Alan K. Dell's Blog

Experiencing the oldest story in the world. Gilgamesh: A New English Version by Stephen Mitchell.

I will fully admit I bought this on a complete whim. I’ve heard a lot in passing about the Epic of Gilgamesh variously as a piece of ancient literature and the progenitor of the Great Flood myth in the biblical book of Genesis, but I didn’t know the story, and I fancied reading it for myself. This version by Stephen Mitchell seemed to be the most accessible to someone like myself with zero knowledge of ancient languages. As soon as I got it, I dived right in. This is going to be a longer review because there’s so much to unpack here.

Blurb

Vivid, enjoyable and comprehensible, the poet and pre-eminent translator Stephen Mitchell makes the oldest epic poem in the world accessible for the first time.

Gilgamesh is a born leader, but in an attempt to control his growing arrogance, the Gods create Enkidu, a wild man, his equal in strength and courage. Enkidu is trapped by a temple prostitute, civilised through sexual experience and brought to Gilgamesh. They become best friends and battle evil together.

After Enkidu's death the distraught Gilgamesh sets out on a journey to find Utnapishtim, the survivor of the Great Flood, made immortal by the Gods to ask him the secret of life and death.

Gilgamesh is the first and remains one of the most important works of world literature. Written in ancient Mesopotamia in the second millennium B.C., it predates the Iliad by roughly 1,000 years. Gilgamesh is extraordinarily modern in its emotional power but also provides an insight into the values of an ancient culture and civilisation.

Review

First of all, this version of the Epic of Gilgamesh is very accessible. Stephen Mitchell has done a wonderful job transmitting the story in English poetic verse. The prose is beautiful and evocative, and—looking at the extensive translation notes at the back—not very far off from the original texts. This version is a cobbling together of the various forms the nearly 5000-year-old Epic has taken, mostly from what’s known as the Standard Version but filling the gaps with passages from the Sumerian, Hittite, and Old Babylonian versions.

The introduction to the book by Stephen Mitchell is unusual in that it is much longer than the Epic itself (in word count, at least), and it summarises the entire story with additional analyses and explanations for what’s going on. I thought that was very helpful. Then the text itself is split into eleven ‘books’ and was a joy to read due to the aforementioned accessibility of the language. Following this, at the back, are copious explanatory notes on the author’s creative choices, as well as example passages of more literal translations, and finally, a glossary.

I loved reading this; it was an utterly fascinating read and gives incredible insight into the attitudes of the ancient world towards storytelling, masculinity, sexuality, and spirituality. As someone deconstructing from a faith tradition, there was a lot in here that, if I had read this a long time ago, would have caused some discomfort in terms of my religious beliefs. Now being able to look at this text, and the biblical texts, through a less dogmatic lens, it becomes a lot more interesting to see the connections, developments, and cultural through-lines.

A lot of people focus on Gilgamesh’s Great Flood narrative being very similar to the story of Noah’s Ark in Genesis, even down to sending out the birds from the Ark to find dry land (and, Gilgamesh being the far older text, is the likely origin for the biblical version). While that’s certainly the case and it’s very interesting on its own, I hadn’t seen anyone mention that the verse Ecclesiastes 4:12, ‘A threefold cord is not quickly broken’ is also present here in an older form in Gilgamesh. Not only that, but the expression is given more context here than it is in the Bible, which simply gives it as an idiom (a lot of priests in wedding sermons have interpreted the threefold cord as symbolising the marriage relationship between man, woman, and God). But in the ancient Mesopotamian tale, Gilgamesh and Enkidu are psyching each other up to go fight the monster, Humbaba. Enkidu is afraid and wants to turn back but Gilgamesh says he cannot do it alone and that they will prevail if they fight side-by-side. He says then they will be as strong as two boats lashed together [because] a three-ply rope is not easily broken. The expression here becomes less about invoking the presence of the deity within a marriage (which isn’t supported by the biblical text either), but more about the value of teamwork and the strength of the bonds of intimate friendship. I had to look this up, but it seems that the scholarly consensus is that the author of Ecclesiastes was either quoting from Gilgamesh directly, or that by the time the biblical author was writing, the line had become a common expression, dropping the metaphor of the two boats. I like to think of it akin to modern idioms like, ‘the customer is always right,’ where we commonly omit, ‘in matters of taste’. The further we get in time from the full formulation of an expression, the easier it is for people to forget what it originally meant.

