Monte Cook's Blog, page 148
November 19, 2009
Book Review: The Terror
Book Review: The Terror
Dan Simmons' book, The Terror, appealed to me for two reasons. First, it's by Dan Simmons. I've loved most of what I've read from him. And I mean that. I've LOVED it. Hyperion and it's sequel are still some of my favorite SF books.
Second, it's about the Franklin Expedition, which has had a moderate amount of interest for me ever since I ran a Call of Cthulhu campaign using Pagan Publishing's Walker in the Waste, in which the Franklin Expedition features (to an extent)....
Dan Simmons' book, The Terror, appealed to me for two reasons. First, it's by Dan Simmons. I've loved most of what I've read from him. And I mean that. I've LOVED it. Hyperion and it's sequel are still some of my favorite SF books.
Second, it's about the Franklin Expedition, which has had a moderate amount of interest for me ever since I ran a Call of Cthulhu campaign using Pagan Publishing's Walker in the Waste, in which the Franklin Expedition features (to an extent)....
November 17, 2009
Autumnal Joy
Autumnal Joy
As I sit here in my nice warm sweater, typing away on my laptop in front of a roaring fire with some Blue Note jazz playing in the background, with Sue at my side reading her book, I couldn't be happier. I should be working. I should be reading (the book stack keeps growing, and Christmas is just around the corner...). But all I want to do is lounge here in autumnal bliss. It's cold out, but not so cold that it's no fun to be outside. Each step carries with it the pleasant crunch ...
As I sit here in my nice warm sweater, typing away on my laptop in front of a roaring fire with some Blue Note jazz playing in the background, with Sue at my side reading her book, I couldn't be happier. I should be working. I should be reading (the book stack keeps growing, and Christmas is just around the corner...). But all I want to do is lounge here in autumnal bliss. It's cold out, but not so cold that it's no fun to be outside. Each step carries with it the pleasant crunch ...
November 15, 2009
"OK"
"OK"
On the West Wing, Martin Sheen had this wonderful way of saying, "OK." It was a single statement, always as a reply to something someone else said, and it meant anything from, "I've heard enough, I can figure this out from here," to "You're spouting utter nonsense, but it would be cumbersome and ultimately a waste of my time to explain to you why, and I just need to get on with what I'm doing."
I wish there was a way to convey this in online discussions with just such a short statement. It...
On the West Wing, Martin Sheen had this wonderful way of saying, "OK." It was a single statement, always as a reply to something someone else said, and it meant anything from, "I've heard enough, I can figure this out from here," to "You're spouting utter nonsense, but it would be cumbersome and ultimately a waste of my time to explain to you why, and I just need to get on with what I'm doing."
I wish there was a way to convey this in online discussions with just such a short statement. It...
November 11, 2009
Lucca Comics and Games
Lucca Comics and Games
(It's hard to even write the title of this entry without hearing the chorus of the official song of the convention in my head.)
What do you get if you take ComicCon, add in GenCon, and put them both in a beautiful Medieval walled city in Italy? Don't answer yet, because there's more. Fill it full of local citizens that actually embrace it and love it, and pepper it liberally with restaurants with the best food you've ever eaten. Now what do you have? Lucca Comics and Game...
(It's hard to even write the title of this entry without hearing the chorus of the official song of the convention in my head.)
What do you get if you take ComicCon, add in GenCon, and put them both in a beautiful Medieval walled city in Italy? Don't answer yet, because there's more. Fill it full of local citizens that actually embrace it and love it, and pepper it liberally with restaurants with the best food you've ever eaten. Now what do you have? Lucca Comics and Game...
November 9, 2009
Italy!
Italy!
Sue I returned from our trip to Italy last Wednesday night. Neither the flight there nor the flight back was particularly pleasant (nine hours is a long time to be crammed into a small seat surrounded by crying babies), we both caught nasty colds there, and I couldn't ever seem to get onto a regular sleep schedule while there (and still can't). And the trip was still 100% worth it.
We had an amazing time. The weather, first of all, was really nice, with sun and temperatures in the 60s an...
