Shannon > Recent Status Updates

"Bleeding from Cold Sleep" by Peter Fehervari - another story seemingly inspired by WH40K. Pioneers seem to be space marine adjacent. And the antagonists are unknowable mind-controlling beings that pre-date humanity. The story is a bit of a tease, as a future conflict is setup but then it ends. It's the first story in the anthology that has made me want to read more of that story. So, well done.

I wasn't expecting a sex scene.

CHRONICLER OF THE TITAN’S HEART by Anthony Martezi - DNF. This starts off pretty fun with a spooky atmosphere but then devolves into a nonsensical fever dream.

Pleasantly more-ish after my previous listen was a slog.

This is a product of its times (being now). The Covid-19 & crypto references are already grating on me.

"A Knight Luminary" by R.R. Virdi - another story seemingly influenced by Warhammer 40K (or I'm projecting). We have space marines that are able to use some form of magic. They end up in conflict with a race of hive mind robots. A run action-filled story. Outside of some wonky prose, this was a good one.

The Siphon - one of the longer stories in the collection. This is a slow-burner, but once it takes off it's an absolute banger. Another story with a PoS main character. There's definitely a theme.

The Siphon - one of the longer stories in the collection. This is a slow-burner, but once it takes off it's an absolute banger. Another story with a PoS main character. There's definitely a theme.

"Saving the Emperor" by Simon R. Green - another story that seems influenced by Warhammer 40K. This one has some interesting elements, including there are two characters who can transform into different armoured forms and someone kept alive much longer than nature intended. But as for the story and characters, we don't get much. There's twists and turns but they feel unearned.

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Nakh-Maru" by Jessica Cluess - a good old fashioned sword and planet. Gave me Barsoom vibes with the main characters being a super-powered earth man and a local princess. Enjoyable prose and fun action. One of the better stories so far.

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Nakh-Maru" by Jessica Cluess - a good old fashioned planetary romance. Gave me Barsoom vibes with the main characters being a super-powered earth man and a local princess. Enjoyable prose and fun action. One of the better stories so far.

“THE FRUITS OF REPUTATION” by Jody Lynn Nye - DNF.

A Broken Sword Held High by LJ Hachmeister - pretty disappointed with this one. Some interesting parts, but mostly just meh.

"Power & Prestige" by DJ Butler - a strong outing. This taps into a trope I really enjoy: more advanced civilisation has died out mysteriously long ago leaving behind magic relics that are barely understood. We also have adventurers for hire and ancient ruins below a university.

"Operatrix Triumphans" by Susan R. Matthews - a bit of a stumble imo. I didn't really enjoy this one.

"A Murder of Knights" by Tim Akers - great start to the anthology. If I had to guess, this was influenced by Ed McDonald's 'Raven's Mark' series. But, it also has a flavour of Warhammer 40K. We have crows, protagonists tasked with hunting down corruption, and demonic entities. Recommended

The Carrion Gods In Their Heave - another story that didn’t go the way I expected. This is a short one, but I appreciated what Barron managed in so few words. Plus the body horror.

Hand of Glory - this is a longer story than the others. It gives Barron more room to tell a more intricate story and give the setting more meat.

Like the earlier stories, this feels a bit like it started slowly only for me to be halfway through and things are suddenly bonkers.

We’re 2/3 stories with scumbag MCs.

This is very bingeable.

This has become a slog. DNF is tempting me.

It's strange how prose which felt dense, if not purple, at the start has become extremely more-ish.

The Redfield Girls - a creepy ghost story. I enjoyed it.

Blackwood's Baby - great story. It hits some of my weird fiction sweet spots.