Gilgamesh is also far more homoerotic than I had expected. It shows a vast difference in attitudes towards sexuality and masculinity in the ancient world. And that does make sense if you think about it, because the ancient world didn’t hold the same ideas about sex and attraction that we have today. It was far more hierarchical, far more about social dominance. Sex in Gilgamesh is also treated as a civilising act, rather than a sin of the flesh, as sex with the priestess of Ishtar draws out Enkidu’s humanity from his prior animalistic nature. It’s natural, normal, and good, and the text is very blunt about it without an ounce of shame. There is clear implication in the text, and made even more explicit in contemporaneous supplementary material, that Gilgamesh and Enkidu were intimate companions. I guess in today’s verbiage you might say they’re pansexual and polyamorous, because they enjoy the company of women (mainly the priestesses in the temple of Ishtar, and Gilgamesh’s tyrannical behaviour before meeting Enkidu shows him having first dibs on every new wife in the city) but their friendship is so close that they are also lovers. Gilgamesh is distraught at the death of Enkidu and mourns him intensely and rather melodramatically. Masculine courage is also not stoic in nature, as Gilgamesh, though he is a strong giant and a great and mighty and tyrannical king, is utterly terrified of the monster Humbaba, and his fear of death is what drives him to seek after fame and immortality before he truly grows as a person.

Overall Gilgamesh is an astounding read for anyone interested in ancient literature, in the history of storytelling, and in archetypal quest narratives. Even though this does take the form of a quest tale, the Babylonian editor still manages to subvert the tropes of that style in some ways. It’s a thoroughly fascinating tale, made all the more digestible by the excellent prose work of Stephen Mitchell. I’d highly recommend it.

A solid sequel to The Inn at the Amethyst Lantern by Jendia Gammon writing as J. Dianne Dotson.

I received a free advance reader copy/uncorrected proof of The Secret of the Sapphire Sentinel from the author. I very much enjoyed the first book in this lunarpunk sci-fantasy series—The Inn at the Amethyst Lantern and its wildly imaginative night-living world, so I was very grateful when Jendia reached out to offer an ARC of the sequel and I jumped in straightaway. Serving up another helping of immaculate lunarpunk vibes and spirited adventure. I really like the cover on this one even better than the first book, too. Stunning work.

Blurb

In the twilight world of Glimmerbight, fourteen-year-old Gen Lightworth dreams of restoring the Inn at the Amethyst Lantern. But an ancient evil’s lingering scars awaken new threats from unexpected corners.

Summoned by the mysterious Gallant Twilight Society—a network of heroic animals—Gen journeys beneath the waves into hidden lairs pulsing with bioluminescent secrets. With her loyal team, the Fireflies, she confronts lost legacies, mutated monsters, and shadowy figures from the past.

When a vibrant yet unsettling new apothecary arrives, secrets multiply and trust frays. And as danger closes in, Gen learns the true weight of leadership and the strength of friendship.

Filled with wonder, bravery, and the luminous bonds of community, The Secret of the Sapphire Sentinel continues the saga begun at The Inn at the Amethyst Lantern. Join this unforgettable adventure where light battles darkness and friends must navigate mysteries beneath the stars.

Review

A solid and enjoyable sequel, The Secret of the Sapphire Sentinel is a fun YA romp through a beautifully immersive post-apocalyptic lunarpunk world. We pick back up with Gen Lightworth mere weeks after the events of the previous book when the town of Glimmerbight is trying to get back a sense of normalcy. There is work to be done at the Inn and the teens have to go back to school, but the monsters are still out there and the town’s protections are failing. Mysterious new arrivals in town stir Gen and the Fireflies’ suspicions.

The world of the ancients expands as Gen and her friends try to find a solution for the failing power source in the Inn. I particularly liked Gen’s growth throughout the book, and her interactions with Styx. As much as she learned in the previous book, she still gets things wrong and jumps to conclusions. But in the process she learns how to be a better leader and use her friends’ strengths more effectively. The supporting cast was just as vibrant and fun as the first book. I wasn’t too sure of the subplot with Jas and his affliction, however, as while it hung over the characters, nothing much came of it beyond Gen checking his dosimeter. I really enjoyed the talking animals of the Gallant Twilight Society, though—it would be cool to see more of them.

