The Inheritance is a quick, exciting read. Its less than 200 pages can be polished off in a single enjoyable sitting. It scores full points for mysteriousness, tenseness, and believable unbelievability. Stires takes his protagonist on an enticingly entertaining yet emotional rollercoaster ride of curiosity, disappointment, disbelief, sarcasm, and need – love and need, hate and need, rage and need, and justice and need. Just about any reader can readily identify with this protagonist; if not directly with the individual, certainly with his decision-making.

I have but two quibbles: The first could have been addressed by more thorough editing. Story and author suffer huge disservice by the numerous typos that unfortunately knock a reader out of sorts. If experienced often enough, a reader can be soured to the entire tale; at the very least discombobulated. Competition for consumer entertainment time is fierce already; no author can afford to defeat him/herself in such a manner.

There was also a wee let-down at the conclusion. After delighting in the rollicking and roaring action from the start, the story seemed to settle into more of an ‘Ooh-ahh’ bystander’s view of the fireworks and explosions come tale’s end. After decidedly NOT playing nice throughout events, the protagonist’s decision to do so at the close was also somewhat surprising.

All in all, The Inheritance is a fine read, and I am delighted to add it to my library. Would I recommend The Inheritance by Christopher Stires to my friends? Yes I would.

You can also find this review on the SFReader.com.

The books in the Medieval World Series (nicely compiled here by Ian Stewart) are a delightful collection of children’s educational literature. While helping one daughter research something for school, we read this particular title by Kay Eastwood.

I thought this to be an entertaining read, the kind of ‘research’ book I wish I had found as a child. Its easy yet informative presentation provides learning via image and text. Its intentional usage of old art rather than more modern is both enjoyable and of further educational value. Being geared more for the grade school reader it does not go into depth on any component of castle living, yet provides more than enough to generate discussion and further research.

As a matter of fact, I learned something myself:

The gong farmer was the poor guy who cleared the gong pit – the waste pit beneath the garderobes (the place the inhabitants of a particular structure used the toilet). What’s of further interest (and this I did know) is that the ‘good folk’ hung their best clothes in the garderobes because they thought the smell kept the fleas away from their clothes. While on the other hand, the poor gong farmer had terrible work conditions and fierce restrictions on where he could even live!

So would I recommend Life in a Castle by Kay Eastwood to my friends? Yes.

Beowulf, as rendered by Gareth Hinds, is a traditional superhero (sans skintight suit and otherworldly powers). He is a Hercules to his people without being the son of a god. He is the stuff of legend, the makings of myth – and he is a damn good heroic fantasy adventure character any writer would be proud to claim.

One of the oldest heroic sagas relayed from generation to generation, this graphic novel rendition is an excellent contribution to the continuation of the timeless tale. Illustrator Hinds’ (checkout his website linked via the cover image) rather dark and gruesome look is perfect accompaniment for the fierce and violent world of the titular character. Severe lines and stark, bold images thrust their way forward, demanding attention. No single page has half the glossy beauty of a single Scion cell, yet every page of Beowulf rivals any Scion page in ferocity and drama. Every character bloody and savage, Beowulf most of all, yet that is not the sum of the man or his world. Emotional depths are explored and even dredged, as duty, sorrow, memory, honor, courage and even fear are brought to the forefront via text and art. Sword & Sorcery lovers can find no better graphic telling of this tale.

There’s not much left to say. I’m not about to review the saga of Beowulf, man or epic poem. After all, I’ve only ever read abridged versions such as this. Someday, if I ever do read the 3,182 line poem, I’ll review it then. Otherwise, would I recommend Beowulf as illustrated by Gareth Hinds to my friends? Yes.

I kicked off 2008 with a return to Scion, the CrossGen Comics hybrid modernization of King Arthur’s knights and Dr. Moreau’s mutants set in a mixed world of hi-tech science and medieval fantasy. The cover to the left is that on the traveler version, the more compact size I found at Half-Price Books.

