Helllooo! And we’re back to what I hope is the weekly schedule.  I’ve now done Fantasycon and had a mini break in Rome so I’m a fully recharged Womble ready for the rush to winter and demolishing the 2019 TBR *hysterical laughter*.  Fantasycon review is below but Rome reminds me why I love Italy – the food, the history and the way of life.  Well worth wander!

This is my birthday so on a personal goal the next twelve months after moving to a new house and finally getting a break is to focus on my health - get those sugar levels I the right place and feel all the better for it.  Unfortunately, diabetes and weight gain are a nasty combination so farewell takeaways.  Feast scenes in books are going to be so rewarding now!

What Have I been Watching?

Been on a bit of a nostalgia fest recently which is interesting

Blakes Seven - actually starting to get into this show.  Interesting dynamics and just met Servalan for the first time.  Will be interesting to see if I feel warmer about the show as an adult.

Robin of Sherwood – aww a blast from the past with Michael Praed in a beautifully weird fantastical Sherwood with Herne the Hunter and evil Knights.  It feels mythic which for 80’s UK TV is very weird indeed.

Dracula - The 1931 US version with Bela Lugosi. A Universal box set has come into my possession and this was a thing I really enjoyed doing when my Uncle would record the midnight horror movies and we would watch them on Saturday afternoon.  (He would also show me the Dawn of the Dead, so my childhood was eventful). OK I do agree Bela has presence but its hugely stagey - slow motion creeping and a lack of a soundtrack mean this is more a curiosity rather than for me a true classic.  I’ve promised myself a bit more horror as winter is here so we shall see how horror develops.

What Have I Been Listening To?

Pseudopod – The Halloween edition needs to be heard right now – VERY GOOD

Radio Free Fandom – This podcast starring Claire Rousseau and guest stars is back.  It discusses the best fantasy heist crew – go and listen

The Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes Podcast – found this via twitter and a pair of brothers are discussing each episode of Jeremy Brett’s Holmes shows.  They even mange an interview with Stephen Fry who has actually met him.  It’s interesting to get a US view on what for me was essential viewing as a kid – this is MY Holmes.

Speculative Spaces – I admit I have a selfish reason to listen to this show but yours truly is one of many vox pops from Fantasycon

What have I reviewed or read?

Bit of a horror fest which I have loved as we approach Halloween and will be reading more of as we are in winter.  I also have hit my original 2019 target of 125 books which is the most I’ve ever read! I think my reading speed is definitely increasing and yet I’m still doing other stuff which is great.

Tales From the Shadow Booth Vol 4 edited by Dan Coxon – latest anthology which I think is the best I’ve read so far. Tale that are often pure delightful darkness.

Bone China by Laura Purcell – an excellent gothic thriller and I have some other novels by this author in my TBR queue

Captain America Dark Designs by Stefan Petrucha – Cap versus Red Skull with Nazi war machine – Just FUN!!

Ghoster by Jason Arnopp – a really impressive spin on a horror classic as well as a pointed look at our love of social media

The F is for Fear Programme – I have done a week of horror recs as Halloween progressed starting here

Sherlock Holmes and The Christmas Demon by James Lovegrove – a mart and fun Holmes tale set in Yorkshire with a potential supernatural edge

Hire Idiots by Professor I M Nemo – a murder mystery with a satirical eye ion universities meeting big business.  Not really working for me but I liked the intent

Turning the Hourglass by M J Keeley – I liked the ideas being proposed but the story felt a little padded

The Remaking by Clay McLeod Chapman – Oh I fell hard for this horror novel that gives us both an urban legend and a critique of horror stories.  Its brilliant and haunting and knows its stuff.

Soon by Lois Murphy – An Australian horror tale of a town that has been nearly wiped out thanks to a deadly mist scaring away its inhabitants.  Love the weirdness and the set of characters trying to survive

Safe House by Jo Jakeman – clever and well put together thriller combining a lead who made a huge mistake and a game of cat and mouse as she tries to rebuild her life

Fantasycon 2019 – my write up of a really enjoyable con

What am I reading or coming soon?

Loads to do before the year is out but this week on imminent TBR

The Djinn Falls in Love edited by Mahvesh Murad and Jared Shurin – need to sit down and lose myself into this

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie – I must see how things have gone in the First Law universe

The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz – feminists try to save the timeline

The Rosewater Redemption by Tade Thompson – the end of an excellent series

Skein Island by Aliya Whiteley – Its an Aliya Whiteley novel I NEED It

Legacy of Ash by Matthew Ward – a new fantasy series

X-Men Mutant Empire by Christopher Golden – a new marvel prose series

And so much more.  Have fun!