rec160

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Rec160: The End Times of Markusz Zielinski, by Keith Stevenson – a race to the end

Novel

Title: The End Times of Markusz Zielinski

Author: Keith Stevenson

Publisher: self-published @ https://www.keithstevenson.com/books/end-times/

In which the Australian writer and publisher turns from the enjoyable space opera of his Lenticular books to harder science fiction, portraying the mad scramble to save a last outpost of life from a collapsing universe. Once again, Stevenson provides a living culture, enough details of the factions and entities to make the world believable without bogging down in details. Indeed, there’s not much room for minutiae, as the story unfolds apace, the conflict driven by a political agenda of greed, ego and self-interest. The titular Markusz, a mathematician who may just be able to save what’s left if given the chance, has the clever foil of a ‘ghost’ of his dead wife as well as a strong supporting cast to contextualise the science clearly enough to allow the reader to follow along. And then there’s the question of the strange haven deep within the planet itself, and the mysterious connection to the force devouring the universe. It’s a blast.

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Rec160: The Ministry of Time, by Kaliane Bradley – time well spent

Title: The Ministry of Time

Author: Kaliane Bradley

Publisher: Sceptre/Hachette, 2024

If you were to pick up The Ministry of Time, you may wish to flick straight to chapter 5, which opens thusly: “September found me in Pimlico, on a bench with Margaret Kemble*. The air was bisected by an iron hinge of autumn cold. Sparrows guested along the kerb, waltzing with the limp yellow leaves.” The “I” is the civil servant assigned to help Antarctica explorer Graham Gore acclimatise to life in the near future after he has been plucked from his own time (detailed in inserts). This is, as the name suggests, a time travel story, in which the pair are caught up in a beautifully presented attraction and dastardly deeds. As the quote shows, the writing is gorgeously descriptive, adding to superb character work and an engaging premise. But this excerpt should be enough to send you back to the start of this accomplished debut, and continue on, which is kind of what time travel is all about.

* We love Margaret (aka 1665). She is a fabulous character.

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Rec160: Beyond the Humming Downs, by Ellen Starsmore – fantasy that’s on song

BOOK

Title: Beyond the Humming Downs

Author: Ellen Starsmore

Publisher: self-published, 2025

I was provided with an ARC of this debut fantasy ‘with a dash of hopepunk’, and isn’t it great when, after a friend has spent years writing, rewriting, editing, polishing, and researching the self-publishing pathway, it all comes together. Our starcrossed lovers Adehl and Roh meet on the titular downs and there are sparks as their mystical energies (ellir) forge a connection. But Adehl has a secret, one that propels her and Roh on a risky journey that triggers the gradual unveiling of deeper political mischief. This is where the hopepunk kicks in, as the self-appointed guardians of ellir find their claim being challenged, with Adehl and Roh at the pointy end. It’s a tale gently and engagingly told, the world fully realised and the characters suitably complex. Fantasy readers who love horses and cool names for things will be rolling in hay with this one. I just hope we don’t have to wait as long for the next book.

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Rec160: Weapons – a clever vanishing act

MOVIE

Title: Weapons, 2025

Director: Zach Cregger

Starring: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin

Weapons is a movie that is probably best seen cold, because it does not walk the expected path as it plays out its central mystery. The fan gets hit one morning when a classroom of kids fails to turn up to school – except one. Emotions run high, and the teacher (Garner) falls under suspicion as the days wear on and the kids don’t turn up. The only clue is footage of them all running away from home in the wee hours. From there, things spiral in pleasantly surprising and eerie ways. The story is presented in a series of interconnected viewpoints, both filling in the background and taking the narrative forward. It’s a clever balancing act of horror and dark comedy, light relief turning into dread, and offering one of the bleakest endings I’ve seen in ages. The audience reaction was a reminder of why some flicks are worth seeing in the cinema, as gasps became laughs became gasps. Ouch.

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Rec160: Together – holding tight in a sticky situation

MOVIE

Title: Together, 2025

Director: Michael Shanks

Starring: Alison Brie, Dave Franco

We checked out Together to see what Alison Brie is up to now that she had graduated from college and retired from professional wrestling. Turns out, she’s making a fun movie where the body horror takes togetherness to a whole new level. Millie (Brie) has convinced her musician boyfriend (played by Brie’s husband, Franco) of many years to accompany her to the sticks where she can take up a teaching position. There, they stumble upon a secret that really tests the strength of their fraying bond to each other. It’s not the tightest plotted, and the sacrifice of art for a sensible career hits an uncomfortable note, but there are some striking moments – an eyeball effect is worth seeing, and a scene with a saw puts the teeth on edge. I’m glad I didn’t read much about it before going in, because ultimately, there’s enough going on to make it not entirely predictable and a bit of a conversation starter.

