Content Ratings for Books

A couple of weeks ago, there was a discussion on The Passive Voice blog about trigger warnings and how they are destroying literature. The post spawned a discussion that went on for 240 comments before Passive Guy closed it (probably because we got too political), but it ended up being very insightful. Laying aside any issues of politics… Continue reading Content Ratings for Books

Thoughts after finishing The Last Full Measure by Jeff Shaara

WOW. This was an amazing book. A highly memorable book. A book I will return to again and again in the future. There comes a moment when reading a truly amazing book when you don’t think that it can possibly get any better. It’s a ten out of ten, easily five stars. And then …… Continue reading Thoughts after finishing The Last Full Measure by Jeff Shaara

Short Blitz #6: A Hill On Which To Die

Title: A Hill On Which To Die Genre: Epic Fantasy Word Count: Word Count: 15,000 Writing Time: About a month IT IS FINISHED. Ugh, this story took forever. What started as a short story soon turned into a novelette, and then that novelette got longer and longer … and then life got crazy busy, and… Continue reading Short Blitz #6: A Hill On Which To Die

Short stories and switching to Fantasy

Sorry to drop off the face of the Earth for the past couple of weeks. My parents were in town, and between spending time with them, introducing my girlfriend, celebrating my sister’s birthday, and a whole bunch of other family-related things, my blogging has kind of fallen by the wayside. But don’t worry–I’m still writing!… Continue reading Short stories and switching to Fantasy

The Legend of Deathwalker by David Gemmell

I’m not even going to try to write a synopsis of this story.  It’s just like all the other books in the Drenai series, which is why I love it so much.  Basically, this one gives the story behind the rise of Ulric, khan of the Nadir, and the origin of the Nadir people.  Interestingly… Continue reading The Legend of Deathwalker by David Gemmell

Starliner by David Drake

Welcome to the Empress of Earth, the finest luxury liner in all of settled space.  Whether you’re alien or human, first class or economy, there is a place on the ship for you.  Just watch out for those Grantholmers and Nevassans–those planets are about to go to war, but don’t worry, the Empress is strictly… Continue reading Starliner by David Drake

K is for Klingon

Ah, the proud warrior race.  Where would science fiction be without it?  From Klingons to Ur-Quans, Wookies to Sangheilis, Mri to Green Martians to Vor Lords, warrior races have been a staple of space opera and space-centered science fiction pretty much since the genre was invented. The concept behind this trope is the same as… Continue reading K is for Klingon

Trope Tuesday: Elegant Weapon for a More Civilized Age

Before the world fell apart and the Empire took over, when there were still men of honor in the world who stood boldly against evil and fought for the weak and the downtrodden, there was this trope.  The weapon of choice of a bygone age, more elegant and noble than the crass instruments of wanton destruction so common… Continue reading Trope Tuesday: Elegant Weapon for a More Civilized Age

Trope Tuesday: Slap Slap Kiss

Unless you have an unhealthy aversion to kissing books, you’re probably familiar with Slap Slap Kiss.  It’s common in genre romance, but you’ll often find it in science fiction & fantasy too.  When done well, it’s a great way to make sparks fly, but when done poorly…I think you can fill in the rest. The… Continue reading Trope Tuesday: Slap Slap Kiss

Thoughts after finishing In the Realm of the Wolf

Wow.  I just finished In the Realm of the Wolf by David Gemmell a couple hours ago, and it was AMAZING.  So amazing, in fact, that I want to write a post examining my reaction to it before I write the review. You know that ecstatic, otherworldly feeling you get when you finish an amazingly… Continue reading Thoughts after finishing In the Realm of the Wolf