Dave Higgins's Blog, page 50
July 20, 2020
Air Conditioning Ninja*
No longer will I feel like the bad guy in a Western, when I wear a mask while shopping. Henceforth, thanks to the most wonderful Changes Bristol, I shall feel like a very stylish bad guy in a superhero film. Unfortunately, the masks are made by volunteers from donated materials, so it was pure fortune … Continue reading Air Conditioning Ninja*
July 17, 2020
Write Like Hell: Kaiju, ed. Sentinel Creatives
Ranging across genres, locations, and time-periods, this anthology provides a variety of perspectives on the question “How might humans act if giant monsters were real?” This anthology contains twelve kaiju tales, united by the presence of some immense creature or creatures but spanning genres from horror to romance. ‘Big Bloody Ben’ by Adam Gray. When … Continue reading Write Like Hell: Kaiju, ed. Sentinel Creatives
July 13, 2020
Not Stomping Ants
One of the criticisms levelled at “The Call of Cthulhu” is that Cthulhu isn’t the immense threat that fans claim: after all, he was defeated in 1925 by someone driving a boat into his head so would be no match for modern weapons. However, while it is certainly true The Alert ended his pursuit by … Continue reading Not Stomping Ants
July 10, 2020
A Vampire’s Guide to Adulting by Matthew S. Cox
Cox blends fast-paced vampire thrills with the entirely mundane challenges of being the responsible adult, creating a plausible image of what living amongst humans as a vampire could well actually be like. This novel is the tenth volume of Cox’s Vampire Innocent series. Consider carefully whether you wish to risk spoilers. After nine months as … Continue reading A Vampire’s Guide to Adulting by Matthew S. Cox
July 6, 2020
Cometh the Time, Eventually Cometh the Man
Perhaps the greatest annoyance with both deliveries and tradespersons is having to stay in for a large chunk of the day because they only give a rough estimate, and the only time they arrive on the early side if one has tried to run an errand before the slot started. With the current lockdown meaning … Continue reading Cometh the Time, Eventually Cometh the Man
July 3, 2020
The Cursed Halls of Kalecen by Stephanie Flint
Flint presents magic, cunning, and duelling as different but equal matters, creating a tale that captures how non-mages might hold their own in a world of powerful mages and active gods. As duelling instructor at the Academy in Memnar, Hahven’s duty is arming his students against the threats they may face. So, when one of … Continue reading The Cursed Halls of Kalecen by Stephanie Flint
June 29, 2020
Strange Situation Purrocess
I’m quite sleepy today: almost entirely because a couple of times during last night Una decided to check whether I was awake by poking me in the face. Which reminded me of the studies into whether cats feel love. This video by Neuro Transmissions provides a reasonable précis. However, I feel the axiom might be … Continue reading Strange Situation Purrocess
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
