Book Review: UNION STATION by Ian Welke

UNION STATION by Ian Welke is a modern fantasy novel set in Los Angeles and published by a cool, boutique publisher, Omnium Gatherum. The story focuses on books. Its protagonist is a magician and ex-librarian with a complicated backstory, Tom Jackson, whose magical talent is to locate rare, valuable books (including a first edition Hemingway!). … Continue reading Book Review: UNION STATION by Ian Welke →

Too Hot to Handle?

Sex is the third rail for a fantasy novel. Sex is remarkably unpopular per the following four fantasy book reviewers' stipulations about books they don't want to critique. 'Absolutely no erotica''I do NOT review erotica''no erotica/sex scenes''I will not except (sic) erotica' The last of these quotes is my favorite. Poor word choice aside, lust … Continue reading Too Hot to Handle? →

THE LORDS OF THE SUMMER SEASON in SPFBO 7

Annually for the last 7 years, the noted fantasy author, Mark Lawrence, organizes a competition to identify the best new, self-published fantasy novel. This is SPFBO ('Self Published Fantasy Blog Off'). It's gotten bigger every year and this May 300 authors submitted in less than 24 hours (the contest is limited to 300 books). The … Continue reading THE LORDS OF THE SUMMER SEASON in SPFBO 7 →

TV Series Review: The Expanse – Alienated by the Aliens

The Perseverance recently landed on Mars looking for extraterrestrial life, so it’s timely to consider how the popular TV series, The Expanse, depicts aliens. Any science fiction worth its salt needs cool aliens. Extraterrestrial life heightens the drama and allows intriguing issues to be explored including inter-species contacts and communications. However, The Expanse’s aliens are … Continue reading TV Series Review: The Expanse – Alienated by the Aliens →

TV Series Review – THE EXPANSE or Walking the Plank in the 24th Century

Of course, the ‘plank’ people are forced to walk in the TV series, The Expanse, is really an open airlock into the hard vacuum of space without a spacesuit. Instead of sinking into the briny, the victims float away and succumb to lack of oxygen (interestingly, humans apparently won’t freeze to death very quickly in … Continue reading TV Series Review – THE EXPANSE or Walking the Plank in the 24th Century →