The Man with a Thousand Names by A. E. Van Vogt (1974) – I can’t say when I picked this up that I knew what to expect from a grand master like Mr. Van Vogt, but I was surprised by the original concept and the sheer audacity of his willingness to give us a rotter of a protagonist. Steven Masters is horrible. He’s the son of a billionaire who learned early how to manipulate every person in his life and takes what he wants. He’s […]
Things That Go Bump in the Night
Devolution Z – The Horror Magazine edited by Julia McAdams (2017) – I don’t read much horror, but this anthology included some excellent writing so I picked up my wooden stake, lit a few candles, and snuggled in to read some gore and listen for things that go bump in the night. The Breed: Last Watch – A dying werewolf is surrounded by his friends and family and flashing back to when the Nazi’s captured and experimented on him and his kind before being rescued by […]
“Too Many Books in the World to Slog Through the Ones You Hate”
Revisionary – Magic Ex Libris: Book Four by Jim C. Hines (2016) – Okay, I’m finally reviewing something written in this century and my first five star review of the year. In these real-life days of politics, loss of rights, and impending war, it’s nice to slip into a nice urban fantasy about…politics, loss of rights, and impending war? Of course, the real world doesn’t have people who can perform magic and pull practical items out of books to use in the worldwide fight against […]
Grim Reaper Times Three
Born with the Dead by Robert Silverberg (1979) – I was surprised, after reading the author’s introduction about how difficult it was to write these stories about death, that Mr. Silverberg is still alive today. Seriously, the pains and trepidation he’d experienced writing them made me think that he himself was close to death in the late seventies. These three novellas, written in the early seventies, focus on the topic of death for various pulp science fiction magazines of the time. While they are not […]
Second Coming, Once Removed
Banners of the Sa’yen by B.R. Stateham (1981) This swashbuckling adventure is unique for couple reasons. First of all, the astronaut from Earth who crashes on a feudal planet isn’t the point of view character. One of the swordsmen who thinks he’s the legendary savior is the narrator. The Chosen One, excited to learn about the strange world he’s landed on, takes to the planet’s airship rigging like a pro. Stronger, faster, and equipped with technology, the Sa’yen captures and captains an airship along with […]
Like a Warm Blanket
I, Lucifer by Peter O’Donnell (1967) – Some books are comfort food. I grab them when I don’t want to read anything complicated. The Modesty Blaise books by Peter O’Donnell are fine examples and sit on a convenient shelf in my library. I have them all (thirteen novels but none of the comic strips), and they are a little formulaic but definitely re-readable. Modesty, if you didn’t happen to see several of the really bad movies made about her, is basically James Bond with décolletage. […]
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