Tag Archives: sciencefiction

Casting Auguries

Posted on January 16, 2026 by Mark Hayes

I have other stories to write, other tales to tell, more blood to shed. These are now told and the blood is ingrained in the pages. Euryale guards her temple, the last survivor climbs the hill, the Men in Dark Tweed are waiting, the final proof of god sits between the light of four stars on a planet called midnight, the book herder waits for the rustle of pages, the Sibel calls her coven to dance around the stone, and Miss Maybe has a most unsuitable suitor. All the while no man waits for the daughter of the sea. Continue reading →

Posted in books, horror, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, urban fantasy | Tagged amreading, book-review, books, fantasy, fiction, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

The Curse of Amateur Dramatics

Posted on January 13, 2026 by Mark Hayes

Holly Trinity is awake, which never bodes well for the old city. Armageddon may be round the corner. But at least she gets to go to the theater. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, indie novels, reads, urban fantasy | Tagged book reviews, books, fantasy, fiction, reading, reads, sciencefiction, urbanfantasy | 1 Comment

Preludes in Obscurum

Posted on January 6, 2026 by Mark Hayes

Hello and welcome to what will eventually become the year of the Rusty Hobbyhorse in mid February. While we are now in 2026 it is still the year of the Distressed Snakeskin Belt for a little longer. However, weary travelers, I bring you news of some import before the celestial cladder turns once more. To wit, to help you through the cold darkness of winter there are two new releases coming your way in which to feast this eyes and feed you imagination. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, books, fantasy, pagan, Passing Place, reads, sci-fi, urban fantasy | Tagged adult, books, fantasy, pagan, reading, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk, urban fantasy, writing | Leave a comment

The Also By Anomaly

Posted on November 21, 2025 by Mark Hayes

I decide to do something different for Auguries of Euryale, my forthcoming anthology of my own work. I decided instead to write it in a more narrative style, telling a story of my novels and other works. I think it sort of works as a more interesting way to do the Also by pages… Continue reading →

Posted in amediting, amwriting, books, fiction, Hannibal Smyth, Harvey Duckman, horror, men in dark tweed, reads | Tagged book-review, books, fiction, horror, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk, writer, writing, writingtips | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar 45 ~ A Tale of the Ragged Mountains

Posted on October 31, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Science Fiction is awash with tales of procession or bodily transference… This one by Poe, may have been the first Continue reading →

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Friday book news

Posted on October 24, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Because one is as ever behind on reviews, as well as general book news here is a catch up in general on my book news and a few new releases form authors I have reviewed before and recommend. Firstly this … Continue reading →

Posted in book reviews, books, reads, sci-fi, steampunk | Tagged amreading, book reviews, book-review, books, fiction, reading, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk | Leave a comment

3 Turns Widdleshin’s: For she is Devine

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Whom ‘She’ is, is a matter for your conjecture. She could be ‘The Sibel’ of ancient Rome. She could just be a woman who claims that is the case to add mystic to her illegal den of vice and corrupted youth. A dark forbidding goth club named for an ancient standing stone. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, fantasy, Harvey Duckman, horror, indie writers, Poe, reads | Tagged books, reads, sciencefiction, urbanfantasy, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

Maybe Tuesday

Posted on June 19, 2025 by Mark Hayes

In another universe, where a man in a small lab in China didn’t drop a non-descript vail on the floor (allegedly) on a Tuesday in late 2019, the release of my 2020 novel ‘Maybe’ might have gone differently. It must have been a Tuesday when he dropped the vial, these things always happen on a Tuesday. No one ever accidently changed the course of history on a Monday. Continue reading →

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Dear Edgar 29 ~ A Descent into the Maelström

Posted on May 6, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Author C Clark, The Playboy model, the whirlpool , and Edgar Alan Poe Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, Dear Edgar, retro book reviews, sci-fi | Tagged amreading, art, book, Dear Edgar, fiction, Poe, poetry, reads, science, sciencefiction, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

Justice for Pluto

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Mark Hayes

There are in fact seven dwarf planets (though three are listed as ‘possible dwarf planets’) among the many other Trans-Neptunian Objects that have been identified. Two of them even have moons. The main reason Pluto is recognized as a planet is because it was discovered first. Eris, Haumea, Makemake, Quaoar, Orcus, Sedna, and Gonggong all could lay equal claim to planethood.

The most plausible reason why the other TNO Dwarf-planets are not recognized as planets is I suspect because learning all nine planets in order is already too much for some people before you add another seven dwarf’s. Given Disney’s recent issues with that number of dwarfs this may prove wise… Continue reading →