Mithril Wisdom - Fantasy Reviews

Living a double life - Insecure Writer's Support Group

2012-02-01T21:01:00.001Z

For those amongst you who have been lucky enough to make writing your full time career, you can bask in the knowledge that you've managed to make a living from your passion. Both kudos and envious fist shaking to you all.

For the rest of us, we have to lead a strange double life - making enough of a living to keep a roof over our heads (and a constant internet connection), then donning the mask of the writer and becoming someone else (a bit like Batman, but with less money and more coffee).

It's hard enough to be a writer anyways, but when you factor in this other you that has to be grown up and sensible and think about bills and whatnot, it can be damn difficult.

I'm having some difficulty in giving enough to both sides of the equation. Focusing on the 'dayjob' means there's less writing (that includes blogging) but if I start shifting my focus onto writing, there's always the nagging feeling that I need to be doing other things that are more important (blasphemy, I know).

How do you manage to live your 'double lives'? How do you keep a balance between the writer you and the 'normal' you?

Be sure to check out some of the other participants below, and if you're tweeting about it, use the hashtag #IWSG to let others know.

Book review: Avent by James Treadwell

2012-01-31T19:17:00.002Z

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for Advent by James Treadwell! Giveaway ends February 2nd, so enter now!
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Advent by James Treadwell
Published by Hodder & Stoughton
ARC - 4439 pages
Published February 2012
Review copy received from publisher
Read the official blurb for Advent on Goodreads

It's not often that I think to myself, "What in the hell is going on?" and mean it in a good way, but that is the case with Advent. What starts out as a fairly standard fantasy scenario ('special' young boy, creepy old house filled with strange people, a connection to a powerful ancient wizard) explodes with a whole host of new and even stranger ideas. Treadwell takes inspiration from a number of different sources, from Goethe's Faust and the Arthurian legend, to more ancient and primal folklore in order to populate his world of newly found magic, nestled in the seemingly uneventful woods of Cornwall. His imagination has complete freedom, and this shows in the wonderful oddities that feature in this story, plucked from legend and given a new lease of life.

Gavin's journey from self-conscious, haunted teenager to accepting his role as the hero and his steadfast refusal to give up despite the odds was well executed and flowed well with the plot. Think less 'coming-of-age' and more 'coming-of-awesome'. Gav comes to terms with the strangeness around him quite well, in contrast with Horace, who always seems to be hurtling towards the wrong place at the wrong time. His transformation from the bitter rival to the reluctant hero sets us up nicely for a second helping of Treadwell's unique mind.

Advent was a bit of a slow burner for me. The first half of the book plods along at a slow but steady pace, then it suddenly runs along at the speed of an oncoming avalanche. Though the sudden change of pace was initially jarring, it did well in showing the sudden shift in the mechanics of the world as magic was re-established. My only issue with the sudden change in pace is that many characters never really got their moment to shine; often disappearing for large chunks of the book and reappearing just in time for the climax. I'd liked to have seen a little more on these characters and how their fates intertwined with Gav's own.

Advent is an excellent novel with a brilliantly odd world that is soaked in legend and history. It's the kind of story that makes you want to know more about the little nooks and crannies that are near you, and what supernatural secrets they contain within.

Sign up to the A to Z Blogging Challenge!

2012-01-30T18:59:00.001Z

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for Advent by James Treadwell! Giveaway ends February 2nd, so enter now!

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Some blogging events are so monumental that they need to be heralded and lauded until everyone on the Internet knows of its existence. The A to Z Blogging Challenge is just such an event. Its purpose is simple - blog every day (except Sundays) from April 1st to April 30th, with each day corresponding with a letter of the alphabet.

It's the kind of thing that's easy to do and yet difficult to master. Many bloggers attempt to tackle a particular overall topic or have an underlying theme to their posts. This is where the challenge lies. It's a great opportunity to meet other bloggers from all walks of life. It's an amazing event and one that I highly recommend that everyone participate.

Not convinced yet? I've done the A-Z Challenge for the past two years, and I owe a lot to it for what it's done for the blog in terms of readership. I've made a lot of good friends along the way, so I can't sing its praises enough.

Just pop your link on the Bloghop below and sign yourself up for the blogging event of the year!

Who's participating this year? Do you have a theme in mind already?

Year of the Dragon - the best of our scaly friends

2012-01-23T20:57:00.001Z

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for Advent by James Treadwell! Giveaway ends February 2nd, so enter now!

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新年快乐
Happy Chinese New Year to you all! (The Chinese came from Google Translate - accuracy is completely coincidental).