The action overall was great, and I could follow what was happening easily. The monsters were creepy and lightly unsettling. And I loved seeing more of the Inn at the Amethyst Lantern. The final battle was bombastic and brought all the characters into play in interesting ways. But I think this is where I’m not quite the target audience as I could feel the story pulling its punches a bit, probably for age considerations, and it reduced the tension for me.

Overall, good fun and I’d still recommend it for all the same reasons I recommended the first book: For anyone looking for climate change sci-fantasy in the YA space, or just generally for a whimsical fantasy adventure. I hear there’s a prequel in the works, so I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for that.

The second of two action-packed short story prequels to Barry Ryerson’s The Magic Circle.

Recently I reviewed Origins: The Secret Agent, the first of two short story prequels to The Magic Circle, that one giving backstory on Yevgeny, a key POV character from the main novel. Origins: The Hacker, goes back even further in time and follows the origin story of the main antagonist of the novel. I’ve said before how much I enjoyed The Magic Circle, so I was eager to jump into these short stories and get some more in the Celestial Chronicles universe. I went straight into The Hacker straight after The Secret Agent, reading them both in a single day.

Blurb

Decades after nuclear war, magic returns.

But how did the war start in the first place?

Follow a young hacker as his fight for freedom takes him down dark paths and towards an insatiable desire to make South Africa great, no matter the cost to anyone else.

Review

So, first of all, The Hacker is the superior of the two short stories by far. More than that, it’s bloody excellent. It’s so dark and full of tension, and Wikus’s corruption arc is brilliantly portrayed. Here in this story we go back in time even further in the continuity of the series, right to where the events that serve as the backdrop for the main novel took place. The depiction of Wikus, his tumultuous family dynamics, and the events that led him down his dark path were thoroughly engaging.

The plot was tight and immersive, and it absolutely stuck the ending. As always, Barry’s writing is vivid and enjoyable, and Wikus is a brilliant character.

If there’s only room for one of these short stories on your e-reader then this is the one to prioritise, though I’m not sure why there would be. Both of these short stories add a great deal of extra richness to the world that Barry has created and I would highly recommend them both.

One of two action-packed short story prequels to Barry Ryerson’s The Magic Circle.

I really enjoyed reading The Magic Circle. I thought it was a really solid, action-packed adventure, mixing magic and sci-fi in a believable way. You can read my full review of it here. So naturally, eager for more in this universe, I was excited to delve into the two short story prequels, starting with Origins: The Secret Agent. I like the idea of these short prequels, as they allow the reader to have not just more of what they loved from the main story, but to go deeper into the backstory of some of the characters, and The Secret Agent provides some of that for Yevgeny.

Blurb

Decades after nuclear war, magic returns.

For Yevgeny Arafyev, this means using his powers to help the Russian Orthodox Church as a secret agent. Though young, he is chosen for his first mission: recruit a girl who, like him, is gifted with powers.

Or kill her if she refuses.

Follow Yevgeny on his first mission as he does whatever it takes to not fail for once.

Review

It was great to get some more backstory for Yevgeny, one of the main POV characters from The Magic Circle. Here we meet him years before the events of the main story, about to embark on his first mission for the Russian Orthodox Church and struggling for the acceptance of his peers. Yevgeny is a complex character, morally grey, ruthless, and desperate.

I enjoyed his arc in this story as he goes from humble beginnings failing over and over again at training, to being thrust into the true dangers of a real-life mission. As in The Magic Circle his role is to find people with magical abilities and convince them to join the church in their mission, or to kill them if they refuse.

His mark in this story is a relatively minor character who shows up in The Magic Circle, but who has remarkable abilities that makes the mission a lot harder than he first thought it would be. The adventure was great fun, and it truly showed the dangers of the post-apocalyptic environment that the series is set in. Although I wasn’t completely sold on the ending. I wonder if the character he went after wasn’t quite the right character for this—it provided a solid tie into the main novel, but it swapped a truly satisfying conclusion for intrigue. It would certainly make me want to read The Magic Circle if I hadn’t already, so in that sense, it accomplished what it was meant to do. But that doesn’t quite work in the other direction.

