An interview with Cas Peace, author of the Artisans of Albia saga, now coming up to its eighth and (dare I use the term?) penultimate volume. “The Captives, Master of Malice Book Two” Gordon: The last book in this series was definitely the darkest of the whole saga. Do I dare ask where the story is…
Month: May 2016
REVIEW
Madam Tulip by David Ahern
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“Madam Tulip” is a story of characters. Big, colourful supporting characters, painted with broad strokes. Slightly over-the-top minor characters with pizzazz. And a fully rounded, sympathetic main character with a wry sense of self-deprecation that you’re going to love. This is the story of Derry, a starving actress who decides that her only way of…
REVIEW
“The Gladiator and the Guard” by Annie Douglass Lima
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When I started reading this novel, I thought it was rather lightweight. A society of gladiators and slaves, with kids speaking typical modern vernacular and riding in pickup trucks? And then I realized. This author is writing about our society. She has just taken a step sideways; our poor have become slaves and our professional athletes have moved…
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At Indies Unlimited: Story Structure – All a Novelist Needs to Know
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This article was originally posted at Indies Unlimited May 11, 2016 The structure of every story follows the pattern of the average human emotional experience. That pattern is the same, whether it’s a first kiss, eating a chocolate bar, having sex, or reading a full-length novel. Hollywood scriptwriters have found this pattern, follow it, and often make…
REVIEW
Unconscious Knowledge by Beaird Glover
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The first striking creative element of this novel is that the themes are taken from the lyrics of punk rock hits. A contradiction in terms if you ever heard one. And then it gets better. If Truman Capote wrote a punk rock version of Bonnie and Clyde with a bit of Easy Rider thrown in,…
REVIEW
“Evita” by Rice and Lloyd Webber, produced by Vancouver Opera
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I went to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre this evening to take in a bit of culture, but came home mildly disappointed. The problem with “Evita” is that you come to the end, and the wonderful “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina,” is sung, and there’s no one to cry for. Give credit to lyricist Tim Rice…
REVIEW
“Welcome to the Madhouse” by S. E. Sasaki
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This is a real old-fashioned space opera, except the setting is an orbiting medical facility instead of a battle cruiser. It has the usual cast of alien or semi-human creatures – in this case, animal/human genetic adaptations used as soldiers – the usual high-tech background and solution to problems, and the usual slightly stereotyped characters.…