What I've recently read, am reading and plan to read
Yourself? Feel free to tell me yours and maybe I'll check them out.
Details below
..............
RECENTLY READ FICTION
THE FORT by Bernard Cornwell
This smoothly written book covers the Penobscot Expedition during the American Revolution. According to some historians it was the worst naval war blunder since Pearl Harbor. Paul Revere is shown to be an arrogant incompetent suffering court martial after the failed attempt against the British (but he appealed it under peculiar circumstances later); prickly Commodore Saltonsall is the fall guy in an attempt to have the other states cover the costs and General Peleg Wadsworth may be the only true hero of the upper echelon's land commanders. WHEN READ: September to November 2010; CHARACTERS: A minus; STORY/PLOT POINTS: A minus; OVERALL GRADE: B plus to A minus.
Stephen King/Peter Straub's TALISMAN graphic novel:
Tale of a preteen hero who can travel from this world to a medieval fantasy one where everyone has a twin. His mother's twin is a sleeping queen who can't wake up and yes her kingdom has fallen into ruin. I think this first volume is setting things up but we've yet to get to the really good stuff though there is promise here. WHEN READ: 10/22/2010; MY GRADE: B; ARTWORK: B.
Bill Willingham's FABLES volume 13:
A nice tale that focuses on writing themes of authorship (creator vs. those created), genres, editors, writer's block and so much more. Most of our favorite characters return and it jumps back and forth in narrative between traditional Fables viewpoints to that of Jack. My favorite part was when the genres came to life and spewed their own myopic points of view. WHEN READ: 10/11/2010; ARTWORK: B plus; MY GRADE: B (B plus for storytelling types).
Preston/Child's RELIQUARY
A nice follow up to book one that doesn't suffer through the typical sophomoric slump. Yes, the beast is back but in a totally different manner so no real spoilers there. Focus upon the mole people of NYC with some interesting tidbits of American History that go back quite a ways. Dialog and story plotting are particularly well done and new characters come to visit. If you enjoyed the first book then you should enjoy this one as well. WHEN READ: July to September 2010; MY GRADE: B plus to A minus.
Jason Starr's THE CHILL graphic novel:
A fun and fast read. Expect violence and sex but it's tied into a tale relating to Celtic Mythology. Artwork was well done but it's in black and white for those who are turned off by such things. WHEN READ: 10/04/2010; MY GRADE: B plus to A minus.
Robert Vendetti's THE SURROGATES
Better than the movie and also a better ending that feels right for the tone. The advertisements for surrogates and the like really help mold the story. Based on a popular graphic novel. Artwork is dark and mysterious. There's a section in back about how to write a scene for a comic book as well. WHEN READ: September 2010; MY GRADE: B to B plus (not for non comic book fans).
DRAGON AGE RPG
A good to great rules light RPG if you enjoyed the video game. The stunts are the best part of the mechanics which maintain a simple elegance with three six sided dice. If you hit your target number and get doubles or triples then you have some stunt points to use right away. It comes with a 64 page PHB and a similar sized DMG and a nice map of Ferelden. There's some good advice on GMing, an overview of the world and the details of the classes are reminiscent of Old School D&D. I like that the monsters either have favored stunts or special stunts only particular to them. The latter is a nice surprise for the players. This is a great starting game for people who have never played an RPG, especially if they liked the video game. About the only thing I didn't like was that the boxed set is only for levels one to five. A free beta of box set 2 is online now and Green Ronin and Bioware intend to have four boxed sets all the way up to level 20. I suspect they will try to coordinate the RPGs with video game releases. MY GRADE: B plus (B minus to B if you don't know anything about the video game).
RECENTLY READ NON FICTION
Steve Chandler's 100 WAYS TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF
Wheat's HOW TO WRITE KILLER FICTION
Herman's SEX WITH KINGS
CURRENT FICTION BEING READ
Fall of Giants by Ken Follet (A cross section of European families of different social standings just before WWI and then a few years after. Focus is on WWI greatly and the common man/woman).
CURRENT NON FICTION BEING READ
Byrne's THE POWER (follow up to THE SECRET)
NEXT UP
Behrend's YOUR INVISIBLE POWER (reread) (non fiction)
Vitale's THE ATTRACTOR FACTOR (reread) (non fiction)
Collin's MOCKINGJAY (Children fight on televised TV in this chilling post apocalyptic world)
Gregory's WIDEACRE (Scarlett O'Hara type does evil things in 18th century England)
Tatar's THE HARD FACTS ABOUT GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES
Reston's WARRIORS OF GOD: Richard the Lionheart and Saladin in the Third Crusade
Lehrman's SCREENWRITING ON THE INTERNET
RECOMMENDED
Bacigalupi's WINDUP GIRL (non fiction)
Raquel Welch's BEYOND CLEAVAGE
Baigent's HOLY BLOOD, HOLY GRAIL (non fiction)
Harrison's STORMING INTREPID
Larson's THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY (non fiction)
Long's THE DESCENT
Beevor's THE BATTLE FOR SPAIN (non fiction)
Coelho's BRIDA
Lynch's RED SEAS UNDER RED SKIES
Preston/Child's THE CABINET OF CURIOSITIES (Pendergast, book 3)
Adam's HORSECLANS
Burke's NEON RAIN (book one of David Robicheaux novels)
Details below
..............
