Latest Avengers Rumor

There are plenty of rumors flying in regards to the new Avengers movie scheduled to be releases next year from the Skrulls, Loki, and the Cosmic Cube. The latest rumor is a huge:

REVIEW: Soul Stealers by Andy Remic

Soul Stealers by Andy Remic
Publishing Information: Paperback; 412 Pages
Publisher: Angry Robot; 26 October 2010
ISBN 10: 0857660675
ISBN 13: 9780857660671
Series: Book 2 of the Clockwork Vampire Chronicles
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Back of the Book: "They came from the North, and the city fell. Now it is time for Kell to organise the resistance. But there are vampire assassins on his trail."

Soul Stealers is the second book in the Clockwork Vampire Chronicles and is a direct sequel to Kell's Legend. It takes place mere minutes after the events in the first book. Admittedly, it took me a chapter or two to recall everything that had happened in the previous installment. But once I remembered where the book left off, I was back in the swing of things (pun intended).

As I mentioned in my review of Kell's Legend, Remic has a style that is reminiscent of David Gemmell. However, with Kell he has all the aging hero of Druss but it is definitely his own character. The problem that I have with Kell is that he is cantankerous at the best of times. Admittedly, I read Kell's Legend many months ago so perhaps I just do not recall him being so cranky. But in this installment it is what I noticed the most.

Kell is joined by a popinjay, or womanizer who is handy with a rapier. Saark provides the light-hearted portions of the story. After several decapitations and other grisly acts, Saark will switch gears and take your mind off of the scenes depicted. His discussions with Kell are at times humorous. My biggest problem with Saark is that after the first few incidents where it is fight or die he never changes his need for carnal pleasures. With legendary vampire assassins on your tail, staying sober and refusing the pleasure of a woman would take a step back but not with Saark. He can only think about those two things.

For all the hype about the twin vampire sisters being famed and deadly assassins, they failed to impress me. They spend more time hunting Kell and his companions down and then when they finally catch up to them they dodge and spin around but really fail to show me that they should be feared. For all the hype and concern, the characters seemed rather tame and inept. Considering Remic's ability to tell brutal battles and fight scenes, I expected more from this duo.

Soul Stealers is a steam punk/clock punk series. The vampires are a combination of clock parts and flesh. Their deadly fangs are actually copper funnels. Somehow when you mix the two, you come out with a powerful creature that hunts humankind. The big difference between the legendary vampires and Remic's vampires is that they need blood-oil to continue to exist. Through a magical creation the vampires take blood and transfuse it with oil to create the elixir of life. While the process has yet to be fully explained, I have to admit it is rather ingenious. The mystery surrounding it is interesting.

While Soul Stealers is a great follow up, it failed to enthrall me the way that Kell's Legend did. The ending left me scratching my head as I felt I had missed something very important and I ended up re-reading the entire chapter in order to double check. I did not miss anything but it was rather muddled and many readers may have a hard time following all that takes place. Some clarification is definitely needed as it felt like a page or two was missing from the scene. Muddled ending aside, Soul Stealers is a fast paced, gory tale with some great moments. Some of the characters are bigger than life. While others are hit and miss. The third book in the series Vampire Warlords is planned to be released in sometime in 2011.

Plot 7
Characters 6.5
Style 7

Overall 6.5/10

Hyperion to Hit the Big Screen?

According to Chud, Bradley Cooper is writing the script for Hyperion:

"Cooper is a huge fan of Dan Simmons’ Hyperion series.   He and a friend wrote a spec script, handed it to GK Films (who currently has the rights — which, happily for Cooper, are still at Warner Bros) and he says he may get a chance to actually write the whole screenplay."


Full article here.

Conan Sequel Already Green Lit?

Over at Empire Online, they had an interview with Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones and the upcoming Conan film) and stated that there will most likely be a sequel to Conan movie:

"There's a lot of magic and sorcery in the Conan stories but they wanted to steer clear [of including] too much of that because of Clash of the Titans. They have a little bit of the sorcery in there with Marique (Rose McGowan) but I'm sure in Conan 2 and 3 there's going to be a lot more of that."

For the complete interview click here.

Akira Loses Its Director

According to Deadline :

The twists and turns on the Warner Bros adaptation of anime artist Katsuhiro Otomo’s graphic novel Akira continue. Director Albert Hughes is exiting the movie, I’m told. Insiders say that it is an amicable creative differences parting of the ways.

For more information click here.

First Look at Voltron Force

REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Publishing Information: 2007 (first publishing) 2009 (current edition)
Publisher: Scholastic, Trade Paperback
ISBN-10: 0-545-13970-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-545-13970-0
Series: Harry Potter Year 7, (of 7)
Reviewer: Andy
Copy: Out of Pocket

Synopsis: (from Amazon.com): Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing if they can. But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfill the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him with.
In this final, seventh installment of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling unveils in spectacular fashion the answers to the many questions that have been so eagerly awaited. The spellbinding, richly woven narrative, which plunges, twists and turns at a breathtaking pace, confirms the author as a mistress of storytelling, whose books will be read, reread and read again.


Well, I finally made it through the Harry Potter series. I approached these books eagerly, believing that there would come a point in the series when I realized everything I had been missing by postponing my inevitable reading. The reputation of Harry Potter preceded it - these were in fact the books that made adults who didn't normally read actually read. It made children turn off their gadgets and X-Boxes to approach what seems like an antiquated form of entertainment in a culture that favors instant gratification over the written word. It made literary snobs compromise their more erudite sensibilities to read something for pure enjoyment rather than intellectual stimulation. I believed a series that had the power to do that must be something extraordinary. However, reality came up short of my expectations - but mostly because my expectations had been residing somewhere out in the stratosphere.

In the conclusion of the series, Harry Potter and company become fugitives as the Death Eaters (evil wizards) come to power and persecute upstart wizards from non-magical families. This is the first book where the majority of the action is not set at the Hogwarts School of Magic, and the book ends up suffering for it - the Hogwarts setting is a large of part of what makes these books work and the book must settle instead for locales that aren't as richly imagined. In addition to the Horcruxes, (artifacts infused with dark magic that we were introduced to in the last book) - we are introduced to even more mysterious magical artifacts which the plot turns upon - ancient relics known as the Deathly Hallows. There hasn't been much foreshadowing for these new magical objects on which the plot turns, and it all seems hastily introduced - as if Rowling did not quite have the resolution to the series worked out ahead of time.

