Little Visitor & Other Abductions

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Adam Szym. Oni Press, (168p) ISBN: . Horror, read 16/05/25, eBook ★★★★☆

Little Visitor & Other Abductions

Little Visitor & Other Abductions

The cover of this intrigued me when I saw it on NetGalley, and who doesn’t love a good old alien abduction? (and it’s put out by Oni Press who seem to be on such a great streak over the last couple of years)

Three interconnected stories involving aliens and their interactions with humans, all three are so strong as stand alones but the interactions between them and the end themes make this work wonderfully as a whole.

The black ink dark artwork with no colour is an excellent choice for such stark tales, the shadows are where all of the darkest acts of horror occur and this all plays out a bit like a pulp movie which in a way mirrors the first story, Little Visitor, where a communist film company tries their take on E.T. (the ameerican movie) but as the story unfolds a tragedy occurs and this is the story of that tragedy seen as flash backs, the whole story uses film techniques to great effect, strong and punchy visuals carry this along to it’s conclusion.

The next story, A Cordial Invitation, takes us to a New Year party in the middle of nowhere, with a twist, another that has a very filmic feel, almost Rocky Horror but with the horror amped up quite a bit. A sacrifice, a journey, a cult, what more could you want?

And the final story, Frolicker, is the most disturbing really as the strangers who encourage the violent thoughts into a teens head have been there before but this time they are more insidious, who are they and what is their agenda, Children of the Corn comes to mind here.

A brilliantly realised project, dark and haunting, otherworldly but firmly planted in a filmic tradition of graphic novels though this really seems to loan from film making quite strongly it turns it into a wonderful graphic experience.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Questions for Agents

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Questions for Agents

Questions for Agents

Alongside all the other interview series I’ve been quietly developing this Q&A series to get an idea of what an agent does and how they became an agent, along with a few more personal bookish questions to get a better feel of the person behind the title.

There may be more questions added in the future.

If you would like to be involved you can email me at bigbeardedbookseller@gmail.com

  1. How many years have you been an agent?
  2. How did you become an agent and what do you love about it?
  3. Are there any educational routes you feel that would be helpful in becoming an agent?
  4. Where are you based?
  5. What draws you to a project?
  6. What book do you wish you had worked with?
  7. Were you a big reader as a child, and if so what was your favourite book?
  8. What books have you sold recently?
  9. What genre do you normally work in?
  10. How many people work with you or at your agency?
  11. How can you be contacted? list of social media links and website if possible, thanks
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Mayowa and the Sea of Words

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Chibundu Onuzo. Bloomsbury Children’s, (288p) ISBN: 9781526661005. Middle Grade, read 14/05/25, Paperback ★★★★☆

Mayowa and the Sea of Words

Mayowa and the Sea of Words

I’ve got to admit when I received this I was a bit trepidatious as the cover reminded me of so many book in the past several years and the blurb reminded me of a couple of books I had read and enjoyed in the past.

I needn’t have worried as the story of Mayowa and her growing ability to channel emotions through jumping on books, or as her Grandad calls it logosalting (yes I know, a bit of a mouthful) turned into an amazing adventure with appropriate baddies.

This is the first of a new series which explores this power and follows Mayowa as her skills develop and a good first book it is.

Mayowa has always been told by her mum and dad not to jump on books and not to copy Grandpa Edwards, but circumstances conspire to have her staying a summer with him and this is where she learns about her family secret (on dad’s side anyway), logosalting and how it has been used in the past for good and evil and that it should only be used if it causes no harm.

Mayowa and her Grandpa (Baron Edgerley) get involved in foiling nefarious racist bigots from getting a piece of legislation through parliament that would mean refugees would be left to drown if they capsized, this is being pushed through by evil logosalters who shouldn’t exist according to Grandpa.

Lots of adventures, training montages, upsets, evil twins, new friends, and family, always family makes this a well-paced read that you don’t want to put down. Read it in three commute sessions and would have read it in one long sitting if given half the chance.

“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”

The end was exciting and satisfyingly left a lot open for book 2, especially mum’s side of the family, I think…

I received this from Bloomsbury Children’s in exchange for an honest review.

