Blood and Fire
Author/Artist: Bill Slavin
Published: 2025 by Renegade Arts Entertainment
I was on board as a fan of the Mordecai Crow Trilogy from the beginning, with book one, Secrets of Jarrow.
It really starts with author/artist Bill Slavin’s artwork, which hearkens back to an earlier era of comic books. It may be less detailed by today’s standards, but it reminds me of the comics I loved more than half a century ago when I first fell in love with the medium. That appeal extends through all three books.
The artwork immediately grabbed me, and as you would expect in a trilogy, Slavin’s artistic style permeates all three volumes, including Blood and Fire.
As a writer, Slavin is equally on point.
Recently, I’ve realized I’ve developed a taste for post-world-changing disaster and post-apocalyptic stories. I suppose that was inevitable, as perhaps my favourite book ever—certainly from my early teens—was The Last Canadian by William C. Heine.
The Mordecai Crow Trilogy fits right into that interest.
Slavin has created a world where, not surprisingly, humanity has basically botched things, and the remnants of the population have split into two camps.
One group is trying to preserve books and computer technology, hoping to salvage humanity’s knowledge as a foundation for rebuilding the future.
The other seeks to destroy all technology and accumulated knowledge under the guise of religious doctrine.
The conflict between the two sides isn’t particularly new in science fiction, but Slavin builds his version of that world effectively.
As you might expect, Blood and Fire wraps up the threads running through the first two books of the trilogy, and Slavin does so in a gratifying way.
The story reaches a satisfying conclusion while still leaving the door open should Slavin choose to return to this world. This reader certainly hopes he does.
Blood and Fire
Author/Artist: Bill Slavin
Published: 2025 by Renegade Arts Entertainment
I was on board as a fan of the Mordecai Crow Trilogy from the beginning, with book one, Secrets of Jarrow.
It really starts with author/artist Bill Slavin’s artwork, which hearkens back to an earlier era of comic books. It may be less detailed by today’s standards, but it reminds me of the comics I loved more than half a century ago when I first fell in love with the medium. That appeal extends through all three books.
The artwork immediately grabbed me, and as you would expect in a trilogy, Slavin’s artistic style permeates all three volumes, including Blood and Fire.
As a writer, Slavin is equally on point.
Recently, I’ve realized I’ve developed a taste for post-world-changing disaster and post-apocalyptic stories. I suppose that was inevitable, as perhaps my favourite book ever—certainly from my early teens—was The Last Canadian by William C. Heine.
The Mordecai Crow Trilogy fits right into that interest.
Slavin has created a world where, not surprisingly, humanity has basically botched things, and the remnants of the population have split into two camps.
One group is trying to preserve books and computer technology, hoping to salvage humanity’s knowledge as a foundation for rebuilding the future.
The other seeks to destroy all technology and accumulated knowledge under the guise of religious doctrine.
The conflict between the two sides isn’t particularly new in science fiction, but Slavin builds his version of that world effectively.
As you might expect, Blood and Fire wraps up the threads running through the first two books of the trilogy, and Slavin does so in a gratifying way.
The story reaches a satisfying conclusion while still leaving the door open should Slavin choose to return to this world. This reader certainly hopes he does.
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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