R. L. Stedman

Writer

Books

Book Review – MurderBot Diaries

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Book Review – Murderbot Diaries

If you’re looking for a great escape, I highly recommend the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells.

Book Review

 

I stumbled onto this series by accident – it was one of those recommendations provided by the Amazon algorithm, but it just goes to show that computers really do know you better than you know yourself, because I’ve totally loved this series. I recommended it to all my family, and they’ve binge-read it too.

What’s the story about?

Don’t be put off by the ‘Murderbot’ in the title. The story is told as a semi-diary form in relentless first person. The protagonist is a totally paranoid android, named Murderbot (well, that’s its private name. In public it’s called ‘SecUnit’). Murderbot aka SecUnit is a robot construct, built of cloned organic tissue and electronics. Built as a security bot, it is leased by an evil company to explorers, miners and other participants in frontier missions. But SecUnit has a secret – it’s hacked its governer module. Which means the company can no longer tell it what to do. More importantly , it allows him to download as much media as he wants.

The story is set in the far future, in a civilisation dominated by the Corporation Rim, where might means right, and non-corporates which, as SecUnit says, can be great places or total shit-shows, you never know.

What is free will?

The Murderbot Diaries are fast-paced, as SecUnit faces various trials and deals with them using a mixture of old-fashioned violence and ultra-fast hacking. It’s funny, too, as SecUnit learns to talk to people without its protective armour, and argues (and sometimes befriends) other, also self-aware bots. But the best part of the Murderbot Diaries is the dry, self-aware voice of SecUnit, as it learns what free will means, what it is to have a friend, and slowly discovers what it really wants from life.

What is intelligence?

This series is a must-read for fans of intelligent, funny action-packed narratives. I especially recommend it for teen boys (which can be a hard group to find books for! 🙂 ).

I binge-read all seven books in the series, and then read them all again, because I loved them so much. Each book is a stand-alone, but as they take place consecutively, so it’s helpful to read them in order.

The first books are relatively short (and inexpensive), but as the series progress the books become longer, which is great because every story in the Murderbot Diaries is brilliant, so the longer the better, I think. I really, really hope it gets made into a TV series!!

You can find Murderbot Diaries online or (if you’re lucky) at a bookstore near you.

Murderbot Diaries

 

(note: the links in this blog post are Amazon affiliate links so I may gain a small commission if you click on these links and make a purchase)

 

PS, If you’re looking for books for teen boys, you might also like this blog post –  Great Books for Brainy Boys

 

Here’s to Escapist Media: Books, TV and Movies

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Escapist Media - Escape Rooms

Ever feel like relaxing on the couch and turning off the world? Yeah,me too.

This is my pick of escapist media-porn from 2021. Okay, so it’s not actually porn, but sometimes there is sex, or good looking bods. And there’s almost always action and adventure, because that’s my jam.

Here’s the list (in no particular order of) TV, Movies and Books. Enjoy!

1. TV Series

The Witcher

Henry Cavill in tight pants. Swords. Intelligent scripts, great characters, amazing world building. Humour. Oh, and Henry Cavill. There’s two seasons now. If you haven’t seen it yet, go and binge watch it immediately.

Warrior Nun

Great premise, the title tells you all you need to know! In this TV series you’ll find a secret order of warrior nuns, sworn to protect an angel’s halo. Here’s the description from Wikipedia: Ava Silva, a quadriplegic orphan, discovers she now has supernatural powers which force her to join an ancient order of warrior nuns. They shot the series in Spain, so the setting is gorgeous, and the plot speeds along with lots of satisfying twists. Second season coming soon.

The Foundation (TV Series)

This series is based on the Asimov series of the same name, but it’s a lot more interesting in than the book (yes, I actually said that). For a start, there are females in the plot, and the cast is diverse. The scope is epic, with a premise that the Galactic Empire is fading, and only the Foundation, a creation of psycho-historian Hari Seldon, can prevent the inevitable slide into chaos. The costumes are amazing, and there’s a good podcast that goes with it (only available on apple media, so sorry if you’re on android), but don’t listen to the podcast until you’ve watched the series, because: spoilers!

Resident Alien

A strange yet appealing series, staring Alan Tudyk (Wash, from Firefly), an alien sent to wipe out humanity who crash-lands on Earth before he can fulfil his mission. Able to shape change, he becomes the town’s pathologist. The story is about the moral dilemma of failing to complete his mission, solving murders, dealing with a nine-year-old boy who can see who he really is, while trying to blend into this strange, inexplicable world of the humans. It’s funny and thought-provoking, and great entertainment.

