Richard’s Comments (group member since Oct 10, 2016)

Richard’s comments from the Devon Book Club group.

At last, I have finished my first of this challenge!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Murder at Ashgrove House (Rose Simpson Mysteries Book 1)
by Margaret Addison
I really enjoyed this story; there was a good evocation of the time period in the description and the language.
There was a fair bit of scene-setting at the start of this story but as this one was the first of a series this was pretty important to get to know everyone. The benefit of that was that I got a very rounded idea of all the major players and their motivations, which made picking up the clues a bit tricky, at least for me.
It got to the point where I could see a motive in everyone’s behaviour, the author had made them all suspects. And there was a very clever use of the social and moral restrictions of the age to drive the plot.
In the end, it all made perfect sense, I never worked it out myself, in fact, I had the wrong suspect. Once I knew who it was, I had the feeling that I should really have spotted the clues, the mark of a clever author.
Book two will be going on my list.

My new Sci-fi novel "Myra" is available for pre-order before its Feb 15th release in eBook format. It's the prequel to my 2013 novel "Freefall," written to explain some of the things in that story. Here is the Goodreads link Myra You can find chapter one and more information at https://goo.gl/2t8Dsz

Sure, it's a sort of high-tech Victorian society, usually without electricity or oil-based machinery. In some ways, it might be more advanced than our own society, it's certainly different! Of course, the emotions of the characters give it familiarity. Imagine a world dominated by coal and clockwork.

My Steampunk adventure, The Rocks of Aserol, was published last September.
Here is the blurb
At first glance it was a simple enough job, go to Aserol and find out what’s happening at the Waster mine. For Horis Strongman, it’s the start of an adventure, there are things that don’t add up and he stumbles upon a secret. It’s enough to kill for, but can he stay alive to expose it? In a world where Coal is King, where machines of Metal are powered by Steam and Clockwork, those in power want him silenced by any means.
Accused of a terrible crime, Horis is forced to run, aided by those who can prove his innocence, and unsure of whom he can trust.
As he gets closer to the truth, Horis finds that he’s just a pawn in a bigger game. When his enemies strike, it becomes a race to protect his friends from the people who cherish their power too much to give it up.
From the mines to the skies, on the oceans and rivers, The Rocks of Aserol could change the world.
Anyone interested in an alternative Victorian universe can also check out some bonus, scene-setting content at
http://richarddeescifi.co.uk/?page_id=201
An audio version is also available from Circle of Spears.

Cathie wrote: "Have you read the two by Alfred Bester, Richard? The Stars my Destination and The Demolished Man. I enjoyed them both very much."

No, but thanks for the recommendation. I'll investigate them and put them on my TBR list (it's long but I'll get there). I'm setting up for NaNoWriMo at the moment so reading is taking a bit of a back seat. That's what I like about groups like this one though, you get to hear of all sorts that you'd never find otherwise.

I'm a big fan of classic Sci-fi, Asimov, Ray Bradbury or Philip K Dick etc but also William Horwood and George Martin. But anything that catches my eye really, I'm a sucker for a good cover!

Hello to Ian and everyone,
I'm Richard Dee, an author living in Brixham.
I write Sci-fi and Steampunk, both novels and short stories.
I currently have three novels available, with a new release due early next year. I have also published a free eBook of short stories and was part of a collaboration celebrating the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings in the collection "1066 Turned Upside Down."
I read mostly sci-fi and fantasy but I'll try most things.