Sunday 11 February 2018

Voting opens in the TQF Awards 2018!

For the next fortnight TQF readers (and non-readers, if they want) can vote in the faintly embarrassing TQF Awards 2018!

Click here to vote. Anyone can vote, and you can vote for as many items in each category as you like.

The longlist consists of everything we reviewed in issues 58, 59, 60 and 61, in the categories that appeared in the Quarterly Review (audio, books, comics, events, films, music and television), plus categories for best TQF story, cover art and issue. If you aren’t sure what to vote for, click the links provided below to find out more.

Voting will continue until midnight, 25 February 2018, with the winners to be announced in TQF62 a few days later.

You can rate each item our team reviewed according to how much you'd like it to win, from 1 (not very much) to 5 (a lot). For the items from TQF you can either tick each item to vote for it or not.

Last year's award prizes were customised rulers. This year I think they will be tiny toy astronauts. I'm hoping to persuade my daughters to paint little waistcoats on to make them look like our logo.



Audio

  • Children of Eden, by Joey Graceffa (and Laura L. Sullivan) (Simon and Schuster Audio) – see TQF59, p. 186
  • The Dispatcher, by John Scalzi (Audible) – see TQF59, p. 188
  • John Wyndham: BBC Radio Drama Collection, by John Wyndham et al. (BBC Worldwide) – see TQF61, p. 86

Books

  • All Systems Red, by Martha Wells (Tor.com) – see TQF60, p. 108
  • Autumn Snow 1: The Pit of Darkness, by Martin Charbonneau, Joe Dever and Gary Chalk (Megara Entertainment) – see TQF58, p. 80
  • Black Dog, by Neil Gaiman and Daniel Egnéus (Headline) – see TQF58, p. 90
  • Closet Dreams, by Lisa Tuttle (infinity plus) – see TQF60, p. 109
  • The Cthulhu Casebooks: Sherlock Holmes and the Shadwell Shadows by James Lovegrove (Titan Books) – see TQF59, p. 190
  • The Drowning Eyes, by Emily Foster (Tor.com) – see TQF59, p. 194
  • Final Girls, by Mira Grant (Subterranean Press) – see TQF60, p. 110
  • The Four Thousand, The Eight Hundred by Greg Egan (Subterranean Press) – see TQF59, p. 195
  • I Am Providence, by Nick Mamatas (Night Shade Books) – see TQF59, p. 196
  • If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor, by Bruce Campbell (Aurum) – see TQF59, p. 198
  • Letters to Arkham: The Letters of Ramsey Campbell and August Derleth, 1961–1971, edited by S.T. Joshi (PS Publishing) – see TQF59, p. 200
  • Metronome by Oliver Langmead (Unsung Stories) – see TQF59, p. 202
  • The Monarch of the Glen, by Neil Gaiman and Daniel Egnéus (Headline) – see TQF58, p. 86
  • Pawn: A Chronicle of the Sibyl’s War, by Timothy Zahn (Tor) – see TQF61, p. 90
  • Pirate Utopia by Bruce Sterling (Tachyon Publications) – see TQF59, p. 203
  • Proof of Concept, by Gwyneth Jones (Tor.com) – see TQF60, p. 110
  • Resurrecting Sunshine, by Lisa A. Koosis (Albert Whitman) – see TQF59, p. 205
  • A Taste of Honey, by Kai Ashante Wilson (Tor.com) – see TQF59, p. 207
  • A Wizard’s Henchman by Matthew Hughes (PS Publishing) – see TQF59, p. 209
  • Working for Bigfoot, by Jim Butcher (Subterranean Press) – see TQF60, p. 112