2. Movies

Dune

I’ve been a huge fan of Dune since I first read the series as a teenager. This movie doesn’t disappoint. True to the book (but not as good as, of course), Dune relays the tale of Paul, heir to the Atriedes dukedom, transported to the desert-planet of Dune. Dune, where Spice, the most valuable substance in the universe, is found. This epic, multilayered adventure is great watching, but it is only the first half of the novel. I’m looking forward to the second movie.

Free Guy

This is a great popcorn movie. Bright, funny, staring Ryan Reynolds as an NPC character in a game (I didn’t know the premise when I went to see it, which made it even funnier), who wants a better life for him and his friends. It’s not deep or meaningful (okay, it is, but only a bit), but it’s heaps of fun.

3. Books

I’ve had a dearth of reading this year. I’ve found it really hard to get my hands on books that are exciting, intelligent, not sexist, and funny. That’s why there’s only a few books here, which is a little embarrassing, because it looks like all I’ve done this year is watch TV. Although, thinking about it, that is pretty much true!

I’ve linked these books to their Amazon pages, so you can check them out for yourself.  Full disclosure: These links are affiliate links, so I may earn a (very tiny) commission if you click on them.

 

Kate Daniels series – by Illona Andrews.

Set in a futuristic fantasy Atlanta, Kate Daniels is a mercenary who fights monsters and saves the day. Oh, and falls in love with a hunky shape-changer. This is like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but better.

Find on Amazon here

Thorn Jack – Katherine Harbour

This YA gothic fantasy has a beautiful setting and intriguing characters. Serafina Sullivan, haunted by her sister’s suicide, moves to Fair Hollow, an old-moneyed town in upstate NY. At her new college she meets the enigmatic Jack, and the ageless, scarily beautiful Reiko. The book reads like a Tim Burton movie: lots of gothic vibes and extraordinary clothes. I loved it – I read it while in hospital, and it was a fantastic escape.

Find on Amazon here.

DreamScapes

Okay, so DreamScapes is my own book, but hey, I edited the final version of this short story collection this year, and fell in love with the stories all over again. I hadn’t read them for some time, so the re-reading became a welcome escape. My favorite story in this collection is Blessed Creature – a dark tale starring Jenny, a magic-worker with magical tattoos, a monobrow and serious mother-in-law issues.

Find on Amazon here


Crown of Bones – A. K. Wilder

I stumbled onto Crown of Bones via the author’s twitter page, and man, I’m so pleased that I did. Crown of Bones is an epic YA(ish) fantasy, set in the world of Amarissa, where savants raise phantoms (creatures with magical powers), and non-savants are the underclass. The story follows Ash, non-savant scribe, sailor Kaylin with a secret past and Marcus, a prince and Ash’s best friend. It’s a fantastic read, full of excitement and danger, and I really loved the writing, especially how Wilder wrote in the first person for all three characters. The details of the world-building were outstanding and I highly recommend it. The second in the series is due Oct 22.

Find on Amazon here

Tales For Troubled Times: 9 Books (About Pandemics) That Will Help You Escape

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Pandemic Books Are About Survival

Right now I’m addicted to movies about pandemics.

I’m not alone: According to the Business Insider, the 1995 movie “Outbreak” was the ninth most popular title on Netflix this week – and the 4th most popular movie.

The problem with most movies about pandemics is that quite frankly – they’re stupid. The science is BS, the characters are ridiculously one-dimensional and the dialogue is pretty ropy.

However, there are HEAPS of great books centered around pandemics. Some are historical, based on actual facts – yes, facts, ladies and gentlemen. Such things do exist, much as our beloved leaders may inform us otherwise.

Pandemics Aren’t New

A slight digression here: I called my father the other day. He’s just over 80, full of ‘pre-existing conditions’ whatever that means, and lives alone.

“Are you worried?” I asked.

“Worried? Not really.”

At first, I thought this was just Dad being his usual stoic-self. But then I realized that this isn’t his first pandemic-rodeo.

Back when my father was young, the schools were closed because of a polio outbreak. (I wonder how my grandmother found this!?) Our ancestors were familiar with disease. My grandfather returned from WW1 right into the Spanish Flu. My grandfather’s grandfather (lots of great-greats there!) died of typhoid in the late 1800s. Disease has always been with us. But we humans forget so fast.

