This story is a psychological thriller that dives deep into the heads of the various characters involved in an abduction case. How can any intelligent young person be so stupid as to allow herself to be lured into entrapment by someone who wishes them ill? The challenge for the author of such a story is […]
The Truth I Must Invent by Francis DeClemente
Poetry written as therapy for the poet is problematic. There is a delicate balance between writing for the sake of the writer and writing to communicate to the reader. Once it has been written, poetry that is too therapeutic has served its purpose. Once it is words on the page its value becomes what it […]
Lion King on Broadway
Linda and I saw The Lion King when it first came to Vancouver ten or twelve years ago. At the time it was a big deal technically, and we were awed by the puppetry. To the point where we felt it overshadowed the performers. So, when we went to the Broadway show with our grandchildren […]
“El Flamingo” by Nick Davies
There is a type of book that is just too romantic to be judged on the basis of the normal run of literature. The sort of book where a woman can see a man across a dance floor and know that he’s different. Where characters can be judged and lives risked on the strength of […]
“Dragon Springs and Other Things” by Raven Oak
This is a book containing a small number of longer stories which are not quite novellas. The subject matter is always some alternate reality, whether Sci-Fi or Fantasy, and the ideas are always worth thinking about. What the reader notices immediately is the author’s skill at jumping into the story right away, while bringing us […]