DARK REFLECTIONS

Dark Reflections collects twelve stories from Paul Kane, all of which are based on pre-existing works within the horror genre. By asking the questions ‘what if?’ or ‘what happened next?’, each of them finds an answer that can be comfortingly familiar or entirely unexpected, but always delivered by Kane’s usual skill and respect for the original texts as he takes readers beyond their final pages and into unexplored territory. They are not only tributes but – as Kim Newman states in his introduction – love letters from the author, showing why such classics are read again and again, their characters remaining a part of popular culture for so long.

The sources of some stories can be initially obscure, while others are obvious from their titles, but both types make for a good read. There’s delight in guessing correctly, while prior knowledge of what’s being referenced helps the author twist expectations to provide memorable moments and satisfying surprises. Kane’s a prolific writer, and he’s one who doesn’t stand still, imbuing this collection with a variety of styles; the darkness is always there, of course, but it’s tempered with a modern approach and humour that catches the reader off-guard to provide a superb experience.

As such, there isn’t a weak tale among them. Picking a favourite would depend on the mood at the time, but for this reviewer, Dracula in Love stands out; it manages to be laugh-out-funny while making the titular character both sympathetic and terrifying. Fans of Kane will have read some of the stories, but three of them are new to this collection, which is a triumph for its author. Kane thanks the publisher, Black Beacon Books, for being willing to release the book and we should too, as this dark dozen are perfect accompaniments to the works that inspired them.

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WARHAMMER 40,000 CODEX NECRONS (2023)

The Necrons are a race of alien robots that feature heavily in the world of Warhammer 40,000. They are effectively ‘space undead’, robot skeletons that look human enough to be spooky, and complete Warhammer’s ‘fantasy but in the far future’ vibe that began with Space Orks, Space Elves, and Space Dwarves. These spooky space skeletons have a heavily ornate, Egyptian God sort of vibe that will be familiar to fans of Stargate SG-1 and the like. 

They’re an implacable enemy with some cool-looking models in the game itself. The back-story for Necrons has changed heavily over the years, with some pretty meaty story developments in recent releases. They’ve gone from being a footnote to one of the biggest threats in the setting, featuring some of Warhammer’s most memorable characters. This is in part because ‘cabal of cosmic zombies and interstellar necromancers who can’t quite remember how to be people’ is a pretty solid hook to hang a story on and partially because the models look cool in a heavy metal album sort of way.

Codex Necrons (2023) presents the new background material and rules for the tenth edition of Warhammer 40,000. Rules-wise, there isn’t anything terribly exciting for experienced players here. The new game is more a logical iteration of the previous edition, and as such, all of the units here are already balanced and thought through. There are a few changes that squeeze the playstyle into something a lot smoother and fun. Necrons are a little less tough and a little faster and are still as hard to kill as ever. Fans of swarms will find it easier to build an army list, and the Necron hero characters have had a slight boost in flexibility. 

The book is jammed with lore and written in an accessible way, and the narrative has moved a little bit further forward, with the Necrons having more of a reason to fight each other now, which is nice. We only received the digital version for review, so we can’t confirm the quality of the actual book itself. As always, the book is filled with glossy photos of amazing Games Workshop art and photos of models.

Codex Necrons (2023) is exactly what the game needs right now and a good sign that future codexes will also be satisfying.

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WARHAMMER 40,000 CODEX ADEPTUS MECHANICUS (2023)

The grimdark world of Warhammer 40,000 is crammed full of all sorts of weird and wonderful factions. One that stands out above the crowd is the Adeptus Mechanicus, a horrifying branch of humanity in which technology has become a religion and living flesh is regarded as a weakness to be overcome with steel. They’re a strange blend of religious fanaticism and cybernetics who call a ruined red Mars their home and have some of the wildest models, stories, and games in the Warhammer range.

Codex Adeptus Mechanicus (2023) presents the new background material and rules for the tenth edition of Warhammer 40,000. The bulk of the book focuses on being a source of inspiration for building your Adeptus Mechanicus army. 