It was widespread, alarming, and then it suddenly all vanished. And by the next year, we’d almost forgotten…

Alistair Cooke on BBC World History, recounting his memories of the Spanish Influenza Pandemic

9 Great Pandemic Reads About Survivors

Please find below a list of great reads, featuring both pandemics and – get this, folks: SURVIVORS. Because that’s the thing about pandemics. People do survive. Life goes on.

About this list: it’s based in no particular order. But all the stories here are particularly well-written, exciting and (in general) highly escapist. Some are deeply thought-provoking: some just keep you turning the page.

Hope you enjoy.

The Doomsday Book - Pandemics

Doomsday Book – Connie Willis

Note: these links are Amazon Affiliate links, so I may gain a small commission if you purchase.

The Doomsday Book is one of my all-time favorite sci-fiction novels. Winner of BOTH the Hugo and Nebula Awards, this is a wonderful read.

Doomsday Book is set in a recognizable future where scientists at Oxford University, England, have discovered time travel. Historians can travel into the period they’re researching. But not all periods are safe, and until now, the 1300s have been off-limits.

But scholar Kivrin determined to visit the period before the Black Death, finally persuades her supervisor to allow her travel. Fatally though, just as she completes the jump back in time, the flu strikes Oxford, and there’s a disastrous error in her co-ordinates …

The narrative jumps back and forth, between present-day Oxford and the Middle-Ages past. The novel explores the nature of love, the purpose of humanity; the importance of faith. It is truly a wonderful read.

As a bonus, Doomsday Book is really, really long. So if you’re stuck in self-isolation, this will definitely keep you occupied.

Extra bonus: Willis’ other stories of the time-travelers at the Department of History, Oxford.

The Passage Trilogy – Justin Cronin

The story of Amy, the most important girl, and how the world changed … The Passage is a story about vampires, plague and survival. Almost operatic in scale, with a diverse, exciting cast of characters, the story starts before the plague begins, and ends with the dawning of a new age.

The Passage is amazingly fun to read, but be warned: each of the trilogy’s three novels is very, very long. Don’t be ashamed if you end up skimming.

(Amazon tells me it’s also a series on Fox – but as the trailer looks pretty sh*t, it’s not surprising that there was only one season. Stick to the books: they’re way better. )

 

The Girl With All The Gifts – M R Carey

Melanie is a very special girl. Her teachers call her “our little genius.”
Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant keeps his gun pointed at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. When she jokes that she won’t bite, they don’t laugh.

Written by the extraordinarily gifted MR Carey, The Girl with All the Gifts is much, much more than a fast-paced zombie thriller. It’s a tale about endurance in a world gone mad, and the courage it takes to save a child. There’s also a sequel: The Boy on the Bridge.

Girl was made into a (disappointing) movie in 2016. It’s okay to watch, but as usual, the book is better.

Station Eleven – Emily St John Mandel

Station Eleven is a masterpiece.

Opening with the sudden death of once-great movie star Arthur Leander, the Station Eleven plays out against the backdrop of a devastating flu pandemic. The narrative moves from one time-line to another; threading the future to the past as we follow a group of traveling players as they traverse the midwest, performing Shakespeare against the eerie backdrop of civilization’s collapse.

Station Eleven is more than a disaster novel: it’s a story about the strength of the human spirit and the transformative power of art. It is also brilliant. Read it.

I am Legend – Richard Matheson

A small, perfectly formed story, that became a terrible movie, I Am Legend is a tale of a lone survivor and how he comes to terms with his loneliness. I especially recommend the audiobook.

Love in The Time of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez

I included Love in the Time of Cholera because I mean, that title!

Personally I didn’t love the book. In fact, I’ve pretty much forgotten what happens! (Wikipedia tells me that it’s about unrequited love and a second-chance romance.) So if you like that sort of thing, knock yourself out. It’s been made into a movie, too.

A Journal Of The Plague Year (Written By a Citizen Who Continued All The While In London) – Daniel Dafoe

Published in 1722, Journal purports to be an eye-witness account of the 1665 outbreak of Bubonic Plague. (Actually, it’s probably not autobiographical, as Dafoe was only 5 in 1665. But Dafoe, who also wrote Robinson Crusoe, is a brilliant story-teller, so don’t let that stop you).

