Actor, Philosopher and Citizen of the Universe
With full marks going to author, Michael-Israel Jarvis, for the highly compelling title of this, the first in a series of urban fantasy YA novels set in the dark and twisted world of this alternative version of 19th century England. A world very much set in the tradition of Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere or Jennifer Bell’s …
Continue reading Osric Fingerbone and the Boy Murderer by Michael-Israel Jarvis
So, for new year we had Daleks and adventure and lots of Tardis scenes and they managed to avoid making it “festive”. Very, very happy with that. Now, I’m not the world’s biggest Dalek fan - Remembrance is probably the only TV Dalek story I’d put in my top ten - but, when not overused, …
I awoke to darkness. There is no denying that this was an ambitious novel. From the outset, Butler makes it clear that she has a powerful, unique interpretation of the vampire genre and intends to explore it in depth. And that aspect of it, the world building, is truly impressive. What’s more, in every chapter …
Finale time! After years of Russell T. Davis’ overblown “how many Daleks/companions/heart wrenching moments can we fit into one episode” followed by Moffat’s attempts at making quieter, more reflective and yet also bigger and more universe-shattering finales, what was Chibnall going to produce? What we got was something that in many respects did precisely what …
Continue reading Doctor Who review: The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos
This week’s episode had an amazing setup. Norway, fjords, creatures stalking you in the woods while you barricade yourself in a remote shack... it had all the makings of a good folk horror. Now, it’s not unusual for Doctor Who to take that initial set up and subvert it. Equally, Doctor Who specialises in merging …
If this season has been characterised by its carefully minimalist approach, it’s quiet character moments and its underplayed threats from villains who aren’t truly villains, The Witchfinders flips that entirely on its head. This episode was a full-on, over the top Doctor Who story that would have sat very easily alongside the Tom Baker, Peter …
That was so much fun! Last week I asked for another Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, instead Pete McTighe’s debut episode provided me with something that seemed to come straight out of season 25, one of my absolute favourite eras of Doctor Who. We begin with a mysterious package being delivered by an intergalactic teleporting robot …
A beautifully twisted Victorian gothic horror/crime novel. This is a gripping read from start to finish, full of twists and turns and enough blood and gore to satisfy even the most blood-thirsty reader. This story tells the tale of one Samuel Weaver who is established from the outset, not so much as a flawed hero, …
“Love, in all its forms, is the most powerful weapon we have. Because love is a form of hope. And like hope, love abides. In the face of everything.” Wow! Doctor Who is really not pulling it’s punches this year. An honest-to-god non-jingoistic Remembrance Day Doctor Who episode. First up, let me just say it’s …
A selection of short stories and poems from writer and actor, Max Rudd all placed firmly in the “gothic horror” genre. The collection takes us deep into Rudd’s twisted world of the supernatural in 4 unique and very different short stories, an extract from a screen play and 3 poems. The key point to make …
Continue reading Book Review: The Book of Squalor by Max Rudd