Comics

  • Adventure Time: Marceline Gone Adrift, by Meredith Gran and Carey Pietsch (Boom! Studios) – see TQF59, p. 211
  • Bloodshot: Reborn, Deluxe Edition 1, by Jeff Lemire, Mico Suayan, Butch Guice, et al. (Valiant) – see TQF59, p. 212
  • The Complete Scarlet Traces, Volume One, by Ian Edgington and Disraeli (Rebellion) – see TQF59, p. 213
  • Groo: Fray of the Gods, by Sergio Aragones, Mark Evanier, Tom Luth and Stan Sakai (Dark Horse) – see TQF59, p. 215
  • I Hate Fairyland, Vol. 1: Madly Ever After, by Skottie Young (Image Comics) – see TQF60, p. 113
  • The Legion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga, by Paul Levitz, Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt and chums (DC) – see TQF59, p. 217
  • Michael Turner’s Soulfire: Omnibus 1, by Michael Turner, J.T. Krul, Marcus To and chums (Aspen Comics) – see TQF60, p. 114
  • Princess Jellyfish 01, by Akiko Higashimura (Kodansha) – see TQF59, p. 218
  • Superf*ckers Forever, by James Kochalka and chums (IDW) – see TQF59, p. 220
  • X-Men: Legacy by Simon Spurrier, Tan Eng Huat and chums (Marvel) – see TQF59, p. 222

Events

  • Eastercon 2017: Innominate – see TQF60, p. 116
  • Into the Unknown: a Journey Through Science Fiction, curated by Patrick Gyger (Barbican) – see TQF60, p. 118

Films

  • Alien: Covenant, by John Logan and Dante Harper (Twentieth Century Fox et al.) – see TQF60, p. 120
  • Annabelle: Creation, by Gary Dauberman (Atomic Monster et al.) – see TQF61, p. 92
  • Arrival, by Eric Heisserer (21 Laps et al.) – see TQF58, p. 94
  • Assassin’s Creed, by Michael Lesslie, Adam Cooper and Bill Collage (Ubisoft et al.) – see TQF59, p. 224
  • Blade Runner 2049, by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green (16:14 Entertainment et al.) – see TQF61, p. 94
  • The Bye Bye Man, by Jonathan Penner (Intrepid Pictures et al.) – see TQF59, p. 226
  • Doctor Strange, by Jon Spaihts, Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill (Marvel Studios) – see TQF58, p. 98
  • Geostorm, by Dean Devlin and Paul Guyot (Warner Bros et al.) – see TQF61, p. 100
  • Get Out, by Jordan Peele (Blumhouse Productions et al.) – see TQF59, p. 229
  • Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, by James Gunn (Marvel Studios) – see TQF60, p. 123
  • It Comes at Night, by Trey Edward Shults (A24 et al.) – see TQF60, p. 124
  • It, by Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga and Gary Dauberman (New Line Cinema et al.) – see TQF61, p. 102
  • Justice League, by Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon (Warner Bros et al.) – see TQF61, p. 104
  • Kong: Skull Island, by Dan Gilroy, Max Borenstein and Derek Connolly (Legendary Entertainment et al.) – see TQF59, p. 231
  • The Lego Batman Movie, by Seth Grahame-Smith, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers et al. (Warner Bros) – see TQF59, p. 235
  • Logan by Scott Frank, James Mangold and Michael Green (Fox) – see TQF59, p. 237
  • The Mummy, by David Koepp, Christopher McQuarrie and Dylan Kussman (Universal Pictures et al.) – see TQF60, p. 126
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, by Jeff Nathanson (Walt Disney et al.) – see TQF60, p. 128
  • Prometheus, by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof (Twentieth Century Fox et al.) – see TQF60, p. 131
  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy (Disney) – see TQF59, pp. 240, 243
  • Spectral, by George Nolfi (Netflix) – see TQF59, p. 244
  • Split, by M. Night Shyamalan (Blinding Edge Pictures et al.) – see TQF59, p. 246
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi, by Rian Johnson (Lucasfilm et al.) – see TQF61, p. 106
  • Thor: Ragnarok, by Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost (Marvel Studios et al.) – see TQF61, p. 109
  • Wonder Woman, by Allan Heinberg (Warner Bros et al.) – see TQF60, p. 134