Since this year marks the start of the Year of the Dragon, it is a perfect time to take a look at one of fantasy's most popular and feared creatures; used in literature, cinema, video games and more. Here is a rundown of my favourite dragons:

Books
Hungarian Horntail, Welsh Green, Swedish Short-Snout, Chinese Fireball
from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

What I admire most about Rowling's dragons is that they are animals first and foremost. There is no real intelligence beyond that of a predator. They can't speak, and they do not hoard gold. They are every bit as dangerous as a wild animal, and rightly so. Extra kudos for creating variations in dragon species that weren't traditional (fire dragon, ice dragon etc.)

Movies
Toothless the Night Fury
from How to Train your Dragon

Look at that face. How adorable is that? The guys who made How to Train your Dragon combined a fire breathing monstrosity with a LOLcat and created quite possibly the cutest fantasy creature ever.

Video Games
Alduin the World Eater
from The Elder Scrolles V: Skyrim

Possibly one of the most terrifying dragons you can have the misfortune of meeting. Alduin is the son of Akatosh, the dragon god of time, and is responsible for resurrecting all dragons in Skyrim. Whenever you see or hear in, there is only one option - run. Run, and keep running. Run and hope he doesn't find you.

Mythology
Y Ddraig Coch
National symbol of Wales

Come on, you didn't think I'd talk about dragons without mentioning this beauty? As one of the only countries in the world that has a dragon as a national symbol, Wales is quite unique. The dragon was said to be the battle standard of King Arthur (though it's more likely to have been a standard for one of the Roman legions that settled in Wales)

Why are dragons so popular in cultures all over the world? What's your favourite dragon?

ZFF - I got eaten

2012-01-21T08:15:00.000Z

It's been a crazy few days - I had a friend's wedding to go to yesterday, and I've another friend's engagement bash this weekend (all in different cities) so my Zombie Fitness Fridays post is a little late this week - I guess that means I got eaten!

Fitness has been pretty much non-existent this week besides walking everywhere (I don't drive; it's the good old Shoelace Express for me). I have a thing where I need to start the week on a good, productive note else I do nothing all week.

So, plan for next week:

# Do an evening jog (roughly 20 mins) every day I'm not in the gym.
# Hit the gym twice (three times ideally) and work on cardio and upper body strength.
# Have another session at Cardiff Castle Garrison's training to improve my combat skills.

Comment of the week this time goes to Talli Roland on last week's topic, "What survival skill could you teach to others?",

"Um... how to guzzle wine? Get us AND the zombies drunk, and I'd bet humans would whoop their butts." (that could actually work. It'd certainly level the playing field a little. Though I don't want to be the first to offer a zombie a beer).

How do you stay motivated with fitness?

RPGs just became a whole lot more interesting

2012-01-17T21:55:00.001Z

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for Advent by James Treadwell!

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Tabletop RPGs such as Dungeons & Dragons and Talisman have had to compete with their modern, digital counterparts - the MMORPGs like World of Warcraft and Warhammer Online - for some time now, and to some it spelled the beginning of the end for our traditional RPGs. Now it's time for us to fight back.

ePawn Arena is a large, flat screen that connects to a smartphone, tablet or computer, and allows you to combine physical and digital objects that interact with one another. The result is the ability to play a dungeon-crawler type game by moving physical objects around the game board and have them interact with the digital interface. This is pretty exciting technology, and it has to be seen to be fully appreciated. Take a look at the video below (note: the typeface of the numbers and the skull motif look an awful lot like Warhammer 40K. Can anyone confirm this?). The ePawn Arena should be available at the end of this year.

What kind of applications does this technology have for us fantasy fans?

Discworld hits the theatre! Also giveaways!

2012-01-16T19:33:00.001Z

I've been given a hardback copy of Advent by James Treadwell by publisher Hodder & Stoughton. There are separate giveaways for UK and US readers, so take a look at the details of the giveaway!

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The most awesome thing I've come across this year was the announcement of a live production of Terry Pratchett's Monstrous Regiment not 5 minutes away from where I live. The show is run by Cardiff theatre group Act One Productions and looks to be an amazing show.

Expect a review next month once I've taken a look see. In the meantime, here are some photos of the group in rehearsals. I've not yet read that far into the Discworld series, so it will be interesting to see the show without having read the book first.

If anyone lives near enough to go to the show, you get get tickets/info at The Gate, Cardiff.

What fantasy book would you most like to see made into a live stage show/musical?