I enjoyed discovering Scion (and Sojourn, another CrossGen title) in 2006 (benefits of a local library), and had just about become hooked on the series when I discovered CrossGen had ceased operations. Disappointed, I still decided to pursue collection of at least this story. Writer Ron Marz delivers the goods yet again – but it’s penciler Jim Cheung and the inkers and colorists to whom I owe much of my enthusiasm. Flipping through the pages of these graphic novels is like standing at an open Baskin-Robbins freezer: my eyes don’t know where to rest and my drool is making a mess of things.

The unique combination of medevial-era fantasy (replete with kings and magic and dragons) and cutting-edge science fiction (replete with laser-cannons, hovercraft, and light-saber-like swords) is still a shocker. The combo is actually an assault on the intellect – if there was time to scrutinize it. The always stunning artwork manages to keep such analysis at bay, however. The intriguing story line – complete with enough twists to keep fans of the television show Lost happy – fulfills its duty by drawing the reader through the tale, while the awesomely rendered art propels the reader ever onward without pause for breath . . . even when left gazing at a single page for moments on end.

In this edition, nestled between the chapters of savage storytelling and sweet artwork are interesting little tidbits on the history of the series and on writing/drawing tropes. I found these an excellent addition to the volume and I am extremely sad that such a series and its company died out, regardless of the circumstances. I think the intentions behind the company, its series, and this Scion series in particular, were good and originally carried out strongly and brilliantly. Somewhere along the line things fell out of control however, and what once began as someone’s dream is again no more. Would I recommend Scion #1: Conflict of Conscience as written by Ron Marz and penciled by Jim Cheung to my friends? Yes. And I’d tell them to be sure to wear a bib (for the drool).

Sadly, Journey Books Publishing officially closed its doors June 1st, 2008. After a dozen or so years publishing speculative fiction novels and the Amazing Journeys Magazine, owner/editor Edward Knight made the decision to move ahead to something new. I was fortunate enough to interact with Mr. Knight on the SFReader.com forumfor a few years and was able to garner a tidbit or two about this business called publishing. Ed also wrote my favorite short story “The Morgwa” in the classic heroic fantasy anthology Sages & Swords (now available through Rogue Blades Entertainment at a terrific price).

Issue #9 of Amazing Journeys Magazine (Fall 2005), is 100 pages of fantasy and science fiction tales combined around what I believe is a common theme of redemption. At least, I found that to be true in all but “Price of Gold” and but the temptaion of it in “Ascension.” The magazine opens with Ed’s regular editorial “Speculative Thoughts” in which this issue he discusses the secrets of youth and the prospects of old age and how often these topics are dreamt with in speculative fiction. Now, on to the tales with a mild disclaimer: I am familiar with 6 of the 11 authors within these covers. Reader forewarned. 

Editor’s Choice “Song of the Universe” by Terofil Alexander Gizelbach is a beautifully told tale that speaks of the possibilities for mankind – but it just didn’t strike any chords with me. Give me the song of a singing blade over the music of space any day.

“Gram’s Gift” by my friend Steve Goble is, perhaps, the most rounded tale of his I’ve read. The pursuit of evil, even under the guise of honor, often makes the pursuer evil as well. How a character fights that battle is most telling, and can quite often determine if a story is memorable or not. This one certainly is.

Brian C. Petroziello’s “The Darwin Affair” involves a spaceship, interstellar travel, scientific exploration, and the discovery of life in a clever combination of tongue-in-cheek and reverence. A delightful read.

Amy M. Smith’s verse “Symphony of the Soul” is a message of the universal and eternal struggle of good versus evil. A bit overdone, yet imminently knowable.

“The Call of Mother Earth” by Jonathan Ruland is a touching tale (more so to me than the Editor’s Choice) of how life and chances will come full circle. A strong tale of redemption, this is the point in the magazine where I determined that to be the issue’s theme.

Michael Turner (another friend) delivers a fun-told tale in “Two Ravens,” a humorous discussion between two benefactors of warfare.

“Wind Songs” by Paul Turnberg was almost the most disappointing tale in the magazine. From the start it was an engrossing read, the action-driven tale of old magic against new drawing me right in. The ending was an immense let-down, though, emotionally disappointing and distinctly non-active. The strength of its opening is all that saves this story from the loss column.

Unfortunately, Issue 9’s most disappointing story “Death Marks” came at the hand of another friend, Sean T. M. Stiennon. Writing and editing errors run rampant, with numerous typos and way too much ‘telling’ via predictable exposition. Not only does this story rank at the tail end of the Stiennon tales I’ve read, I feel it also accomplishes the least. Many words are spent telling us Shabak gives folks a chance to redeem themselves – but we learn that in every Shabak tale. The character needs to move forward or else turn his tales over to his son, Drace.

Editor Knight contributes “In Those Days,” a well-written tale of old campaigners remembering. A quickly flowing, dialogue-driven tale that though predictable remains enjoyable.

“The Price of Gold” by Robert Mancebo (friend) kicks of with a tolerable yet weak beginning that seems also rather predictable. However, a steady increase in both humorous content and curiosity appeal roused my interest and I grew excited to learn where things would lead. In deference to non-revelation, all I will say is that something I anticipated occurred (wasn’t disappointed), and though I wished for something more glaringly speculative (mildly disappointed), the ending play on a famous personality was satisfactory.

In the nature of full disclosure, I cannot in good conscience, comment upon the final tale. At the time I jotted my notes for this review, Nathan Meyer’s “Ascension” had already been accepted for inclusion as a reprint in my RBE anthology Return of the Sword. This shall have to suffice as obvious recommendation of the tale.

I will say that I had not read Nathan’s story prior to his sending it to me, and that its inclusion in this issue of Amazing Journeys Magazine is what prompted me to look it up. Seeing the names of all the folks I know in it prompted me to purchase it, a decision I do not regret. 

Using my simple memorable-regrettable-average (won-loss-tie) calculation to rate the stories, the issue garners a respectable 6 - 1 – 4 (73%), recommending an outstanding 10 out of 11 stories. Would I recommend Issue #9 of Amazing Journeys Magazine edited by Edward Knight to my friends? Yes, I certainly would.

Please read these (in series order, of course).

If for no other reason than that I can stop
sounding like a one-man fanatical fan of Erikson books.

I hope you had a great reading year -
here’s to another one ahead of us!

I am pleased to announce Salvatore has returned to form. Well, mostly. Outside the now-no-longer-expected-to-be-of-much-value-and-actually-becoming-quite-dreary-to-read diary entries/journaling/monologues of Drizzt beginning each new part. Outside those, this is a terrific renewal of the story of the world’s most famous drow . . . and if you aren’t quite sure what that is, then you best stop reading here and start reading Homeland, the (true) opening book of Salvatore’s greatest character’s series. After a deplorable mid-book in “The Sellswords Trilogy,” I was concerned Salvatore had succumbed to the lure of the fast buck. Yet he returned with somewhat of a vengeance and ended that series on a higher note. He’s begun “Traditions” (his latest series) with a bang. Literally.

“Our lives take on a routine, and then we bemoan that routine. Predictability,it seems, is a double-edged blade of comfort and boredom. We long for it, we build it, and when we find it, we reject it. Because while change is not always growth, growth is always rooted in change. A finished person, like a finished house, is a static thing. Pleasant, perhaps, or beautiful or admirable, but not for long exciting.”

Finally – I deliver to you another review.

Throne of Jade, the second of the Temeraire books, is an interesting and enjoyable read. Just not as much of either as book one. What has remained just as strong, however, is Novik’s talent for using simple sentences in extremely apropos moments to make poignant statements. This trait and her skill at writing from within the minds of both Laurence and Temeraire make these tales pleasurable entertainment.

