Jonathan Green's Blog, page 104
December 12, 2016
Christmas Explained: M is for Myrrh
In the immortal words of Brian's mother, in
The Life of Brain
, "What is myrrh anyway?"
To find out, read Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts .
To find out, read Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts .
December 11, 2016
Christmas Explained: L is for the Lord of Misrule
Who was the unruly Lord of Misrule?What were his duties?
And what does he have to do with Christmas?
Read Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts to find out!
December 10, 2016
Christmas Explained: K is for Kings
How many kings visited the infant Christ child in the stable? Three? Twenty? More?
Find out in Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts !
Find out in Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts !
Sharkpunk Shakespeare Short Story Saturday: New reviews!
Two reviews for you today, one for
Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu
and one for the recently-released audiobook version of
SHARKPUNK
.
Let's start with the SHARKPUNK audiobook review by Nathan Robinson:
"If you like sharks, you’ll love this. Original tales each as different as the next. If you love short horror stories, especially a themed anthology, then Sharkpunk might be worth you dipping your toe into. Already I’m hoping for volume 2, but this time, they’re gonna need a bigger book...."
And now the review of Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu by SciFi and Fantasy Reviewer:
"This is another anthology on par with Sharkpunk... in terms of collecting together some quality stories. There’s an impressive range of talent on display, and a wide range of material being drawn on – not just 17 versions of Othello and Romeo and Juliet... As with Sharkpunk, there are a few tales that manage to stand out even amongst the general high quality of the anthology... In conclusion, this is another winning anthology from Snowbooks as publisher and Jonathan Green as editor, elevated even further by the inclusion of the incredible Exeunt by John Reppion."
You can buy SHARKPUNK here, and Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu here.
Let's start with the SHARKPUNK audiobook review by Nathan Robinson:"If you like sharks, you’ll love this. Original tales each as different as the next. If you love short horror stories, especially a themed anthology, then Sharkpunk might be worth you dipping your toe into. Already I’m hoping for volume 2, but this time, they’re gonna need a bigger book...."
And now the review of Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu by SciFi and Fantasy Reviewer:
"This is another anthology on par with Sharkpunk... in terms of collecting together some quality stories. There’s an impressive range of talent on display, and a wide range of material being drawn on – not just 17 versions of Othello and Romeo and Juliet... As with Sharkpunk, there are a few tales that manage to stand out even amongst the general high quality of the anthology... In conclusion, this is another winning anthology from Snowbooks as publisher and Jonathan Green as editor, elevated even further by the inclusion of the incredible Exeunt by John Reppion."You can buy SHARKPUNK here, and Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu here.
December 9, 2016
Christmas Explained: J is for Jingle Bells
Did you know that Jingle Bells wasn't originally written as a Christmas song? To find out which seasonal event it was written for, pick up a copy of
Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts
today!
Gamebook Friday: Freeway Fighter - The Comic!
Fans of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks may well already know, but coming from Titan Comics in Spring 2017 is
FREEWAY FIGHTER
, a comic book based the Ian Livingstone-penned Mad Max-esque post-apocalyptic road-trip of a gamebook of the same name, written by Andi Ewington, with pencils and inks by Simon Coleby, colours by Len O'Grady, and letters by Jim Campbell.
Some FF fans may also have already been aware that such a project was in the offing, thanks to being members of the Facebook group or even because they read about it in
YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks
.
However, not many people know that I am actually the editor on the project, and it is a project that I am very proud to be a part of. There are many comic book creators I would love to work with, one day, and Simon, Len and Jim were three of them. In fact, thinking that I may never get a better chance to work with Simon, I commissioned him to produce the cover art for
SHARKPUNK
. And yet here I am, only eighteen months later, and I've worked with him again.
Although I dotted a few 'i's and crossed a few 't's here and there, FREEWAY FIGHTER the comic is really Andi Ewington's baby, and I thank him wholeheartedly for inviting me to join this project. A huge thank you must also go to Matt Mastracci, who has financed the project, and what makes him involvement all the more special to me is that he came on board after reading this passage in YOU ARE THE HERO!
If you have yet to, I would urge you to join the Ian Livingstone's Freeway Fighter: The Comic Facebook group, and check out more about yesterday's breaking news item here and here.
Some FF fans may also have already been aware that such a project was in the offing, thanks to being members of the Facebook group or even because they read about it in
YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks
.
