Here's another First, Last, Everything. And this time it's blogger Nick Borrelli, one of the Patron Saints of Indie Fantasy.

NICK T. BORRELLI resides in Southern New Jersey with his wife, two daughters, and boxer.  His unwavering passion for Fantasy and Science-Fiction books stretches back to his early childhood years.  Today he can be found talking about the books that are still an extremely important part of his life on his blog Out of This World SFF Reviews.  Oh, he’s also a huge Philadelphia sports fan.  #FlyEaglesFly

The first book that truly ignited my love of reading was THE ROBOTS OF DAWN by Isaac Asimov.  I grew up in a working class neighborhood in West Philadelphia and was fortunate enough to have a cathedral-like public library located on the corner of my street.  When other kids were out playing at the local playgrounds and ballfields on Saturdays, I was holed up in a dark corner of that wondrous library with as many books as they would allow me to borrow at one time.  Anyway, Asimov’s classic was the first “big book” that I read cover to cover.  I had no idea that it was the third book in the series, I just knew that I had never read anything that was so imaginative and fantastical before.

What drew me to it initially was the cover to be honest.   But when I began reading the story, I realized that I just couldn’t get enough of the idea of being transported to another world that is wholly different from the one that I was living in.  The thing that also makes this book and series so great is that it is not only a tremendous Science-Fiction story, but there’s a really good detective story at its heart as well.   So it appealed to me on that level in addition to enjoying all of the cool robot/space stuff.  It wasn’t until I got older that I realized just how much this book influenced not only my reading tastes but also my overall love of reading itself.   Just a wonderful book that will always hold a special place in my heart.

The last book that I finished was WE ARE THE DEAD by Mike Shackle.  This dark fantasy book has everything that I look for in an entertaining read.  Tons of action and intrigue, breakneck pacing, characters that you both root for and also loathe, phenomenal world-building, and a rich history that is the backbone of the main storyline.  It also happens to have one of the greatest opening fight sequences that I have ever read in a fantasy novel.  So I guess you could say it was a total winner for me on all fronts. 

The main theme running through the book is how even in the midst of oppression and subjugation, the human spirit can still be a very powerful thing indeed.  Those who find themselves under the boot of the occupying enemy still manage to persevere and look for ways to try and overcome their enslavement.  They yearn for the freedom that they once had and are willing to fight to regain that freedom at all costs.  I was truly inspired by this fantasy book and spent many a late night not being able to put it down.  WE ARE THE DEAD is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2019 and I really can’t wait to read book 2 once it is available.  I whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone who also enjoys the books of Ed McDonald, Anna Smith Spark, and Peter McLean.  It most-certainly has that kind of feel to it.

Anyone who has been exposed to my bookish conversations for any considerable length of time knows that THE DRAGONBONE CHAIR and its corresponding series Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, is without question my all-time favorite.  I reread this series every few years and every time I gather a new appreciation for its brilliance.  Tad Williams is an author who I think is overlooked at times and I just don’t understand why.  He writes with such elegance and his books should be more widely-read in my opinion.

This is the closest thing to perfection when it comes to every element that you need to create a magnificent story being present.  Lovers of fantasy should add this series to their reading list and by all means pay a visit the fantastical world of Osten Ard.  Once there you will be introduced to the mad priest Pryrates, who for me is hands-down the most evil and detestable villain ever envisioned in the mind of any writer.   Every chapter that he is a part of makes the reader feel uneasy and you can just sense his vileness seeping through the page with every line of dialogue. 

This is really not a book or series to be missed if you love intelligent high fantasy books in the same vein as Tolkien, Guy Gavriel Kay, and Robin Hobb.  I still haven’t encountered its equal since I read it back in the late 90’s.  Some have come close but none have been able to topple it from my #1 pedestal yet.   Truly a magnificent reading experience that I encourage everyone to partake in.  I guarantee that you will come away feeling like you’ve read something very special.

Remember, if you want to take part I’ll post your entry. Just drop me a line on Twitter or via email to dave@dpwoolliscroft.com and I’ll send you some simple instructions.