“Duma Key”

"Duma Key" is a novel that reminded me why I still like Stephen King's books and why I keep returning to his works. It's moving, scary, climatic, and thrilling. It's everything a good horror novel should be. There are supernatural abilities, there is suspense, there are high stakes, and there is a big, complex backstory. … Continue reading “Duma Key” →

Why I Stopped Reading the ‘Dune’ Series

So, the 'Dune' series is one of the most famous sequences in science fiction: a family saga, a space opera, an epic vision of distant future. The original six books by Frank Herbert were published from the sixties to the eighties, then to be continued by his son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Well, … Continue reading Why I Stopped Reading the ‘Dune’ Series →

‘The Book of the New Sun’: Last Two Novels

In my review of the first two books in the 'Book of the New Sun' tetralogy by Gene Wolfe I wrote that they were books written beautifully but without much substance. Overall, I can tell the same about, like, three-fourth of the cycle? Because in the third book, almost nothing happens, except that Severian, our … Continue reading ‘The Book of the New Sun’: Last Two Novels →

‘Fairy Tale’ by Stephen King

A fairy-tale which wasn't so fairy, and if it wasn't, the dark retelling trope wasn't the reason for that, sadly. There is something missing in this newest book by King in comparison with his old novels. And there is something missing in comparison with other contemporary fantasy books, overall. Because there are authors who may … Continue reading ‘Fairy Tale’ by Stephen King →

The Uncanny Cornwall of Daphne du Maurier

So far, I've read only three novels by Daphne du Maurier: 'Rebecca', 'Jamaica', and 'My cousin Rachel'. Each of them was gripping in its own way, and each of them depicted its characters and settings very vividly. I can see now why they are classics. And I can see why so many people see them … Continue reading The Uncanny Cornwall of Daphne du Maurier →

‘The Book of the New Sun’: First Two Novels

I love 'Viriconium'. I love the Dying Earth genre. But reading the initial two parts of 'The Book of the New Sun', 'The Shadow of the Torturer' and 'The Claw of the Reconciliator' by Gene Wolfe made me aware that I might like more the aura than the actual content. Robin Hobb is known for … Continue reading ‘The Book of the New Sun’: First Two Novels →

Speculative Fiction Authors I’ve Changed My Mind About

Over months, or maybe over years, I've been trying to listen. I've been trying to learn. I realized that sometimes, you need to look at somebody's set of works time-wise; because how they describe certain things can change too. Sometimes, having read other authors, you may appreciate that this one has made an actual effort … Continue reading Speculative Fiction Authors I’ve Changed My Mind About →

“Cloud Atlas” by David Mitchell

... Or when being epic and panoramic through ages is, in the end, not enough. I remember when I saw the "Cloud Atlas" trailer. I must have been eleven or twelve, waiting to see an animation in the movies. The trailer was the only thing standing out from the other teasers before the movie. I … Continue reading “Cloud Atlas” by David Mitchell →

Bad Things in “The Stand”

One important thing: It isn't that I dislike Stephen King's books, okay? If I didn't like them, I wouldn't be able to say that I've read six novels by him already. But while many people are just team "King is the King!", I am sceptic about particular things in his universe. You're given an impression … Continue reading Bad Things in “The Stand” →

Postapo and Pandemic

To say that we live in difficult times is to say something obvious. As a person from Poland, I have had this feeling since the beginning of war in Ukraine. Just as a person, I've had this feeling since the pandemic's outbreak. People are afraid of WWIII. People are afraid of nuclear war. And people … Continue reading Postapo and Pandemic →