All Change // Shadow and Bone // Another Shadows Story
May 21, 2021 5:34 pm
Hello from London,
The world reopens.
Like hermits emerging from their caves, people have begun to re-enter the bars, restaurants and shops along the high street. Those businesses that have survived the economic drought of the last 15 months, anyway.
Most people in the United Kingdom are more or less "over" the pandemic. While the government guidelines remain conservative and ask us all to take great care, most people here have had at least one shot of vaccine, and many of us (my family included) have had, and recovered from, Covid-19 itself. A recent test indicates we still cohabit with enough antibodies to put up a fight if the virus should revisit uninvited.
It's probably important that we continue to take great care. It's hard to ask one group of people (the unvaccinated) to behave differently to others, and the "Indian" variant does present the risk of a third wave among the unvaccinated and the very unlucky. We still wear masks in shops and try to observe every guideline, but even people like me, who follow the rules applied by our elected representatives with great diligence, are beginning to find it wearing.
It's almost inspiring to see people return to coffee shops with friends, or allow themselves the occasional purchase of a nice dress or flattering shirt in anticipation of better weather to come. It's serendipity that the gradual easing of restrictions should coincide with the onset of Spring.
I hope you feel the same as I do - that the fresh air of normality tastes particularly sweet after the long winter of the pandemic.
See you in the park?
And now to business...
Shadows Revisited
I promised you another short story, based on the same premise as the previous one, but with a completely different interpretation.
As I've mentioned, this short story was written first, but it felt slightly shallow to me, for reasons I find difficult to explain. As a consequence, I rewrote it completely. Unless you joined the list in the last 14 days, you'll already have received the final story, but here it is again in case you want to compare and contrast the two stories to see what a complete rewrite looks like. The link to the new story is at the bottom of this section, in the blue box.
Click here to download "Shadows"
Re-reading the original story, I like it better now than I did at the time. What I like about it is pretty shallow though. I like the stylistic elements and the basic premise (of shadows abandoning their owners), but I still feel that there's something ever so slightly trite about the last act. Am I right, or am I being unduly harsh?
I would love it if you let me know what you think, either by replying to this message, or by clicking here and starting a discussion on my website. Here's the story:
Shadow and Bone from Netflix
Continuing my binge of every single piece of fantasy, science fiction or other speculative fiction content on Netflix, I recently ploughed through the entirety of Shadow and Bone's first season, which I enjoyed very much, and which I rank significanly higher than much of the similar content available anywhere.
This is fantasy with the production values set at 100%. It's great fun to watch. The story is original, the world has depth, and the magic within it is interesting both in its implementation and its segregating effect on society.
I've not had the time to write a full review on my website, and may get around to it in the coming days, but you can certainly go watch Shadow and Bone on Netflix without any hesitation at all. Great stuff.
ps. One more time: I'm not affiliated with Netflix, and they don't pay me anything (in point of fact, I pay them). I just watch it a lot.
Author Spotlight
Four authors for you to look at this time around.
The Last Seed by Moud Adel
Orantine is the best spy in her faction, the one they go to for impossible missions. But her next target is like nothing she has faced before, a high ranking official in a faction whose members can see the future.
Orantine has never failed before, but this time, she isn’t sure success is possible.
Armed with her faction’s genetic mutation, and the latest technology the world has to offer. Orantine believes she has found the perfect plan.
Nothing comes without a price, however, and this mission will push her to the edge, and further.
How far will she go to ensure success? And how far is she willing to go to prove she is the greatest in her world?
The Carnelian Fox by Kay McLeod
Maiyamon was once merely a game. Now it's a global reality. After dozens of hit monster collecting games raked in billions of credits per year, it was inevitable someone would create real ones. Unfortunately, it wasn’t so obvious how many people would dump them in the wild…
Sam Wentworth grew up with nothing. She’s worked tirelessly just to get through college and earn her first monster. Bankrupt and exhausted, she sets her sights on fame and fortune in Maiyamon arenas. Instead, Sam’s caught between battling the rampaging elemental creatures abandoned by their owners and standing up to a toxic group intent on ending the game forever.
With her flame fox cub, Finn, at her side, Sam sets out to build a team capable of protecting both innocent people’s lives and the creatures she loves. That’s the easy part.
Monsters may fill the world, but it’s humans she fears the most…
Daybreak: Call of the Forest Realm, Book 2 by Beryl Kelland
After mere days in the Forest Realm, Briony is adjusting to the ways of her new life, but unanswered questions linger. Meeting her father’s inner circle brings new friendships, along with the stark reminder of being an outsider to the kingdom. As tensions mount, Briony finds herself wondering who she can trust and whether the fae court is really so happy to have their princess back after all.
Daybreak is the second installment in the Call of the Forest Realm novella series, by Beryl Kelland.
Anotech Chronicles by Julie C Gilbert
Reshner’s Royal Ranger: Prince Terosh goes on an epic journey to prove himself as a man. Reia Antellio does everything in her power to protect the prince.
Reshner’s Royal Threat: The political threats facing the royals spill over into violence.
Reshner’s Royal Guard: The Royal House falters, but hope remains.
The Royal House faces threats from without and within. Even the anotechs—fabled god-machines—will be hard-pressed to save the royals this time.
The Anotech Chronicles series is epic science fiction. We’re talking maps, glossaries, a whole new world, and a lot of characters.
There we have it, almost...
If you've read this far then here is my coda: There is much change (almost all of it positive) in my immediate future, and that's going to make for a turbulent period. I will do everything I can to keep newsletters, writing and communication with you on an even keel, but please forgive any lapses that occur over the next three months, as the dust is raised, and then settles.
Thanks for your support. As always, feel free to reach out.
All the best,
Nick.
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