Marc Aplin's Blog, page 94
November 10, 2017
Monthly Short Story Winner: Gangsters and Crime Lords
Al Capone. The Godfather. Kingpin. There are many infamous crime lords in history and pop culture. Your job this month is to bring them into a fantasy setting. They don’t need to be the main character but a crime lord and their underground organization have to play a significant role. Rules: 1. This can be […]
November 7, 2017
Angry Robot New Author & Book Announcement!
Angry Robot has done it again! They have signed on another amazing writer for their super robot army! Let me hand over the reins so they can tell you all about it. We at Angry Robot are really excited to announce our new author Patrice Sarath! Patrice is an author and editor living in Austin, Texas. […]
November 6, 2017
Blade Runner 2049 – Movie Review
It’s safe to say that the original 1982 Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford and directed by Ridley Scott is probably one of the most influential sci-fi movies of all time. While many of the ideas and themes may have already been covered in sci-fi novels through the ages, none of the aforementioned novels had the […]
November 5, 2017
SPFBO3: The Next Five Fall…
The Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off officially began on July 1st! In case you missed it, here’s what Fantasy-Faction has posted so far: Our announcement Introducing round one Cover contest winners First five fall Second five fall Third five fall And of course you can keep track of everything relating to round one on the SPFBO page on Mark […]
November 3, 2017
Worldbuilding Round Table with Jonathan French, Alec Hutson, and Phil Tucker
Of the fantasy books I have read this year, three of my favorites have been Alec Hutson’s Crimson Queen, Jonathan French’s The Grey Bastards (winner of SPFBO 2016), and Phil Tucker’s The Path of Flames (SPFBO 2016 finalist). All have received both critical acclaim and reader adoration. What drew me into their worlds was how […]
November 2, 2017
The Queen of All Crows by Rod Duncan – Cover Reveal and Giveaway
I know Halloween is over, but I bet all you Factioners out there would still love to see another sweet, sweet Angry Robot cover. And I’m positive you would also like an extra special treat afterwards! Well today is your lucky day, because not only do I get to introduce you to some awesome cover […]
October 31, 2017
Tough Travels: Mentors
At the start of every month, Fantasy-Faction will lead you (yes, YOU!) on a tour of the fantasy genre. From high to low, from classics to new releases, from epic to urban; each month, we will guide you in search of a different trope, theme or cliché. Lest we become lost, we’ll be referring to […]
Urskuul’s Reading Circle: Hannah Green and Her Unfeasibly Mundane Existence by Michael Marshall Smith
Hello all of you lovely members of Urskuul’s Reading Circle. And a hello to the non-lovely ones as well, such as Melissa. I wouldn’t want to be accused of being mean to anyone by not saying hello to them. Oh. Except I already have been. Well, not because I didn’t say hello. But yes. One […]
October 30, 2017
Kill Creek by Scott Thomas
At the end of a dark prairie road, nearly forgotten in the Kansas countryside, is the Finch House. For years it had remained empty, overgrown, abandoned. Soon the front door will be opened for the first time in decades. But something is waiting, lurking in the shadows; anxious to meet its new guests… When best-selling […]
October 27, 2017
Monthly Short Story Winner: Music
Music plays a huge part in our lives and so it’s no wonder that it has its part in fantasy too. There are countless ways in which to include it. As a song to set the mood or as a part of your worldbuilding. As the integral theme of the story (and its magic) like […]
