The Last Man (1826) is a miserable read…

Hello readers! I recently finished reading The Last Man, a dystopian novel written in 1826 by Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. I first learnt of this book’s existence when I was researching the origins of science fiction, as The Last Man is often listed as the earliest example of the dystopian, apocalyptic genre. The … Continue reading The Last Man (1826) is a miserable read… →

Free book weekend: 7th-8th June

Hello readers! This weekend, all my books will be FREE on Amazon! My current series, Highmoor, is traditional high fantasy, and the first three books are now out (with the final instalment in progress). These books follow the adventures of three brothers caught up in a conflict between the nations bordering their forest home. It … Continue reading Free book weekend: 7th-8th June →

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 →

Science fiction and the future: Part one

Hello readers! I’ve been pondering the science fiction genre again – specifically, science fiction stories which are set in our universe, with some connection to our world. I haven’t done a thorough survey, but I get the impression that most science fiction falls into this category, rather than being pure science fantasy. And within this … Continue reading Science fiction and the future: Part one →

Free book weekend: 21st-23rd February

Hello readers! This weekend, five of my books will be available for FREE on Amazon (find them here). Unfortunately, Kindle Store scheduling issues have meant that I can’t include Synwyr, my most recent work – but all my books should be back on Kindle Unlimited in mid-March, as explained in this recent post. And from … Continue reading Free book weekend: 21st-23rd February →

Free book weekend: 18th-19th January

Hello readers! This weekend, all my books will be FREE on Amazon (find them here). My current series, Highmoor, is traditional high fantasy, and the first three books are now out (with the final instalment in progress). These books follow the adventures of three brothers caught up in a conflict between the nations bordering their … Continue reading Free book weekend: 18th-19th January →

Free book weekend: 26th-27th October

Free book weekend: 24th-26th August

Hello readers! From Saturday to Monday, my first five books will be FREE on Amazon (find them here). The Starlit Ship trilogy consists of three science fiction thrillers set in the far future on a distant planet, centuries after it was colonised by humans. These books explore the environmental and political consequences of a giant, … Continue reading Free book weekend: 24th-26th August →

Free book weekend: 8th-9th June

Hello readers! This weekend, all my books will be FREE on Amazon (find them here). The Starlit Ship trilogy consists of three science fiction thrillers set in the far future on a distant planet, centuries after it was colonised by humans. These books explore the environmental and political consequences of a giant, unexplained ship arriving … Continue reading Free book weekend: 8th-9th June →

Event Horizon (1997) is better than I expected

Hello readers! I recently watched Event Horizon, a science-fiction horror film from 1997. It has been largely forgotten, and a quick Google search unearths a host of unflattering reviews. The film was received poorly by critics and was a box office flop – and it didn’t make much of an impact on popular culture. However, … Continue reading Event Horizon (1997) is better than I expected →