Dave Higgins's Blog, page 9

Daughter of Fire by Sofia Robleda

Robleda blends historical research with subjective descriptions of faith, weaving a novel that is both a portrayal of 16th Century Guatemala under Spanish rule and a mystical quest to preserve the Mayan soul. Daughter of a high-ranking member of the Spanish colonial government of Guatemala and a Mayan noblewoman, Catalina Cerrato is caught between her … Continue reading Daughter of Fire by Sofia Robleda

Like Shooting Fish in a Barrel Vault

I suspect those of us who play computer games don’t do it to simulate our real lives, and—at least among my readers—many of you share my inclination for actively speculative elements such as cyber-tech or mythical beasts. Which raises—for me—the question of how much, if anything, realism should be factor in deciding whether a highly … Continue reading Like Shooting Fish in a Barrel Vault

Awoken by Serra Elinsen

Elinsen blends the subtle dread of an uncaring universe with the absurdity of some young adult fantasy, creating a tale that is both a satire of paranormal romance and Lovecraftian horror. When Andi Slate has a dream about a broodingly handsome boy saving her from a sea monster, she thinks it’s just a manifestation of … Continue reading Awoken by Serra Elinsen

Silent Shout

The beauty of clouds Carefully trapped in a box An open window

The Grelnocks: A Philosophical Thriller by Jonathan Maas

Maas combines a visceral crime investigation with exploration of the limitations of human awareness, offering a thriller that is both realistic and weird. Wes is an investigative consultant not a police negotiator, but when a man holed up in a penthouse with a gun asks for him by name, he agrees to go in. While … Continue reading The Grelnocks: A Philosophical Thriller by Jonathan Maas

Sharing the Moment

Someone recently introduced me to the rather toothsome photography ofÀsìkò. A toothsomeness, I—like a National Trust scone—I am placing here for you to experience or not. In that first glimpse (ironic given his nom d’art is a Yoruba word that can encompass something similar to “this moment”), I found something delightful in his capturing of … Continue reading Sharing the Moment

Wolf Country by Jim Alexander, Luke Cooper, and Will Pickering

Alexander combines the classic Western trope of settlers taming a savage land with an engaging take on how the religion and society of a nation of vampires might be shaped. Surrounded by hostile werewolf tribes, the vampires of Wolf Country strive to fulfil their god’s command to claim the land. Ostensibly, the vampiric home city … Continue reading Wolf Country by Jim Alexander, Luke Cooper, and Will Pickering

Past Purrfect

With the finest sieve Sifting raindrops from rivers Four shoes twice as fast

Bloodline by Eric J. Gates

Gates blends realistic computer security and law enforcement methods with a fresh take on vampires, creating a horror thriller where the logical and the supernatural align rather than struggle against each other. Dismissed from the FBI after her unsanctioned attempt to catch the Blood Sucker, a brutal serial killer, results in the death of a … Continue reading Bloodline by Eric J. Gates

Oxygen by John B. Olson & Randy Ingermanson

Olson and Ingermanson blend crisply realistic astronautics with the untidiness of human emotions, creating a thriller about people who must—yet cannot—trust each other if they want to survive. Valerie Jansen is shocked when NASA interrupt her survey of volcanic microbes to discuss her joining the astronaut program. Getting to train alongside the crew of the … Continue reading Oxygen by John B. Olson & Randy Ingermanson