Supernatural Fantasy Superhero
First of the Ghost Files series apparently. A couple as ghosthunters. With the woman providing the paranormal power and the bloke the support. Fairly lighthearted for dealing with the dead as the pair banter back and forth in this investigation of a young girl’s spirit from old history of the school. So if looking for [...]
Continue reading about Ghost College – Scott Nicholson and J. R. Rain
Of old Felport – and a crazy guy who thinks he was the original Chief Sorcerer decides to summon it. 3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Little Better Than A Beast – Tim Pratt
Were Billy Goat faerie style on the Cubs. 3.5 out of 5
“Magic had drained from the world and technology had once again gained the upper hand. People called it the Post-Shift resonance. Magic came and went as it pleased, flooding the world like a tsunami, dragging bizarre monsters into our reality, stalling engines, jamming guns, eating tall buildings, and vanishing again without warning. Nobody knew when [...]
Magic Slays is also very good. Seems that being an oddball hybrids ends up with you becoming a dodgy low-rent PI. Roland’s Daughter’s Partner the Gunner also fits the description, and ends up working with Kate after being given the boot from the racist organisation that forcibly retired her. So, two women looking to kill [...]
Abigail Irene has Spring Heeled Jack issues. 3.5 out of 5 http://subterraneanpress.com/index.php/magazine/winter-2011/audio-the-tricks-of-london-by-elizabeth-bear/
Continue reading about The Tricks Of London – Elizabeth Bear
A continuation of the mashup of Spy Homage (this time to the Quiller series by Adam Hall) and Lovecraftian technogeekery. The usual sort of shenanigans, but getting bleaker as we discover who Bob’s boss actually is and that largely, doomsday cults of Elder Gods are probably right. Also feature’s Bob’s SO Mo quite a bit, [...]
Continue reading about The Fuller Memorandum – Charles Stross
Supernatural deal Jack of Spades. 3.5 out of 5 https://comics.comixology.com/#/issue/138/Midnight-Kiss-1
Continue reading about Midnight Kiss – 01 Fallen Fallen Part 1 of 6
Theme to dust by. 4.5 out of 5
Continue reading about Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Nerf Herder
No need to stress, someone will chop your head off sometime. 4.5 out of 5
Highlander theme is great. 5 out of 5
More of the same for Shaman Bond as he kicks names and takes arses, or heads, or hearts, or whatever he needs to do. You have Philadelphia Experiments into Faerie, good old-fashioned Wildstorm style science cities trying to produce superhumans (and of course getting everybody killed in the process) . All hung around the search [...]
Continue reading about The Spy Who Haunted Me – Simon R. Green
““I don’t even get a severance package?” The Chamberlain smiled icily. “We’ve decided not to sever your head from your body. That’s your severance package.”” 4 out of 5 http://www.marlamason.net/mirrors/?p=406
““It’s a clusterfuck all right. Still, I’d rather fight my evil twin than deal with the council’s bitching.”” 3.5 out of 5 http://www.marlamason.net/mirrors/?p=404
“Marla stared at him. “You’re the possible witch? What?” “Yeah. See, she has a job. An important job. A job she messed up really badly. And when she messed it up, she got fired, only when things like her get fired, they just cease to exist. But her function didn’t cease to exist, and I [...]
“Marla nodded. “And let me guess. A little voice way down inside you whispered the word –” “‘Turn.’ And the cloak turned. To the purple. I killed Viscarro – well, his body. Truly killing him happened a little later. And then I went out walking, in the flush of my new power, and it was [...]
“Marla shrugged. “I keep you around for your optimism, Rondeau. At least we can imagine some kind of good outcome for him. What harm can it do? Next time I decide to rip apart space-time because I really miss B, just slap me upside the head, would you?”” 3.5 out of 5 http://www.marlamason.net/mirrors/?p=396
“But he wasn’t making any progress. Granger’s healing powers were profound, and the open wound filled with new flesh as quickly as Crapsey could bite, skin and fur regenerating as well. The trees around them sagged, branches drooping and flowers wilting, as the nature magician drew life force from the park around him. Crapsey’s magical [...]
