Dave Higgins's Blog, page 43

Hunting Vampires for Fun and Profit by Matthew S. Cox

Cox continues his blending of vampire tropes and the concerns of modern US youth to create an engaging tale that has much to appeal both to classic vampire fans and new adult fans. This novel is the thirteenth volume of Cox’s Vampire Innocent series. Spoilers for previous volumes might cross your path ahead. The sort … Continue reading Hunting Vampires for Fun and Profit by Matthew S. Cox

Release the Dollar Monkeys!

Today marks the first easing of lockdown in the United Kingdom (since the last one). While it might feel like an age since we were sealed away, it is nothing compared to that of Ogg, the inventor of the rock for doing something that was previously done in a less efficient way. To both provide … Continue reading Release the Dollar Monkeys!

The Wind Mage and the Wolf by Stephanie Flint

Flint blends aspects of spy thriller with an interesting fantasy society to create a novella that asks questions about what freedom actually is without ceasing to be an engaging tale of magical action. Livena, an illegal mage suffering a truth curse, fled her homeland for the city of Ashan in the company of an ex-mage … Continue reading The Wind Mage and the Wolf by Stephanie Flint

Peacock Gramophone

And lo did the Prophet Irving say that forsoever there be the light of the moon and melodious sounds and the communion of souls and the seeking thereto, the righteous shall move their limbs in defiance of looming imperfections. Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues evoked that spirit in me; maybe it will you. The … Continue reading Peacock Gramophone

Godsquatter by Gerard Heidgerken

Mashing a bit of Robert Rankin, a chunk of Kevin Smith, and a lot of potato jokes together, Heidgerken produces satire for the generation that can’t even. Gordon MacNamara works in a fast-food franchise, dreaming not of a better future but of those shifts when he gets to work the fry station rather than something … Continue reading Godsquatter by Gerard Heidgerken

Happy Deathday to HP Lovecraft

What better soundtrack for the day the misanthrope died than a playlist of all the songs featured in Harlem Smoke, a novel that blends Lovecraft and music? The answer is potentially a great many things: however James Champagne’s choices for songs to feature do provide a pleasing change from the three threads of dark ambient, … Continue reading Happy Deathday to HP Lovecraft

The Burning Alchemist by Matthew S. Cox

Cox continues his blending of fast-paced thrills, an engaging urban fantasy world, and strong characters, creating another tale of magical firefighting and not destroying the universe. This is the fifth volume of Cox’s Temporal Armistice series. Ignore the muffled giggling. There definitely aren’t spoilers just waiting to leap out beyond this point. When Brooklyn Amari … Continue reading The Burning Alchemist by Matthew S. Cox

Wangarĩ Muta Maathai

This International Women’s Day, I’d like to celebrate Wangarĩ Muta Maathai, a inspiring campaigner for the environment and a fairer world. Among her many achievements are: First East African Woman to receive a PhD. Chair of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Nairobi. Founder of The Green Belt Movement, a Kenyan NGO focusing on … Continue reading Wangarĩ Muta Maathai

The Zero Signal by Rick Wayne

Part biopunk thriller, part speculation on post-industrial social advance, this novel will appeal both to fans of fast-paced gritty action and thought-provoking futurism. In a possible future, advances in gene manipulation allow people to edit their own bodies as easily as we hack technology, leading to a thriving mod community. Most modders are good intentioned, … Continue reading The Zero Signal by Rick Wayne

Publishing Turtles

Over the weekend, I came across Hugh Howey’s listing of his publishing values. So, I decided to try the exercise myself. Turns out my ordering of things needed for publishing is somewhat different from his. The exercise is to list groups/entities needed for publishing in order of importance. My first thought was that I agree … Continue reading Publishing Turtles