This book does begin with an occasional leap in facts, as if we the readers know what Novik the author knew when she knew it as she wrote it. Basically these are omissions of information that, while potentially minor and somewhat subtlety slipped in, only suddenly are realized. A ‘Wait, what? Did I know that?’ sensation that becomes mildly irritating the more it repeats itself. There is also the literal absence of pertinent information at times, such as the missing transitory paragraph/line/scene that should have existed between a perfectly fine day and a suddenly thunder-storming downpour of a day. Thus, the little things become larger the more they are noticed.

That being said, I cannot exclaim enough over Temeraire the character. Despite/because of being a dragon, who can know? Temeraire is an extraordinary character that Novik so explicitly shares with us it is as if we interact directly with the dragon himself – speak with him, observe him, fly with him, touch him, understand him – on a first-person daily basis. I often feel as if I know Temeraire, as if I could turn from my book to find him about the place, just out of sight, moving about the garden or some such. It’s rather amazing, if you think clearly about it for a moment: I’m telling you that Novik so vividly describes and lives this fictional character she’s created that I can see myself interacting with him as if he were really there – and he’s a dragon. Not even human.

This novel keeps Laurence and Temeraire smack in the midst of the Napoleonic Wars, yet sends them along their merry way to China – land of Temeraire’s birth. Superlative naval adventure yet again surfaces throughout the book, but the real treat is partaking in Temeraire’s discovery of and interaction with the Chinese ethnicities and proclivities. Temeraire’s mind is so childlike and innocent in some moments, so savage and regal in others. This childlike innocence combined with his fierce demeanor often leads to quite humorous observations of either his own or Laurence’s.

Subterfuge, blackmail, jealousy, slavery; threats implied and real; warfare open, hidden, and disguised; cultural differences, clashes or opportunities to learn – these are the things this tale is made of. Who to believe, whose ulterior motives to bare, whose designs to trust? These are the questions of this book, and yet one other arises: Where exactly does a Chinese dragon given to the French but raised by the British belong? And who gets to determine the answer?

While not as smoothly rendered a book as its predecessor, by both author and by editors, I do encourage you to read Temeraire’s tale and learn firsthand the intricacies of a dragon’s mind. I did find the resolution to the story’s dilemma, while satisfactory, a bit of a mild end to a thoroughly enjoyable journey, both physically and culturally. The ending scenes do leave a somewhat sour taste for me personally, though, as they give the impression of setting up book three as a tale of class struggle by identifying Temeraire and company as malcontents trying to right a deplorable wrong – which is still only a cultural wrong, not a sadistic one worthy of novelization in my opinion. I must admit to being somewhat lacking in desire to pursue book three if such is the case. Yet interacting once again with Laurence and Temeraire is all the draw I require.

Overall a good novel minus the spectacular hook of book one. Would I recommend Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik to my friends? Yes I would.

You can also find this review on the SFReader.com Speculative Fiction Book Reviews and More.

Another read aloud to the little von Darkmoors collection of heroes and anti-heroes of the American West. Ten more names (just a few repeats) of adventurers, resistors, and innovators. Nowhere near as flowery or over-the-top exposition as the previous collection, but nonetheless entertaining while still informative. Of note, on the in-common characters, while none of the information provided actually contradicted itself, there were some interesting omissions in either book.

This collection, despite it’s name, does not concentrate solely upon the ‘Old West’ – there’s more than cowpokes and gunfighters, good or bad, here. Sure, we’ve got different takes on Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid, and Wild Bill Hickok, but we’ve also got mountain man Jim Bridger, Apache military leader Geronimo, showman Buffalo Bill Cody, creator of the most renowned fighting knife in the world, James Bowie, and frontiersman Kit Carson.

