Yes, Whortleberry Press’s latest, Strange Mysteries 4, landed in my mailbox this afternoon. As always, neat cover, nice presentation, and a very good choice of stories. I have a story in that – Cursed Are They – and my friend Steve has promised to review the anthology sometime in the next few days. (I prefer …
February 2012 archive
HAVE YOU OVERLOOKED – T. JACKSON KING?
T(homas) Jackson King was born in Houston on May 24th 1948. He’s a professional poet, archaeologist, investigative journalist, and author. (Yet another born in the 1940s, and who carries on several professions.) King’s first book, Retread Shop, appeared in 1988 from Warner Books under the Questar imprint. If you liked Stephen Goldin’s Jade Darcy books …
Not Quite a Writing Update
It may end up that way, but right now it’s a moan. There’s been an American theme anthology open for submissions for a while now. Very odd and interesting title, very restricted theme, and initially I had no intention of writing for it. My subconscious – as it often does – had other ideas. I …
The Internet Can be damaging TV Series
This occured to me only the other day, and I’m now wondering just how much damage our ability in this area can do. What am I talking about? Well, it was like this. I’ve been watching a continuing series I like that’s on late one weeknight and I’ve also been watching the repeat series that …
Alarm and Apprehension
And no, not mine, but that of a small white dog whose family moved into our village a few weeks back. For my forays to the village I use an electric mobility scooter. That runs on batteries and it emits a very highpitched whine as it runs. Something few people can hear but dogs hear …
RIVER MARKED by Patricia Briggs
Hardcover, published march 2011, Ace. 6th in the Mercy Thompson series. This book came courtesy of a competition. No, it wasn’t the prize, but I did the competition, received a $100 as one of the winners, and promptly used the cash to buy a couple of yearned-for hardbacks. I love serendipity. Again this book is …
Gone too Soon
This isn’t quite a Farside item, it’s more a Farside Really Regrets item. My favourite bookshop has closed. The stock is being sold (I’ve bought my share and possibly more) and then it will be gone. They’ve been an institution for New Zealand readers of SF, mysteries, and romance for many years, they’ve run a …
The Quiet Countryside
Every so often some city acquaintance asks me what I do all day. They ask in that tone which indicates they expect to hear that I do nothing much, that they’re sure I’m usually bored, lonely perhaps, and that I wish I lived in a city. Yes, well. I consider the ten days I had …
PIRATE KING by Laurie R. King
Hardcover, published Bantam 2011. reviewed by Lyn McConchie. I received this as a Christmas present, with delighted me as I have always enjoyed this sequence of King’s work. Pirate King is the eleventh in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series by the author. This one is a lighthearted romp with Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance …
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After the Midnight Hour.
17 February 2012
On Friday I was asleep when uproar broke out on my lawn. Stroppy the gander was announcing to all and sundry that we had intruders and that (as usual) he was convinced they were there to kidnap his precious gosling. His wives dutifully added to the chorus – which was probably alarming people half a …
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