Monday, December 27, 2010

Hamburger Hill Vs. The Gauntlet


* = Jirel Of Joiry's tales are fantastic.

Christmas has come and gone. Lots of wonderful gifts were given, tons of sweet swag was received. Great food was devoured and some truly tasty libations were enjoyed. Thank you to all friends and family. All in all it was the most wonderful time of the year.

I was able to finish a couple of books over this extended week;
The Black God’s Kiss (**** out of 5) – So I never really knew who C.L. Moore was, but now that I do, and now that I’ve devoured her tales of Jirel of Joiry, and that makes me eager to hunt down the tales of Northwest Smith. What to say about this compilation of sword and sorcery fiction with a female protagonist? Other than they are spectacular tales. Moore has a wonderful way of matching Howard’s sense of savagery and nobility in a world of someone’s past while giving her supernatural enemies a sense of dread not unlike Clark Ashton Smith, in fact I think the title story The Black God’s Kiss is very reminiscent of Smith’s work. Listen, if you love good pulpy stuff then you should treat yourself and find this book.
Greatheart (** ½ out of 5) – This one is the second book from the Birthright setting. The reality is it doesn’t touch The Iron Throne, the first book. It’s a decent little fantasy novel that never really gets it’s footing before stumbling off into the wonderful world of squandered potential. If you’ve got some time to waste, have a buck to spend, and can’t find any other books then I guess it’ll get you by.

Now onto some

RANDOM CRAP!

- I now have a mascot in my office. It’s a gingerbread version of me. Sad part is it has better hair currently.
- Anthony “Mirky Cricky” J., the future bro-in-law Lee, and I all took a foray into Castle Ravenloft. We played the Artifact adventure against the swarm of Rust Monsters.

It was an epic battle. We had all sorts of trouble finding all the objects, and we were on verge of defeat about the last thirty minutes of the game, THEN a fortuitous turn of events put us in position to grasp victory from the jaws of defeat. I love this game, and I utterly and completely enjoy every opportunity I get to play it.
- By the way The Darkest Of The Hillside Thickets rules you.
- Revel Stoke Spiced Canadian Whiskey is amazing. Seriously. I hate whiskey, but when you mixed this with coke it tasted like vanilla coke and that in itself was pretty flippin’ awesome. Now I just have to find a bottle.
- I received a ton of rockin’ books for Christmas, but none has captured my attention as much as Charles Stross’ The Jennifer Morgue. Thus far it has been spectacular and hard to put down.

GAH! It’s time to go home and roof rake…

“After my episode I went to my wife –
the gal to whom I pledged the rest of my life
I said "I’m here for you now, let’s reconcile"
Her new boyfriend walked in and shot me a smile.

No way, no way, there isn’t any way
No way, no way, no way
No way, no way, there isn’t any way
No way, no way, no way

The U of Auckland was like my second home
After my head was clear I picked up the phone
I begged to get back in the field that I led
I reached the chancellor and here’s what he said:

“No way, no way, there isn’t any way
No way, no way, no way
No way, no way, there isn’t any way
No way, no way, no way"

My daughter studied mental illness firsthand.
I thought if anyone she would understand.
I travelled to the institute where she worked.
She married, changed her name and left no forwarding address

No way, no way, there isn’t any way
No way, no way, no way
No way, no way, there isn’t any way
No way, no way, no way!

My life is shattered, that doesn’t matter -
nobody cares that I’m all better now
My life is shattered, that doesn’t matter -
nobody cares that I’m all better now”



* = This is the Innsmouth Look...

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