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Art Work: On the Creative Life

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Sally Mann. Penguin Books, (288p) ISBN: 9780241774540. Memoir, read 10/05/25, eBook ★★★★☆

Art Works

Art Works

I’ve got to admit I have ‘Hold Still’ by Sally Mann on the shelf waiting to be read but this came up on Netgalley and I thought I may as well give this a go first.

Though this is a craft book the craft is explained through memoir and in the most loose of senses. It looks at different aspects of what it takes to be a photographer and then goes down a rabbit hole of experience to show this strength.

Each of the section was a rambling journey through her life that led her to the conclusions on her art that sometimes had very little to do with art itself but for me emphasised that art and life are not two separate spheres but are interlocked and refelct each other.

I was gobsmacked by the trailer incident…

If you are reading this for some technical help or real insight to practice this may not be for you but if you are willing to synthesise the lessons here with the overarching theme of the chapter you can at least get a look at how Sally Mann works.

She has an interesting writing style that does keep you hooked all the way through and the reflections are always edifying.

I really enjoyed the inserts and type-written extra to her friends and families, I also enjoyed how she held little reverence for her own work often penning off notes on the back of ‘failed’ prints.

Overall well worth a read, but more a memoir than a manual so know what you’re going to get.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Skin Police Vol. 1: Crimes Against Nature

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Jordan Thomas, Daniel Gete. Oni Press, (96p) ISBN: 9781637158074. Graphic Novel, read 23/04/25, eBook ★★★★☆

Skin Police Vol. 1: Crimes Against Nature

Skin Police Vol. 1: Crimes Against Nature

Set in a future of almost zero fertility, cloning, instability, and societal collapse.

Oh yes, the cloning…

It was thought that the cloning would help keep the world population stable and people thought it would be a joy to raise a little version of themselves, all really good ideas, though a bit vain.

But there was one major setback, three out of four clones would ‘pop’ and turn into hallucinating blood thirsty killers.

The United Nations of Europe, a one-party superstate with some nods toward the Mega Cities of the Dredd world, has come up with a solution, total eradication. But after societal upset and collapse with records going astray and a lot of the ‘Dupes’ being procured on the black market this is difficult.

In comes Eckis, a very Dredd-style character with his Andersen rookie along for the ride, and it is such a ride. Future tech, traitors, underground resistance, government conspiracies, and an enforcement agency with a shoot now… no questions later attitude.

The art style is nice and graphic with lots of reds and bright colours often at odds with the world we find ourselves in, the internal ‘thoughts’ of the dupes who pop are excellent and imaginative, there are a couple of subplots running through to humanize the main characters, and the ending of Volume 1 is a great reveal!

Another great offering from Oni Press and I’m looking forward to the rest of this coming out.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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The Secret Romantic’s Book of Magic

by Stephen | 2 Comments

edited by Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane. Titan Books, (384p) ISBN: 9781835410912. Romantasy, read 23/04/25, Paperback ★★★★★

The Secret Romantic's Book of Magic

The Secret Romantic’s Book of Magic

I knew I had to get a copy of this as soon as I saw it, I even know where it’s going to go in the shop as soon as it’s released!

An anthology of 12 short stories from some of the best writers in Romantasy at the moment, what could go wrong?

Nothing, that’s the answer, absolutely nothing!

I’ve got to admit I stormed through these stories as each was perfect in itself making the book as a whole irresistible.

I loved them all; the twists of traditional tales, forays into worlds known and unknown, enemies to lovers, all of it.

This is the perfect book to have and dip into now and again, as each short story deserves attention, but you could like me consume it all in two sittings looking forward to going back to savour the stories once again.

I think my favourites must be: The Larkspur, The King’s Witch, and San’t Marten’s Book of Mild Melancholy, though this is really splitting hairs as I enjoyed them all.

I’m really hoping the finished product has pink sprayed edges and a keyhole cut in the dust cover as going full on is what this book really deserves.

I received this from Titan Books in exchange for an honest review.

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