“She approached the Jaguar’s body, which was already dwindling and decaying and slumping-in on itself. She knelt, peering at the wreckage, until she spied the seed at its heart, a carving of a jaguar in black glass, about half life-sized. That had been the focus for Mutex’s spell – the foundation for the god’s body, [...]
““So what’s the Mason’s deal, exactly?” Nicolette said, retaking her seat. “She wants to exterminate all life?” Crapsey turned his chair upright and sat back down. “Nah. Not all life. Things that aren’t sentient don’t bother her much, though she doesn’t have any particular affection for them. It’s mostly people she can’t stand, and dolphins. [...]
““Jaguar!” she shouted. “This is the Mason! Call off your goons, unless you want me to chop them all into bone meal!” She kicked and spun, slashing with her dagger to drive back the other skeletons. The vast shape in the gathered shadows beneath the dome shifted. After a moment the remaining skeletal guards drew [...]
Magic Bleeds You wouldn’t think that a niece and her aunt trying to slaughter each other with lengthy pieces of sharp metal as painfully as possible would be funny. However, Andrews manages it. This is literally laugh out loud funny in several places. If you can pull off horror, humour, and adventure along with romance [...]
““Are you displaying curiosity, boss?” Crapsey said. “First you use healing magic, now you’re wondering about psychological motivations and shit. Are you going soft on me?” “No,” the Mason said. “Insight into such points of divergence may prove useful when I go forth to conquer the other worlds in the multiverse. Come. If Marla Mason [...]
“Rondeau shook his head. “Technically it’s not a mirror universe. In a mirror universe all the good guys are evil and all the bad guys are good. Like, for instance, Superman and Batman are warlords and Lex Luthor and the Joker are superheroes. If Sanford Cole was over here sitting on a chair made of [...]
““Sympathetic magic,” Marla said. “We told Beta-B that was Hamil’s specialty.” Beta-B nodded. “Once I thought about it, the idea was obvious. Since you’re genetically identical to the Mason, it would be trivial to create a sympathetic magical resonance between the two of you, to make you magically identical as well. In effect, we wanted [...]
Corpse kisses for Jules de Grandin. 2.5 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/files/32514/32514-h/32514-h.htm
“He dug his heels hard into the weary horse’s flanks, but all he could get out of it was a burst of steaming breath and a shake of sweat. A cry caught in his throat. He wanted to wish himself somewhere else, he wanted his parents, but the shakes that swept through him drove everything [...]
Continue reading about The Devil In Green 1-3 – Mark Chadbourn
Before the shadows slew the sun the kites were soaring free, And Kull rode down the forest road, his red sword at his knee; And winds were whispering round the world: “King Kull rides to the sea.” The sun died crimson in the sea, the long gray shadows fell; The moon rose like a silver [...]
Continue reading about The King and the Oak – Robert E. Howard
When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back; Three from the circle, three from the track; Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone; Five will return, and one go alone. Iron for the birthday, bronze carried long; Wood from the burning, stone out of song; Fire in the candle-ring, water from the thaw; Six [...]
“Crapsey was glad he’d never seen Dr. Husch before, because he probably would have done something stupid like pledge his life to defend her. It wasn’t just that she was beautiful, though she was that – Helen of Troy beautiful, classical statue beautiful, Emma Frost in a white corset beautiful, the kind of woman who [...]
“Marla cleared her throat. “How sure are you two that this hole you’re about to tear open in space-time actually leads to Beta-B’s world? How do you know it’s not a trap the possible witch left for us, a portal to some nightmarish hell dimension of electrified lava and demons with chainsaws for genitals?”” 3.5 [...]
“Rondeau nodded. “It’s true. Marla can be cranky, but she’s no epic supervillain. She did take over the land of the dead one time, but not for keeps. I mean, she gave it back, once she found the right guy to take over.” “You’ve been to the actual underworld?” Bradley said. “B, you’re the one [...]
“The Mason bombed along Interstate 80 in their Humvee, which guzzled gas like crazy, necessitating more stops at gas stations, though they didn’t have any more massacre-type situations, maybe because they were getting out into the desert where things were more sparsely populated. The Mason didn’t talk at all, not even when they crossed into [...]