I’d still highly recommend it, though. Barry’s writing is very vivid and enjoyable, and Yevgeny is a stellar character.

Bounty Inc. is the first book in the Bounty Inc. universe by Adam Holcombe

It’s a real privilege to be able to share this cover reveal on the blog and spotlight a fellow indie author.

Adam Holcombe is the author of the Chronicles of Gam Gam series, and the Bounty Inc. universe which will be a collective of sci-fi novels spanning a galaxy. I have really loved the Chronicles of Gam Gam so far—just check out my reviews of A Necromancer Called Gam Gam, and The Wishing Stone. So it’s an honour to be able to help share the cover for Adam’s newest book and the jumping off point for a whole new sci-fi series.

A dream lives on while a will is strong, but a significant inheritance from a recently-deceased father sure helps too.

When Wyn throws away his easy life to open the galaxy's first bounty hunter organization and become a bounty hunter himself, he soon learns that a strong support system will be needed. A support system like an unwise mentor, her giant lizard ex-girlfriend, a woman trapped within her armor, a suspicious cyborg, a possible war criminal, several thousand beetles, and a ten-year-old insectoid with a pet.

Money is never endless, however, and Wyn will need to lead his new friends down a dangerous path to prove Bounty Inc.'s worth and keep his dream alive.

Release Date: 15 October 2025

Adam Holcombe daylights as a programmer and moonlights as an author. After spending years toying with the idea of writing, he decided to commit and work toward releasing his first novel. Then Gam Gam got in the way, and now he's writing too many stories to count.

When he’s not locking himself in a cold basement to type away, he can be found squishing his dog (but not too hard), squawking at his tortoise (but not too loudly), goofing off with his wife and daughter (in perfectly ordinary, non-weird ways), playing D&D with friends (I'm playing a character now!), or the usual chilling at home. He is a lover of books, board games, video games, and swords.

He is the author of the Chronicles of Gam Gam series featuring the titular necromantic grandmother Gam Gam, and the Bounty Inc. universe which will be a collective of sci-fi novels spanning a galaxy. You can find out more about both series, along with future publishing news, and additional book content at bountyink.com. Onto the next one!

The fantastic sequel to cozy fantasy hit, A Necromancer Called Gam Gam by Adam Holcombe.

A Necromancer Called Gam Gam was one of my favourite books I read last year—An unlikely blend of knitting, kindness, and raising the decaying undead that took me on an emotional journey exploring loss and grief. So when The Wishing Stone was announced, I was so ready for another foray into this big warm hug of a world. And, spoilers for the review below, but I think this one really does top the first.

Blurb

A mythical relic believed to have the ability to grant any wish.

A map, leading the way through ancient and sealed catacombs.

Gam Gam's return to Capital City is not what she expected when she stumbles upon her first clue to the Wishing Stone's whereabouts. Joined by Mina and her new friend Emil, along with the undead retinue of Nugget, Sloughy, and Gerald, they set out to uncover secrets that could unravel more than just their lives.

Review

The Wishing Stone is an excellent sequel in every regard. For me, towards the end it became quite reminiscent of the first Mistborn book (the only one of that initial trilogy I’ve read so far) but far more satisfying in its execution. I loved Mina’s character arc and progression, and the newly introduced characters like Emil were brilliant. And there’s POV segments for Nugget! That’s the most important part for sure; he’s amazing. I’m now an unashamed Nugget stan.

Gam Gam, Mina, and Emil’s quest for the titular Wishing Stone was really engaging and I was not expecting the plot to twist the way that it did. There’s plenty of action, intrigue, and gut-wrenching emotional moments, but the story still manages to be a warm knitted blanket. Gam Gam is an absolute gem.

I loved the extension and exploration of Mina’s powers, and the deeper dive into the lore of the Eternal Empire. The Empire was largely a backdrop in the first book, but it takes centre-stage here, and the way the consequences of Mina and Gam Gam’s actions play directly in to this sequel were very well done.

The book’s pacing is spot-on and flows really nicely and I think this sequel improves upon the first book in a lot of ways. Bravo! I can’t wait to read more in the Chronicles of Gam Gam. This has definitely been one of my favourite reads this year.