Book Review - Miscreation by Stefan Jakubowski (Zygmunt Stanley)

2012-01-15T17:05:00.000Z

Miscreation by Stefan Jakubowski
Published by Zygmuns Stanley
Paperback - 390 pages
Published July 2008
Personal copy of book

Blurb: There's life. There shouldn't be.
Creator Brown has been at it again. But then what can you expect from someone who occasionally ignores the odd zero; especially as he happens to work in billions and trillions. But Brown is the least of the problems for the Chief Creator who has just been handed other disturbing news.
The Anarchist is about to rise; from certain bits of wreckage. Serpens the self deluded self proclaimed tutu wearing Anarchist, banished from the Hall of Creators for certain improprieties and as punishment doomed to travel the Universe for all time in a claustrophobic meteorite with his meathead minions has, as luck would have it, crash-landed on Browns misaligned calamity.
Time for a plan - something he's not very good at - to escape the planet and pursue his doubtful claim to be ruler of the Universe. But it is going to take time; a whole evolution of it. Enter man. To be precise Musca ''the explosion was nothing to do with me'' soot smeared idiot son of the very recently deceased Chieftain. He plans to take the survivors of a certain devastating incident to a mythical land called OHM - there's no place like it.
Trouble is they don't want to go. Not with him anyway. Let the lunacy begin!

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The strength in Jakubowski's humour is in his characters. As a fantasy-comedy, comparisons to Pratchett's Discworld series are to be expected. However, whereas Pratchett utilises satire to offload the funny, Jakubowski has created instantly funny and likeable characters. From the battle-shy idiot chieftain Musca to the deluded yet loyal shepherd Bootes, the inhabitants of the world of Apomas all have a funny spark to them. It is through these characters that Jakubowski pokes fun at both fantasy and science-fiction with a sense of eccentricity that has tones of Douglas Adams within.

The juxtaposition of the protagonists (Musca's band of adventurers) and antagonists (Serpens' small group of intergalactic demons) is done well, as is the contrast between the hapless hero and the malicious (soon to be) Master of the Universe. Again, Jakubowski has injected real personality into the characters, especially the slow-witted ogre Ophiuchus, who's sporadic drone of "Breathe." whenever his master flies off the handle is chuckle-worthy.

The focus on the humour seems to be at the detriment of the overall plot, however. Rather than a strong, cohesive narrative, the novel seems more a string of comical scenarios that have been pieced together. Whilst this doesn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the novel, it sometimes feels like there is too much going on as the reader is hurled between point A and point X and back again. To compare it to a TV show, it has the feel of a sketch show as opposed to a sit-com: still enjoyable, but sometimes lacking a fullness.

Miscreation is an enjoyable romp through what would otherwise be standard fantasy territory were it not for Jakubowski's unique style of humour. Fun and sometimes frantic, Miscreation tickles the funny bones but sometimes gets a bit lost along the way.

Zombie Fitness Friday - Educating the Masses

2012-01-13T08:25:00.001Z

Last night I had a training session with Cardiff Castle Garrison, where we practiced spear attack, defence and counter-attack. It was great fun, but insanely tiring (something to do with lunging with 9 feet of wood and metal). It made me realise that my stamina has taken a bit of a battering over the holidays, so that will be my #1 focus for the time being. My grip isn't that good either, so if anyone has any tips on improving that then please let me know.

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I was looking at a post over at post-acocalyptic survival blog In Case of Survival, where they were discussing putting survival advice in nursery rhymes to educate children right from the start. This got me thinking that education is just as important as being faster than the things trying to eat you.

When the apocalypse hits, how many of us are going to know how to survive? I mean, really? With our sheltered, modern lives, opening a can of baked beans can be a nightmare if we don't have the right do-hickey that does the job for us. How long do we expect to survive with little to no power, water or heating?

With that in mind, designating schools/learning centres within your survival groups is key. Much like Druids were the centres of learning in Celtic tribes, in order to survive you need to get smart, quickly. People need to learn basic survival skills; scavenging for food, making a fire, sleeping downwind, hunting wild animals etc. If your idea of making basic medicine is repeatedly tapping the A button (as in most video game RPGs) then you're going to be one of the first to die.

Comment of the week goes to Alex J. Cavanaugh for last week's topic, "Where do you consider the safest place to be during a zombie outbreak?",

"The safest place? The moon!" (very true, Alex. But there are other nasties up there, like Space Nazis)

What survival skill would you like to learn most? What could you teach to others?

Feast of Fiction - Teaching us how to cook our favourite fantasy meals

2012-01-11T22:56:00.003Z

One thing I like to do when not buried nose-deep in a fantasy book is try my hand at cooking something more complex than "open box, throw in oven, wait until hot", and I've been steadily getting better at cooking over the past few months. Now, I've found something that combines my love of fantasy with cooking into one glorious Elven-made mixing bowl.

Feast of Fiction is the brainchild of Jimmy Wong, brother of Internet celebrity Freddie Wong. Each week he takes a dish from the realms of fantasy, science fiction and video games and recreates them in real life as close to their original intended recipe.

