Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror Book Reviews
“Chimera Island is a potent blend of military action and science-fiction, with a smattering of psychological horror expertly integrated for good measure, creating a fast-paced and hard-hitting thriller that’s rapidly becoming the signature of author Martin Roy Hill.”
“Blood Red Sand is an absolutely brilliant science-fiction novel, one that’s simultaneously delightfully and unapologetically pulpy with a fantastic dieselpunk aesthetic, and yet also has a much more nuanced and complex background that Larkin carefully orchestrates and reveals in the latter half of the novel.”
“Reading The Qubit Zirconium has recharged my enthusiasm and passion for the science-fiction genre, and I’m absolutely certain it will do the same for anyone else who reads it. I cannot wait to see what Wibble and Pplimz will investigate next time, and I can be certain that I will be right alongside them and Wehm when they do so…”
“The Luna Missile Crisis is a first-rate piece of science-fiction and alternate history fiction by Bruno and Castle, the two authors creating a novel that transcends many of the stereotypes and tropes that litter those two genres and subverts many others, creating a fast-paced, multi-layered and often thought-provoking narrative that had me hooked from the very first page….”
“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.”
“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.”
“…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…”
“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.”
“Once again, Cold Open Stories have published an accomplished collection of Warhammer 40,000 stories by a group of incredibly talented authors – not only collating together these fantastic stories, but hosting them on a deeply impressive website with some fantastic visuals and a smooth and engaging user interface.”
“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…”
“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…”
“The Black Library Celebration 2019 Anthology really is a marvellous little collection, gathering together some of the best authors published by Black Library, with each providing complex, multi-layered and action-packed stories that effectively demonstrate just how varied the different Warhammer settings can be. Whether you’re a fan of Age of Sigmar, the Horus Heresy or Warhammer 40,000, you’ll find stories to engage and enthral you, and this collection absolutely deserves to be read by anyone interested in Warhammer as a whole.”
“Once again I’m deeply impressed by Thomas Parrott and his Warhammer 40,000 fiction. The Test of Faith demonstrates once again his intuitive understanding of the setting, and an ability to create an immersive, engaging and action-packed story that also has some great characters in it. He really nails the Dark Angels as a Chapter, giving them a depth and dimension that some writers have failed to imbue them with, and the nature of the story’s revelation is a grimly fascinating one that I’d like to see expanded upon in a future story.”
“It’s a real shame that Flame and Damnation has disappeared from view and can only be found through careful navigation of the Black Library website, because it’s a brilliant set of short stories that really do justice to the concept of the Legion of the Damned, fleshing them out as a faction (pun intended) and providing some deeper insights into how and why they operate”
The Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviewer 