Marc Aplin's Blog, page 231

Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson

Now, before you accuse me of gushing over the story in Part One, I gave Words of Radiance 9 (8.5 rounded up) for a reason. I did not like everything. The humour, for example, while funny, was sometimes counterproductive. It made some encounters seem a little silly, the humour forced, and character actions incomprehensible–and as […]

Children’s Fantasy: Eight of the Best – Part Two

This is Part Two of our look at Children’s Fantasy series. If you missed it, you can read Part One here. The Earthsea Quartet by Ursula Le Guin Farther west than west Beyond the land My people are dancing On the other wind. This quartet can often be found in the adult fantasy section of […]

The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

This review contains spoilers. Read with caution if you have yet to finish the book. That great first love, think Romeo and Juliet, Jack and Rose, a beautiful notion but a realistic one? Rose was married for sixty odd years after Jack died yet instead of going to the man she spent her life with […]

Gollancz Update fans on Pratchett Collector’s Library

You may remember that a few months back we brought you the news of Gollancz’s Discworld Collector’s Library. Well, at the time they’d released covers for 12 books, through to Jingo.     Covers for the first 12 Discworld Collector’s Library Books Well, Gollancz have apparently been inundated with questions from fans asking whether more […]

Convention Survival Guide

At about this time of year, at least in my little section of the world, the season of genre conventions begins in full force. As such, it seems like a good time to go over the basics of surviving a convention without sore feet or making a horse’s bottom of oneself in front of a […]

Interview with Charlaine Harris

Charlaine Harris is an author best known for her True Blood books that were adapted into a hugely successful television series. What was remarkable about True Blood was that it brought Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance to the attention of mass-audiences who’d usually not go anywhere near either genre. Personally, I feel this is because […]

Terry Pratchett signs deal for ‘Dragons at Crumbling Castle’

In news that flew gently under the radar, Sir Terry Pratchett has signed a book deal for a collection of middle-grade stories that will be titled Dragons at Crumbling Castle. The stories – 14 in total – initially appeared in The Buck’s Free Press (in Buckinghamshire, England), long before Terry Pratchett made it as a […]

Dr Who joins Daenerys in new Terminator Movie!

Matt Smith, who many of you will know as the 11th Doctor, has been cast in the upcoming film “Terminator: Genesis”. Not too much about his role has been announced other than that ‘he will play a new character with a strong connection to the movie’s central character John Connor’. During a question and answer […]

Batman prequel ‘Gotham’ picked up for 13 episodes

Fox have announced a high-profile series that will follow the adventures of a young Commissioner Gordon. Based on the synopsis, trailer and logo (coming up) ‘Gotham’ will be more in-tune with the dark, grittiness of the first season of Arrow (which I loved) as opposed to Smallville (which I had a love-hate relationship with). In […]

MageSign by Alan Baxter

Last month I reviewed the excellent RealmShift by Alan Baxter, an author in Australia who we’ll be seeing a whole lot more of in the future, after he recently signed a three-book deal with Harper Voyager (to be released later this year)! RealmShift left me with a lot to think about. Not only a thrilling […]