December Reading List

66.  Shadow Legion: New Roads to Hell (pb), by Thomas Deja
65. Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith, short stories (Nook), by John Jackson Miller
64. The Ecclesiastical History of the English People (ua), by The Venerable Bede
63. Rooted in Good Soil (pb), by Tri Robinson
62. Doctor Who: The Ripper (gn), by Tony Lee, et. al.
61. Collateral Damage (ua), by Stuart Woods
60. Frozen Heat (ua), by "Richard Castle"
59. The Return of Sherlock Holmes (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Earlier in 2013:

58. W is for Wasted (ua), by Sue Grafton
57. Left Behind The Kids #30 (pb), by Tim LaHaye, Jerry B Jenkins, & Chris Fabry
56. Left Behind The Kids #29 (pb), by Tim LaHaye, Jerry B Jenkins, & Chris Fabry
55. I Shouldn't Tell You This (pb), by Kate White
54. Inferno (ua), by Dan Brown
53. Guys Can Be Cat Ladies Too (pb), by Michael Showalter
52. Invasion (pb), by Jon S. Lewis
51. Callahan's Legacy (ua), by Spider Robinson
50. Severe Clear (ua), Stuart Woods
49. The Third Kingdom (ua), by Terry Goodkind
48. Gotham Central: In the Line of Duty HC (gn), by Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka, and Michael Lark
47. Mockingjay (ua), by Suzanne Collins
46. The Shambling Guide to New York City (pb), by Mur Lafferty
45. The Hound of the Baskervilles (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
44. Guild of the Cowry Catchers: Book 4 (ua), by Abigail Hilton
43. The Big Cat Nap (ua), by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown
42. Free (ua), by Chris Anderson
41. Iron Man: Legacy of Doom (gn), by David Michelinie,
40. The She-Hulk Diaries (pb), by Marta Acosta
39. Elizabeth the First Wife (Nook), by Lian Dolan
38. The Maze (nook), by Jason Brannon
37. The President's Vampire (ua), by Christopher Farnsworth
36. The Pope Who Quit (pb), by Jon M Sweeney
35. Memoirs of Sherlock Homes (ua), by Arthur Conan Doyle
34. More or Less (ua), by Jeff Shinaberger
33. Blood & Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter (pb), by various
32. The Children of Hurin (ua), by J.R.R. Tolkien
31. Atlantyx, (pb), by Chase Dalton
30. Callahan's Secret (ua), by Spider Robinson
29. Take Four (ua), by Karen Kingsbury
28. Skull-Kickers, Treasure Trove volume 1, by Jim Zub and various artists
27. The Dalek Generation (pb), by Nicholas Briggs
26. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
25. The Areas of My Expertise (pb), by John Hodgman
24. The Skin Map (ua), by Stephen Lawhead
23. Catching Fire (ua), by Suzanne Collins
22. Quitter (ua) , by Jon Acuff.
21. The Bone Bed (ua), by Patricia Cornwell.
20. Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart (hc), by J.D. Greear
19. Left Behind: The Kids #28 (pb), by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye, & Chris Fabry
18. Left Behind: The Kids #27 (pb), by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye, & Chris Fabry
17. Left Behind: The Kids #26 (pb), by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye, & Chris Fabry
16. Time Travelers Strictly Cash (aa), by Spider Robinson
15. The Devil's Company (ua), by David Liss
14. Deadly Straits (ua), by R.E. McDermott
13. Doctor Who: Paradise Towers (ua), by Stephen Wyatt
12. DC Universe Secret Origins (gn), by various writers and artists
11. The Gods of Mars (ua), by Edgar Rice Burroughs
10. Craving Grace (hc), by Lisa Velthouse
9. The Sign of Four (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
8. DC Dead (ua), by Stuart Woods
7. A Study in Scarlet (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
6. The Hunger Games (ua), by Suzanne Collins
5. Take Three (ua), by Karen Kingsbury
4. Mary Through The Centuries (hc), by Jaroslav Pelikan
3. Roil (ua), by Trent Jamieson
2. The Devil You Know (ua), by Mike Carey
1. Ender's Shadow Ultimate Collection (gn), by Mike Carey

Book #66: The Shadow Legion, by Thomas Deja

The Shadow Legion: New Roads to Hell, by Thomas Deja.

This is (potentially) the first book in a new series of superhero novels. This one has a very nice noir feel, taking place in the early days of radio heroes.

New Roads to Hell is set in Nocturne, Florida, "the city that lives by night." An entertainment mecca with a dark side and a history of spiritual darkness, it becomes the battleground for a ghostly and ghastly turf war. The cast includes Dreamcatcher, Nightbreaker, Ferryman and Black Talon, and in this novel they go up against the evil Rose Red. I am a particular fan of Black Talon,who possesses the ability to morph at will between a range of African predators. The squeezing powers of a python, the size of an elephant, and the speed af a cheetah are all at his disposal.

As an "origin story" for the team, this story does what is supposed to do -- it makes me wish there was another one out there that I could read right away. Each chapter also contains an art piece that brings a sense of excitement to the novel, as well as reminding us of the comic-book nature of the story.

Deja's writing is strong, and his characterizations are solid -- each of the main characters have their own distinct motivations. The book moves at a great place, and was a very enjoyable read. There is a distinct ending, but the groundwork is certainly been laid for new adventures in this universe.

Source: Directly from the author, to prepare for an interview we conducted with him on The Book Guys Show.

Book #65. Lost Tribe of the Sith

Lost Tribe of the Sith: The Collected Stories, by John Jackson Miller. Nook.

It has been a while since I've read much in the Star Wars Extended Universe. I am old enough that there was a point in time where I had read nearly all of the novels,  and had the realistic goal of "catching up" with the novels in the EU. But I slowed down a bit, and the EU started cranking out fiction at an alarming rate. When it became obvious that I would never be current with the novels, I just gave up for a while. Like a decade.

But I saw that these these stories were available in the Nook store, and I took a chance with the first one. Obviously, I enjoyed each one enough to keep downloading and reading the next one.

The stories in this collection are titled individually: Precipice, Skyborn, Paragon, Savior, Purgatory, Sentinel, Pantheon, & Secrets. These start 5,000 before the events of A New Hope, or BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin), to use terminology from the EU. This is the age of the Old Galactic Republic, and they tell the backstory of the "Lost Tribe," which resurfaces a few decades BBY, as part of the Fate of the Jedi novel series. These books are told from the perspective of the Sith, and their part in the war against the Republic.

I am glad I jumped back into the EU with these. Even though they occurred so far before the "main action" of Star Wars, they tell interesting stories of people on the "other side" of the battle. If you like books told from the "other" perspective, I would recommend them. And if you are a fan of prequels (prequels in general, I mean, not movie Episodes 1-3), I would also recommend them. Good stories, and better world-building.

Source: Nook store.

Book #64. The Venerable Bede

The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, by The Venerable Bede. Unabridged audio.

I am a sucker for church history, but it took me a while to get around to reading the most famous piece of church history from the first millennium.