40K is a weird, heavy metal-style setting with horror overtones, and this book is instrumental in getting your head around the aesthetic of these strange beings. This is a faction that distrusts computers so much that it uses human brains as 

We get lots of art, some fairly creepy stories and plenty of photographs of the models. The text is clearly laid out and easy to read. It makes for a fun flick-through because this book is more of a reference source for a specific bit of the vast Warhammer setting rather than a straight-up rulebook. We only received the digital version for review, so we can’t confirm the quality of the actual book itself.

Rules-wise, it’s theme first, then playability. In this case, these two things complement each other very well. For example one of the doctrines you can give your army is the Rad Zone Corps; these are units that irradiate the warzone first because radiation doesn’t matter to this army of cyborgs. In the game, this means they’re adamant. On the other hand, we have the Data Psalm Conclave, religious lunatics who use technology to pull off incredible miracles. 

Game-wise, this means that key units get better-saving throws and avoid more damage, as their faith (and a little bit of technological know-how) gets them through.

Compared to previous editions of this codex, this has a good balance of rules ‘crunch’ and story-telling ‘fluff’. If you like cool cyborg fanatics and grim dark space fantasy, check this out. 

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LOVE WILL TEAR US APART

The third instalment of the The Stranger Time series, Love Will Tear Us Apart, is a rather complicated affair. Eccentrically intriguing, undoubtedly engaging, and often laugh-out-loud funny, but complicated, nonetheless. For this book, author C. K. McDonnell has upped the number of plotlines to weave an intricate web of interconnecting threads that demand focus from the reader. No late-night chapter skimming here; this is a book that requires and also rewards close attention.

Things have moved on since the events of the previous entry, This Charming Man. Hannah has suddenly quit as assistant editor and gone back to her ex-husband, her replacement Betty is ‘odd’ even by the standards set by this team, and editor Vincent Banecroft’s obsession with his dead wife is reaching epic, overwhelming proportions. Each member of the team is pursuing their own leads, everyone they encounter seems to have an ulterior motive, and, of course, people are still disappearing.

It is difficult to delve too deeply into Love Will Tear Us Apart without the risk of revealing spoilers, but this is very much a story set within McDonnell’s world, the MLU (McDonnell Literary Universe) if you will. While you could pick this novel up without having read the previous entries, you probably shouldn’t. Knowledge of these characters, the journey you’ve shared with Ox, Reggie, Grace, Stella and the myriad of fantastical characters inhabiting this version of Manchester enhances the experience greatly.

And to be honest, if you haven’t yet read any of this series, then you’re in luck. McDonnell’s writing is witty and warm, a joyful fantasy allowing the ultimate escape.

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A YEAR IN THE COUNTRY: LOST TRANSMISSIONS

Lost Transmissions

Everyone who’s ever done anything creative will have reached that point where the phrase, “I wish I’d never started this!” comes to mind. Luckily for students of the weird and the eerie, Stephen Prince has crossed that Rubicon time and time again, delivering a series of explorations into the haunted worlds of film, television, music, and literature that have become the set texts for the folk horror and hauntology connoisseur.

Lost Transmissions is Prince’s fourth compendium of essays collected under the A Year in the Country umbrella, pieces which spun out of a blog of the same name, following quickly on the heels of last year’s Cathode Rays and Celluloid Hinterlands. He digs at the same rich seam he’s been extracting for the last decade, occasionally finding new treasures (the chapter on Rollerball is surprising but also stunningly apposite), but always taking a keen eye to his subjects, regardless of whether they’ve crossed his gaze before.

The book’s sixteen chapters cover ground that includes A Year in the Country regulars such as Ghost Box, the Radiophonic Workshop, Nigel Kneale, and Burial, but also take turns down unexpected paths. Thus, Paul Weller, 1984, and Castles in Space can be found alongside Gattaca, Network, and the work of Natascha Khan in a collection that is somewhat music-heavy but never unbalanced for being so.

While the fifth book proper is still someway off, Prince has already released a slim intervening volume – Threshold Tales – and shows no sign of stopping his excavations into the uncanny. Far from wishing he’d never started, there’s now a faithful following hoping he never stops.

THE CHRONICLES OF EXANDRIA VOLUME TWO: THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA

Critical Role is a franchise that began life as a bunch of friends (who all happened to be voice actors) playing a fun fantasy tabletop game and letting off a little bit of steam through the medium of gaming. It is now a brand almost as unique and beloved as the thing it spawned from, Dungeons & Dragons. And this means there is an absolute pile of merchandise now exists, from soft toys to actual action figures.

