Dave Higgins's Blog, page 47
November 13, 2020
How to Stop a Vampire War in Six Easy Steps by Matthew S. Cox
Cox mixes the politely lethal conflict of medieval nobles or mafia dons with the unique threats and approaches of vampirism to create urban fantasy with pace and complexity. This novel is the eleventh volume of Cox’s Vampire Innocent series. The previous books have plenty of enjoyable misunderstandings and reveals… it would be a shame if … Continue reading How to Stop a Vampire War in Six Easy Steps by Matthew S. Cox
November 9, 2020
Upon Boxes
Inspired by a conversation with my wife, I’ve added a “First in Series” category for reviews. While I feel it’s a useful addition, it’s rather self-explanatory and the time spent adding existing reviews didn’t generate any engaging stories. So, here’s a somewhat creepy short film to add some interest to the post: Stucco (Janina Gavankar, … Continue reading Upon Boxes
November 6, 2020
Through Thick and Thin: A Menopausal Superhero Short Story Collection by Samantha Bryant
Bryant blends the cinematic display of classic superhero fiction with the emotional nuances of real life to create fast-paced action that focuses on women and minorities but will not appeal only to them. This collection contains four short stories set in The Menopausal Superheroes universe, revealing details of events not shown in the novels. As … Continue reading Through Thick and Thin: A Menopausal Superhero Short Story Collection by Samantha Bryant
November 2, 2020
Little, Big: Talking with John Crowley
A little while ago, Mythaxis Review offered me the chance to interview John Crowley. The finished conversation has just been released. While perhaps best known for Little, Big (winner of one of the several World Fantasy Awards that he holds), John Crowley’s work spans many genres, fiction and non-fiction, books and documentary films. In conversation … Continue reading Little, Big: Talking with John Crowley
October 30, 2020
Radical by Colleen Cowley
Blending the tension of an espionage thriller with magic and the nature of love, Cowley creates a tale that will appeal to both fans of fantasy thrills and those of character-driven romance. This is the second book in Cowley’s Clandestine Magic series. Possible spoilers ahead. For generations, the lie that only a few men are … Continue reading Radical by Colleen Cowley
October 26, 2020
A Box Without a Label
The National Trust is potentially facing a formal probe over its investigation into links between its properties and slavery. Do I think this is warranted? Seventeen. Earlier this year the National Trust released a interim review with the catchy title Connections between colonialism and Properties now in the care of the National Trust, including links … Continue reading A Box Without a Label
October 23, 2020
Thomasine by Jordan Elizabeth
Elizabeth blends the tropes of folk horror with the intensity of teenage belief, creating a story that asks “what if everyone really was watching you?” Thomasine was born in the same small rural town in the USA as her father, her grandparents, and most of her other relatives. Her childhood was filled with nightmares of … Continue reading Thomasine by Jordan Elizabeth
October 19, 2020
Pear Chutney
One of things that the previous owners of our house left was an established pear tree. It was in need of decisive pruning when we moved in, so—between that and the weather conditions—it didn’t fruit much. However, this year it is fruiting heavily (even with both my wife and I eating at least one pear … Continue reading Pear Chutney
October 16, 2020
The Nuclear Frontier by Matthew S. Cox
Cox blends fragments of modern US life with universal human reactions to create a post-apocalyptic world that provides both action and emotional depth. This novel is the fifth in the Evergreen series. Risk of spoiler contamination beyond this point. A day where the electricity works in Evergreen is starting to become a day of celebration … Continue reading The Nuclear Frontier by Matthew S. Cox
October 12, 2020
The Comfort of a New Bright Age
Arthur C. Clarke commented that “[t]wo possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” As a Lovecraft fan, I feel the morbid joy of considering the second possibility, of envisioning a world where the only path to comfort is to turn away from the universe toward … Continue reading The Comfort of a New Bright Age