““Uh. You want me to jump into a guy driving a moving car? In traffic? I mean, I’ll do it, of course I’ll do it, you’re the boss, but –” “No, you’re right, a crash would be counterproductive. There are too many cars here. Because there are too many people. There needs to be a [...]
““Okay.” I sighed. “What about the critter in the cellar? What do we know about it?” “Big,” Vik said. “Hairy. Big teeth.” He held his hands apart, demonstrating teeth with his fingers. “He was like the spawn of hell.” “How did this spawn get into the cellar?” The smaller bouncer shrugged. “I was trying to [...]
“Now Edmund clamped his entire hand across Stella’s mouth, silencing her. “Just hush,” he said. “Please. Not another word. You are so beautiful, Stella. So perfect. I love the way the moonlight shines on your luminous white skin. The way your dark hair catches the shadows. The heat of your body. So, so perfect.” “Mmfph!” [...]
Continue reading about Sarah Palin: Vampire Hunter in Twinkle – Dan McGirt
“Marla frowned. She tried to imagine a situation in which she would fund freedom fighters being oppressed by a jaguar god in California, but it was tricky. “Oh? Why’s that?” “Because as horrible as the Jaguar is, Marla, there’s someone in my world that’s even worse, even more hated, even more cruel, even more dangerous.” [...]
“Will tossed uneasily. He had never known a feeling like this before. It was growing worse every minute. As if some huge weight were pushing at his mind, threatening,trying to take him over, turn him into something he didn’t want to be. That’s it, he thought: make me into someone else. But that’s stupid. Who’d [...]
““That’s you, boss. Curious to a fault.” The Mason did indeed enjoy turning over rocks, looking under them, and brutally exterminating the life of anything she found underneath. But Crapsey thought this was more than mere curiosity. The Mason had been very insistent about the need to find out if Marla had a cloak, if [...]
“The door to her office slammed open. B – the new B? Beta-B? – stood swaying in her doorway, naked except for a pair of tattered boxer shorts. His torso was covered in raised scars, but they looked like purposeful designs, not just evidence of past violence. “You.” He raised his hand and pointed his [...]
“The Mason pointed at his now-uninhabited body. “Drag that into one of the cells, out of sight. Then we’ll wait for Susan Wellstone and her entourage to show up. You’re wearing the body of one of her lapdogs, so we can mess with her head a bit before I kill her.” She cracked her knuckles. [...]
Let me out. http://www.dccomics.com/media/product/1/6/1696_180x270.jpg 5 out of 5 http://www.dccomics.com/vertigo/graphic_novels/?gn=1696
A bit much of the daughter of Dracula thing. http://www.webcomicsnation.com/memberimages/avwrath24.jpg 4 out of 5 http://www.webcomicsnation.com/stevebryant/av/series.php?view=archive&chapter=7122
Continue reading about Athena Voltaire – The Wrath From the Tomb
Or Yeti still have more nazis to kill. 4 out of 5 http://www.webcomicsnation.com/stevebryant/av/series.php?view=archive&chapter=4603
Continue reading about Athena Voltaire – The Terror In Tibet
Just another nazi-killing monster hunting aviatrix heroine. 4 out of 5 http://www.webcomicsnation.com/stevebryant/av/series.php?view=archive&chapter=14479&mpe=1&fromwhich=30&direction=f
Continue reading about Athena Voltaire – The Flight of the Falcon
““Crapsey.” She prodded her complaining companion with the point of one of her steel-toed boots. “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.” “Of course not, boss.” He stood up. “You turned Kansas into a tornado laboratory. No buildings left there. Barely any ground left, even.”” 3.5 out of 5 http://www.marlamason.net/mirrors/?cat=4
“She snaked her arms between the invisible iron bars, grabbed the Warden by the back of the head, and jerked forward, slamming the Warden’s face into the magical bars. Seeing the Warden’s nose break and her cheekbones shatter against invisible lengths of metal was pretty interesting, and Marla repeatedly slammed the woman’s face into the [...]