The focus is on the Christian history of the British Isles. This has been a particular interest to me since I ran across the music of the UK-based band Iona more than 20 years ago. Bede hits the main characters and locals that I was hoping for, such as Iona, Lindisfarne, Columba, and Columcille.

There are certainly moments of dryness in the accounts, as many of the people and circumstances have been lost to time (save this book). But many of the accounts were colorful, and so although some of the chronologies did not stick with me, many of the stories did. The relationships between the various British peoples, both with each other and with the authorities in Rome, form a backbone for the history.

In terms of theology, the issue that Bede spends the most time on is the correct dating for Easter. Although backing the Roman interpretation, he is gracious to other believers who believe differently.


Source: I listened to audio version of the book, provided free by LibriVox. An offshoot from The Gutenberg Project, LibriVox records public domain books, and makes them available on their website and through iTunes.

Book #63. Rooted in Good Soil

Rooted in Good Soil, by Tri Robinson. Paperback.

A third-generation farmer, as well as being a pastor, Tri Robinson has an interesting vantage point from which to analyze Jesus' parable of the sower. Robinson notes that the differences in outcomes in the story are due to the underlying condition of the soil. Robinson combines his knowledge of Scripture and farming to explain how we can develop the "good soil" required for spiritual growth.

The chapter relating the Trinity to the forces of soil, sun, and rain was the strongest part of the book. In it, Robinson tells vignettes from his life to show his own personal understanding of the roles of Father, Son, and Spirit in his own life. The chapter on the miracle of photosynthesis was also strong, discussing personal growth in a way I had not heard before.

The founding pastor of a large Vineyard church in Idaho, Robinson has written about the intersection of faith and the natural world before. His prior works, Saving God's Green Earth, and Small Footprint, Big Handprint, both argue for evangelical approaches to environmentalism and sustainability. He argues persuasively that a biblical worldview includes care and concern for creation.

This is not a theological tome, but is instead a readable treatise of discipleship, from a man who has been a church leader for many decades.

Source: borrowed from a friend.

Book #62: Doctor Who: The Ripper

Doctor Who: The Ripper, by Tony Lee. Art by Tim Hamilton, Andrew Currie, and others.  Graphic novel collection.

IDW Publishing continues to produce excellent Doctor Who comics, most if not all written by Tony Lee. I reviewed a collection of his stories featuring the 10th Doctor, and this graphic novel collects his first four issues featuring the 11th Doctor.

The collection starts with a light-hearted tale, "Spam Filtered," in which holographic spam infests the Tardis -- this is Amy and Rory's fault. In this story, Lee captures the feel of the Doctor's wackier stories, and is perfect for a one-off story, especially one that starts a series with a new Doctor. Humorous stories are notoriously hard to end, but Lee ends this story in a humorous way that even makes sense in the logic of the story.

The core of this collection is the 3-issue "Ripper" arc, in which case the Doctor and the Ponds arrive in 1888, right in the middle of the Ripper killings. A trail of Kryon radiation leads the Doctor to recognize that something distinctly non-Earthly may be happening in Whitechapel, both in terms of the villain and the lead detective.

Amy asks the common question of why they can't stop the killings. When the Doctor explains that he can't change the timeline, Rory quite accurately points out that he does just that ALL THE TIME! Another excuse is given, which makes some wibbly-wobbly sense, but Rory's follow-up question was one of the highlights of the collection.

There are a range of artists whose work went into these stories, and generally speaking, they do a workable job. There are times when Rory is nonrecognizable, but the likenesses of both Amy and the Doctor tend to be consistently on-model. But overall, these four issues make for a very good read.

source: public library

Between audiobooks (4)

I have written before of my habit of listening to a few episodes of PodCastle or Escape Pod in between audiobooks -- short story palate cleansers between novels. I am still waaaay behind (10 months?) on these podcasts), so I listened to a bunch of Podcastles last week, just after Collateral Damage. I listened to these episodes:



PodCastle 224: The Navigator and the Sky, by Ian  McHugh. An grandfather-granddaughter myth, with a Polynesian twist.


PodCastle 228: The Terror of Blue John Gap, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A "journey to the Centre of the Earth" style adventure story. Kind of scary, truth be told.

PodCastle Miniature 71: When the Jack-O-Lanterns want to change their destinies ...

PodCastle 229: The Tonsor's Son, by Michael John Grist.All about shaving and barbers, and other violent stuff. Where else would the world's most famous blades end up, other than barber shops? Gruesome and quirky.

PodCastle 230: Little Better Than a Beast, by T.A. Pratt. Another solid story from Pratt.

PodCastle Miniature 72: The Best Worst Monster, by Peter S. Beagle. Monsters aren't supposed to grow souls, and when they do ...

Guest appearances!

I was asked to appear on a few comic-book podcasts, and all of those episodes were released this past week! I enjoyed these recording, as I got to Skype with some veteran podcasters, and also plug the work that we've been doing over at the Relatively Geeky network.

In episode 20 of Trentus Magnus Punches Reality, I joined host Trentus and another guest, veteran podcaster Michael Bailey. We talked about the story 'Red Son,' which shows what would have happened if that rocket from the exploding planet Krypton had landed in Cold War Russia, instead of Kansas. A good comic, and a good podcast episode.

In episode 21 of Trentus Magnus Punches Reality, the three of us talked this time about a story that proposes a mashup of Batman and Green Lantern. The story, "Batman: In Darkest Night," was not very good, but I think our discussion of it was.

In episode 92 of Just One of the Guys, I joined host Shawn Engel to talk about the 3-issue "Hate Crimes" story arc. These issue, featuring versions of Green Arrow and Green Lantern, tell a very subtle story about racism, politics, pop culture, and the news media.

I have found the podcasting community to be a very welcoming and generous place, and I thank both Trentus and Shawn for inviting me on their show. I thoroughly enjoyed doing it.

Book #61: Collateral Damage

Collateral Damage, by Stuart Woods. Unabridged audio.

This latest novel in the Stone Barrington series picks up where the last one left off, with a terrorist on the run after an attempt on the President Will Lee's life in Los Angeles. The lone survivor of that attack takes her reign of terror to both the UK and New York City.

In Woods' first 20 novels or so, he developed a range of series that all took place in the same world. One of the fun aspects of reading these books is that characters from other books were mentioned in passing, or events from one book would have consequences in a book from another series. But in the last ten books or so, he has brought all of his characters into the Stone Barrington series.

In this book, Barrington and CIA operative Holly Barker work with the Lees and the MI5 operatives from prior books to take on this latest case.His old buddy Dino Bichetti from the NYPD also plays an important role in the conclusion of the case, and his personal life takes a positive turn.

And these recent books have also moved away from the smaller-scale mysteries and adventures to more epic terrorism and espionage novels. Ths transition has been mostly smooth, as the later books have continued to tell exciting stories, with believable action and strong characters.

source: public library

Book #60: Frozen Heat

Frozen Heat, by "Richard Castle." Unabridged audio.

