“The Blade Itself” by Joe Abercrombie

There's lots to like about Joe Abercrombie's The Blade Itself. Pithy, witty prose for one. The characters are superbly drawn – smart new takes on the traditional high fantasy archetypes. I loved Logen's contemplative barbarian, world-weary and rather depressed by the fact he keeps winning all these down-and-dirty battles. Inquisitor Glokta is a joy, with … Continue reading “The Blade Itself” by Joe Abercrombie

“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” Stage Show

Years ago, I saw a stage production of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. What a fun topic to write a nostalgic blog about, thought I yesterday. But, as I tried to pull a few memories together, I realised something shocking: my own interior version of Eddie the Shipboard Computer seems to have had its … Continue reading “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” Stage Show

The Science Fiction of Bob Shaw

Just discovered a heap of Bob Shaw books buried in a forgotten corner. Ah, the joyful anticipation of rereading some old favourites! Bob's concept of slow glass is one of those science fiction ideas from heaven. It's a dream of a concept that gets right under your skin and just wriggles there. In case you … Continue reading The Science Fiction of Bob Shaw

“Earth Abides” by George R Stewart

There are a few books I come back to over and over again. One of these is George R. Stewart's Earth Abides. If you haven't read it, I implore you to find a copy. It's probably the best post-apocalypse story you'll read. In the novel, Californian Isherwood Williams wakes from a snake-bite-induced delirium to discover … Continue reading “Earth Abides” by George R Stewart

Big Dumb Objects in Science Fiction

I recently re-read Arthur C Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama, having not picked it up since I was a teenager. What struck me – apart from the remarkable clarity of the prose and the clean straight lines of the narrative – was the geometry. Rama, the alien spacecraft featured in the novel, is an enormous cylinder. … Continue reading Big Dumb Objects in Science Fiction

“A Princess of Mars” by Edgar Rice Burroughs

I've travelled many times to Mars, courtesy of Bradbury and Dick and Baxter et al, but never to Barsoom. It's a shameful gap in my reading and one I'm now plugging by reading Edgar Rice Burroughs's A Princess of Mars. I'm about halfway through and it takes me right back to when I was a … Continue reading “A Princess of Mars” by Edgar Rice Burroughs

“Antarctica” by Kim Stanley Robinson

The protagonist of Kim Stanley Robinson's wonderful novel Antarctica is called X. It's a nickname actually, but I'm pretty sure his real name's never mentioned. Chapter one puts the book's cards on the table by saying, quite simply: "Call him X." Names have great power in fiction, and to reduce one's title character to a … Continue reading “Antarctica” by Kim Stanley Robinson

Space Elevators in Science Fiction

According to a recent article in New Scientist, an inflatable tower might one day be built to transport us a long way towards orbit. I can't help thinking you'd need one hell of a puncture repair kit to hand, but it's a fascinating addition to the whole space elevator debate. There's an annual competition, I … Continue reading Space Elevators in Science Fiction

A Stormy Night with John Carpenter’s “The Fog”

It's the middle of the eighties, the middle of a winter's afternoon and the middle of one humdinger of a storm. My friend Andy Wicks and I are in the middle of the stalls of the huge Gaumont cinema in Bournemouth. There are maybe six other people in there with us. We're treating ourselves to … Continue reading A Stormy Night with John Carpenter’s “The Fog”

“Little, Big” by John Crowley

Sooner or later I'll take my well-worn copy of John Crowley's sublime fantasy novel Little, Big off my bookshelf and reread it for what will be the fourth or fifth time. Once again I'll try to work out where he's hidden the magic. And once again, I suspect, I'll fail. I've always been a proponent … Continue reading “Little, Big” by John Crowley