Dave Higgins's Blog, page 6

The Wilds Exile by J.D.L. Rosell

Rosell weaves engaging metaphysical and social world-building with tense, character-driven action to create a fantasy thriller that relies on rather than simply happening in his world. This is the fourth volume in Rosell’s Rangers of the Titan Wilds series. Those wishing not to uncover the secrets of the past should turn back. With the Ilberian … Continue reading The Wilds Exile by J.D.L. Rosell

The Beauty of Walking

This morning one of my feeds decided to proffer a video by Odd Orange about choosing to walk rather than run in video games; which hit me firmly in the synchronicity as I’d just chosen to undertake a penitential pilgrimage in Kingdom Come Deliverance so was still deep in the immersion of choosing to walk … Continue reading The Beauty of Walking

Amongst the Stars by Jim Alexander, Mike Perkins, and Will Pickering

Echoing the ancient aphorism that each thing contains its opposite, Alexander creates a science-fiction tale where to invade is to be invaded. Projecting their minds across the gulf of space, the Tchailung watch humanity. The connection seems passive entertainment, merely showing what an individual human experiences without anything being transferred in turn—until the Tchailung begin … Continue reading Amongst the Stars by Jim Alexander, Mike Perkins, and Will Pickering

Knot a Good Idea

Saturday was most recent session of the historical vampire LARP I help run. As the day after a session is officially the team’s day off from admin, today is the first day of setting up private group channels on our server for players to discuss various plans for the in-game years between this session and … Continue reading Knot a Good Idea

The Book of Poison: Stories Inspired by H. P. Lovecraft by Panu Petteri Höglund & S. Albert Kivinen

Höglund blends Lovecraftian tropes with a nice sense of setting, history, and linguistics, creating cosmic horror that evokes the same feeling of mortal reason facing the incomprehensible without descending into pastiche. This anthology collects four of Höglund’s cosmic horror stories, along with the short novella by Kivinen that inspired him to delve into Yog-Sothothery: ‘Cuitiliu’. … Continue reading The Book of Poison: Stories Inspired by H. P. Lovecraft by Panu Petteri Höglund & S. Albert Kivinen

A No Ball Thought

Froth on umber swirls A twig ripples the river I sip my coffee

Primordial World: Book 9 by Baileigh Higgins

Higgins blends the inherent dangers of the prehistoric world with the dangers humans bring upon each other, creating an engaging blend of adventure and thriller. Note: while the author is blessed with a spiffing surname we are unrelated. This novel is the ninth in Higgins’ Primordial World series. The past may be revealed beyond this … Continue reading Primordial World: Book 9 by Baileigh Higgins

Get Cheated, Scrub?

I started playing Kingdom Come Deliverance recently. It is a computer RPG but leans rather more toward realism than many such: you start the game as the teenage son of a 15th century Bohemian blacksmith (so no experience with weapons, can’t read, &c.), have to manage food and sleep in a way that is more … Continue reading Get Cheated, Scrub?

The Gray Knight by Jonathan Moeller

Moeller offers the vast looming evil and complex schemes of civilisation-threatening epic fantasy without sprawling narratives and cast of characters. Everyone knows the Frostborn were destroyed centuries ago. Ridmark Arban was one of the most respected knights of his generation—until politics and a choice with no good answer left him branded an outcast, forbidden to … Continue reading The Gray Knight by Jonathan Moeller

Past Words

Jagged iron runes Beneath windswept aching plains Dead heroes press on Last week, a poetic acquaintance invited me to respond to the line prompt “Some doors are toxic and should not be opened”. After a little consideration of the pattern of the words, I attempted a work in the common English ballad metre of four … Continue reading Past Words