The surprises revealed in the conclusion are disappointingly predictable. This may because I've read much more than your average fifth grader - but as an adult I was not satisfied with certain plot revelations that I had already anticipated in previous books. However, concluding a fantasy series is a difficult thing to do, and few authors do it well, therefore I must give Rowling credit for settling on a predictable outcome rather than something completely unintuitive. Despite that, this is still a young adult book and for readers newer to the genre, I can believe that this series finale is more than satisfactory. However, as a long time reader of speculative fiction like myself, you might find it a bit dull. In fact, you might just find yourself rushing through it in order to begin something entirely different.



Plot……….4/ 10

Characters……….4.5/10

Style………..4/10

Overall……….5/10

Smallville Finale Freakout

If you haven't seen it already, here is the final moments of Smallville with commentary from a guy who is freaking out over what he sees on the screen.


Lots of Spoilers

REVIEW: Disciple of the Dog by R. Scott Bakker

Disciple of the Dog by R. Scott Bakker
Publishing information: Hardback; 288 pages
Publisher: Forge: 23 November 2010
ISBN 10: 0765321904
ISBN 13: 9780765321909
Standalone
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Inside the Book: "And you wonder why I’m cynical. I’ve literally ‘seen it all before.’ The truth is we all have, every single one of us past the age of, say, twenty-five. The only difference is that I remember.”


No matter how hard he drinks, gambles, or womanizes, Disciple Manning simply cannot forget: not a word spoken, not an image glimpsed, not a pain suffered. Disciple Manning has total recall. Whatever he hears, he can remember with 100% accuracy. He can play it back in his head for an infinite number of times without a single change. This ability makes him a dangerously unorthodox private investigator.


When a New Jersey couple hires Manning to find their daughter, who joined a religious cult before vanishing in a small rust-belt town called Ruddick, he finds himself embroiled in a mystery that will pit his unnatural ability to remember against his desperate desire to forget."

Last year, I read Bakker's Prince of Nothing series which had me up and down while reading it. To this day I am still on the fence as to whether or not I should continue the second trilogy titled Aspect-Emperor. In an attempt to figure out whether I want to read it, I decided to give him another chance to win me over and purchased Disciple of the Dog. After all, a man who remembers everything sounds interesting.

Disciple or Diss Manning is an interesting character. He is very sarcastic and not exactly what I would call sophisticated as he has ex-strippers bounce in and out of his dilapadated office as temporary employees and lovers. Sometimes his internal monologue is witty and other times it is really annoying. I gave him ample opportunity to win me over and as I continued reading I found myself feeling dirtier as a result of my contact with him. Anybody that had an inkling of kindness or exhibited a pinch of goodness was immediately looked down upon and was smeared by either a few thoughts from the main characters or by some slight that a character felt left them open to critique. It wore me down. I hated Disciple Manning nearly halfway through the novel. The first few chapters I thought he was interesting and by the end of the novel I really did not like him. Even the majority supporting characters are rotten to the core. The couple that hires Disciple are tarnished. It was hard to find anyone with normal or outstanding morality.

The heart of Disciple of the Dog is a mystery. The book has a very noir feel to it; however, the setting in present day. Not an easy thing to do and Bakker does a great job of making it work. The set up is interesting and the delivery is impeccable. I think this is the highlight of the story. The book comes in at just under 300 pages and the story telling is very tight. As Diss learns more and more about the case the reader is able to slowly uncover the truth. I also think that Diss grows up a little but I still had no empathy for him by the end of the novel. I would like to tell you more but as I set out to write this review I had a hard time deciding what to write about for fear of giving something away so, I just decided to not say anything at all and avoid risking telling you anything that could ruin the mystery. I will say that there is room for a sequel as the ending is open-ended. If there were some light at the tunnel I could see myself reading the series, but I do not see this happening.

When I finished Disciple of the Dog I found a dark and gritty mystery that had no one I could relate to or even feel pity for. One of the problems I faced when I read his Prince of Nothing trilogy. There are no good characters, only various shades of grey and more often black. I have to have someone to root for and so far Bakker has yet to give me anyone that I can. It makes reading difficult when you cannot find anyone with redeeming qualities. While the mystery is well done and the characters interesting the story itself is just dark and made for an uncomfortable read. It is the reason for the low score. I am still on the fence about starting his new trilogy and leaning heavily towards staying away from it.

Plot 8
Characters 6
Style 7

Overall 5.5/10

Star Tours 2.0

With the grand reopening of Star Tours comes the youtube video:

R/C Controlled Superhero

Not sure what to make of it but I think I want one. However, with my skills with R/C I think it would be in a a thousand pieces after meeting the only tree in the park. The Superhero goes for $300 and you can order it here.

Korean Alien/Leviathan Hybrid Horror Movie

Don't know how this escaped my radar since I live in South Korea, but Sector 7 is the latest horror movie to come for the Land of the Morning Calm.



Not sure but the "Self Destruction" sequence sounds straight out of Alien. You tell me.

REVIEW: Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
Publishing Information: Trade Paperback, Roc
Publisher: 1990 (first publishing) 1999 (current edition)
ISBN-13: 978-0-451-45776-0
Series: Standalone
Reviewer: Andy
Copy: Out of Pocket

Synopsis: (from back of book): This is that rare, spellbinding novel in which myth comes alive and magic reaches out to us. Tigana is the magical story of a beleaguered land struggling to be free. It is the tale of a people so cursed by the black sorcery of a cruel, despotic king that even the name of their once beautiful homeland cannot be spoken or remembered….

But years after the devastation, a handful of courageous men and women embarks on a crusade to overthrow their conquerers and bring back to the dark world the brilliance of a long lost name: Tigana.

Against the magnificently rendered background of a world both sensuous and barbaric, this sweeping epic of a passionate people pursing their dream is breathtaking in its vision, changing forever the boundaries of fantasy fiction.


