All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders My rating: 4 of 5 stars Great characters and humorous writing obscure a meandering and poorly-paced narrative. This book opens incredibly well. I don't remember being so hooked on a novel in a long time. The two lead characters are appealing and likable, but flawed … Continue reading My Review of “All the Birds in the Sky”
Author: JM Williams
Author, historian, teacher, veteran. A man full of stories.
The Artifact – 3LineTales
I'm going to try something a little different this time. This week's Three Line Tales photo prompt has brought back memories of a story I wrote some time ago. Indeed, this photo captures the heart and essence of my Storm Hamilton series, the clash of technology and nature, but with a optimistic gaze to the … Continue reading The Artifact – 3LineTales
First Review for Guardian
I'll be honest. I haven't invested as much time in marketing and sharing Call of the Guardian as I should have. Part of this has been the emphasis I've placed on my other book, In the Valley of Magic, which is really baby number one for me, at least for now. I invested more time and energy … Continue reading First Review for Guardian
The Trouble with Real-world References in Fiction
I am about a fifth of the way through All the Birds in the Sky, and I have to say I am loving it. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, it being a Nebula winner after all, but I am a tough critic to please. I didn't know going it that the novel was a young … Continue reading The Trouble with Real-world References in Fiction
A Busy 2018 in Review
I know my reaction to the turn of the new year is a bit slow. Everything has been a bit slow for me as of late. It's the cold. Everything moves slower in the cold. Truthfully, it's probably that this past year has overwhelmed me a bit. December was a unproductive blur, after months and … Continue reading A Busy 2018 in Review
Why Battlefront II is one of the best Star Wars films of this generation
Yes, you read that right. Now hear me out. Now I am aware that Battlefront II is technically not a "film." But with over an hour of cinematic cutscenes, it comes pretty close, and most of the narrative is conveyed in these movie scenes anyway. Moreover, the quality of the film scenes is almost beyond anything … Continue reading Why Battlefront II is one of the best Star Wars films of this generation
Might actually use the WordPress app now
Man, getting a new phone is fun, but having to redownload and setup all my apps again is not. Still, this new phone makes it quick! Maybe I'll actually start using this app for things other than just answering comments. Happy New Year, everyone! I'll be posting an update on my projects soon, once life … Continue reading Might actually use the WordPress app now
My Review of Contact by Carl Sagan
Contact by Carl Sagan My rating: 3 of 5 stars Anyone who has read a few of my reviews knows that I am a hard reader to please. I really thought this one was going to do it for me. The book starts so strong, and had me hooked from the opening pages. This initial … Continue reading My Review of Contact by Carl Sagan
A Signed Copy
I started following Syd Logsdon over a year ago. At the time, I had no idea who he was, other than a fellow writer, and one who had many helpful things to say about the craft. Did you know Syd Logsdon was published by Del Rey in 1979? And Pocket Books/Timescape in 1981? I sure … Continue reading A Signed Copy
KU Fantasy Book Reviews
Have you heard of this Facebook page? Because I hadn't, until this appeared: Turns out there's a fantasy book reviewer on Facebook that prioritizes indie releases, giving them a fair shake and small spotlight. The reviewer posts regularly (again I am baffled by how fast some people can get through a book), so there is … Continue reading KU Fantasy Book Reviews
JM Williams 