Short Story: When the Moon is up

This past month, The Cult of Me ran a short fiction competition with the theme of full moon on a night sky. This naturally evoked thoughts of werewolves and other night activities in my imagination and simply I had to send in an entry. I didn't win, but thought that I must share my rather silly story at least somewhere - this blog being the obvious victim.

The competition degrees that the stories must not exceed 500 words. I present to you here a slightly longer version. I hope you enjoy it at least a bit!

Review: Moonstruck by Graeme Reynolds

Graeme Reynold's High Moor was a bloody werewolf horror story, where the horror was mostly based on gruesome descriptions of werewolves killing and devouring children.

The second part of the trilogy continues directly from where the first one left off. The Pack works hard to hide the existence of the werewolves from humans, but that fight is proving more and more futile as the story continues.

Review: Caribbee by Thomas Hoover

Thomas Hoover’s Caribbee is a historical fiction novel set mainly in 1640’s Barbados. It presents an in-depth look at the island’s society, the introduction of sugar industry and the move away from indentured servants to slavery. There are many characters from different layers of society, including two strong female characters and the aim is clearly to show the reader what life in the Caribbean was like in the early 17th century.

All for one, one for all OR 3 against 50

Not exactly historical swordsmanship, but the three against many so clearly points towards the Three Musketeers that I simply have to share this one. The video shows three Olympic level fencers going up against fifty novices. Neither the masters nor the novices seem to have any training in how to fight as a team, but the masters use the crowd against itself very nicely.

Review: Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser

George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman series consists of twelve novels, supposedly written by the hero himself, Harry Flashman. Set in the Victorian era, they show a protagonist who is set apart from the usual British hero formula of the period and shows that Brits can be bastards too.

Review: High Moor by Graeme Reynolds

Graeme Reynold's High Moor was a surprise addition to my werewolf reading list and I'm happy for it. The author manages to combine old werewolf horror movie themes with some more modern ideas. On the one hand, there are utterly savage and bloodthirsty werewolves who kill whoever they can when the full moon comes. These are called "the moonstruck", werewolves who are bestial animals taking over their human host bodies. Then there are the "Packs" that teach people to accept their werewolf selves and learn to live with them - allowing them to turn at will and not lose themselves while they are in their werewolf form.

Review: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

With a title like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, you kind of expect the novel to be tongue-in-cheek, action-adventure in the historical fantasy/fiction genre. However, what you get is a pretty dry textbook of an imagined alternate history that relates Lincoln's life but inserts vampires into the mix.

Review - Marvel 1602 by Neil Gaiman

This is a surprisingly enjoyable "What if?" storyline in the Marvel universe. Set at the end of Queen Elizabeth's reign in the year 1602, we discover a version of Europe where familiar characters from the Marvel universe have born our of their own time and place. Nicholas Fury is the Queen's eyes and ears. Certain Mr Murdock is an accomplished blind spy and Peter Parquagh is but a servant boy for Nick Fury. The members of the fantastic four are explorers.

Firing a musket with and without armour

An interesting field test of musketeer armour. Historically, musketeers did not wear armour, because it would have got in the way of the musket butt when aiming. But the officials of Jamestown apparently tried to find a way to modify the existing armour in order to protect their musketeers better. Check out this test run by Jamestown Rediscovery group to find out how it goes.

Review - Wolf Hunt by Jeff Strand

Jeff Strand's Wolf Hunt is an entertaining ride with two thugs who make their living breaking people's thumbs. Their latest mission, however, turns out to be the transportation of a man believed to be a werewolf to a crime boss. Not believing in such monster tales, the duo quickly find themselves in trouble.