Author Jon del Arroz is a newcomer to the steampunk scene. On 11/28/2017 I reviewed his first novel in the genre, “For Steam and Country”, which was published that same year. The sequel, “Blood of Giants” features the further adventures of teenage adventurer Zaira von Monocole. Whereas the first book was an enjoyable YA adventure, […]
When you’ve got lemons, the saying goes, make lemonade. Or if you’ve got a two-hour daily commute, make it enjoyable with audiobooks. Recently I’ve been doing audiobooks at a rate of one every week or so. Once again I found myself on Audible searching for another steampunk novel. Kathleen McClure’s Soldier of Fortune: A […]
Must steampunk be set in some alternate history? Or can it involve peoples and places that never were? Though I prefer the historical sort, this “steampunk fantasy” can be enjoyable as well. It gives the writer more freedom, but with that comes the responsibility to create an interesting and believable world. Will the result be […]
Vox Day’s Throne of Bones is a work of “high fantasy” in the vein of JRR Tolkien and George RR Martin. The story takes place on an Earth-like world called Selenoth, populated by humans and the standard fantasy races: elves, dwarves, goblins, and trolls. Yet Day adds some interesting twists to the tropes. Throne of […]
Anime by Mag Garden, Written by Kore Yamazuki and Aya Takaha, directed by Norihiro Naganuma. Being big fans of anime, Arlys and I are always looking for new shows to watch. Though there are dozens of new series every season, very few are serious shows aimed at adults. Last summer we were surprised to hear […]
The Night Circus was not what I expected. I knew it was a work of fantasy set in the Victorian era, with perhaps a few steampunk elements. What I didn’t expect was how thoroughly I’d enjoy this book. It has elements of mystery, romance, and magic, all expertly woven into an immersive and absorbing experience. […]
One of the great things about the Internet is the opportunity to experience shows and movies from around the world. A few years ago, my son Lowell introduced Arlys and me to Japanese animation (anime) and we became serious fans. These shows are not cartoons in the American sense. Many are aimed at adults with […]
