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    Fantasy anthology open to submissions 

    by
    SFFWriting
    Published on 05-15-2012 06:08 AM
    Categories:
    1. Market News

    From:
    http://www.sorcerouspress.com/readin...ale-anthology/

    Swords for Sale: An Anthology of Fantastic Mercenary Fiction

    Sorcerous Press is now reading for our upcoming anthology, Swords for Sale. We are looking for fantasy short stories focusing on a mercenary band or a mercenary soldier.

    We are open to stories ranging from Sword & Sorcery, where the magic is front and center, and to more “realistic” stories, ...
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    Book Review: The Gargoyle Prophecies Part I: The Savior Rises, by Christopher C. Payne 

    Published on 05-12-2012 08:41 PM  Number of Views: 28 
    Categories:
    1. Urban Fantasy
    2. Dark Fantasy
    3. Modern/Urban Fantasy
    4. 3.5 Stars
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    The Gargoyle Prophecies Part I: The Savior Rises, by Christopher C. Payne
    Published by Journalstone
    Copyright 2010
    Reviewed by Michael D. Griffiths
    Rating: (3.5/5)

    The Gargoyle Prophecies is the first in what promises to be a series that centers around a most improbable heroine. Stefani is a virgin topless dancer and if that was not hard enough to believe, she is also the ‘Chosen One’ who will either lead the Gargoyles into a new age or bring doom down ...
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    Book Review: Quantum Leap: Song and Dance, by Mindy Peteman 

    Published on 05-09-2012 10:09 AM  Number of Views: 52 
    Categories:
    1. Science Fiction
    2. 4.0 Stars
    3. Science Fantasy
    4. Media Tie-in
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    Quantum Leap: Song and Dance, by Mindy Peteman
    Published by Scholastic Press
    Copyright 1998
    Reviewed by Joshua Palmatier
    Rating: (4/5)

    Just finished reading this Quantum Leap book by Mindy Peterman. I love Quantum Leap, watched the show religiously when it was on, and bought all of the books as they came out . . . I just didn't get around to reading them right away. *grin* In any case, have been using the ones I hadn't read for nostalgia effects over ...
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    Movie Review: The Avengers 

    Published on 05-08-2012 11:43 AM  Number of Views: 56 
    Categories:
    1. Superhero
    2. Movies/TV
    3. 4.5 Stars
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    The Avengers, PG-13 (2012)
    142 minutes
    Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, Stellan Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow
    Directed by Joss Whedon
    Rating: (4.5/5)

    My son isn't anywhere near the comic book geek I was when I was his age, but we were both excited to see The Avengers. We'd seen all the prequels and enjoyed them, although I think I enjoyed ...
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    Book Review: Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins 

    Published on 05-05-2012 04:49 PM  Number of Views: 97 
    Categories:
    1. Science Fiction
    2. 5.0 Stars
    3. Science Fantasy
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    Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
    Published by Scholastic Press
    Copyright 2009
    Reviewed by Joshua Palmatier
    Rating: (5/5)

    The second book in The Hunger Games trilogy is better than the first, in my opinion. I have to admit that when I finished the first book and really, really wanted to read the sequel, I asked myself what Suzanne Collins could possibly do in the sequel. I literally thought, "The obvious thing to do is put Katniss back into the Games, ...
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    Book Review: The Seven Days of Cain, by Ramsey Campbell 

    Published on 05-02-2012 07:52 PM  Number of Views: 78 
    Categories:
    1. Horror
    2. Urban Fantasy
    3. Paranormal
    4. 2.5 Stars
    Article Preview

    The Seven Days of Cain, by Ramsey Campbell
    Published by Samhain Publishing
    Copyright 2010
    Reviewed by Michael D. Griffiths
    Rating: (2.5/5)

    I jumped into The Seven Days of Cain by Ramsey Campbell with the highest of optimism. The cover claims that he is one of the greatest horror authors alive today. I will admit I have not read much by Campbell other than a few short stories in an anthology or two. It has a creepy cover and is published by Samhain which ...
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    Book Review: City of the Lost, by Stephen Blackmoore 

    Published on 05-01-2012 05:01 PM  Number of Views: 78 
    Categories:
    1. Horror
    2. Urban Fantasy
    3. Dark Fantasy
    4. 4.0 Stars
    Article Preview

    CITY OF THE LOST byStephen Blackmoore
    Published by Daw
    Copyright2 012
    Reviewed by Joshua Palmatier
    Rating: (4/5)

