The first time I read Barry Hughart’s Bridge of Birds, I cried. I cried because the ending was that beautiful, because it was that sweet, and because it was over, and I wouldn’t be able to experience it the same way again. That’s how powerful it is, this joyful, bittersweet, and occasionally very dark tale of life, […]
There are genre tropes, and then there are those archetypes that are mainstays of not just science fiction and fantasy, but of popular culture in general. One of the best examples is the character of the Gentleman Thief (who doesn’t always have to be a gentleman). These rogues are witty, engaging, and will rob you […]