The Chronicles of Exandria Volume Two is the inevitable big art book that looks nice on a coffee table and is intended to be something that you browse, taking in the extensive artwork. This isn’t a behind-the-scenes book, rather it’s the second part of Critical Role’s first campaign, Vox Machina, told in art form. We get a small amount of in-universe writing to set the scene and put context to all the very pretty pictures, but ultimately, this is a very pretty, very well-put-together book full of art. 

Vox Machina was a campaign that would go on to become its own animated show and pretty much launched the franchise that Critical Role is today. One of the reasons for this success is the world-building, and the art here puts all of that in context. The emotional strengths of the characters and the power of the various places they visit are told visually.

There are a lot of different art styles throughout, and this is a showcase of sorts of modern fantasy art; the book glides from near-photo realistic portraits to very cartoonish styles, but this is all presented in a way that feels natural and fun. 

The Chronicles of Exandria Vol II: The Legend of Vox Machina is a big, heavy book that fits awkwardly on a shelf but looks fantastic when it’s left on a table to peruse. It’s a great inspiration for your own Exandria campaign and, to be blunt, simply gorgeous to look at. One for the collection.

 

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THE EXQUISITE EXANDRIA COOKBOOK

It feels like an inevitable symptom of a fandom becoming very popular is that it will spawn its own cookbook. Over at Starburst Towers, we’ve looked at cookbooks for every franchise from Doctor Who to Fall Out and from Supernatural to Star Wars. So it’s about time that Critical Role, the current big thing, got its entry into the world of novelty cookbooks. The Exquisite Exandria Cookbook is a robust hardpack crammed with well-posed photos of food, some nice illustrations and quite a lot of recipes.

Food is a common feature in the Critical Role show. This makes quite a bit of sense; each episode is roughly five hours long, and the storytelling is improvised; the cast is going to get hungry. So, inevitably, the characters are going to be hungry. As such, fantasy foods have been invented on the spot, and some of the show’s more memorable scenes have revolved around food.

The book’s central gimmick is that it’s written by a small band of adventurers out to explore the world of Exandria, so the recipes are broadly presented by theme. This means it’s the sort of book you flip idly through while looking for cooking project ideas. The prose is as rich as some of the recipes, and they’ve taken pains to make this feel part of the world of Critical Role; this book is aimed squarely at franchise fans who like to cook rather than cooks looking for something geeky and novel.

Luckily, they’ve paid as much attention to the recipes as well as the lore of the show. It’s filled with some lovely ideas, and they’ve used the world of Exandria as a springboard to explore various ideas. There’s enough here for all levels of cooking skill. These are well thought-out, working recipes that just happen to be squeezed between entries entitled ‘Muffins of the Shadow Baker’. And on that note, of course, memorable moments from the show are included, from Black Moss Cupcakes (including Dust of Deliciousness) and Lord Eshteross’ legendary cookies. Alas, it does not show the reader how to summon a legion of magical cats to do the cooking for you; you’ll have to figure that bit out yourself.

The Exquisite Exandria Cookbook is a theme-heavy geeky cookbook and reminded us a lot of Dungeons & Dragons-themed Heroes Feast. If you liked that (or you just like food and Critical Role), then get this.

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CONAN THE BARBARIAN: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM

John Walsh’s series of books about the creation of some of the most iconic cult films continues with this look at John Milius’ adaptation of the Conan story. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Robert E. Howard’s sword-swinging warrior, the film pushed boundaries regarding violence in what would usually be a ‘boy-own’ fantasy adventure.

The book covers every aspect of the production, opening with a section on Howard and the character’s origin, which would be a hit in novel and comic book form before hitting the big screen in 1982. The fight to get Conan onto film began much earlier, though, and Walsh digs deep into the archive to present some of the trials and tribulations the team had to get through to realise the project. Some stunning artwork from the legendary Frank Frazetta is presented beautifully in full-page reproductions that show how the character was envisaged for the sixties book covers.

Other stunning illustrations come from production designer Ron Cobb’s paintings and illustrations that helped the film look so distinctive. Likewise, all aspects of the film’s creation – and those that made the magic come alive – are covered with some rare reproductions of sketches and the like.

