Review: Midwinter by Matthew Sturges

Midwinter Matthew Sturges Pyr, 2009 Matthew Sturges’ run on Blue Beetle, right up to the title’s unfortunate cancelation, were some of the most entertaining and heartwarming examples of teeanage superheroics that I have ever read.  So, when I learned Sturges would be publishing his debut novel via the fine folks at Pyr I was already [...]

Review: Twelve by Jasper Kent

Twelve Jasper Kent Bantam U.K., 2009   Jasper Kent’s Twelve represents yet another of my “I-hate-the-UK-for-making-me-import-books” purchases since thet title, as far as I know, lacks a U.S. release date but the premise was so damned cool that I couldn’t resist.  It is 1812 and Napoleon is well on his way into Russia.  Our story inolves [...]

Comics X-Plosion (3/18)

        So this past Wednesday I picked up a copy of Marvel’s X-Force.  It is my first issue since #3 hit and I got kind of tired of it’s ultraviolent schtick.  X-Force, for those who don’t know, is a new team formed by Cyclops to do the X-Men’s dirty work.  Where the [...]

Recommended Reading: Fitzpatrick’s War by Theodore Judson

Fitzpatrick’s War Theodore Judson DAW, 2005 (mass market edition) This is bay and large one of my favorite books of the last decade and I am consistantly surprised that it has gotten such little attention over the years.  Given the current post-apocalyptic craze ushered in by games like Fallout 3 and, likely, the sorry economic state [...]

Review: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

The Shadow of the Wind Carlos Ruiz Zafon Penguin, 2005 The Shadow of the Wind is, without a doubt, one of the best novels I have read. Ever. If you enjoy fiction (either just the reading of it or a general appreciation for it on a grander scale) or if you’re a bibliophile and you [...]

Reminiscence and a Thank You

It isn’t perfect but it is something I’ve wanted to say, and should have said, when Robert Jordan passed away back in September of 2007.  I don’t think my attempt back then really reflected what I felt.  In fact I didn’t talk too much about it when it happened, probably because it hadn’t really hit home [...]

Review: City Without End by Kay Kenyon

City Without End Kay Kenyon Pyr, 2009 The third book of Kay Kenyon’s The Rose and the Entire series is perhaps the best yet.  All the political and emotional threads woven into the first two novels, Bright of the Sky and A World Too Near, are drawn taught and lead (almost) to their ultimate conclusion. [...]

Metal Review: As the Path Unfolds by Crimfall

As the Path Unfolds Crimfall Napalm, 2099 Crimfall at Myspace One word comes to mind when listening to this album: Epic. First, a bit of history.  Crimfall is the brainchild of Jakke Viitala who, after recording some demos for himself decided he liked the material so much that he sought out two vocalists: Mikko Häkkinen and Helena [...]

Review: Lamentation by Ken Scholes

Lamentation Ken Scholes Tor, 2009 Scholes, known mostly for his short fiction, makes his first run at epic fantasy with Lamentation the first in a 5 book series.  The city of Windwir, home of the Andofrancine order and its stores of ancient technology and knowledge, has been destroyed.  The allies of Windwir ride to its aid [...]