It's pretty new, so there are only three episodes so far. However, it's a brilliant idea that should please us fantasy nuts as well as the culinary-inclined readers. Let me know if you decide to try any of the recipes (the Minecraft cake looks insanely tasty!)

Episode 1: Sunlight Souffle (taken from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)

Episode 2: Butterbeer (taken from the Harry Potter series)

Episode 3: Minecraft cake (taken from Minecraft)

What fantasy/sci-fi/video game recipe would you like to make or eat in real life?

Book trailer and excerpt - The Rook by Daniel O'Malley

2012-01-09T07:12:00.001Z

This popped up on my Twitter feed this morning and I had to share. In a similar vein to Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch, this debut novel deals with a shadow-sector of the UK government that deals with the supernatural. The Rook seems to take a more tongue-in-cheek approach, but also includes a fair amount of suspense.

“The body you are wearing used to be mine.”
So begins the letter Myfanwy Thomas is holding when she awakes in a London park surrounded by bodies all wearing latex gloves. With no recollection of who she is, Myfanwy must follow the instructions her former self left behind to discover her identity and track down the agents who want to destroy her.
She soon learns that she is a Rook, a high-ranking member of a secret organization called the Checquy that battles the many supernatural forces at work in Britain. She also discovers that she possesses a rare, potentially deadly supernatural ability of her own.
In her quest to uncover which member of the Checquy betrayed her and why, Myfanwy encounters a person with four bodies, an aristocratic woman who can enter her dreams, a secret training facility where children are transformed into deadly fighters, and a conspiracy more vast than she ever could have imagined.

A trailer has also been released for the book (see below). I like the demonic receptionist, the supernatural needs a switchboard. Also, you can read the first four chapters of The Rook for free. The Rook is set to be published by HarperCollins Voyager (Australia) and Little Brown (US, thanks Fantasy Nibbles!) in February 2012.

Zombie Fitness Fridays - Goals

2012-01-06T21:41:00.003Z

Zombie Fitness Fridays is back for 2012! Even though I'm going to be joining the Cardiff Castle Garrison for Medieval battle training, I think I could still use a little training with surviving against the undead.

I have a few goals in mind for this year that will put me in good stead for running from and confronting my zombie adversaries, and a few areas that I will be focusing in my training:

~ Last year, I was too hung up over shedding pounds, which was wrong. This is Zombie Fitness Fridays, not Zombie Fatness Fridays. Physical fitness and health is the #1 goal.

~ I've finally watched Zombieland (and it was ace) and so I'm sticking to Rule #1: Cardio. I'll be hitting the treadmill and the cross-trainer for the majority of my training. I need to be able to outrun any zombies that want me as a snack, up to speeds of 28 Days Later zombies.

~ Upper body strength. Eventually I'm going to have to go toe-to-toe with a few shufflers, so I'm going to be working on my strength and doing some resistance training on my shoulders and back (enough to swing a blunt object with enough force to take down a zombie in one hit). The combat training I will get will be a good complement to this, and I'll also be able to convert some of my bulk into muscle.

~ Stamina. I need to be able to walk/jog/run for long distances, covering ground between camps and when food is scarce. Some cross-country type training (likely on the treadmill) will be useful here. I'll use my endurance level to test my fitness improvement.

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You see that graphic up on the top left? Nice, isn't it? There have been a few people who have asked about Zombie Fitness Fridays, so everyone is welcome to join in and unite against the undead. Rules are simple - post on a Friday (not every Friday, but on Fridays) with your fitness progress and how it's helping you to survive the undead onslaught. Use the graphic to show your support, and let me know if you want to join in!

This initial week has seen a single gym session (treadmill and X-trainer for cardio, abdominal and biceps for strength) plus 2 nights of jogging to build up endurance. Let's hope the New Year means a good year for not getting eaten!

Where do you consider the safest place to be during a zombie outbreak?

Goals and resolutions - Insecure Writer's Support Group

2012-01-04T06:52:00.001Z

As the first Insecure Writer's Support Group post of 2012, I felt that it would be fitting to talk about writing goals and resolutions.

Quite a few of you have decided to set yourselves writing goals this year, and that is truly admirable. However, if you're anything like me, goals and resolutions only last about 3 weeks before either laziness or procrastination rears its ugly head and all that hard work and good intention goes out the window.

With that in mind, here are a few things I've learned when setting writing goals:

#1. Be Realistic: Setting yourself a challenging goal is one thing, but make sure that it can actually be achieved. Saying something like "I'm going to write 4 books this year" when you've never written a first draft before is pushing it a little too far. Stick with what you know you can achieve.

