Thursday, February 17, 2011

My Reviews hit the Web

I'm a bit silent, because I've spent the week working on an analysis on Jules Verne's "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea" and the sequel "The Mysterious Island". I'm happy to announce that I've completed the beast at 3,400 words, which are a lot harder to achieve, when non-fiction is involved. I hope that I won't be needed to administer heavy edits, because I want to focus on my novel, which suffered from extreme lack of attention.

Anyway, I hit the web hard on Monday, posting two Valentine's-Day-appropriate reviews.

First stop is "Cthulhurotica" edited by Carrie Cuinn, over which I gushed at Rise Reviews:
What you, as the reader, must know about “Cthulhurotica” is the anthology’s conviction. I’ve never read an anthology so sure in its identity, with a such a strong voice or as consistent in its theme. From concept to execution, I couldn’t find a fault within these pages. The covert art, the internal illustrations, the content, everything fits. Honestly, “Cthulhurotica” is also the first book I’ve read to justify its existence and then give an intimate confession about its secrets. I’m talking about the essays at the back of the anthology.

Then I also comment on a second anthology with monstrous affections, namely "Rigor Amortis," edited by Jaym Gates and Erika Holt. I review the anthology at Innsmouth Free Press.
Rigor Amortis is a thing of beauty. Robert Nixon provides a simple, yet arousing and fitting cover, which sets the tone for the anthology. Galen Dara and Miranda Jean ensure the booklet, if I may call Rigor Amortis that for its 134 pages, has sufficient interior illustrations. Those I found most spectacular grace the four alliterative sections: Romance, Revenge, Risk, and the kinky Raunch. The creators aim for consistency in tone and establishing a forbidden sort of sensuality.

Both anthologies challenge sexuality and gender politics. I'd recommend both, personally.

CALL FOR DONATIONS:

On an unrelated note, Innsmouth Free Press is having a fundraiser to keep it going and so far it barely crossed 1/3 of the desired sum. I'd love it, if you could spare some to donate. What Silvia Moreno-Garcia is doing with the website is exceptional. Innsmouth Free Press has gathered all these wonderfully weird people [yes, I include myself in the number] and the work that we put into it is quality oriented.

7 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

sounds like you've been busy outside of blogging. I find short nonfiction easier to write than fiction, but I'm not finding that to be true with book length nonfic.

Harry Markov said...

I'm generally quite busy and that is why I usually forget to post anything here. Kind of a bummer, but hey, gotta keep my name out there.

I'm not that used to non-fiction and it's draining, because I need to get the facts straight and generally not say anything stupid. With reviews I can be freer in how I construct my arguments, but in general wanting to do it right means donating more time to it.

Tyhitia Green said...

You're busy writing and that's a good thing. ;-) Keep at it. Talk to you soon!

Anonymous said...

Well done - fantastic work on both fronts!

Harry Markov said...

@Tyhitia: This is just scratching the surface.

@Jared: Thanks for the compliment.

Unknown said...

Busy, busy man.

I've got that Cthulhurotica anthology heading my way, so it should be interesting to read and review that one.

Harry Markov said...

Cthulhurotica is good. If you are a Lovecraft fan and don't mind some carnal steam to your fiction, this is the book for you. I will be waiting for your thoughts.