Magazine Review: Analog Science Fiction & Fact January/February 2024

Cover art by Julie Dillon

Magazine Review: Analog Science Fiction & Fact January/February 2024 edited by Trevor Quachri Let’s look at a recent issue of this long-running science fiction (and fact) magazine. The opening editorial by Howard V. Hendrix, “Machines Passing for People Passing for Machines”, which among other things discusses the Turing Test, where a simulated person tries to… Continue reading Magazine Review: Analog Science Fiction & Fact January/February 2024

Magazine Review: High Adventure #191: Action Special

This cover is unrelated to any of the stories within.

Magazine Review: High Adventure #191: Action Special edited by John P. Gunnison This issue of the pulp fiction reprint magazine has five stories from different action subgenres from five different magazines. Let’s see what’s in the grab bag! “The Jonah” by Bill Adams, first published in The Blue Book Magazine November 1935, is a sea… Continue reading Magazine Review: High Adventure #191: Action Special

Manga Review: Magus of the Library 1

Manga Review: Magus of the Library 1 by Mitsu Izumi On a fantasy world with a vaguely “Middle Eastern” culture, the invention of the printing press was relatively recent, so public libraries themselves are a new and exciting thing. The village of Amun has only had a library for a few years, the merchant Ossei… Continue reading Manga Review: Magus of the Library 1

Manga Review: Basara Vol. 1

Manga Review: Basara, Vol. 1 by Yumi Tamura In the early 21st Century, a disaster befell the Earth, drastically altering its climate and causing Japan’s civilization to crumble. But that was in the distant past, and the islands have become united again under a feudalistic society ruled by the Golden King. Fearful of being overthrown… Continue reading Manga Review: Basara Vol. 1

Manga Review: Treasure Hunter Book One: Eternal Youth

Manga Review: Treasure Hunter Book One: Eternal Youth by Hitoshi Tomizawa Jubei is a merchant. But he’s a specialized merchant. If there’s a specific hard to find item you need to acquire, hire Jubei, and he will get that item for you, guaranteed. Unlike some other merchants, Jubei isn’t as much known for his ability… Continue reading Manga Review: Treasure Hunter Book One: Eternal Youth

Comic Book Review: Rat Queens Volume One: Sass and Sorcery

Comic Book Review: Rat Queens Volume One: Sass and Sorcery story by Kurtis J. Wiebe, art by Roc Upchurch The small city of Palisade has a problem. There are too many mercenary adventurers in one place. Previously, there’d been too many monsters and bandits in the area, and the adventurers had gotten paid for disposing… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Rat Queens Volume One: Sass and Sorcery

Magazine Review: High Adventure #171: Far East Fiction of Frederick Moore

Magazine Review: High Adventure #171: Far East Fiction of Frederick Moore edited by John P. Gunnison In this pulp reprint issue, we’re off to the exotic South Seas, in particular Malaysia. According to the introduction, although Frederick Moore’s byline listed him as “Captain”, there’s no record of him ever earning that title. “The Cloth of… Continue reading Magazine Review: High Adventure #171: Far East Fiction of Frederick Moore

Book Review: The Book of Poul Anderson

Book Review: The Book of Poul Anderson edited by Roger Elwood Poul Anderson (1926-2001) was an influential American science fiction author, first published in 1947 and winning seven Hugos and three Nebulas for his work. By the 1970s, he was well enough known, and had a large enough body of short fiction, that DAW Books… Continue reading Book Review: The Book of Poul Anderson

Book Review: Swords Against Death

Book Review: Swords Against Death by Fritz Leiber Fafhrd is a tall barbarian from the Northern lands; the Grey Mouser is a relatively short and sneaky fellow who doesn’t know exactly where he was born, but has always lived in cities. They’re best friends, seeking treasure and adventure both in the fabled city of Lankhmar… Continue reading Book Review: Swords Against Death

Book Review: The Storm Lord

Book Review: The Storm Lord by Tanith Lee Raldnor has long known he was different from the other children in his Southlands village. They are fair-skinned, he has dark skin. They can speak mind-to-mind to supplement their words, he appears to be mind-deaf and mute. They seem unruled by their loins, while Raldnor has entire… Continue reading Book Review: The Storm Lord