It's widely acknowledged that Alan Moore's Watchmen is responsible for introducing a gritty realism to comic books, in part through a more realistic depiction of violence and its consequences, but most importantly in terms of characterisation: Watchmen's characters are elevated from two to three dimensions through Moore's gift to them of an inner, emotional world. Unfortunately, it's the more lurid of these innovations that has been Watchmen's most enduring legacy, driven by the market's appetite for graphic violence and the failure of many writers to appreciate that gratuitous depictions of violence do not in themselves equate with realism.

Which is not a criticism of Watchmen, of course, but rather of the market for comic books in general.

James Norcliffe’s new novel The Loblolly Boy is a magical, curious and thought provoking story for children about a young boy’s wish to flee the harsh reality of life in a home for abandoned children and the price that he pays to achieve that wish. Both contemporary and suitably timeless, the story is in part a re-imagining of the stories of Peter Pan and Pinocchio for the twenty first century. While the tale is presented from the perspective of the novel’s child characters, Norcliffe’s delightful prose, humour and adult insights ensure that he has written that rare children’s book, as much a joy for adults to read as for children.

Neil Gaiman has just picked up his fourth Hugo Award, the 2009 award for Best Novel for his outstanding young adult fantasy The Graveyard Book. While the novel does get a young adult classification, recognition like this proves once again (as if proof were needed) how well Gaiman's fiction transcends such narrow classifications as age. The Awards Ceremony took place on 9 August at the the 67th Worldcon in Montreal, Québec. A complete list of this year's Hugo Award Winners can be found on the Hugo Awards website.

As a fan of the The Summoner, Book One in Gail Z. Martin's fantasy series The Chronicles of the Necromancer, I was keen to get underway with the second instalment, and when all is said and done I wasn't to be disappointed. Although not as action-packed as its predecessor, The Blood King is rich in detail and provides plenty of opportunity for the characters to develop.

And the ending is absolutely brilliant!

Congratulations to the four winners of our Stonewiser: The Call of the Stone competition: Neville, Jake, Linda and Tamara. Each of you will soon receive your signed copy of Dora Machado's gripping sequel to Stonewiser: The Heart of the Stone, her award winning debut novel.

Thanks to everyone who entered the competition - you all answered the question correctly (Kael is the name of Sariah's "partner by the blanket"), but in the end there could be only four winners and our random selection process has had its way. Better luck next time.

Thanks especially to Mermaid Press and Dora Machado for their generosity in providing us with the signed novels.

SFFMedia congratulates Dora Machado on the nomination of her debut novel, Stonewiser: The Heart of the Stone, for a Benjamin Franklin Award. Dora is one of three finalists in the Franklin's Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Fiction) category. The novel is also a finalist in ForeWord's Book of the Year Award, in the SFF category. Winners of the Benjamin Franklin Award will be announced on 28 May, and we wish Dora all the best.

It was with a small amount of trepidation that I picked up The Summoner after being asked to write my first review for SFFMedia.com. I was pleasantly surprised however by this first instalment in Gail Z. Martin's Chronicles of the Necromancer. The Summoner had me hooked early on with its lovable characters and fast-paced action.

Through the generosity of Mermaid Press and Dora Machado we have four signed copies of Stonewiser: The Call of the Stone to give away. Due for release in June, this is the second volume in the Stonewiser trilogy, a gripping fantasy that is building toward what promises to be a thrilling conclusion.

Stonewiser: The Call of the Stone is the second volume in Dora Machado's gripping fantasy, the Stonewiser trilogy. With barely a pause for breath, it takes up the story of its troubled heroine, Sariah, in exile for betraying her masters in the Guild and revealing a truth that no one wants to hear. In a world in which nothing is permanent and everything is threatened by the destructive power of the rot, stones are the one certainty, nigh imperishable objects that can be imprinted with truth.

Earlier this year, Paul (don’t pronounce the G) Magrs published Conjugal Rites , the third in a series of novels featuring Brenda, an elderly and very capable lady who runs a Bed and Breakfast in the English seaside town of Whitby. No ordinary town, Whitby is dogged by the mysterious, the horrific and the downright weird, and although Brenda had looked forward to a peaceful retirement, she can't help but get involved.