Category: Fantasy

Short Story Review: “The Seventh Shrine”

“The Seventh Shrine” Majipoor series By Robert Silverberg Collected in Legends Edited by Robert Silverberg Set on the planet Majipoor, “The Seventh Shrine” follows Pontifex Valentine, human ruler of Majipoor, as he investigates the murder of an alien archaeologist at a government-sponsored dig. The team of archaeologists have been tasked to uncover and restore an …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/short-story-review-the-seventh-shrine/

Short Story Review: “Grinning Man”

“Grinning Man” Tales of Alvin Maker series By Orson Scott Card Collected in Legends Edited by Robert Silverberg “Grinning Man” tells the tale of an encounter of Alvin Maker and his ward, Arthur Stuart, with the legendary Davy Crockett in an alternate version of American history. As Alvin and Arthur travel through eastern Kenituck, they …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/short-story-review-grinning-man/

Short Story Review: “Debt of Bones”

“Debt of Bones” The Sword of Truth series By Terry Goodkind Collected in Legends Edited by Robert Silverberg The war between D’Hara and the Midlands has become desperate when the First Wizard Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander discovers a way to end the fighting. Meanwhile, Abby, a refugee from one of the outer villages comes to the …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/short-story-review-debt-of-bones/

Short Story Review: “The Sea and Little Fishes”

“The Sea and Little Fishes” Discworld series By Terry Pratchett Collected in Legends Edited by Robert Silverberg The magical trials are coming up, and Granny Weatherwax is the clear favorite to win, as she does every year. When a group of prominent witches band together to convince her not to compete, Granny decides to play …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/short-story-review-the-sea-and-little-fishes/

Short Story Review: “The Little Sisters of Eluria”

“The Little Sisters of Eluria” The Dark Tower series By Stephen King Collected in Legends Edited by Robert Silverberg “The Little Sisters of Eluria” is the tale of a gunslinger, Roland of Gilead. When he is nearly beaten to death by misshapen green people in the frontier town of Eluria, Roland awakens to find himself …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/short-story-review-the-little-sisters-of-eluria/

Book Review: Tales Before Tolkien

Tales Before Tolkien Edited by Douglas A. Anderson Tales Before Tolkien is a collection of literary fairy tales, or fairy tales written to imitate genuine folklore, all of which were written before J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit was published in 1937. While there is no evidence that Tolkien was familiar with all of these stories, he …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/book-review-tales-before-tolkien/

Book Review: That Hideous Strength

That Hideous Strength Space Trilogy, Book 3 By C.S. Lewis That Hideous Strength is the third book in Lewis’ Space Trilogy or Cosmic Trilogy, and on the surface it diverges greatly from the previous two books. It follows the adventures of a young couple, Mark and Jane Studdock, as he becomes deeply enmeshed in an …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/book-review-that-hideous-strength/

Book Review: Perelandra

Perelandra The Space Trilogy, Book 2 By C.S. Lewis Dr. Ransom is called up by the Oyarsa of Malacandra to travel to Perelandra, known to humans as the planet Venus. He discovers an Eden-like paradise, in which he must prevent the Un-man, a possessed form of Dr. Weston, from turning Perelandra into a fallen world. …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/book-review-perelandra/

Book Review: Out of the Silent Planet

Out of the Silent Planet The Space Trilogy, Book 1 By C.S. Lewis This first book in C.S. Lewis’ so-called ‘Space Trilogy’ or ‘Cosmic Trilogy’ follows the adventures of Dr. Elwin Ransom on the planet Malacandra. Ransom is kidnapped by a pair of fellow scientists who have secretly built a spaceship. When they reach the …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/book-review-out-of-the-silent-planet/

Book Review: The Sea Fairies

The Sea Fairies By L. Frank Baum When Cap’n Bill loses his leg, he goes to live with the family of his first mate. He soon grows attached to the first mate’s daughter, Trot, and the two spend many happy hours together near the sea. One day, Trot asks Cap’n Bill to tell him about …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/book-review-the-sea-fairies/