Quality standalone novels are rare in the genre of epic fantasy. They are so rare that Tigana often stands out in speculative fiction forum recommendation threads as a novel for readers who do not want to commit to a nine or ten book series. Guy Gavriel Kay has stated that his decision to continually write fantasy standalones and create new worlds from scratch is not as commercially viable as finding a formula that works and sticking to it. This is not the whole truth. In fact, one of the things that distinguishes Kay from the crowded genre is his willingness to write novels without planned sequels.

Allow me be clear though, the standalone format is not the only thing that sets Kay apart from other fantasy writers. Kay paints a picture as he writes. His prose is neither too indulgent nor too stale - he strikes a happy medium in Tigana, a romantic adventure about a vindictive sorcerer that robs a nation of its cultural identity. Kay has a way of writing poignant scenes from many character perspectives, in a way that still advances the plot - something many of his peers fail to do. He makes you care about his characters enough to long for what they long for, and actually sympathize with their misfortunes while celebrating their triumphs.

Tigana's setting is loosely based on medieval Italy, and told with a fantasy twist. Kay has continued this tradition with his standalone novels, finding inspiration in various specific times and places in world history. Much like historical Italy, Tigana is about a peninsula divided into city states too disunited to stand against the foreign forces that seek to conquer and oppress them. Tigana is the name of one of those particular city states - a state that has been robbed of its name, its memory, and its culture by a sorcerer who wishes its people to suffer for what he perceives to be a crime against his family. This is an ingenious plot device, that serves to raise questions about the importance of a cultural identity to the individuals that compose that culture.

Meanwhile, refugees and sympathizers sew the seeds of revolution and insurrection in an attempt to win back their home. They form a devoted fellowship - posing as musicians and merchants while often led by their passions and personal demons along their journey. The characters are deeply human and flawed, yet still brave and heroic in the way that classic epic heroes are. Nevertheless, there is still a graphic realism to the world, striking a proper balance between the fantastic and the sordid - leading to a book that is hard to put down. Any gripes I have with this novel are minor ones and too insignificant to mention. Tigana surely will please fans of both classic fantasy and enthusiasts of the newer wave of gritty realistic fantasy. If I had to make a list of my favorite fantasy novels published in the past thirty years, Tigana would surely find its way onto that list.


Plot……….9/10

Characters……….9/10

Style………..9.5/10

Overall……….9/10

Hunger Games First Look

Entertainment Weekly has the exclusive on Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen for the motion picture Hunger Games. Click here for the article.

Middle Earth Mapped

One University of Florida student mapped out J RR Tolkien's Middle Earth. Click here for the article and the maps.

REVIEW: Seeds of Earth by Michael Cobley

Seeds of Earth by Michael Cobley
Publishing Information: Paperback; 656 pages
Publisher: Little Brown Book Group; 21 January 2010
ISBN 10: 1841496316
ISBN 13: 9781841496313
Series Book 1 of the Humaniy's Fire series
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Back of the Book: "The first intelligent species to encounter mankind attacked without warning. Merciless. Relentless. Unstoppable. With little hope of halting the invasion, Earth's last roll of the dice was to dispatch three colony ships, seeds of Earth, to different parts of the galaxy. The human race would live on ...somewhere. 150 years later, the planet Darien hosts a thriving human settlement, which enjoys a peaceful relationship with an indigenous race, the scholarly Uvovo. But there are secrets buried on Darien's forest moon. Secrets that go back to an apocalyptic battle fought between ancient races at the dawn of galactic civilisation. Unknown to its colonists Darien is about to become the focus of an intergalactic power struggle, where the true stakes are beyond their comprehension. And what choices will the Uvovo make when their true nature is revealed and the skies grow dark with the enemy?"

There are a lot of space operas out there and many people are always out on the look out for more. Cobley is best known for a trilogy of fantasy novels and has jumped back into the author's seat with a brand new science fiction series.

When you read the blurb on the back you anticipate that you will catch a glimpse of the desperate struggle of humanity as they withdraw back to Earth and their last desperate act of survival as they launch their only three ark ships. To make sure they are not followed by the enemy each ship makes random jumps into space. Unfortunately, this is not the case. We get a summary of events that led to the need for mankind to leave Earth and then are quickly brought to the planet Darien and the world that humanity has created since they found a planet suitable for habitation.

Seeds of Earth mainly follows one ship and their descendants as they uncover an ancient structure with many secrets. The one thing I enjoyed about the three vessels is that the ships contain geographically similar groups. One ship is distinctly Asian where another is composed mainly with slavic people. It was different and while a minor detail, I liked the concept.

With any space opera there are a multitude of individuals and races to follow. In Seeds of Earth there are also governments and Empires to keep track of. You also have faction and plots. They all intertwine to make for a read that keeps you on your toes. There are a few likable characters as well as many shady ones. Some of the races that we encounter in this first book vary in size and ability, not to mention appearance.

The plot mainly consists of the uncovered secret found on the planet Darien but there are also a lot of other sub plots to keep you busy. To a certain degree, I found there were a few too many but towards the end of the book I could see where they were going and why they were necessary. The other major plot was quite different from what I had expected. There is a huge distrust of Artificial Intelligence by the people of the planet Darien and many of the alien races we encounter. The people that live on Darien have a very good reason for distrusting/disliking AI, they do not use it and have a day celebrating the victory over the AI they had while aboard their ark. The people that remained on Earth use AIs extensively and so do many of the aliens that arrive with Earth's ambassadors. I do not read much science fiction where AIs are considered evil or hostile so it was an interesting development and made for an interesting read.

Seeds of Earth is an good read but failed to capture my imagination or interest. As much as I enjoy space operas this one felt rather mundane. It has a lot of great ideas and characters but not one of them really keep me interested and lying awake reading well past my bed time. It does show some promise with the upcoming books in the series, but I will not be staying with this series. However, it may be some people's liking and should not be discounted.

Plot 7
Characters 8
Style 7

Overall 7/10

David Gemmell LegendsShort List Announced

Amanda over at the DGLA has asked everyone to help out and bring to everyone's attention that you can now vote for the shortlisted books and book artwork for the David Gemmell Legend Awards.


Even if you voted in the previous stage of voting, you are encouraged to vote again. 


Also, if you can make it, tickets to the Awards ceremony are £20. All ticket enquiries can be sent to this email address christineharrison_007@hotmail.com. The prestigious ceremony is taking place on 17th June at the Magic Circle in London.


