Every Fantasy book is based on a nonreal world. That’s the name of the game. It requires suspension of disbelief on the part of readers. “If this was true, then all the rest of the story would be logical.” This goes double for Time Travel stories. Most authors try desperately to make it all work […]
“Nightmare on Scuttler Island” by Chris von Halle
This is a YA Dystopian Fantasy that starts with children dumped into an abandoned setting, but soon takes a dark turn into “Lord of the Flies.” The basic premise is a bit of a stretch, but this is YA Fantasy, after all. The science element is downplayed, a wise choice in this case. The practicalities […]
“Jewel in the Lotus” by David Barrett-Murrer
A word about the length of a book. While components such as the amount of descriptive detail help to determine how many words a book should have, the main factor is the complexity of the ideas and actions to be covered. In Sci-Fi especially, the key element is the sophistication of the science. If the […]
“Heartcoil” by Daniel Sheley
This book is a challenge to review. It is not for everyone. It shouldn’t even appeal to me. But I loved it, and I am in awe of the writing style. This is essentially an epic prose poem in a personified Steampunk setting, the ultimate “man versus environment” conflict, because the city itself is a […]