    This is the debut novel for Stephen Blackmoore and I dare say it won't be his last.City of the Lost is being described a detective noir with zombies by some.I haven't read much noir detective fiction, so I can't and won't on whether it fits that bill, but I can comment on it as an urban fantasy with a rather hardcore "detective" as the main ...
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    Book Review: The Battle for Tomorrow, by Frederick Bell 

    Published on 04-28-2012 06:06 PM  Number of Views: 75 
    Categories:
    1. Science Fiction
    2. High Tech Science Fiction
    3. 3.5 Stars
    4. Science Fantasy
    Article Preview

    The Battle for Tomorrow, by Frederick Bell
    Published by Alternative Views Publishing
    Copyright 2011
    Reviewed by Alexander McIntosh
    Rating: (3.5/5)

    The Battle for Tomorrow is an intense collection of struggles between a native species and an invading force from space. The story grabs the reader’s attention with its unusual twists thanks to Frederick Bell’s incredible imagination. Set on another planet, the story unfolds introducing a species unknown to ...
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    Angry Robot Open Door in April 

    by
    che2000
    Published on 04-25-2012 06:26 AM
    Categories:
    1. Market News
    2. SFReader News and Info

    Some news that might be of interest to the various writers here:

    "Following a successful Open Door period in 2011 (we signed 3 debut authors from it!), we?ve decided to do it again! This time around, we?re looking for classic fantasy (for Angry Robot) and all sf/fantasy flavours of YA (for Strange Chemistry).

    If you have completed a novel, and are unagented, between April 16th and 30th this year, we?ll happily read it for possible publication. If you are agented, ...
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    Suspended Animation: Hal Foster: Prince of Illustrators, Father of the Adventure Strip 

    Published on 04-25-2012 06:20 AM  Number of Views: 193 
    Categories:
    1. Suspended Animation
    Article Preview

    Hal Foster: Prince of Illustrators, Father of the Adventure Strip

    I was in my late twenties before I took a good look at Hal Foster’s Prince Valiant, despite being a fan of comic books and strips since childhood. Maybe it came with the passage of time, and further education in the art form of comics, but a deep appreciation for his work eventually materialized. And then solidified. Then, marked me for life. That’s why I’m so thankful for Brian M. Kane, and his book Hal Foster: Prince ...
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    Book Review: Castaway on Temurlone, by David Wesley Hill 

    Published on 04-24-2012 04:26 PM  Number of Views: 194 
    Categories:
    1. Science Fiction
    2. High Tech Science Fiction
    3. 3.5 Stars
    4. Science Fantasy
    Article Preview

    Castaway on Temurlone, by David Wesley Hill
    Published by Temurlone Press
    Copyright 2011
    Reviewed by Clair Nash
    Rating: (3.5/5)

    Castaway on Temurlone, A Space Opera, by David Wesley Hill, is a most excellent and epic tale of a young man’s transformation from a small-planet simpleton to a courageous hero. Pimsol Anderts, or Pim, begins his journey by leaving his humble home planet and family to work aboard The Miraculous Abernathy, an inter-stellar cargo ship. The Abernathy and its bureaucratic-like leaders prove to be more of an endless financial trap - treating its workers more like slaves than employees. ...
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    Book Review: In the Mean Time, by Paul Tremblay 

    Published on 04-22-2012 09:04 AM  Number of Views: 198 
    Categories:
    1. Anthology
    2. Fantasy
    3. Fantasy Anthology
    4. Mixed Genre Anthology
    5. Alternate History
    6. Modern/Urban Fantasy
    7. 4.0 Stars
    Article Preview

    In the Mean Time, by Paul Tremblay
    Published by Chizine,
    Copyright 2010
    Reviewed by Ivana Reynolds-Boyle
    Rating: (4/5)

    In the Mean Time is a compilation of fifteen short stories written by Paul Tremblay. Each story is distinct from the next although there are common themes of turmoil and transition, which are alluded to by the title of the book.

    The Teacher: The opening story is about a high school girl, Kate, and her unconventional teacher, Mr. Sorent. Kate goes through a transformation, both in attitude and perspective, as she and her classmates progress through Mr. Sorent’s questionable curriculum. ...
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    Book Review: Discount Armageddon, Seanan McGuire 

    Published on 04-19-2012 09:44 PM  Number of Views: 106 
    Categories:
    1. Fantasy
    2. Science Fiction
    3. Urban Fantasy
    4. Dark Fantasy
    5. Modern/Urban Fantasy
    6. 3.0 Stars
    7. Science Fantasy
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    Discount Armageddon, by Seanan McGuire
    Published by Daw
    Copyright 2011
    Reviewed by Joshua Palmatier
    Rating: (3/5)

    This is the first book in a new series from Seanan McGuire, best known for her October Daye urban fantasy novels featuring Toby Daye and the fae living among us. Those novels are rather dark in tone and nature, with nearly all of the fae creatures tending toward their more wicked and tricksy original roots. ...
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    Member Movie Review: The Thing from Another World vs John Carpenter's The Thing 

    Published on 04-19-2012 06:24 AM  Number of Views: 208 
    Categories:
    1. Science Fiction
    2. Movies/TV
    3. Science Horror
    Article Preview

    The Thing From Another World (1951)
    John Carpenter's The Thing (1982)

    This is one of my favorite movies of all time, the original Howard Hawks version of John Campell's story of personal invasion. Who goes there?

