I had my qualms about a new Continental novel from the perspective—and foul mouth—of General Turyin Mulaghesh. Not many, and not severe, since Mulaghesh was awesome. But she was not the stars of the previous show, the fantastic City of Stairs. Who can compete with Shara and Sigrud, a brilliant spy and a Viking bodyguard …
I had the privilege of sitting down with Robert Jackson Bennett to ask him about his immanent book, City of Blades. We also discussed his previous books—and writing—and Batman. Christina Ladd: First and most obvious question: where does City of Blades come from? How did you begin to follow up City of Stairs, which turns …
It’s not easy being an wealthy, gifted, powerful scion of a noble house whose heroics have earned him the attention of God Itself. For one thing, if that God has played you false and used you, it’s exceptionally difficult to get away to mourn and heal. For another, you have certain responsibilities that don’t go …
In honor of City of Blades coming out, I re-read American Elsewhere, which–fun story–I hate-bought because the cover (and title) looked so much like American Gods. “Well this is going to be bullshit” I said, probably out loud, probably to myself in a crowded bookstore, probably earning myself nervous glances. And then, readers, it wasn’t. …
As we all recover from our multiple viewings of The Force Awakens this holiday season, let me take an entirely uncontroversial position and say that popcorn is delicious. Well, it is. Don’t lie, you all had at least a handful or two, and probably more like a bucket or two. This was probably before or after …
The Library at Mount Char – for your friend who loves Tarantino and David Fincher, anyone who prefers White Wolf to D&D, fans of Lovecraft, librarians, anyone whose favorite Christmas movie is The Nightmare Before Christmas. City of Stairs – for the person in your gaming group who always figures out the optimal moves (and …
Thank the YA gods for terrible parents. Terrible fictional parents, that is. Because much as I wish there was not a single terrible real-life parent, there are far too many. But there haven’t been many in fiction until more recently, and not only is that unrealistic, it’s a damn shame. There is so much depth …
All right, I’ve just decided this is going to be Old West season for me. Between Girl and Wake and Snow White, and now Silver on the Road by Laura Anne Gilman, I’m just going to become a temporary expert on Old West Fantasy, or Weird West fiction, or whatever you want to call it. (Next …
On tumbles our ever-growing tangle of Weird Old Westerns, because what do you want more than shoot-outs and cattle raids at the holidays? Right, nothing. This time it’s Six-Gun Snow White, a not-really-fairy-tale taken loosely from Grimms and applied firmly to the mining towns and new money of Montana and beyond. There aren’t any cowpokes, …
As I previously noted, the Old West is being retrodden by not a few new authors looking for the stories not previously found. Another of those is Lila Bowen, with her stellar debut Wake of Vultures. Her Old West is not quite the one we know in terms of geography, and it’s certainly not the …