For those who don't know, here is the shortlist:

Legend Award

The Alchemist in the Shadows - Pierre Pevel (Gollancz)

The Desert Spear - Peter V Brett (Voyager)

The Black Prism - Brent Weeks (Orbit)

The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson (Gollancz/Tor US)

Towers of Midnight - Brandon Sanderson & Robert Jordan (Orbit/Tor US)

The War of the Dwarves - Markus Heitz (Orbit)

Morningstar (Best Fantasy Debut)

Shadow Prowler - Alexey Pehov (Tor US)

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms - N K Jemisin (Orbit)

Warrior Priest - Darius Hinks (Black Library)

Spellwright - Blake Charlton (Tor US)

Tymon's Flight - Mary Victoria (Harper Collins Australia)

Ravenheart (Best Fantasy Artwork)

Todd Lockwood for The Ragged Man (Pyr edition)

Frank Victoria for Tymon's Flight (Harper Collins Australia)

Jon Sullivan for Shadow King (Black Library)

Cliff Nielsen for The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (Orbit)

Olof Erla Einarsdottir for Power & Majesty (Harper Collins Australia)

Star Wars Prequels Legos Style

REVIEW: Among Thieves by Douglas Hulick

Among Thieves by Douglas Hulick
Publishing Information: Paperback; 384 pages
Publisher: Tor (1 April 2011)
ISBN 10: 0330536206
ISBN 13: 978-0330536202
Copy: Sent by the publisher
Reviewer: Yagiz

"Drothe is a Nose, an informant who finds and takes care of trouble inside the criminal organization he’s a part of. He also smuggles imperial relics on the side.

When his boss sends him to Ten Ways to track down who’s been leaning on his organization’s people, Drothe discovers hints of a much bigger mystery. Someone is trying to stir up trouble between lower-level criminal organizations, including the one Drothe belongs to. And there’s a book rumored to contain imperial glimmer (or magic) that a lot of very dangerous people seem to be looking for - including two crime bosses known as the Gray Princes.

When Drothe discovers the book, he finds himself holding a bit of swag that can bring down emperors, shatter the criminal underworld, and unlock forbidden magic…that's if he can survive long enough to use it."

Turning the first page of a debut novel is always a very exciting moment as it is the first step into an uncharted territory. Unfortunately the following steps are not always as satisfactory as the reader would hope. And this reality makes the reading of books like Among Thieves a true delight because every year only a handful of debut novels live up to the hype and Hulick's is one of them.

In Among Thieves Douglas Hulick tells the story of Drothe, a smart and sarcastic member of the city's underground family. He is an informant sitting in the middle of an information web, listening to the vibrations caused by other informants or Kin and his position is a dangerous one.

"In the "argot of the underworld", I am what is referred to as a Nose. This means I make a living by sticking myself in where I don't belong, sniffing around for dirt, and generally making a nuisance of myself. I'm an information broker, and I gather what I can by almost any means I can: paid informants, bribes, eavesdropping, blackmail, burglary, frame-ups... and even, on rare occasions, torture - whatever it takes to get the story."

Drothe is a very likable character and the reader effortlessly befriends and follows him. He is an interesting protagonist. He's not the all-powerful best-swordsman hero that we may encounter in fantasy books. He is far from being perfect in martial skills but he survives mostly thanks to his sharp mind. Usually it takes time for me to get comfortable with a first-person narrative however as Hulick's prose embraces the reader, I immediately felt close to Drothe. And the good thing is that the feeling of closeness and being part of the story remained throughout the entire book.

Looking at the back of the book, one might think that the plot is not revolutionary. And to be fair that would be correct. Furthermore, I would also add that the setting is not exceptional. The urban nature of the story doesn't require an immense world-building, which limits the required setting size. However, Hulick develops the plot masterfully and the parts of the setting that the reader is allowed to experience come alive naturally.

"Ildrecca dates back more than a millennium, the center of kingdoms and empires long before the line of Dorminikos made it its own. It is a city of growing palaces and crumbling temples, worked stone and shattered ruins, where you can jump over a wall at street level and end up in a private sunken garden or on someone's laundry-covered roof. Dig down and you find the broken fragments of history; look up, and you see the growing glory of the future."

I really liked the author's style, which is smooth and flowing. Hulick peppers the main plot with background information and setting description very well. The book's chapters are not very long, which contributes to the pace of the story and to its ease of read. There are also some surprises hidden in the story, which is another point that contributes to the quality of the plot.

Among Thieves is dialogue-rich. And the dialogues don't feel forced or awkward. Furthermore, they reflect the characters' personality and the book's mood very well. This is probably one of the sides of the book that captivate the reader.

"Then we have a problem"
"One of us does," said Degan. "The other just has to figure out what to do with the body"

While reading the book, It felt like the secondary characters, like Drothe's sister, could have been more developed. Degan, member of an old mercenary order and Drothe's friend is probably the most mysterious character in the book. The reader desperately wants to know more about him throughout the story. I hope we'll read more about him and his bronze-chased sword that marks him as a member of the Order of the Degans in future installments.

Usually I'm not a nitpicker but I must admit that I was surprised by the author's use of the word "café", which is a late 19th century concept that became popular in 20th century. Therefore I thought it was at odds with the overall setting.

Among Thives is an action-packed fantasy. Hulick's great debut novel reads like a thriller and becomes a page-turner from the beginning. The author's masterful story-telling makes Among Thieves one of the best debuts of the year.

Plot 8/10
Characters 8/10
Style 9/10

Overall 9/10

REVIEW: Night of Knives by Ian C. Esslemont

Night of Knives by Ian C. Esslemont
Publishing Information: Mass Market Paperback, U.S. Edition
Publisher: Tor, 2005 (first publishing) 2010 (current edition)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7653-6349-7
Series: Novels of the Malazan Empire, Book 1
Reviewer: Andy
Copy: Out of Pocket

Synopsis: (from back of book) Malaz gave a great empire its name, but now this island and its city amount to little more than a sleepy backwater--until this night. Because this night there is to be a convergence, the once-in-a-generation appearance of a Shadow Moon--an occasion that threatens the good people of Malaz with demon hounds and other, darker things.

