Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson
Sometimes when I’m pondering a review of Brandon Sanderson, I feel like I’m back in one of those classic middle school conversations:
Me: I heard you like Brandon.
Also Me: Maybe I do
Me: Do you like like him?
Also Me: I said I liked him.
Me: Yeah, but like, like like?
Also Me: I don’t know. What’s that like, like like?
Me: It’s like, you stay up all night thinking about how much you like him.
November 19th, 2020. Bill Capossere and Tadiana Jones´s rating: 4.5 | Brandon Sanderson | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Books and Writing:
Peter Clines offers some of his books as gifts to those who can’t afford to buy many gifts this year.
SFWA has collected a packet of information and sample documents for writers who need to protect their intellectual property in their trusts or wills. Thanks to File 770 for this link.
Writers are unhappy with Audible because its “return and replace” policy cheats writers out of royalties.
Earlier this month The Mary Sue highlighted some books to read in November.
November 18th, 2020. Marion Deeds | World Wide Wednesday | 1 comment |
How to Rule an Empire and Get Away with It by K.J. Parker
I wasn’t expecting a sequel to K.J. Parker’s Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City, but was delighted to see one because Parker is on my (very short) must-read list. While How to Rule an Empire and Get Away with It (2020) is marketed as book #2 of his THE SIEGE series, it takes place several years later and has a different set of characters,
November 18th, 2020. Kat Hooper´s rating: 3.5 | K.J. Parker | Audio | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
While growing up in the 1960s, I used to love whenever one of the local TV channels would show one of British director James Whale’s Big 3 horror movies, all from Universal Studios: Frankenstein (1931), The Invisible Man (1933) and, perhaps best of all, the eternal glory that is Bride of Frankenstein (1935). What I was unaware of back then was the fact that there was a fourth Universal horror film directed by Whale, and that bit of youthful ignorance was not entirely my fault.
November 17th, 2020. Sandy Ferber´s rating: 4.5 | J.B. Priestley | Film / TV, Horror, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
THE DRESDEN FILES is a weird series, even for urban fantasy. My go-to example for non-aficionados is a wizard riding a polka-powered zombie T-rex through downtown Chicago, and that’s not even the wackiest thing that’s happened. So it’s saying something when I have to acknowledge that the series is in a weird place right now. Maybe I should call it weird plus. Weird squared?
For once, though, when I say “weird,” I’m not talking about the content so much as the form. The DRESDEN books have generally followed a pretty straightforward formula: Harry Dresden (wizard private eye,
November 16th, 2020. Tim Scheidler and Kat Hooper´s rating: 4 | Jim Butcher | Audio | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
Kat: I’ve been distracted by the news, as usual, plus my work, but I did manage to read a couple of books in the last two weeks. K.J. Parker’s How to Rule and Empire and Get Away With It was a sequel of sorts to his (better) Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City. After the U.S. election I read Jonathan Haidt’s The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion, which was enlightening. Basically,
November 15th, 2020. Tim Scheidler | Status Update | 6 comments |
Hatch (2020) is Kenneth Oppel’s continuation of his MG alien invasion tale that began with Bloom. Oppel maintains the fast-paced excitement, keeping his focus on the three young protagonists Petra, Anaya, and Seth, while adding a few new characters as well. Fans of book one will not be disappointed, save by a killer of a cliffhanger ending. Inevitable spoilers for book one ahead.
In the first book, aliens were softening up Earth and preparing it for their impending invasion by seeding our planet with various deadly plant species that weren’t just dangerous to touch or eat but were actively carnivorous,
November 13th, 2020. Bill Capossere´s rating: 4 | Kenneth Oppel | Children | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
Time for our seventh annual SPECULATIVE FICTION HAIKU CONTEST! Anyone can do this!
As a reminder, here are the rules:
For haiku, the typical subject matter is nature, but if you decide to be traditional, you must give it a fantasy, science fiction, or horror twist. We expect to be told that the peaceful wind you describe is blowing across a landscape of an unfamiliar, distant planet. And if your poem is about a flower, we hope that elegant little touch of beauty is about to be trampled by an Orc. We welcome the sublime as well as the humorous,
November 12th, 2020. Brad Hawley | Giveaway!, Thoughtful Thursday | 39 comments |
Bloom by Kenneth Oppel
Three kids battle an invasive plant in Kenneth Oppel’s latest middle grade fantasy. Bloom (2020) is mysterious and thrilling all the way through. Our heroes are:
When black weeds appear suddenly and grow tall overnight, nobody knows what they are,
November 12th, 2020. Kat Hooper and Bill Capossere´s rating: 4 | Kenneth Oppel | Audio, Children | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Veterans Day:
From 2010, then Vice-President Joe Biden honors veterans at Arlington National Cemetery.
Books and Writing:
C.C. Finlay is retiring from editing The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction to direct his energy toward his own writing. With the March/Apr, 2021 issue, Sheree Renee Thomas will take the reins.
To no one’s surprise, the Odyssey writers workshop will be online in 2021. It looks like they have some good offerings. The registration deadline is December 7,
November 11th, 2020. Marion Deeds | World Wide Wednesday | 1 comment |
Do it! One of the best things I've read in recent years.
This reminds me. I want to read Addie LaRue.
We’re in total agreement David!
I felt just the same. The prose and character work was excellent. The larger story was unsatisfying, especially compared to…
Hmmm. I think I'll pass.