Author Archives: Gary W. Olson

Short Reviews: Tim Marquitz’s Dawn of War

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Dawn of War by Tim Marquitz

The Grol, a monstrous race that has long sought to overrun and destroy the fortified city-state of Lathah, now appears to have the mystical weapons they need to do it. Unfortunately, no one in Lathah is willing to believe that the Grol can now succeed where they failed before, and it is up to an exiled, disgraced former royal guard named Arrin to somehow convince them of the threat–or, failing to do that, to find allies to stand with Lathah in its hour of need.

This is the first book in Tim Marquitz’s epic Blood War Trilogy, more grim and brutal in tone than you’d find in his Demon Squad series. It’s set on a complex world with a lot of layers and twists that held my interest, and more than enough bloody and gruesome battle scenes to give it a very visceral kick. I’m looking forward to seeing how things get worse for the protagonists in the next volume.

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Gary W. Olson is the author of the dark fantasy novel Brutal Light and several previously published and forthcoming short stories. He can be found via his website, his blog A Taste of Strange, as @gwox on Twitter, and in many other far-flung places on the Internet.

Gettin’ Merry With It

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The publication of Brutal Light just 23 days ago was undoubtedly the high point of my year. I had a lot of stressful things going on outside of my writing life this year, and while the work on the novel and the promotion thereof got a bit crazy as well, it was the kind of ‘good stress’ that I needed to counteract the not-so-good kind. I learned a lot this year, met a lot of new friends, pushed myself out of my comfort zone for the first time in a long time… and I’m looking forward to next year.

Like I wrote last week, I’m going to be taking next week off from blogging and the other social media venues. No blitherings shall I blog; no statuses shall I update; no tweets shall I twit. I’m also putting off the next issue of the newsletter until January. I’ll be reading everything, of course, but unless I’m really moved to say something (most likely because I’ve thought of a bad pun), it’ll be eerie silence from me until January 2012.

Which is not to say I won’t be busy! I’m on vacation from my day job as well, and am determined to get cranking on my next project, a dark science fiction novella called Entering Cadence. You may have read me going on about it in some of the interviews during my virtual book tour; naturally, the story has mutated further from what I then described. But I’m itching to start it, and next week is a perfect time to do so.

So from me and mine to you and yours, have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a festive New Year!

(And if you like snow, you can have my share, when we get some.)

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Gary W. Olson is the author of the dark fantasy novel Brutal Light and several previously published and forthcoming short stories. He can be found via his website, his blog A Taste of Strange, as @gwox on Twitter, and in many other far-flung places on the Internet.

Auld Link Sign

Posted by Gary W. Olson on

Hope everyone’s having a great holiday season so far. I am, thanks for asking, but I’ve also been busy busy busy. I’ve been keeping the site updated with links to all the various places where Brutal Light is available (a list that, in addition to the U.S., now includes Canada, the U.K., and Japan). I’ve been plying reviewers with requests. I’ve even been holding off on chugging eggnog and scaring passerby with my caroling.

So, to keep you distracted, and to keep me from posting a video of my rendition of Jingle Bell Rock, here are some links for you to partake:

Lincoln Crisler is still seeking people willing to chip in (via Kickstarter) to send him to his hometown for a book tour. There’s lots of good stuff that you get at various donation levels, including books (already published and upcoming) by Lincoln Crisler and Tim Marquitz. You get your money’s worth no matter what level you pledge at!

Bryan Thomas Schmidt came up with this list of 16 Holiday Themed Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories, some by big names, some by new (to me) names, all free online. Ho ho ho!

If that doesn’t get you into the holiday spirit, here’s a YouTube video that might… I Saw Mommy Kissing Yog-Sothoth. If holiday shopping hasn’t already driven you insane…

And here’s another Mythos-oriented parody song: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Fishmen. Happy holidays from Innsmouth!

One more? Okay, here’s Chewbacca singing Silent Night. Yes. I am ready for some eggnog now.