This is the fourth novel in the series, loosely based on characters from the "Castle" TV show. Actually, it is loosely based on the fictional novel that character Richard Castle wrote in the "Castle" TV show. Many of the characters on the show have analogs in the novels, and though the novels are strong on their own, knowledge of the show helps with the inside jokes and references.

One of the things I like about the series is that the direction is diverging from events of the TV show, of which I am a fan.The story starts with the discovery of a frozen body in a suitcase, and clues from that crime lead to opening an otherwise "cold case" -- the murder years before of Beckett's mother.

The murder of Beckett's mother in the TV show has been an overarching storyline on the show, and this book tackles the subject as well. But in this version, they have moved into a more espionage thriller territory, with spy agencies on both sides of the Atlantic being involved.

There were a few too many cutesy "Firefly" references in this novel, referencing actor Nathan Fillion. But most of the humor in the novel was spot on, and the anonymous author managed to capture the heart of the relationship between Castle and Beckett, disguised as Rook and Heat in the book's universe.

The particulars of this plot were wrapped up nicely, but there are definite openings for the series to continue from where this one left off.

As always, the audio version of this is wonderfully presented by Johnny Heller.

source: public library. 

Podcast Marathon

It is final exam season for me at work, and I didn't have any yesterday. This left me some extra time for listening to podcasts and audio books. Here is what I listened to yesterday:

The Tony Kornheiser Show: Daily sports (mostly) show, from a sports station in Washington, DC

Superman in the Bronze Age: Charlie Neimeyer is joined by podcasting luminary Michael Bailey to discuss the interesting story from the 1970s where Jonathan Kent returned from the dead.

Satellite Sisters: Interview show #102 (#2 actually), wherein Lian Dolan speaks with Ian Punnitt about his interesting new book.

Quarter-Bin Podcast: Episode 12. Yes, this is my own show, but I do listen to it when it comes out, just to verify that the sound quality is good, and that no disasters ahppened in the upload / download process. 

Frozen Heat, by "Richard Castle." Narrator Johnny Heller does an excellent job narrating this detective novel.

Revisiting Holmes: The Third Collection

Book #59: The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Unabridged audio.

After trying to kill off his famous literary creation in the story "The Final Problem," Doyle found himself pressured to bring the famous detective back from the dead. Which he does in the famous story "The Empty House." This story opens this collection.

I personally remember many of these stories from the Jeremy Brett adaptations on PBS. "The Norwood Builder," "The Dancing Men," and "The Solitary Cyclist" fit this bill. I appreciate the value of Holmes doing his work in London, but I prefer the stories where Doyle is able to get the detective to the smaller, rural areas of England.

There is little in the way of character development in these stories, for either Holmes or Watson, as Doyle seems to have settled into a formula for his short stories. That is not to say that the stories themselves are not strong, but the lack of an Irene Adler or Professor Moriarity is noticeable.

As a university professor, I enjoyed the plot (and resolution) of "The Three Students," although "The Golden Pince-Nez" and "The Second Stain" are among the most enjoyable stories in this collection.

Source: Unabridged audio via LibriVox, and BooksSHouldBeFree.Com, a site that records audio of public domain books. Despite the "amateur" status of the recording, the audio quality and narration is very strong. Surprisingly strong, as a matter of fact.

Podcasting Milestones

Three long-running (and excellent) shows recently reached very impressive milestones. These all put the 11 episodes of my Quarter-Bin Podcast to shame!

SQPN: The Break. Father Roderick's show recently hit the 900th episode. This is now a mostly-weekly show, having started life as The Daily Breakfast, and covers pop culture, movies & TV, and current events and Catholic Church news. Father Roderick, a parish priest in Holland, oversees an entire network of podcasts. SQPN includes shows that cover more specifically spiritual content, as well as the excellent "Secret of" series of shows, that examine the lessons that can be learned from pop culture content such as The Hobbit, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Battestar Galactica.

Battleship Pretension. This terrific movie criticism podcast recently produced its 350th weekly episode. Hosts Tyler Smith and David Bax take a thought-provoking approach towards current and classic cinema. They don't do movie reviews, they do actual film criticism, and do it very well. They occasionally have a guest-host, but most of the episodes are just the two hosts. This is easily my favorite movie podcast.

 The Danger Room. This X-Men comic book commentary podcast recently his its 100th episode. Hosts Adam and Jeremy started at the beginning of this comic's history, and are already in 1979. They take a modern view on these alder comments, and make lots of fun of the sillier aspects of these stories.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can
play along!
Just do the following:

Grab your current read.

Open to a random page.

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

From the prologue of Rooted in Good Soil: Cultivating and Sustaining Authentic Discipleship, by Tri Robinson, author of Saving God's Green Earth and the founding pastor of the Boise Vineyard Church. 

"Life has a way of compacting and hardening the soil of our hearts. Life's hurts combined with the gradual accumulation of guilt and shame as a result of sin constantly weigh us down, causing our hearts to become like the soil in my garden after a long and harsh winter."

November Reading List

58. W is for Wasted (ua), by Sue Grafton
57. Left Behind The Kids #30 (pb), by Tim LaHaye, Jerry B Jenkins, & Chris Fabry
56. Left Behind The Kids #29 (pb), by Tim LaHaye, Jerry B Jenkins, & Chris Fabry
55. I Shouldn't Tell You This (pb), by Kate White
54. Inferno (ua), by Dan Brown
53. Guys Can Be Cat Ladies Too (pb), by Michael Showalter


Earlier in 2013:
52. Invasion (pb), by Jon S. Lewis
51. Callahan's Legacy (ua), by Spider Robinson
50. Severe Clear (ua), Stuart Woods
49. The Third Kingdom (ua), by Terry Goodkind
48. Gotham Central: In the Line of Duty HC (gn), by Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka, and Michael Lark
47. Mockingjay (ua), by Suzanne Collins
46. The Shambling Guide to New York City (pb), by Mur Lafferty
45. The Hound of the Baskervilles (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
44. Guild of the Cowry Catchers: Book 4 (ua), by Abigail Hilton
43. The Big Cat Nap (ua), by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown
42. Free (ua), by Chris Anderson
41. Iron Man: Legacy of Doom (gn), by David Michelinie,
40. The She-Hulk Diaries (pb), by Marta Acosta
39. Elizabeth the First Wife (Nook), by Lian Dolan
38. The Maze (nook), by Jason Brannon
37. The President's Vampire (ua), by Christopher Farnsworth
36. The Pope Who Quit (pb), by Jon M Sweeney
35. Memoirs of Sherlock Homes (ua), by Arthur Conan Doyle
34. More or Less (ua), by Jeff Shinaberger
33. Blood & Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter (pb), by various
32. The Children of Hurin (ua), by J.R.R. Tolkien
31. Atlantyx, (pb), by Chase Dalton
30. Callahan's Secret (ua), by Spider Robinson
29. Take Four (ua), by Karen Kingsbury
28. Skull-Kickers, Treasure Trove volume 1, by Jim Zub and various artists
27. The Dalek Generation (pb), by Nicholas Briggs
26. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
25. The Areas of My Expertise (pb), by John Hodgman
24. The Skin Map (ua), by Stephen Lawhead
23. Catching Fire (ua), by Suzanne Collins
22. Quitter (ua) , by Jon Acuff.
21. The Bone Bed (ua), by Patricia Cornwell.
20. Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart (hc), by J.D. Greear
19. Left Behind: The Kids #28 (pb), by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye, & Chris Fabry
18. Left Behind: The Kids #27 (pb), by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye, & Chris Fabry
17. Left Behind: The Kids #26 (pb), by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye, & Chris Fabry
16. Time Travelers Strictly Cash (aa), by Spider Robinson
15. The Devil's Company (ua), by David Liss
14. Deadly Straits (ua), by R.E. McDermott
13. Doctor Who: Paradise Towers (ua), by Stephen Wyatt
12. DC Universe Secret Origins (gn), by various writers and artists
11. The Gods of Mars (ua), by Edgar Rice Burroughs
10. Craving Grace (hc), by Lisa Velthouse
9. The Sign of Four (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
8. DC Dead (ua), by Stuart Woods
7. A Study in Scarlet (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
6. The Hunger Games (ua), by Suzanne Collins
5. Take Three (ua), by Karen Kingsbury
4. Mary Through The Centuries (hc), by Jaroslav Pelikan
3. Roil (ua), by Trent Jamieson
2. The Devil You Know (ua), by Mike Carey
1. Ender's Shadow Ultimate Collection (gn), by Mike Carey

Book #58. W is for Wasted

W is for Wasted, by Sue Grafton. Unabridged audio.

I have read every book in Grafton's alphabet series, and have enjoyed almost all of them. This one definitely fits in with the majority of book in the series -- it is an very good mystery novel.

A homeless man turns up dead, with Kinsey Millhone's name on a piece of paper in his pocket. This brings her into the investigation, which involves medical research, family feuds, a dead private investigator, and a surprisingly large estate for a homeless man. Compared to most of the other characters in the novel, Kinsey's pure motives for wanting to find the truth stands out. Millhone is skilled in demonstrating her lead character's motivations, as well as putting us in her place. We finally learn more about the other side of Kinsey's family, and these plot points and insights are key to developing her character, as well as solving the novel's underlying mystery.

Many old friends are back for this novel, including Kinsey's ex-boyfriend Robert Dietz. The standout new character is a feline, although a few other human characters make debuts, as well.

The ending of the novel (not the solving of the mystery, but the aftermath) is expecially convenient, especially for Kinsey. It is a scenario that I have seen played out in other novel series, but I do admit that I am intrigued to see how Kinsey reacts to her new situation.

Continuing with a trend that Grafton started a half-dozen or so books ago, this is a longer than average detective story, and we get some scenes from the POV of characters other than Kinsey Millhone. Kinsey's chapters are still first-person, but there are other sections written in third-person, giving us as readers a few more clues as to the big picture of the case than Kinsey has. This is a popular authorial choice in thrillers, and is slowly gaining popularity among mystery writers.

source: public library.

Thanksgiving

This is a reprint from last year, but all of this still applies:

--------------------------------------------

In honor of Thanksgiving, which is tomorrow (in the US), I am listing book I am thankful for. These are not necessarily my favorite books, but books that have impacted me, books that I am glad exist, glad that I have read. There are listed alphabetically, so as to not imply an order:

The Complete Sherlock Holmes, by Arthur Conan Doyle. This was the first "real book" I ever owned. I assume it was a birthday present, from when I was maybe 10 years old or so. I still own it.

The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien. I remember reading it at the school library. I don't think I checked it out, I just remember going there regularly and reading a few pages at a time. It opened my eyes to the world of fantasy fiction, a genre I read regularly to this day.

The Holy Bible. For inspiration, wisdom, and truth.

Superman from the Thirties to the Seventies. A hardcover collection of Superman stories, published in the early seventies. 

Tess of the d'Urbervilles, by Thomas Hardy. I read this in high school, and it was the first time I could not put a book down. I was up until almost 3 AM one night to finish it. I re-read it every 5 years or so.

The World of Pooh, by A.A. Milne. We owned a hardcover version of this volume, which contains both Winnie-the-Pooh and House at Pooh Corner. I loved these stories, from having them read to me, to when I was able to read them myself. Somehow, my older sister managed to snag this book for her kids.

Podcasting Update!

We have had done some terrific interviews with authors and audiobook narrators over the last few months for the Book Guys, but our editor's video-editing software crashed, and those episodes are still a few weeks away from being published. I will post the links when the shows are published.


Getting my (with my daughter) little podcasting network up and going over the last 3 or 4 months ago has been fun, as well. We recently had our first episode with a guest, and one of the podcast's released its 10th episode. Another show will be releasing its episode #10 soon, as well. The episodes are available at the podcast website or via iTunes.

I have been a guest on two episodes of another comic-book podcast, although those episodes have not been released.. And in a few days, I am scheduled to be a Skype-guest on another show. My experiences as part of the comic book podcast community have been universally positive.

Books #56 & 57.

Left Behind: The Kids, books 29 & 30, by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye, and Chris Fabry. Paperbacks.

As I have written here before, I am a completist, and when I finished the Left Behind series a number of years ago, I started working my through the Kids versions of the books.And once started, I don't want to finish. I read them two at a time, two or three times per year. Maybe some time in 2015 I'll be done.

As I have written before, there is a level of impressive work here, in being able to tie in this series to the greater "adult" stories, where events and plot has to coincide.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can
play along!
Just do the following:

Grab your current read.

Open to a random page.

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

From the prologue of W is for Wasted, by Sue Grafton: "Two dead bodies changed the course of my life that fall. One of them I knew and the other I’d never laid eyes on until I saw him in the morgue."

Comic Book Review: Static Shock 1-8

Static Shock, volume 1: Supercharged, trade paperback, collecting issues 1-8, by Scott McDaniel, John Rozum, and Andy Owens.

Static was the most successful character in the Milestone line of comics, which was DC’s attempt in 1993 to address the issue of minority underrepresentation in comics. He ended up with his own animated series, and was the only of those characters to find themselves with a book in the New 52 initiative.

Virgil Hawkins is a super-smart teenager with electricity-based powers, and a family that suddenly has an extra person in it; his sister seems to have been cloned, and nobody knows which is the original and which is the clone. This makes for a very strange and stressful family dynamic. In these stories, he goes up against a range of underground bosses, but these characters (such as Mr. Piranha and the Pale Man) are lackluster.

There was some talk that DC Comic’s “New 52” initiative from 2011 was about re-making their comics in the image of their arch-rival, Marvel Comics. Former Marvel executives were in charge, and many former Marvel writers and artists were hired for the reboot. Static Shock stands out from other DC titles in that it actually takes place in New York City, which is an interesting change for DC Comics. There are specific references to locations, and I imagine that this was pretty accurate. The risk of getting information like that wrong is just too high.

Another “Marvelized” aspect of this comic was Virgil’s similarities to Peter Parker, mostly in his humorous quips. But they seem stale and inauthentic, and the attempt to make a Spider-Man for the 21^st century just fell flat.

The reception of the book was unenthusiastic, and sales were never strong. This collected includes all eight of the issues published before the book’s cancellation.

Source: public library

Book 55: I Shouldn't Be Telling You This

I Shouldn't  Be Telling You This, by Kate White. Paperback.

Kate White is the former editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, and the author of  a number of novels. This is her fourth foray into the areas of self-help and business advice.Although pitched to women, most of the "51 gutsy secrets every woman should know" apply to men, as well. Perhpas the ones that relate to fashion and hair may be specifically for the ladies, but that type of advice were in the minority.

Some of the advice was basic and not earth-shattering, such as "go big or go home." But the strength of the book is White bringing her own experience to the book, telling us how she has worked her way through the magazine industry, landing the top job at a top magazine.

The tips on resumes and interviews were especially strong, and most of her "18 people principles" seemed applicable to me. In this category, I liked not dragging the boss into every inter-office squabble, and that even in the sanest workplaces, you can come face to face with a psycho.

The book is a quick read, organized into short chapters, ranging from 2 to 10 pages.This makes it esy to pick up and skim at any time, and the advice is given in reasonable-size bits. I mentioned in a review of another self-help / management book, that that author tended to indulge in "humble brags." White does that as well, and I am beginning to understand this as a trope of this type of book. If the point of the book is that this advice is her story of business success, she does need to regularly mention her business successes. Fair enough.

Source: received free from the the publisher, in preparation for an interview the author on the Book Guys show.

Book 54: Inferno

Inferno, by Dan Brown. Unabridged audio.

I have read all of Dan Brown's novels, and have liked them to varying degrees. This one moved (mostly) away from the religious world to the art world, but other than that, this book was similar to his prior novels. If that works for you, than you ought to enjoy this one, as well.

The epic poem The Inferno is the jumping off point for this novel, as are famous works of art inspired by the work. From there, the conspiracy runs to a cabal of trans-humanists who want to dramatically cut the world population. And they have an interesting method about how to do that.

There is a lot of problem-solving, puzzles, and a whole range of such brain-teasers that only Robert Langdon can solve. There are a lot of coincidences and moments of good fortune that occur, a few more than I would prefer.

One of the strengths of the novel is the pacing. The novel takes place over a very short period of time, and that certainly helps the reading experience. The fast-moving nature of the book helped me overlook some of the book's shortcomings.

source: public library

A Podcast Bids Farewell

As I have said here before, it makes me profoundly sad when a podcast just stops producing, or "podfades." So whenever a show has an official final episode, and wraps up its run in a planned manner, I like to "shout out" to that show and host.

Recently, Stephanie Weak (now Zimmer) wrapped her 80-episode run of From Darkness to Light, her personal journal podcast about healing, accepting love and learning to live life to the full. It is an inspiring podcast, and Stephanie is vulnerable and honest in relaying the aspects of her journey. Recently married, she decided that she had told enough of her story, and stopped producing the podcast.

Each of the 6-10 minute episodes discusses a specific aspect of Stephanie's journey. She talks about her past of abuse, aspects of her job, various spiritual retreats and practices she has done to aid her progress. She even spends a few episodes talking about what she learned from certain TV shows.

The episodes are all available on iTunes and from the show's website. Check them out.

Book #53: Guys Can Be Cat Ladies Too!

Guys Can Be Cat Ladies Too, by Michael Showalter. Paperback

I always thought of myself as a cat fella, or a cat dude, or a cat man. But none of those terms quite reflect how I viewed myself viz-a-viz the felines in my life. But now I know ... I am a Cat Lady Guy.

In his delightful and surprisingly informative book, comedian and actor Michael Showalter walks through the steps for any fellow to become a better-than-average cat caretaker. Every step of the process is covered, moving us from Beginner Cat to Intermediate Cat, all the way to Advanced Cat.

He gives key insights about what your cat is thinking about (eating and kocking things over), what your cat dreams about (eating and knocking things over), and what your cat's greatest hopes and dreams are (world domination, eating, and knocking things over, with the occassional 14-hour nap thrown in).

The writing is funny enough, but the charts and pictures are the highlight of the book. Pie charts, photos, quizzes, and diagrams are integrated into the book very nicely.

This book is a quick read, because it is so fun to read. Highly recommended for anyone owned by their cat, or anybody who would like to be.

My Podcast Awards ballot

I will be voting daily in the Podcast Awards, until the balloting closes on November 15.

Here are the shows I will be voting for -- in some categories, I am listing alternative options, because in those categories, there are multiple shows that I am a fan of, and want to give them all their appropriate "shout-outs."

People's Choice:  Two of my favorite podcasts are nominated here, No Agenda, and Satellite Sisters. I have been listening to both of these shows for years, and you can't go wrong with either one, so I equally support both. But I'll vote for the Satellite Sisters, by a whisker.

Business: DH Unplugged. The absolutely best business and finance podcast available.

Culture/Arts:  I have been a long-time fan of Sword & Laser, so they are my first choice, but Major Spoilers is also very good.

Education: Grammar Girl is my first choice, although the History Chicks is very good, as well.

Entertainment: A Podcast of Ice and Fire, covering the George RR Martin books, and occasionally the related TV show, is a terrific podcast, getting better every episode. They won a Geekie Award earlier in the year, a well-deserved honor.

General: Satellite Sisters. 5 real-life sisters, talking about anything and everything. Lian Dolan is one of the sisters, and I have written about her podcasts and books on this site before.

Politics/News: No Agenda. A journalist and a former MTV DJ, analyzing the news and the media coverage of it. A great show.

Religion Inspiration: This is one of the topics where I was familiar with a lot of the nominees. I will be voting for Tyler Smith's film criticism show More Than One Lesson, although the The Break w/ Father Roderick is a terrific show, and the Sci-Fi Christian is very solid, as well.

Technology: This is another category where I am familiar with many of the nominated show. I am voting for The Waves of Tech, because I like what these "little guys" have been able to build over the years. Obviously, This Week in Tech is a very slick, professional podcast, and The Audacity to Podcast is a terrific show about the details of podcasting.

October Reading List

52. Invasion (pb), by Jon S. Lewis
51. Callahan's Legacy (ua), by Spider Robinson


Earlier in 2013:
50. Severe Clear (ua), Stuart Woods
49. The Third Kingdom (ua), by Terry Goodkind
48. Gotham Central: In the Line of Duty HC (gn), by Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka, and Michael Lark
47. Mockingjay (ua), by Suzanne Collins
46. The Shambling Guide to New York City (pb), by Mur Lafferty
45. The Hound of the Baskervilles (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
44. Guild of the Cowry Catchers: Book 4 (ua), by Abigail Hilton
43. The Big Cat Nap (ua), by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown
42. Free (ua), by Chris Anderson
41. Iron Man: Legacy of Doom (gn), by David Michelinie,
40. The She-Hulk Diaries (pb), by Marta Acosta
39. Elizabeth the First Wife (Nook), by Lian Dolan
38. The Maze (nook), by Jason Brannon
37. The President's Vampire (ua), by Christopher Farnsworth
36. The Pope Who Quit (pb), by Jon M Sweeney
35. Memoirs of Sherlock Homes (ua), by Arthur Conan Doyle
34. More or Less (ua), by Jeff Shinaberger
33. Blood & Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter (pb), by various
32. The Children of Hurin (ua), by J.R.R. Tolkien
31. Atlantyx, (pb), by Chase Dalton
30. Callahan's Secret (ua), by Spider Robinson
29. Take Four (ua), by Karen Kingsbury
28. Skull-Kickers, Treasure Trove volume 1, by Jim Zub and various artists
27. The Dalek Generation (pb), by Nicholas Briggs
26. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
25. The Areas of My Expertise (pb), by John Hodgman
24. The Skin Map (ua), by Stephen Lawhead
23. Catching Fire (ua), by Suzanne Collins
22. Quitter (ua) , by Jon Acuff.
21. The Bone Bed (ua), by Patricia Cornwell.
20. Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart (hc), by J.D. Greear
19. Left Behind: The Kids #28 (pb), by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye, & Chris Fabry
18. Left Behind: The Kids #27 (pb), by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye, & Chris Fabry
17. Left Behind: The Kids #26 (pb), by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye, & Chris Fabry
16. Time Travelers Strictly Cash (aa), by Spider Robinson
15. The Devil's Company (ua), by David Liss
14. Deadly Straits (ua), by R.E. McDermott
13. Doctor Who: Paradise Towers (ua), by Stephen Wyatt
12. DC Universe Secret Origins (gn), by various writers and artists
11. The Gods of Mars (ua), by Edgar Rice Burroughs
10. Craving Grace (hc), by Lisa Velthouse
9. The Sign of Four (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
8. DC Dead (ua), by Stuart Woods
7. A Study in Scarlet (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
6. The Hunger Games (ua), by Suzanne Collins
5. Take Three (ua), by Karen Kingsbury
4. Mary Through The Centuries (hc), by Jaroslav Pelikan
3. Roil (ua), by Trent Jamieson
2. The Devil You Know (ua), by Mike Carey
1. Ender's Shadow Ultimate Collection (gn), by Mike Carey

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can
play along!
Just do the following:

Grab your current read.

Open to a random page.

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

From page 16 & 17 of the paperback version of I Shouldn't Be Telling You This, by Kate White. "So how do you make certain you're not thinking all wrong about your destiny? You need to always challenge your thinking, especially anything you're especially adamant about."

Walking Dead, 61-72

The Walking Dead, issues 61-72, by Robert Kirkman & Charlie Adlard.

The crew is heading to Washington, but it turns out not for the reason we think. Eugene is not the high-powered scientist he had earlier portrayed himself as. The plot point about changes in zombie behavior that intrigued me in the prior batch of episodes is dropped here, but I do hope it gets picked up at a later point.

The surviviors run across a group of hunters, who are also cannibals, and they kidnap Dale. Between having a leg severed and being bitten by a roamer, he dies and Andrea is totally wrecked. They take refuge for a few issues in a church, and we find a nuanced but not sympathetic character in Father Gabriel Jones. There is one memorable conversation about faith before and after the zombie apocalypse.

They make it to a safe community, and things look good. Maybe things look too good?  Douglas, The leader of the group is not a self-styled politician a la The Governor, but an actual former elected official, a House member from Ohio. So far we have not seen any of the craziness in Douglas or this community, and I assume that Robert Kirkman is not going to give us a carbon copy of Woodbury. But I have learned from priorissues of the Walking Dead is that as soon as things look like they are going well, they will turn very wrong.

Along the way, Carl kills a child (again), because that child had killed another child. Rick is still a bit out of his mind, talking on the phone in issue 61, and his paranoia is definitely showing in issues 71 & 72. I am predicting that Rick and the group self-sabotages their own good thing, but only time will tell.

Source: public library.

Adapting Holmes: Baker Street, issues 6-10

Baker Street: Children of the Night, consisting of issues 6-10, written and drawn by Guy Davis. Caliber Press, 1991-1992

 Sharon Ford is a former police officer, working unofficially as a consulting detective. She and her girlfriend Sam Neville advertised for a housekeeper, and newly-arrived American med-school student Susan Pendergrass took the job in exchange for rent.

Sue was immediately thrust into the British punk scene, where Sharon (a.k.a. Harlequin) was a major force.  As I mentioned when I reviewed the first 5-issue arc, this series takes place in a neo-Victorian, paleo-steampunk of the British punk scene, in a world where Victorian fashion and ethics still maintain.

This is the obligitory "Jack the Ripper" arc, totally envisioned by Davis, without participation from co-creator Gary Reed. The punk scene has been torn apart by the horrific murders committed on their turf. The police are only mildly interested in the crimes, as along as they stay among the punk scene.

But Sharon just has to investigate, and everything changes. We have met the killer, and the revelation of the Ripper's identity in issue 8 is a shock, although the clues were seeded in prior issues. And it has ramifications in the issues that follow.

This series was nominated for a 1989 Harvey Award for "Best new series," and rightly so. And twenty years later, the is no sense in which the story is "dated," expect for the fact that is black-and-white.

I was surprised to see the $2.50 cover price, which was very high for the time. Standard full-length issues of DC & Marvel books were selling for only $1.00  An issue of Fantastic Four (#358) sold during this time for $2.50, but it was a triple-sized issue.  To be fair ro Baker Street, these issues averaged an above-standard 30 pages of story.

Source: My own collection. I am almost certain that I bought these as they came out, and I would guess it was from Dave’s Comics, in Richmond, Virginia.

 

Book #52. Invasion

Invasion, by Jon S Lewis.

High school student Colt McAllister’s life radically changes when his parents are killed by a drunk driver. He finds information about a major story his journalist mother was working on, an expose on the mind control program run by the mega-large Trident Industries. An informant tells Colt that his parents were actually murdered, and then Colt becomes a target, as well.

In a world where aliens have appeared, and the gateways between worlds are protected by a secretive government agency called CHAOS, anything is possible.

Colt moves in with his grandfather in Arizona, far away from the San Diego beaches he loves. Finding new friends and allies, and some startling secrets about his grandfather's past actions as a CHAOS agent in World War II, Colt finds himself in a position to save the world.

There are two positive distinctives about this novel. The relationsips between Colt and his buddy Oz, their friend Danielle, and the cute girl that Colt likes (Lily) are all well-drawn. Lewis does a good job giving them all beleivable dialogue and motivations, which are critical in a novel with an out-of-this-world premise and over-the-top action.

Lewis also brings in a pulp-era feel, which is fun. The CHAOS agency was created in the early 1940s, and many of the flashbacks (some of the current adventures) involves jet packs and similarly old-fashioned technology.

This particular volume has an ending, but clearly leads into the next volume, which I have put on my to-read list.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can
play along!
Just do the following:

Grab your current read.

Open to a random page.

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

From Chapter 6 of Inferno, by Dan Bown: "Langdon felt firm hands lifting him onw, urging him from his delierium, helping him out of the taxi. The pavement felt cold beneath his bare feet."

I know I am a few months late to getting around to this one, but ... what can I say?

Book #51. Callahan's Legacy

reCallahan's Legacy, by Spider Robinson.

I have read the prior volumes in Robinson's Callahan series. This series started out as a collection of short stories, and as each volume has passed, each book more closely resembles a trasitinal novel that the one before. From an authorial perspective, this is an accomplishment worth noting.

This book had a familiar feel to it from some of the prior books i the series. The crew at the bar has to save the world from its coming destruction through the power of loving friendship. And the near-telepathic connection that arises from the power of loving friendship. And they tell stories along the way to keep each other calm, each usually ending in horrible puns.

Oh. And a baby is born.

There is a nice and pleasant aspect to the familiarity here, characters and settings that are warm and welcoming. But I would prefer the plots to not be som familiar, and for the science fiction aspects to be more prominent that they sometimes are.

Between Audiobooks (3)

I have written before of my habit of listening to a few episodes of PodCastle or Escape Pod in between audiobooks -- short story palate cleansers between novels. I am still waaaay behind (9 months?) on these podcasts), so I listened to a bunch of Escape Pods last week, in between Severe Clear and Callahan's Legacy. I listened to these episodes:

373: Chandra's Game, by Samantha Henderson. The sad life of an asteroid farmer.

374: Oubliette, by J Kelley Anderson. Trying to kill an alien that just won't die.

375. Marley & Cratchit, by David Steffen. The REAL story behind what we know from the Dickens classic.

 376. Shutdown, by Corry L. Lee . To be a soldier or a ballerina -- that is the question.

377. Real Artists, by Ken Liu. Digital movie-making of the most extreme sort.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can
play along!
Just do the following:

Grab your current read.

Open to a random page.

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

From Chapter 1 of Callahan's Legacy, by Spider Robinson: "There are very few things a very pregnant woman will wake up for, but peeing is definitely one of them. Getting Zoe to a sitting position on the side of the bed was probably less difficult that portaging a piano in rough country. The smell of coffee may have helped."

Podcasting updates!

We have interviewed some fascinating authors the last few weeks for the Book Guys -- Thomas Deja (The Shadow Legion: New Roads to Hell) and Bobbie Oliver (The Tao of Comedy).  These interviews have not quite been released on the Internets just yet, but trust me, they'll be awesome! In the latest episode that he have released (# 91), we got the band back together and talked about books, book news, and the largest gathering ever of Daleks in one place.

I am being interviewed soon for a comic book related podcast, and will certainly post a link when that episode is recorded, edited, and posted.

The New 52, One Year Later

Two years ago, in September, DC Comics launched comic books in its "New 52" initiative, starting all 52 of their monthly books with new #1 issues. I took this opportunity to pick up some of these books, and review many of them on this site.

Now that two years have passed, I am going to stop using the label "New 52" on my reviews of these comics; they will be treated the way other comic book reviews are treated. The titles I expect to keep reading (and potentially keep reviewing) are: All-Star Western, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and World's Finest.

But I did want to list here all of the New 52 titles I've read (over 100 issues total), and link to those that I have reviewed on the site:

Action Comics 1-8
All-Star Western 1-3 & 4-6
Animal Man 1-6
Aquaman 1-6
Blackhawks 1-8
Catwoman 1-6
Demon Knighs 1-7 & 8-12, 0
Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE 1-7
Fury of Firestorm 1-6
Green Arrow 1-6
I, Vampire 1-6 and 7-12
Justice League Dark 1-6 & 7-8
Resurrection Man 1-7
Supergirl 1-7
Wonder Woman 1-6 & 7-12
World's Finest 0-5

September Reading List

50. Severe Clear (ua), Stuart Woods
49. The Third Kingdom (ua), by Terry Goodkind
48. Gotham Central: In the Line of Duty HC (gn), by Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka, and Michael Lark
47. Mockingjay (ua), by Suzanne Collins


Earlier in 2013:
46. The Shambling Guide to New York City (pb), by Mur Lafferty
45. The Hound of the Baskervilles (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
44. Guild of the Cowry Catchers: Book 4 (ua), by Abigail Hilton
43. The Big Cat Nap (ua), by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown
42. Free (ua), by Chris Anderson
41. Iron Man: Legacy of Doom (gn), by David Michelinie,
40. The She-Hulk Diaries (pb), by Marta Acosta
39. Elizabeth the First Wife (Nook), by Lian Dolan
38. The Maze (nook), by Jason Brannon
37. The President's Vampire (ua), by Christopher Farnsworth
36. The Pope Who Quit (pb), by Jon M Sweeney
35. Memoirs of Sherlock Homes (ua), by Arthur Conan Doyle
34. More or Less (ua), by Jeff Shinaberger
33. Blood & Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter (pb), by various
32. The Children of Hurin (ua), by J.R.R. Tolkien
31. Atlantyx, (pb), by Chase Dalton
30. Callahan's Secret (ua), by Spider Robinson
29. Take Four (ua), by Karen Kingsbury
28. Skull-Kickers, Treasure Trove volume 1, by Jim Zub and various artists
27. The Dalek Generation (pb), by Nicholas Briggs
26. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
25. The Areas of My Expertise (pb), by John Hodgman
24. The Skin Map (ua), by Stephen Lawhead
23. Catching Fire (ua), by Suzanne Collins
22. Quitter (ua) , by Jon Acuff.
21. The Bone Bed (ua), by Patricia Cornwell.
20. Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart (hc), by J.D. Greear
19. Left Behind: The Kids #28 (pb), by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye, & Chris Fabry
18. Left Behind: The Kids #27 (pb), by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye, & Chris Fabry
17. Left Behind: The Kids #26 (pb), by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye, & Chris Fabry
16. Time Travelers Strictly Cash (aa), by Spider Robinson
15. The Devil's Company (ua), by David Liss
14. Deadly Straits (ua), by R.E. McDermott
13. Doctor Who: Paradise Towers (ua), by Stephen Wyatt
12. DC Universe Secret Origins (gn), by various writers and artists
11. The Gods of Mars (ua), by Edgar Rice Burroughs
10. Craving Grace (hc), by Lisa Velthouse
9. The Sign of Four (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
8. DC Dead (ua), by Stuart Woods
7. A Study in Scarlet (ua), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
6. The Hunger Games (ua), by Suzanne Collins
5. Take Three (ua), by Karen Kingsbury
4. Mary Through The Centuries (hc), by Jaroslav Pelikan
3. Roil (ua), by Trent Jamieson
2. The Devil You Know (ua), by Mike Carey
1. Ender's Shadow Ultimate Collection (gn), by Mike Carey

Book #50. Severe Clear

Severe Clear, by Stuart Woods. Unabridged audio.

I have read every one of Stuart Woods' novel, through this one. I have not read the last couple, but they are on my list.

Woods continues his recent habit of including many of his characters in a single book. This one stars Stone Barrington, but Will and Kate Lee, Holly Barker, Herbie Fisher, and Felicity Devonshire all play critical roles. Only Dino Bacchetti gets less page time than usual.

The action starts when the NSA picks up the word "The Arrington" -- and since this is the new hotel at which the US President will be signing a treaty in a few days, they pay attention.  The plot involves a British national leading a cell of three Americans who want to bring revenge on the US for killing Osama.

The scope of the novel is that of an epic thriller, but it is still the size of the mystery stories that Woods was writing fifteen years ago. This means the book moves at a breakneck pace, and the sheer speed with which the plot moves helps overcome some of the issues that the book has in terms of its unrealistic plot.

As I've mentioned before, the good guys in Woods' books seem to have the greatest luck in the world. Everything seems to work out for them, personally and professionally. One of them even won the lottery a few dozen novels ago. Literally won the lottery. At least in this book, one character points that out, and I appreciate Woods acknowledging this criticism.

As always, Tony Roberts does a fine job reading the book. He is able to bring nuance to all of the characters, including the females characters, and the foreign characters.

Wonder Woman -- Another View

I recently shared my thoughts on issues 7-12 of New 52 Wonder Woman, having covered issues 1-6 a few months before.

I wanted to mention that an Internet friend of mine, and blogging buddy, has also written on these first 12 issues. ComiKate, whom I know mostly from the Spirit Blade podcast and forums, has started a new blog, and her Wonder Woman review was one of her early entries.

Kate was also a fan of these issues, and writes a very thorough and interesting review. She admits her hesitancy to read the books, and how she was pleasantly surprised about by the quality of the books. She admits that the Greek mythology angle was a key factor for her enjoyment of the series.

Kate is Dutch, and her "main" blog is totally written in her native language, but she regularly translates entries into English, and it is this version of the blog that is linked above and on the sidebar.  Check it out.

TEASER TUESDAY

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can
play along!
Just do the following:

Grab your current read.

Open to a random page.

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

From the prologue of Shadow Legion: New Roads to Hell, by Thomas Deja:

I need a representative here ... you could be that representative, doing my will and paving the way for return.
"You keep me breathing, there ain't nothing I won't do."
You will need to prove your willingness to be in my service.
"How?"
By giving me ... what you love.

Book #49: The Third Kingdom

The Third Kingdom, by Terry Goodkind. Unabridged audio.

I have read all of Terry Goodkind's books, and have reviewed one of them here. And one here.

This is his 14th novel overall, and the second to take place after the close of the Sword of Truth epic. The action picks up right where the last novel left off. At the end of The Omen Machine, after defeating the Hedge Maid. In that final conflict, Richard and Kahlan were injured. Their injuries, and the events of that confrontation with the Hedge Maid, form the basis for the plot of this new novel.

As in all of Goodkind's books, actions have consequences.

Infected with the essence of death itself from the final battle in the prior book, Richard has been robbed of his power as a war wizard,  he races against time to stop the terrible  conspiracy assembling itself behind the North Wall. His friends and allies are already captives, and his beloved Kahlan, also touched by death's power, will die completely if Richard fails in his quest to return her to the Palace of the Prophets.

The titular "third kingdom" is a place where both death and life exist, and this blurring of the lines between life and death include the presence of undead warriors. So in addition to fighting wizards and prophets, our heroes also have to face bloodthirsty, cannabilistic zombies.

With no magical power, Richard has only his sword (also missing its magic), his wits, and his wisdom. We are introduced to a young sorceress, Samantha, who is just coming into her healing powers. This is a type of character that Goodkind has written before. This gives Richard a foil that allows him to operate as both a teacher, and allows him to show his softer, compassionate side.

There were a few other plot points that were reminiscent of events from prior novels, but in fourteen books set in the same world, that is bound to happen.

This is a classic Goodkind tale, a solid adventure with strong characters, with strong motivations. There were fewer of the "preachy" moments that can slow the action in Goodkind books. This one definitely moves at a faster pace than some, and is a satisying fantasy novel.

Book #48: Gotham Central 1-10

Gotham Central, Book 1: In the Line of Duty, by Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka, & Michael Lark. Paperback graphic novel, collecting issues 1-10.

What is it like to be a cop in a city that is protected by the Batman? The question has been asked before in mini-series, most successfully in the four-issue Batman: GCPD and the one-shot Gordon's Law, both from 1996. But this is first ongoing series to features these characters, running 40 issues from 2003 to 2006.

This series covers the Major Crimes Unit of the GCPD, led by Capt. Maggie Sawyer, formerly of the Metropolis Police Department. Major characters in these issues include Detectives Marcus Driver, Renee Montoya, Romy Chandler, and Crispus Allen. They all struggle to deal with the crime that the Batman doesn't handle, while trying to resist the temptation to ask him for help when they need it.

The title begins with Mister Freeze killing an officer, and the GCPD commits to finding the supervillain before the Batman does. The second story arc is a kidnapping and murder investigation, and is the most traditional police story in the volume.

The writing chores of the issues are divided in an interesting way. The teo authors are credited as co-writers for the first arc, covering issues 1 &2. Brubaker wrote the next 3-issue arc, while Rucka wrote the story covering issues 6-10. But there is little (if any) noticeable difference between the writing style in any of these issues. Both excel at the writing of detective stories. Despite the occassional appearnace of a supervillain or the Batman,

 The third arc is the most famous in the title's run, as it includes the "outing" of Renee Montoya as a lesbian. This story won two awards for its writing, as well as accolades from gay-rights organizations. The story was not nearly as heavy-handed as these stories can be, although most of the expected tropes (colleagues who mock, parents who disown) are present.

This volume was a throroughly enjoyable read, and I look forward to picking up more trades that continue the story.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can
play along!
Just do the following:

Grab your current read.

Open to a random page.

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

From chapter 2 of The Third Kingdom, by Terry Goodkind: "He couldn't understand why they didn't simply stab him to death. They were both carrying knives and they had his sword. Still, the partially successful attempts left gaping horrifically painful wounds that gushed blood."

Buy My Friends' Books!

Two of my internet buddies have new books on the market. I highly encourage you to check them out.

Robert J. Kelly, who appeared in an audio interview for the Book Guys Show to promote his prior book, has released Hey Kids, Comics!. Promising "True Life Tales From the Spinner Rack," Kelly collected stories from comic book professionals, novelists, TV writers, and people from all walks of life on how comic books changed their lives. The book includes a range of vintage photos, making the book a must-have for fans of comic books in particular or pop culture in general.

Thomas Deja's new novel, New Roads to Hell, is the first book in the Shadow Legion saga. A long-time fan of comic books, Thomas has written a prose novel (with a few illustrations) in a comic-book universe of his own creation. The story takes place in a faictionalized 1930s, and has the feel of the pulp stories of the day. BTW, Thomas will be appearing on a future episode of the Book Guys Show. Stay tuned!