#2. Small goals are king: Even if you have an achievable and realistic goal, it looks a little daunting standing tall on December 31st, glaring at you from the end of the year. Make your goal more manageable by splitting it into smaller goals, or create milestones for yourself that you need to accomplish by certain times of the year. For example,

"In 2012, I am going to write the first draft of my novel"
Can become
"I will write the outline by March, I will have 50,000 words written by July, and I will finish it by December"

With smaller goals on the near horizon, it makes things far easier to work towards.

#3. Give yourself time to write: I've seen quite a few people who have set themselves writing goals because they have lacked time to write in the past. In order for you to achieve these goals, it helps to give yourself dedicated 'writing time' every day. That way, you know that you always have time to write, and little by little your goal will get closer to completion. Even half an hour a day is better than not writing at all, which causes a snowball effect and before you know it it's November and you've only written 200 words.

#4. Know that you are not alone: If the IWSG is anything to go by, you have the support if dozens, if not hundreds, of like-minded people who are trying to achieve similar things. We are here for you. So if you are struggling to achieve your writing goals, or you need advice, or even just a pep talk, don't give up. Come to us. It's what friends are for!

What are your writing goals for 2012? How will you go about achieving them?

Be sure to check out some of the other participants below, and if you're tweeting about it, use the hashtag #IWSG to let others know.

Read the free prologue for Seven Princes by John R. Fultz

2012-01-02T20:27:00.000Z

In preparation for the upcoming release of Seven Princes by John R. Fultz, Orbit Books has released the prologue for the new series for free. It's a bloody, action-filled chapter that sets a dark and violent tone for the rest of the novel. If necromancy, bloodshed and tyranny float your boat, then take a read.

Seven Princes by John R. Fultz
Published by Orbit
Published - Jan 2012

An ancient necromancer slaughters the king and his court in front of the unbelieving eyes of crown prince D’zan. From that moment, his life is consumed by one thought – to regain his throne. Others will join him, some will oppose him.
In a world where men and giants fight side by side against ancient monsters and new powers, only one thing is sure – war is coming. Blood will run and princes will clash.
Seven princes. Seven destinies.
All will be legend.

[Read the prologue to Seven Prince at Orbit Books]

Seven Princes looks to be an explosive new series. I'll be keeping my eye on this one.

What books are you looking forward to reading this year?

2012 - the year of blogging!

2012-01-01T15:26:00.000Z

Hello again, everyone! I hope you all had an excellent Christmas and New Year. Now all the holiday jazz is over, it's time to get stuck into sticking with our resolutions. One of mine is to get a little more serious with Mithril Wisdom, and so with that in mind I've gone for a blog redesign and reshuffle to make it a bit more sleek looking. There are still some things that need tweaking, but feel free to take a look around. Also, I've finally got my own URL for the blog! You can now go to www.mithrilwisdom.com and you'll end up here. Whoo-hoo!

To kick off 2012, here's a list of things that I'll be looking at and reviewing in the near future (all Christmas presents).

Books:

The Way of Kings (Part One) by Brandon Sanderson

Miscreation by Stefan Jakubowski

Games:

LEGO: Heroica
Castle Fortaan
Draida Bay

(You can combine these sets together so I'll do a single big Heroica review).

Music:

Under the Grey Banner by Dragonland

It feels great to be back and blogging again. Here's hoping that 2012 will be the year of taking things a little more seriously and making this blog even better!

What was your favourite gift this Christmas?

Under maintenance

2011-12-16T23:37:00.002Z

Mithril Wisdom is undergoing some scheduled maintenance. I'll be back with a new look and some new things in the New Year. Until then, here's a little something to annoy the masses:

Taking a Christmas break

2011-12-15T08:15:00.002Z

I know that I haven't been around the past few weeks, and for that I apologise. It's made me realise that I need to get a little bit more serious with this blog. After 2 years, I think it's time to up the ante a little bit and see what it's capable of. With that in mind, I'll be offline until the New Year, when I hope to return with a new look for the blog, some new features and making some good headway on the TBR pile. 2012 will be that year, I hope.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and an awesome New Year. Stay safe and be happy. Christmas is coming ...

In which I get hit repeatedly with a blade

2011-12-09T06:58:00.001Z

Last week, I finally found a historical re-enactment group that runs close to where I live. I've been looking for a few years, but they've always been in the far flung corners of Wales (and I don't drive). Then I stumbled across Cardiff Castle Garrison - a Medieval re-enactment group that recreates life and battle in mid 14th Century Britain.

I went to one of their group socials last week, appropriately set in a pub called The Rummers Tavern that sits opposite Cardiff Castle. Everyone in the group was friendly and welcoming, and I got along with them pretty quickly (I think wearing a T-Shirt for viking-metal band Turisas served as a good ice-breaker!)