The entire book is lavishly illustrated with artwork, on-set photos, and movie imagery. Some of the screenshots are a little fuzzy, but this does not detract from the enjoyment of being immersed into the ancient fantasy world of Conan. It’s a must-have for any fan of the film, but lovers of fantasy cinema will also find it hard to put it down.

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CONAN THE BARBARIAN: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM is out now. 

 

DOCTOR WHO: ONCE UPON A TIME LORD

The Tenth Doctor rides a werewolf through a battle featuring his many enemies, in the cover art for Doctor Who: Once Upon a Time Lord.

Just in time for Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary specials comes brand-new graphic novel Once Upon a Time Lord, featuring the other David Tennant incarnation – the Tenth Doctor – alongside Series 3 companion Martha Jones.

Martha is captured by the Pyromeths, aliens who feed on fiction, and must tell stories to appease them. This framing story cuts away to a series of adventures – narrated by Martha – in which the Doctor seeks the “most valuable thing in the universe”.

Dan Slott, the Eisner-winning writer known for his work on Spider-Man, is a long-time Whovian and has thrown absolutely everything into his first go at writing for the Doctor. We get alien planets, earth history, and encounters with numerous villains from both the classic and new eras of the show. There’s even a ‘backup’ script starring the Ninth Doctor and Rose.

All of this makes for the kind of book that could easily get bogged down in its references, or feel choppy as it jumps between the different settings – we’ve certainly encountered other Doctor Who media that’s suffered from continuity overload. But Slott’s script balances everything with elegance – Once Upon a Time Lord flows smoothly and engagingly, and encyclopaedic expertise is not required to follow what’s going on.

Similarly, switching between artists mid-comic is a risky move, but here it’s built into the story; Christopher Jones’ crisper, more realistic art illustrates the framing narrative, and Matthew Dow Smith’s sketchier, dramatic style fits well with the stories-within-the-story. And Mike Collins’ art on the Ninth Doctor section reminded us of his time illustrating the Doctor Who Magazine strip – you can hear the “Fantastic!” in the way he draws Nine’s grin.

The main drawback is the price – since Titan have released this as a hardcover book, the RRP is rather high for the amount of pages you get. However, for readers in the UK at least, it is available at lower prices from some online outlets.

Slott has two further Doctor Who graphic novels planned, and if his first dive into the Whoniverse is anything to go by, we can’t wait to see what’s next.

Doctor Who: Once Upon a Time Lord is released 7th November from Titan Comics, via book shops, comic shops, and digital platforms.

To find out more about the book, read our interview with its writer Dan Slott.

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NEW EDGE SWORD AND SORCERY MAGAZINE

new edge

With a mission statement to take the genre’s core virtues and alloy them with inclusivity, positivity and diversity, editor Oliver Brackenbury has assembled a collection of short stories and articles under the banner of New Edge Sword and Sorcery. When Issue Zero was released towards the end of 2022, Brackenbury whetted appetites and opened eyes to intriguing possibilities; a Kickstarter project followed, and now, a year later, Issues One and Two are available.

Brackenbury was modest about Issue Zero when referring to it as a labour of love, as the quality of fiction and fact shone through, and this next pair of publications built on that solid foundation to provide something unique and special. There are thrills aplenty, the magic is suitably dark and sinister, while the protagonists all operate on the borders of society – everything that makes the genre great – but there’s a variety and depth to the stories that push at boundaries and challenge expectations. This new edge shines, honed by passion and talent. Issue One also contains a new Elric story from Michael Moorcock; Brackenbury has stated that working with Moorcock was a wholly positive experience, and it’s great to see ventures like this being supported by such a well-known author.

The artwork is of a high standard throughout, each capturing the essence of the writing it accompanies. The non-fiction consists of a range of interviews, reviews, and fascinating retrospectives of the genre’s pioneers and future creatives that will encourage readers to seek out more. Within these pages, Brackenbury and the writers have shown how the genre can move forward while still being respectful of those who have gone before and, combined with the quality of writing, New Edge Sword and Sorcery is a fantastic success. With further issues already in the works, it looks set to blaze a new trail; more details can be found on the website at newedgeswordandsorcery.com

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