August 6, 2020
When I finished reading Borne, I was pretty smitten with the world and characters that Jeff VanderMeer had created (I’m still smitten, to be honest, and it’s on my list of books to buy for when I have room on my shelves again). Eventually, I learned of this short story set in the same universe. When I had a little…
August 5, 2020
Seems hard to recall a time when I didn’t like podcasts, especially when there are shows like Unwell to keep me happily occupied. When I first started trying to listen to podcasts, I had a hard time finding shows that made it worth struggling through my audio-processing issues. Now, frankly, I’m drowning in them! And more keep coming out every…
August 4, 2020
I hate novellas. I very rarely ever feel that this length of book properly tells a story. However, I kept reading fantastic reviews for Follow Me to Ground. Then my favorite blogger, Jenny Lawson aka The Bloggess, chose it for her book club. Lawson finds humor in difficult situations, like her offbeat upbringing and struggle with mental illness, so I…
August 3, 2020
They might not be raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens, but that doesn’t mean that we love them any less. Welcome back to My Favorite Things, the weekly column where we grab someone in speculative circles to gab about the greatest in geek. This week, we sit down with Matt Ruff, who not only wrote our July Book Club…
August 1, 2020
Weaveworld (2001) Written by: Clive Barker Genre: Dark Fantasy/Horror Host: Michelle R. Lane Discussion Date: 8/28/2020 The Premise: Here is storytelling on a grand scale — the stuff of which a classic is made. Weaveworld begins with a rug — a wondrous, magnificent rug — into which a world has been woven. It is the world of the Seerkind, a…
July 31, 2020
At Speculative Chic, we feature a lot of authors who share everything from their favorite things to the inspiration for their work. But why not also share their fiction? Welcome to Fiction Friday, where you’ll be able to sample the fiction of a variety of authors, including those who write at Speculative Chic! Today, we’re featuring guest author Kyoko M,…
July 31, 2020
I first decided to read Lovecraft Country back in 2018 for no particular reason. I was scrolling through the titles languishing on my Kindle for something new to read and randomly stabbed the screen when I came across this particular title. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting; indeed, I cannot remember why I even purchased this book. Reading it…
July 30, 2020
Two years ago, I wrote a love letter to my favorite ongoing series. I was delighted to learn that, in this trash heap of a year, InCryptid has been nominated for the Hugo for Best Series! Again! Hail the nomination! Gentle readers, what I wrote two years ago still stands. Here, I’ll go ahead and offer you a link so…
July 29, 2020
One of the most common questions authors face is a deceptively difficult one to answer: “Where do you get your ideas?” Yet, the answers to that common question can be almost as interesting as the resulting story. Welcome to You’re My Inspiration, a column dedicated to discovering what inspires a particular author and their work. Whether it be a lifelong…
July 28, 2020
The pretty cover of The Ten Thousand Doors of January intrigued me but I was sold when I read the premise, because I love magical realism and stories about passages into other worlds. I started reading the book last winter but had to take it back to the library before I could finish it. I bought my own copy when…