Well since the last update it's been a more or less the same as it always is – more reviews with some discussion thrown in here and there.

This month there were only two reviews. The first is Keeping it Real by Justina Robson – my feelings were mixed about this one, though overall it's still good. The other review is The Last Colony by John Scalzi which I reviewed for FantasyBookSpot – this one all about good, entertaining sci-fi as I've come to expect from Scalzi. I've also finished Brasyl by Ian McDonald – the review should come out next week for the new e-zine, Scalpel.

There were more cover art ramblings – some by others which I talk about here, and more by myself. This round I covered a few contemporary covers and also weighed in an opinion for a newly released cover that is just horrible.

This post covers a bit about review theory and what reviews are, should be and how they are good. A couple of the usual suspects in these sort of circles, Gabe Chouinard and Jonathan McCalmont, are starting their own e-zine, Scalpel. They've coined the term 'street-level criticism' and are looking for takers – I'll try my hand and see if it gets bitten.

The Once Upon a Time Challenge has been leveled – lots of good stuff there.

An interesting discussion on differences.

A misguided rant leads to the scourge of International Pixel-Stained Technopeasants.

Reaper's Gale by Steven Erikson is finally upon us and I do a bit of fan-boy raving about Erikson's landmark series.

That's about it for this round of updates. This month I look forward to reading Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch and Acacia by David Anthony Durham.