Halloween Special 2022 - Vampires Mega-Analysis (How Authors Write the Bloodsucking Undead)
In which I celebrate Halloween by discussing vampires, how they evolved and became a worldwide literary obsession.
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Sep 23, 20228 min read
How 'The Dark Between the Trees' Perfects the Haunted Forest Trope
In which I discuss Fiona Barnett's 'The Dark Between the Trees,' and the ways it elevates the haunted forest subgenre.
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Sep 9, 20227 min read
How 'Two Lumps of Sugar for Mr Anxiety' Heals Its Titular Condition
In which I discuss Eli Wilde's 'Two Lumps of Sugar for Mr Anxiety' and the compelling way it represents mental health in adulthood.
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Aug 26, 20229 min read
'Coraline' and the Importance of Gateway Horror
In which I discuss Neil Gaiman's 'Coraline,' introducing the concept of gateway horror, and its inherent value.
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Aug 12, 20228 min read
'Tender is the Flesh' is the 21st Century's Defining Dystopian Novel
In which I discuss Agustina Bazterrica's 'Tender is the Flesh,' and the high status it deserves.
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Jul 29, 20227 min read
Content VS Presentation In Books - Which Matters More?
In which I explore the relationship between story and presentation, and whether one is more important than the other.
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Jul 15, 202214 min read
How 'The Harpy' Uses Presentation to Make You Care
In which I discuss Megan Hunter's 'The Harpy,' and how it uses presentation to cause emotional responses.
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Jul 1, 202214 min read
How 'A Monster Calls' Uses Story to Make You Care
In which I discuss Patrick Ness's 'A Monster Calls,' and how it uses story to cause emotional responses.
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Jun 17, 20228 min read
The Unique Apocalypse of 'Nod'
In which I discuss Adrian Barnes's 'Nod,' and its uniquely psychological apocalypse.
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Jun 3, 20228 min read
How 'The Hellbound Heart' Modernises Gothic Horror
In which I discuss Clive Barker's 'The Hellbound Heart,' and its unique and modern approach to Gothic horror.
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May 20, 20228 min read
'The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar' and the Benefit of Short Stories
In which I explore the sub-medium of short stories for the first time, and how Edgar Allan Poe perfected it.
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May 6, 20228 min read
'The Shining' and the Benefit of Longer Stories
In which I discuss Stephen King's 'The Shining,' and the benefits it draws from a longer page count.
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Apr 22, 202217 min read
'Paradise Lost' and the Value of a Challenging Book
In which I discuss John Milton's 'Paradise Lost,' going into great detail about its themes, as well as the value of a challenging book.
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Apr 8, 202211 min read
How 'The Chrysalids' Explores the Theme of Discrimination
In which I discuss John Wyndham's 'The Chrysalids,' and the ways it explores the theme of discrimination.
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Mar 25, 20228 min read
Horror - The Genre of Fear
In which I conclude my series of essays on genre, this time looking more deeply at horror, and what it means to me.
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Mar 18, 20227 min read
Science Fiction - The Genre of Possibilities
In which I continue talking about genre, this time looking more deeply at science fiction, and what it means to me.
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Mar 11, 20227 min read
Fantasy - The Genre of Imagination
In which I continue talking about genre, this time looking more deeply at fantasy, and what it means to me.
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Mar 4, 20228 min read
Genre and Subgenre - It Matters
In which I start a new series of essays, and explore the idea of genre, and what it means to me.
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Feb 19, 20228 min read
How 'Murderbot' Delivers a Uniquely Sci Fi POV
In which I return to the theme of perspective characters, and discuss the ways Martha Wells's 'Murderbot' might have given me what I wanted.
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Feb 4, 20229 min read
How 'The Rats' Reinvents a Subgenre
In which I discuss James Herbert's 'The Rats,' and the ways it reinvents a popular subgenre of horror.
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