Other than seeing the odd episode on TV, my working knowledge of the cult classic series that ran for 9 seasons from 1968 to 1977 is very limited. My impression of it was fun, silly, with a bit of that ...
Read More »The Bands of Mourning: If ever someone should have taken a hint, it was you
As we come to the end of another fantasy series from bestseller Brandon Sanderson, I wouldn’t blame you if you were wondering how he manages to keep up such a grueling publishing schedule. Along with his Mistborn novels, the finale ...
Read More »Spotlight: They knew and they let it happen
Spotlight is another of the major awards contenders this year, having won acclamation from critic organisations and festivals around the globe. It is one of the more conventional outings in the already formally conservative Best Picture category, but I am ...
Read More »Youth: Levity is an irresistible temptation
The hotel narrative is quite a staple at this point. Amongst the serene isolation of a hotel spa, a disparate group of characters will come to some existential revelations, with no doubt some quirky antics along the way. There are ...
Read More »Patchwerk by David Tallerman: What science fiction novellas should be
This is what science fiction writing should be. Having fun with outlandish ideas while keeping the prose simple and elegant. My love of SFF writing was born from reading Ursula Le Guin and Tallerman’s new novella follows in her daunting ...
Read More »Room: There’s so much ‘place’ in the world!
Jack is five. He has lived his entire life in one room. Seven years ago his mother was abducted and she raises him in this cell where their captor keeps them. The only knowledge Jack has of the outside world ...
Read More »The Revenant: He knows how far I came to find him.
I was a big fan of Alejandro González Iñárritu’s previous film Birdman. His lastest outing, The Revenant, has scooped up accolades left, right and centre: indeed, it is predicted to be the big winner at the Oscars. It is a ...
Read More »We Have Always Lived in the Castle: I am going to put death in all their food and watch them die
There has been a recent spate of reviews and discussions of this novel popping up on sites I read. When I was wandering around my local bookshop, I spotted it on a recommended pile and couldn’t resist. Now that I ...
Read More »The Hateful Eight: Where’s the goddamn tension, QT?
I’m often told that you either love or loathe Quentin Tarantino. I can’t say I have such a black and white experience with his filmography – there are many of his films I greatly enjoy, and others I find thoroughly ...
Read More »Joy: The melodramatic tale of the Miracle Mop
It’s no secret that I love Jennifer Lawrence. The girl can act. She could be playing Marilyn Manson in his biopic, stare meaningfully at the screen, and I would believe her in the role 100%. This year, she’s back with ...
Read More »