his exposure limited to Star Trek and Star Wars. I’ve always thought of it as a visual medium so while I love Babylon Five, Battlestar Galactica, Mass Effect, and Halo–I never quite got into the literary side of things. Well, you know, until I decided to write it myself. After writing Lucifer’s Star, I did become an afficianado of military science fiction and have read many authors I’ve since come to love. Lost Fleet is an excellent example of the genre and one that was recommended to me many times before I picked it up.

In conclusion, this is an entertaining fun book even if it’s not something that I absolutely felt I had to read. Still, if you’re looking for deep characterization and a less-than-perfect hero then this isn’t the series for you. On my end? I don’t mind a little competence porn and read the entire series. Those who love big epic space battles and a guy trying to bring an unruly crew together will find a lot to love in these books. Dauntless is only the start of an epic series and it continues right until a truly epic climax (no spoilers). I should note that I listened to the audiobook and very much enjoyed its narration.

Read Dauntless

 

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Graphic Novel Review – The Sandman Preludes & Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman

“You get what anybody gets – you get a lifetime.” 

 Neil Gaiman, Preludes & Nocturnes

About

From the publisher, “New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman’s transcendent series SANDMAN is often hailed as the definitive Vertigo title and one of the finest achievements in graphic storytelling. Gaiman created an unforgettable tale of the forces that exist beyond life and death by weaving ancient mythology, folklore and fairy tales with his own distinct narrative vision.

In PRELUDES & NOCTURNES, an occultist attempting to capture Death to bargain for eternal life traps her younger brother Dream instead. After his 70 year imprisonment and eventual escape, Dream, also known as Morpheus, goes on a quest for his lost objects of power. On his arduous journey Morpheus encounters Lucifer, John Constantine, and an all-powerful madman.

This book also includes the story “The Sound of Her Wings,” which introduces us to the pragmatic and perky goth girl Death.

Includes issues 1-8 of the original series.”

My Thoughts

Preludes and nocturnes is a reread for me. I am ending the year as I started it; with one of my favorite series. Sandman is considered by many readers and educators as one of the most important graphic novels ever written. It is also one of the most important series in my life. It literally showed me how great and beautiful the genre could be. 

I am at a bit of a loss as far as reviewing goes. What can I add that hasn’t been said a thousand times over? 

Let me tell you a little bit about how Sandman has affected me as a reader.

As far as the graphic novel genre goes, I came to it a bit late in life. I didn’t “discover” comics until my early thirties. I have however read many, many books. As a child, I was a voracious reader. A habit that continued into adulthood and played no small part in shaping who I became as a person. You can learn much from fiction, as much or more than you can from non-fiction. But, like many readers out there I deemed comics childlike and inappropriate for the discerning reader.

 I was a snob. I was wrong. Comics are a combination of two of my favorite things: art and words. They can be as childlike or adult as the author sees fit. Sandman is an adult comic with adult themes steeped in dark fantasy. Gaimon took legends and mythos from various religious and mythological backgrounds and cobbled them together into a cohesive plot. It is definitely dark, adult, and a perfect book to jump into the genre.

“CHORONZON: I am a dire wolf, prey-stalking, lethal prowler.

MORPHEUS: I am a hunter, horse-mounted, wolf-stabbing.

CHORONZON: I am a horsefly, horse-stinging, hunter-throwing.

MORPHEUS: I am a spider, fly-consuming, eight-legged.

CHORONZON: I am a snake, spider-devouring, poison-toothed.

MORPHEUS: I am an ox, snake-crushing, heavy-footed.

CHORONZON: I am anthrax, butcher bacterium, warm-life destroying.

MORPHEUS: I am a world, space-floating, life-nurturing.

CHORONZON: I am a nova, all-exploding… planet-cremating.

MORPHEUS: I am the Universe — all things encompassing, all life embracing.

CHORONZON: I am Anti-Life, the Beast of Judgment. I am the dark at the end of everything. The end of universes, gods, worlds… of everything. Sss. And what will you be then, Dreamlord?

MORPHEUS: I am hope.” 

Neil Gaiman, Preludes & Nocturnes

Preludes and Nocturnes follow Dream also known as Morpheus, who is the younger brother of Death. As an Endless, one who lives forever,  he becomes trapped for seventy years in an evil magician’s basement. The evil magician thought he was trapping Death to live forever, but what he conquered instead was “little death.” Dream escapes captivity after 70 years and searches out his lost tools; The helm, the sand, and the ruby. He is much weakened from his years trapped, but once he regains his strength he begins his quest to require what was stolen from him and in the process rebuild his crumbling realm.

Preludes and Nocturnes is an opening book to many stories to come. This story reads fairly straightforwardly. However every page is setting up the future books; Dream loses power, dream gains power, and Dream seeks revenge. As straightforward as that seems there are overarching themes about family and what death and sleep actually are. Death is very secure with herself, while Dream lacks that security. Often he questions himself and his actions. There is a beautiful sequence later in the volume where Death and Dream are talking. Death mentions how everyone fears her while the same people go into Dream’s realm with no complaint. His response, “And I am far more terrible than you, sister.” Highlighting that Dream holds incredible and terrible power while Death is a release from pain and could even be seen as a kindness.  The irony is not lost on either of them. Dream’s relationship with family and specifically his older sister Death play a large part in how Dream views the world and how future stories play out. Death’s opinion of Dream’s actions and who he is are one of the few opinions that he cares about.

There is much more to this story. It is stacked with beautiful but subtle nuances. However, it is up to the reader to find those subtleties for themselves. I don’t think that this series is for everyone, but it is a great place to start reading and appreciating graphic novels. But if this story sings for you, it will be one of the most beautiful things you have ever read.

