James Pyles's Blog, page 11

Review of “Blood Rites” (2004), Book Six in “The Dresden Files” series

Yesterday, I finished Jim Butcher’s novel Blood Rites, the sixth book in The Dresden Files series. Harry Dresden is the world’s only publicly advertised investigative wizard. He operates out of Chicago and is on contract with the Special Investigations unit of the Chicago P.D. to help solve the really weird crimes that sometimes happen thanks […]

“Shoot the Devil 3: Militia of Martyrs” is Available Now!

It’s out. It’s here. It’s available for your Kindle device. Shoot the Devil 3: Militia of Martyrs is now on sale at Amazon. As I previously mentioned, I have stories featured in the first two volumes of this anthology and am proud to have made it into the pages of this one as well. “Militia” […]

“The Book of Names” Soon to be Published

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi. I have stories published in the anthologies Shoot the Devil and Shoot the Devil 2: Dark Matter. Coming soon (I’m not sure exactly when, but ideally right around Thanksgiving which is tomorrow), my short story “The Book of Names” will appear […]

Seven

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi. Elisa Sebourne watched a boy she knew sail past her riding a motorized scooter on his way to school. He didn’t notice her for which she was grateful. So much had changed since she used to think of herself as a […]

Review of “Death Masks” (2003), Book Five in “The Dresden Files” Series

Jim Butcher’s Death Masks, the fifth in his “The Dresden Files” series is the darkest and most intense story yet. The Shroud of Turin is missing and a Catholic Priest from Rome hires wizard/investigator Harry Dresden to find it, believing the Shroud is now somewhere in Chicago. At the same time, the feud between the […]

Junk and Memories

Gary said, “Grandpa, why did you have to be such a mess? Why did I have to inherit it?” The eighteen-year-old looked back at his longing to escape the rigidity of his Dad’s rule over their house. Now it didn’t seem so bad, especially when compared to the chores involved in emancipation. “You’re not in […]

Review of “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (2024)

I found the Blu-Ray of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) at the public library yesterday and thought it would make for fun Saturday night viewing. I’ve seen all of the Ghostbusters films at least once, apart from the 2016 gender-flip which died in the reviews, so I figured I owed myself a look at the latest […]

I See Dead People, Even On Vacation

“Oh, come on, Grandpa. Gold Hill is such a famous street and Shaftesbury is so beautiful,” said twenty-year-old Nell. “Try to enjoy it. How often do you get to go on vacation?” “I’m retired so every day is a vacation and you know how I hate old places, especially old crowded places.” Chandler’s eyes kept […]

Voyage to the Bottom of the Swimming Pool

“A pool’s just a hole in the ground you pour money into,” groused Darren as he continued to vacuum algae which grew out of his neglect. “But not today.” He heard the doorbell ring. “Honey, can you get that?” It would be Rob and the rest of the guys. By now, Carol would be rolling […]

Review of “Summer Knight” (2002), Book Four of “The Dresden Files” Series

After getting a nasty flu bug last Thursday, I had plenty of time to power through Jim Butcher’s fourth installment of “The Dresden Files” series Summer Knight (2002). It’s just as exciting, compelling, and funny as the previous three books which I have also read and reviewed. Some authors tend to cut back on the […]