I’m extremely honored to have Combat Codes chosen as a finalist is this year’s SPFBO (Self Publishing Fantasy Blog Off) contest, run by author Mark Lawrence. The contest has 10 prominent SFF blogs review 300 novel entrants. Of those 300 books, 10 finalists are chosen. Sort of like a fantasy book kumite.

I think Combat Codes is one of the first finalists over the past five years that blurs the lines a bit between sci-fi and fantasy, which should be interesting going into the final judging stage. It asks the question: what is fantasy? Does Combat Codes belong in a fantasy book contest?

Of course, I’d say yes, given my roots are in fantasy and there are a menagerie of fantasy elements in Combat Codes. I suppose what makes people think sci-fi is the inclusion of various technological elements in the place of magic. However, the tech in Combat Codes is very akin to magic, in that I never go into great detail into how it works. I don’t make a huge effort to bridge the gap between our ‘real world’ and the world of the Combat Codes. Much like I’d consider the world of Final Fantasy 6 markedly fantasy, despite Magitek and Steampunk influences, and I’d also deem the Star Wars universe as space fantasy, I consider Combat Codes to be fantasy.

Anyhow, I’m so very excited to be included among a battalion of fantastic fantasy authors (both in the past semi-finals and now in the finals) of SPFBO. Thank you to all my readers!