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The Word of Ward

Reviews, Blog, and the occasional Rant

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Flash News

The Studio: Brilliant Cast, Big Laughs And Hollywood Meltdowns

Science Advises Playing Chess. Here’s A Great Way To Begin

Short stories are back – here’s why that’s great for writers

Substack Vs Medium – It Doesn’t Need To Be Either Or…

The Potsdam Giants: How A Prussian King’s Obsession Led To Kidnapping, Torture, And Eugenics

Perth, Rottnest Island, And Ridiculously Cute Quokkas. All You Need To Know

The Gorilla Who Was Brought up as a Boy in an English Village

The Loose End by Dwonch and Hymel is a fun, Tarantino-esque comic caper

Tree Spirits And Good Fortune: The Beautiful Ghosts Who Protect Thailand’s Forests

What Did People Wipe With In The Past And Why Is The World Moving Beyond Toilet Paper?

The Strange And Hopefully Fun Future Of AI NPCs – Is Gaming Getting Interactive?

Black, Rudd And A Colossal Snake: The New Anaconda Trailer Looks Meta Fun

The Paper Review: A New Office-Style Sitcom About Newspapers

Morning Writing Routine: Why 6 AM May Be Your Creative Sweet Spot

My Favorite Writing Software After 30+ Years In Journalism & Publishing

Tired of doomscrolling? Subscribe to something actually interesting

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Outstanding Books About Writing: Classics That Will Inspire You

A detachable flying head with a disgusting diet – The Krasue

hands on a typewriter

Is There A Better Keyboard Than QWERTY? Yes, But You Won’t Use It

Work Smarter, Not Harder: Repurposing old Content Is Awesome

Friday, December 05, 2025

Category: Books

Book reviews.

The Loose End by Dwonch and Hymel is a fun, Tarantino-esque comic caper
Blog Books

The Loose End by Dwonch and Hymel is a fun, Tarantino-esque comic caper

ward 15/10/2025

The Loose End graphic novel collects issues 1-4 of this new crime comic and is a lot of fun. Written by Dave Dwonch, with art by Travis Hymel, The Loose … Read More

Crime ComicDave DwonchGraphic NovelThe Loose EndTravis Hymel
Tree Spirits And Good Fortune: The Beautiful Ghosts Who Protect Thailand’s Forests
Blog Books

Tree Spirits And Good Fortune: The Beautiful Ghosts Who Protect Thailand’s Forests

ward 11/10/2025

I wrote recently about an angry Thai ghost with a detachable head, so it is time to look at some beautfiul tree spirits that protect native trees. Thailand’s spiritual world … Read More

folkloreghostsHauntedspiritsThaiThailandTree spirits
A detachable flying head with a disgusting diet – The Krasue
Blog Books

A detachable flying head with a disgusting diet – The Krasue

ward 09/07/2025

I wrote about the Krasue on Medium recently, but it is actually an excerpt from my short book about Thailand’s spooky folklore: Haunted Thailand: Ghosts and Spirits in the Land … Read More

folkloreghostsHauntedKrasueOccultThailand
Switching Focus To Short Stories To Make A Fortune
Blog Books Writing

Switching Focus To Short Stories To Make A Fortune

ward 27/04/2025

Or a pittance. Time will tell… The popularity of short stories has waxed and waned over the decades. They have always been around as myths and fables like the Arthurian … Read More

bookskindleshort storieswriting
The Occult – Rankin, Lovecraft, And Marenghi Are Warping My Mind
Blog Books

The Occult – Rankin, Lovecraft, And Marenghi Are Warping My Mind

ward 22/01/2025

I’ve always been weirdly interested in the occult. I blame rock music. (Just kidding – rock rules and hail the darkness!) I recently realised that the last three books I … Read More

booksGarth MarhengiHP LovecraftmagicRobert RankinThe occult
From Zork to AI Dungeon: How AI is Revolutionizing Interactive Text Adventures
Blog Books Technology Writing

From Zork to AI Dungeon: How AI is Revolutionizing Interactive Text Adventures

ward 10/12/2024

AI is so damned useful that I am overwhelmed and am still thinking of ways to use it. You can probably tell that I don’t use for writing by looking … Read More

AdventureAIgamesgamingText-basedwriting
Slough House Shenanigans: A Review of Slow Horses
Blog Books TV

Slough House Shenanigans: A Review of Slow Horses

ward 17/03/2024

Slow Horses is a spy thriller TV show that streams on Apple TV+. If you like tension, dark humour, backstabbing and twists, it will be right up your alley. Based … Read More

Apple TVApple TV+gary oldmanMick HerronSlough HouseSlow HorsesSpy thriller
Last year I did a reading challenge – never again!
Blog Books

Last year I did a reading challenge – never again!

