Book Review of Jim Butcher’s “Grave Peril” (2001)

grave peril

© James Pyles

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I just finished reading Jim Butcher’s fantasy/horror novel Grave Peril, book number three in the Dresden Files series.

Harry Dresden is the only professional wizard listed in the Chicago phone book. He’s like a private detective, but the mysteries he’s called to solve always involve the supernatural and usually something very, very nasty.

While he’s on retainer with the Chicago P.D. “Special Crimes” unit, he often goes out on his own when something deadly threatens the community, or often himself and those he knows and loves.

“Grave Peril” started differently than the previous two books I’ve read. Harry was in the middle of confronting a hostile ghost with a very unlikely ally, Christian and Knight Michael Carpenter (the last name is especially cheesy given his faith).

Something has stirred up the spirit world and weakened the barrier between our reality and the Nevernever, the realm of ghosts, demons, fairies, and darkness. Ghosts are being brutally tormented by a mysterious “Nightmare,” something from Harry’s past. He and Michael confront the spirit of a maniacal nurse from Chicago’s 19th century in the maternity ward of Cook County General, and unless Harry and Michael can stop her, she will murder scores of newborn infants.

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Leaving

boxes

PHOTO PROMPT © David Stewart

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Joel McIlroy looked at his packed boxes through harsh morning sunlight. The folding camera reminded him to take photos of his trip to send to his friends.

He said goodbye to them last night. His companions couldn’t help pack the trailer or see him off this morning.

He put on his sunglasses and got to work loading the truck.

Being cured of vampirism meant he was a “daywalker” for the first time in seventy years.

An hour later he was listening to John Denver’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane” as he left the House of Graves for a new life.

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The Prattsville Spectral Tavern and Restaurant

prattsville

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

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Ed held the polished wooden sign declaring “Homestead Bed and Breakfast” in both hands. He looked dubiously back and forth between the derelict building in the middle of nowhere and his wife.

Lorraine’s grin radiated absurd confidence. “Put the sign up next to the others. Our dear haunt will be incarcerated with the rest. You’ve seen Ghostbusters.”

“They had a laser containment.”

“Just stick it to the wall.”

The sign magically adhered to the rotting wood and because he was near the door, Ed could hear the other spirits welcoming their new resident. The party got started all over again.

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Read “Wraiths” Today at SciFanSat

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Promo art for SciFanSat issue 13

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My wee tale “Wraiths” is now available in issue 13 of SciFanSat in viewing (I have trouble getting this one to behave), ePub download. and PDF.

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Book Review of “Half Past Human” by T.J. Bass

half past human

© James Pyles

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Half Past Human is a dystopian novel by T.J. Bass (Thomas Joseph Bassler) that I found recommended on social media by science fiction writer Neal Asher. The prolific Asher seems to read as much science fiction as he produces and I’ve followed a number of his suggestions in the past.

This 1971 story starts out as a typical “after-the-end-of-the-world” dystopic tale where much of humanity lives in a series of worldwide underground cities collectively known as “the Hive.” They follow an ultimate authority called the “Big-ES” and their lives are programmed by that authority for various functions. They only reproduce when Big-ES sanctions certain citizens to be “polarized” or to develop sexually as male and female. Otherwise, they are neutered four-toed Nebishes.

On the surface, vast crops are grown to support the Nebish population, tended to and harvested by intelligent machines. Also on the surface are large groups of five-toed “Buckeyes” who live a stone age level of existence. Where the Nebishes value community and compliance above all else, the Buckeyes cherish individuality and freedom (you see where this is going?).

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Chasing Talent

chihuly

PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

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Toliver hated what Seattle would become, but it’s where she went so he followed. They’d been arguing again over her premature use of “the talent.” She left training, dashing off to October 17, 2024.

“Admit it, Daddy.” Constance’s hand was on his shoulder as he examined a peculiar glass object. “It’s quite lovely, isn’t it?”

He turned and she was smiling.

“I suppose in its own way, but we need to get home.”

“You only enjoy living in the 1980s because of nostalgia,” she chided.

Tol countered, “We can see the first showing of ‘The Terminator’ again if we hurry.”

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Read My SciFi Flash Fiction “Wraiths” at SciFanSat This Saturday

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Promotional art for SciFiSat issue 13, “Betrayal.”

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My short story/flash fiction piece “Wraiths” has been accepted into the 13th issue of SciFanSat. With the theme “betrayal” and 1,000 words to play with, I started out thus:

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My Short Story “The Haunted Detective’s Cat” Has Been Accepted Into the Anthology “Moggie Noir 2”

moggie noir 2

Proposed cover art for the Raconteur Press anthology “Moggie Noir 2.”

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Raconteur Press has just accepted my short story “The Haunted Detective’s Cat” for their upcoming anthology “Moggie Noir 2” (title and cover image subject to change).

The basic requirements are “crime noir” and “a cat.” A moggie or moggy is:

…an informal British term for a cat, especially one that does not have a pedigree or is otherwise unremarkable.

My story involves San Francisco Private Detective Marguerite “Margie” Potter set in the summer of 1948. Here’s a small sample:

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My Short Story “The Other Place” to be published in the anthology “The Super Generation”

super cover

Promotional art for the Raconteur Press anthology “The Super Generation.”

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Update: You can now buy The Super Generation on Amazon!

My short story “The Other Place” will be published in the Raconteur Press anthology “The Super Generation.”

Imagine there was a one-time cosmic event that gave certain people superpowers. The event was never repeated and the superpowered people couldn’t pass their abilities on to their children. Only these people in their generation would be the superheroes and villains.

That’s the challenge each author whose stories are within these pages faced. Here’s a small example of my tale:

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Naughty Boys Pie

pie

PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

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“Sing a Song of Sixpence,
A bag full of Rye,
Four and twenty Naughty Boys,
Baked in a Pye.”

Delbert enjoyed working in the kitchen and pies were his specialty. The retired bibliographer took another sip of wine. It was an excellent Sauvignon Blanc, a bit pricy for a Napa vineyard, but tonight he was celebrating.

He would keep the first steak and kidney pie for himself (his mouth fairly watered in anticipation), but the others he would create before supplies ran out,  would be anonymously gifted to the city detectives and FBI agents investigating his string of serial killings.

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