We’ve always been fascinated by far-off lands, unknown civilisations and lost cities. Ancient legends, from Gilgamesh to Odysseus to St Brendan, told of voyages that discovered lands lying just a little off the map. During the late mediaeval and early modern period, countless books were published purporting to tell of voyages to bizarre and fantasticContinue reading “You Get Your Sword and I’ll Get My Trowel — Archaeological Fantasy”
Tag Archives: novel
My Writing Goals for 2025
It doesn’t seem five minutes since I was posting my goals for 2024, and now it’s time to do the same for 2025. The past twelve months have certainly thrown up some unexpected plot twists on the world stage, but it hasn’t been a bad year for my writing. I didn’t achieve all my goalsContinue reading “My Writing Goals for 2025”
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”
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”
Witch World by Andre Norton — A Retrospect
Back in the 1970s, after reading Lord of the Rings had changed my world, I naturally went looking for similar books. Lin Carter and the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series proved invaluable, not only for the old classics they reprinted, but also for the many other authors and series Carter name-checked in his various introductions. OneContinue reading “Witch World by Andre Norton — A Retrospect”
The Quels — Expanding the World
Lately, prequels seem to be everywhere on TV. There’s nothing new about prequels, but in the past few months we’ve had (with varied results) prequels for Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and The Witcher. “Quels” (sequels, prequels and paraquels) aren’t restricted to any one genre, but they seem particularly prevalent in SF andContinue reading “The Quels — Expanding the World”
End of a Draft — and About Time Too
A few days ago, I wrote the final words in the first draft of the novel I’ve been writing for — well, a long time. Far too long. But finishing a draft is still special, even when it should have happened years ago, so it’s worth taking a moment to celebrate. This is a sequelContinue reading “End of a Draft — and About Time Too”
The End of the Matter — Iain (M) Banks
I recently finished Matter by Iain M. Banks. Nothing unusual in that — I’d read plenty of his books, with or without the M. In fact, that’s the point. I’d read all the rest. Although nowhere near the last chronologically, this was the last one left I hadn’t read. It Started With a Signature IContinue reading “The End of the Matter — Iain (M) Banks”
The Fantasy Worlds of Nyki Blatchley 