Flat Earth Clues by Mark Sargent

Created by Mark Sargent

(http://www.enclosedworld.com)

Book Review; "Damned Children of Naor" by Justyna Plichta-Jendzio

Damned Children of Naor by Justine Plichra-Jendzio promises brutal fantasy with it's cover. And it delivers. These three tales take place in a dark world of demons and damned souls and just all-around evil. Damned Children of Naor consists of three separate stories that are all set in the same world. They're listed as chapters as this book is part of a bigger series, but they're written to be standalone stories.

Book Review: "Leviathan Wakes" by James SA Corey

When I first came across Leviathan Wakes by James SA Corey, it was sitting proudly on a bookshelf in Chapters with its grand cover showing off. I decided I just HAD to read it. Eventually.

Book Review: "Aliens: Earth Hive" by Steve Perry

After loving Prometheus and being baffled by fan hatred towards it, I decided to look into Alien novels. Which brought me to Steve Perry's Alien3 ignoring novel Earth Hive. And because of all the news and rumours about the Prometheus sequel, I was inspired to write this review.

TV Review: Comedy Bang! Bang!

Thank Jesus Christ for Netflix! Without it I never would have discovered this amazing show. It's called Comedy Bang! Bang! and it's a breath of fresh air.

Book Review: The City & The City by China Mieville

Ever since I read China Mieville's Embassytown I've been hesitant to read another of his books. It was such a unique and important novel that I didn't know what to make of it. I know I loved it, but I had never read anything like it before. I needed time to digest it.

Well, I have finally read another of China Mieville's works. The novel is called The City & The City, and it is definitely a Mieville novel.

Book Review: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Cloud Atlas is a book that poses as something more then it is. I was expecting a deep, meaningful mindbender. Instead I ended up disappointed by a collection of narrative exercises that falls flat on its promise to to different.

Book Review: Nighteyes by Garfield Reeves-Stevens

Garfield Reeves-Stevens is a writer that not enough people know of. He and his wife Judith have teamed up in the past many times on novels and TV shows like Star Trek Enterprise and the SyFy original movie Fire Serpent. Alone, Garfield has also written many novels, including plenty set in the Star Trek Expended Universe. Many of his works are genre-benders with a sci-fi touch.

Book Review: Alien Hunter by Whitley Strieber

Whitley Strieber doesn't get the credit he deserves. His book Communion from the late 80s was a huge bestseller. It was published as non-fiction because Mr. Strieber claims the events depicted in the novel are based on his real experiences with extra-terrestrials. Whether or not you believe he's tell the truth, one thing that is clear to me is how well-written it is. And this goes for all his books, fiction and non-fiction alike. 

Book Review: Babel-17 by Samuel Delaney

Sometime after reading Embassytown by China Mieville, I started to look into Mieville and what he's all about. I quickly learned that the Golden Age SF writer Samuel Delany has been a huge influence on his writing. And he's not the only one; I constantly hear Delany associated with some of the best SF written to date. That's what led me to him, and of course I went for his most popular novel, Babel-17.

Book Review: Damned by Chuck Palahniuk

Book Review:

Damned by Chuck Palahniuk

In the aftermath of Chuck Palahniuk's Haunted, with the first few books that followed it, I thought I was the only one aware of the downfall of this once very clever author. During the time between Haunted and Pygmy I was confused by Palahniuk's rise to becoming a big name author happening in parallel with the diminishing quality of his writing with each subsequent release. Haunted I thought was a fluke; it did has some potential with the main story, and a few of the shorts were impressive. But with Rant, then Snuff, then Pygmy, I noticed a lack of effort and unique cleverness that made his earlier works so impressivc. His experimentation with prose has always felt to me like an author too afraid to deviate away from trademark style, which for Chuck is his clever and witty first-person narrators, while still trying to make an effort to be cutting edge.

What Happened To Chuck Palahniuk?

What Happened To Chuck Palahniuk?


Chuck Palahniuk was once the king of Dark Satire. Some may still see him this way, but I'm sure they are a significantly less amount of people then they once were. Survivor was masterful; the first novel of his I read, it was eye opening for me. It made me realize just how fun reading could really be. Survivor was clever in a way that I had never previously experienced. I was hooked. Invisible Monster, Choke, Fight Club, Diary, and Lullaby! Absolutely page-turners.

Book Review: Redshirts by John Scalzi

I loved 'Redshirts' by John Scalzi.

Previously, I had never read anything by Scalzi. I'v had a used copy of 'Old Mans War' sitting around, but it never interested me much. Military novels don't typically excite me. But I came across 'Redshirts' at a discount price so I decided to by it. Then I decided to read it because of the hype surrounding it.

Book Review: Mall by Eric Bogosian

One night a few years ago I happened across a movie called 'Talk Radio'. I was stunned by what I was watching and barely moved until the final tense moments of this riveting film. It was about a very charismatic talk radio host (think Howard Stern but more political) and one fateful day at work. I'm not here to review the movie so I'll keep this short. It was just brilliant. The dialogue was so perfect, I was not surprised when I realized it was originally a stage play. The main character of the film was played by Eric Bogosian, who I thought looked liked Jerry Seinfeld after many years of hard drinking. I don't mean to sound cynical. 

Book Review: Embassytown by China Mieville

A couple years ago I had only heard China Mieville's name in passing. I thought of him only as one of the 'It' fantasy authors that probably wrote fantasy just like the rest of the guys who fill store bookshelves. I'm talking about the authors who write about Elves, Orcs like say, Terry Goodkind. One day I saw a cover of one of his novels with a quote comparing him to Philip K. Dick, an author I think is one of the most important writes EVER! But I didn't buy it. But I took a mental note to read him someday, particularly Embassytown, which seemed the closest to my thing.

This is a video taken by a man named Stan Romanek

Stan Romanek set up a video camera in his living room facing the window, just as a friend advised him to after he kept hearing knocks that he assumed were by pranksters. What he caught on video was an alien looking being. Watch and judge for youtself.

"The problem with introspection is that it has no end"

- Philip K. Dick

Like I always say, every good thing begins with Philip K. Dick...

Watch this little space of the internet known as The Nic Report. Follow me and your future will be so much brighter.