They invited me to join their combat training session last night (sadly I joined as the Winter term was ending, so there's no more until after the New Year) and it was immense fun. As a newcomer a.k.a 'squishie', I was given basic combat training with a wooden sword, protective glove for my sword arm and a basic helmet.

I was put through my paces by one of the instructors, learning the seven basic sword swings and corresponding defence blocks. I was told I had picked it up quite quickly so I did some 'attack and response' sparring with one of the other newbies there.

It was only a 90 minute session, but I loved every minute of it. I quickly realised that I have virtually no grip in my sword arm. After about an hour I was unable to properly swing the sword, so I'll need to work on that over Christmas. I also need to judge what kind of attack is coming my way before I start to block, as more than once I took a sword to the shoulder.

I can't wait to go again. It is a fantastic group with a great bunch of people. I've been told that in the New Year I'll be doing spearwall training, and I have to make my own 14th-Century clothing. Bring it on!

Cutting the mustard - Insecure Writer's Suport Group

2011-12-07T06:42:00.001Z

This is the last post for 2011 for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. For those of your who don't know, the IWSG is a chance for writer's to get off their chest their worries, insecurities and problems when it comes to writing, and also get some support in the process.

We meet on the first Wednesday of every month over coffee (metaphorical coffee). Take a look at some other participants on the bloglist below, and sign up if you're interested!

There are many things that stop me from actually writing something - procrastination is the biggest one, not having much time to do so is another. But the thing that I think is mostly holding me back?

Not thinking I'll be good enough to write something of value.

I've read quite a few books since I started this blog; mostly good, some awful. There are some truly talented authors out there who have that innate gift of storytelling. How am I to match up to that calibre? I have buckets of imagination, but do I have any real talent? I'm both untrained and untested, so I'm very much the rookie with big aspirations.

The only real way that I'll ever find out is to write something and see what happens. Last week, I wrote a pantomime for my team at work and I received unanimously positive feedback from it (though they might have just been polite). I think what I need to do for 2012 is to submit short stories to competitions, write a lot of flash fiction, and take part in collaborative writing projects (and get onto a creative writing course or writing group) to bolster both my ability and confidence. Watch this space, let's see how I go.

What do you do when you have those nagging moments of self-doubt in your ability that freeze up your writing? What's the best way to overcome it?

Be sure to check out some of the other participants below, and if you're tweeting about it, use the hashtag #IWSG to let others know.

Movie trailer - Chronicle (2012)

2011-12-05T22:44:00.001Z

Three high school friends gain superpowers after making an incredible discovery. Soon, though, they find their lives spinning out of control and their bond tested as they embrace their darker sides.

This movie is still in the teaser stages, but it's got a similar excitement/hype that followed Cloverfield and Super 8 in its mystery. I like the use of the 'found footage' with traditional filming techniques. I also like the darker tone to the whole 'gaining super powers' story.

Chronicle is due to hit cinemas in 2012.

Do you like this darker tone? What would you want to see in a new superhero movie?

Mithril Wisdom turns 2!

2011-12-04T12:46:00.001Z

It's odd to think that it was two years ago today that I decided to set up Mithril Wisdom as a way of getting through an ever increasing pile of fantasy books. Fast forward two years and I've got an even bigger pile of books, courtesy of the authors and publishers who have generously though me as deserving enough to review them. My thanks go out to all of you.

I've been missing in action for a little while, so I'll bring you up to speed:

I've been playing an awful lot of Skyrim. That game devours your time and your soul alike. And I'm loving every minute of it.
I'm now writing mini-reviews in my work's in-house magazine. They are small, 150 word reviews of books on management, personal development etc. This means that my fiction reviewing will be a lot thinner on the ground from now on.
I wrote a pantomime for a team building day at work. It was a 15 minute play and I got full creative control of the script. It was a hell of a lot of fun and I'd love to do it again.

Though reading/reviewing fantasy novels was the reason I started up this blog, I know that they'll be a lot more infrequent from now on. There will still be fantasy reviews, though.

What would you like to see instead? Video game reviews? Comic reviews? More posts about fantasy in music?

I'd love to get some feedback on what you think works and doesn't. I mean it - complete honesty is what I'm after, no matter how good/bad it may be. I can take it.

My biggest thanks also goes out to you guys for reading, commenting, reposting and generally sticking around for the past two years. You are the best friends I've never met!