Music

  • Humanz (Deluxe), by Gorillaz (Parlophone) – see TQF60, p. 136

Television

  • Ash vs Evil Dead, Season 2, by Craig DiGregorio, Cameron Welsh, Noelle Valdivia and chums (Starz/Virgin) – see TQF59, p. 250
  • Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, Season 1, by Max Landis and friends (BBC America/Netflix) – see TQF59, p. 252
  • Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks by David Whitaker (BBC) – see TQF59, p. 254
  • The Expanse, Season 1, by Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Robin Veith and chums (Syfy/Netflix) – see TQF59, p. 258
  • Iron Fist, Season 1, by Scott Buck and chums (Marvel/Netflix) – see TQF60, p. 138
  • iZombie, Season 2, by Rob Thomas and chums (The CW/Netflix) – see TQF59, p. 259
  • Legion, Season 1, by Noah Hawley and chums (FX) – see TQF60, p. 141
  • The Man in the High Castle, Season 2, by Frank Spotnitz and friends (Amazon Video) – see TQF59, p. 261
  • Sherlock, Series 4, by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat (BBC One) – see TQF59, p. 265
  • Supernatural, Season 11, by Andrew Dabb, Jenny Klein, Robert Berens and chums (E4) – see TQF58, p. 101
  • Westworld, Season 1, by Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy and chums (HBO/Sky Atlantic) – see TQF59, p. 271

Covers of Theaker’s Quarterly Fiction

  • Theaker’s Quarterly Fiction #58: Unsplatterpunk, Howard Watts – see TQF58
  • Theaker’s Quarterly Fiction #59, Howard Watts – see TQF59
  • Theaker’s Quarterly Fiction #60, Howard Watts – see TQF60
  • Theaker’s Quarterly Fiction #61, Howard Watts – see TQF61

Fiction from Theaker’s Quarterly Fiction

  • Amongst the Urlap, by Andrew Peters – see TQF60, p. 53
  • Anathema: The Underside, by Chris Roper – see TQF59, p. 145
  • The Armageddon Coat, by Howard Watts – see TQF58, p. 47
  • The Baby Downstairs, by Jessy Randall – see TQF59, p. 63
  • Bound for Glory, by Allen Ashley – see TQF61, p. 9
  • The Constant Providers, by Charles Wilkinson – see TQF59, p. 73
  • A Desert of Shadow and Bone, by M.S. Swift – see TQF58, p. 11
  • The Devil’s Hollow, by Rafe McGregor – see TQF59, p. 17
  • Doggerland, by Jule Owen – see TQF60, p. 91
  • The Fisherman’s Ring, by Drew Tapley – see TQF58, p. 35
  • Give You a Game? by Michael Wyndham Thomas – see TQF59, p. 49
  • The Guidance Counsellor, by S.J. Hosking – see TQF61, p. 21
  • The Lost Testament, by Rafe McGregor – see TQF60, p. 15
  • Man + Van, by David Penn – see TQF59, p. 89
  • The Night They Sacked New Rome, by Elaine Graham-Leigh – see TQF59, p. 129
  • Quand les queues s’allongèrent, by Antonella Coriander – see TQF58, p. 27
  • Regression, by Libby Heily – see TQF61, p. 73
  • Scrotal Quilt, by Douglas J. Ogurek – see TQF58, p. 69
  • Tether, by A. Katherine Black – see TQF61, p. 33
  • To Ashes, Dust, by Tim Major – see TQF61, p. 47
  • Turning Point, by Nicki Robson – see TQF60, p. 25
  • Yttrium, by Douglas Thompson – see TQF60, p. 37

Issues of Theaker’s Quarterly Fiction

  • Theaker’s Quarterly Fiction #58: Unsplatterpunk, ed. Howard Watts – see TQF58
  • Theaker’s Quarterly Fiction #59, eds Stephen Theaker and John Greenwood – see TQF59
  • Theaker’s Quarterly Fiction #60, eds Stephen Theaker and John Greenwood – see TQF60
  • Theaker’s Quarterly Fiction #61, eds Stephen Theaker and John Greenwood – see TQF61

