Marc Aplin's Blog, page 135
July 15, 2016
Making A Connection
Most people think of reading as a purely intellectual pursuit, but the best books are the ones that inspire emotion in the reader. While you can appreciate a novel on an intellectual basis, the ones you remember are the ones that made you feel something; a tragedy that evokes a sense of sadness and loss, […]
July 14, 2016
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle
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 […]
July 13, 2016
Veil of the Deserters by Jeff Salyards
You’ll be pleased to know that I’m not here to bore you with generalised, hyperbolic gushing about how much I’m loving the world of Jeff Salyards’ Bloodsounder’s Arc (I waffled on enough in my review of book one, Scourge of the Betrayer). No, what I’m actually here to do is bore you with specific, hyperbolic […]
July 12, 2016
False Hearts by Laura Lam
How would you react if the most important person in your life was being accused of a murder you know they couldn’t possibly have committed? How far would you go beyond your comfort zone to prove them innocent? Would you risk your future, even your life, to save theirs? Taema and Tila were born as conjoined […]
July 11, 2016
Warcraft – Movie Review
Based on the video game series by Blizzard and its tie-in novels, Warcraft (alternatively titled Warcraft: The Beginning) is a fantasy film directed by Duncan Jones, released in 2016. Azeroth, a once peaceful realm, now faces war as a race of warrior orcs invades, fleeing their own dying world. Fel magic sustains a portal that […]
July 10, 2016
I STARTED AN AWARD-WINNING SF/F PUBLISHING HOUSE AND ALL I LEARNED WERE THESE SEVEN RANDOM THINGS
In honour of Angry Robot’s seventh anniversary, founder and publisher Marc Gascoigne was persuaded to share some random thoughts on how the innovative imprint ticks. Unfortunately, that’s just what he did. 1) IF YOU WANT TO GET HERE, I WOULDN’T START FROM THERE Publishing has changed immeasurably since August 2008 when Angry Robot was first […]
New Warhammer 40K Comic Announced
Titan Comics and Games Workshop have announced their selected creative team of writer George Mann (Dark Souls, Warhammer Black Library, Eighth Doctor) and artists Tazio Bettin (Independence Day, Sally of the Wasteland) and Enrica Eren Angioliniwhjo who will kick-off the highly anticipated new Warhammer 40,000 comic series this October. Many Fantasy-Factioners will be familiar with the popular tabletop game that is now in its seventh edition and […]
July 9, 2016
Age of Myth by Michael J. Sullivan – Spoiler Free Review
“History is written by the victors.” It was Winston Churchill that said it first, and the adage has been repeated countless times over the decades. What we take as true, as fact, as history is very often nothing more than the winner’s version of events. Separating the fact from fiction—that’s the hard part. Churchill’s theory […]
July 8, 2016
Fantastical Creatures of Greco-Roman Mythology: The Colchian Dragon
This is the second instalment of a series in which we explore some of the lesser-known creatures and monsters found in Classical mythology, as many of these fantastical beings have similar counterparts in today’s modern fantasy literature and film. It’s my hope that giving more “screen time” to some of the unique creatures from ancient […]
David Gemmell Legend Awards: Short List
It’s that time of year again… The shortlists for 2016’s Gemmell Awards have been announced and voting will open at midday (GMT) today (Friday 8th July). Great to see so many of Fantasy-Faction Community’s favourites in the lists. Check them out: Legend Award (best novel) The Dread Wyrm by Miles Cameron (Gollancz) Son of the Black Sword by Larry […]
