Lindsay S.

  • October Takeover: Werewolf Fiction

    ~ Posted by Lindsay S. It was discovered on the eighth day of our October Takeover that we didn’t have any posts planned about werewolves. I declared this deficiency a travesty and a crime against Halloween, and promised to rectify the mishap immediately. The truth is, I don’t know all that much about werewolves, but… Continue reading

  • October Takeover: Vampire Fiction

    ~ Posted by Lindsay S. Vampires and Halloween go together like candy corn and garbage cans–they just makes sense. I’ve been a big fan of vampires for many, many years (I even wrote some posts about them awhile back), and so I feel very comfortable telling you that nothing says autumn, pumpkins, and trick-or-treating like… Continue reading

  • October Takeover: Dracula Part Two

    ~ posted by Lindsay S. Picture it: Transylvania 1431; a child is born that will inexorably change the course of history. Okay, that might be a flagrant exaggeration, but not if you live in Hungary or are a superfan of vampires and vampire fiction, especially the latter. The child I’m referring to is, of course,… Continue reading

  • October Takeover: Dracula Part One

    ~ posted by Lindsay S. When people hear the word ‘vampire,’ often the first thing that comes to mind is Dracula. In fact, for some people ‘Dracula’ and ‘vampire’ mean the very same thing (at least they do if you’re Deadpool). But where did this obsession begin, and what’s it all about? Over the next… Continue reading

  • Fantasy Checklist Challenge: Urban Fantasy

    ~posted by Lindsay S. If you like the idea of magic and fantasy, but think made-up worlds and pseudo-medieval times are weird, Urban Fantasy might just be the subgenre for you. In Urban Fantasy stories, magical and fantastical elements are plunked right down in the middle of modern day life. The results can be hilarious,… Continue reading

  • Science Fiction Checklist Challenge: Aliens!

    ~posted by Lindsay S.  When I think about aliens, Giorgio Tsoukalos from Ancient Aliens on the History Channel is actually the first thing that comes to mind. For those of you who haven’t seen the show, it examines unexplained historical events and monuments and theorizes that humanity was helped along at various points by ancient… Continue reading

  • The Science Fiction Checklist Challenge: Near Future

    ~posted by Lindsay S. I would like to talk to you about the wonder that is Margaret Atwood, but I feel a little weird associating her with a Science-Fiction checklist. Margaret Atwood writes important novels like The Handmaid’s Tale. She’s a serious author and science-fiction is so very genre. It would be like suggesting William… Continue reading

  • The Science Fiction Checklist Challenge: Beginning with Endings

    ~posted by Lindsay S. While the words ‘science fiction’ still bring to mind spaceships and alien invaders, the genre has grown over the years. We at SPL have designed a science fiction checklist to help you navigate this expansive genre and all its facets. We hope you’ll explore the many worlds of science-fiction and find a favorite… Continue reading

  • Science Fiction Fridays: Consider The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan

    You should read The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (and later, Brandon Sanderson). Here’s a listing of the series in order. Now, I know what you’re thinking: it’s so long (14 books)! And those covers (truly hideous)! And those names (Aviendha? Nynaeve? And best of all Cadsuane)!  And it’s so long! Truly, there are many, many… Continue reading

  • Science Fiction Fridays: My favorite druid

    When I discovered the Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne, I was expecting an apathetic, immortal druid, with a sad story and lots of dangerous magic. What I got was Atticus O’Sullivan, a delightfully well-adjusted 2,000-year-old tea-maker with a penchant for fish and chips. In the first book, Hounded, Atticus and his sidekick (a wise-cracking… Continue reading

  • Book Review: Changes by Jim Butcher

    In Changes, the newest novel by Jim Butcher, wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden learns that he has an eight-year-old daughter who has been kidnapped by some seriously evil vampires.  In the race to save the girl, Harry faces dangerous old enemies and makes some hard decisions that will irrevocably alter his fate — and even change the… Continue reading

  • ‘Tis (almost) the season for new books: Urban fantasies for 2010

    My favorite thing about the last part of any year is book anticipation.  Readers of urban fantasy know that the new year brings with it fresh installments in all our favorite series, and usually, these books arrive in stores (and libraries!) within the first  four months of the calendar year.  I have a very full… Continue reading

  • Magic in the Blood – still magic?

    Magic in the Blood is the second book in Devon Monk’s Allie Beckstrom series (after Magic to the Bone). This time around, there are ghosts causing trouble in Portland, OR and Allie keeps running into them as she tries to track down a couple missing girls for the police. Although this second installment in the series isn’t quite… Continue reading

  • Book review: Fool by Christopher Moore

    If you are in the mood to read something extremely, embarrassingly funny, you might pick up a copy of Fool, the latest book by Christopher Moore.  On the surface this novel is a retelling of Shakespeare’s King Lear told from the perspective of Pocket, the King’s fool.  Any accuracy or comparison to the original story… Continue reading

  • Chris McGrath: Cover artist

    Despite my commitment one of the library’s favorite adages, “don’t judge a book by its cover,” I have learned that following a particular cover artist can lead the way to new and exciting titles in similar genres and sub-genres. For instance, if you’ve read any urban fantasy, you’ve probably run across some seriously cool covers created… Continue reading

  • Book review: Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun

    In Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun by Victoria Laurie, ghost-hunting medium MJ Holliday signs on to film a reality TV series centered around her paranormal talent. When a murderer strikes at the hotel where MJ and her crew are staying (and where the TV show is set to be filmed), it quickly becomes apparent… Continue reading

  • Book review: Pure Blood by Caitlin Kittredge

    Washington author Caitlin Kittredge (she lives in Olympia) takes readers on another trip to Nocturne City. In Pure Blood, the second book in her series about werewolf Luna Wilde, bodies of dead drug addicts are turning up around town. Luna knows these people are more than just victims of overdoses, and when the son of… Continue reading

  • Looking for ornery fae in the Tri-Cities

    Moon Called by Patricia Briggs tells the story of Mercy Thompson, an auto-mechanic in the Tri-Cities who can turn into a coyote at will. Mercy’s world is full of ornery fae, egocentric werewolves, and quirky, creepy vampires, all more supernaturally powerful than her. If Mercy can keep her head down and her mouth shut, she… Continue reading