By Paul Jessup Before we go any further, I have a few things to get out of the way that might temper your response to this review. Yes, this website is affiliated with Vernacular Books, the very same who published… Read More ›
Book Reviews
Paul Jessup Reviews PIRANESI by Susanna Clarke
Some people want to go to Neverland, or Hogwarts, or Middlearth, or Narnia. That was never for me, as much as I appreciated those books, I never felt the pull to their lands. For me it was always Earthsea, and… Read More ›
Paul Jessup’s September Short Story Roundup!
It is kissing close to the autumn months now. The leaves turn, the hours of the day quicken down to numb the light. Pretty soon we’ll turn off our AC and get under piles of blankets, the naked trees scratching… Read More ›
Publisher’s Weekly Praises QUEEN OF NONE
Publisher’s Weekly heaped praise on Queen of None by Natania Barron, calling it “a layered, engaging retelling sure to please fans of the Arthurian tales.” Be sure to read the full review and then pre-order your copy today!
Aliens, Drywall, and a Unicycle by Kevin St. Jarre
In this debut from Kevin St. Jarre (Encircle Publications, November 2020) when Tom Tibbets finds himself in a small town in New Hampshire writing refrigerator news for the local rag, he realizes the people in his apartment complex are far… Read More ›
Paul Jessup’s August Short Story Roundup
How long have we been in lockdown now? It feels like an eternity, it feels like this has become a new normal and the world before, the world that existed when we could walk freely outside, hug each other, laugh… Read More ›
Is there such a thing as complete enlightenment? Last Days meets “The Court Magician” by Sarah Pinsker.
(spoilers ahead) This week my journey to read all the award-nominated and award winning short fiction from the last decade led me to Sarah Pinsker’s “The Court Magician”, which originally appeared in Lightspeed and was nominated for a Nebula. Narrated… Read More ›
Max Brooks’ Devolution Strikes a Balance Between Nature’s Revenge and a Sinking Hope
In the fifties, William Levitt changed the world. Realizing that the surging population wanted a private backyard with a white picket fence, he used quick manufacturing techniques to deliver millions of homes for cheap. In Max Brooks’ Devolution, a billionaire… Read More ›
Award Nominees Reread: Would “A Year and a Day in Old Theradane” by Scott Lynch make a Good Movie?
Being late to a party doesn’t mean the party isn’t still fun. I stumbled onto Scott Lynch’s novelette while perusing the last decade of Locus and Hugo nominees (2015), and I pounded the table after reading it. This should be considered a modern classic! It’s one of the finest examples of the fantasy novelette genre, and will stay with readers for a long time. Lynch’s gorgeous writing, which created a cinematic experience for me as the reader, got me wondering how someone from Hollywood might evaluate it.
Paul Jessup’s July Short Story Roundup!
Oh boy where did the month ago? Is it time for another monthly short story roundup? Well, I guess it is. This month has a been a strange month, for certain, but then again all months have been strange months… Read More ›