Full disclosure: I’ve not read Journal yet, but here’s a great article from The Guardian if you want to find out more: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/13/plague-coronavirus-british-panic-buying

The Breakers – Edward W. Robertson

The Breakers Series: If you thought the pandemic is bad, just wait until the aliens arrive.

The Breakers is good old-fashioned excitement. It should be made into a movie. Robertson’s written 6 books in the Breakers series, so if you enjoy fast-paced action, this series is definitely for you

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams

After all this heavy apocalyptic fare, chances are you’ll need a light and frothy dessert. Fear not, my friends – here it is!

Where’s the connection with pandemics, you ask? Don’t you remember the Golgafrinchams?

It was the absence of Golgarfincham’s telephone sanitizers (those same sanitizers that were encountered by Arthur Dent in the first book of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy), that ended Golgafrinchim’s civilization: the entire planet was wiped out by a virulent disease contracted from a dirty telephone.

Finally

It’s taken me nearly two hours to write this blog post, and all the while I’ve been worrying that this content could be too much for folk in quarantine, or for those desperately concerned about family or friends.

Sometimes it’s better to escape; to forget the pandemic. I get that totally. Just don’t forget that if it’s escapism you want, book is always best!

Feel free to check out these blog posts for links to other great, escapist and light-hearted reads.

And wherever you are, stay safe.

God Bless.

 

Great Books for Brainy Boys

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Great Books for Brainy Boys

Do you have a bright boy in your life? Lucky you!

teenager - school visit

BUT it’s hard to keep a bright boy fed with books. So many MG and YA books have pink covers, or touchy-feely romance, or feature bearded manly-men: my boys just couldn’t relate to these stories.

You know how kids can be fussy eaters? (“I don’t like broccoli/tomatoes/mushrooms?”) They’re exactly the same with books.

But it’s really important that kids learn to love reading. If nothing else, a book is a battery-free boredom-killer. A book can be carried anywhere and shoved under your little darling’s nose the moment he becomes restless.

But books are more than entertainment; they’re education. Books teach without even trying. From stories, kids learn facts, coping strategies and how to see the world through another’s eyes. In today’s techno-focussed society, words are super important; if you’re unable to communicate ideas, its pretty hard to hold down any well-paid job. Today, being brain-fit is more important than being physically-fit.

Here’s a list that might help.

Full disclosure: my boys are in their late teens. In their middle grade years (ages 8 – 10) they were competent, not voracious readers. I had to work real hard to find stories they liked. One son likes character-focussed novels; the other is (still) crazy about science, and for the longest time he’d only read ‘how to’ manuals. (I remember reading him the dishwasher plumbing manual for bed time reading!)

But now they’re both advanced readers, in the top streams at their university/schools and while they still have strong preferences, they’ll read across genres. I compiled this list of books with their help.

I’ve put in links to the Amazon pages of all the titles, so you can read a bit more about them.

Please note: this list is by no means complete. I’ve left out most of the mega hits, like The Hobbit, The Maze Runner, The Hunger Games and Harry Potter, as I’m sure you’re already aware of them. Plus, of course there are plenty of other wonderful stories I’ve left out, or just haven’t discovered yet. This list is mostly speculative fiction (horror, sci-fi and fantasy) as I found my science-focussed son engaged best with this genre.

If you’re looking for further ideas, try Zac Harding’s blog: https://bestfriendsarebooks.com – or ask a librarian

Younger Readers (8 – 10)

Animorphs – KA Applegate

Goosebumps – R. L. Stine

  • These are science-fiction/horror-lite series, and both have an enormous number of titles. One son insisted on reading them in order, which I found real stressful, because do you think the library had them all available at the right time?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory & Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator  – Roald Dahl

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar   – Roald Dahl

“What keeps the elevator up?” asked Charlie.

“Skyhooks, of course,” said Mr Willy Wonka.

When Our Jack Went to War – Sandy McKay.

Based on the true story of Sandy’s great-uncle in WW1. This book is really good for kids with shorter attention spans, as it’s interspersed with cuttings from newspapers, so the formatting helps retain the interest.

The Prankster and the Ghost – R. L. Stedman

This is my book, so I guess this could be shameless self-promotion, but I wrote this with my kids in mind. The idea came about from my son’s school camp: within the first hour, one kid had their arm run over by the bus, another had a trip to ED, and my son was convinced the camp was haunted.

