Book Review: A Demon in Silver by R. S. Ford
A Demon in Silver by R. S. Ford starts off the War of Archon series. The novel chronicles the return of magic to a medieval world where, a century ago, both the Gods and their magic disappeared, suddenly, without warning. Locking away the Gods, and Magic, for a century has not done the world that many favors. Things have progressed on, petty nobles squabble, raiders raid, violent sects in the desert fight against each other. The world has not truly changed in their absence, not at the fundamental level.
Book Review: Red Waters Rising by Laura Anne Gilman
The Devil’s West trilogy comes to its concluding volume in Laura Anne Gilman’s Red Waters Rising, sequel to Silver on the Road and The Cold Eye. The novel finishes, at least in this trilogy the stories of Izzy and Gabriel, bringing their adventures to the furthermost southeastern portion of the Devil’s Territory, and a glimpse at the limits of the future of the entirety of the Territory, as well. The plotting of the novel follows a similar pattern to the first two volumes in this concluding volume, in the broadest of senses. Izzy and Gabriel head toward the town of Red Branch (in our world’s position and location of Baton Rouge), along the way getting intimations that this region of the boundary of the the Territory is under some sort of unknown, vague threat. Izzy and Gabriel have been on the Road for a while now, Izzy growing into her role as the Devil’s Hand. They come to the Red Branch area to find that the local Native residents and the town’s residents alike are uneasy, tensions are high, and the Americans on the other side of the river loom as a threat. The Americans have threatened the Territory before, and perhaps they are game for another try. The Red Waters may indeed, rise, whether Izzy and Gabriel will or no.
Guest Post: Tom Toner’s “Microcosm”
Today on Skiffy and Fanty, we have something a little bit different for you. Tom Toner is the author of the Amarathine Spectrum trilogy, The Promise of the Child, The Weight of the World, and the forthcoming The Tropic of Eternity. Instead of an ordinary guest post, today, Tom has an original short story to share. I give you “Microcosm”
Book Review: Witchmark, by C.L. Polk
In C.L. Polk’s Witchmark, an Edwardian world-next-door fantasy universe is the setting for the story of an on-the-run doctor scion from a noble family, hiding his magical gifts, and getting wrapped firmly in the coils of intrigue, politics and romance. Miles Singer is a Doctor working in an out of the way hospital, hiding in an unlikely place to run away from his past. A veteran himself, his medical skills gained during his time in a recent war now concluding have transferred to a post-war career helping fellow veterans. His past, however, is why he is working in an impoverished hospital for low wages, living hand-to-mouth in a Tenderloin, and scratching out a living.
Guest Post: ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY OR SF? by Rachel Caine
Today we have a Guest post from SMOKE AND IRON author Rachel Caine, who is here to discuss some of the ancient technology she researched in writing her Great Library series. One of the most fascinating things I uncovered in writing my young adult novels about the Great Library of Alexandria were the multiple references to technologies that qualify as astonishingly advanced … if not downright science fictional. I incorporated (and yes, enhanced, for fictional purposes) many of these things into the books, but I thought it’d be interesting to discuss a few of them in detail.
Guest Post: Excerpt from Serial Box’s 1776
Today on Skiffy and Fanty, just in time for the 4th of July, Independence Day in the United States, we have an excerpt from 1776: The World Turned Upside Down, Serial Box’s serial on the Revolutionary War.
