Sean > Recent Status Updates

Pretty accurate, considering it was written a while ago. It feels simultaneously of the 90's and of now. It's bleak, real and I don't know if I liked it. I connect with/'get' it enough to know it's good though.
I don't like how disconnected (cause of the original publication format) the sections are.
What a depressing ending, though I really should have expected it.

'The Devil on the Staircase'. Quite liked this one. A bit sick of some of the themes and this sort of 'twist' but overall it read like a well crafted old tale (can't think of the right word- not quite a fable). I liked the language and writing style.

'The Maiden Flight of McCauley's Bellerophon'. A bit beautiful, very real and somewhat mysterious. I liked it.

'Stories'. Started off dry and almost like an autobiography. I even considered skipping it. I think it was bit like a tax required to get me invested. It was good, overall. It's the sort of thing I think of when someone just says 'fiction', though perhaps higher in quality. Very real.

'Human Intelligence'. A nice and enjoyable sci fi story. Not much more to say. It wasn't particularly profound or unique but I liked it anyway. Rare to read a story that goes this well but isn't boring.

'Cult of the Nose'. I think I would've preferred if this was some conspiracy theory, cult thing the whole way through. I just prefer fantasy to crazy people. Disregarding that I could've done without the obvious summary of the story in the final paragraph.

'Parallel Lines'. Well rounded and decent. I liked it well enough.

'The Therapist'. Not written perfectly but definitely a good story. I liked the twists in the story (the murder came out of nowhere) and the length. I was initially thinking that the whole 'psychology' part seemed silly and would've been better if it was less based on something scientific. Maybe some more fleshed out alternate reality version. It ended up making sense in the story though.

'... urgently sipping her drink but not enjoying the hot liquid'. Sounds so weird. I think it's the use of 'hot liquid' instead of saying something like 'but not enjoying it'.

'Let the Past Begin'. Started well, but felt incomplete at the end. Even the last sentence feels more like a chapter break than the end of a story.

'In Conclusion'. The full page illustrations in this one are phenomenal.

Perfect, even though it was so short. I loved the ending.

'The Nesting Place'. I like the technique of dialogue out of the edge of frame.

I wonder if there's any significance to which text gets a red background?

I can't believe it took me until the forest exploration page to notice her leg.

That one was so good. I love the progression, the length, the art, the themes and the twist. Beautifully crafted- a perfectly woven short.

'My Friend Janna'. Freaky, but I don't like it as much as some of the others.

'His Face All Red'. I know I've read this one before on the internet, but I don't remember it.

I very vaguely remember parts now. This one's bloody excellent too. Unfair to compare the art to the last one, because it should be different, but damn that last one had particularly amazing art.

'A Lady's Hands Are Cold'. Immediately thought of that 'Red Ribbon' campfire story, and maybe of 'Bluebeard' as well. The art in this one is grand and phenomenal. So fitting of the themes and the setting, just like the last one was.

It was excellent, love this one. Got little chills on this unreasonably hot day.

'Our Neighbor's House'. A little too vague. Beautiful art but too short, I felt. It may because I read it too quickly. I might have also missed some story elements- the hat shows up a few times earlier so there may be something else going on that I didn't get? That still fits my 'top vague' point. A solid short.

Reminded me somewhat of Emily Rodda's universe, but more complex and written for an older audience. Liked the word building and characters. Definitely liked the book- haven't read anything with a super talented orphan in a while.

Boy, I sure can see myself enjoying this.

'Intruders'. Excellent as well. This is one of the best collections of short stories I've read in a long while. Obviously it's easier to keep to a certain standard when it's all work from the one person, but that can be a bad thing too (like when they're not that good or their writing doesn't suit your taste).

I might have to seek out this person's other work.