Marc Aplin's Blog, page 95
October 26, 2017
Coping with Reading Guilt in 7 Easy Steps
Every year, countless readers suffer from a condition known as Reading Guilt. According to a prominent scientist (or possibly, to no prominent scientists), anxious or time-strapped readers are particularly vulnerable. Sometimes the condition can be so debilitating it actively prevents the reader from reading, which can lead to a dangerous spiral that only further exacerbates […]
October 24, 2017
Adding to the To-Be Read: East Asian Fantasy
Yesterday we learned a bit about qi and how it relates to fantasy. I found the article fascinating and realized I had read very few books set in/or based on an East Asian setting. So I asked people on Twitter and Facebook to suggest fantasy (and sci-fi, horror, etc.) books they’d read in this setting. […]
October 23, 2017
Worlds Within Worlds – Part Four: Qi and Fantasy
Most people associate magic with strange symbols, chanting, and waving a wand around. Dusty books are usually in the picture, along with ritual circles or sacrifices. The mages themselves are usually old men with grey beards—frail but knowledgeable. I’ve already written about them. Compare that kind of magic and mage to qigong and (arguably) its […]
October 22, 2017
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
The Blue Sword takes place in a setting reminiscent of British Imperialism, where the Homelanders have occupied the Royal Province of Daria for a generation. Penniless and with few prospects after the deaths of her parents, Harry Crewe is sent to join her brother, a soldier at the remote desert outpost. While she finds life […]
October 19, 2017
The Path of Flames by Phil Tucker
Just when I thought I wouldn’t soon read an indie fantasy book as beautifully crafted as Alec Hutson’s Crimson Queen, I was pleasantly surprised by Phil Tucker’s The Path of Flames. I’d known about The Path of Flames since its release, and had followed Tucker’s meteoric fantasy debut and subsequent releases; but, like my experience with Crimson […]
October 18, 2017
Lisa Tuttle Interview – The Curious Affair of the Witch at Wayside Cross
Since selling her first story in 1972, Lisa Tuttle has written a wealth of material that spans genre. She has won awards for her incisive short fiction. Her first novel Windhaven (1981), written with George R. R. Martin, is space opera, but she has written truly chilling horror with Familiar Spirit (1983) and Gabriel (1987), […]
October 16, 2017
Sky Coyote by Kage Baker
I return to the world of Dr. Zeus and his company this month, although in a very different manner from last time. Sky Coyote, the second book in the series, is very different from The Garden of Iden, not least because it is set on a different continent and in a different century. The protagonist […]
October 15, 2017
The Last Sacrifice by James A. Moore
Grimdark as a genre has become quite predictable now a days. There is some quality writing by quality authors yet it is becoming more and more difficult to find original works. We all love some gore and name calling and graphic sex yet it does get tiring at times as the storyline keeps getting similar. […]
October 12, 2017
The Wolf of Oren-yaro by K. S. Villoso – Cover Reveal
Today we have author K. S. Villoso with us to talk about her upcoming release, The Wolf of Oren-yaro. I write no-holds-barred character-driven epic fantasy. My stories are usually set in a fully realized fantasy world heavily influenced by Asian cultures (though it also has plenty of the usual fantasy staples), with developed characters and […]
October 11, 2017
Over The Garden Wall – TV Series Review
“Leave if you wish, but remember: the beast haunts these woods, ever singing its mournful melody…” When I was young, I loved the fantasy section of the library. Not content with just the typical My Teacher Is A Werewolf! or Vampires in Space titles, I’d comb both the kids and adult sections alike for books […]
