Tag Archives: sciencefiction

Music and words

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Mark Hayes

Passing Place remains the book of which I am most proud. I love all my novels but this one is the one with the most blood in the ink, the most slivers of my soul between its pages. Its a tale of loss and love, of hope and grief , and of choices, the choice we all have….

Also, there really is a forest in the cellar. As well as a Dryad waiting tables when she is not in the back garden with her tree. A gunslinger with a tale of the mythology in the old west. An Inuit whose spear is dropping blood on the bar and speak of tears like diamonds. The wisest doorman in all the universe who will teach you many things, including how to drink brandy the right way. A girl in the corridor with eyes in her hands. A literal devil called Lyal. A grey man form a grey world marveling at the colour in the swirl of his mop water. A chef who understand how to may causality sandwiches. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, fantasy, fiction, indie novels, indie writers, novels, Passing Place, reads, sci-fi | Tagged amreading, books, fantasy, music, playlist, reads, sciencefiction, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar #21 The Man That Was Used Up

Posted on October 25, 2024 by Mark Hayes

All of which is no way as humorous in these latter days than it was intended to be when Poe wrote it and as much as Poe needs to be read with him being ‘of his time’ in mind, sometimes that excusing of the writer doesn’t make the reading of their tales any easier. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, Dear Edgar, humour, Poe, sci-fi, steampunk | Tagged amreading, book-review, books, Dear Edgar, Poe, reads, sciencefiction, writing | 1 Comment

After the end…

Posted on October 4, 2024 by Mark Hayes

One in two of us will be affected by dementia in our lifetime. Families living with the condition are often left feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and alone. With your support, together we can provide vital specialist dementia nursing services, so more families can access our life-changing support and live as well as possible, for as long as possible. Please donate today and help ensure no one faces dementia alone. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, big questions, books, dystopia, fantasy, Harvey Duckman, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, books, fiction, life, poetry, reads, sciencefiction, writing | Leave a comment

The Return of a Semblance of Hope

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Mark Hayes

Time has past… Strange epochs are upon us, the stars are finally right and the thing that was prophesied will now come to pass… Also there make be coco! Continue reading →

Posted in amwriting, books, fantasy, fiction, indie novels, pointless things of wonderfulness, sci-fi, steampunk, supernatural | Tagged amreading, books, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk, writing | 2 Comments

Men in Dark Tweed #10

Posted on June 28, 2024 by Mark Hayes

The Men in Dark Tweed were created on a whim while I was working on my current WIP novel, a Victorian Urban Fantasy entitled ’Lucifer Mandrake and the Hanoverian Proxy’ The new, somewhat nefarious Home Secretary sets up a plain clothes … Continue reading →

Posted in books, fiction, Harvey Duckman, humour, indie writers, men in dark tweed, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, writes | Tagged amreading, art, books, men in dark tweed, photography, poetry, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk, travel, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

Beguiling darkness: Tethered

Posted on June 21, 2024 by Mark Hayes

In the distant past before the lost years and the breaking of the world, in a younger less cynical time, I was sent a manuscript to read. This was about four years ( three atrocious prime ministers and one pandemic) … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, fantasy, indie novels, indie writers, steampunk | Tagged amreading, book reviews, book-review, books, fantasy, fiction, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk | 2 Comments

Dear Edgar #18 Blackwood

Posted on March 11, 2024 by Mark Hayes

‘How to Write a Blackwood Article’ and ‘A Predicament’ are two parody’s written by Poe and published in the same edition of the magazine, American Museum. One serves as an introductory piece for the other and in effect they form … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, books, Dear Edgar, Poe, pointless things of wonderfulness | Tagged amreading, Dear Edgar, Edgar Alan Poe, Poe, reads, sciencefiction, writing | Leave a comment

Books of the year 2023 Edition

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Mark Hayes

As with last year this may be slightly early, as there is a fair chance I’ll read a couple more before the end of the year. (in fact I know I will as there are a couple I am reading … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, indie novels | Tagged amreading, books, horror, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk | 1 Comment

Hope is not eternal

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Mark Hayes

All things end, some with a whimper, some with a bang, some too early, some too late, but all things end. The default state of the universe is entropy, and no story is complete until the final line. And so … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, fantasy, fiction, horror, novels, reads | Tagged amreading, books, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk | 1 Comment

Breaking Reality in Gloucester by Nimue Brown

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Introduction by Mark Nimue Brown is one of my favourite authors and one of my favourite people. Despite this I invariably mispronounce her name, I’m a bit useless like that, I read a word and how it sounds in my … Continue reading →