Book Review: The Shambling Guides

I feel like this is Urban Fantasy Week with some of the book backlog we're working through. This time around, we're looking at Mur Laffery's Shambling Guides series, a different look at the existing urban fantasy genre.

Oz Comic Con Perth Review!

This past weekend Perth had its second ever Oz Comic Con at the Perth Exhibition Centre!

Even though there were a lot of last minute cancellations including Billie Piper and we didn't get Benedict Cumberbatch, join me under the cut for a review of what I saw and did over the weekend!

Fun Urban Fantasy: The Ree Reyes series so far

If you've been following my reviews here or anywhere else for a while, you know that urban fantasy can often be hit-or-miss for me. There's some urban fantasy I've loved, some that's left me wanting a little more. What I have found is that there's a different type of urban fantasy that's been releasing books in a series for the last few years: Michael R. Underwood and the Ree Reyes books: Geekomancy, Celebromancy, and the upcoming Attack the Geek novella, out this Tuesday.

While the books have their pluses and minuses, the benefits overall far outweigh anything else, and are perfect for readers of this site: respectful, fun fanservice with a lot of interesting wrinkles.

The Dresden Readthrough: Proven Guilty

We continue our readthrough of Jim Butcher's uber-popular urban fantasy series The Dresden Files today with book eight, Proven Guilty. The continuing plan is to do a book a month on the first Tuesday of each month, and with 15 books on the publication schedule between now and when our readthrough is over, and perhaps our timing being good enough for the 16th, our reading list should be pretty full for the foreseeable future.

With Proven Guilty, though, this might be the first time I've felt a misstep of sorts with the series.

The Book Was Better Podcast Episode 81: Beast Lords (with guest host Courtney Coulson!)

This week we delve into the obscure but wonderful novelization of 1983's Conan-wannabe schlockfest, Beast Lords! If you grew up with this film, then you know why I'm excited, and if you're a newcomer then prepare to have your mind BLOWN. This one isn't what you expect! And joining me is long-time favourite Courtney Coulson! So unleash the beast, this is not to be missed!

You can download it right now on the official site!

Or why not subscribe to us on iTunes and join the discussion in our friendly Facebook group!

Best Music of the First Quarter of 2014

When I'm not writing about books and stuff here, I'm writing about music over at Is It Too Loud. There's been a lot of great music to come out so far this year, though, and I wanted to share a little of it here like I normally do every once in a while. Hopefully you find something you like!

FPcast! The Fruitless Pursuits Podcast for March 31st 2014! Oz Comic Con Perth!

In this extra huge episode we discuss our experiences at Oz Comic Con Perth, including interviews with puppetry legend Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar, Salacious Crumb, Howard the Duck and more!) and voice acting legend Rob Paulsen (Pinky and the Brain, TMNT, Animaniacs and more!). Plus we saw Shannen Doherty, Jewel Staite, Dean O'Gorman - hell, Jacinta even high-fived The Todd from Scrubs. We are sleep deprived and amped up and you have to listen to our crazy adventures or we will cry!

Download here! (click to stream, or right-click to save)

And BE SURE to SUBSCRIBE to us on iTunes because we do this every week!