Quill and Quire

BOOK REVIEWS

Ysabel

By Guy Gavriel Kay

With this new novel, Toronto writer Guy Gavriel Kay returns to a more mythic storytelling approach, following several books that embraced the historical over the fantastic. This is not, however, the epic fantasy of the ... Read More »

December 19, 2006 | Filed under: Fiction: Novels

Empress of Asia

By Adam Lewis Schroeder

Five years ago, B.C. author Adam Lewis Schroeder published a stunning first collection of short fiction. The stories in Kingdom of Monkeys showed an amazing range; they were technically sophisticated, darkly funny, strangely moving, full ... Read More »

December 19, 2006 | Filed under: Fiction: Novels

Rootbound

By Grant Buday

This new novel by B.C. author Grant Buday is a dismal, depressing affair that seems to enjoy wallowing in the various misfortunes and tribulations of its characters, in particular those of its protagonist.Willie LeMat is ... Read More »

December 19, 2006 | Filed under: Fiction: Novels

Skids

By Cathleen With

“Skids” is the slang term for street kids or runaways living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Many of them are native Canadians, many are HIV-positive, and many are addicted to heroin, crystal meth, or alcohol. They ... Read More »

December 19, 2006 | Filed under: Fiction: Short

Rage Therapy

By Daniel Kalla

With Rage Therapy, Vancouver ER physician-turned-author Daniel Kalla has delivered a credible and satisfying thriller. In the tradition of other gifted moonlighters (Kathy Reichs, John Grisham, Patricia Cornwell, etc.), Kalla successfully blends an inventive story ... Read More »

December 19, 2006 | Filed under: Fiction: Novels

Absolute Honour

By C.C. Humphreys

For readers unfamiliar with Jack Absolute, he is the quintessential adventure hero: a dashing, quick-witted ladies’ man and adept codebreaker who’s always ready for a fight. Jack Absolute originally appeared in Richard Sheridan’s 1775 play ... Read More »

December 19, 2006 | Filed under: Fiction: Novels