Marc Aplin's Blog, page 117
March 6, 2017
Sebastien De Castell Interview – Tyrant’s Throne
As many of you know Sebastien De Castell is the author of the acclaimed swashbuckling fantasy series, The Greatcoats. His debut novel, Traitor’s Blade, was shortlisted for both the 2014 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy and the Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Debut. The quartet’s final book, Tyrant’s Throne, is due out in April […]
March 5, 2017
The Stars Are Legion by Kameron Hurley
Spoiler Warning: This review contains spoilers. Read with caution if you have yet to finish the book. When you understand what the world is, you have two choices: Become a part of that world and perpetuate that system forever and ever, unto the next generation. Or fight it, and break it, and build something new. […]
March 4, 2017
Is Winter In Fantasy Always Evil?
Winter is often seen as the dark and unwelcome season, and understandably so—if you live far enough from the equator it can mean longer nights, cold temperatures, icy conditions, grey gardens and leafless trees. It can be particularly harsh if you don’t have a warm home to retreat to. But the season is not without […]
March 2, 2017
GODBLIND by Anna Stephens Cover Reveal
Many of you will have heard whispers of Godblind by now. Although I’ve not read a word of this novel by Anna Stephens (hurry up review copy!), I’ve picked up on the excitement from the author’s publishers and those who have been lucky to gain access to sample chapters. If you like your bloodthirsty political fantasy […]
March 1, 2017
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Imagine you are Siri Keeton. So begins this hard science fiction novel from Canadian author Peter Watts. It is 2082. It is the day of the Fireflies. Sixty-five thousand objects burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. The beginning of an invasion? For two months nothing more is seen or heard. Then a deep space probe picks […]
February 28, 2017
Monthly Short Story Winner: Fanfic
This is the third year we’ve done Fanfic February (wow, time is fleeting…). The first year you could write whatever you wanted, last year I limited the books you could choose from. And this year I want you to write a fight scene between two characters (or groups of main characters) from different authors. FitzChivalry […]
February 27, 2017
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Mythology is meant to be told and retold, down through the generations. Norse Mythology, by Neil Gaiman, is the latest telling. As Gaiman recently described it in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, this collection is his version of a “cover song” or his take on the role of Hamlet. It’s a clever metaphor […]
February 26, 2017
Apocalypse: An Epic Poem by Frederick Turner
Apocalypse is an epic poem about humanity’s struggle against the end of the world. When I was first pointed in its direction, and began reading, I was a little conflicted about potentially reviewing it here as it seemed to be too straight sci-fi for our little fantasy corner. However, there has always been crossover appeal […]
February 25, 2017
Skullsworn by Brian Staveley
Skullsworn is a standalone novel set in the world established by The Chronicles of the Unhewn but set before the events of that trilogy. It follows one of the Chronicle’s deadliest characters and a huge fan favourite Pyrre Lakatur in an origin type story that allows us to bear witness to her final trial before […]
February 24, 2017
Monthly Short Story Winner: Breaking The Fourth Wall
Most of you are familiar with the term “breaking the fourth wall”. It’s mostly done in children’s books (like Grover in Sesame Street’s The Monster at the End of this Book), comics (see above) or movies (comedy movies mainly) and means usually a character becoming aware of their fictional nature, directly addressing the reader and/or […]