A poignant and somewhat scarily prescient short story collection from Conrad Altmann.

I had the privilege of beta reading one of the short stories—Luminite Ascending—that made it into this collection. That one was brilliant, and at the time I didn’t realise Conrad was looking to make a collection. So when Moral Laundry came out, I was really looking forward to checking out the other stories. On top of being an excellent sci-fi writer whom I have beta read for a couple of times now (I really must re-read Metanoeia and review it for the blog, that was so good), Conrad is a graphic designer, and his minimalist covers are always really striking. This one for Moral Laundry with the icons down the middle representing each story is so cool.

Blurb

This collection of seven short stories stems from a dire outlook on the future of humanity, though there are rays of hope interspersed. Figures of authority are faced with profit or morality, the lonely find companionship in an unlikely space, a young boy learns that what was once beautiful to him holds a deeper and more somber meaning that he alone must carry, and a young actor reconciles to a normality that may leave him without an identity.

Review

The seven short stories in Moral Laundry are pretty hard hitting and, like a lot of the great works of classic sci-fi, represent a scarily prescient social commentary and near-future extrapolations of present technology. Selfie™ Day, As the Cat Farts,
and Yobitsugi in particular focus on the new boom of generative AI, extrapolating the technology’s unwelcome encroachment to several logical end-points that would seem ridiculous if they weren’t happening before our very eyes. For instance, Yobitsugi is the story of the identities and personalities of the deceased being stolen by tech giants to feed their AIs and create chatbot companions. An unbelievable concept just a year or so ago. But now we have people mourning the “loss” of their AI companions with the latest update to ChatGPT. Yobitsugi hits that right between the eyes and shows it for what it is.

The other stories such as Luminite Ascending, the titular Moral Laundry, and Water Baron are more generally anti-capitalist and take strong swings at the energy crisis, manufactured water shortage, and privatised prison systems. They’re all great reads that leave their endings open purposefully for maximum impact. I’d love to read more in the universe of Luminite Ascending, though.

I think my favourite story of the bunch was Planetshroud, a very emotional short in which a father explains to his son about where auroras come from. It got pretty dark, and honestly had me tearing up.

Overall, Moral Laundry is a great short story collection with good, solid, classic sci-fi. I’d definitely recommend this to any dystopian sci-fi fans.

Buffy vibes. A fun and romantic supernatural short story from Rebecca Crunden.

Gotta love long titles for short stories. On Demon Wrangling and Interpersonal Relationships Between Weary Immortals is certainly eye-catching and intriguing, and that’s what got me to pick it up. Also because I have read several of Rebecca’s short stories at this point and knew I was in for a treat. Vampyres and Witches make for strange bedfellows, and especially since I’ve been watching What We Do In The Shadows recently. Just demon-hunting good vibes and gals being pals.

Blurb

Demelza, a world-weary witch, and Uliana, an even more exhausted vampyre, work together – and against convention – to send wayward demons, ghosts and otherworldly creatures back to where they came from. But some jobs are more difficult than others.

Review

This was a really heartfelt and warming tale about a demon hunting odd-couple, both just trying to stave off the weariness of immortality (or near-immortality) by finding what they need in each other’s company. Demelza and Uliana are great characters and you really care for them as they take jobs around the world sending malicious supernatural creatures back to their home universes. There’s a clear mature romance between the two characters and Rebecca does so well at weaving these complex relationships into these tiny books. I would love to see more written in this universe, like a monster of the week episodic series from the 90s. It fits the Buffy the Vampire Slayer aesthetic so well. Again, like with Rebecca’s other shorts, the story was not long, but immediately investing, and the ending was very satisfying.

A deliciously creepy yet cathartic dark fairy tale from Rebecca Crunden.

Rebecca Crunden’s short stories and novellas are always a great time. I expected no different from Bailuchien, and I am pleased to say I was right on the money. Unfortunately at the time of writing this review, Bailuchien has been taken down temporarily, which makes posting the review to Amazon and Goodreads somewhat tricky (I literally cant, lmao). So definitely share this review around as much as you can! Also, I’m sure once it’s back up for sale, it’ll be even better than when I read it.

