I have a weakness for books about writing. Sometimes, I wonder if I like learning about the process more than actually, you know, writing. From Rachel Aaron's 2,000 to 10,000 to Steven Pressfield's The War of Art to John Truby's The Anatomy of Story to Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones, I've built a collection … Continue reading Review: Damn Fine Story by Chuck Wendig
Review
Review: Assassin’s Code
Every once in a while, it's important to sprinkle in a non-SFF book for flavor. Thrillers that flirt with genre tropes hold a special place in my heart. Mix in a psuedo-military team with historical events and cutting edge contemporary science, well, you've got my attention. Professor Jones created this place in my heart when … Continue reading Review: Assassin’s Code
Listening to The Demon Cycle
Audiobooks are a large part of how I consume books. They make riding in the car much more enjoyable. Mostly, I listen to audiobooks that I've read in print form first. They're helpful when a new installment in a series is coming out; I can listen to the previous book and get ready for the … Continue reading Listening to The Demon Cycle
Review: The Nine
Fantasy offers us a variety of takes on religion. From Martin's Sparrows to Pratchett's Omnians, religion add flavor and plausibility to a secondary world. It is a part of the human condition, and good fantasy treats it with same complexity as any other aspect of humanity. The worldbuilding that I appreciate does not pose faith … Continue reading Review: The Nine
Review: Mage: The Hero Discovered (Vol. 1)
Back when I first discovered comics, I read only superhero stories, and soon, I grew frustrated with the never ending storylines and having to chase another comic to maintain the story in the one I was reading. It quickly became apparent that I wanted more than a superhero story. There's nothing wrong with those types … Continue reading Review: Mage: The Hero Discovered (Vol. 1)
Review: Noumenon
Sometimes, a book or song or movie will come along at just the right time and strike a resounding chord. Noumenon hit that sweet spot for me. On my blog, I’ve been thinking about generation ships. Suddenly, the stars aligned, and Harper Voyager gave me the opportunity to review Noumenon. It was SF love at … Continue reading Review: Noumenon
Review: The Darkness That Comes Before
Years ago, I saw rave reviews for this debut novel, The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker. Each review highlighted the book's departure from the standard western European setting for an epic fantasy. Based on my reading at the time, that was enough to sell me. I read it back when I lived … Continue reading Review: The Darkness That Comes Before
Review: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
The difference between a good artist and a great one is never a question of competency. No, the great artist reveals the beauty of the subject in a way that creates awe in us whereas the good simply represents. The great reawakens that childish sense of amazement. If this is true, then Neil deGrasse Tyson … Continue reading Review: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
Appreciating Lit, a Memoir
Memoir is a genre that I rarely read. I enjoy browsing through that section in the bookstore, but most of the titles seem like either humble-bragging or exploitative messes. Or, even worse, they're preachy, "I've been saved" tales of turning a life around. If reading allows us to experience other lives, memoir and autobiography allow … Continue reading Appreciating Lit, a Memoir
Review: MJ-12: Inception
The fall of Berlin ended one war but began another. America in its modern form has consistently moved from one conflict into another. However, this new Cold War wouldn’t be fought in the same manner of the recent World War. Instead of marching battalions and deployed tanks, it was fought by information gathering and asset … Continue reading Review: MJ-12: Inception