The Secret History of Moscow, the new novel from Ekaterina Sedia is garnering widespread acclaim from readers of contemporary fantasy, and comparisons to some of the genre’s most respected writers, including Neil Gaiman and Charles de Lint. It also marks Sedia out as one of a number of women writers pushing the boundaries of fantasyContinue reading “The Secret History of Moscow”
Category Archives: Journalism
The New Weird on Guardian Books
I’ve written an introduction to the New Weird and experimental SF for the Guardian book blog. When M John Harrison started the debate that would crystallise definitions of the term “New Weird” in 2003, much of the creative energy that had driven the movement had already moved on. As editor Jeff VanderMeer says in hisContinue reading “The New Weird on Guardian Books”
Farrago’s Wainscott 5 Review
My review of the highly interstitial Farrago’s Wainscot is up on The Fix.
Cabinet des Fees
My review of Cabinet des Fees no.2 is up on The Fix. Styled as ‘a fairytale journal’ Cabinet des Fees was one of my best reads of the year. Check it out if you like engaging, intelligent fantasy with a literary edge.
Viewpoints Critical by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
My review of Viepoints Critical by L. E. Modesitt, Jr. is up on The Fix.
Return of the Book Pile
I’ve been lazily avoiding updating my book pile posts lately. I’d like to claim that was because I was too busy reading the books to writet about them, but in truth its more because of my obsessive interest in Macbook’s and the soon to be ubiquitous iPhone from Apple. I want one! In between boutsContinue reading “Return of the Book Pile”
Interference
I think I’m going to have to develop some policy on what I read when I’m writing. I find reading essential for writing. I usually sit and read for half an hour or so before starting to write to kick-start my linguistic imagination. But sometimes reading the wrong thing can cause a kind of literaryContinue reading “Interference”
The 43 Antarean Dynasties
I just listened to this really fun story on Escape Pod. Mike Resnick might be making it onto my list of favourite authors for his sense of humour and deft chracterisation. The 43 Anterean Dynasties
Feast of Fantasy
I’ve been on an epic fantasy read over the last month. Not just epic in content, but epic in size! First up a collection of short fiction by Kelly Link. Miss Link is at the head of a number of new (at least to me) fantasy writers who are melding fantasy / horror writing withContinue reading “Feast of Fantasy”
Children of Men
I’m not going to make a habit of posting film reviews on the Don’t Look Down blog. This is afterall for notes from the fiction front. And yes, film is fiction. And yes, I do like films but they just are not the thing this blog is about. But I really want to shout aboutContinue reading “Children of Men”
Finches
A fascinating extract of writing from the man I’m tipping as the next Michael Moorcock, Jeff Vandermeer.
Anita Blake – Vampire Hunter
Guilty Pleasures & The Laughing Corpse by Laurell K Hamilton I’m a virulent defender of genre fiction and the trash aesthetic. I’ve literally risked life and limb to advocate the cause of all things pulp against the literary establishment. Only last week I stood in a classroom full of A-Level English teachers and proclaimed AlanContinue reading “Anita Blake – Vampire Hunter”
Damien Walter 