My story Gerda and the Darkness was recently published in Death +70, the rather curiously titled anthology from the equally curiously titled imprint Harvey Duckman Presents. This is a collection of eighteen stories by a variety of authors, whose theme is described as “Tantalising Tales from Beyond the Apocalypse”. The publisher describes it as “aContinue reading “Gerda and the Darkness Published in Death +70”
Author Archives: nykiblatchley
Review of A Voyage to Arcturus by David Lindsay
Back in the 1970s, I read a strange, captivating novel called A Voyage to Arcturus. I recently reread it, and it seemed appropriate to give my thoughts on a book that few readers nowadays seem aware of, even though it’s been immensely influential. The title would lead to the assumption that this is SF —Continue reading “Review of A Voyage to Arcturus by David Lindsay”
A Fantasy World That’s All Grown Up
There’s a very clear traditional idea of what a fantasy world is supposed to be like. It has warriors riding horses and wielding swords and axes. It doesn’t have them travelling on planes and operating computers. It just doesn’t. But why not? After all, our world has had all that and much, much more, atContinue reading “A Fantasy World That’s All Grown Up”
The Aryan Fallacy
Note: This is an updated version of a post on my old blog from 2015. Recent events suggest that it may need saying again. In 1938, J.R.R. Tolkien received a letter from a German publisher who proposed to publish a translation of The Hobbit. According to the laws under the Nazi government, they requested himContinue reading “The Aryan Fallacy”
Doctor Who Series 1 — or Series 14 — or Series 40
The most recent series of Doctor Who finished a couple of weeks ago. Due to Disney’s dictates, it’s officially described as Series 1, which has angered a lot of fans, who insist that it’s actually Series 14. Whereas, as us old-timers know, it’s really Series 40. Whatever it’s called, though, I’ve now had time toContinue reading “Doctor Who Series 1 — or Series 14 — or Series 40”
Who Wants to Live Forever?
About forty years ago, I wrote a short story exploring the idea of immortality. The main character (a kind of everyman — or everywoman in this case) does a favour to a supernatural being who, in gratitude, offers to make her immortal. As she’s a bit unsure what to make of this, he takes herContinue reading “Who Wants to Live Forever?”
Empires, Evil and Otherwise
You don’t have to travel far within either fantasy or science fiction before you trip over an empire. If anything, in fact, they’re even more prevalent in SF than in fantasy, from the empire of the Klingons and the one that strikes back to the enemies of the Foundation and of the Atreides. Most areContinue reading “Empires, Evil and Otherwise”
Hanging Out With the Kids — Recent YA Fantasy TV
In general, the best stories don’t have an upper age limit, and this fact has been traditionally recognised in fantasy more than most genres. The Hobbit, the Chronicles of Narnia, His Dark Materials — they were all published as children’s books, and the all-ages phenomenon of Harry Potter put kids’ books and films firmly onContinue reading “Hanging Out With the Kids — Recent YA Fantasy TV”
What’s in a Surname?
It used to be simple enough. Fantasy names were Conan the Barbarian, Elric of Melniboné, Aragorn son of Arathorn. That even applied to sophisticated SF races: Vulcans and Klingons made do with a single name each, for instance. No self-respecting fantasy character would have such a thing as a surname — unless, of course, theyContinue reading “What’s in a Surname?”
My Writing Goals for 2024
New Year is a terrible time for resolutions. We make them because we feel under pressure to do so, not because we really want to. We “ought” to go on that diet or join the gym, and the commitment quickly runs out because it comes from outside. Far better to make the resolution at whateverContinue reading “My Writing Goals for 2024”
The Fantasy Worlds of Nyki Blatchley 