Dave Higgins's Blog, page 103
March 4, 2016
The Tales of Abu Nuwas: Setara’s Genie by Marva Dasef
Interweaving the high fantasy of A Thousand and One Nights with the gritty reality of poverty, Dasef creates a light adventure that does not lack for depth. Each day, Abu Nuwas sits in the bazaar telling stories to anyone who will give him food or coin. Nadja walks the same bazaar, selling tiny bags of […]
March 2, 2016
Politic Discourse
One of the most common pieces of advice given to people who both blog and have a professional online platform (authors, musicians, bespoke-weasel-waistcoat tailors, &c.) is to avoid discussing politics and religion; indeed it is such pervasive advice that some give it to anyone as the answer to any situation. However, as with many rules […]
February 29, 2016
One Copy For Each Hand
Why don’t online retailers offer an “already bought” filter on searches? Sorry if you clicked through looking for a joke to lighten your Monday. I had cause to search by genre for a short-story collection today, and found myself scrolling through pages of results that contained entries I thought I’d already bought but wasn’t sure. […]
February 26, 2016
Beyond the Starline by Austin Hackney
Hackney combines the broad sweeps and high peril of the action mystery with the fine detail of character-driven narratives. Both rollicking tale of a plucky youth and sweeping portrayal of a complex society, this novel has much to appeal to readers of all ages and preferences. Harriet Howland spends her days working in her mother’s […]
February 24, 2016
Porlocked Again
I have been porlocked every day this week, so I’ve decided to change today’s post to one on the virtue of lions. Coleridge was interrupted while writing a poem by a brush seller. By the time he had got rid of the seller and returned to his page, the soaring words flowing through his head […]
February 22, 2016
Peering Down The Road Untaken
Having worked on various business improvement projects over the years, this video on requirements gathering made me chuckle and wince at the same time. However, it isn’t just large-scale projects that suffer from the issue: even the most apparently simple aims can suffer from a strong bias to repeat what works. As the almost fanatical […]
February 19, 2016
Cogling by Jordan Elizabeth
Combining an epic quest, intriguing technology, and odd magics, with nuanced characters and complex societies, Jordan creates a steampunk fairytale that doesn’t rely on flash and veneer to carry the reader’s interest. As a member of the lower class, fifteen-year-old Edna Mather considers herself lucky to have secured a job for her and her seven-year-old […]
February 17, 2016
Fix Deployed
After over a fortnight of the publisher poking and prodding Amazon, All These Shiny Worlds is free on Amazon UK. So, now’s a great time to grab a copy if you haven’t already. And now a little music to celebrate.
February 15, 2016
Shining Light Pollution in Dark Places
The stars turn again, echoing forward 313 days to that most urgent of festivals. And so the madness slips back into slumber, withdrawing back to the precincts of its cult. I speak of course of Valentine’s Day adverts. For those who do not celebrate Valentine’s Day – or celebrate with gifts sought truly outwith the […]
February 12, 2016
Anamakee by Garret Schuelke
With a protagonist who can’t win if he does play and a solid grasp of the difference between knowing there is more and knowing how to get it, Schuelke creates a USA where coasting through mediocrity might be the least worst option. Dividing his time between entry-level work at a linen service, Community College, and […]
