Reviews of recent and upcoming science fiction, fantasy, horror and other genre related books. Sometimes I'll add something I think will be of interest.
From the multi-million NYT bestselling creator of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
To
veteran war correspondent Lex Falk, covering the ongoing peacekeeping
operation on Planet 86 seems like just another boring assignment, until a
bloody bombing occurs which military high command seems strangely keen
to keep the media from reporting.
In
an effort to reach the heart of the action, Lex gets himself ‘chipped’
inside the head of a soldier on his way to the frontlines. But on the
brink of uncovering the story of a lifetime, the soldier is killed,
leaving Lex trapped… And his only hope of revealing the truth
lies in somehow getting home.
“Ingenious…A nail-biting, seat of the pants ride.”
By Jason V. Brock: Author, screenwriter, artist, and
occasional actor William Francis Nolan passed away without pain on July
15, 2021, during a brief stay in the hospital following complications
from an infection. He was 93 years old. He had no living relatives and
was married one time.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Nolan was an only child. His father,
Michael Cahill Nolan, was an adventurer and sportsman. His mother,
Bernadette Mariana Kelly Nolan, was a stenographer. The family resided
on Forest Avenue in a predominantly Irish section of the city. Nolan
spent his youth riding his bike up and down nearby Troost Avenue, close
to the Isis Theater, meeting with friends to spend hot days in the cool
of the movie palace, where they watched Westerns, ate candy, and reveled
in the adventures of Tom Mix and other film heroes of the day. An avid
reader, he devoured Max Brand, comic books (especially Batman), the pulps, and any other books he could get his hands on. He held very fond memories of his childhood.
Later, the family moved to Chula Vista, California just after World
War II (Nolan was unable to serve due to flat feet and poor vision).
Though the times were hard, his cherished parents had unflinching Irish
roots, and the family endured, eventually winding up in Los Angeles. It
was during this time Nolan caught the Science Fiction fandom bug.
Talented at drawing, Nolan spent many hours working as an artist
(including a stint at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City), still enthralled
with pulps such as Black Mask, Weird Tales, andcomics,
especially Jack Kirby’s output. Movies eventually became his greatest
enthusiasm, and for years he attended several a week. Being in L.A. only
added to his interest in all forms of genre, from Noir to horror to
Science Fiction.
William F. Nolan and Ray Bradbury
Once established in L.A., he stumbled across a fresh new writer named
Ray Bradbury, becoming an instant convert. Seeking Bradbury out, by
1952 he had learned enough about him to compile his first serious book, Ray Bradbury Review. It
contained a mix of art, stories, and nonfiction, including pieces by
writer Chad Oliver and Bradbury. After a few years of doing art, active
semi-pro fanzine work, and other fan-related organizing, Nolan made his
first big professional sale, “The Darendinger Build-Up” to Playboy,
and decided he wanted to be a writer full-time. Around this time,
Bradbury introduced Nolan to the man who would become his best friend
for ten years, until his untimely death, Mr. Charles Beaumont. Beaumont,
Nolan, Richard Matheson, George Clayton Johnson, Chad Oliver, Charles
E. Fritch, Kris Neville, John Tomerlin, Mari Wolf, and several others
eventually comprised “The Group”, meeting to discuss stories and hang
out together.
William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson
Nolan’s career flourished as a writer and later a screenwriter, primarily for Dan Curtis. Logan’s Run,
which he co-wrote with the late George Clayton Johnson, propelled both
men into the public consciousness in a major way, especially after the
release of the classic MGM film adaptation in 1976. Although Nolan has
written roughly 2000 pieces, to include biographies, short stories,
poetry, and novels, Logan’s Run retains its hold on the public
consciousness as a political fable and dystopian warning. As Nolan has
stated: “That I am known at all is still astonishing to me, as I can so
vividly recall the boy flying down the road on his bike in Kansas City
all those years ago. My later years have brought me much happiness, I
will note, especially my current family, Jason and Sunni Brock. We’ve
been a unit for nearly 15 years, and it has been one of the best times
of my life.”
—Jason V Brock, Vancouver, WA
Copyright 2021 by Mike Glyer, File 770 and Jason V. Brock
From the immersive and intoxicating world of The Outside, comes the exhilarating sequel
Hunted
by the Gods and a disgraced angel, Yasira and Tiv must delve further
than ever before into the maddening mysteries of their fractured planet
in order to save – or perhaps even destroy – their fading world.
"Fast-paced adventure and intricate double-crosses sweep through Hoffmann’s magnificent sequel...This
eerie, beautiful vision of collective action draws equally from
Warhammer 40,000; cosmic horror; and the work of Becky Chambers' – Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
VOICES IN THE DARKNESS, Edited by David Niall Wilson,
Macabre Ink, ISBN:9781952979491, $17.99 Trade, $29.99 Hardcover.
To keep everything honest, I am friends with some of the
authors and publisher of this book. That being said, I will give it an honest
review based on its merits.
Nadia Bulkins ‘’Vide Cor Meum (See My Heart)’’ is the story
of a family slaughtered in their home and the ways it affects other folks and
brings ghosts into play. It is well done and starts us off on our journey into
darkness.
Kathe Koja has a story that reads differently each time you
peruse the story of ”Pursuivant Island”, or is it Grand Central Park?
‘’Baggie’’ by Elizabeth Massie is the story of a new Messiah and his control
of his followers and is one of the darker pieces in this volume.
Cassandra Khaw takes us on a journey of ourselves while Nick
Mamatas gives us the story of MacHeath and the legend that made the inspiration
for the song we all know.
All these fine stories are a wonderful lead in to ‘’La Belle
Epoche’’ by Brian Hopkins. In his novella length tale, we travel from 1893
France to the Vietnam battlefields and some remarkably interesting adventures
in-between.
He showsus the
darkness of the French waterfront, the light that was Nickolai Tesla, the larger-than-life
Moulin Rouge, and the terrors of war. While at times darkly disturbing, there
is always a glint of hope as we follow our lead characters, Angel and Bill
Pratt.
Hopkins has done his research and filled the story with
facts and historical figures to make this read more like a factual magazine
story. His choice of words really sets the mind’s eye alive with imagery, for
example ‘’comfortably familiar smell of ink on paper, leather and glue and the
waxed thread of tight little binding stitches’’to describe a library or ‘’the result was a milky opalescence, a miasmic
fog circling a crystal goblet, a cocktail concocted in a dream, more vapor than
liquid’’ to describe a drink. He is a true wordsmith and paints fully drawn
images in the readers eyes.
It is a story of death and despair; it is a story of love
and loss; it is a story of redemption; and it is a story of a time long gone.
It was ‘’La Belle Epoch’’ and sadly it may never return. I am sure Hopkins will
return with another story to entertain and bemuse us.
This wonderful volume is available from Crossroads Press and
Amazon, it is well worth the journey.