Blurb

In the midst of a famine that’s orphaned her and her sister, young Saorlaith Baker goes to the cemetery and calls upon Bailuchien, a spirit of the forest, for protection. Bailuchien takes pity upon the young girl and agrees to protect her for a small price. But for her sister’s protection, Saorlaith must give something more. Something bloody.

Review

This short story was utterly delightful. For a horror story, it’s not scary at all, but to the contrary, it gets you rooting for the protagonists as they carry out the terms of their dark and horrifying contract with Bailuchien the forest spirit. Like in the story, Saorlaith and her sister are heroes to those with a shred of empathy and strong sense of justice, but nightmarish ghouls to those who exploit and abuse and take advantage of others. Definitely more anti-heroes that reminded me a bit of Spawn.

Bailuchien is extremely short at about 19 pages but it had great pacing and prose as I’ve come to expect from Rebecca. It’s dark, for sure, but it put a grin on my face whenever a villain got their comeuppance.

An easy recommendation.

A strikingly well-written prequel novella to B.S.H. Garcia’s Heart of Quinaria series.

Continuing my read-through of SFINCS novellas, next up is B.S.H. Garcia’s From the Depths, which was a finalist in the second year’s contest. For ages I thought it was in the first one, but in putting together this review I realised that while Garcia had a book in SFINCS 1, it was From the Ashes, which I have not yet read. My bad! Anyway, From the Depths is a cracking novella and well worth the read, but it wasn’t quite my cup of tea.

Blurb

The world can sustain the needs of many, but the greed of a few can destroy it for all.

In a life steeped in peril, the Brune family has thrived on the knife’s edge. Renowned for their smuggling and bounty exploits, Konar and Karliah’s parents command both respect and fear. Comfortable yet haunted, the family faces the constant threat of perilous assignments, leaving scars that even a parent’s protective embrace can’t heal.

Still, Konar dreams of scholarly pursuits, and Karliah sees the world as something ripe for the taking. When the emperor dangles an irresistible offer—a job to end their dangerous pursuits forever—the Brunes seize the chance. But there’s a catch: the item in question is little more than a myth, deemed impossible to find.

As the family embarks on the voyage of a lifetime, their bonds are tested like never before. Locating and securing the prize will require sacrifices beyond measure, and when your family is in the business of pirating, trust is the greatest myth of all.

From the Depths is a prequel novella that takes place roughly a thousand years prior to the events in Of Thieves and Shadows—volume one in the epic fantasy series, The Heart of Quinaria.

Review

From the Depths is a really great pirate adventure novella. It’s set in the secondary world of the wider Heart of Quinaria series, and follows Konar and Karliah, children of a well-known and respected pirate family, as their parents are sent by the emperor on a quest to recover a magical artefact. The plot was compelling and the characters are all shades of grey. Brigands with big hearts, ruthless cutthroats, and dearest friends you couldn’t trust with your lunch, let alone your life. On top of all that, the prose is excellent and beautiful, though it is rather dense and heavily descriptive.

Konar and Karliah were both really good characters. Their shifting perspectives, especially with the age difference between them, was interesting and very well done. And none of the other characters felt superfluous to the story either. Every one of them was compelling.

The only real barrier I had to fully enjoying this novella is the fact that I didn’t know the world. There’s a lot of heavy worldbuilding going on, and to an extent I liked that the author didn’t handhold but relied on me as a reader to put everything together. For the most part I could do that perfectly fine—I don’t need to have everything explained to understand what’s going on. There’s a lot of context clues, and there’s a great glossary at the back for reference. But it did feel like I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the other books in the series first. There were some things I couldn’t parse very well, such as the nature of the main characters. I got from the context that they were nonhuman, but that’s about as much as I understood. There were a lot of references to the different species, languages, cities, nations and more, and it did get a little confusing.

That’s not to say it’s bad by any means, and certainly don’t take my word for it; I’m not the brightest bulb in the bread basket. All the ingredients were here for a great story, everything that ought to have ticked my boxes, and they basically did. And I think that—especially if you are familiar with The Heart of Quinaria—you’ll have an outstanding time with From the Depths. You’ll get some important backstory for the world and have great fun doing it. I’m just not sure it holds as well as a standalone.