Saturday 3 February 2018

Smiler’s Fair by Rebecca Levene | review by Stephen Theaker

“They say the fair holds one example of all that there is in the world – every food, every spice, every pleasure and every vice,” says nobleman Lahiru, who, though married with three children, will be “hunting the finest boy flesh to be had for many miles” during his visit. Smiler’s Fair is a travelling city, drawn by mammoths from place to place, because no one stays still for too long in this world. Do so and the worm men will get you! The fair, home to scoundrels, scum and psychopaths, takes a daily census of its inhabitants and visitors, and when the first death comes the fair moves on. For our cast of characters, all roads pass through this exciting, squalid, movable feast.

The eyes of Krish have silver irises, and so King Nayan, his birth father, wanted him dead to undo a prophecy. Cut from his mother’s belly and stolen away, Krish knows nothing of that, and lives as a shepherd until a brush with the king’s flying squad sets him on the run. Lady Nethmi has been sent by her uncle to marry old Lord Thilak, but he already has a good woman to share his bed.

Eric is a teenage sellcock, growing too old for the sleazy customers of his owner, Madam Aeronwen. He decides to follow his favourite client home from the fair. Dae Hyo, perhaps the last of his tribe, would avenge the murder of his people and reclaim his homeland; trouble is, he’s also a recovering alcoholic chased out of town after he fell asleep on the job and got a team of miners killed by the worm men.

Smiler’s Fair is very much the first part of a series, and doesn’t work brilliantly as a standalone novel. The protagonists move around the board, but few of their stories progress very far. It feels like threads were added till there were enough to fill the pages, rather than because they were truly needed. There’s a common theme to some of them, of scorned and mistreated wives: the woman who adopted Krish, beaten by the husband she always wanted to leave; Nethmi, an unwilling wife with an uncaring husband; Babi, wife of gay lord Lahiru, humiliated by the lover brought into their home. But with no common catalyst, it feels oddly coincidental that these life-changing adventures all begin at once.

The prose style feels uncomplicated and perhaps even deliberately simplified: in one five-page section I looked at, ninety-five per cent of the text was made up of one and two-syllable words, with only two of eighteen hundred words reaching five syllables. It feels like the language is pitched at someone with the reading age of eleven or twelve, though the content is far too salty for that age group. This makes it an easy and accessible book to read, but once you notice it’s hard not to feel like the book is talking down to you.

Levene’s editorial work on the excellent Doctor Who line from Virgin Books was very well regarded, and this feels rather like a book written by a canny editor who has surveyed the market, thought about what will be marketable (it will appeal to fans of Game of Thrones), and produced a book designed to fit the bill. Some parts are a bit corny – one man becomes the captive of a society of women, who of course require impregnation! – but it’s a solid adventure and I enjoyed reading it. I’m sure it will find fans, though I probably won’t read any sequels: I’m not worried about the characters, nor really intrigued by the trundly setting.

The worm men are frightening at first, but the premise of the book, that they can’t dig up into your home if it’s on the move (because the sun poisons the land against them), was unconvincing, and felt like an arbitrary way to set this world in motion. For me that world is in some ways too similar to our own: there are mammoths, but also snakes, cows, horses, goats, rats, etc. Maybe it is our world, or maybe it’s just parallel evolution, but the inclusion of Earth Prime animals in a fantasy novel always feels to me like a wasted opportunity. It’s ironic that fantasy is often less adventurous than science fiction when it comes to these things.

Promisingly, events later in the book suggest that the Hollow Gods of the series title might play a bigger role in future volumes. More weirdness and magic would certainly have made this book more appealing, and it might prove easier to take an interest in the lives of these mostly unpleasant characters if they were set in opposition to gods who are even worse. ***

This review originally appeared in Interzone #254.