Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror Book Reviews
“Near-flawlessly written, with a keen eye for contemporary detail and surroundings – both the slums of London and the beguiling aristocratic surroundings of Cricks End are imaginatively and memorably evoked – and an innate understanding of Holmes and Watson that allows him to give them far greater depth of character than any other writer I have come across save Conan Doyle himself, Sherlock Holmes and the Dead Boer at Scotney Castle is nothing less than a triumph for Tim Symonds.”
“Comprised of complex, multi-faceted and deeply impressive science-fiction stories that deftly move between subgenres, Vistas is a highly rewarding and flawlessly executed experience that showcases Kelso’s immense talent as a science-fiction author. The collection acts as clear evidence for why Kelso is seen as a rising star in the genre, with his ability to effortlessly weave together complex narratives and a stunning breadth of imagination to create compelling, innovative and thought-provoking tales…”
“Although he’s only published two Alternate History titles – one novel and one short story collection – having read them both I can readily testify to the fact that Cnudde is a major talent in the Alternate History genre, and one whose works deserve to be brought into the limelight and read and enjoyed by a far wider audience than they have found so far…”
“Operation Mongolia is easily the best title in the S-Squad series so far, and provides another piece of evidence that William Meikle is the undisputed master of the Cryptid genre despite his many competitors, both those published by Severed Press itself, and those from various other publishers…”
“The Funeral Birds is an absolute delight to read, a smoothly-paced and tightly-plotted murder-mystery thriller, bolstered by the shrewd decision by Readman to make a husband and wife team the focus of the story. Dave and Joan really bring the story to life, giving it an energy and focus that raises it above other titles in such a crowded genre, and a unique charm that I really can’t remember seeing elsewhere…”
“Time Loopers: Four Tales from a Time War is so many things at once: immersive, complex, deftly written and imbued with a tremendous amount of imagination that effortlessly blends the Lovecraftian and time-travel genres together to create something fresh and original…”
“Cursed displays all the hallmarks of a classic urban fantasy detective series, with an engaging protagonist and original take on the requisite magic system, as well as a promising setting in the form of Detroit’s magical underworld, and I am looking forward to seeing more from Garrison Wake in the future.”
“…I think that this would be an ideal work for someone who has read the original Conan Doyle Canon stories and wishes to become familiar with the wider world of Sherlockian fiction, without becoming overwhelmed by more detailed or complex titles. It might, perhaps, even be a good entry point to Sherlock Holmes as a whole for a Young Adult reader, and I shall certainly be introducing it to my sons when they are slightly older.”
“…a comprehensive and thoroughly engaging introduction to the world of Sherlockian thought, one that has explored a variety of themes, tropes and ideas that derive from an academic analysis of Conan Doyle’s short stories and novels…”
“Populated with engaging, multi-faceted characters who walk off the page and into your head (and heart), and set in Draconium, a fascinating city with a compelling backstory that deserves further expansion, Gloomspite is one of the most accomplished and polished Warhammer novels I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I near-obsessively read it over the course of a few days, finishing it far quicker than most of the scifi or horror titles I’ve read this year, and it deserves – no, demands – to be read by anyone even vaguely interested in Age of Sigmar, or Warhammer in general.”
“Another triumph for Black Library, the Black Library Celebration 2020 Anthology is a collection of top-notch stories that demonstrate just how varied and colourful the Warhammer settings have become, and how the publisher has adapted in the past few years to create new imprints to explore those settings. The anthology acts as an excellent introduction to the settings, as I’m sure was intended, moving between Warhammer 40,000, Necromunda, Age of Sigmar, the Horus Heresy and the new Warhammer Horror Imprint. But just as importantly, it functions as a showcase to demonstrate the wide breadth of talented authors commissioned by Black Library…”
“Perfectly paced, intensely atmospheric, gory in all the right places and with just the right level of blood splatter, and with a real heart that speaks to the amount of time, skill and passion that Sheldon poured into it, Body Farm Z is what the zombie apocalypse genre should aim for; and I can only hope that Sheldon revisits the undead as subject matter, whether it’s in the Body Farm Z universe or not.”
“Battle for the Wastelands is one of the most original, engaging and well-written post-apocalyptic novels I’ve encountered for a very long time, bringing to mind the Broken Empire trilogies written by Mark Lawrence in the way they deftly fuse together an apocalyptic past with an imaginative post-apocalyptic present.”
“With Loyal to the End and War in the Museum, Parrott and Rath have written two intelligent, thought-provoking and action-packed tales that examine aspects of the Warhammer 40,000 setting that still haven’t really been explored in fiction published by Black Library until now. I thoroughly enjoyed both stories, and am delighted that both authors will have the opportunity to demonstrate their obvious skills as authors later this year, when both men have their first novels published by Black Library.”
“Black Library continues to impress with the Inferno! volumes, with Volume 4 being the best so far – filled with engaging, action-packed and often thought-provoking stories that that take the most interesting elements, settings and factions in all of the Warhammer worlds, and use them to tell original stories that stay with you long after finishing the anthology. It’s all pure, undiluted Warhammer in a deeply refreshing way, and I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on the next volume.”
The Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviewer 