“Failure is the handmaiden of creativity.”
Dan. M. Kalin
A Man Swims
What was I doing last weekend rather than writing? Swimming in an open water race around Lido Key, Florida. Still recovering but was back in the pool this morning.
Random Quote
“You’ll never know unless you ask; but sometimes the asking breaks things.”
Dan M. Kalin
“Kevin the Vampire”, by Will Madden – Review
Will Madden has created a delightful short novella about a vampire called Kevin. No longer known as Gaius Serverus, Guy, Cevinus, or Qehveenoz; now it’s just Kevin. Being Kevin is entirely appropriate for his new environs within the Greater American Corn Belt. Almost by accident, Kevin the Vampire takes up residence in an old abandoned church, St. Agnews. The church is still furnished with long abandoned furniture and an organ which Kevin uses to sing Billy Joel parody songs with a vampire twist. Engaging in staring contests with the crucified Christ (always a draw until Kevin gets bored), checking out any new nail polish colors at the local Walgreens (the only store open at night), or sampling the pedestrian fare of corn-fed blood, Kevin has an idyllic existence until a vampire hunter comes to town. Edvard von Heusen, said vampire hunter, has come specifically to find Kevin and make him an offer he’d best not refuse. No matter what happens next, Kevin’s life (or death?) will never be the same.
I enjoyed Kevin the Vampire from beginning to end. Will Madden’s witty approach to telling Kevin’s story kept me engaged throughout. Flawlessly constructed, the story is well-told and fresh, a standout from the often-worn genre of common vampire stories. The ending was unexpected and interesting; altogether what you would expect from the Kevin you come to know. If you enjoy vampire stories which don’t take themselves too seriously and are easy to read within a couple of hours, Kevin the Vampire is a fine choice!
“First Flight”, by Zachary Jones – Review
Zachary Jones has written a classic space opera, heavy on the space battle action. In the midst of a war between two human factions, the Federals and the League, a new power inserts itself into the equation by soundly trouncing both groups in multiple surprise attacks. While initially outclassed by the Ascendency forces, Mason, a young fighter pilot, must somehow survive the complete destruction of his fighter group and live to fight another day. While much about the Ascendency suggests a human origin, such as their approach to fighting space battles, there are many other things which suggest they might be something completely new. Mason is seconded to the Special Purpose Branch, a military intelligence arm of the human Federal forces. They are tasked to learn more about the Ascendency, hopefully in time for the knowledge to make a difference.
I am a fan of space operas in general, but normally gravitate to those which have a high emphasis on the overall plot rather than being mostly a series of space battles. Zachary Jones does a fine job of emphasizing the space battles, which he clearly loves, while not losing sight of the need to move the plot forward. The action was believable, in that most of the technologies involved were not radical departures from what physics could one day support. If you are the type of person who loves reading realistic accounts of massive space battles punctuated by human ingenuity under pressure, First Flight is definitely the book for you!
“The Hollywood Portal”, by E. E. King – Review
Eddie Evers is back! Or rather he never went away. The Hollywood Portal continues the story of my favorite electric detective; as he works to find answers to a number of questions surrounding a 50s-era bomb shelter which has somehow become a portal to another world. Not just any world; a version of Earth which didn’t make it through the cold war without shots fired in anger. E. E. King continues the witty dialog as Eddie still sees the world in greyscale, with occasional otherworldly incursions in full color. His deceased daughter is now sending him written notes from the beyond; usually timely warnings which, like most oracular warnings, are not understood until after the events occur. I wonder why oracles even bother!
We learn even more about the checkered past of Los Angeles, with nods to things most Angelinos would instantly recognize. Half of the fun comes from the inside references. My favorite section is:
“Most realtors I know are as honest as lawyers.”
“But not as smart,” Blake said.
“But not as smart,” I agreed.
The story isn’t all humor, as Eddie manages some significant personal growth in addition to tracking down the extra-dimensional villain(s). I enjoyed the book from beginning to end, and look forward to her next installment.
March 2019 Production
I’m in the process of acquiring additional funding for Feral Cat, LLC. In due time, there will be development funding for even more loss-making publications! I’m only paying for it with my life’s blood; which I guess is how it’s supposed to be.
“Electric Detective”, by E. E. King – Review
E.E. King has written a classic detective story set in Los Angeles, but with several delightful science fiction twists. Eddie Evers, a former FBI agent tasked to child abduction cases, has come apart at the seams after his wife and daughter are killed in an auto accident. Eighteen months later, Eddie is still self-medicating with Jack Daniels. To make things worse, Eddie survives a direct hit by a lightning bolt and recovery requires even more Jack Daniels. The shock has left him seeing the world in grayscale, except for things which aren’t real; things like futuristic fruit hybrids, dead bodies, and the man who killed his family. The new vision helps his business as a private investigator, working for local police and the FBI. A society of scientists are also interested in Eddie’s newfound skills and aren’t shy in their pursuit. Eddie, with his electric cat Max, has to unravel a series of murders at some of Los Angeles’ best private schools and the truth is even more unusual than Eddie’s backstory.
E.E. King has really knocked this one out of the park, the persona of Eddie fits the wisecracking norm of the detective story while being wholly at home with the science fiction aspects of the story. I especially appreciated all of the witty observations about life in Los Angeles and its history. The tension rises relentlessly as you rush for the final chapter and a strong ending. If you like well-written detective stories and science fiction, look no further, this is a good one!