Dave Higgins's Blog, page 49
June 26, 2020
At the End of the World by Gabriel Garret
Garret blends wish-fulfillment female angels with fast-paced metaphysical horror to create urban fantasy with world-shattering consequences that maintains its character-driven focus. Jack lives a boring life with a boring job, his only escape sketching winged women and monsters. When he starts half-hearing voices, he thinks it’s stress or madness. Until one of the voices becomes … Continue reading At the End of the World by Gabriel Garret
June 22, 2020
Taking Off Faith
I’ve read a great many fantasy stories that feature characters wrestling with religion, faith, and their place in the universe. But, despite really enjoying that quest for meaning, I’ve played in few roleplaying games that feature a similar arc. Which might reveal two key ways in which roleplaying isn’t just telling stories. Yesterday, a fellow … Continue reading Taking Off Faith
June 19, 2020
Harbinger by Matthew S. Cox
Combining gritty technological thrills with complex supernatural investigations, Cox provides another novel filled with both cyberpunk action and metaphysical complexity. This novel is the fifth in Cox’s Division Zero series. It also refers to events in The Awakened series. High risk of post-cognitive contamination beyond this point. Lieutenant Kirsten Wren feels like she’s finally in … Continue reading Harbinger by Matthew S. Cox
June 15, 2020
Against the Love of It
In response to last week’s post about tearing down statues, Misha Burnett pointed out that positive discrimination denies white males jobs, grants, and other things they are qualified for. And I agree totally with his unstated assumption that it isn’t fair to punish white males for the actions of their ancestors, in the same way … Continue reading Against the Love of It
June 12, 2020
A Cloak of Red by Brenna Gawain
Gawain merges magical battles with paranoia to create gritty small-unit fantasy. While this novel is the first in Gawain’s The Tenth Kingdom series, it refers to events other series set in Underrealm. There might therefore be spoilers ahead. In exchange for the funds to attend the Academy for Wizards, Theren contracted to serve her patron … Continue reading A Cloak of Red by Brenna Gawain
June 8, 2020
Casting the Last Straw
Imagine you’re driving along the road and someone cuts you up. I suspect you at least thought about swearing. Maybe thought about leaning on the horn. Did you think about writing a letter to the newspaper asking people to drive more carefully? Now, imagine you arrive at work and find a parking space, but just … Continue reading Casting the Last Straw
June 5, 2020
An American Weeia in Paris by Elle Boca
Boca continues to blend police procedural with the mystical, creating urban fantasy where magic can be both powerful and not the solution to problems. This novel is the fourth in the Weeia Marshals series. Possible spoilers ahead. When an apparent superhero foils an attack on the Eiffel Tower, Marshal Danni Metraeux finds herself trying to … Continue reading An American Weeia in Paris by Elle Boca
June 1, 2020
Thee Most Aweful Livelyness
One of the most common descriptions applied to the works of H.P. Lovecraft—especially by those seeking to refute the claim he was recounting ancient secrets—is that the magic is advanced science, that the gods are only powerful aliens. However, Herbert West: Reanimator shows, something survives death so the Mythos has some species of afterlife. Ironically, … Continue reading Thee Most Aweful Livelyness
May 29, 2020
The Queen of Discord by Matthew S. Cox
Cox continues to blend innovative perspectives on the possible impact of magic on society and technology with nuanced portrayals of human nature, creating urban fantasy that will appeal equally to action junkies and metaphysics addicts. This is the fourth volume of Cox’s Temporal Armistice series. Not using one’s unique ability to destroy the universe has … Continue reading The Queen of Discord by Matthew S. Cox
May 22, 2020
Tabitha’s Death by Jordan Elizabeth
Elizabeth blends the intimacy of despair with the universal resonance of fairy tales, creating a bleak yet engaging young adult fantasy novel. While Elizabeth handles the topic sympathetically rather than seeking to titillate or shock, readers should be aware this book contains overt mentions of self-harm and suicide. The death of her best friend unravels … Continue reading Tabitha’s Death by Jordan Elizabeth
