Marc Aplin's Blog, page 121
February 19, 2017
Society in Story
There are a number of elements fantasy writers focus on during worldbuilding, traditionally they pour over decisions like mapping locations, designing a magic system and setting empires/species against one another – big, obvious things that shape the story. Yet this can mean they overlook an important aspect that helps to bring all the different elements […]
February 18, 2017
The Kingfountain Trilogy by Jeff Wheeler – Spoiler Free Series Review
Some of the best series I’ve read are series that have snuck up on me—ones that I’ve gone into cold, either based on a random cover, a sale or some other arcane reason. The sense of discovery that comes with unearthing a diamond in the rough adds to the reading experience in myriad ways, not […]
February 16, 2017
The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe by Kij Johnson
Tor’s novella series was started in 2015, with the aim of promoting this shorter medium. The line includes both established authors and those just making their debut, and has included a number of authors from diverse backgrounds. The resulting line is full of interesting and different stories from authors both familiar and new. This column […]
February 15, 2017
Quotes: Making or Breaking
My 46th article for Fantasy-Faction. I have now written more of these than I have years of life and not many to 50. And always the eternal question; what to write about? Easy. On Saturday night I was moved to tears. I cried. Not a snotty, snuffling, huffing, heaving cry, but a tear or three […]
February 13, 2017
Heart Blade by Juliana Spink Mills
Urban fantasy is absolutely my bag. I write it. I read it. I openly pine to live in a world where I can punch a troll in the face on my way home from work. Or to work. Honestly, I’m not picky about when my troll punching gets done. The idea that something big and […]
February 9, 2017
Darkhaven by A.F.E. Smith – Series Review
You could be forgiven for assuming A.F.E. Smith’s debut is a tame, fluffy tale about a magical unicorn. I assumed the same. But trust me when I say that there’s *nothing* tame or fluffy about Darkhaven. Firstly, let’s get one thing straight: that’s not actually a unicorn. It’s an alicorn; a hybrid of the ‘pure’ […]
February 6, 2017
A Wizard Abroad by Diane Duane
Can any self-respecting fantasy author write a series about magic in our world without mentioning Ireland? The answer, of course, is yes, but facts are beside the point. The point is Ireland has a place in the popular imagination (particularly the popular imagination of the sorts of people prone to reading fantasy and thinking about […]
February 5, 2017
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
Spoiler Warning: This review contains spoilers. Read with caution if you have yet to finish the book. Tor’s novella series was started in 2015, with the aim of promoting this shorter medium. The line includes both established authors and those just making their debut, and has included a number of authors from diverse backgrounds. The […]
February 2, 2017
Science Fiction: Asking The Questions Of The Day
There are few genres in all of entertainment that are more sculpted by the times they are written in than science fiction. From its earliest beginnings, sci-fi has been about asking questions. What will humans eventually evolve into? At what point will humanity’s drive to invent give birth to a new lifeform? Which accent is […]
January 31, 2017
Everfair by Nisi Shawl
“The settlers of Everfair had come here naively at best, arrogantly at worst. Due to the orders of the king they had found the country seemingly empty. In the fight against Leopold, their assistance had been most valuable, and they had also brought to the cause the help of Europeans and Americans who would never […]
