SPFBO Interview with Mark Lawrence

RockStarlit BookAsylum

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Phase 1 of this year’s SPFBO is nearing its end, the finalists are being revealed, tears are being shed. To put the dot on the i, James Tivendale from Fantasy Book Review and I set out to interrogate the Godfather of the competition, Mr Mark Lawrence himself.

To see all of our content regarding the competition, check out my SPFBO page!

Mark Lawrence

Mark Lawrence is married with four children, one of whom is severely disabled. His day job is as a research scientist focused on various rather intractable problems in the field of artificial intelligence. He has held secret level clearance with both US and UK governments. At one point he was qualified to say ‘this isn’t rocket science … oh wait, it actually is’.

Between work and caring for his disabled child, Mark spends his time writing, playing computer games, tending an allotment, brewing beer, and avoiding DIY.

Welcome…

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The Top 20 Books I’ve Read This Year

Hi, all.

Last year, this was my most popular post. This year, I’ve read so many amazing books that I’ve had to drink four cans and listen to extreme death metal to get my mind in to any sort of state that it can take on this gigantic task. Well, let’s see what happens. All the quotes attached to the books are from my original reviews that can be found on here or Fantasy Book Review (and a few covers and Amazon pages – woop -maybe I should have stopped at three cans! :s) I will include my review scores next to the books but the rating does not necessarily grant it a higher place… this post is me reflecting on the last year and the effects that the books have had on me ! But enough of that, back to drinking… (more…)

Review of ~ Andrzej Sapowski – Baptism of Fire (The Witcher #5)

9.5/10

Minor Spoilers May Follow

My adventure with The Witcher novels continues at a breakneck pace as, like the previous books, I devoured this story in two days. This series has shown moments of utter brilliance but with certain plodding and info-dumping sections, it’s never quite ascended to the heights that it truly could have. Until now. So far this is the finest entry and it features everything I love from this series. (more…)

Review of ~ Mark Lawrence – Bound (Book of the Ancestor #2.5)

7.5/10

I received a review copy of Bound in exchange for an honest review. I’d like to thank Mark Lawrence for the opportunity.

Bound is set in between the events of Grey Sister and upcoming novel Holy Sister and clocks in at sixteen thousand words. It’s an excellent bite-sized addition to the already brilliant Book of the Ancestor world that can be devoured in approximately an hour. As it’s a short tale I will just compose a quick mini review. (more…)

Review of ~ Andrzej Sapkowski – Blood of Elves (The Witcher #3)

8.5/10

Blood of Elves is chronologically the 3rd entry within The Witcher saga. Whereas previously all the short stories followed Geralt of Rivia working on certain monster assassination assignments, within Blood of Elves he is one of 3 or 4 main characters that we share the minds of. For the novels, you can start here but I wouldn’t recommend it. I found that I completely loved the groundwork I’d put in with the previous narratives and then hearing about the past stories mentioned of which I’d already read such as recollecting thoughts regarding meeting the Golden Dragon and about the macabre events that happened at the downfall of Cintra. (more…)

Review of ~ Andrzej Sapkowski – Time of Contempt (The Witcher #4)

8/10

“I mistook stars reflected in a pond at night for those in the sky.”

Minor Spoilers May Follow ~

The narrative commences at what seems like a time of contempt indeed. The Kings aren’t conversing with the Mages as they have previously, the Nilfgaardian army is still planning for war, and the Scoia’tael (Squirrels) are attacking humans in forests and villages. Many parties are all still looking for the elusive Lion Cub, the child of Destiny, Cirilla. (more…)