Also it is prophesied that the Emperor Kellanved will return this night, and there are those who would prevent that happening at any cost. As factions within the Empire draw up battle lines, an ancient presence begins its all out assault upon the island. Witnesses to these cataclysmic events include a thief called Kiska and Temper, a war-weary veteran. Although they do not know it, they each have a part to play in a confrontation that will determine not only the fate of Malaz City but also of the world beyond.

Drawing on events touched on the prologue of Steven Erikson's landmark fantasy Gardens of the Moon, Night of Knives is a momentous chapter in the unfolding story of the extraordinarily imagined world of Malaz.



This novella, Esslemont's first contribution to the Malazan literature, serves as a prequel to Steven Erikson's landmark epic fantasy series Malazan Book of the Fallen. In Erikson's first book, Gardens of the Moon, the stage is set by a prologue describing a historical event - the Emperor Laseen, for all appearances, has usurped the throne of the founder of the Malazan Empire, Emporer Kellanved. Up until this book we had only received a few clues about how or why this event took place. Now, finally we would find out exactly what led to this power shift that has had such a domino effect throughout the series.

The challenge, for Esslemont as I see it (or ICE as his fans call him) is to establish his books as primary texts in the Malazan universe rather than mere secondary texts to pacify fans until the next Erikson book is released. As Erikson proclaims in the book's introduction, Night of Knives is not fan faction but rather just as important and canonical to the universe as his own works. He even describes the entire series as a conversation between himself and ICE, a conversation they've been having since they created the world through pen-and-paper role-playing. The readers are merely spectators, privileged enough to listen in on this dialogue between the two old friends. It is no wonder then that these books have never exactly been-reader friendly, often written as if they presuppose an extensive knowledge of the Malazan world before even opening the first book.

Night of Knives is different from Erikson's books in interesting ways. Rather than taking place over a long battle campaign, or across whole continents, the book takes place in one particular city on one particular night. It offers perspectives of common citizens, something that has been hard to come by in Erikson's books. Its fascinating to discover what ordinary people think of warrens (the alternative worlds where sorcerers draw their power) or the politics of the Malazan Empire. Like people in the real world, Malazan citizens are often susceptible to urban myths and superstition. It is sociological information about the Malazan world such as this that fills in many blanks that were left empty by other books, and allows a more vidid picture of the Malazan world to emerge.

Sadly though the book struggles to find a proper footing. While Erikson is a master of leaking just enough of the right information in the right places to tell a good story, ICE often has us blindly following characters with unclear and obscure motivations. Additionally, the supporting characters often blur together, as many of them are not different enough from one another to easily identify. The plot has a tenuous structure, often in a way that leaves the reader wondering whether he did not make up some of it as he went along. Erikson is skilled enough to captivate readers with his obscure and murky prose while offering a light at the end of tunnel. In contrast, ICE's characters meander without a clearly defined purpose, forcing me to follow them half-heartedly while I wait for their significance to be revealed. Erikson can often get away with being that opaque because there is a certain promise for an interesting payoff through his grand and monumental tone. ICE however comes up short in a poor imitation of Erikson, struggling to find his own voice in the Malazan world.

Even so, there is payoff in the climax and ending. It was just a somewhat boring ride there. However, its not that ICE didn't have a good story to tell. I imagine this same story could be written and executed in a more satisfying way. This is ICE's first novel though, and I still look forward to see how his writing develops in later works. In conclusion, I would recommend this one only to serious Malazan fans and series completists.


Plot……….4/10

Characters……….4.5/10

Style………..5/10

Overall……….4/10

Review: Heaven's Needle, by Liane Merciel

Heaven's Needle, by Liane Merciel
Mass Market Paperback: 473 pages
Publisher: Pocket Star Books (Simon & Schuster), ©2011
ISBN: 978-1-4391-5916-3
Copy: My blood, sweat and tears
Review: PeterWilliam

Blurb: Unaware of the danger, two inexperienced Illuminers set out for the village of Carden Vale, at the foot of Duradh Mal, to minister to the people. The warrior Asharre, her face scarred with runes, her heart scarred by loss, is assigned to protect the young clerics. But in Carden Vale they find unspeakable horrors - the first hint of a terrifying ghost story come true.

The Sun Knight Kelland has been set free by the woman he loves, the archer Bitharn, but at the cost of undertaking a mission only he can fulfill. Joined by a Thornlord steeped in the magic of pain, they too make their way to Duradh Mal. There lies the truth behind the rumors of the dead come back to life, flesh ripped from bones, and creatures destroying themselves in a violent frenzy. And if Kelland cannot contain the black magic that has been unleased after six hundred years, an entire world will fall victim to a Mad God's malevolent plague...

Liane Merciel released a well-crafted debut effort (The River Kings' Road) a little over a year ago, also reviewed here. It was a fine effort, in fact an effort that left an indelible imprint which served as a reminder to acquire and read her next work as quickly as reasonably possible. After having just completed the final, and stunning, of four hundred and seventy-three pages, I am rather relieved. Perhaps a fear of the worst prevailed as the approach to this work, but happily it can be said that Merciel suffered no sophmore jinx. Heaven's Needle is everything one might have hoped for, and certainly everything Merciel promised it would be in an earlier review here at Speculative Book Review.

In Heaven's Needle, Merciel brings back a couple of characters from the first book, Kelland and Bitharn, and a host of new characters. The new characters include a Thornlord of Ang'arta, a sigrir warrior woman of the far northern seas, some novices of Celestia, some tragic, if ethically challenged, victims and a Mad God. Based upon the ending of the first book, and the SBR interview with Merciel, it was expected that the next novel of Ithelas was due to take a darker turn - and it sure did that.

Kelland and Bitharn are agents of Celestia. Referred to as the Bright Lady, she is the goddess of sunlight, healing, love and, generally speaking, all things good. While the story briefly introduces many of the gods of this world, only three play a major role. Celestia, Maol and Kliasta. Kliasta, referred to as the Pale Maiden, rules over things such as pain and agony. Maol, the Mad God, is equal parts plague, madness and stomach-pumping vileness.

Kelland and Bitharn join forces with the Thornlord Malentir, a follower of Kliasta and under more ordinary conditions a natural enemy. This unlikeliest of alliances is bound for Duradh Mal, a once powerful fortress now utterly dead, abandoned and corrupt many centuries later. Another party is also involved in the region. From this other party is a character with a great background story, Asharre. Asharre is a sigrir from the North and she has become rather grim of late, and for very good reason. Nothing further will be said of Asharre, other than Merciel has another top-shelf character to work with in the Ithelas world.

