Sons of the Crystal Mind, by Andrew Wallace: #BookReview.

On 17/10/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Reading, Review

Set on an almost unrecognisable Earth in a distant future, this novel deals with the perils of unregulated capitalism as it is allowed run rampant through a society in which consumers are entirely secondary to profit (ring any bells?). Peopled by charismatic, strong, female characters and complex antagonists, the tale quickly engages the reader. Written …

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Storm of Attraction, by Lily Black: #BookReview.

On 16/10/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Reading, Review2 Comments

Storm of Attraction is a romantic thriller with an understandable bias in favour of female readers. After all, most romance readers are women. As a mature man, and the author of a romantic thriller, I’m able to enjoy the genre in a way a lot of men can’t imagine. Told very much from the woman’s …

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Long Time Walk on Water, by Joan Barbara Simon: #BookReview.

On 14/10/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Reading, Review

Joan Barbara Simon’s ‘Long Time Walk on Water’, is a phenomenon. There’s nothing ordinary, pedestrian, or conventional in this story of love, lust, prejudice, violence and parental brutality. An adherent of secular, as opposed to faith-based, philosophy, I’m already biased against the cruel, arbitrary, and unjust interpretation of so-called sacred myths that spread brutality and …

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Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making

On 11/10/201718/09/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Mars, Progress

This is a robot reporting (metallic synthetic voice mode). The post was scheduled before I started my annual break from all things digital: the only way to protect sanity in a world driven round the bend by constant calls on our attention. So, no movement in the files for the work in progress, only within …

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Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 04/10/201718/09/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Fiction, Mars, Progress

I’m currently no more than a robot on here. This scheduled post was created before I started my annual break from all digital connection: the only way to stay sane in a world driven by constant calls on our attention. So, no change to the files for the work in progress, only within my imagination, …

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Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 27/09/201718/09/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Mars, Progress

Today is my 29th wedding anniversary and I’m spending it with my lovely wife. This is a scheduled post, created before I started my annual break from all digital connection: it’s the only way to stay sane in a world being driven mad by constant calls on our attention. So, no change to the work …

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An American Cage, by Ted Galdi: #BookReview.

On 24/09/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Reading, Review

This thriller is much more than that. Generally, thrillers are notorious for their concentration on story at the expense of character. In An American Cage, however, Galdi has broken that mould. He’s devised a tale that threads character throughout the story without adversely affecting pace and engagement. Written in present tense, and from an omniscient …

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Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 21/09/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Mars, Progress

A small number of new characters have been created to go with the new locations and period. Most of the others appear in the first two volumes, as the new book continues the story, moving only a few years forward initially. Location requires more research, and some informed speculation, but that’s going well at present. …

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Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 13/09/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Mars, Progress

As work on this is mostly confined to the void that occupies most of my skull, I don’t have a lot to report today. Preparation, they say, is all. My method of moving toward the writing of a piece is to gather together my characters, something I’ve mostly achieved, though some are proving elusive for …

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Emanation: Shadeward Saga #1, by Drew Wagar: #BookReview.

On 09/09/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Reading, Review2 Comments

Genre can be the bane of the author’s life: most publishers insist on slotting fiction into predefined pigeonholes. But some books defy this process, either merging genres or crossing boundaries. Emanation is such a book. It is, essentially a science fiction book, but reads, certainly in the beginning, like a fantasy novel. It’s …

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Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 30/08/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Progress

This weekend sees the annual science fiction and fantasy shindig in Hull. Fantasticon 2017 is on course to be the best yet. I’ll be there signing copies of War Over Dust and meeting readers as well as fans of all types of gaming in a splendid venue. I’m also partaking in a talk with another …

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The Purple Bowtie, by Lisabeth Reynolds: #BookReview.

On 28/08/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Reading, Review2 Comments

[A review is a personal opinion. No reviewer can represent the view of anyone else. The best we can provide is an honest reaction to any given book.] This book is listed as ‘lesbian romance’. So, what attracted an agnostic, heterosexual man to delve into its pages? The description intrigued me to begin with. …

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Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 23/08/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Progress

So, some small progress made: I’ve added a few notes from further research and ideas that occurred during the week, usually when in bed! At this early stage, while I wait for the story to mature, I restrict my activity to research and those daydreaming sessions that allow the imagination free reign. I won’t start …

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Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 16/08/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress, Review

An offer and a request in one: Many of you have followed the progress of War Over Dust over the months it’s been under construction. I’m now looking for readers who’d be willing to post a review of War Over Dust in exchange for a free copy in ebook format (I can provide .mobi, .pdf, …

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A Night Shift, by Joshua Scribner: #BookReview.

On 14/08/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Reading, Review

This short piece of dark fantasy puts a different spin on a popular theme, and carries it through with some dark humour. It’s a compact story, told simply but with great effect. We know as much as we need to about the characters and watch as the tension slowly builds to the denouement, which contains …

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