Stylized as only Reader’s Digest can do it, this short work contains many pictures of these characters (several in their youth and old age), events involving them, their weapons, accouterments, horses, and locales. I enjoyed reading this one with the kids (we took turns reading a character), and even learned a few new things with them.

For instance, were you aware the white folks just couldn’t bring themselves to believe that Sitting Bull – the man who helped mastermind the annihilation of Custer’s Seventh Cavalry – was ’simply’ an Indian? They spread the rumor that he was a renegade graduate of West Point who happened to also be a scholar and a poet. This was, of course, determined a fallacy during the autopsy conducted after his murder on 15 December 1890. Just kidding. It was debunked long before his death. I also marvel at how it’s still been less than one hundred years since Wyatt Earp walked the earth. He died in Los Angeles in 1929 before his name had even begun to be listed among the legends of the West — but not before solving a shocking Hollywood murder as portrayed in the movie Sunset. Give or take a lie or two.

And James Bowie? What a man’s man was he!

Would I recommend Legendary Characters of the Old West by the editors of Reader’s Digest to my friends? Yes, I sure would, partner (Since there’s really no place one can consistently find this book, the link above leads to a Google search for the title).

This trip to Freehold started off much better than my previous. With a more professional appearance and better printing, my return was made pleasant from the beginning. Reading editor Armand’s opening tale was even better.

This is a study of the personal growth of Devin, a child of the King thrust leagues away from his father and buried in a frontier town. This is also a study of the degeneration of several other characters, some once of quality (Captain Cobalt) and some decidedly not (Kruk Monroi). Though I foresaw several of the story’s events, Armand managed to surprise me a couple of times with decisions some of his characters made. Surprising me – as long as it works, of course – is always a good thing. Devin Brannock is rounding out into quite the complete character. I’ve already told Armand, but I’ll reiterate it here, this is one of my favorites of the tales he has written.

Next up was SC Bryce’s “The Throne Key,” a tale that maintains a great mysterious edge throughout its telling. This tale holds two characters I’d like to interact with more, and the intriguing possible root of the loss of magic in Freehold with the beginnings of a quest to correct that loss. Most interesting of all, though — and a tad confusing, since I’ve not come across any indication this could occur — is the hint that magic could soon return to Freehold. Anyone with knowledge as to this, please feel free to comment here.

“The Long Haul” by Keith Gouveia is a continuation of Tamar’s story from Monroi Pass Book I. I must admit, it is difficult for me to empathize with his character and I find myself uninterested in Tamar’s decisions or the story’s outcome. I guess I just don’t get Gouveia’s writing, as I don’t find his stories live up to his billing as an author of action and suspense.

In strong contention for the most enjoyable tale in the book, Cynthia Rodiana’s “Blue Pearls” kept me enthralled from beginning to end. It is somewhat predictable, but rendered in so pleasing a manner as to not be overly bothersome. Brogan is a strong, likable character I look forward to meeting again.

Normally, I thoroughly enjoy Bruce Durham’s tales. While “Fool’s Treasure” lives up to Bruce’s description and action writing skills, it fails me a little on plot. Several times I was left scratching my head as to what exactly had occurred and why. Even rereads did not alleviate my difficulties, which is discouraging as I don’t have time for rereads, so I’d like them to be of benefit. There’s a couple of nicely developed characters in this tale, but overall it seems to need a bit of a plot reworking.

Steve Goble’s Hissu is back in “Shedding Skin,” a nicely written tale of maturation and the assumption of quality leadership. While Hissu is not a very easy to like character, he is at least an easy to understand character, one who I can quite easily fall into companionship with. Scary thought, that, but complimentary of Steve’s writing skills. In addition to exploring the nuances of fighting for survival, this tale examines race relations in a locale a bit more dicey than present-day America.

Would I recommend Freehold: The Protector (Monroi Pass Book II) edited by Armand Rosamilia to my friends? Yes I would.