ward 08/03/2024

Last year, I did a reading challenge where I attempted to read a book a week. I read a lot, and it wasn’t too difficult, but I will never do … Read More

GoodreadsReadingreading challenge
The Theory of Everything Else: A Voyage Into the World of the Weird By Dan Schreiber
Blog Books

The Theory of Everything Else: A Voyage Into the World of the Weird By Dan Schreiber

ward 21/11/2023

I knew Dan Schreiber from his work on QI as an elf, and also the Museum of Everything, and There’s no such thing as a fish. All of which are … Read More

Dan SchreiberQIThe Theory of Everything ElseThere's no such thing as a fishWeird history
The Rats by James Herbert – rereading a classic
Blog Books

The Rats by James Herbert – rereading a classic

ward 30/08/2023

I read The Rats by James Herbert when I was about 11 or 12 and it was one of the most exciting books I had read. Obviously since then as … Read More

horrorJames HerbertThe Rats
A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L Peck blew my mind
Blog Books

A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L Peck blew my mind

ward 08/08/2023

I finished A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L Peck a few weeks ago and can’t stop thinking about it. I hate phrases like ‘blew my mind’ as it’s … Read More

A Short Stay in HellBooks that make you thinkPhilosophySteven L Peck
The Inimitable Jeeves by PG Wodehouse
Blog Books

The Inimitable Jeeves by PG Wodehouse

ward 17/06/2023

I adore Jeeves and Wooster. I also love all the other works of PG Wodehouse, the guy was a genius, but J&W are his most famous creations. Every time I … Read More

booksJeevesJeeves and WoosterPG WodehouseThe Inimitable Jeeves
Haunted Thailand: Folklore, Ghosts, and Demons in the Land of Smiles
Blog Books

Haunted Thailand: Folklore, Ghosts, and Demons in the Land of Smiles

ward 21/04/2023

Haunted Thailand is a non-fiction book about Thai beliefs and their love of things that go bump in the night. And in Thailand, there are a lot of ghostly – … Read More

demonsfolkloreghostsHaunted ThailandOccultThailand
Boost your brain with a year-long reading challenge
Blog Books

Boost your brain with a year-long reading challenge

ward 29/03/2023

I embarked on a reading challenge at the start of this year, and I am loving it. I should preface this by saying that I read a lot already but … Read More

booksGoodreadsReadingreading challenge
Is Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki worth reading?
Blog Books

Is Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki worth reading?

ward 12/03/2023

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki has been on my reading list for years now, which might explain why I’m still broke. The book is ridiculously popular and must … Read More

financeInvestingMoneyPersonal financeRich Dad Poor DadRobert T Kiyosaki
Why Kindle Paperwhite is best (and tripled my reading)
Blog Books Technology

Why Kindle Paperwhite is best (and tripled my reading)

ward 03/02/2023

I used to be addicted to my Kindle. I had the original one with the mini keyboard and then the one that had the tabs on the side to change … Read More

bookskindleOasisPaperwhiteReadingScribe
SAS Rogue Heroes is must-see TV
Blog Books TV

SAS Rogue Heroes is must-see TV

ward 04/01/2023

SAS Rogue Heroes became something of an obsession for me in the run-up to Christmas. We recorded the show as they aired and then binged the lot in a couple … Read More

Ben MacIntyreSASSAS Rogue HeroesSteven Knight
Reacher TV show gets it right
Books TV

Reacher TV show gets it right

ward 09/11/2022

I finished watching the new Reacher TV series on Amazon last week and really enjoyed it. It stuck close to the first book, which is nice in this day and … Read More

amazonJack ReacherKilling FloorLee ChildReacherReacher TVthrillerTV series
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman review
Books

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman review

ward 09/08/2022

I like Richard Osman from a multitude of things on TV and radio. He seems naturally funny and smart. Both qualities are things I reckon make a good author. I … Read More

booksRichard OsmanThursday Murder Clubwhodunnit
A Litter of Bones (DCI Logan) by JD Kirk
Blog Books

A Litter of Bones (DCI Logan) by JD Kirk

ward 06/07/2022

A Litter of Bones is the first in the DCI Logan series by JD Kirk. I knew of JD Kirk from his parallel existence as a humorous sci-fi writer. So … Read More

A Litter of BonesDCI LoganJD KirkscotlandThrillers

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In recent news

  • The Studio: Brilliant Cast, Big Laughs And Hollywood Meltdowns
  • Science Advises Playing Chess. Here’s A Great Way To Begin
  • Short stories are back – here’s why that’s great for writers
  • Substack Vs Medium – It Doesn’t Need To Be Either Or…
  • The Potsdam Giants: How A Prussian King’s Obsession Led To Kidnapping, Torture, And Eugenics
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