Category Archives: Book Reviews

In which the reader shares his thoughts on the books that possess his imagination throughout the year.

Book Reviews, Gothic/Horror

Her Fearful Symmetry: The SPOILER Review

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If you somehow stumbled upon this review without first seeing the warning in this post, I want to reiterate that I have a non-spoiler post that you can read here. This post is not going to do you any favors if you are planning on reading the book. And honestly if you have not read the book I do not want anything that I have to say to help formulate your opinion for you. I sincerely ask you to walk away and read the book for yourself. Go read my non-spoiler review if you want a general idea of how I felt about Her Fearful Symmetry.

You’ve been warned.

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Book Reviews, Fantasy, Science Fiction

The Alchemy of Stone ~Ekaterina Sedia

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The Alchemy of Stone ~Ekaterina Sedia

–Published 2008
–293 pages, Prime Books
–5/5 stars

Mattie is an emancipated automaton, an alchemist, living in a city that is undergoing transformation. The old ways reluctantly making way for the new as her world undergoes an industrial revolution of sorts, thanks to the creations of the Mechanics. Mattie herself is the creation of one of the most skilled Mechanics, Loharri, a man who literally holds the key to her heart. Mattie’s adventure, and that of the reader, begins when the gargoyles, live creatures whose command of stone has been the foundation of this city, come to ask a favor: can she use her alchemical skills to stop them from turning to stone before it is too late and there are no gargoyles left to watch over their creation?

In her third novel, Russian-born Ekaterina Sedia has crafted a tale of wonder and of melancholy. A tale rich in old world feeling that weaves elements of fantasy and steampunk together to create a work with the resonance of myth and folklore. A tale that is easy to get lost in and hard to get away from, even when the last page is turned and the story comes to an end.

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Art/Photography, Book Reviews, Friday Favorites, Nonfiction

Friday Favorites: Robert A. Maguire

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(All images in this post are pictures taken by me of the books that I am reviewing, unless otherwise noted.)

Well before I began budgeting my book purchases I had ordered a number of things through my local comic shop. Back around May, this book, Dames Dolls and Gun Molls: The Art of Robert A. Maguire, serendipitously arrived as I was smack dab in the middle of reading crime/noir/pulp fiction. I wasted no time in reading it, after all it was a beautiful collection of art from an artist whose work I admire. In an effort to catch up on book reviews, it seemed like a splendid idea to wrap this book review around a Friday Favorites post, thus giving you more bang for your buck.

Please join me in paying homage to one of the the true masters in paperback book cover illustration, Robert A. Maguire.

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Comics

Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunted ~Darwyn Cooke

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Parker: The Hunted ~Darwyn Cooke

–July 2009, IDW
–144 pages
–3.5/5 stars

Although I have lived with myself for a little over 40 years now, my reading whims seem to take very curious turns that surprise even me. Earlier this year I read an as-yet-to-be-reviewed mystery novel that sent me down a summer reading path of noir/pulp crime fiction and mystery. The universe seems to have picked up on this trend and has been placing books in my path that have been keeping this trend going, for example, this recently released adaptation of Richard Stark’s (aka Donald Westlake) novel The Hunter, featuring his character Parker.

Being a fan of Darwyn Cooke, who I reviewed back in 2005, this was a no-brainer order for me when I saw it in the Previews order catalog many, many months ago.

Years ago Berkley put out Richard Stark’s Parker novels in a series entitled “The Violent World of Parker”. After reading Cooke’s illustrated, graphic novel presentation of the work, it is easy to see why.

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