Author Archive: NealeMonks
Laddertop Books 1-2 by Orson Scott Card, Emily Janice Card and illustrated by Honoel A. Ibardolaza (graphic novel review).
At the same time as this reviewer was working his way through ‘Laddertop’, the British digital channel ‘Film On Four’ was holding a ‘Studio Ghibli’ season. The reason I mention this is that those films are famous for involving pre-teen girls as their central characters, something mainstream filmmakers have often found difficult. Historically, that’s also […]
So Say We All, The Oral History Of Battlestar Galactica by Mark A. Altman & Edward Gross (book review).
Of all the recent reboots of classic genre television shows, ‘Battlestar: Galactica’ is probably the one that has prompted the most reflection and discussion. What had been essentially a TV-budget ‘Star Wars’ knock-off was turned into a pointed critique of American society post-9/11. But while that’s the commonest comparison drawn between the two shows, the […]
The World Of Lore Volume 1: Monstrous Creatures by Aaron Mahnke (book review).
It’s not uncommon for blogs and podcasts to be turned into books, but such publications aren’t always successful. A case in point is Aaron Mahnke’s ‘The World Of Lore’, a book based upon what is an undeniably successful podcast. Not only has the ‘Lore’ podcast run to over ninety episodes, it has even been adapted […]
Tank Girl: Gold by Alan Martin and Brett Parson (graphic novel review).
Few British comic book characters are as well known as Tank Girl, the eponymous heroine of a series that has been rumbling on now for over 30 years. In her way, she’s become a symbol of a certain strain of counter-culture feminism within British society, representing perhaps women who are sexually liberated and physically forceful. […]
Nemo! by Ray Bradbury (book review).
Ray Bradbury doesn’t really need much introduction, being among the best known Science Fiction authors of his generation. Suffice it to say that some of his novels, most notably ‘Fahrenheit 451’, are regarded as absolute classics, while his screenwriting credits include such films as ‘Moby Dick’ and ‘It Came From Outer Space’. But one of […]
Tortured Souls by Clive Barker (book review).
While your present reviewer would consider himself a fan of Clive Barker, he has to admit to being a bit perplexed by this short novella, ‘Tortured Souls’. It certainly uses one of Barker’s most consistent and enjoyable tropes in the way that supernatural horror is grafted onto Judaeo-Christian mythology. The very idea that God would […]
Chiliad: A Meditation by Clive Barker (book review).
Described as a novella, ‘Chiliad’ is a thoughtful if ultimately ephemeral piece of fiction typical of Clive Barker’s style. Combining moments of gruesome brutality with studied reflections of human nature, the story spans a period of time known as a ‘chiliad’, to wit, one thousand years. A brutal killing one thousand years ago is mirrored […]
Hawkmoon: The Runestaff by Michael Moorcock (book review).
‘The Runestaff’ picks up where ‘The Sword Of The Dawn’ left off, with the chief protagonists, Hawkmoon and D’Averc, sailing back to Europe after their adventures in Amarehk. Rather quickly, they are attacked by sea monsters, driven towards a mysterious island in the ocean and then redirected back to Amarehk by an Orkneyman by the […]
The Magykal Papers: A Companion To The World Of Septimus Heap by Angie Sage (book review).
The ‘Septimus Heap’ series of books are rather like ‘Harry Potter’ in the Discworld universe, but with a more Narnia-esque flavour suited to a pre-teen readership. In other words, the titular character is a young magic user in a fantasy setting and through the series of seven novels, the young Septimus Heap not only has […]
Terry Pratchett’s Discworld: Imaginarium by Paul Kidby (book review).
Few fantasy novelists are as easily associated with their cover art as Terry Pratchett, through the 1980s and 90s with Josh Kirby and, thereafter, with Paul Kidby. Of course, they both had completely different styles and, inevitably, the younger artist went back to Pratchett’s earlier works and created his own illustrations for them. So what […]
