The tag line for the book Agatha H and the Airship City is “Adventure! Romance! Science!” In this steam-punk twist, there are people who are Sparks, meaning individuals with the talent of a mad-scientist. Sparks of the past and some of the present are of the deranged evil scientist variety, and they tend to rule the world or at least part of it. Almost 20 years before the current story, a pair of Spark brothers from one of the most notorious Spark families, the Heterodynes, […]
Shape-shifter, Golden Loin, and Black Heart Mix it Up
The graphic novel Nimona has 2 main threads, both of which are interesting, but that don’t always work well together. Thread 1 follows Lord Ballister Blackheart and his struggle against the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics. The main hero of the Institution, Sir Goldenloin, and Lord Blackheart have some personal history that makes this part of the story more interesting than just villain-hero antagonism. Thread 2 is Nimona herself. She somehow became a shape-shifter (her origins are mysterious, even to her), she has a […]
If Tom Riddle Lived
The novel Yamada Monogatari: To Break the Demon Gate opens and closes as “Moon Viewing at Shijo Bridge” from the collection Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter. Even though I loved that short story collection, this made the novel a slow start because, having already read the short story, the word-for-word repeat was not interesting. Especially not for 50 pages. I am glad I kept going though. Between Yamada and Kanemore figuring out Princess Teiko’s death and Yamada’s final few paragraphs of contemplation, this story presents a […]
Ghostbusters Medieval Japan edition
I normally don’t enjoy short story collections until Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter. It’s just the right mix of adventure, comedy, fantasy, mythology, history, and drama. Yamada is an impoverished nobleman making his living busting evil spirits, ghosts, and monsters in medieval Japan. Two other characters show up through multiple stories who are both typecasts but still interesting: the warrior Prince Kanemore and the not-always-priestly exorcist priest Kenji. What makes them interesting is their interactions with Yamada because these conversations and adventures bring out details of […]
Tesla Lives in an Age of Witches and Ghosts
After a series of natural and manmade disasters, the steam-punk city of New Pittsburgh is under the control of a shadow government, and supernatural beings inhabit the darkness. This setting provides the backdrop for most of the story, although the action starts in London. Jake Desmet, his cousin Veronique (Nicki) LeClerque, and his best pal Rick Brand are completing a retrieval mission that does not go as smoothly as they would have liked. Jake and Rick’s fathers run an import business that extends to helping […]
In Honor of Krampusnacht
Today is December 5th which makes tonight Krampusnacht and tomorrow St Nicholas Day. These holidays are mostly German and Eastern European, but I started celebrating St Nicholas with a Polish aunt about eight years ago. Some time ago I saw this book on the shelf of a favorite independent bookstore and almost bought it. Then 2 months ago I saw it again, and I bought it on a whim. I am very glad I did. Krampus is frequently a figure in horror movies and fiction, […]
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