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The Cosmic Horror Brilliance of Area X
In which I discuss Jeff Vandermeer's Southern Reach series, and the brilliant ways it subverts the tropes of cosmic horror.
Apr 2512 min read
11 views


The Scariest Winter Tale
In which I discuss John Martin Leahy's 'In Amundsen's Tent,' and explore why it scares me more than any other short story.
Feb 218 min read
25 views


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.
Sep 23, 20228 min read
95 views


'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.
Aug 12, 20228 min read
100 views


The Unique Apocalypse of 'Nod'
In which I discuss Adrian Barnes's 'Nod,' and its uniquely psychological apocalypse.
Jun 17, 20228 min read
21 views


'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.
May 20, 20228 min read
192 views


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.
Apr 8, 202211 min read
41 views


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.
Mar 18, 20227 min read
19 views


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.
Feb 19, 20228 min read
27 views


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.
Feb 4, 20229 min read
37 views


'The Invisible Man' is a Perfect Villainous Character Study
In which I discuss HG Wells's 'The Invisible Man,' and the ways in which it perfects the character study.
Nov 19, 202110 min read
42 views


How 'Mortal Engines' Crafts an Interesting Fictional Setting
In which I discuss Philip Reeve's 'Mortal Engines,' and the qualities and ideas it uses to craft an interesting fictional setting.
Sep 17, 20216 min read
24 views


Why 'Frankenstein' is My Favourite Book
In which I discuss Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein,' and the many reasons it's such a great read.
Mar 19, 20218 min read
56 views
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