The element of horror involved in Heaven's Needle is well rendered. The sense of madness infecting the victims of the Mad God is gut churning and wretched. The loss of connection to reality and the seduction, by confusion, of the individual's free-will is horrifying. As if the things suffered by the victims weren't bad enough, what the victims do to themselves is even worse. As the protagonists reach points of confrontation with evil and madness, the reader may be inclined to put the book down to avoid soul abrasion. It is herein attested to that you will just pick it right back up to find out what happened and if any of it will be permanent or irrevocable.

Stepping back to take in the wider view presented by the totality of the two books, one might be reminded of World War II. Specifically in the context of how several different things must contemporarily occur in order for something so horrifying to take place on such a horrifying scale. These first novels of Ithelas seem to be the staging groundwork for a much larger conflict which lightly percolates beneath the surface...for now.

Heaven's Needle is an excellent work for Merciel. In this particular opinion, Merciel has created something that will certainly be followed, as well as having created a fan. I would like more Ithelas, however I would like it right now...please.

Characters - 9
Plot - 9
Style - 10

Overall - 9/10

REVIEW: The Mirrored Heavens (Kindle Edition) by David J. Williams

The Mirrored Heaven by David J. Williams
Publishing information: Kindle
Publisher: Spectra 20 May 2008
ISBN 10: 0553385410
ISBN 13: 978-0553385410
ASIN: B0015DRP4A
Series: Book one in the Autumn Rain trilogy
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Description "In the 22nd century, the first wonder of a brave new world is the Phoenix Space Elevator, designed to give mankind greater access to the frontier beyond Earth. Cooperatively built by the United States and the Eurasian Coalition, the Elevator is also a grand symbol of superpower alliance following a second cold war. And it's just been destroyed. With suspicions rampant, armies and espionage teams are mobilized across the globe and beyond. Enter Claire Haskell and Jason Marlowe, U.S. counterintelligence agents and former lovers-though their memories may only be constructs implanted by their spymaster. Now their agenda is to trust no one. For as the crisis mounts, the lives of all involved will converge in one explosive finale-and a startling aftermath that will rewrite everything they've ever known-about their mission, their world, and themselves."

The Mirrored Heaven is an interesting future for Earth. Russia and China have formed an alliance as has the United States and her allies. The rest of the world has been chopped up and divvied up between the two. South America is proving to be difficult to contain as they have many splinter groups doing their best to remain free from the oppression of the two major super powers. The two super powers have formed an uneasy alliance with the creation of the space elevator. Doesn't sound too far fetched for the next century. That is why I think this book is interesting.

Admittedly, I was at a loss in the beginning as things move at light speed and the characters and events come and go quickly within the first 100 pages or so. however, once the main event occurs then things start to have some light shed on them. Basically most secret operatives work in pairs. One shooter and one person working support. I found I really enjoyed reading about the shooters. The action was fast and furious and some of their abilities were astounding. The support personnel were interesting as well but not quite as much as I think that Williams wanted me to believe. There is a lot of hacking in The Mirrored Heavens, hacking for information, hacking to circumvent security systems and to gain access to locations. The Mirrored Heavens focus on this on many occasions and at times it was tense but after a fashion, I stopped being excited with the whole process. There is a love interest between a shooter and his hacker but, it is mainly a plot point and a point of mystery as to whether they truly love one another or it was all downloaded into their brains to make them more effective on the battlefield and also cause doubt and trust issues in times of crisis. It was interesting and fun to watch as the mystery unravelled but it could have also been avoided altogether and the book would have came to the same conclusion, minus a few points of tension.

The world building is interesting and I suppose it is plausible as well. There are portions of the book that describe the history of earth and how we got to the point where the book takes place and it is interesting. However, with all of the advancements that we made, I found it interesting that South America was never brought into the fold and treated so harshly and without any care. Of course you have to have someone to be the scapegoat and they cannot always be the Russians or the Chinese so, why not the South Americans. It is an exotic locale.

Due to the fact that The Mirrored Heavens gets off to a chaotic and shaky start it takes some time to get on the same page as the author, but once you do it is a fun ride. Lots of action and things exploding and at times if feels more like a action movie than a novel, it is a decent read. It is not a great read however. This is the debut from a promising author and when time permits I do plan to return to the trilogy and see how things come to an end. I hear the third book is very good and was the reason I picked up the first volume in the first place.

Plot 6
Characters 7
Style 6

Overall 6.5/10

REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Publishing Information: Paperback U.S. Edition, 652 pages
ISBN 10: 0-439-78596-0
ISBN 13: 978-0-439-78596-9
Series: Harry Potter, Year 6 (of 7)
Reviewer: Andy
Copy: Out of Pocket

Synopsis: (from back of book): “The war against Voldemort is not going well; even Muggle governments are noticing. Hermione scans the obituary pages of the Daily Prophet, looking for familiar names. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses.

And yet…

As in all years, life goes on. The Weasley twins expand their business. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate – and lose a few eyebrows in the process. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Classes are never straightforward though Harry receives some extraordinary help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince.

So it’s the home front that takes center stage in the multi-layered sixth installment of the story of Harry Potter. Here at Hogwarts, Harry will search for the full and complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort – and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability.”

Yes, I am well aware that almost everyone else on the planet read these books over five years ago. I like to believe it took me so long to do so myself because I felt so smothered by all the hype surrounding this series that I had to wait for the dust to settle. But really, in my more lucid moments, I know it is due to my own personal prejudice against young adult fiction. I don’t have any children, so I can’t use the excuse when friends drop by and the book is sitting on the counter that “I was just reading it to little Jimmy.” No – instead I resolved to proudly declare that I was the one reading the Harry Potter series – and I would read the hell out of it – and give it the attention and critical analysis deserving of a grown-up book.

