"An astonishing book of many merits for readers of intelligent dystopia" - Claire Rhoden review of "House of the Flight-helpers", Tartarus Press UK, 2019
Sunday, 23 February 2020
Wednesday, 19 February 2020
Feedback from Edith Speers...
Edith Speers is a Tasmanian poet and publisher (Esperance Press). This is her feedback on my recent novel, "House of the Flight-helpers"...
Anyway, I'm finally
reading House of the Flight Helpers - about 50 pages so far. Your
writing is so wonderful, the descriptions so powerful - I'm getting
depressed! What a miserable world is Incognita. I'm feeling like I
wish the birds would totally invade the place and send everyone
running. Well, the fact is, you are even more brilliant as a writer
than I ever suspected, and I already thought you were the best...
love, E.
Only stating the obvious! Your writing so deserves that gorgeous
hard-back publication. Oh, and also, just as a reader with not a lot
of time for reading, I so appreciate the beautifully short chapters.
No matter how scary or gloomy the scenario, I can move on to the next
bit. The last few books I've read, the chapters were sooooo long, and
I read late at night, and get sleepy, and just groan sometimes. And
sometimes don't even finish the chapter - heresy!
And I'm now at
the part of Flight-Helpers where Honeysuckle Rose and Juana Jubilee
get out of Incognita. Thank heavens!
Have to admit, I'm breathing easier now that those
poor people have some fresh air and open sky...
Hi there, you amazing person. What a great ending! And the stories and
sagas and travels and meetings that converge at the end - wonderful.
And yes, I noticed that Bird Boy ended up with a crown of thorns, and
I'm glad he didn't get the gruesome demise that goes with it. And I
noticed the "Havnotz" bread, too; this was the grimmest ever society
of haves and have-nots.... It's great how you snuck in the religious
and the political elements with barely a blip on the radar. That's
subversive! Whew - trouble is, great literature seeps into my brain
and my brain feels saturated and next thing, thoughts will come oozing
out of my ears. I better pick up a trashy crime novel real quick, as
an antidote... Love ya!
Aha - and that wonderful revolution, not a 'call to arms' but a call
to compassion, blankets for people who were cold. Brilliant!
I hope you realize you have totally subverted the whole male-dominated
warrior / cowboy orientation of the SF genre. The annoying thing is
that few people will buy a book of that price. Any hope of a
paperback...?
Oh good! I was wondering it they'd put the book in contests. Well -
win a prize and they might bring out a paperback!
Anyway, I'm finally
reading House of the Flight Helpers - about 50 pages so far. Your
writing is so wonderful, the descriptions so powerful - I'm getting
depressed! What a miserable world is Incognita. I'm feeling like I
wish the birds would totally invade the place and send everyone
running. Well, the fact is, you are even more brilliant as a writer
than I ever suspected, and I already thought you were the best...
love, E.
Only stating the obvious! Your writing so deserves that gorgeous
hard-back publication. Oh, and also, just as a reader with not a lot
of time for reading, I so appreciate the beautifully short chapters.
No matter how scary or gloomy the scenario, I can move on to the next
bit. The last few books I've read, the chapters were sooooo long, and
I read late at night, and get sleepy, and just groan sometimes. And
sometimes don't even finish the chapter - heresy!
And I'm now at
the part of Flight-Helpers where Honeysuckle Rose and Juana Jubilee
get out of Incognita. Thank heavens!
Have to admit, I'm breathing easier now that those
poor people have some fresh air and open sky...
Hi there, you amazing person. What a great ending! And the stories and
sagas and travels and meetings that converge at the end - wonderful.
And yes, I noticed that Bird Boy ended up with a crown of thorns, and
I'm glad he didn't get the gruesome demise that goes with it. And I
noticed the "Havnotz" bread, too; this was the grimmest ever society
of haves and have-nots.... It's great how you snuck in the religious
and the political elements with barely a blip on the radar. That's
subversive! Whew - trouble is, great literature seeps into my brain
and my brain feels saturated and next thing, thoughts will come oozing
out of my ears. I better pick up a trashy crime novel real quick, as
an antidote... Love ya!
Aha - and that wonderful revolution, not a 'call to arms' but a call
to compassion, blankets for people who were cold. Brilliant!
I hope you realize you have totally subverted the whole male-dominated
warrior / cowboy orientation of the SF genre. The annoying thing is
that few people will buy a book of that price. Any hope of a
paperback...?
Oh good! I was wondering it they'd put the book in contests. Well -
win a prize and they might bring out a paperback!
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