Time’s Arrow: Red Handed by Jonathan Green
Abaddon Books , Jonathan Green , Sci-Fi / October 10, 2011

Man cannot exist on werewolf related literature alone so as a little break from Werewolf Appreciation Month this next review is a return to the steampunk lunacy of Pax Britannia. Ulysses Quicksilver: agent of the throne, dandy and hero. Heart-broken, battered, mutilated and shot, he’s been driven backwards and forwards in time… but appearing in the middle of a crime scene is never the best way to start your visit to Paris…  I make no secret about the fact that the on-going Pax Britannia Read more […]

The Mammoth Book of Wolf Men edited by Stephen Jones
Horror , Robinson Publishing , Stephen Jones / October 8, 2011

All over the world it is believed there are cursed human beings with the horrifying destiny of changing at full moon and destroying those they love the most -individuals who hide beneath the face of the beast, and beasts who kill with the tortured soul of man. Bound by ancient maledictions, captives of man’s primal side, bearers of insatiable bloodlust and brute strength…they are the wolf men. Horror lends itself particularly well to the short form so it seemed only sensible to include at least Read more […]

The Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephen King
Horror , New English Library , Stephen King / October 4, 2011

When Pablocheesecake mentioned he was going to do a month of Werewolf reviews, I was very pleased. Being a big fan of all things Lycan, I immediately volunteered to help out. For me, the Werewolf is quintessentially a creature of horror, and not an excuse for some pretty Native Americans to show off their overly developed pecs. They are the bestial side of humanity, the feral and unhindered darkness that dwells in all of us. It seemed appropriate then, that one of the reviews should be from, in my Read more […]

The Butterfly Man & Other Stories by Paul Kane
Horror , Paul Kane , PS Publishing / October 1, 2011

My first exposure to Paul Kane’s work was the rather brilliant post apocalyptic remix of Robin Hood that he wrote for Abaddon Books as part of the Afterblight Chronicles series. The trilogy was set in my adopted hometown of Nottingham, and I loved every minute of it. Paul got in touch recently and asked if I would be interested in taking a look at his new short story collection. My interest in short stories has been rekindled this year after some excellent stories published by Spectral Press, so Read more […]

Darkness Falling by Peter Crowther
Angry Robot , Peter Crowther , Sci-Fi , Supernatural / October 1, 2011

It was a typical all-American backwater – until the night the monsters came. When four employees of KMRT Radio investigate an unearthly light that cuts off communication with the outside world, they discover that something has taken the place of their friends and fellow townfolk, and imbued them with malign intentions. Little do they know, the phenomenon is not unique to the town of Jesman’s Bend… Last year when I visited FantasyCon 2010 in Nottingham, I picked up a short story collection Read more […]

Sci versus Sci-Fi in Leicester
Peter F Hamilton , Sci-Fi / September 28, 2011

I’m still enjoying my review free holiday, which will end this weekend with a couple of FantasyCon related items, until then I’d like to share some interesting information that popped into my inbox this morning.   Science Vs Science Fiction in Leicester Central Library Science meets Mad Science in a battle for the ages where everybody wins. On Friday 7th October, Peter F.Hamilton will step into the debating ring with Professor George Fraser to discuss how science fiction’s vision meets, and Read more […]

The End Specialist by Drew Magary
Drew Magary , Harper Voyager , Sci-Fi / September 21, 2011

If you had the chance to live forever, would you take it? It is the year 2019. The cure for ageing has been discovered. If you get the cure, you will never suffer the aches and pains of the old, you will always retain your youthful looks, you will never leave your loved ones behind. Do you… a) Get the cure b) Ignore the cure, grow old and die c) Become a licensed End Specialist for the US Government For John Farrell. It’s not so much of a choice as a mission his life depends on. Before Read more […]

Gig by James Lovegrove
Anarchy Books , Fantasy , James Lovegrove , Supernatural / September 15, 2011

Mik Dyer is a rock star.  Kim Reid is his number one fan.  Mik has had enough of the shallowness and emptiness of the rock-star lifestyle and wants to end it all.  Kim becomes his willing nemesis, eager to do anything to fulfill her idol’s wishes. The two have never met, but Kim knows what Mik wants from her.  His lyrics, and a drug-induced vision, have given her all the instructions and inspiration she needs. As Mik’s band God Dog return to their hometown for the final gig on their Read more […]

The Antithesis by Terra Whiteman
1889 Labs Ltd , Fantasy , Terra Whiteman / September 13, 2011

This is a story about God and the Devil, but not how you were taught to believe. This is also a story about love and hate, and the suffering both can bring. This is about rights and wrongs, and all of the spaces in between. This is about revenge, courage, death, passion; with no villains, no heroes… only those left scorned. This is a story about Heaven, Hell, and the Jury that holds them together. This is The Antithesis. Justice Alezair Czynri is the newest recruit of the Jury, a group of Read more […]

Bedbugs by Ben H. Winters
Ben H Winters , Horror , Quirk Books / September 6, 2011

Sleep Tight. Susan and Alex Wendt are the prefect couple in search of the perfect brownstone – and they find their dream house in the heart of Brooklyn Heights. Sure, the landlady is eccentric, and the handyman drops cryptic remarks about the previous tenants. But the rent is so low; it’s too good to pass up. Big mistake: Susan soon discovers the brownstone is crawling with bedbugs – or is it? She awakens every morning with fresh bites, but neither Alex nor their daughter Emma has a single Read more […]

The Mayan Resurrection by Steve Alten
Quercus Publishing , Sci-Fi , Steve Alten , Thriller / September 2, 2011

Please note The Mayan Resurrection is the direct sequel to The Mayan Prophecy and the following review will likely contain spoilers for those that have not read the first novel. The prize was our salvation. The price was his soul. After sacrificing himself to preserve the human race, Michael Gabriel is imprisoned in a torturous, purgatory-like dimension in the Mayan netherworld. The Mayan prophecy states that the Hero Twins – Michael’s sons Jacob and Immanuel, born to his wife Dominique Read more […]

The Office of Lost and Found (An Update)
Anarchy Books , Fantasy , Vincent Holland-Keen / September 2, 2011

Back in June I reviewed The Office of Lost and Found by Vincent Holland-Keen. At the time this quirky, off the wall detective debut was only available as an e-book. Today the following press release popped into my inbox and I thought it would be nice to share. The Office of Lost and Found’ is now available in hard copy. Published as an ebook through Anarchy Press, VHK has now made the book available through Lulu for those who still crave the pleasure of a physical book. Available now as Read more […]

The Unblemished by Conrad Williams
Conrad Williams , Horror , Virgin Books / August 30, 2011

Enter the mind of a serial killer who believes he is the rightful son and heir to an ancient dynasty of flesh-eaters.  Follow the frantic journey of a mother whose daughter is infected with the stuff of nightmares. Look through the eyes of Bo Mulvey, a man who possesses the ancient wisdom a blood thirsty evil needs to achieve its full and horrifying potential – the man whom the fate of the entire human race depends. At the beginning of this year I read One by Conrad Williams and I really Read more […]