Tag Archives: vampires

Critters I Can Do Without; a Discussion of Urban Fantasy

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Marion

I read a lot of a fantasy subgenre called Urban Fantasy. Although the name implies that these tales take place in metropolitan areas (and many of them do) the real hallmark of a UF book is that is it set … Continue reading →

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2012: The Books we Got for Christmas

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Marion

Between actual books –brightly wrapped packages tied up with string (well, ribbon) – and gift card books, we did all right this year. Above is the pictorial representation of our haul. They include: Hide me Among the Graves, by Tim … Continue reading →

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Being Human is Being Boring

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Marion

Right now the best show on Syfy is Lost Girl, a sexy, smart and quirky import from Canada. In fact, in content and tone it reminds me of another sexy, smart and quirky import that used to show on Syfy, … Continue reading →

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The White City

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Marion

The White City is the first book by Elizabeth Bear that I’ve read.  This novella is a Subterranean Press limited edition.  The book is printed on silky low-acid paper with a vivid cover that looks like a woodcut. It is a … Continue reading →

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Vampires: Can They Smell You Coming?

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Marion

In modern fiction, specifically urban fantasy, vampires are frequently characterized as having an acute sense of smell.  Often they can smell humans from several yards away; they can smell fear like a dog or wild animal, or they can track … Continue reading →

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Bloodshot

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Marion

Bloodshot/Cherie Priest Ballentine Spectra, 2011 I thought I’d take a break from Gilgamesh and The Book Thief—and that may be the first time those two books showed up in the same sentence—so I read Cherie Priest’s urban fantasy Bloodshot over the … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare in Venice

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Marion

The Fallen Blade Jon Courtenay Grimwood Orbit, 2010  The Fallen Blade is Act One of the Assassini Trilogy. You can enjoy this intricate historical and political fantasy with its nuanced, layered characters on its own, or you can follow the … Continue reading →

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All Hallows’ Eve

Posted on November 1, 2009 by Marion

We probably had about 350 trick-or-treaters last night. The peak was between seven and eight pm. It dropped off sharply after about 8:30, which was good because I was running out of candy. Costumes, by volume: the preponderance of older … Continue reading →

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Past Dark

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Marion

Dead Until Dark Charlaine Harris Ace Fantasy/Mystery, 2001 Whatever else I may think of this series, Charlaine Harris gets big points for one of the best titles in the vampire romance/vampire mystery/vampire comedy sub-sub-sub-genre. Maybe it’s just the alliteration, but … Continue reading →

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