One of my projects right now is exploring what a canon of speculative fiction for our time might look like. For context, check out …
Continue Reading about When Science Fiction is Smarter than The New York Times
The Wood Between the Worlds: Does Grimdark Fantasy Belong in the Canon of Speculative Fiction?
Why Am I Reading Grimdark? Recently I decided, for reasons that will become clear later this summer (how’s that for a teaser?), …
Two Excellent Pirate Books Set in Gorgeous Fantasy Worlds
Who doesn't love a good pirate book? Yes, I know that The Pirates of the Caribbean might have outstayed their welcome. But luckily …
Continue Reading about Two Excellent Pirate Books Set in Gorgeous Fantasy Worlds
Your Quarantine Reading List
Well, it's official. There's at least another month of lockdown/quarantine/social distancing going on in the US. Rather than lose …
Why is This (slightly embarrassed) Fantasy Author Reviewing Golden Age Mysteries?
I can't help it. I don't care about genre conventions. If there's a book that grabs you by the throat, turns you upside down, …
To Make it Through Quarantine, Read… A LOT
It's all a bit overwhelming, isn't it? Especially if you spend too much time reading the news media. There was a time (I think) …
Continue Reading about To Make it Through Quarantine, Read… A LOT
Empathy vs Compassion: Or How Game of Thrones Got it All Wrong
We are told that empathy is what makes us human. Without empathy, we would be sociopathic and cold-blooded. In fact, screenwriters …
Continue Reading about Empathy vs Compassion: Or How Game of Thrones Got it All Wrong
The Sun Eater cycle – Best Epic SciFi Series of this Decade
You've heard me rant about bad storytelling before (like here, for instance). And I will admit I have been a bit worried about the …
Continue Reading about The Sun Eater cycle – Best Epic SciFi Series of this Decade
Six Best Fantasy/Sci-fi Books of 2019
Recently, one of my friends asked me to recommend some new books that were not merely good, but great. I had to stop and think for …
Continue Reading about Six Best Fantasy/Sci-fi Books of 2019
Should We Emulate the Masters or Subvert Them?
Seems like an obvious answer, no? I certainly thought so. Of course we should be inspired by the masters, even copy them …
Continue Reading about Should We Emulate the Masters or Subvert Them?
Five Favorite Fantasy Novels with Best-selling Author Miles Cameron
Last night, I invited best-selling fantasy and historical fiction author Christian Cameron (Miles Cameron to his epic fantasy …
Continue Reading about Five Favorite Fantasy Novels with Best-selling Author Miles Cameron
Why Becoming a Storyteller May Be the Most Important Thing You Do in Your Life
In my latest video book review/cultural rant, I consider an odd shift going on in popular culture. We're not longer telling the …
5 Graphic Novels You May Have Never Heard of (but should read)
Last week I restarted my Q&A series with authors both traditionally and independently published. My guest was the author of a …
Continue Reading about 5 Graphic Novels You May Have Never Heard of (but should read)
My Recommendations for Literature of the Imagination
As I've written about extensively in my Writer's Manifesto, I strongly believe that literature of the imagination (my preferred …
Continue Reading about My Recommendations for Literature of the Imagination
Cute Monsters and the Problem of Evil
Recently I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Adrian Tchaikovsky, an eminent fantasy/ sci-fi writer, had written a sequel …
Continue Reading about Cute Monsters and the Problem of Evil
Arrival – the Movie is Better Than the Book (Gasp!)
Yes, I said it. I was surprised I said it. But there are some cases when the movie is actually better than the book. It's rare, …
Continue Reading about Arrival – the Movie is Better Than the Book (Gasp!)
My 5 Favorite Children’s Fantasy Series
You know we all love them--those fantasy books we read as kids. Those fairy tales that stuck with us all day and kept us up at …
Continue Reading about My 5 Favorite Children’s Fantasy Series
Amon Sûl Podcast: The Bridge of Kotar-dûm
So a few weeks ago, I did a wonderful podcast recording with Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, who has just started a new Tolkien …
Continue Reading about Amon Sûl Podcast: The Bridge of Kotar-dûm