    Remade by John Carpenter in his 1982 version which enjoyed indifferent success and recently in another movie version that I have not yet but refer you to the SFReader review.

    Why is the Hawks version my favorite and why does it pull ...
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    Member Book Review: Armor, by John Steakley 

    Published on 04-13-2012 06:40 AM  Number of Views: 149 
    Categories:
    1. Military Science Fiction
    Article Preview

    Armour, by John Steakley
    Review by Jaqhama

    For me there's always been two books that stand alone in the field of military science fiction. Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers and John Steakley's Armour.

    Armour is actually two stories in the one book.

    Felix is the supreme armoured warrior of the future. A man who has fought and survived countless battles against an alien, ant-like race. He has lived where everyone else has died. The secret of ...
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    Member Book Review: Fantastic Stories of the Imagination, edited by Warren Lapine 

    Published on 04-12-2012 07:31 AM  Number of Views: 469 
    Categories:
    1. Mixed Genre Anthology
    Article Preview

    Fantastic Stories of the Imagination, edited by Warren Lapine
    Wilder Publications
    Reviewed by Ed McKeown

    Fantastic Stories of the Imagination is Warren Lapine's new anthology, taking an SF magazine sensibility into the anthology market. He brings 14 very diverse stories by a wide range of authors from great masters such as Mike Resnick and Harlan Elision to more recent discoveries (at least to me). Fans of the Liaden universe will be glad to see a Sharon Lee and Steve ...
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    Suspended Animation: Interview with Doug Wheatley 

    Published on 04-12-2012 06:31 AM  Number of Views: 83 
    Categories:
    1. Suspended Animation
    Article Preview

    Interview with Doug Wheatley

    As a fan of comic books and strips for over 35 years, I actively refer to Doug Wheatley as “an artist’s artist”. All that really means is that, in my eyes, he is one of the most accomplished artisans in the comics industry, today. While I can only speak for myself, however, I suspect that his refined, realistic style has convinced many other fans of the same. It was a pleasure to conduct this short interview with him, and I appreciate his patient, enthusiastic ...
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    Member Book Review: Across a Billion Years, by Robert Silverberg 

    Published on 04-12-2012 03:34 AM  Number of Views: 184 
    Categories:
    1. Science Fiction
    Article Preview

    Across a Billion Years, by Robert Silverberg
    Year first published: 1969
    Review by Ed McKeown

    Scattered throughout the globe of human-occupied space is evidence of a civilization that bestrode the galaxy before humanity was born. Now, a strange device has been discovered that shows the details of that great civilization. The details include a star map and hints that the High Ones are not extinct after all.

    The map beckons, and humans, being what they are, will ...
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    Book Review: Eternal Aftermath, by Michael D. Griffiths 

    Published on 04-08-2012 03:21 PM  Number of Views: 217 
    Categories:
    1. Horror
    2. Urban Fantasy
    3. Alternate History
    4. Modern/Urban Fantasy
    5. Apocolyptic
    6. 4.0 Stars
    Article Preview

    Eternal Aftermath, by Michael D. Griffiths
    Reviewed by SJ Higbee
    Publisher: Living Dead Press
    Year Published: 2011
    Rating: (4/5)

    I read the Kindle edition of this book, as it was quicker and cheaper than waiting for the printed edition to plop through the letterbox – and this, after all, is what I bought my Kindle for in the first place… ...
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    Book Review: Lisey’s Story, by Stephen King 

    Published on 04-08-2012 12:34 PM  Number of Views: 247 
    Categories:
    1. Horror
    2. Paranormal
    3. 4.0 Stars
    Article Preview

    Lisey's Story, by Stephen King
    Reviewed by Joshua Palmatier
    Publisher: Pocket Books
    Year Published: 2008
    Rating: (4/5)

    I've fallen behind on my Stephen King reading, so am attempting to catch up. I'm not sure why I fell behind at all (perhaps my own writing got in the way). For the most part, I love his books. On the whole, they are well written, entertaining, and I get drawn into the characters and the story. But there have been a few misses. ...
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