By the penultimate volume of the Harry Potter series, things have become quite formulaic. Usually there is some sort of event or prelude before Harry finds himself back at his Aunt and Uncle’s house mistreated by his wicked cousin like a British male Cinderella. Usually, Harry finds a way to escape despite some obstacles, buys the required school supplies at Diagon Alley, arrives at Hogwarts to meet a questionable new Defense of the Dark Arts teacher, all while some mystery is keeping Harry and friends from their schoolwork. It’s a winning formula for Rowling. In the previous book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Rowling deviated from this formula too much leading to the overly thick monstrosity that was Book 5. Luckily with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince however, Rowling has successfully corralled the series and found command over it once again.

Rowling’s writing coasts in this one. The prose is smoother and more charming than its predecessor. Rowling writes with ease as Harry and the larger-than-life Dumbledore build a rapport through weekly sessions where they investigate the past of the black-hearted Voldemort. The origin of the dark wizard was somewhat disappointing, as instead of a tragic fall from grace, we see rather a character that was determinedly evil from the beginning. Meanwhile, the tension builds to its boiling point between the Order of the Phoenix and nazi-like bigots that compose Voldemort’s death-eaters. Rowling is wisely putting the pieces in place here for the dramatic conclusion that will be the seventh book.

Still, readers will find the Harry Potter series conventional when comparing it to the more innovative epic fantasy that is geared toward adults. This is another retelling of the familiar tale of an unlikely hero who vanquishes the evil wizard, couched in fancy new clothes for a younger generation. However, it varies enough from its peers aimed at a similar demographic, and is executed well enough to stand out from the crowd. The series’ willingness to confront issues such as death and bigotry makes it rich enough to keep the interests of adults. The purpose of this particular volume is to build the tension that will lead to the ultimate confrontation between good and evil, and prompt us to stand behind Harry as his dear friends Ron or Hermione would. Championing such pure values as friendship, the book (and the series) remind us that loyalty and integrity sometimes can fend off the more sinister and corrupting influences in the world.

Plot…………7/10

Characters……..7.5/10

Style……..7/10

Overall……..6.5/10

REVIEW: Midnight Tides by Steven Erikson

Midnight Tides by Steven Erikson

Publishing Information: Mass-Market Paperback U.S. Edition; 960 pgs
Publisher: Tor Fantasy; 2004 (First Printing) April 2007 (First U.S. Printing)
ISBN 10: 07653-4882-1
ISBN 13: 978-07653-4882-1
Series: Malazan Book of the Fallen, Book 5

Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Andy

Synopsis (from publisher): “After decades of internecine warfare, the tribes of the Tiste Edur have at last united under the Warlock King of Hiroth. There is peace, but it has been exacted at a terrible price: a pact made with a hidden power whose motives are at best suspect, at worst deadly.

To the south, the expansionist kingdom of Lether, eager to fulfill its long prophesized renaissance as an empire reborn, has enslaved with rapacious hunger all its less-civilized neighbors. All, that is, save one – the Tiste Edur. And it must only be a matter of time before they, too, fall --either beneath the suffocating weight of gold or by slaughter at the edge of a sword. Or so destiny has decreed. Yet, as the two sides gather for a pivotal treaty neither truly wants, ancient forces are awakening. For the impending struggle between these two peoples is but a pale reflection of a far more profound, primal battle – a confrontation charged with the still raw wound of an old betrayal and the craving for revenge at its seething heart.”

Just when we began to believe that the Malazan Universe could not get any larger, Steven Erikson expanded it once again. When Erikson thinks epic fantasy, Erikson thinks big. The Malazan world, already spanning three continents through the first four books, has revealed yet another – this being a continent far to the east – a continent that has been isolated from the rest of the world for seemingly thousands of years. We’ve gotten clues about this other civilization from the few characters that have been aware of these distant peoples on this remote landmass.

Midnight Tides, the fifth book in the series written by Erikson (the world’s co-creator Ian C. Esslemont also contributes) is a tale about two vastly different cultures. The Letherii, from whom the continent gets its name are humans and not so different from our own Western Culture. They are a materialist society with the weakness of greed and the institution of debt deeply ingrained into their way of life. For the Letherii, its business and profit that keep the world turning. Erikson continually amazes as his character Tehol even pontificates to his manservant Bugg about the virtues of free-market societies versus more collectivist societies at one point in the book. This is one way that Erikson keeps his series fresh – he finds new themes and influences from unexpected places. In this case, its economics.

The Letherii are also an imperialist culture built on conquest, and to the north lay the one culture on the continent they have yet to conquer – the Tiste Edur, a mysterious race we’ve caught glimpses of in earlier books. The Tiste Edur are everything the Letherii are not – they are subtle in conversation, elegant in battle, and often governed by their own pride rather than their greed. Still, there is a dark taint that is infecting the Tiste Edur from the outside, as they are becoming pawns of an ancient and deadly presence.

Neither of these two factions are admirable. While the Letherii seek to subordinate their neighbors, the Tiste Edur are often motivated by bloodlust and false conceptions of glory. In Erikson’s books it often seems that all factions are corrupt, and its only to individuals we can relate – as there are no causes worth fighting for. However, this book introduces some of the most endearing individual characters yet. Tehol and his manservant Bugg are two loveable entrepreneurs whose banter and bickering is like that of a long married couple. Here Erikson showcases his ability to inject humor into what is often a stark and gloomy series. The Tiste Edur Trull is perhaps my favorite character in the series yet as he becomes a dissident amidst the corruption of his people. As far as characters go, these are some of the best in the series I’ve encountered to this point.

Erikson’s plots have often been hard to criticize because of the serialized nature of his novels. Its not clear which elements are simply extraneous and which will be resolved in later volumes. His books are so dense and filled with so many characters and plot turns, I wonder about the necessity of it all. But still, as a reader of Erikson you suspend your concern until later books, in the hope that each piece of the puzzle will play its part and at the end the entire vision will be clear. Nevertheless, this being the closest thing to a standalone in the series, and knowing that we will never see some of these characters again, Erikson may be showing some weaknesses here. There are certain characters and scenes in this book that are simply unnecessary and the book would not have been much different without them.

The writing style may not be for everyone. Erikson is often reluctant to clarify information that other authors would offer generously. Erikson makes you work as a reader for everything, which fans of the series see as a virtue rather than a vice. Those unwilling to suspend their confusion however will find Erikson’s work convoluted and obfuscated, while Erickson supporters will consider it all part of an intricately woven tapestry.

