Consider the Consequences
Consider the Consequences, originally published in 1930, is thought to be the first gamebook, a genre which you might know better as a “choose your own path” book, or “a choice-based branching narrative”, or interactive fiction. It was written by Doris Webster & Mary Alden Hopkins, and I found out about it because Pushkin Press reprinted it last year. I had a blast with it. There are three stories included, with lead characters that appear in the other plots. One […]
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The Science of Affection
Kitten-Kin‘s 181-post Sherlock fancomic, The Science of Affection, is now available in print-on-demand paperback. (It’s also available as a pay-what-you-want PDF download.) It ran from 2018 to 2025. It started as a doodle about a sleepy John accidentally kissing Sherlock, who was feeding John’s daughter Rosie. From that grew a story about how the three became a family. In addition to the Johnlock, there’s also a little bit of side Mystrade (Mycroft Holmes/Inspector Lestrade). The whole thing becomes a story, […]
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Holmes: Undead #1 Reviewed; Second Issue Now Crowdfunding
Holmes: Undead #1 crowdfunded successfully earlier this year. In the issue, there’s lovely moody art as we get a quick summary of Holmes facing Moriarty at the Falls, narrated by Dr. John Watson, before we jump to modern day. Dr. Gionne Watson is being followed as she picks up a family legacy (a box of books, she thinks) and confronts her former team leader about being laid off from her job in cancer research. Her landlord, calling himself Mr. Hudson, […]
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Drawing From Your Memory
Drawing From Your Memory by Shiki Kawabata combines the “kids learn to make manga” genre with an “I went back in time to save a classmate” story. We first meet Mahoro after she’s had huge success. Her manga series spawned an anime, a movie, and a TV show. She’s being asked to come up with another series, which leads to her confession — her popular series was based on ideas and character designs from someone else who died ten years […]
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You Might As Well Be the One
You Might As Well Be the One by Megumu Seto tells a classic romance storyline well. Ichika’s in college and looking for a boyfriend. She wants a serious relationship, with someone she can talk with, someone who sees the real her. She meets someone at a meetup that she thinks is a nice guy… but Kosei soon tells her he only goes out with girls casually. Their friendship continues to develop, but she realizes she has feelings for him. The […]
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Rea Irvin’s The Smythes
Rea Irvin’s The Smythes is a prestige hardcover from New York Review Comics reprinting a Sunday comic from the 1930s. Although I didn’t finish all the reprinted comic strips, which were much of a similarity, I found the historical information surrounding them fascinating. Rea Irvin is best known for creating Eustace Tilley, the snob with the butterfly who was on the first cover of The New Yorker and has become the mascot of the magazine. Irvin’s art style, appeal, and […]
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Mini Mysteries Series Continues With Nancy Drew
I’ve talked before about the Mini Mysteries series of kids’ picture books — the first two featured Hercule Poirot, The Mysterious Affair at Styles and The Mystery of the Blue Train. Now comes the third, with a new detective. It’s The Secret of the Old Clock: A Nancy Drew Detective Story, written by Marci Kay Monson (who also wrote the previous two) and illustrated by Ryan Wheatcroft. It’s been a long time since I’ve read Nancy Drew, but Wikipedia tells […]
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Role Playing
The nice thing about the explosion in modern romance titles, particularly with those demonstrating more diversity and geek acceptance, is that you can find a book that makes you squeal “it’s for MEEEEEEE.” Such as Role Playing by Cathy Yardley. Maggie is a newly empty nester, divorced, and generally grumpy, with some social anxiety. She works from home, and she games online. Her two best friends are someone she went to school with that she talks to every couple of […]
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