Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror Book Reviews
Welcome to this, the first post in what I hope will be a long-running book review blog…
“And Blood Did Fall is a masterful piece of noir-drenched horror that deftly integrates crime and occult elements to create a novella that is truly unique and memorable…”
“From the darkest depths of space to the darkest depths of Necromunda’s underhive, Colyn and the team at Cold Open Stories have once again curated a collection of absolutely amazing and deeply impressive Warhammer 40,000 stories; tale that are of such high quality and often breathtaking imagination that they are starting to blur the lines between fan-fiction and canon fiction within the setting…”
“The Camp Creeper & Other Stories is another brilliant publication from Demain Publishing and a fine addition to the Short Sharp Shocks! series and also a fantastic achievement by Dave Jeffery, as he once again demonstrates why he is one of the rising stars of the Horror genre…”
“Following on from my first author interview with Paul Leone, author of the upcoming The Mysteries of Zillah Harvey: Volume One, I was lucky enough to catch up with another author who’s had titles released by Sea Lion Press, who specialise in publishing Alternate History fiction. Tom Anderson is one of the most prolific – and successful – authors under the Sea Lion Press banner, and was recently nominated for the prestigious Sidewise Award for Alternate History alongside his co-author Bruno Lombardi for the short story ‘N’oublions Jamais’. He was kind enough to take the time to answer some questions about his writing background, his experiences in writing in both the Alternate History and Science-Fiction genres, and his latest title Well Met By Starlight, which was launched at the end of July…”
“Captain Moxley and the Embers of Empire really is one of the most accomplished, impressive and enjoyable debut novels I’ve ever read, and a thrilling, pulse-pounding action-adventure novel with some surprising depths to it. While there’s plenty of fast-paced guns-blazing, fists-flying action firmly in the mould of cinematic classics like Indiana Jones, Hanks’ own unique touches and imagination make it stand out as far more than a simple pastiche or pale imitation. A potent blend of occult elements, a sly sense of humour, three-dimensional characters, and an often thoughtful consideration of the nature of mid-20th Century archaeological practices leads to a novel that is far more engaging, memorable and even introspective than Indiana Jones and his ilk could ever hope to be.”
“Mime is by far the best horror novel that I have read in 2020, and indeed I would go so far as to say that it is one of the finest horror novels that I have read in quite some time, an achievement that is even more remarkable for the fact that this is Harrison’s first published novel. Brilliantly written, skilfully plotted and imbued with a level of originality and imagination demonstrated by relatively few authors in the horror genre…”
“The publication of The Mysteries of Zillah Harvey: Volume One is nothing less than a triumph for author Paul Leone, and provides ample proof that a fresh, innovative and skillful new voice has emerged within the Occult Detective genre. Leone has blended together memorable characters, engaging plots and a quietly chilling and oppressive atmosphere in order to create a deeply compelling and highly enjoyable collection of short stories, one which I have no hesitation in recommending to any fan of the Occult Detective genre, or gothic horror in general…”
“Following on from that exclusive reveal of the cover art and back-cover blurb for his upcoming Occult Detective collection The Mysteries of Zillah Harvey: Volume One, author Paul Leone graciously agreed to sit down with The Scifi and Fantasy Reviewer and have a chat about his background, what inspired him to write across so many different genres, and what led him to write the Zillah Harvey stories.”
“The Mysteries of Zillah Harvey: Volume One is scheduled to be released on the 1st September 2020, and I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on a copy and start reading through it. I’ll have an interview with Paul Leone up on the blog in the next couple of weeks, where the author will be able to tell us more about what inspired him to write these stories, as well as his background and influences as a writer; and of course, I’ll be hosting my own review of the collection just before it’s released.”
“…another outstanding collection of Warhammer 40,000 fast fiction stories released by Cold Open Stories, all of them providing ample proof of just how vital the website and its team is to the Warhammer fan community as a whole. Without its existence, none of these fine authors would have had the chance to showcase their undoubted talents and innate understanding of the grimdark scifi setting, nor would the community have had a chance to enjoy their stories while visiting such a slick and well-constructed website…”
“The Man-Butcher Prize is one of the most original, imaginative and engaging fantasy novels that I have read in the genre in a very long time, with a fast-paced and imaginative plot that overturns many of the stale tropes in the genre and refashions them into fresh and innovative concepts.”
“With Curse of Honor David Annandale once again demonstrates why he is one of the premier authors in the fantasy (and science fiction) genre, able to utilise his absolute mastery of atmosphere, sublime prose and skilful characterisation to turn his hand to any setting that he is tasked with writing. Curse of Honor is a deeply compelling and sophisticated novel, with Annandale using the Five Rings setting to weave a thoroughly enjoyable story about arrogance, ambition and rigid caste systems that are deftly merged with the grim realities of the demon-infested Shadowlands and its many occult dangers.”
“The fate of Cold Open Stories may be uncertain at the moment, and it may well be possible that the website has to close permanently, or at the very least for quite some time. Yet if that is so, then at least Colyn and the dedicated team of volunteers can take heart in their final publications being some of the best stories that Cold Open Stories have ever published. They have curated some truly original, engaging and deeply captivating stories that have demonstrated an innate understanding of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, and done tremendous work to rehabilitate the reputation of fan fiction – both specifically to the Warhammer 40,000 setting, and in general as well.”
“Days Pass Like A Shadow is a deeply impressive accomplishment, bringing together a series of short stories and vignettes that comprehensively demonstrate Paula Readman’s undoubted skill as a writer of intense, engaging and often darkly gothic horror and mystery stories.”
“Fearless is a brilliant achievement, and one of the best science-fiction novels I have read in a very long time. Stroud has produced a tense, atmospheric and masterfully-written title with a thought-provoking and engaging plot supported by a cast of colourful and unique characters that all combine to create a thoroughly enjoyable experience.”