For fans of the series though, this is a worthy addition. Erickson’s ability to create two new cultures from scratch is staggering. The book offers some of the best explanations of the magic system yet, and The Crippled God, the principle antagonist of the series, is more menacing than ever. In the end, it’s all more than enough to keep me reading Malazan.

Plot……….7

Characters……9

Style………8

Overall…….8/10

New Staff Reviewer: Andy

Hello SBR Readers,

Just this past week, I received an exciting offer to be part of the Speculative Book Review staff. I had been doing my own reviews on film, TV, and books on my own blog at http://dachaublues.tumblr.com before I submitted a couple of my reviews to SBR. I love to read and write and this will be a great forum for me to pursue that.

I've been on an epic fantasy trend lately, but I like to read all the speculative genres from Space Opera to Steam Punk to Cyberpunk to Modern Horror. I always love to hear book recommendations so feel free to e-mail me at gobettygo08@gmail.com, if you'd like to see me review any particular book on the site.

For more about me check out my bio. I'll be working on new reviews all week, at least until Game of Thrones comes on TV.

Best,
-A

Ender's Game Hitting the Silver Screen?

It has been a rumor for quite a long time but it looks as if Ender's Game may be one step closer to coming to theaters. Summit Entertainment, the studio that is bringing Twilight and the rest of the saga to moviegoers has optioned the film with the hopes that they can also bring Gavin Hood the director of Wolverine to shot the film. For the complete article click here and here.

Over Thinking A Game of Thrones

An interesting article over at overthinkingit.com regarding George RR Martin's A Game of Thrones adaption and the problems of points of view.

Winter is Rocking

REVIEW: The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches by Robert Stanek (Kindle Edition)

The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches (Signature Illustrated Edition) by Robert Stanek
Publishing Information: Kindle
Publisher: Reagent Press LLC; 16 November 2009
ISBN 10: 1575455013
ISBN 13: 978-1575455013
ASIN: B004GXB2E0
Series: Book 1 of Keeper Martin's Tales
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopsis: "Discover a magical world and be swept away in the adventure of a life time! Readers everywhere are discovering the works of Robert Stanek, and overwhelmingly they agree on one thing: the books are some of the best they've ever read. Featuring full-page illustrations from original paintings, and many additional extraordinary illustrations, this powerful fantasy novel will delight the young and the young at heart! About the BookAfter the Great War that divided the peoples, the kingdoms of men plunged into a Dark Age that lasted 500 years. To heal the lands and restore the light, the great kings decreed that magic and all that is magical, be it creature, man, or device, shall be cleansed to dust. The cleansing raged for so long that no human could recall a time without it and it is in this time that the Dark Lord Sathar returned from the dark beyond. The one hope of the peoples of Ruin Mist was Queen Mother, the elf queen of old. She saw a way out of everlasting darkness, a path that required the union of the divided peoples. And so it began."

Oh boy, where to begin? Robert Stanek has a dubious distinction of deleting negative reviews on Amazon and allegedly creating false profiles to promote and extoll the virtues of his novels. Not to mention having his lawyer contact individuals with his hotmail account. It was the main reason I took upon the task of purchasing this novel and finding out for myself whether it was a negative media campaign against him, or if he truly deserved the hate that has been put upon him. In the end, there can be no doubt that he deserves all of the negative reviews and constructive criticism directed at him.

The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches has been compared to JRR Tolkien and for good reason, they both contain magic, elves. and evil newly awakened. There are also words, sentences, paragraphs, and chapters in both books. So, I can completely understand why you would want to draw comparisons to both novels; however, once you get past those details the comparison quickly falls apart. We have three main characters: the young princess, an elf who believes duty comes before dishonor, and a young boy with magical powers. Each one of these characters have the emotional range of a sofa pillow and are as three dimensional as a sheet of paper. The book is targeted for young adults but I can not see anyone of any age finding this novel entertaining. Painting by numbers has more mystery and intrigue than what I found in this book. The characters are dreadful and most of that is due to the dialogue.

There are many passages in The Kingdoms and of the Elves of Reach that had me dumbfounded. I literally found myself shaking my head and re-reading portions of the book and then laughing out loud at some of the alliterations and illusions Stanek attempted to convey to the readers. I usually refrain from using book quotes in my reviews, but in this case I will make an exception.

“Always more reminders of the things she should or should not do—her proper place, always her proper place. She knew all about the proper things, the proper mannerisms, the proper greetings, her proper duties, her proper place. She had even been taught, though only recently, the proper things to do to invite a man’s attention. She was to begin courting. But why? “

Or this winning prose:

“But his search was in vain because he truly was alone. There was no one else with him.”

And the best for last:

"The robed figure lowered his hood to reveal childlike features riddled with lines that spoke of ages past and of hardship."

These are just a few of my favorites from a book riddled with absurd statements. It is as if he wrote the book and then went back to it with the express purpose of adding as many words that he knew from the thesaurus and placed them sporadically within the text. The book is full of awkward sentences and repetitive descriptions. It helped make it a little more tolerable to read but only from a comical standpoint.


Then there is the map located in the book. I tried to find a clean copy but I unfortunately could not so I had to use the map from another review, but it points out exactly what I had issues with. The full review from antishurtugal can be found here.

At the heart of The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches are three people questing to defeat an unspeakable evil that is returning to the world. Sure Tolkien did it, but so have many other authors, all of which did it much better than Mr. Stanek. The book, while not hard to read, suffers from a very unimaginative individual.

I really tried to read this novel with an open mind and do my best to avoid the negative reactions from other reviewers and disappointed consumers but after finishing this dreadful debacle of a book, I found myself in the exact same spot as others. I have to warn you to stay away from The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches and any other book written by Robert Stanek. His (alleged) antics on the internet are far worse than the book, but there is no reason to line his pockets any further. My recommendation is to avoid this at all costs unless death is the only other option, although death may be the better option.

Plot 3
Characters 2
Style 1

Overall 1/10*


*Negative numbers are unfortunately not an option.

Lovecraft Teaches Sex Ed

Official selection at the Sundance Film Festival, Late Bloomer is a compelling and humorous short film about 7th grade sex ed class gone horribly wrong. Loosely based on the dark tales of HP Lovecraft. This is slightly NSFW but overall it is fairly tame.

A Dance With Dragons Complete