Review: Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis

First Line: Murder on the wind: crows and ravens wheeled beneath a heavy sky, like spots of ink splashed across a leaden canvas. I had totally forgotten about Ian Tregillis’ Bitter Seeds until it arrived at the library and I read the jacket flap which immediately had me excited to read it.  The book features [...]

Tuesday Music Post: Notes on a Show

I deferred yesterday’s Music Monday post so I could write something about the concert I went to last night.  Seeing as how I’ve managed to attend at lest 1 concert every month since January I have wondered, frequently, if it is something I should write about.  Since the nominal goal is to hit at least [...]

Review: Empire in Black and Gold by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Empire in Black and Gold Adrian Tchaikovsky Pyr, 2010 (orig. UK 2008) Empire in Black and Gold the first in Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Shadows of the Apt series, is a book that has been on my radar since it first released over in the UK back in 2008.  Thanks to the fine folks at Pyr we [...]

Review: The Spirit Lens by Carol Berg

The Spirit Lens Carol Berg Roc, 2010 First Line: Philosophers claimed the Blood Wars had irredeemable corrupted magic. In the Renaissance like kingdom of Sabria failed magician turned librarian and cousin to King Phillipe, Portier de Savin-Duplais is tasked by his royal brethren to root out the traitors who have attempted to take his life.  [...]

Music Monday: Mega Man Rocks

I’ll be honest I’ve never beat any Mega Man game. In fact I can probably count the number of hours I’ve spent playing Mega Man games and still have a couple of fingers left. Both facts which my love for music from Mega Man all the stranger. Or maybe it isn’t that strange given the [...]

Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory: A Fallout 3 Post

Warning! Vaguely rambling nerd rant ahead! Anyone visiting here knows I love Fallout 3.  In 2008/2009  THE most enjoyable gaming experience I had.  Indeed, it soaked up almost as much of my time as this year’s Dragon Age, perhaps more since I paid for more of the DLC for Fallout 3 then I have for [...]

Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

The Forest of Hands and Teeth Carrie Ryan Delacorte, 2010 First Line: My mother used to tell me about the ocean. Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a post-apocalyptic bildungsroman…with zombies.  Mary is teen living in an a village surrounded by the titular forest.  The world as we know it is gone [...]

Review: The Warded Man by Peter Brett

The Warded Man Peter V. Brett (twitter, website) Del Rey, 2009 The Warded Man is Brett’s US debut just released in Mass Market (originally released last year) this year prior to the second volume in this series The Desert Spear. The Warded Man takes place in society overwhelmed by a culture of fear thanks to [...]

Review: The Black Hand by Will Thomas

The Black Hand Will Thomas Touchstone/Simon and Schuster, 2008 First Line: I stepped across the still of the conservatory, glass crunching under the heels of my boots, and steadied my Webley pistol with both hands, reluctant to step inside. The Black Hand is what happens when one combines the allure of the 19th century detective [...]

(very) Late PAX Post

It is likely no small coincidence that PAX, the shorthand name of the Penny Arcade Expo, is also the latin word for peace.  As Wil Wheaton stated in his epic keynote (the second!) thanks to Jerry Holkins, Mike Krahulik, Robert Khoo, a legion of Enforcers, and a veritable army of attendees PAX is geek for [...]