The Horse and His Boy – C. S. Lewis

The story of Shasta, runaway slave and his talking horse. A stand-alone adventure set in the Narnia world, this was the only one in the series my kids warmed to, but they both loved it.

Middle Grade (10 – 13)

Horowitz Horror – Anthony Horowitz

These are really good horror stories for kids, but be aware that they may induce delicious terror in the child-reader. So I don’t recommend these for binge- or late-night reading (unless you want to be woken by a kid with nightmares). Horowitz also wrote the Alex Rider series for older kids, about a spy academy for teens. TBH my kids didn’t really relate to the Rider series, “they’re too predictable”, but others may enjoy.

The Cherub Series – Robert Muchamore

Another series about teen spies for MG – YA readers. These stories are the ultimate in formulaic, binge-reading, so once a kid is hooked they’ll be gagging for the next in series. One of my sons hated these books, but the other devoured them, so again, worth a try. There are heaps of titles in this series – definitely a bonus when you’ve got a holiday planned. Just be aware that Muchamore writes about real-life issues, like trafficking. Younger children may not be ready for this type of content, so I do suggest caution.

The City of Ember (3 book series) – Jeanne DuPrau

A story about a civilisation surviving underground. This was made into a neat little movie, starring Bill Murray and Tim Robbins, and is a well-written exciting science-fiction dystopia for younger readers.

A Wrinkle in Time – Madeline L’Engle

An absolute, must-read classic for intelligent MG and YA readers: time travel, space travel, a brain-box kid and his older sister. This is part of a series, but you don’t need to have the entire series to enjoy this outstanding adventure.

When You Reach Me – Rebecca Stead

An award-winning adventure about time travel. Miranda receives anonymous letters that seem to be able to predict the future. This story is full of puzzles and plot twists. It’s based on an idea in A Wrinkle in Time, so its good to read them together.

Cosmic – Frank Cottrell-Boyce.

The story of an unusually tall 12-year-old who’s mistaken for an adult, and how he pranks his way into becoming an astronaut. This isn’t a simplistic read, but if you’ve a kid with a good attention span, they’ll love this story. Cosmic (and Cottrell-Boyce’s other works) make very good audio books, great for long car journeys.

Johnny Maxwell Series – Terry Pratchett

More information in this blog post.

Only You Can Save Mankind

Under the Mountain – Maurice Gee

See this blog post here. Fantastic story, disappointing movie.

Chrestomanci Series – Diana Wynne Jones.

This was the series that got me hooked on reading, when I was only 9! My favourite in the series is still Charmed Life, about orphan Cat and the mysterious enchanter Chrestomanci, but Witch Week is also great, and even now I laugh out loud when I read it. This series introduces the concept of multiple worlds and discusses causality, so it’s a thought-provoking read for science-fiends.

Older Readers (13 +)

I think my kids enjoyed the books here precisely because they are NOT written for kids – most were written before YA was a ‘proper’ genre.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams

Great fun to read aloud and surprisingly accessible; we laughed our way through this book.

The Invisible Man – HG Wells

A classic, and still a fantastic story. A man walks into a bar, his face wrapped in bandages …

The Day of The Triffids – John Wyndham

Wyndham’s novels are written in a rather dry, reportage style, which my son loved.  If your child enjoyed the Triffids, they’ll be happy, because there are others to try: The Kraken Wakes, Chocky, The Midwich Cuckoos. (My son also loved The Trouble With Lichen, but I couldn’t stand it!)

The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown

I know, right? But my 13 year old totally loved this book, the idea of the puzzles and the fast-paced story-telling kept him hooked.

The Raven Boys – Maggie Stiefvater

My boys weren’t massively into this series, but it will certainly appeal to some boy readers. More info in this blog post here.

The Foundation Series – Isaac Asimov

My son devoured this series when he was 14, and it’s still one of his favourites. The combination of science and world-building in Asimov’s books makes these books deeply appealing to young people. Apologies to all Asimov fans, but I find reading his books as exciting as watching paint dry. The ideas are great, but it’s hard work to reach them (plus he’s as sexist as hell), so I wouldn’t expose a teen to Foundation until he or she is a truly competent reader.

And then …

Well, once a kid is says he’s enjoying Asimov, they’re on their own, and good luck keeping up with them!

