The Fantasy Writer Has No Identity
I've quoted the letters of John Keats here before, and probably will do so again. Keats's thoughts on literature and the art of creativity, often nestled as if in passing among more prosaic matters in his correspondence, transcend bone-dry literary criticism and illumine the ungraspable spirit of creativity. Furthermore, in my opinion, the Romantic poets provide, in many ways, an analogue to modern writers of speculative fiction, concerned as they are not with the real world per se but how elements of the supernatural reflect universal truths of the real world. The Romantics were the last bastion of this transcendent ...
On Shadow Artists
I love my gig as a reviewer. Sure, it doesn't pay much, but I score the occasional free book, I spend hours reading (mostly) great literature, and I get the satisfaction of sharing my thoughts with others, thereby hopefully directing them toward their own great reading experiences. But am I missing something? Am I merely following the path of least resistance? Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way, would answer in the affirmative. One of the first concepts she introduces in her book is that of the "shadow artist." Too intimidated to become artists themselves, very often too low in self-worth to ...
Should magic in fantasy be logical, rule-governed?
As an aspiring fantasy writer, I've read and listened to lots of advice on writing in general, and on SF genre writing in particular. One of the axioms repeated by many fantasy writers is that, even though magic is one of the genre's defining characteristics, it should be presented in a logical, rule-governed manner. I'm not sure this is so. Recently I've been rereading Lord of the Rings, as I do once or twice a year like clockwork. Gandalf's magic, and the magic practiced by the book's other Powers, is never fully explained. It's just there. I thinks this works to ...
Writers who Fueled my Love of Fantasy
Today I found myself taking a stroll down memory lane, recalling the authors who, during my formative years, kindled my love for the fantastic in literature and in life. Some of these favorites make me grimace; having reread their work, I see their flaws and in some cases the pedestol I placed them on has been shattered. But all my intellectual criticism can't erase the magical impact they had on my personal and creative development. J. R. R. Tolkien: I'm sure Tolkien figures heavily in the favorites for fantasy enthusiasts and fantasy writers alike. Not without cause. In both The Hobbit ...
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Little Fuzzy is a poor man’s, a thinking man’s, Avatar. It tells the story of a capitalistic corporation exploring a far-off planet with a classical name, Zarathustra. While harvesting the planet’s unobtanium brightly-colored sunstones, prospector Jack Holloway discovers a stange new species, and makes it his life’s work to defend... [Read more]
Review | The Red Tree by Caitlin R. Kiernan
I remember reading a lot of buzz and positive reviews of this book with its initial print release several months ago. Although atmospheric horror isn’t usually my genre of choice, my interest was piqued by the promise of strong character development, unusual narrative structure, and multiple interpretations. When Audible Frontiers released an... [Read more]
Review | The Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
“When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” This famous Sherlock Holmes quote is the impetus which drives this intelligent, inventive, and at times irreverent compilation of Sherlock Holmes stories written in the last few decades. As John Joseph Adams explains in his introduction, his... [Read more]
Review | The Magicians by Lev Grossman
I read this book several weeks ago. I’ve been hesitant to review it, mostly because Aidan over at A Dribble of Ink wrote a fantastic review that expresses my feelings about the book far more eloquently than I could. The Magicians By Lev Grossman; Read by Mark Bramhall Audible Download – 17 hours 24 mins [UNABRIDGED] Publisher: Penguin Audiobooks Published:... [Read more]
Review | Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
At first blush, Warbreaker recycles a lot of elements from Brandon Sanderson’s previous works: a precocious princess à la Elantris and an all-powerful god-king à la Mistborn, to name but two. As Sanderson himself has said in interviews, though, Warbreaker ends up being more a response to his previous books. As the title implies, the novel is... [Read more]
Review | The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Part coming-of-age story, part Ocean’s Eleven heist, unfolding in a city somewhat resembling Renaissance-age Venice, The Lies of Locke Lamora is a stunning debut effort from Scott Lynch. With intricate world-building, a colorful writing style, and a unique interlocking structure, the novel is satisfying even at its weaker moments. The Lies of... [Read more]
Review | Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
Odd and the Frost Giants was released almost a year ago, and even before then I’d followed its inception and creation on Neil Gaiman’s blog. Needless to say, I rejoiced at its recent North American release. It’s always a pleasure delving into a Neil Gaiman book, and yet a pleasure tinged with a hint of trepidation. Can Gaiman live... [Read more]
Review | The Merchant of Death by D. J. MacHale
A while back, Audible.com offered a free download of The Merchant of Death, the first in D. J. MacHale’s ten-volume Pendragon series. I had nought but the name to go on, but it sounded enticing enough, and the price was right. Recently, I took the time to find out just what I’d downloaded. Aimed at young readers, The Merchant of Death offers... [Read more]
Review | Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Recent announcements about upcoming releases for Emma and the Vampires and Wuthering Bites prompted from me a Twitter rant on this new trend in speculative fiction. Shouldn’t writers create their own characters, worlds, and stories instead of tampering with tried-and-true classics? But then I realized I was engaging in contempt prior to investigation.... [Read more]
Review | A Harvest of Bones by Yasmine Galenorn
A haunting mystery with a healthy dose of romance and a liberal dash of the supernatural, A Harvest of Bones will satisfy fans of almost any genre. Though it’s the fourth in Yasmine Galenorn’s Chintz ‘n’ China Mystery Series, familiarity with the previous novels isn’t necessary. A Harvest of Bones By Yasmine Galenorn Mass... [Read more]
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