A fine novel where the unrealities of the spy trade, if you like, are not overshadowed by the fantasy. The spies that work for Walsingham, with Swyfte as point man have it about as easy as they do on Spooks. That is, they are likely to die or fall apart a lot, and descend into [...]
“He only had one message. Dean pushed the red button. A woman’s voice filled the room, startling loud. She spoke in Russian. Despite his complete inability to comprehend what she was saying, Dean knew immediately who she was. The fact that she was calling meant something indeed had happened – something very bad and big [...]
Continue reading about Shadow Touch deleted scene – Marjorie M. Liu
“Niko had raised me from birth. And he’d been on my ass since birth as well. Okay, a bit of an exaggeration, but close enough. Pick up your clothes, do your homework, stop drawing cheat notes on your arm, eat your vegetables, quit trying to make out the porn through the scrambled gray zig-zags lines. [...]
“Break off the enchantment on the beer and get out of my town, now, and I won’t FedEx you back to the Aegean in a dozen pieces.” 3.5 out of 5
““We must move quickly, and find this Silver Skull before the Enemy does,” Walsingham stressed. He turned to Will and said, “All of England’s resources are at your disposal. Do what you will, but keep me informed at every step. Take Mayhew here, and Launceston.” He considered his options and added, “Also Tom Miller, a [...]
Continue reading about The Silver Skull 1-4 – Mark Chadbourn
“GREEN SKY AT NIGHT; HACKER’S DELIGHT. I’m lurking in the shrubbery behind an industrial unit, armed with a clipboard, a pager, and a pair of bulbous night-vision goggles that drench the scenery in ghastly emerald tones. The bloody things make me look like a train-spotter with a gas-mask fetish, and wearing them is giving me [...]
Continue reading about The Atrocity Archive 1 – Charles Stross
This is easily Pratt’s best Marla Mason work. The short novel follows Mason’s existence as a homeless young teenager to getting a job offer and finding out those she are working for have people behind them that are rather more than they seem. The story of how she gets good at arse kicking, gains her [...]
Developing spirit, is Victory Nelson. 3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about The Vengeful Spirit of Lake Nepeakea – Tanya Huff
Being called in to help with the identification behind a grave full of bodies from the time of the Underground Railroad didn’t lead Annja Creed to expect to get involved with small stones dedicated to the Spider God Anansis. These already had a history of being carried by slaves. Nor did she expect to be [...]
Valkyrie decision – fight nazis, or not? 3.5 out of 5
Continue reading about The Daughter Of Thor – Edmond Hamilton
Infernal double Hourman. 4 out of 5
Kill hellraiser boyfriend. Get memory wipe. Get elected. 3.5 out of 5 http://marlamason.net/boneshop/chapter18.html
Cork it. 3 out of 5 http://www.rachelcaine.com/page53/page70/page70.html
Light lust. 2.5 out of 5 http://www.rachelcaine.com/page53/page69/page69.html
Convenience power. 3.5 out of 5 http://www.rachelcaine.com/page53/page68/page68.html
Djinn forcing. 2.5 out of 5 http://www.rachelcaine.com/page53/page67/page67.html
Dead spot. 2.5 out of 5 http://www.rachelcaine.com/page53/page55/page55.html
Life, death not actually quite the same thing, apparently. 3 out of 5 http://www.rachelcaine.com/page53/page65/page65.html
Grave Djinn discovery. 3 out of 5 http://www.rachelcaine.com/page53/page64/page64.html
They both like to fight each other though. 3.5 out of 5 http://www.kimharrison.net/Extras.htm
Continue reading about Pixies and Fairies Yes There Is A Difference – Kim Harrison
Hyena duos’ monster dog destruction apple today doesn’t keep the hydra away thanatos team-up. 4 out of 5
“You guys told Somerset he was the boss. I challenged him to single combat, and won. By the old rules, that makes me the boss.” “The old rules aren’t in effect anymore,” Viscarro said. Something about him reminded Marla of Somerset, and not in a good way. “We’re a democracy now.” “Sure. And if duly [...]
“The Bay Witch nodded. “Since you’re here, come into the water and work while you look. Yes?” “Ah… what do you want me to do?” Punch squid? Free lobsters from cages? She had no idea what the Bay Witch did under the waves all day. “Clean dirty things,” the Bay Witch said. “I’ll make you [...]
