Looking For a Good Book

December 20, 2017

ZVR: DIPLOMACY – Jeff Conner, editor

This book, ZVR (which stands for Zombies VS. Robots): Diplomacy is a collection of zombie/robot stories based on a comic book/graphic novel series under the ZVR title. I’ll be honest … when I requested this, seeing the publisher/distributor of IDW, I thought that this would be a graphic novel rather than a collection of short… Continue reading

Dark Fantasy/Horror, GRAPHIC NOVEL, SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Graphic Novels, Horror/Dark Fantasy, Reviews, SF/Fantasy
December 19, 2017

FIELDS WHERE THEY LAY – Timothy Hallinan

This is book number six in a “Junior Bender Mystery” series. I have not read any of the other books in the series and because of that I think I was a bit lost right from the start. Junior Bender is a bit of a detective – but not for the good guys. He’s a… Continue reading

MYSTERY

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Holiday, Mystery, Reviews
December 18, 2017

THE IRON GHOST – Jen Williams

Jen Williams’ The Iron Ghost is the much-anticipated (by many) follow-up to The Copper Cat. It is a sequel only in that it includes most of the same characters, in the same world, though it doesn’t necessarily follow-up on an ‘unfinished’ story. This is a good thing. This could be read as a stand-alone novel,… Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

2 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy
December 15, 2017

DR POTTER’S MEDICINE SHOW – Eric Scott Fischl

Alchemy seems to be in fashion. This is the third book in about as many weeks that I have read with alchemy taking a prominent place in the story. Alexander Potter was a Civil War doctor who has gone above and beyond the normal atrocities that doctors were noted for during the Civil War (that… Continue reading

Dark Fantasy/Horror, SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Horror/Dark Fantasy, Reviews, SF/Fantasy
December 14, 2017

LOST ANGELS – Loren Rhoads & Brian Thomas

THROWBACK THURSDAY: REVIEWING A REISSUE The angel Azaziel was sent from above to watch over mankind in their earliest days, but Azaziel fell in love with a granddaughter of Cain and he and she lived out her life in love and joy. But Azaziel suffered for his once love. Now he is imprisoned in the… Continue reading

ROMANCE, SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Erotica, Horror/Dark Fantasy, Reviews, Romance
December 13, 2017

A BAT IN THE BELFRY – Sarah Graves

This is book number sixteen in the “Home Repair is Homicide” mystery series. Wait a minute … #16? For real? Why have I never heard of this author or this series? Well, probably because it’s a ‘cozy’ mystery and I’m not such a big fan of those (I only came to realize that well after… Continue reading

MYSTERY

2 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Mystery, Reviews
December 12, 2017

Happy Hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah to all my readers who celebrate this holiday! Continue reading

OTHER, Uncategorized
December 11, 2017

PIRATE UTOPIA – Bruce Sterling

I’m pretty much a sucker for anything by Bruce Sterling so I was giddy with glee to see a Bruce Sterling ARC available. This really isn’t a novel and I’m not even sure it’s long enough to be considered a novella. Novelette? Short story? In any case, this is a short work of a really… Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, SHORT FICTION, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, SF/Fantasy
December 8, 2017

WATERCOLOR 365 – Leslie Redhead

Wow, this is a fabulous how-to, tips & tricks art book! Artist and author Leslie Redhead approaches this subject like a page-a-day calendar, giving simple tips and encouragement for each day. Sometimes it’s nothing more than a motivational quote and sometimes it’s a well-described tip to help one make the most of watercolor painting. Sometimes… Continue reading

NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

5 Stars, Art, Book Reviews, Books, non-fiction, Reviews
December 7, 2017

SIX-GUN IN CHEEK – Bill Pronzini

THROWBACK THURSDAY: REVIEWING A REISSUE If you mention ‘western fiction’ or simply ‘western’ to most people – even generally well-read people – they will likely have one of two first thoughts: it’s the world of Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey and/or it’s the world of cheesy gun-fights and prose so purple you’ll wonder if Crayola… Continue reading

NON-FICTION, Uncategorized, WESTERN

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, non-fiction, Reviews, Western
December 6, 2017

WORKSHOPPING A NEW PLAY – George Sapio

George Sapio has written what is probably the best, most definitive book on the how and the why to workshop a new play. While writing may be a solitary exercise, once words are on a page they need to be seen, read, or heard. This is especially true for playwrights who write very specifically for… Continue reading

NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

5 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Entertainment, non-fiction, Plays, Reviews, Theatre
December 5, 2017

THE RIPPER’S SHADOW – Laura Joh Rowland

I’ve been fascinated by Jack the Ripper history, stories, and fiction since I first watched a particular Star Trek episode forty or so years ago (true geeks will know which episode I’m referring to). Since then I’ve been pretty much a sucker for anything Ripper-related, hence my selecting an ARC of this book. Sarah Bain… Continue reading

HISTORICAL FICTION, MYSTERY

2 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Reviews