Things have been a little strange over the last few weeks and months. The brain-assassin, that annoying part of my mind that seems determined to lead me to destruction, has been working overtime recently, and to put it bluntly the effort required to ignore her is wearing me out.
Monthly Archives: March 2015
Book Review – Rook Song
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Rook Song is the second of Naomi Foyle’s Gaia Chronicles series, and the third of her books I’ve read, and personally I think it’s her best so far.
The Art Of Writing: Talking Dialogue
So far in the Art Of Writing we’ve looked at structure, outlining and characters. In this article we’re going to examine the use of dialogue, and how to make it an effective part of the story. This will include discussing the use of dialogue tags and ways in which not using dialogue can be just as effective as when you do use it. We’ll also take a look at how to frame dialogue in such a way as to make it a part of the action, and not just a way of dumping information on the reader.
Book Review – The Black Echo
The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I picked up a copy of this book for free through a Kindle promotion over the Christmas period, and as I’m a bit of a fan of hardboiled detective stories I finally decided to give it a read. To be honest, I’m having a mixed reaction to this one.
Book Review – Parable Of The Sower
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Parable Of The Sower is the first half of Octavia Butler’s Earthseed series, and introduces us to a near future dystopia in which society has all but disintegrated following an ecological collapse. While the novel centres itself on the Western seaboard of the USA, it is implied (though not specifically confirmed) that the effects of the collapse have been felt worldwide. The story is presented through the eyes of the novel’s protagonist, Lauren Olamina, a teenage girl who initially lives with her father, step-mother and step-brothers in a walled community on the fringes of what’s left of Los Angeles. Lauren also has a condition which Butler calls ‘hyperempathy’, an ability which causes her to feel the perceived pleasure and pain of those around her.
Book Review – Beyond This Horizon
Beyond This Horizon by Robert A. Heinlein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
[This review may contain spoilers]
Beyond This Horizon, is the second of Heinlein’s published novels, and introduces us to a future utopia where poverty no longer exists and genetic engineering has advanced to a point where it is possible to selectively breed children for increased health, intelligence and longevity. The biggest problem faced by most of this world’s denizens is what to do with their time, leading to a society in which decadence is the norm and duelling with sidearms is considered an acceptable way of resolving disputes. Non-advanced citizens also exist, known as control normals, and are seen by the majority of others as a baseline with which to compare the genetic improvements found in the general populace.
Book Review – Dracula
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I first read this book back in college as part of my English Literature course, and in particular as part of an exploration of how the vampire was represented in literature. Of the half-dozen or so early examples of the genre (vampire lit) I read, this and Sheridan le Fanu’s Carmilla were the two that stuck in my mind the most. I’ve since read both a number of times, and probably will again going forward.