Reviews
with foreward by Joe Vaz
The Damage Museum is the first book that features the art of Vincent Sammy, a freelance illustrator who hails from South Africa and specializes in horror, science fiction and the macabre. This collection includes work that has been printed in publications such as Interzone, Black Static, Something Wicked, Beware the Dark and many other magazines and books. He has provided cover artwork for publishers as varied as NewCon Press, Rosarium Publishing and Thunderstorm Books. Publisher: Short, Scary Tales Publications ISBN: 978-1-909640-54-2, Hardcover, First Edition, 7.5 x 9.25 inches, 86 pages, £21.95 Available from: Amazon, |
review by Joe Vaz
I've spent the last few days in Port Edward, KwaZulu Natal on a film shoot, but in reality I've spent it in the heads of Crispin Hershey, Holly Sykes, Dr. Iris Fenby, Hugo Lamb, and Ed Brubeck. Or to put it more aptly, in the worlds and words of David Mitchell's The Bone Clocks. br> Now I know I'm a little late to the game, but, holy shit is David Mitchell an astounding writer. Hardcover: 609 pages br> Published by Sceptre br> Available from: Amazon, |
review by Joe Vaz
THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE SAFE ...The Sanctum is a luxurious, self-sustaining survival condominium situated underground. It's a plush bolt-hole for the rich and paranoid - a place where they can wait out the apocalypse in style. When a devastating super-flu virus hits, several families race to reach The Sanctum. All have their own motivations for entering. All are hiding secrets. But when the door locks and someone dies, they realize the greatest threat to their survival may not be above ground - it may already be inside Hardcover: 352 pages Published by Macmillan Available from: Amazon, |
review by Joe Vaz
In October of 2014, 2000 AD began reprinting the individual books of Morrison and Yeowell’s breakthrough superhero series, Zenith, about the vain, self-obsessed, egotistical pop singer “superbrat” whose only interests are girls, partying, and where he is in the music charts. Yet as the world’s only superhero, he doesn’t realise that he is at the centre of a dark conspiracy that could wipe out the entire universe. Hardcover: 112 pages Published by 2000AD Available from: Amazon, 2000AD Online |
review by Joe Vaz
Abi Godsell’s Idea War is magnificent. I had the privilege of reading the first ten chapters of Abi Godsell’s sprawling Idea War series a few years ago, and it immediately grabbed my attention. Idea War Vol One introduces us to a team of young rebels, fighting against an autocratic government that, in a not-too-distant future, has taken over the control of South Africa. |
review by Joe Vaz
There's a reason why 2000AD is still the greatest comic around, three decades after it's launch. There are many reasons, actually, great characters, astounding art, riveting story lines and never-ending weekly thrills. But now in Prog 2015, available Wednesday 17th December, 2000AD is bringing back the Dark Judges, Judge Dredd's greatest foes. PB 100 pages Available in print from: Diamond (OCT141616) and UK newsagents Available in digital from: 2000 AD webshop, 2000 AD iPad app |
review by Joe Vaz
Published by Orbit PB 512 pages RRP £8.99 You have no idea what to make of this. You meet Lieutenant “Lucky” Quinto as he leads a platoon to uncover a cache of military weapons hidden ages ago beneath the ground in an abandoned mine. It seems as though you’re reading a piece of military SF. You’re in Starship Troopers territory, or that’s what you assume: army guys battle aliens. |
review by Joe Vaz
Published by Hodder & Stoughton Ltd HB 481 pages RRP £14.99 I first became interested in South Africa’s genre fiction scene when I started Something Wicked in July 2006. To grow interest in the magazine, we launched with a competition. One of the entries we received came from an unknown author named Sarah Lotz; her story, “The Perfect Man”, went on to win. Over the years I have become both a fan and a friend of Sarah’s, so I expected The Three to be good. What I didn’t anticipate was how dense, epic and yet intimate this book is. |
review by Deon van Heerden
Published by Hodder & Stoughton Ltd PB 752 pages RRP £9.00 (Kindle £9.99) When I heard that Stephen King was releasing a time-travel novel, I found myself excited and apprehensive in equal measure; time-travel novels are pretty much the multi-disc concept albums of the literary world, and even the finest authors can easily stumble and embarrass themselves when traversing this uneven, but well-trod, ground. And yet, somehow, 11/22/63 manages to be almost impossibly good, a historical-fantasy-thriller-romance novel, which excels at every one of these. |
From Issue 19 (Mar 2012) |
review by Deon van Heerden
Published by Rebellion/2000AD Originally published in 2000 AD during the late 1990s, the complete Mazeworld saga is brought together here in one, beautifully presented volume. The author, Alan Grant, and illustrator, Arthur Ranson, are, of course, familiar to comic book and graphic novel aficionados, and their names alone should be enough to get you to hand over your money without hesitation. If, however, you feel you need further convincing, read on. |
From Issue 18 (Feb 2012) |