Sue I returned from our trip to Italy last Wednesday night. Neither the flight there nor the flight back was particularly pleasant (nine hours is a long time to be crammed into a small seat surrounded by crying babies), we both caught nasty colds there, and I couldn't ever seem to get onto a regular sleep schedule while there (and still can't). And the trip was still 100% worth it.
We had an amazing time. The weather, first of all, was really nice, with sun and temperatures in the 60s an...
October 23, 2009
Skeptic's Guide Available in Multiple Formats
Skeptic's Guide Available in Multiple Formats
You can get Skeptic's Guide to Conspiracies at your local bookstore, at amazon.com, as a book for your Kindle reader, or as an ebook from DriveThru.
Also, here's my essay on researching conspiracy theories.
See you in a couple weeks!
You can get Skeptic's Guide to Conspiracies at your local bookstore, at amazon.com, as a book for your Kindle reader, or as an ebook from DriveThru.
Also, here's my essay on researching conspiracy theories.
See you in a couple weeks!
October 19, 2009
Lucca Schedule
Lucca Schedule
I'll be at the Lucca Comics and Games show, October 29 to November 1 in Lucca, Italy. Here's my schedule:
I'll be at the Lucca Comics and Games show, October 29 to November 1 in Lucca, Italy. Here's my schedule:
Thursday 29th October
11.00 - 11.15 Overseeing the Roleplaying Challenge
12.00 - 13.30 Signing Session at Wyrd booth (A714)
16.00 – 18.00 Roleplaying Session at Wyrd booth (limited number of players)
Friday 30th October
11.00 - 12.30 Signing Session at Wyrd booth (A714)
16.00 - 18.00 Roleplaying Game Development workshop (limited to 16 participants)
October 14, 2009
Book Review: Maps and Legends
Book Review: Maps and Legends
It's very likely that you don't need me to tell you that Michael Chabon is one of the truly great writers alive today. But just in case you do: Michael Chabon is one of the truly great writers alive today. I've had the pleasure of not only reading some (but still not all, darn it) of his books, but also seeing him in person a few times on speaking tours and author events. He is as erudite and compelling in person as he is on the page.
Maps and Legends: Reading and ...
It's very likely that you don't need me to tell you that Michael Chabon is one of the truly great writers alive today. But just in case you do: Michael Chabon is one of the truly great writers alive today. I've had the pleasure of not only reading some (but still not all, darn it) of his books, but also seeing him in person a few times on speaking tours and author events. He is as erudite and compelling in person as he is on the page.
Maps and Legends: Reading and ...
October 12, 2009
Ideas and Opinions
Ideas and Opinions
When I was in Edmonton, I got the chance to chat with Rick Green. I must admit that I didn't know who Rick Green was before that, despite the fact that he's a well known writer in Canada, with a great list of comedy writing credits as well as being the guy behind Prisoners of Gravity. Rick's a great guy and something he said to me has been reverberating in my brain for the last week and a half. It's one of those great statements that seems simple and obvious when you first ...
When I was in Edmonton, I got the chance to chat with Rick Green. I must admit that I didn't know who Rick Green was before that, despite the fact that he's a well known writer in Canada, with a great list of comedy writing credits as well as being the guy behind Prisoners of Gravity. Rick's a great guy and something he said to me has been reverberating in my brain for the last week and a half. It's one of those great statements that seems simple and obvious when you first ...
October 9, 2009
And Now, A Brief Foray Into the Personal
And Now, A Brief Foray Into the Personal
I use my blog mainly as a forum to promote my various projects and write essays and reviews. Occasionally, however, I use it to just discuss what's been going on with me.
I just got back from Pure Speculation in Edmonton, where I had a great time. It's a very small convention, but somehow they manage to bring up lots of guests (this year it was Wolfgang Baur, Aaron Acevedo, me, and others). I go because the people, both staff and attendees, are so grea...
I use my blog mainly as a forum to promote my various projects and write essays and reviews. Occasionally, however, I use it to just discuss what's been going on with me.
I just got back from Pure Speculation in Edmonton, where I had a great time. It's a very small convention, but somehow they manage to bring up lots of guests (this year it was Wolfgang Baur, Aaron Acevedo, me, and others). I go because the people, both staff and attendees, are so grea...
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