Michael J. Martinez Interview
Dan Hanks
That last time we talked to author Michael J. Martinez he had just released his debut novel, The Daedalus Incident, which introduced us to a dual-universe story full of 18th…
alternate history
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
Joie
My first novel by this author did not readily impress me at the beginning. A child-operated book-smuggling outfit run by a greedy, cold-hearted family—not all that unique of a plot…
The Venusian Gambit by Michael J. Martinez
The Venusian Gambit is the third and final instalment in the Daedalus series by Michael J. Martinez and boy does it strive to redefine the word ‘epic’. I read the…
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell – Episodes 1 – 3
Wei Ming Kam
It feels like fantasy for adults has almost become respectable of late. Game of Thrones keeps raking the viewers in, while the adulation for the BBC’s lush adaptation of Susanna…
The Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan
Steff Humm
When writing memoirs, or indeed anything, it seems essential to cluster events thematically, throwing away all the boring bits in the process (such as laundry and visits to the bathroom)…
The Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan
Society doesn’t look kindly on women who want to expand the world’s knowledge of dragons through scientific study, scandalous affiliations and hazardous adventures across the globe but, as we well…
Fantasy Makes History Cool
Nicole Singer
I’m a history major at heart, so one of the things I love seeing in fantasy is how authors draw on real-world history to fuel their worlds. Whether it be…
The Vorrh by Brian Catling
Nick Clark
“My name is Muybridge and here’s the answer to the letter you sent my wife.” The trigger pulls, the muzzle flashes, the bullet cracks, and Major Harry Larkyns is dead…
Alternative History’s Distorted Mirror
Aidan Harte
If the discussion panel on Alternative History (AH) at this year’s Octocon was an exercise in navel gazing, I can only say that the view proved illuminating. Like every other…
Low Fantasy Subgenres
Marsha A. Moore
In my last article, I compared and contrasted two very popular low fantasy subgenres, urban fantasy and paranormal romance. In this article, I’ll continue with an overview of other major…
A Thousand Perfect Things by Kay Kenyon
A. E. Marling
If the idea of a scientific adventure to find a golden lotus delights you, try A Thousand Perfect Things by Kay Kenyon. This historical fantasy of an alternate 19th century…
The Age Atomic by Adam Christopher
Phil Norris
The Empire State is dying. The Fissure connecting the pocket universe to New York has vanished, plunging the city into a deep freeze and the populace are demanding a return…