Claire | January 3, 2012
Penelope was a 2006 film starring Cristina Ricci, James McAvoy, and Reese Witherspoon, about a woman cursed with the nose of a pig. Loosely based on European folk tales about a pig-faced woman, it was billed as a fantasy/comedy. There’s a playful use of camera and color here that reminds me alternately of Amelie and [...]
Claire | July 3, 2011
Robin McKinley is one of the more successful fantasy authors alive today, but she’s sometimes dismissed as a children’s writer. To me, the point is rather moot since her books are deliciously complex and satisfying, less in language than in emotional richness and world-building. If I were to describe her, I’d say she has the [...]
Claire | March 11, 2011
The shortlist for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the UK’s top prize for science fiction and fantasy, has just been announced. The six shortlisted books are: • Zoo City – Lauren Beukes (Angry Robot) • The Dervish House – Ian McDonald (Gollancz) • Monsters of Men – Patrick Ness (Walker Books) • Generosity – Richard [...]
Claire | August 14, 2010
To Reference: Top Fantasy Series, Fantasy 100, YA Fantasy, Locus, Nebula and Hugo awards, Locus Index Trusted Authors: Fantasy: Ursula K. LeGuin, Patrick Rothfuss, Garth Nix, Peter Dickinson Romantic fantasy: Robin McKinley, Juliet Marillier, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Jules Watson Fallback (flawed or not quite to my taste but enjoyable): Stephen Donaldson, C.J. Cherryh, Robert Jordan, Diana [...]
Claire | November 23, 2009
Literary (modern): A.S. Byatt, Edith Wharton, Jhumpa Lahiri, Margaret Atwood Thrillers: Kay Hooper, Iris Johansen, J.D. Robb Adventure: Alistair MacLean, Jeffrey Archer Brit humour: P.G. Wodehouse, John Mortimer (Rumpole of the Bailey series) Mystery: Agatha Christie, Josephine Tey, Anne Perry(Victorian mystery), Iain Pears(art mystery), Jacqueline Winspear, P.D. James, occasionally G.K. Chesterton Psychological thrillers: Jeffrey Deaver, [...]
Claire | November 13, 2009