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Rec160 – Superman

Film: Superman, 2025

Director: James Gunn

Starring: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult

Superman never really grabbed me, and I would’ve passed on this latest iteration were it not for noises about the film getting up the nose of people who like to use ‘woke’ as an insult. If the price of a movie ticket and a choc top equates to a finger in the eye of that set, sign me up. So up, up and away it was. And what an enjoyable outing it turned out to be. Not a lot of Clark Kent, not much repeating of the lore we know so well, but straight into the diabolical plot of arch villain Lex Luthor to dethrone Superman. All that alien goodness masquerading as human kindness – a big thumbs down from Luthor. It’s family, a few friends (including Nathan Fillion, always fun), and Krypto to the rescue. Gunn, who shares a writing credit, harnessed the hero’s history and spirit with a deft hand. Truth, justice and a few giggles for the win.

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Rec160 – 28 Years Later

MOVIE

Title: 28 Years Later, 2025

Director: Danny Boyle

Starring: Alfie Williams, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes

Something to be said for this, the third instalment of Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s 28 series: it’s not as bleak as the second outing, 28 Weeks Later, but it still has plenty of bite. The UK is still in quarantine as the Rage virus wracks the island, the non-infected self-sufficient but supplementing with foraging and zombie hunting. Anyone who has played Zombicide will note a development in this outing roughly analogous to the three different kinds of ‘zombies’ present in that game as well as insights into the ecosystem of the infected that reminds us that they are not undead, just very angry and very hungry. Enter young Spike, who becomes a conduit for a meditation on life and death as, armed with a bow and a deep love for his ailing mother, he has a coming-of-age journey. Bookending the movie is an unexpected turn for another young survivor, perhaps a springboard into a planned further two movies. Tasty.

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Rec160 – Bring Her Back

FILM

Title: Bring Her Back, 2025

Directors: Danny and Michael Philippou

Starring: Billy Barrratt, Sora Wong, Sally Hawkins

After absorbing this masterpiece at an advance screening, my wife and I agreed that there is something quite special about a mundane kind of evil. Despite all the gruesomeness and clever use of some horror tropes, the Philippous’ second outing after the superb Talk To Me succeeds due to its grounded performances. In particular, Hawkins, as the social worker cum guardian to orphaned Andy and Piper, nails her role beautifully. I knew very little about the movie going in and see no reason to unveil too much here, as there are some lovely, superbly paced reveals. There’s an isolated, hippie-style home in the hills, a spooky video tape, a spooky kid, all pieces in a game of cunning manipulation. Add some occult rituals and jaw-clenching body horror, anchored on real care, love and desperate loss, and you have one of the strongest horror films since, well, Talk To Me. I can’t wait to see what the Adelaide duo do next.

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Rec160 — Chelsea Wolfe live

Concert

Artist: Chelsea Wolfe (support: Aphir)

Venue: The Forum, 23 May 2025

If you enjoy transportative music and a fabulous light show, consider catching up with Chelsea Wolfe and her three-piece band. They’re a tight unit – drums, bass, electric and acoustic guitars, keys, synths – elevating Wolfe’s atmospheric songs. The hour-twenty set passed in no time at all – suddenly, it was encore time – with the almost ritualistic quieter tunes complemented by eruptions of guitar and pummelled drum kit. I knew only Wolfe’s Abyss album and recognised two* of its highlight tracks, but didn’t feel the poorer for my ignorance. Wolfe also managed the rare feat of quieting the bar chatter – an attentive (goth-prominent) crowd, with only a couple of exceptions. Whether cruising or rocking, the one constant was Wolfe’s voice, as much instrument as the electric guitar used for effect not solos. And yes, a round of applause to the lighting engineer who enhanced the mood and theatricality of the concert. Off now to look at some albums and lyric sheets.

  • there were three from Abyss – full set list here

>> Want a longer review with tracks mentioned? Tim Bottams at the Music has you covered

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Rec160 — The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin, by Alison Goodman

Novel

Title: The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin

Author: Alison Goodman

Publisher: Harper Collins Australia

I devoured the Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin, the follow-up to the deliciously titled The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies. While having read the first will assist, it probably isn’t necessary to be moving on here, thanks to the careful placement of sufficient back story. The first featured three distinct adventures linked by an overarching plot involving a fallen nobleman with whom our point-of-view heroine, Gus, becomes entangled. This plot becomes the driving force of the Ladies Road Guide, with a secret cabal, a dollop of spies, and hindrances from societal and familial expectations adding healthy measures of intrigue and complication. Gus and her sister, Julia, make a formidable, but not infallible, duo, ably supported by a likeable supporting cast. The command of character and the Regency setting makes it a joy as the action thumps along like a rushing phaeton – mind those potholes, ladies! Just as pleasing is the clear suggestion that there is more to come. C’est magnifique!