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, 2022
- 8 min
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.
85 views
- Sep 9, 2022
- 7 min
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.
18 views
- Aug 26, 2022
- 9 min
'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.
29 views
- Aug 12, 2022
- 8 min
'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.
80 views
- Jul 29, 2022
- 7 min
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.
20 views
- Jul 15, 2022
- 14 min
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.
18 views
- Jul 1, 2022
- 14 min
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.
53 views
- Jun 17, 2022
- 8 min
The Unique Apocalypse of 'Nod'
In which I discuss Adrian Barnes's 'Nod,' and its uniquely psychological apocalypse.
17 views
- Jun 3, 2022
- 8 min
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.
25 views
- May 20, 2022
- 8 min
'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.
38 views
- May 6, 2022
- 8 min
'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.
14 views
- Apr 22, 2022
- 17 min
'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.
28 views
- Apr 8, 2022
- 11 min
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.
28 views
- Mar 25, 2022
- 8 min
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.
51 views
- Mar 18, 2022
- 7 min
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.
18 views
- Mar 11, 2022
- 7 min
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.
16 views
- Mar 4, 2022
- 8 min
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.
18 views
- Feb 19, 2022
- 8 min
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.
23 views
- Feb 4, 2022
- 9 min
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.
34 views
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