So, you attended WorldCon last week and heard about the Sir Julius Vogel Awards? Or perhaps you saw some tweets about the massive SFF scene in New Zealand? Maybe you just want to find something new to read, but you’re a little bit low on funds? For the next ten days (until the 16th August
The Sir Julius Vogel Awards
The Sir Julius Vogel awards are fan-voted awards which recognise excellence in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror by writers and creatives in New Zealand. The winners are decided by a vote of the members of the SFFANZ, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand Inc. Professional nominations can be for: novels, short stories,
Talking About Disability in Fiction
This week I thought I would have a play around with a Video Blog idea, which I have since uploaded to YouTube. What follows are my personal thoughts about my experiences as a Deaf/disabled person, and how I see disabled individuals portrayed in fiction. I talk specifically about science fiction and fantasy, as that’s the
New Releases Coming Soon
I’ve been sitting on this news for a while as I manoeuvred things into position and I figured out what I wanted — and needed — to do. It seems like a strange time to be promoting work, especially with much of the world in turmoil, and while here in New Zealand we are doing
Allowing Time to Grow
Come closer, I want to tell you a secret … *whispers* Here’s something we, in adulthood, don’t often get told. Just because you thought or believed something in your youth and were vocal and passionate about it then, doesn’t mean you can’t change your mind, learn and grow, and be vocal and passionate about new
I Get By
The Beatles knew it was important. They sang a song all about it. And at least fifty other people (including Joe Cocker and Wet, Wet, Wet) covered that song too. The Beatles asked for Help and they would often Come Together, but mostly, they Get by with a Little Help from (their) Friends. For a
Book Review – ‘Cricket Hunters’ by Jeremy Hepler
“The crafter should sever the limb from a living tree with their bare hands, alone. No tools. No onlookers. No help from anyone else. Preferably, the crafter will have grown with the tree, watered its roots, climbed its branches, danced in its shade, sung with the birds it housed. The deeper the crafter’s connection to
Book Review – ‘In Dreams We Rot’ by Betty Rocksteady
If I could write only three words about this collection, they would have to be, “Read it immediately!” Twenty one fantastically different stories make up this anthology (plus an extra fifty-five 55-word flash fiction shorts) and every single one is remarkable and outstanding. Short stories can sometimes be difficult to get right, the author has
Book Review – ‘The Beard and Other Weirdness’ by Steve Dillon
It seems very fitting that the first story in Steve Dillon’s “The Beard and Other Weirdness” begins with a quote from Clive Barker, being that this particular chilling collection would not be out of place rubbing shoulders with Barker’s works. The cover alone brings up good memories of the Books of Blood and Cabal. I
Book Review – ‘Hidden City’ by Alan Baxter
For some odd reason unknown to me I found Alan Baxter’s works quite late compared to many others. Which I am not mad about at all. There is something rather wonderful about finding an author you really relish, only to discover they have a plethora of other works already ripe for you to enjoy. I