Dave Higgins's Blog, page 36

Advent Ghosts: Dirty Hands

A joyous Yule or other festival of choice to everyone. As in previous years, I am participating in Loren Eaton’s Advent Ghosts 100-word scary story project. This year, a riff on a traditional creepy trope: Dirty Hands Light dances. Glass explodes. “Are you all right?” Josie appears from the kitchen. “Vase fell off. Almost hit … Continue reading Advent Ghosts: Dirty Hands

Cirsova Magazine of Thrilling Adventure and Daring Suspense, Volume 2 #9, ed. P. Alexander

Alexander gathers science fiction and fantasy that evokes one of the first pulp magazines without feeling stale or derivative. This magazine contains three novelettes, seven short stories, an extract from an epic poem, each in the vein of classic science-fiction or fantasy, along with a short essay on the birth of popular science fiction. ‘For … Continue reading Cirsova Magazine of Thrilling Adventure and Daring Suspense, Volume 2 #9, ed. P. Alexander

On Topist

While I have previously declared no interest in it, I am today announcing my candidacy for President. During a conversation over breakfast, my wife announced that she endorses me for President. This came as somewhat of a surprise as I was not aware I was running for President. However, that confusion is easy enough to … Continue reading On Topist

The Burdens by William Meikle

Meikle blends the metaphor and shifting rules of dream and memory with solid action, creating a short story that is both spiritual quest and dark fantasy adventure. When John heard his wife tell the doctor to turn off his life support, he thought he’d slipped into the darkness forever; instead, he awakens at the top … Continue reading The Burdens by William Meikle

Don’t Period Shame

Menstruation is not shameful. In an ideal world, I could end the post there. In an ideal world, even that would be somewhat trite. However, it isn’t. Bodily fluids can be messy and seem icky. But that doesn’t make them shameful. Having a runny nose can be messy. Having a cough can be icky. But … Continue reading Don’t Period Shame

Self-Publishing Glossary: From a-book to zero rating: the Terms indie authors need to know, ed. Orna A. Ross

Ross gathers jargon and practices from across the spectrum of publishing in a book that will be of equal use to authors looking to move into e-publishing and those looking to expand beyond the accessibility of KDP. This book collects hundreds of publishing terms, covering the entire period from finished manuscript to post-publication for both … Continue reading Self-Publishing Glossary: From a-book to zero rating: the Terms indie authors need to know, ed. Orna A. Ross

Season of the Cultist

Haiku are closely associated with Zen, a philosophy which suggests human life has no intrinsic elevated value and reality is not as most people perceive it. Although often rather less bleak in expression, this view of existence will be immediately recognizable to Lovecraft fans as very similar to cosmicism. So, as I like both haiku … Continue reading Season of the Cultist

Starless Night by Stephanie Flint & Isaac Flint

The Flints combine the action and politics of supervillains and superheroes teaming up against a common threat with the uncertainty of someone who cannot trust their own mind, creating science-fiction that is both fast-paced and emotive. This is the third book in the Distant Horizon series and refers to events in the Glitch series. Possible … Continue reading Starless Night by Stephanie Flint & Isaac Flint

Will You Enjoy This Post Before You’ve Read It?

One of the online communities I’m in is engaged in the discussion of the difference between preference for the familiar and prejudice. Instinctively, we recognise there is a difference but where it lies can be much harder to pin down. For me, the starting point is pre-emptive denigration. We all have preferences, both general and … Continue reading Will You Enjoy This Post Before You’ve Read It?

The Vanishing Woman by Doug Peterson

Peterson weaves historical fact with strong inference and complex characters, creating a tale that is more engaging than dry narrative but all the more harrowing for being true. The child of a slave and her master, Ellen Craft was born with skin as pale enough to seem white. Pale enough that she and her husband … Continue reading The Vanishing Woman by Doug Peterson