The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952) is an enjoyable adventure

Hello readers! It is time for the third deep-dive into the Narnia series. This week I will be over-analysing The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, having picked it up for the first time since I was a kid. Is this sea-faring adventure as exciting and engaging as I remember? Does it contain deep philosophies that … Continue reading The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952) is an enjoyable adventure →

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a very enjoyable read!

Hello readers! Towards the end of last year I read A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is a collection of three short stories by George R. R. Martin, set in the same world as A Song of Ice and Fire (or Game of Thrones, for the TV-brained). Because I live under a rock, I … Continue reading A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a very enjoyable read! →

Dune (1965) is a timeless classic

Hello readers! I finally got around to reading Frank Herbert’s Dune. Not sure why it took me so long, as I’ve been curious about the book for as long as I can remember. It is so well-known, so well-loved, and so well-integrated into the public imagination that most of us have felt its influence, either … Continue reading Dune (1965) is a timeless classic →

Science fiction and the future: Part Two

Hello readers! In the previous post, we explored the challenges associated with setting a speculative science fiction story in a particular future year. The writer must choose a date that feels plausible to the reader, or else their credibility will be eroded, the foundations of their fictional world will be shaken, and their otherwise carefully-crafted … Continue reading Science fiction and the future: Part Two →

Reading into ratings – what do they mean?

Hello readers! Have you ever wondered what a star rating really means? Our online purchasing choices are often guided by tiny rows of stars, but their meaning isn’t as clear as their simplicity would suggest. Ratings are everywhere, whether they are individual scores given by respected critics, or mean values harvested from thousands of users … Continue reading Reading into ratings – what do they mean? →

Book review: Frankenstein

Hello readers! As mentioned in the previous post, this week my work dragged me away from the dreary confines of northern England - and what with all the travelling, I managed to get a bit of reading done. I read something that had been on my hit list for a while: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, published … Continue reading Book review: Frankenstein →