Ysabel, set in modern Provence, is a tale about recurring tales, a theme that was visited in Kay’s best-selling work, Fionavar Tapestry. As such, I found the story not particularly fresh, which is unusual for most of GGK’s work. A pity, because certainly this author has a lyrical voice, one that can utterly captivate a reader as he did in Tigana and Last Light of the Sun. The characters in Ysabel weren’t particularly memorable, in my opinion, and were in not for GGK’s ability to manipulate language I might easily have passed on finishing this novel.It should be noted, however, I am not a fan of the origin of this book, the Fionavar Tapestry, and am not a fan of spin-offs to best-selling books, so this prejudice may have coloured my enjoyment.Still, the novel is good for a cold winter’s afternoon, cuddled up by the fire with a fragrant cup of tea.

All the Elements Right
I must preface this review by stating quite clearly I long ago gave up on the super-hero genre of movies. As CGI advanced, it seems excellence in script-writing diminished, to the point all we had was lots of really nifty FX, and no story or character development to follow.Enter Dark Knight. Stunning film. Simply the best action hero movie I’ve ever seen. Superb performances from every actor, superb screenplay, superb CGI. If you haven’t seen this flim, you should; it will sweep you away at a relentless, absorbing, haunting pace for three hours and at the end all you’ll be able to say is, Wow!

It could never be said of Margaret Atwood that she writes books that are easy, comfortable, the sort of work you would curl up with on a cozy afternoon, afghan and cup of tea to hand.It could be said of Margaret Atwood that she writes the conscience and mirror of humanity. Oryx and Crake is no exception.Right from the moment we meet the dissolute and dispossessed Snowman, aka, Jimmy, Atwood sets a relentless pace and relentless narrative. The dystopic world she creates is one which is familiar from the classic work of Orwell and Huxley, but at the same time offers a new window on the universe, and a fresh voice to this august community.If you haven’t read Oryx and Crake, you should. Revision: you must. The book, as the writer, is absolute genius.