Thursday, March 14, 2019

On My Radar: The Best Horror of the Year Vol Eleven

The cover and table of contents for The Best Horror of the Year Volume Eleven edited by Ellen Datlow has been revealed. As always this seems like an amazing collection to be on the look out for!


THE BEST HORROR OF THE YEAR VOLUME ELEVEN
Edited by Ellen Datlow
ISBN: 9781597809726
Release Date: 3 September 2019

For more than three decades, Ellen Datlow has been at the center of horror. Bringing you the most frightening and terrifying stories, Datlow always has her finger on the pulse of what horror readers crave. Now, with the eleventh volume of the series, Datlow is back again to bring you the stories that will keep you up at night.

With each passing year, science, technology, and the march of time shine light into the craggy corners of the universe, making the fears of an earlier generation seem quaint. But this light creates its own shadows. The Best Horror of the Year chronicles these shifting shadows. It is a catalog of terror, fear, and unpleasantness as articulated by today’s most challenging and exciting writers

Table of Contents

Summation 2018 – Ellen Datlow

I Remember Nothing – Anne Billson
Monkeys on the Beach – Ralph Robert Moore
Painted Wolves – Ray Cluley
Shit Happens – Michael Marshall Smith
You Know How the Story Goes – Thomas Olde Heuvelt
Back Along the Old Track – Sam Hicks
Masks – Peter Sutton
The Donner Party – Dale Bailey
Milkteeth – Kristi DeMeester
Haak – John Langan
Thin Cold Hands – Gemma Files
A Tiny Mirror by Eloise – C. C. Shepherd
I Love You Mary-Grace – Amelia Mangan
The Jaws of Ouroboros – Steve Toase
A Brief Moment of Rage – Bill Davidson
Golden Sun – Kristi DeMeester, Richard Thomas, Damien Angelica Walters, and Michael Wehunt
White Mare – Thana Niveau
Girls Without Their Faces On – Laird Barron
Thumbsucker – Robert Shearman
You Are Released – Joe Hill
Red Rain – Adam-Troy Castro
Split Chain Stitch – Steve Toase
No Exit – by Orrin Grey
Haunt – Siobhan Carroll
Sleep – Carly Holmes

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

New From Serial Box: The Vela


Serial Box is absolutely killing it this year with some of the most impressive and immersive science fiction stories ever. Their newest serial, The Vela, is a space opera filled with political intrigue, breathtaking adventure and characters that will steal your heart from the very start. With a stellar creative team consisting of Yoon Ha Lee, Becky Chambers, Rivers Solomon and SL Huang you know this is going to be a blast!
Orphan, refugee, and soldier-for-hire Asala Sikou doesn't think too much about the end of civilization. Her system's star is dying, and the only person she can afford to look out for is herself. When a ship called The Vela vanishes during what was supposed to be a flashy rescue mission, a reluctant Asala is hired to team up with Niko, the child of a wealthy inner planet's president, to find it and the outer system refugees on board. But this is no ordinary rescue mission; The Vela holds a secret that places the fate of the universe in the balance, and forces Asala to decide—in a dying world where good and evil are far from black and white, who deserves to survive?
The Vela launches today and the first episode is available for free in both text and audio format. Grab the entire season of 11 episodes for just $13.99. You definitely don't want to miss this!

Sunday, February 3, 2019

New Arrivals: A Comic Book Haul

It seems 2019 is destined to be the year of comics for me. Being new to the comic world there are so many awesome comic series I want to try out. So many! I've also discovered that I have penchant for omnibus and deluxe editions which will turn into another expensive hobby. Comics/graphic novels in South Africa are NOT cheap. I'm going to be forever broke...

It all started with the Super Sons Omnibus. I've been waiting ages for this to be released and it finally did (the day before Christmas!). Local pricing seemed to fluctuate wildly, so after comparing prices and even with shipping fees included Amazon was the cheapest option. I couldn't order just one item, so I also added Descender Book One and the DC Essential Edison of Batman: The Court of Owls.

This was also going to be a test to see how importing books from Amazon would work and how long the process would take. Roughly two and a half weeks, and lots of unnecessary stress, later these beauties arrived. I've discovered new comic books smell even better than normal books...


Super Sons Omnibus by Peter J Tomasi

Batman The Court of Owls Saga trade

Descender by Jeff Lemire Book One

I'm glad to report that they arrived unscathed, except for a small ding on the trade paperback, and much faster than I expected. I think I might live to regret this discovery. I've always avoided Amazon due to the fact that the last time I used them the book took 2 months to get here. Granted that was in 2008 and it seems that a lot has changed since then. Beware my poor, poor budget!

I also picked up the deluxe edition of Kingdom Come from a local retailer. I adore the painted artwork by Alex Ross. Isn't that cover amazing?

Kingdom Come by Mark Waid

I've already set my eyes on the next omnibus I want to buy. Someone please stop me!