Dave Higgins's Blog, page 39

Proceeding in an Orderly Fashion

Earlier, I came across a theory that Inspector Legrasse suffered mental health issues following the Bayou raid, either from the raid itself, having the Cthulhu statue in his possession, or the cult attempting to recover the statue. While popular perception is that all Lovecraft’s heroes go insane, I didn’t recall Legrasse suffering a collapse. Rereading … Continue reading Proceeding in an Orderly Fashion

Athalie by Jordan Elizabeth

Elizabeth blends the deeply personal with the apocalyptic to create a fantasy tale about a chosen one who doesn’t have the usual doubts or allies. Each year, the Sapphire Empire sacrifices a young woman to the gods to bring prosperity. Chosen against expectation a short while before her wedding, Athalie’s doubts grow as her time … Continue reading Athalie by Jordan Elizabeth

Awaken Your Tongues

There is an article in the Telegraph today (another article) rejecting the idea that we shouldn’t require correct English from students. As someone who has used English professionally for most of my working life, the argument that language matters resonates strongly with me. And thus the article spoke to me: specifically, it said Χρησιμοποίησα έναν … Continue reading Awaken Your Tongues

The Glass Gargoyle by Marie Andreas

Combining archaeology and world-threatening mystical artefacts without either copying the well-known character or deliberately avoiding echoes, Andreas creates a fantasy novel that balances intelligent interaction with fast-paced high-stakes plot. All Taryn wants to do is delve into the ruins left when the elves vanished a thousand years ago. Unfortunately, her noble patrons seem to either … Continue reading The Glass Gargoyle by Marie Andreas

A Strange Grasping

Social media is an aching void, filled with uncaring horrors. But it is a void that can be shaped by abstruse incantations and strong will. As I have shaped it. The arcane sigil I wrought last week summoned forth a shambling servitor* bearing visions of exquisite Otherness, visions I have chosen to share with the … Continue reading A Strange Grasping

The World We Make by Matthew S. Cox

Cox fuses the frontier narratives of the Old West with technological and social fragments from the Twenty-First Century and the possible longer-term effects of nuclear war, creating a plausible portrayal of a real post-apocalyptic settlement. This novel is the sixth in the Evergreen series. Risk of spoiler contamination beyond this point. In the year since … Continue reading The World We Make by Matthew S. Cox

Squeed

On of the (few) advantages to the Covid-19 restrictions—apart from the obvious one of reducing spread—is an acceleration in various venues embracing online exhibitions and performances. Rather than being limited to seeing things that come to Bristol and a few things I made an significant effort to travel to another place to see, I can … Continue reading Squeed

Lisha of Kachine by Jordan Elizabeth

Elizabeth blends the issues of uncertainty and social pressure common to most young people with broader questions of the legitimacy of regime change, creating fantasy that focuses strongly on character without losing the feeling of heroic significance that many fans crave. This is the second book in Elizabeth’s Serpent Riders series. Possible spoilers ahead. Princess … Continue reading Lisha of Kachine by Jordan Elizabeth

Muffin It Up

Over the weekend I had a startling revelation about how the misperception of technology makes the ineffective seem deliberate. On Saturday, I noticed an email in my spam folder that seemed almost identical to one I’d received and deleted on Friday. Obviously, I didn’t feel the need to read the same information twice but I … Continue reading Muffin It Up

Old Magic by Chris Lowry

Lowry adds a spattering of actual magic to the soft edge of civilisation that is the modern US West, creating an novel that is both police investigation and gritty fantasy. When US Government sealed the First Nations away on reservations, they sealed magic away with them, so well that most people don’t even realise it … Continue reading Old Magic by Chris Lowry