Review - Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch (Gollancz)

2011-11-26T21:26:00.001Z

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
Published by Gollancz
Paperback - 400 pages
Published January 2011
Personal copy of book

My name is Peter Grant and until January I was just probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (and as the Filth to everybody else). My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit - we do paperwork so real coppers don't have to - and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Leslie May.
Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from someone who was dead but disturbingly voluable, and that brought me to the attention of Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England. Now I'm a Detective Constable and a trainee wizard, the first apprentice in fifty years, and my world has become somewhat more complicated: nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and goddess of the Thames, and digging up graves in Covent Garden . . . and there's something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious vengeful spirit that takes ordinary Londoners and twists them into grotesque mannequins to act out its drama of violence and despair.
The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it's falling to me to bring order out of chaos - or die trying.

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This bit has been said before, so I'll get it out of the way. Ben Aaronovitch's rendition of London as something supernatural is in a similar vein to Neil Gaiman and China Mieville. If the idea of the city of London having a paranormal underbelly excites you, there is a good stock of material for you to whet your appetite. There, now it's been said, I can talk about Rivers of London on its own merits.

What strikes me most about Aaronovitch's version of the city is that, whilst it is underpinned by supernatural forces and magic, there is a degree of logical and rational explanation to how it works. An example of this is having Sir Issac Newton as the patron of wizards in London; the juxtaposition of the logical and the preternatural makes for a far more believable world.

This idea is embodied in Peter Grant, who questions the magical side of things at every turn. He is not content in simply going "I'm a wizard? That's cool, let's make magic happen". Instead, he experiment with the limitations of magic and the boundary with science. Grant takes a very British "Keep calm and carry on" attitude in dealing with the various gods, monsters and ghosts of the city of London, which keeps things rooted in the here-and-now. The supporting cast of the story are a good mix of the cosmopolitan make up of the city, and add both depth and charm to the novel.

The pacing of the novel was very good, combining police procedural with muder-mystery and standard "new wizard" learning scenes. I really enjoyed the slower scenes where Grant is learning the basics of his magical ability, though they verged on the side of being info-dumpy

The downside to Rivers of London is that the plot threads didn't tie up as nicely as I'd have liked, and the sub-plot seemed so disparate from the main plot that it seemed unnecessary. There was no real interconnection between plot strands, which for the most part made for two separate stories within the same book.

In short, Rivers of London is a rich, immersive read that will have you hankering for more mystical goings on from a city full to bursting with folklore and mythology. Whereas Gaiman and Mieville push the boundaries of the fantastic, Aaronovitch's London is far more closer to reality. An excellent read for fans of contemporary fantasy.

Review - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

2011-11-20T14:48:00.001Z

This is likely to be one of the most hyped games of the past few years. After the success of Oblivion a few years back, fanboys have been biting at the bit for a follow-up. With the wait finally over, does Skyrim have what it takes to win over the fantasy crowd? Dear, sweet baby dragons, it does.

As with my previous video game reviews, I won't be looking at graphics or gameplay dynamics, but rather my focus is on the plot, characters and atmosphere, and the immersive experience as a whole.

First of all, Skyrim is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind bogglingly big it is. The cities, forts, caves, random farms and bandit camps have been created with such detail that you can easily spend a week's worth of gameplay without ever even touching the main plot (as I am currently doing). Every person you speak to and every book and note that you find gives you a more expansive view of the world. Missing a seemingly useless piece of dialogue from a drunk in a tavern might mean you lose out on an enchanted weapon buried beneath a beautiful landscape on the other side of the world. That kind of depth makes you want to explore every nook and cranny as much as possible rather than just plow ahead with the plot.

This detail extends beyond the confines of your character and their immediate surroundings. Racial tensions, old grudges and relationship troubles abound in every place you visit. Each serves to enrich the world and give you a better understanding of the cultures within it.

My character of choice was a leonine mercenary assassin who is slowly becoming corrupted by the Thieves' Guild. The level of customization and freedom of play style is astounding. Should the whim take me, I could change my style to a conjurer who doesn't lift a finger in a fight but summons/hypnotizes others to do things for him. Skyrim's scope allows for a player to create their own story other than the 'Dragonborn' plot of the main quest. Depending on how you interact with others, certain quests will be made available to you or revoked as you make choices that shape your character. In Skyrim, you can ask yourself "how would my character act in this situation?" and be able to do just that.

If you're looking for a quick play of something action-y that you can finish in a few hours, Skyrim is not it. If you want a massive, open-ended world where you can go anywhere and do pretty much as you please, then I highly recommend it. From a writer's perspective, Skyrim is a great opportunity or you to get inside your character's heads by recreating them in the game and seeing how they act and react to situations. If you are a fantasy fan, you need this game.

