All posts by Carl V. Anderson

Book Reviews, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Short Stories

Apex Magazine, Issue 49, June 2013

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This week in my Short Fiction Friday post at SF Signal I review the latest issue of Apex Magazine. I was intrigued by this issue because of fiction by Cherie Priest and also by a nonfiction article that discusses Christianity and SFF Geekdom and posits that the two can actually mix quite well. It is a really nicely written article and I am glad for the opportunity to read the June 2013 issue for that article alone. On the bonus side, the stories were entertaining too.

If you are a fan of Cherie Priest’s Clockwork Century universe you need to check out her short story, “Reluctance”. If you haven’t read this series, this would be a great opportunity to get a taste of the universe and of Priest’s storytelling style, at least as far as the short story format goes.

The time-splitting power of first love’s kiss, the seductive power of storytelling, and an old familiar monster (or two) in an unfamiliar setting are just a few of the fun things awaiting you in Issue 49 of Apex Magazine. Come on over and check out my non-spoiler review.

Book Reviews, Fantasy

Elric of Melnibone ~Michael Moorcock

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(Image Credit)

And now opens the tragedy which will close many years from now and precipitate the destruction of this world.

In the land of Melnibone, the Dragon Isle, a man sits on the Ruby Throne contemplating the people before him. This powerful kingdom, after ten thousand years of rule, has for the last half century been in decline from its once lofty place. In the hands of the right man Melnibone might return to its former might; in the hands of a cruel ruler bent upon domination Melnibone might rise again. But this man is not that ruler. For he has raised himself on books, filled his mind with vast sums of knowledge from ancestors going back to Melnibone’s first Sorcerer Emperor, and that knowledge has made him thoughtful, given him a conscience, and plagued the efficacy of his leadership. This Sorcerer Emperor, Elric of Melnibone, cannot simply obey the traditions of his people to live only for the pleasure of self. Instead he doubts and wonders and thinks that, perhaps, there might be a better way…

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book news, Home

Summer, Summer, Summertime…Summertime!

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Sitting here with the laptop, ceiling fan and air-conditioning working hard to combat the 90+ degree temps, I don’t need the calendar to tell me that today is the first day of Summer. It feels like it. Oddly enough, it is not just the physical feeling of the hot sun and increased humidity. There is just that special something, isn’t there, when the seasons change? In reality today is no different than yesterday, nor will it be different than tomorrow.

But psychologically and emotionally it feels different.

Today it is Summer. Let the fun begin.

The opening image is by one of my favorite local artists, Brian Haynes. Many of his paintings are looks back on the history of the area considered to be Missouri Wine Country where my wife Mary and I love to spend our anniversaries. The rolling hills and beautiful trees, the vines and the river…it all comes together with our May anniversary to create for me this image of paradise, and Haynes captures this feeling, this spirit, so beautifully.

I was inspired to include this image by the Art Director at Tor Books, Irene Gallo. Today she wrote about 50 paintings shared with her by various artists that for them embody summertime. You can see the post with all the fantastic imagery here. The image above by Brian Haynes would be my contribution to the collection.

As I like to do every summer, I wanted to post some ambitious summer reading plans. We did it when we were kids, participating in various school or library sponsored summer reading programs. It was fun then and the enjoyment has only increased with age. Following the jump is a pictorial selection of books that I would like to get through were I to have a machine to stop time in order for me to actually get a significant amount of reading done.

Enjoy.

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Book Reviews, Fantasy, Gothic/Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Short Stories

Short Fiction Friday: Art and Prose from Tor.com (and goodbye to a reading challenge)

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This week I discuss two of the more recent free short story offerings over on Tor.com. Elizabeth Knox brings us a tale with a creepy, backwoods atmosphere in “A Visit to the House on Terminal Hill”. This one works on your imagination and will give you chills, something that may be most welcome on these increasingly warm summer days.

The other story is “A Window or a Small Box” by Jedediah Berry. I became a fan of Berry’s work with his debut novel, The Manual of Detection (READ IT!!!). This is my first experience with his short fiction. It is a surreal trip through an alternate United States, following a young, soon-to-be-married couple, as they are on the run from pinstripe-suited goons. This one marries imaginative, weird, fun imagery with a more grounded “protagonist trying to stay ahead of the bad guys” story.

Both are really enjoyable. Please check out my non-spoiler reviews over on SF Signal and then read the stories and share your thoughts.

Continue reading Short Fiction Friday: Art and Prose from Tor.com (and goodbye to a reading challenge) →

Book Reviews, Science Fiction

Love Minus Eighty ~Will McIntosh

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In the future, love is complicated and death is not necessarily the end. Love Minus Eighty follows several interconnected people in a disquieting vision of romantic life in the century to come. In this daring and big-hearted novel based on the Hugo-winning short story, the lovelorn navigate a world in which technology has reached the outer limits of morality and romance.

Author Will McIntosh’s new novel, Love Minus Eighty, is the book you give to your friends in hopes of igniting a passion for science fiction. With its focus on deeply connected interpersonal relationships, the novel draws in the literary fiction reader and with its ever-present science fictional elements it also holds a strong attraction for fans of genre fiction.

Worldbuilding? This world is already built. With a deft touch Will McIntosh has imagined a highly-interactive future that is built so solidly on the foundation of our present internet-driven, social-media-obsessed culture that it succeeds in being both imaginative and accessible. The oft-despised info dump is non-existent. This future and the characters who inhabit it are initially quite shallow, but as circumstances stir the waters McIntosh plumbs the depths of several interesting characters. The reader will find themselves having conflicting emotions regarding various characters as the story unfolds, making the act of reading Love Minus Eighty an engaging experience.

In my review of the January 2013 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction I mentioned that Will McIntosh was “fast becoming one of those short story authors whose name on the cover will make me buy a magazine”. Love Minus Eighty has made me want to read everything the author has ever written.

If you appreciate novels about the complexity of relationships, featuring a variety of interesting characters–and just so happen to get excited about slick technological advances–Love Minus Eighty will not disappoint.

9/10 stars

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