Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on How to Write Unlikable Characters with bestselling author Joe Abercrombie. During the episode, Joe unpacks the core traits of unlikable characters, including what makes an unlikable character likable, why readers are fascinated by awful people, the process of creating an unlikable character, the importance of character voice, conveying character details through dialogue, morally gray character arcs, active vs. passive characters, revealing character vulnerabilities and flaws, reader investment, morally gray worlds, external conflict and more.
Tor Books
Review: The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
Synopsis: Holy work sometimes requires unholy deeds. Brother Diaz has been summoned to the Sacred City, where he is certain a commendation and grand holy assignment awaits him. But his new flock is made up of unrepentant murderers, practitioners of ghastly magic, and outright monsters, and the mission he is tasked with will require bloody […]
Review: Anji Kills A King (The Rising Tide #1) by Evan Leikam
Synopsis: An unlikely assassin struggles to escape a legendary bounty hunter in this breakneck fantasy debut that will grab you by the throat—perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie, R.F. Kuang, and Christopher Buehlman. She killed for a cause. Will she die for it too? Anji works as a castle servant, cleaning laundry for a king […]
SFF Addicts Ep. 153: Joe Abercrombie talks The Devils, Grimdark, Ensemble Casts & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly as they chat with bestselling author Joe Abercrombie about his new novel The Devils, first attempts at writing, working in film, TV and music video editing, the world of The First Law and gradual success, his opinions on grimdark, writing (absurdist) alternate history Europe, going down historical research rabbit holes, creating an eclectic ensemble cast, writing multiple POVs, giving characters distinct voices and much more.
Review: Rose/House by Arkady Martine
Synopsis Basit Deniau’s houses were haunted to begin with. A house embedded with an artificial intelligence is a common thing: a house that is an artificial intelligence, infused in every load-bearing beam and fine marble tile with a thinking creature that is not human? That is something else altogether. But now Deniau’s been dead a […]
Review: The Devils (The Devils #1) by Joe Abercrombie
Synopsis Holy work sometimes requires unholy deeds. Brother Diaz has been summoned to the Sacred City, where he is certain a commendation and grand holy assignment awaits him. But his new flock is made up of unrepentant murderers, practitioners of ghastly magic, and outright monsters, and the mission he is tasked with will require bloody […]
Review: Slaying the Vampire Conqueror (Crowns of Nyaxia #2.5) by Carissa Broadbent
Synopsis: She was commanded to kill him with a single strike to the heart. She didn’t expect her own to betray her. Sylina has sacrificed everything for her goddess–her soul, her freedom, her eyes. Life in service to the Arachessen, a cult of the Goddess of Fate, has turned Sylina from orphaned street-rat to disciplined […]
Review: Sword Catcher The Chronicles of Castellane #1) by Cassandra Clare
I have a confession. This is my first ever Cassandra Clare book, despite being the perfect age when The Mortal Instruments came out they somehow never made it onto my radar. So this is a review from someone who is brand new to Cassandra Clare’s writing.
SFF Addicts Ep. 146: Bringing the Funny to Sci-Fi with John Scalzi (Writing Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Bringing the Funny to Sci-Fi with bestselling, award-winning author John Scalzi. During the episode, John sets up the punchline for sci-fi comedy, including what humor means to us, humor as a skill that you develop, Douglas Adams and the progression of humor in sci-fi, the marketability of humorous sci-fi, why sci-fi and comedy combine so well, deciding how to infuse humor into a story, balancing humor with drama, action, etc., character voice and comedic delivery, worldbuilding with humor in mind, the subjectivity of humor and more.
SFF Addicts Ep. 145: John Scalzi talks When the Moon Hits Your Eye, Publishing, Luck & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and Greta Kelly as they chat with bestselling, award-winning author John Scalzi about his new novel When the Moon Hits Your Eye, luck and career longevity, major changes in the publishing landscape, Old Man’s War book 7 and writing without pressure, fandom and avoiding burnout, turning the moon into cheese, using the lunar cycle as a story structure, writing dozens of POV characters, cheese science, research, touring and much more.
Review: Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky
This is Adrian T doing what Adrian T does best. Writing stories that’ll make you sympathise with the aliens.
When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi
Synopsis From the New York Times bestselling author of Starter Villain comes an entirely serious take on a distinctly unserious subject: what would really happen if suddenly the moon were replaced by a giant wheel of cheese. It’s a whole new moooooon. One day soon, suddenly and without explanation, the moon as we know it […]