Rights in Space


photographs from pixabay and deposit photos – used under license

If you loved reading American Gods, here’s 6 books (plus TV) to try

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Love American Gods? Here’s 6 Books (plus TV) To Try

American Gods by Neil Gaiman, was published in 2001, and quickly achieved cult status, winning the Hugo, Nebula, Locus Award and Bram Stoker Awards. For a fantasy writer, this is like winning the Grand Slam – actually, it’s harder!

American Gods was so popular that a remake was published in 2011 in an edition called ‘the author’s preferred text edition’. Kind of like a director’s cut version, perhaps?

There have also been audiobook editions, collector’s editions and most recently a TV production. So American Gods is one of those rarities among novels: it’s both good and popular!

Yet despite American Gods’ incredible pedigree, I only managed to read it last year. I couldn’t put it down, and so, to my husband’s irritation, I insisted on taking a book the size of a brick on holiday.

some books swallow you heart and soul

For those of you who haven’t read American Gods (and please, do read it), here’s a brief summary:

Summary of American Gods

Shadow, a small-time criminal, has just reached the end of his prison sentence. He’s about to be released when his wife, Laura, whom he loves dearly, is killed in a car crash, and his world collapses. There follows a job offer from the enigmatic Mr. Wednesday, an encounter with Mad Sweeney, and the semi-resurrection of Laura. Oh, and a cascade of gods, both ancient and modern: Egyptian, Russian, Norse, media, celebrity and technology.

American Gods is a bleakly humorous tale, sliding between fantasy, horror and social commentary, and the writing is Gaiman at his best; the tone changes effortlessly from dark to light and is both erudite and (when necessary) foolish. Gaiman is truly a master of the craft.

And when I reached the end, and let out a great sigh of regret, for reaching the end of a book you truly love is both satisfying and sad, I thought: you know, there’s something about this story that is terribly familiar.

And then I read the afterword.

So here’s 5 books that I’m almost positive Gaiman was influenced by when writing his masterpiece, and if he wasn’t, he should have been.

Influencing Novels

The Eight Days of Luke – by Diana Wynne Jones

In the afterword to American Gods, Gaiman reveals that Wynne Jones helped him with a plot issue. The Eight Days of Luke is a tale of Loki, the mischief-maker Norse god. Gaiman himself credits this as having an influence ‘like first cousins or something.’ However, I think there’s another of Wynne Jones’ books that’s also made its way into American Gods …

The Homeward Bounders – by Diana Wynne Jones

This is possibly the bleakest of Wynne Jones books, and its tone is similar to American Gods, in that although the ending is satisfying, it’s not happy. It’s happy-ish. The Homeward Bounders is the story of Jamie, an inquisitive London urchin who accidentally spies on Them, demonic creatures that war-game with worlds. Them throw him out onto the bounds, where, like the Wandering Jew and the Flying Dutchman, he’s doomed to travel ever onwards. Unless he can find Home, where he can return to play. Wandering the boundaries of the worlds, Jamie meets other bounders, and together, they learn they may be able to change the rules of play. Although this is a book for kids aged 9+, it’s a great read even for adults, and if you’re wanting to introduce your own kids to fantasy, The Homeward Bounders is a great place to start.

The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul – by Douglas Adams

This is the second in the Dirk Gently series. Written by the creator of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the story follows the eccentric Dirk Gently, a holistic detective who believes that everything is interconnected – even a potato, a scythe-wielding monster, an explosion at Heathrow Airport, the contents of his fridge and Thor, God of Thunder. Unhappily for Gently, it turns out he’s absolutely right. This is a funny, funny read and like American Gods, considers what happens to gods when they have no more followers.

Small Gods – by Terry Pratchett

Pratchett and Gaiman collaborated to write the fantastic Good Omens, and Gaiman acknowledges Pratchett’s help out of a plot hole in American Gods, so I think it’s quite likely Small Gods (first published in 1992) made a contribution to American Gods. Plus, of course, there’s the titles! In Small Gods, the Great God Om unexpectedly manifests as a tortoise, and being a tortoise, has no godly powers. Worse still, only one boy, Brutha, can hear his voice, and Brutha does not believe he can be Om. Like many discworld adventures, Small Gods deals lightly with big topics: religion, freedom of belief and religious institutions.

