One of our main interests is reading, in particular fantasy and science fiction, and we also like to share our opinions about the books we read. Hence this section, Reviews. We will primarily review books but also comics, media, music and maybe the occasional game. We are also planning to expand this section with more features, such as listings per author/creator and a few other things.
Review forthcoming.
A great horror novel that was nominated for the World Fantasy Award for the year it was published. It is, in many ways, the finest vampire novel set in the historical United States—in fact, it’s certainly superior to Anne Rice’s over-rated Interview with a Vampire. Martin’s grasp of atmosphere is impressive and does much to make the story alive. His take on the life of vampires, and particularly his depiction of the relationship between a vampire and a fat, rough but honest southern riverboat captain, is fascinating and without parallel in the sub-genre of vampire horror. Finally, like Mark Twain before him, the author has a clear knowledge and love of the by-gone days of steamboats on the great American rivers which shows itself in his description of the times and the landscapes. Alternately horrifying and touching, the novel is a testament to Martin’s craftsmanship.
Review forthcoming.
Dying of the Light, a work clearly influenced by Jack Vance’s Dying Earth tales, is set primarily on the planet of Worlorn, which flourished to life as it passed near to the life-giving heat of a star but is now wandering further away into the grip of eternal cold. Turned into a cultural fairground, populated by human cultures from across the galaxy, Worlorn is now abandoned as it dies. Or almost so, in any case, as Dirk t’Larien arrives at the summons of his former lover Gwen. Yet whatever hopes he had about her summons, it turns out that she is bonded—practically married—to two fierce warriors who are themselves joined in a life-long union.
Full of ruminations about loss and the passing of things, Dying of the Light is often achingly beautiful. The conflict that develops on Worlorn is filled with a certain pathos as it ranges across a landscape already feeling the bite of the gold, cultures colliding in what is, in the end, meaningless bloodshed rooted in the willful ignorance that people can accrue along with the way of life they’re raised to. The ending, as poignant as everything else that followed before, is a classic one, posing larger questions which seem to be at the root of Martin’s other writings in this universe (such as Tuf Voyaging).
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