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Gary W. Olson is the author of the dark fantasy novel Brutal Light and several previously published and forthcoming short stories. He can be found via his website, his blog A Taste of Strange, as @gwox on Twitter, and in many other far-flung places on the Internet.

Short Reviews: Lee Mather’s The Green Man

Posted by Gary W. Olson on

The Green Man by Lee Mather

Peter Jones reflects on a life-changing incident from his past, in which he survived a horrifying plane crash. He had been warned the night before by his mother that the Green Man–a mysterious being she claimed would appear to her whenever someone close to her was about to die–had appeared to her, and that he ought not to get on his flight. But he did, and survived… causing him to realize it may not have been him that the Green Man had warned his mother about.

Lee Mather, in this short story, tells about one man’s revelation of truth and love against the backdrop of a horrifying accident. The crash and its aftermath is vividly related, and the emotional impact of Peter’s re-examination of his mother’s claims is real and effective. It’s a well-told, creepy, and thought-provoking tale.

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Gary W. Olson is the author of the dark fantasy novel Brutal Light and several previously published and forthcoming short stories. He can be found via his website, his blog A Taste of Strange, as @gwox on Twitter, and in many other far-flung places on the Internet.

All Said But Not Done: After the Tour

Posted by Gary W. Olson on

Well, how about that: after finishing my first virtual book tour, it appears that I am still intact, and my brain has not, as it threatened, burst out through my ears and gone to the Arctic in search of passage to the Hollow Earth. It was fun, of course–I got to ramble on at indecent length and in suitably pretentious style on things having to do with Brutal Light and writing in general–but I have never felt so thinly spread on the Internets as when I went through the promotion of every stop. Every day, I had one main blog, three ‘satellite’ blogs, three social media networks, a couple groups, and all my subterranean networks to cover. (You may scoff, but just believe me when I say you don’t want to be flamed by the Deros.) But it was worth the time, and like I said, it proved to be fun. And I’ll have a better idea what to prepare for next time.

You may wonder what is left for me this month. First thing has been soliciting book reviews–I knew there were a lot of book review sites out there, but I swear they must have multiplied, like amoebas or Kardashians, since the last time I looked.

Second, I’m getting back on to a regular blogging schedule–Tuesdays and Fridays, come Kardashians or high water–starting today. When I originally started this blog, I was aiming for once a week, and sometimes wasn’t even hitting that. But ever since attending ConClave back in September, I’ve been trying to up my blogging game. Twice a week turns out to not be that hard a target to hit. (That said, I will be taking off the week between Christmas and New Year’s, to relax and recharge.)

Third, I’m writing. I was strugging with an outline for the projected sequel to Brutal Light, but life, promotional stuff, and the like has been getting in the way. Then I sat down and considered the story for Entering Cadence, the sci-fi noir novella that’s been rattling around in my head for a while, and the outline just spilled out of my head then and there. Guess I now know what wants to be written most!

Fourth… AAAAAAHHH!! I STILL HAVE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING TO DO!! AIEEEEEEE!!

That about covers it. I think. I hope. Unless it was this weekend I was supposed to organize the chimera racing….

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Gary W. Olson is the author of the dark fantasy novel Brutal Light and several previously published and forthcoming short stories. He can be found via his website, his blog A Taste of Strange, as @gwox on Twitter, and in many other far-flung places on the Internet.

I’m Over on Kelly A. Harmon’s Blog Today, Wrapping up the Virtual Book Tour…

Posted by Gary W. Olson on

I’m over on Kelly A. Harmon‘s blog today, being interviewed on Brutal Light and other writerly topics. To mark the end of this virtual book tour, I’m giving away a free e-book edition of Brutal Light to a random commenter (who can choose between .mobi, .pdf, and .epub versions)!

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Gary W. Olson is the author of the dark fantasy novel Brutal Light and several previously published and forthcoming short stories. He can be found via his website, his blog A Taste of Strange, as @gwox on Twitter, and in many other far-flung places on the Internet.