Book Review: “Swords and Deviltry” by Fritz Leiber

Swords and Deviltryby Fritz Leiber Goodreads Series: Volume 1 of the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series, chronologically arranged Pages: 254 Published: 1970 Spoiler-free Synopsis: Three stories to launch a series of epic adventures. “The Snow Women” introduces the young barbarian Fafhrd as he seeks to leave his oppressive and narrow-minded Snow Clan (and its

Book Review: “The Legend of Tarik” by Walter Dean Myers

The Legend of Tarik by Walter Dean Myers Series: No. Pages: 180 Published: 1981 Spoiler-free Synopsis: A young African captured into slavery in medieval Spain seeks vengeance for the murders of his father and brother, becoming a legendary hero in the process. Reason for Begining: I’d never read a story following a heroic African in

Book Review: Mistborn, by Brandon Sanderson

High entertainment for lovers of fantasy. Especially if you’re the kind who likes to play as a rogue or mage-thief in RPGs.

Contest Winners!

Originally posted on While We're Paused…:
This past season, we have featured a writing contest with the following prompt. After reviewing the submissions, we are pleased to announce our winners! In 1st place is David Urbach for his mesmerizing and imaginative tale, Mirza’s Strange Sitar. Congratulations David! In 2nd place is Michael Atkinson for…

Locus Poll for the best sci-fi and fantasy of the past 110 years

The website for Locus magazine — which I admit an unfamiliarity with — is hosting an open poll, which closes tomorrow on November 30th, asking readers to vote for the best novels, novellas, novelettes, and short stories in the genres of fantasy and science fiction from the 20th century and the first decade of the

Webcomic Review: “Digger” by Ursula Vernon

HEY HEY! THIS IS MY 200TH POST! THIS GIVES ME THE RIGHT TO USE ALL-CAPS, WHICH IS NORMALLY A CAPITAL OFFENSE IN MY BOOK! HEY HEY! THIS IS LIKE, SPECIAL, OR SOMETHING! +) [But seriously guys, thanks for reading my blog and having unbelievable conversations and all. Otherwise this would be a very quiet, very

Movie Review: “The Secret of Kells” (2009)

Title: The Secret of Kells (2010) IMDb Director: Tomm Moore (yes, two M’s) Voice Actors: Evan McGuire, Christen Mooney, Brendan Gleeson, Mick Lally Score Composer: Bruno Coulais Length: 75 minutes Rating (US): No MPAA rating; suitable for older children, but beware of a few very intense, scary sequences, including an implied slaughter of village folk

Book Review: “The Thief” by Megan Whalen Turner

This is where you earn your reputation. Title: The Thief Series: 1st in The Queen’s Thief series, but can be read by itself Author: Megan Whalen Turner Pages: 219 Published: 1996 Spoiler-free Synopsis: The self-proclaimed “greatest thief in Sounis,” Gen is moldering in the King’s prison when the magus, the King’s highest advisor, sets him

Book Review: “The Bell at Sealey Head” by Patricia McKillip

Title: The Bell at Sealey Head Series: No. Author: Patricia McKillip Pages: 227 Published: 2008 by ACE Spoiler-free Synopsis: Sealey Head is a small coastal town home to a mysterious phenomenon: the sound of a bell tolling at every sunset, with no bell to make it. For centuries the citizens have ignored and accepted it

Another Glorious Library Book Sale

They have three every year, the local library does, and I go to every one. It doesn’t matter how many unread books I have at home. A new favorite might be waiting patiently for me on the overfilled folding tables, or underneath them in the ragged cardboard boxes, holding its frayed corners as still as