Midnight’s Children – by Salman Rushdie

This stunning novel won the Booker Prize in 1981, and really marked the beginning of Rushdie’s pre-fatwa career. To be honest, inserting this novel into this list is a long stretch. However, I wanted to mention Rushdie because apart from Gaiman, I’ve not read any other writer with such facility for language. Rushdie is able to transform from starkly energetic horror to contemplative calm, and although his stories are bleak, they are cathartic. Unlike Gaiman, Rushdie isn’t seen as a fantasy writer, but Midnight’s Children is definitely a fantastical tale. (Personally, I don’t find Midnight’s Children as engaging as American Gods, but it’s still a worthwhile read.)

In Midnight’s Children, Saleem, a telepathic with an extraordinarily large nose, is born at midnight on the day of India’s independence with unique gifts, and believes he has unique responsibilities to the new-born state.

The Sandman – by Neil Gaiman

Full disclosure: I’ve not read this graphic novel series, but I’m really keen to. I’ll withhold my comments until that time, but just to note that Wikipedia indicates that many side characters in American Gods, such as Bast, were first born in The Sandman.

fairytale book

Post Script: Television Shows

If you’re keen on stories about Norse Gods living in modern times, try The Almighty Johnsons. In The Almighty Johnsons, the Norse pantheon have relocated to New Zealand, but don’t have their full powers, so Axl, a student (and also a reincarnation of Odin), needs to find his mate, Frigg. But unfortunately, Frigg doesn’t want to be found.

This TV show was written after American Gods, so probably owes something to Gaiman, but the tone is quite different; The Almighty Johnsons contains a whole lot more sex, and is a great deal funnier. It’s less fantastical in tone, too, but has been picked up by Syfy for release in the US.

True Love and Book Boyfriends: 7 Great Romance Novels

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Old-Fashioned Romance

It’s Valentine’s Day week! Time for romance and true love.  To celebrate the festival, here’s my top favourite romances. All these books are old (well, most of them, anyway), and have stood the test of time. Just like true love. And if you want to check out a sample of these wonderful novels then just click on the title;  you should be able to read a preview on Amazon.

Happy Valentine’s Day.


A Necklace of Souls – by ME!

Okay, so I know this is my book, but as a writer it’s impossible NOT to fall in love with a romantic hero of your own creation. And what’s not to like? Will is kind, dependable, vulnerable, athletic – oh, and a kick-arse fighter!

Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte

It’s hard not to go past storm-browed Heathcliff, whose good looks and moody personality became the ideal persona of a romantic hero. Personally, I’d find him just a little hard to live with – but who said romance was practical?

Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte

“Reader, I married him.” The best ending to a book ever. Plus, the gothic, creepy setting. Plus, there’s Mr Rochester, with his complete absence of a first name, and his mysterious past.

Angels – Marian Keyes

I adore Marian Keyes: like the best romantic novelists she explores both the dark and light aspects of humanity, but always with a veneer of Irish humor. This, to me, is a stand-out exploration of the fantasy culture of LA – how hard people push themselves to appear better than they are. It’s also really funny, especially the description of Mass. It’s not just a church service – it’s a SHOW.

Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen

This is my favourite Jane Austen. I love Mr Darcy’s flawed personality and the finely observed mannerisms, the ironic, almost sarcastic tone. This novel also makes the heroine powerful; although Lizzie Bennett is poor, she has integrity of character – and through this, Mr Darcy recognises his own shortcomings.

These Old Shades – Georgette Heyer

The story of Justin, Duke of Avon, and Leonie, orphaned urchin, turned mysterious beauty. Set in Paris in the years of Le Roi de Soleil, this story exudes decadence and melodrama. It’s exciting and romantic, full of understated descriptions of the fashions and culture of the time. Highly recommended.

Gone With the Wind – Margaret Mitchell

The clothes! Rhett Butler! Scarlett O’Hara! Their very names mean romance. Yet, this novel is so much more. It’s a tale of a time long gone, of ignorance and greed. It’s the story of a selfish, privileged girl with a total lack of insight – and yet, how can you not enjoy her. She’s flawed, yes, but she is human; she’s a battler, and she’s courageous. And Rhett is pretty hot too 🙂

Romance is always in fashion. 45% of Amazon sales of ebooks are Romance – yet despite that, the genre has a bad rap.

“Oh, it’s just a romance novel,” say the critics, disparagingly. And yet, who doesn’t love a good romance? What is so wrong with a happy ending (or, in the case of Gone with the Wind, happy-ish)?

Romance is much, much more than escape; a great romance is a portrayal of a society, an exploration of character, and at heart, its triumph over adversity.

We all need more romance.

Happy Valentine’s Day!