Stick a toe in, and see how the water is.

Read The Sandman Preludes and Nocturnes

Short Story – Sunbird by Neil Gaiman

The post Graphic Novel Review – The Sandman Preludes & Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman appeared first on BEFOREWEGOBLOG.

Review – Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

 

Legends & Lattes is simply an infuriating book

 

Very little actually happens in it. And certainly nothing unexpected or completely out of left field. You could pretty much predict the ending 1/3rd of the way through.

But that’s not what’s goddamn frustrating about it. Far from it.

What makes me so angry is I have no idea how Travis Baldree managed to craft a book that’s so damn good! Probably partly due to the experience he’s gained narrating so many awesome audio books.

Now this is certainly not the first review to rave about Legends & Lattes, and it certainly won’t be the last, but if, for some reason, you’re one of the few people who haven’t heard about it or picked it up, I highly suggest you do so.

The plot is simple: Viv, an orc, tired of her mercenary past, decides to retire and open a coffee shop in a small town.

And that’s pretty much it. Sure, there’s some conflict that drives things forward with the local crime element, and a jealous figure from her past, but really all of that is secondary, at best. In fact, I’d wager that if Baldree had omitted those elements entirely, the book would still be an utter joy to read.

Because what really carries Legends & Lattes isn’t a plot or any large scale, epic worldbuilding. No, the book coasts along for a breezy 300 or so pages with such gentle grace that by the end of it you’re left in such a good mood that the only thing you could be riled up about is how fast the book went by.

Every single goddamn character in this book will charm the fucking pants off of you. Viv, the aforementioned orc shopkeep, Cal, her taciturn craftsman, Tandri, the succubus barista… even the rat-man baker is a friggin’ delight! And they’re all nice, kind people just doing their best to build and run a business. And I could read 300 more pages of it!

But – at the same time – I also don’t want to.

This book gives us something different than any other fantasy in a hundred different ways – simple plotting, calm pacing, no elaborate world-building, and low, gentle stakes – but the one other mold-breaking aspect I was quite impressed by is that Lattes so immensely satisfying and complete on its own that it doesn’t leave you desperate for the next thing. I’m quite happy with the experience Baldree has given me, and to ask for more would just feel greedy.

In a time of high-stress and world-shattering stakes, Legends & Lattes is a book that thinks maybe we should all sit down, take a deep breath, and just have a sip of coffee.
6/5 (Yeah. It really is that good.)

Read Legend & Lattes

Review – PULSE by B.A. Bellec

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Review – Star Trek Picard No Man’s Land by Kirsten Beyer & Mike Johnson

The performances are great and we do get to see the Fenris Rangers in action

 

STAR TREK: PICARD: NO MAN’S LAND is a audio drama that is about an hour and a half long as well as primarily done by Michelle Hurd alongside Jeri Ryan. There are plenty of other cast members, though, and it is written by Star Trek mainstay Kirsten Beyer. It is something I immediately bought despite not liking audio dramas generally and much preferring the printed page or more traditional audiobooks.

This is because I’m fantastically in love with STAR TREK: PICARD’s setting. Not necessarily the show itself but the world it envisioned for its first season. The Romulan star has exploded and a great star empire has fallen. The Neutral Zone has collapsed into chaos and there’s now feuding warlords fighting it over territories without a unifying leader. There’s the Fenris Rangers, Qwat Milat, seedy criminals, and a Federation that has absolutely no desire to get involved.

My reasons for loving this setting are basically the same as my reasons for loving an RPG setting: it is absolutely full of all manner of fun for characters to get into. It is dangerous, sexy, and interesting politically. There’s no coincidence similar ideas were explored in STAR TREK ONLINE’s Romulan campaign as well as the much-earlier STAR TREK: NEW FRONTIER novels that were a massive influence on my own Space Academy books.

Unfortunately, for all my love of the setting, Star Trek: Picard doesn’t spend much time in the former Neutral Zone. Instead, we deal with a couple of baddies and then it’s off to deal with other problems. It’s part of the reason I want a FENRIS RANGERS or STAR TREK: SEVEN’S NINE series set in the place. You could really get into the interesting politics and intrigue involved in a power vacuum and whether a tyranny is worse than anarchy.

No Man’s Land is a pretty short story to cover all of this and I would have easily read a Kirsten Beyer-written novel about this subject. I’m still hoping for more information on the former Neutral Zone in the upcoming novel, Second Self. However, I should note this novel isn’t actually the lengthy guide to the setting of Picard I wanted but primarily a short adventure (probably novella length) that primarily deals with Seven and Raffi’s relationship.

This is arguably the best part of the novel because there’s absolutely nothing obscure or hesitant about depicting Seven and Raffi’s relationship. They are romantically interested in one another, want to pursue a serious relationship, and the only thing standing in their way is years of emotional baggage. They don’t erase the fact both women are bisexuals either but portray that upfront while making it clear it’s not an impediment to a long-term relationship as some queer-phobic media has.

I like the depiction of the Fenris Rangers as a contrast to Starfleet. They’re an all-volunteer force that is underpaid, underfunded, and do not have much in the way of equipment for their task. Nevertheless, they try to do the best they can and their primary goal is to protect refugees from the rampaging forces of the former Romulan military as well as aristocracy.

Everything else is a kind of straightforward TOS or video game plot. There’s an insane Romulan nobleman, a Maguffin that grants immortality, a madman who can lead the way, and a twist ending that was pretty telegraphed but still satisfying. The performances are great and we do get to see the Fenris Rangers in action. I also like the supporting cast, which adds a nice bunch of comic relief without being ridiculous. Sadly, I think the book could have been at least an hour or two longer without wearing out its welcome.

Listen to Star Trek: Picard No Man’s Land

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