This somewhat scathing review will be published in the next issue of FutureFire. I've inadvertently found myself starting a sideline career as a critic!

JB

Well done, JB!

A
xxx

Was it not very good? I'd heard good things about it.

Hey, congratulations JB!

And of course - congrats!

Nik, you can read a slightly unedited version of my review under 'New Writing' on the site if you like.

Sorry, no, I hated it. I think I've had my fill of American 'pulp' writing. I mean, I couldn't even get into the latest Stephen King and left it two thirds unfinished on my bedside table...where it slowly crept back to the bookshelf. The problem is, nothing about it is original, and I do mean nothing. Yes, it starts out well, yes, it has some good bits, but as a novel overall, it just stank IMHO.

Everyone seems to like it yes. God knows why. It's clearly the product of the worst kind of nepotism and the usual Gaiman dick-suck. Sorry Neil, but it clearly isn't the best horror novel of the past twenty years - nor was Jonathan Strange 'unquestionably the finest fantasy novel of the last century'. Susannah Clarke and Stephen King are your friends. Do you think we are dumb or something???

Rant over. Read The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly instead. It's aces.

JB

How sad. Ah well. I've just started the book of lost... (on Sazzy's recommendation) and, so far, it's excellent.

I'll have a gander when I can (at that and ED).

Nik.

I'm having a 'phase' Nik

JB

Phase away, fella.

I do know what you mean. When someone 'achieves' something because of their father that they probably wouldn't have done if they were in our position. Yes. I know what you mean.

Nik.