Friday Fiction: The Possibly Magical Bird (Part 1)
We said this story would be whimsical, and let it never be said we don’t deliver on whimsey. Unlike last week’s tale of magic and a lost cellphone, this story will take a few parts to tell.
It Came From The Archives! “Black Tide: A Self-Contained Apocalypse”
Black Tide was a different sort of book than I expected. The premise of a cosmic horror-style alien invasion was interesting by itself, but Black Tide marks the first “bottle episode” book I’ve ever read.
A Charming Deck Tech With Eriette
Much like last set’s Tom Bombadil, Eriette of the Charmed Apple begs for someone to build around her. But there was a problem right out the gate: Auras are almost universally known as the worst card type in Magic. They have a long history of not being played.
Friday Fiction: Shape Painter’s Lament
This is a silly one, folks. We’ve done many serious, intense, or frightening stories, but this is resolutely not one of them. This is a low fantasy, low-stakes comedy. Because even in a world with a unique form of magic, there are still very human, day-to-day problems. Problems I’m sure a lot of us have had.
Campfire Radio Theater Might Be Too Scary
Campfire Radio Theater is an anthology horror series tied to no apparent central themes, no reoccurring characters, and as a bit of foreshadowing: not a consistent approach to storytelling. I picked the episodes semi-randomly, going mostly off if the title or premise seemed interesting.
Civilized: Improv Sci-Fi Fun
Civilized is a first for me as a reviewer: it’s an improvisational podcast. Meaning the actors are just playing off each other. And as such, I can’t really judge it on its plot progression. Narrative, themes, writing quality: all out the window. There really isn’t even a storyline to speak of yet, just a premise.
Unspeakably Scary Things Issue #6
I screamed for longer than I thought I ever could. I screamed until I was sure I was about to die from suffocation if the bugs didn’t take me out.
It Came From The Archives! “Harrow Lake: A Metaphor That Looks Like A Horror Novel”
Calling Harrow Lake a disappointment is perhaps too strong a phrase, but the book does fail to deliver in a few key aspects. There was a missing ingredient, a piece withheld, that made it appear mismanaged.
Top 10 Best Wilds of Eldraine Cards
The Wilds of Eldraine arrives very soon. It will go live on Arena less than a day after this post goes up. And I’ve looked over every single card, made a list of the best thirty or so, and then narrowed it down to only ten.
Friday Fiction: Blue Sky World
Ever stared outside your window, thinking about all manner of things? What if that sky could invite you to stay for a while?
Disney Chills Review: Book #7: The Circle of Ter-ROAR
Let’s get this out of the way because I’m going to be typing it a lot: The Circle of Ter-ROAR is a silly name for a book. Be Careful What You Wish Fur is at least a clean word change—“The Circle of Terror” would’ve been fine. But, oh well. This is, as far as I can tell, the last in the Disney Chills series, and it may as well end on the worst of the puns.
Alba Salix, Royal Physician: Tons Of Fantasy Fun
Alba Salix, Royal Physician is such a departure from most podcasts I’ve come across in my career as a critic. It’s basically a cartoon but in an audio-only format. Each of the first three episodes is an isolated, silly situation with very little seeding for any future plots. It’s episodic, is what I’m saying—the point is to be a fun distraction and to make you laugh.
The Star Wars You Remember
“So many people get shived!” – Merril
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