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'If he'd known all the trouble following her, itinerant photographer Michelangelo "Mage" Magistrale would have thought twice about helping the beautiful, distressed woman at the bus station. In return for a ticket she gives Mage what she says is the key to her apartment, but he quickly discovers that it's much more: it's a key to any door, to any place, to incredible power–and there are people who will stop at nothing to possess it.
'Suddenly Mage is on the run from Calgary to Los Angeles, under constant attack from ninja, Yakuza thugs, and terrible creatures ripped from Japanese mythology. His only hope is to discover the secret of the key and master its power–to learn the art of arrow cutting–before he comes to the inevitable confrontation with the dark forces pursuing him.'
*Source:8 Publisher's blurb.
Notes
-
Prequel to Shadows Bite
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
The Australian Horror Novel Since 1950
2012
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Sold by the Millions : Australia's Bestsellers 2012; (p. 112-127) According to James Doig the horror genre 'was overlooked by the popular circulating libraries in Australia.' In this chapter he observes that this 'marginalization of horror reflects both the trepidation felt by the conservative library system towards 'penny dreadfuls,' and the fact that horror had limited popular appeal with the British (and Australian) reading public.' Doig concludes that there is 'no Australian author of horror novels with the same commercial cachet' as authors of fantasy or science fiction. He proposes that if Australian horror fiction wants to compete successfully 'in the long-term it needs to develop a flourishing and vibrant small press contingent prepared to nurture new talent' like the USA and UK small presses.' (Editor's foreword xii) -
Scanners
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: SF Commentary : The Independent Magazine About Science Fiction , August no. 80 2010; (p. 58)
— Review of Twins 1997 selected work short story ; Minmers Marooned and Planet of the Marsupials : The Science Fiction of Cherry Wilder 1997 single work criticism ; The Art of Arrow Cutting 1997 single work novel -
Books
2002
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sunday Age , 15 December 2002; (p. 9) The West Australian , 16 December 2002; (p. 11)
— Review of The Art of Arrow Cutting 1997 single work novel -
The Ikin Interviews : Stephen Dedman
Van Ikin
(interviewer),
1999
single work
interview
— Appears in: Aurealis : Australian Fantasy & Science Fiction , no. 22 1999; (p. 83-91) -
[Review] The Art of Arrow Cutting, Vamp, Funnelweb, Black Ice [and] The Infernal
1998
single work
review
— Appears in: Aurealis : Australian Fantasy & Science Fiction , no. 20-21 1998; (p. 177-180)
— Review of The Art of Arrow Cutting 1997 single work novel ; Vamp : A Novel 1997 single work novel ; Funnelweb 1990 single work novel ; Black Ice 1997 single work novel ; The Infernal 1997 single work novel
-
Books
2002
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sunday Age , 15 December 2002; (p. 9) The West Australian , 16 December 2002; (p. 11)
— Review of The Art of Arrow Cutting 1997 single work novel -
Scanners
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: SF Commentary : The Independent Magazine About Science Fiction , August no. 80 2010; (p. 58)
— Review of Twins 1997 selected work short story ; Minmers Marooned and Planet of the Marsupials : The Science Fiction of Cherry Wilder 1997 single work criticism ; The Art of Arrow Cutting 1997 single work novel -
Rock 'n' Roll Dystopia
1997
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 27-28 December 1997; (p. rev 24)
— Review of The Art of Arrow Cutting 1997 single work novel ; The Encyclopedia of Fantasy 1997 single work criticism biography ; The Infernal 1997 single work novel ; Diaspora 1997 single work novel -
[Review] The Art of Arrow Cutting, Vamp, Funnelweb, Black Ice [and] The Infernal
1998
single work
review
— Appears in: Aurealis : Australian Fantasy & Science Fiction , no. 20-21 1998; (p. 177-180)
— Review of The Art of Arrow Cutting 1997 single work novel ; Vamp : A Novel 1997 single work novel ; Funnelweb 1990 single work novel ; Black Ice 1997 single work novel ; The Infernal 1997 single work novel -
The Australian Horror Novel Since 1950
2012
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Sold by the Millions : Australia's Bestsellers 2012; (p. 112-127) According to James Doig the horror genre 'was overlooked by the popular circulating libraries in Australia.' In this chapter he observes that this 'marginalization of horror reflects both the trepidation felt by the conservative library system towards 'penny dreadfuls,' and the fact that horror had limited popular appeal with the British (and Australian) reading public.' Doig concludes that there is 'no Australian author of horror novels with the same commercial cachet' as authors of fantasy or science fiction. He proposes that if Australian horror fiction wants to compete successfully 'in the long-term it needs to develop a flourishing and vibrant small press contingent prepared to nurture new talent' like the USA and UK small presses.' (Editor's foreword xii) -
The Ikin Interviews : Stephen Dedman
Van Ikin
(interviewer),
1999
single work
interview
— Appears in: Aurealis : Australian Fantasy & Science Fiction , no. 22 1999; (p. 83-91)
Awards
- 1997 shortlisted Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction — Horror Division — Best Horror Novel
- 1997 finalist Bram Stoker Awards — Superior Achievement in a First Novel