The Fourth Marla Mason book isn’t up to the standards of the others. Where there others are involved with particularly outre supernatural or sorcerous goings on, this novel introduce’s Marla’s brother. And, as it turns out, he is a grifter who is basically unaware of the sorcerous world that she inhabits. Like his sister, he [...]
Something a little different: a Lara Croft adventure told in the first person. An expert friend of Lara’s asks for help, and she soon finds herself in a hospital fighting for her life against Silver freezing cold forcefielded mercenaries. Said friend along for the trip with a briefcase locked to his wrist. This courier jobs [...]
Continue reading about The Man Of Bronze – James Alan Gardner
“You know Langford, the biomancer? I brought you to his place when I found you because he’s the closest thing to a doctor I know. He got you hooked up to an IV, replenished your fluids, stuff like that. He also took some of your skin cells and accelerated their growth, made new skin crawl [...]
Lara Croft has a protege that has gone off the rails – and the fiance of said miscreant asks Laura for help. A man that impresses Lady Croft – an extreme sports commentator, a mountaineer, and more – who lost both his arms and now uses different sets of prosthetics depending on the circumstances. e.g. [...]
Some skullful shooting for beef by John. 3.5 out of 5 http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/13-TheBalticWarCD/TheBalticWarCD/Mountain%20Magic/0743488563__16.htm
Not world’s end, just Cliff!. 3 out of 5 http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/13-TheBalticWarCD/TheBalticWarCD/Mountain%20Magic/0743488563__15.htm
Continue reading about The Stars Down There – Manly Wade Wellman
Red fish trick, but no gold thanks. 3.5 out of 5 http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/13-TheBalticWarCD/TheBalticWarCD/Mountain%20Magic/0743488563__15.htm
Silver bullet a broad-based monster cure. 3 out of 5 http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/13-TheBalticWarCD/TheBalticWarCD/Mountain%20Magic/0743488563__15.htm
Continue reading about You Know the Tale Of Hoph – Manly Wade Wellman
If who you’re jamming with has four legs – like a centaur. 3 out of 5 http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/13-TheBalticWarCD/TheBalticWarCD/Mountain%20Magic/0743488563__15.htm
Continue reading about Then I Wasn’t Alone – Manly Wade Wellman
John tells a story about a speedy carpenter’s bridge-building. 3.5 out of 5 http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/13-TheBalticWarCD/TheBalticWarCD/Mountain%20Magic/0743488563__12.htm
Continue reading about On the Hills and Everywhere – Manly Wade Wellman
“Dunno what we could have done about it,” Marla said. “Maybe talked. Maybe that would have helped.” She shifted on the couch. “It did make me wonder about the geas, though. I mean, shouldn’t we feel… something? With Daniel and Jenny both gone?” “The geas won’t trigger for suicide, and with Rasmussen gone, there’s nobody [...]
“”We leave tomorrow morning.” Daniel nuzzled Marla’s neck as a distraction move from stealing the covers. She stole them back. “Off on Artie’s fool’s errand?” “I prefer to think of it as saving the world from a slimy tentacled octopocalypse.” “Whatever gets you through the night, lover boy.”” 4 out of 5 http://www.marlamason.net/boneshop/chapter13.html
The second Tomb Raider novelisation pales a bit compared to the first. Perhaps a lower class of bad guy, going from power hungry Illuminati to genocidal bioterrorist. Lara again has to work with a disreputable but highly competent individual from her past – indeed, someone else she had shagged, to make it more interesting. This [...]
Richard Jeperson with some American help gets involved with some unorthodox space travel, thanks to the Diogenes Club. 4.5 out of 5 http://subterraneanpress.com/index.php/magazine/summer-2009/fiction-moon-moon-moon-by-kim-newman/
“”You’ve got an artifact, so why can’t I have one?” Artie shook his head. “Does that cloak still have its hooks in your brain? I’ve got half an artifact, and sure, it’s powerful. It’ll change your sex, or your gender, or both if you make the mistake of sticking it in one of your orifices, [...]
