Tales from the Raven

My overall take on Jim Baen’s Universe was quite positive.  I think I can safely say that every story had its strong points to think on, and every story engaged me as a reader.  Most the stories went well beyond that feeble praise, however.  I’ll not belabor this point, since I have already reviewed each [...]

The Men in the Mirror, by Steve Ray*
A well-told tale of alternate time travel, this story was engaging and carefully plotted.  I occasionally found the descriptions long-winded, but they were also poetic.  Some nitpics: In the first scene it is clear from the pov character’s reaction to his older self that he’s not met Chuck before, [...]

Gnome Improvement, by Rebecca Lickiss.
Short Review:
This delightful story will have you checking your garden dragon for a slight change in position and going in search of a lawn gnome to purchase.  Winsome and humorous by turns, this story feels like a modern fairy tale or fable in disguise.
Long Reveiw:
While there is very little of actual [...]

At some point a few weeks past, I reached the lofty number of having ten submissions out at once.  Shortly afterwards, ‘Bovine Aspirations’ was accepted by Bewildering Stories.
A couple stories came back as rejections, I kept up the writing and revising, and soon I had my total count of stories out back up to ten.  Before [...]

Baby Girl, by Jon Skovron
Short Reveiw:
Not your typical ‘to hell and back’ piece, this story was a little slow in the begining, but creative and fun.  Who knew the devil had good parenting advice?
Long Review:
I found this story more intriguing than interesting, if you’ll allow me to split hairs.  The writer approached hell from a [...]

I like to read the Writer’s of the Future blog, and a few weeks back they had a little contest to see who could name the author (Patrick Rothfuss) of the map drawing they put up.
I figured it out, and posted my answer, then forgot about it.  Recently they posted again saying they wanted to mail out the [...]

Protection Money, by Wen Spencer
Short Review:
A well fleshed-out world and tough characters bring this story to life.  Gritty by turns yet emotionally touching, I found it a very enjoyable read.
Long Review:
The truth is, I’m trying not to gush.  The depth of the world-creation is very impressive, and the characters will live on in my mind as [...]

Okay, so maybe I’m just a few days early, not weeks or months, but it’s still a first for me.  I finished the final draft of ‘Way of the Priestess’ on Friday, printed it over the weekend, and finally got it off today, Tuesday. (You may see this as Wednesday, but then, you may go [...]

Power of Illusion, by Christopher Anvil
Short Review:
As a fitting final story to the Sci Fi portion of the zine and a bridge introduction to the fantasy portion, this story draws strongly on the heritage of both genres.  With realistic characterization, a good sub-plot, and impressive use of all the senses to create a vivid world, this [...]

Similar to sentences like ‘You can’t miss it’, ’Consider it done’, and ’You won’t feel a thing’.  The fates of the world sharpen their ears, day and night, for such foolish mortal slips.  When such a phrase is heard the fates whoop and swoop toward the target of their ridicule, intent on rubbing the puny face of the [...]