Dave Higgins's Blog, page 32

Early Days of a Better Nation

With Boris Johnson PM facing a vote of no confidence, the United Kingdom might move back toward decency and progress; which inspires flickers of joy. However, the decision lies in the hands of Conservative MPs rather than the nation; which inspires flickers of powerlessness. Fortunately—while the greatest power to make a better world lies in … Continue reading Early Days of a Better Nation

Not My Preferred Bunting

This coming weekend is the celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee in the United Kingdom. Because it’s the Platinum Jubilee, we have an extra Bank Holiday on Friday. As a resident of Britain, I am obliged to have thoughts about it; so, I put down my cup of tea for a moment, made myself a cup … Continue reading Not My Preferred Bunting

Amalrok: Book One by Timothy Mitchell

Mitchell layers his own details onto the classic fantasy quest to save a kingdom, creating an engaging tale set in an interesting world. When his god withdraws his favour from the kingdom of Amalrok, Uruk of the Elowendi sets out to locate the rightful heir to the throne and the ancient Sword of Kings in … Continue reading Amalrok: Book One by Timothy Mitchell

Flawed Model

Came across MK Hill’s Actuary last week. As my wife is an actuary, I was intrigued. Sadly, while it’s a fun little story and well-made, it isn’t super accurate. For a start, my wife’s eyes don’t glow. Also, it lacks explosions. I understand why they made it more of a character piece, but for realism … Continue reading Flawed Model

Sharp Spear, Crystal Mirror: Martial Arts in Women’s Lives by Stephanie T. Hoppe

Focused primarily on the specifics of martial arts practice but also showing how those experiences pervade other areas, Hoppe provides female perspectives on what is stereotypically a very male world. Hoppe interviews a broad range of female martial artists, seeking similarities and differences in how martial arts have shaped their lives and how their experiences … Continue reading Sharp Spear, Crystal Mirror: Martial Arts in Women’s Lives by Stephanie T. Hoppe

Abuzz

My Phacelia Tanacetifolia commenced blooming over the weekend, which is a double joy: once for the purplality itself; and once for the sight of bees enjoying it. In addition to the beauty of the bee, they are a greatly important part of the ecosystem. Some bees bring even deeper joy: this larger one, for example, … Continue reading Abuzz

The Vampire Book Club by Nancy Warren

Warren interweaves the hidden tensions of village life with the slightly fantastical, creating an engaging murder mystery where magic and the supernatural add both solutions and problems. After breaking the cardinal rule about using magic to change fate, Quinn Calahan is sent to run the bookshop in a small village in southern Ireland. Resolving not … Continue reading The Vampire Book Club by Nancy Warren

A Single Bite

From obtaining a freely given invitation to the mere presence of a welcome mat, the requirements imposed in fiction on a vampire seeking entry vary wildly. However, the true limitation is potentially more onerous than any revisiting of traditional stories betrays: not merely a genuine invitation but an almost precipitously avid one by the right … Continue reading A Single Bite

North Western by Jordan Elizabeth

Elizabeth interweaves the ageless trauma of rebuilding life after loss with a powerful evocation of rural US life in the 1800’s, creating a mystery driven more by emotion than cold logic. This is the sixth volume of Elizabeth’s Echoes of New York series. However, while set in the same area, the narrative and characters are … Continue reading North Western by Jordan Elizabeth

Dreams from the Witch House: Female Voices of Lovecraftian Horror, ed. Lynne Jamneck

Jamneck applies a broad rather than narrow criteria to both female voice and Lovecraftian horror, resulting in a diverse range of stories. This anthology contains twenty short stories and novelettes that portray a female-perspective on an incomprehensible universe. “Shadows of the Evening” by Joyce Carol Oates. Escaping the tedium of life as her ageing aunt’s … Continue reading Dreams from the Witch House: Female Voices of Lovecraftian Horror, ed. Lynne Jamneck