Review - Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett (Corgi)

2011-11-13T20:59:00.001Z

Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett
Published by Corgi
Paperback - 432 pages
Published November 1999
Borrowed Copy

Mightily Oats has not picked a good time to be a priest. He thought he'd come to the mountain kingdom of Lancre for a simple little religious ceremony. Now he's caught up in a war between vampires and witches, and he's not sure there is a right side.
There're the witches – young Agnes, who is really in two minds about everything, Magrat, who is trying to combine witchcraft and nappies, Nanny Ogg, who is far too knowing... and Granny Weatherwax, who is big trouble.
And the vampires are intelligent – not easily got rid of with a garlic enema or by going to the window, grasping the curtains and saying, "I don't know about you, but isn't it a bit stuffy in here?"
They've got style and fancy waistcoats. They're out of the casket and want a bite of the future.
Mightily Oats knows he has a prayer, but wishes he had an axe.

One of the things I love most about reading Pratchett is that it doesn't matter what reading mood I'm in, or what kind of literary funk I've gotten myself into, I know that I can pick up a Discworld novel and have a damn good time with it. This is true for Carpe Jugulum, the twenty-third novel in the series.

Pratchett satirizes the vampire mythos and the desire for people to break away from tradition (often with disastrous results) in the form of the Magpyr family - a group of 'modern' vampires who aren't content with just nibbling on the odd throat here and there, but choose to get involved and interfere with people. This doesn't end well, as you can imagine.

Although the Witches novels are my least favourite sub-series of the Discworld, I thought that they really held their own in Carpe Jugulum. He plays on the running theme of 'the maiden, the mother and the crone' in witch archetypes to cause conflict within the coven and the introduction of Agnes Nitt (and her alter-ego Perdita) as a fully fledged witch to upset the dynamic. I found Agnes herself to be a little bland as a character, and she didn't add too much to the story. Granny Weatherwax's stubbornness, however, is as charming as it is frustrating, and had me giggling for a good while.

There seemed to be a little too much going on in Carpe Jugulum, and the story would have benefited from having less characters. In particular, the Nac Mac Feegle (think angry, Scottish smurfs) were excellent for the times they were around, but failed to do much of substance.

That aside, Pratchett still brings the funnies, particularly through the grumbling, put-upon form of Igor, the Magpyr's servant. His sarcastic comments and cynical attitude to the 'modern' vampire is much like my own reactions to the Twilight phenomenon, so there's definite common ground there. Also, Carpe Jugulum is darker and more grim than other Discworld novels, dealing with issues of complacency in the face of tyranny and people being treated as objects. Pratchett still manages to put these messages in whilst having you laugh wildly to yourself.

Carpe Jugulum is an excellent parody of (and a slightly prophetic view) of the changing nature of the vampire myth and packs it full of his humour. Whilst it isn't the best that Pratchett has to offer, it's certainly one that you can sink your teeth into.

A bit of encouragement - Insecure Writer's Support Group

2011-11-02T23:25:00.001Z

Since many of you are taking part in NaNoWriMo this year, I figured I'd offer up some encouragement this month to those who may be feeling the insecurities of writing already.

I applaud you all for taking the plunge and the monumental effort of writing a 50,000 word novel in just 30 days. I don't care who you are, that is lightning (bonus points to whoever knows where that line is from).

This week I had a conversation about how artists sometimes get an invisible 'over the shoulder critic' that silently judges everything they do and makes them insecure. I think as writers we have the internal editor that takes every word as we write it and screams "Make it better!" This is the mentality you need to step out of if you are to compete in and complete NaNoWriMo. I know how difficult it can be to silence our internal editors, but quantity is infinitely better than quality in this case.

NaNoWriMo isn't about creating your magnum opus in one fell swoop. It doesn't matter if you write a 50,000 word shopping list; if you hit the word count, you win. You can go back later (read: a few months after recovering from the craziness you've just endured) to edit and let your inner critic roam free all over your work. For now, get those words down, and forget the plot holes, inconsistencies and general tomfoolery that accompanies a very rough pre-first draft.

Your protagonist has inexplicably undergone a sex change half-way through the story? Keep it.
The name of the town your characters are in keeps changing? Don't change it.
The plot suddenly takes a heave and has everyone looking for an evil chicken? (for shame, Goodkind). Crop it after NaNo.

One of the most common pieces of advice given to aspiring writers is "keep writing!". It's never more true than during NaNo. Don't you dare hit that backspace key.

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In other news, I'm taking part in Movember, an annual charity event that raises money in aid of fighting prostate cancer. I've shaved off my beard (after a decade of growth and care) and I'm growing a moustache for the duration of November. For those who are so inclines, please donate whatever you can and help me out. It's much appreciated! You can offer donations and support at my MoBro page: http://mobro.co/jamiegibbs. I'll also be posting a daily update of my moustache progress on my sidebar - you can click the picture to get to the page too.