In 1973, Anne McCaffrey should have had the world at her feet: she had released several short stories and novels into the world, won some awards that no other woman had won before her, and had the beginnings of a bestselling series in Dragonflight and Dragonquest. However, she had recently divorced her husband and emigrated … Continue reading Pern Appreciation Month: “The Smallest Dragonboy”
Pern Appreciation Month: Dragonquest
It’s not often that you read a sequel that feels as though it was written by a different author. I first experienced this with Terry Brooks’s The Elfstones Of Shannara, the sequel to The Sword Of Shannara, a novel that owes a rather large creative debt to The Lord Of The Rings. Elfstones is a … Continue reading Pern Appreciation Month: Dragonquest
Pern Appreciation Month: Dragonflight
Dragonflight first appeared as two short stories: “Weyr Search” and “Dragonrider”. These were originally published in Analog magazine in October 1967 and in the December – January 1967-68 issues. Together they make up parts 1, 3 and 4 of Dragonflight. Part 2 of the novel (named “Dragonflight” in the book) was submitted to John W. … Continue reading Pern Appreciation Month: Dragonflight
Pern Appreciation Month: Introduction
Anne Inez McCaffrey was born on April 1, 1926. She was the first woman to win both the Hugo and Nebula awards for Science Fiction and was one of the first SF writers to appear on the New York Times bestseller list. She was also a trained opera singer and music and the performing arts … Continue reading Pern Appreciation Month: Introduction
Anne McCaffrey Centenary: Pern Appreciation Month
April 1st 2026 marks the 100th birthday of Anne McCaffrey (1926 - 2011). Although she wrote many wonderful books and series, I’d like to devote the month of April to taking a closer look at her Dragonriders Of Pern series, which easily my favourite of all her books. I’ve mentioned the series here before but … Continue reading Anne McCaffrey Centenary: Pern Appreciation Month
A Comic Collection Ian Likes: Voyager and The World Shapers featuring The Sixth Doctor
Colin Baker was announced as the sixth actor to play Doctor Who in 1983. He took over from the incumbent Time Lord in the TARDIS, Peter Davison, during the 21st season of the Classic run of the series in 1984. He made his debut in the final moments of that season’s sixth story, The Caves … Continue reading A Comic Collection Ian Likes: Voyager and The World Shapers featuring The Sixth Doctor
A Novel Ian Likes: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Gilbert Norrell lives with a smug satisfaction caused by being the only practicing magician in Regency England. There are others who would like to study the magical arts, but he has successfully tied up the market for himself… until a young man named Jonathan Strange comes along and upends all that Mr Norrell thought he … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
An Anthology Ian Likes: StarStreak: Stories Of Space (edited by Betty M. Owen)
Usually I start these pieces with a quick precis of the plot. But since this month’s entry is an anthology, that’s really quite difficult to do. What I’m going to do instead is start with a memory… Across social media and blogs around the world, you’ll sometimes find readers reminiscing about Scholastic Books. Scholastic was … Continue reading An Anthology Ian Likes: StarStreak: Stories Of Space (edited by Betty M. Owen)
A Novel Ian Likes: Came Back To Show You I could Fly by Robin Klein
Seymour has been sent to live with a friend of his mother for the summer due to his parents having an acrimonious breakup, and he isn’t enjoying it. Instructed to stay inside when Thelma (his guardian) is at work, he one day rebels and winds up in the shabby accommodation of Angie, a vivacious young … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: Came Back To Show You I could Fly by Robin Klein
A Movie Ian Likes: Krull
Colwyn and Lyssa are the heirs to their respective kingdoms. They’ve come up with a plan to unite them in the face of a mysterious enemy called the Beast. The Beast has a travelling castle and has been terrorising the world of Krull. Colwyn and Lyssa’s plan is pretty simple: they’re going to get married, … Continue reading A Movie Ian Likes: Krull
A Short Story Ian Likes: “Steel Dogs” by Ray Aldridge
Aandred is the Master of the Hunt, servant to the all-seeing Droam, Lord of Neverland. Aandred and his dogs patrol the once-famous island and keep its shores safe from the incursions of “Bonepickers”, the humans who live on the other islands and are now searching to expand their world. But Aandred does not count on … Continue reading A Short Story Ian Likes: “Steel Dogs” by Ray Aldridge
An Autobiography Ian Likes: Beginning by Kenneth Branagh
In 1989, Kenneth Branagh was on the cusp of greatness. An acclaimed stage actor, he had just released his filmed version of Shakespeare’s Henry V onto a public that adored it, hailing him as the greatest Shakespearean actor since Olivier (which may have been premature since Olivier was still alive at this point. How did … Continue reading An Autobiography Ian Likes: Beginning by Kenneth Branagh
An Apocalyptic Future Ian Likes: A Canticle For Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr
Brother Francis is supposed to be on his Lenten Vigil, prior to being enrolled as a Brother of the Order of The Blessed Leibowitz. However, a chance encounter with a ragged pilgrim has led to a discovery of an ancient shelter. Within this shelter are objects that could be attributed to the founder of the … Continue reading An Apocalyptic Future Ian Likes: A Canticle For Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr
An Update: Espedair Street by Iain Banks
I don't normally do this, but I sort of committed to it in an earlier blog post. Back in May 2021, I blogged about the late and great Iain Banks's biopic novel Espedair Street. I mentioned in the course of that post that it had been dramatised in 1998 by BBC Radio. In the closing … Continue reading An Update: Espedair Street by Iain Banks
A Correspondence That Ian Likes: 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
In 1949, Helene Hanff (1916 – 1997) began a correspondence with a bookstore in London. The New York-based writer wanted a connection with the English literature she had grown up loving and buying books from the source seemed to be the easiest option. The next twenty years were filled with business letters that became less … Continue reading A Correspondence That Ian Likes: 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff