A Brace of Books Read

One's low post count this year can be partly explained by the lack of book reading posts.

So you should all add the 15 reviews below to the total post count for the year and be suitably impressed (imagine more review for each title and many thought provoking insights).

Bad Things by Michael Marshall - 3.5 stars

This one was read a scant few months after reading his previous one and possibly suffered for it. A solid Michael Marshall effort but once again not to distant from his usual style and themes.

A 3.5 stars from me and read it if you haven't read anything of his in the past year.

Fate of the Kinunir by Robert E Vardeman - 3.5 stars

This one is a gaming related novel and had me interested in it's reasonably faithful adherence to one's beloved Traveller - until one of the characters pulled out his light sword to resolve a situation.

Caballistics Inc: Hell on Earth by Mike Wild - 3.5 stars

This one is a comics tie-in from 2000AD about a British occult investigation team. It is a reasonable read with the feel of the comics series.

Leviathan Wakes by James S A Corey - 4 stars

One had thought that one would have to crowd source my A to Z "C" but then I realised that this "should read some day" satisfied the criteria. Although thinking about it I guess it was technically recommended somewhere down the line by ArchEnemy or DragonMim or both, however one does prefer that neither gentleman be correct in their recommendations.
in any case it was a great read focusing on the beginnings of a space opera setting.
Looking ahead, one's "D" is looking like a prime candidate for crowd sourcing.

A Dance with Dragons by George R R Martin - 3.5 stars

The final step in one's getting up to date with the book series. I guess one shall have to wait 7 years for the next one like everybody else now.

Consider Phlebas by Iain M Banks - 3.5 stars

Speaking of getting up to date. This is the first of a batch donated to the library and joyfully scooped up by oneself when declared unwanted. Embarrassingly, for a fan of sci-fi, this is also the first of Banks's Culture novels that one has read. Not quite what I'd imagined from what I'd read about the setting however a fun read nonetheless.

Judge Dredd: Black Atlantic by Simon Jowett and Peter J Evans - 3.5 stars

Another comics tie-in purchased last year in a burst of completism when it was released as an ebook. An okay read with the feel of the characters.

The Mammoth Hunters by Jean M Auel - 3.5 stars

The third in the Ayla series. A bit too drawn out and first love angsty at times but mostly kept my interest.

The Third Law (Rico Dredd, The Titan Years) by Michael Carrol - 4 stars

An interesting one from the self justifying corrupt Judges perspective. Said Judge being Dredd's brother. Looking forward to any others that may come out.

The Butcher of Anderson Station by James S A Corey - 4 stars

A side tale of the Expanse series delving into the background of one of the side characters. As enjoyable as the main tale.

Grave Peril by Jim Butcher - 3.5 stars

The third in the Dresden Files, this tale of the Wizard PI and his latest case ticks along and unveils more of the wider supernatural world of the setting.

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King - 4 stars

A sequel to The Shining but more of a what happened to the character from the story. A great classic King romp of it's own.

The Fast Diet by Michael Mosley - 2.5 stars

Some investigative reading before giving this discipline structure a go oneself. Notable for having nigh half the book be recipes and testimonials. 

The Omega Solution by Peter J Evans - 3.5 stars

Another comics tie-in ebook. This one has quite an interesting far far future feel to it.

Sharpe's Triumph by Bernard Cornwell - 4 stars

Another delve into the Sharpe series. The colonial India setting was evoked quite well and the battle sequence was quite well done - perhaps for having very little of Sharpe himself saving the day.

**

Now to work on a Films Watched roundup post that can inflate one's imaginary post total even further...
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Man-Shed Madness

Oh dear, one seems to be stuck on a permanent one week delay.

In any case, on the weekend last ElfBoy cashed in a group promise signed certificate and had a bunch of us make the trek North to have the debut gaming session in his man-shed.

Dutifully I loaded Pirate Dave, Legion2, and Young Jim into my vehicle while Badger and Gavman made their own journeys.

So, in the comfort of of a beautifully done up shed and humid temperatures we played and sweated our way through several hours of one of ElfBoy's games that he had bee unable to get to the table in a decade of gaming get-togethers - it was something to do with fantasy Japanese empire building and side games of cards involving Samurai.
One was particularly pleased to see five hours of play rewarded with one's empire ending in exactly the same state it started the game, as it is usually a hallmark of these sort of games that one's empire is obliterated post-haste.

We next powered through a lap of the car racing Formula D game of Pirate Dave's in which one lead masterfully for most of the game only to take the final turn too wide and wind up crossing in third - both the gear and the position.

Of course this being ElfBoy the event finished with some Magic the Gathering before we all tootled off home again, promising to return in the cooler months - but making sure not to sign anything this time.
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The Lazy Guest Post

 

Several weekends past one convinced Pirate Dave to partake in a gaming event that I was running along with Lord of the Small Fries at the library.

This is his story:

International Games Day @ your library, Brighton (Bayside) edition

One was pleased as punch to be recognised for one's "Mr. Boardgames" status and invited along - and chauffeured, no less - by Phill to Brighton Library's #IGD@yl 2014.

Bearing a cavalcade of new-player-friendly games gave us ample opportunity to accommodate the washed masses with fun and interesting boardgames they may not have seen before and enjoyed every minute of.

One was given the opportunity to personally introduce people to Articulate!, Castle Panic, and Love Letter before time was called. Thank goodness Castle Panic is cooperative!

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The LEGO Party

Last weekend Hulk and I gave Salsa Girl some respite by attending a brick-based soirée.

Our inimitable host was Zombie Monkey and the occasion was the launching of his escape vessel for the escaping from our morally sinking country.

To this end he had created the crew as striking likenesses of many of the attendees.

I'm sure you will all marvel at the artistry he used to capture one’s visage as the ship's superhero in one's guise as Testosterone Man.

Zombie Monkey was also most generous with his Lego spare parts tubs allowing many who had not yet signed on to the crew to create their own likeness - although the sheer number of options was quite daunting.
Hulk herself had the dilemma of her natural blonde hair or a stormtrooper helmet.
FridgePower and Judge Mingus were busy sculpting their likeness while BallBoy created a masterful Darth Vader with pie-shooting canon, on a skateboard, holding a banana.

All in all a great afternoon, even if one's Sunday was filled with Hulk’s playful cries of "What happened to Tosterone Man’s head!"
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