I spent the Easter weekend standing, on aching feet, behind a table at the National Space Centre, celebrating First Contact Day with a serious number of Trekkies/ers (depending on your persuasion).
A very lively event, well received by all accounts - thought I was unfortunately not able to see much of what was going on.
I spent Saturday in the company of steampunk author Steve Turnball and his charming wife, but things got a little out of hand on Sunday, when my wife joined me and seemed to both enrapture and upset a number of the locals. I think it was something to do with her attire.
Most enjoyable, and hope to do more events at the Space Centre.
I recently read and reviewed 'The Red Knight' by the same author, and I freely admit I was less than impressed - mainly because I saw so much more in K T Davies' style and ability than came out in 'The Red Knight'.
I was so convinced there was better to come that when I heard she had a book out through publishers Fox Spirit, I actually bought it with my own hard earned and jealously guarded cash, rather than cadging an ebook from the publisher.
'Breed', I'm glad - and slightly surprised - to say, earned itself a permanent spot in my library. I can't remember the last book I read that I set aside and thought 'I'm going to read that again'.
'Breed' is the name of the principle character; a cross between a human and a beast spawned in mysterious wars of the past. She (refreshing, to start) is like a cross between Hell Boy, Wolverine and the Hulk, and I love her. Her character is deep and complex even through the blunt and uncomplicated exterior. It is a real pleasure to read a story from a non-human perspective.
I don't, as I have often said, get into explaining story-lines. Other reviewers seem to delight in doing that, and I wouldn't want to rain on their parades. I will say the story was a classic 'hero's quest' format, but with enough wrinkles in plot and character to keep it fresh and the pages turning. As a bedtime reader, my only complaint would be in the amount of missing sleep this book cost me.
An absolute delight, and I hope, as is suggested at the end, we may hear more from Breed - and i wouldn't mind knowing more about the Schism War
Lastly, I want to share with you the description from Amazon, which is one of the best I have seen for some time (and certainly swayed me):
"After Breed, a Guild Blade of small renown, is chased by a dragon, tricked by a demon, almost killed by a psychopathic gang boss and hunted by a ferocious spider-like arrachid assassin life really takes a turn for the worst. Sentenced to five years bonded servitude to a one-handed priest magician, Breed must find the hammer of the ancient hero known only as the Hammer of the North within a year and a day… or else. And so, with only a drug-addicted vagrant, a rat-faced child, and a timid priest for back up, Breed sets out for the mighty city of Valen and the tomb of the Hammer. What could possibly go wrong? I’ll give you a clue."
