Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake
If you imagine a sliding scale of fantasy from the Epic to the Gothic, the defining works at either end must surely be Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and Peake’s Gormenghast books. Both Tolkien and Peake...
View ArticleThe Cold Flame by James Reeves
For some months, now, I’ve been reading a tale a day from Jack Zipes’ translation of the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales, only having known the more famous ones till now. And they’re a mixed bunch. As well...
View ArticleFrank Frazetta
The Barbarian, by Frank Frazetta, from FrankFrazetta.net He’s elemental. He’s ugly. His body is scarred, nicked, battered, and beaten. His face is a face that’s been punched many times; but it’s the...
View ArticleThe Realm of Lost Things in ASIM 53, and Gene Wolfe being honoured
A couple of bits of news. First off, my story “The Realm of Lost Things” has just been published in Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine issue 53! I haven’t seen the magazine yet, though I’m sure it’s...
View ArticleFaeries by Brian Froud & Alan Lee
Once upon a time, there was a book about gnomes. It was called Gnomes. It detailed the lives and habits of these funny little creatures with plenty of colourful illustrations, just as you might explain...
View ArticleEdward Gorey
I first came across mention of Edward Gorey in The Penguin Encyclopaedia of Horror and the Supernatural, and instantly knew I had to read him: “His characters perform or endure unspeakable indecencies...
View ArticleTolkien: Maker of Middle-Earth Exhibition
The Bodleian Library in Oxford is currently (1st June to 28th October) running an exhibition of items from the Tolkien archives. I’ve never been one to bask in, for instance, the particular chair an...
View ArticleSymbolist Art
Jean Delville, Portrait of Madame Stuart Merill (1892) I’ve always loved good fantasy & SF cover art (frequently buying a book for its cover and considering that to be money well spent, even if the...
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