RECENTLY READ FICTION
THE FORT by Bernard Cornwell
This smoothly written book covers the Penobscot Expedition during the American Revolution. According to some historians it was the worst naval war blunder since Pearl Harbor. Paul Revere is shown to be an arrogant incompetent suffering court martial after the failed attempt against the British (but he appealed it under peculiar circumstances later); prickly Commodore Saltonsall is the fall guy in an attempt to have the other states cover the costs and General Peleg Wadsworth may be the only true hero of the upper echelon's land commanders. WHEN READ: September to November 2010; CHARACTERS: A minus; STORY/PLOT POINTS: A minus; OVERALL GRADE: B plus to A minus.
Stephen King/Peter Straub's TALISMAN graphic novel:
Tale of a preteen hero who can travel from this world to a medieval fantasy one where everyone has a twin. His mother's twin is a sleeping queen who can't wake up and yes her kingdom has fallen into ruin. I think this first volume is setting things up but we've yet to get to the really good stuff though there is promise here. WHEN READ: 10/22/2010; MY GRADE: B; ARTWORK: B.
Bill Willingham's FABLES volume 13:
A nice tale that focuses on writing themes of authorship (creator vs. those created), genres, editors, writer's block and so much more. Most of our favorite characters return and it jumps back and forth in narrative between traditional Fables viewpoints to that of Jack. My favorite part was when the genres came to life and spewed their own myopic points of view. WHEN READ: 10/11/2010; ARTWORK: B plus; MY GRADE: B (B plus for storytelling types).
Preston/Child's RELIQUARY
A nice follow up to book one that doesn't suffer through the typical sophomoric slump. Yes, the beast is back but in a totally different manner so no real spoilers there. Focus upon the mole people of NYC with some interesting tidbits of American History that go back quite a ways. Dialog and story plotting are particularly well done and new characters come to visit. If you enjoyed the first book then you should enjoy this one as well. WHEN READ: July to September 2010; MY GRADE: B plus to A minus.
Jason Starr's THE CHILL graphic novel:
A fun and fast read. Expect violence and sex but it's tied into a tale relating to Celtic Mythology. Artwork was well done but it's in black and white for those who are turned off by such things. WHEN READ: 10/04/2010; MY GRADE: B plus to A minus.
Robert Vendetti's THE SURROGATES
Better than the movie and also a better ending that feels right for the tone. The advertisements for surrogates and the like really help mold the story. Based on a popular graphic novel. Artwork is dark and mysterious. There's a section in back about how to write a scene for a comic book as well. WHEN READ: September 2010; MY GRADE: B to B plus (not for non comic book fans).
DRAGON AGE RPG
A good to great rules light RPG if you enjoyed the video game. The stunts are the best part of the mechanics which maintain a simple elegance with three six sided dice. If you hit your target number and get doubles or triples then you have some stunt points to use right away. It comes with a 64 page PHB and a similar sized DMG and a nice map of Ferelden. There's some good advice on GMing, an overview of the world and the details of the classes are reminiscent of Old School D&D. I like that the monsters either have favored stunts or special stunts only particular to them. The latter is a nice surprise for the players. This is a great starting game for people who have never played an RPG, especially if they liked the video game. About the only thing I didn't like was that the boxed set is only for levels one to five. A free beta of box set 2 is online now and Green Ronin and Bioware intend to have four boxed sets all the way up to level 20. I suspect they will try to coordinate the RPGs with video game releases. MY GRADE: B plus (B minus to B if you don't know anything about the video game).
RECENTLY READ NON FICTION
Steve Chandler's 100 WAYS TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF
Wheat's HOW TO WRITE KILLER FICTION
Herman's SEX WITH KINGS
CURRENT FICTION BEING READ
Fall of Giants by Ken Follet (A cross section of European families of different social standings just before WWI and then a few years after. Focus is on WWI greatly and the common man/woman).
CURRENT NON FICTION BEING READ
Byrne's THE POWER (follow up to THE SECRET)
NEXT UP
Behrend's YOUR INVISIBLE POWER (reread) (non fiction)
Vitale's THE ATTRACTOR FACTOR (reread) (non fiction)
Collin's MOCKINGJAY (Children fight on televised TV in this chilling post apocalyptic world)
Gregory's WIDEACRE (Scarlett O'Hara type does evil things in 18th century England)
Tatar's THE HARD FACTS ABOUT GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES
Reston's WARRIORS OF GOD: Richard the Lionheart and Saladin in the Third Crusade
Lehrman's SCREENWRITING ON THE INTERNET
RECOMMENDED
Bacigalupi's WINDUP GIRL (non fiction)
Raquel Welch's BEYOND CLEAVAGE
Baigent's HOLY BLOOD, HOLY GRAIL (non fiction)
Harrison's STORMING INTREPID
Larson's THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY (non fiction)
Long's THE DESCENT
Beevor's THE BATTLE FOR SPAIN (non fiction)
Coelho's BRIDA
Lynch's RED SEAS UNDER RED SKIES
Preston/Child's THE CABINET OF CURIOSITIES (Pendergast, book 3)
Adam's HORSECLANS
Burke's NEON RAIN (book one of David Robicheaux novels)