A very solid adaptation of the story. The banter between Lara Croft and her two assistants is well done, and likewise with the bad guys or antagonists. The story revolves around the arrival of a planetary conjunction, and an artifact that will allow the right person at the right time with the right stuff to [...]
“Through Martenson, the Black Hand learned that the meeting between Dupree and the Talon was to take place that night, at the edge of Golden Gate Park. When the hour came, the Black Hand was in place, this time with twin .45 automatics at the ready. Dupree was to wait in a clearing, a suitcase [...]
“”His life’s work? Why would he want me to have it?” O’Connor leaned into me, and I could smell the cheap scotch on his breath. “I have no idea in hell, you little bastard. If you ask me, which you didn’t, you are and always have been an ungrateful sack of shit, and I told [...]
“As he was about to turn, and move on, he caught sight of a dark figure, prowling about the side of Louise’s building. He thought it a vagrant, seeking a warm place to sleep, until the figure stepped into the light, and he saw his features were disguised with a hood. Then the moonlight glinted [...]
“What was the case, if you don’t mind me asking?” “I’m not sure if I should,” she said. “Mind, that is. But I’ll tell you anyway. Don’t see as it can make any difference now.” She lowered her voice slightly and continued. “There was a break-in at Pierce’s place over in River Oaks a while [...]
“That’s good,” Marla said. “Thanks. Does he, ah, remember what happened to him?” Hoping, not. Hoping the cloak could heal bad memories too. “Not very clearly. He says he was attacked by a horrible shadowy monster, and then he says a pretty lady – that’s you – came and helped him.” “Ah,” Marla said. “That’s… [...]
Hybrid hairy heat cop. Your paranormal romance sort of the book. The main character being a bit different to the other supernaturals around, but just as much in need of shagging at that time of the month for your lyncanthrope types. The good thing is it isn’t set it Yetanothersville USA, but rather in Melbourne, [...]
“”I don’t really get it,” Marla said. “The whole I’ll-go-crazy-if-I-live-forever thing. I mean, Lao Tsung’s been around a long time, and you’re saying if he keeps living, he’ll just… flip out one day?” “It can be quick,” Artie said. “Or it can be gradual. And, yeah, I hope Lao Tsung just turns out to be [...]
“”The Throne,” Daniel said, and everyone turned to look at him, most of the sorcerers obviously irritated at his interruption. Daniel blushed at the attention, but kept going. “I can sense life, you know, life-force, and… there wasn’t life there. Whatever the Throne was, it’s not alive, not like anything else I’ve ever seen.” “It [...]
“Artie nodded. “That’s it exactly. There are ways to live forever – well, we say forever, but what does that mean? Immortality just means you haven’t died yet, and don’t expect to — who knows what happens if you stick along until, say, the heat death of the universe? But eventually, after enough centuries, all [...]
A good whack from a silver string axe leaves your big turkey ghost just a cold casserole. 4 out of 5 http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/13-TheBalticWarCD/TheBalticWarCD/Mountain%20Magic/0743488563___4.htm
John runs into a crimelord, tells him about a hill that is his namesake, and is volunteered to show him there. Apart from a hairy heffalump, monsters await Mr. Yandro. 3.5 out of 5 http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/13-TheBalticWarCD/TheBalticWarCD/Mountain%20Magic/0743488563___5.htm
Continue reading about The Desrick On Yandro – Manly Wade Wellman
Washington gives no quarter, warlock. 4 out of 5 http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/13-TheBalticWarCD/TheBalticWarCD/Mountain%20Magic/0743488563___6.htm
Just call me lightning. 4 out of 5 http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/13-TheBalticWarCD/TheBalticWarCD/Mountain%20Magic/0743488563__11.htm
Continue reading about Walk Like A Mountain – Manly Wade Wellman
Silver John doesn’t fancy being measured for a shroud by an evil fiddler. His new girlfriend certainly has something to say about it, too. 4 out of 5 http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/13-TheBalticWarCD/TheBalticWarCD/Mountain%20Magic/0743488563__14.htm
Continue reading about Nine Yards Of Other Cloth – Manly Wade Wellman