However, not many people know that I am actually the editor on the project, and it is a project that I am very proud to be a part of. There are many comic book creators I would love to work with, one day, and Simon, Len and Jim were three of them. In fact, thinking that I may never get a better chance to work with Simon, I commissioned him to produce the cover art for
SHARKPUNK
. And yet here I am, only eighteen months later, and I've worked with him again.Although I dotted a few 'i's and crossed a few 't's here and there, FREEWAY FIGHTER the comic is really Andi Ewington's baby, and I thank him wholeheartedly for inviting me to join this project. A huge thank you must also go to Matt Mastracci, who has financed the project, and what makes him involvement all the more special to me is that he came on board after reading this passage in YOU ARE THE HERO!
If you have yet to, I would urge you to join the Ian Livingstone's Freeway Fighter: The Comic Facebook group, and check out more about yesterday's breaking news item here and here.
December 8, 2016
Christmas Explained: I is for Ice
Did you know...?
The average snowflake has a top speed of 1.7 metres per second.For it to snow the tops of the clouds must be below zero degrees Celsius (or 32 degrees Fahrenheit).The largest piece of ice to fall to earth was an ice block 6m (or 20ft) across that fell in Scotland on 13 August 1849.The largest hailstone recorded fell on 14 April 1986 in Bangladesh weighing 1kg (2.25lbs). The hailstorm reportedly killed 92 people.The largest snowflakes in the world fell across Fort Keogh in Montana (USA) on 28 January 1887.Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the only permanent snowcap within sight of the equator.Permanent snow and ice cover about 12% (21 million square kilometres) of the Earth's land surface.80% of the world's fresh water is locked up as ice or snow.A single snowstorm can drop 40 million tons of snow, carrying the energy equivalent to 120 atom bombs.There is not a law of nature that prohibits 2 snowflakes from being identical.In Australia, snowfalls are common above 1,500m in the Alps during the winter, but there are no permanent snowfields anywhere on the continent.The most snow produced in a single snowstorm is 4.8m (15.75ft) at Mt Shasta Ski Bowl, California (USA) between 13 and 19 February 1959.At a thickness of two inches, ice will support a man. At a thickness of four inches, it will support man on horseback. At a thickness of six inches, it will support teams with moderate loads. At a thickness of eight inches, it will support heavy loads. At a thickness of ten inches, will support 1,000 pounds to the square foot.
Between 1400 and 1814 (which was the last time it happened) the River Thames froze over 26 times. And when it froze solid, Londoners made the most of it, holding Frost Fairs on the ice.
For more seasonal facts about ice and snow, and for more on the Frost Fairs of London, order your copy of Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts today!
The average snowflake has a top speed of 1.7 metres per second.For it to snow the tops of the clouds must be below zero degrees Celsius (or 32 degrees Fahrenheit).The largest piece of ice to fall to earth was an ice block 6m (or 20ft) across that fell in Scotland on 13 August 1849.The largest hailstone recorded fell on 14 April 1986 in Bangladesh weighing 1kg (2.25lbs). The hailstorm reportedly killed 92 people.The largest snowflakes in the world fell across Fort Keogh in Montana (USA) on 28 January 1887.Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the only permanent snowcap within sight of the equator.Permanent snow and ice cover about 12% (21 million square kilometres) of the Earth's land surface.80% of the world's fresh water is locked up as ice or snow.A single snowstorm can drop 40 million tons of snow, carrying the energy equivalent to 120 atom bombs.There is not a law of nature that prohibits 2 snowflakes from being identical.In Australia, snowfalls are common above 1,500m in the Alps during the winter, but there are no permanent snowfields anywhere on the continent.The most snow produced in a single snowstorm is 4.8m (15.75ft) at Mt Shasta Ski Bowl, California (USA) between 13 and 19 February 1959.At a thickness of two inches, ice will support a man. At a thickness of four inches, it will support man on horseback. At a thickness of six inches, it will support teams with moderate loads. At a thickness of eight inches, it will support heavy loads. At a thickness of ten inches, will support 1,000 pounds to the square foot.Between 1400 and 1814 (which was the last time it happened) the River Thames froze over 26 times. And when it froze solid, Londoners made the most of it, holding Frost Fairs on the ice.
For more seasonal facts about ice and snow, and for more on the Frost Fairs of London, order your copy of Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts today!
December 7, 2016
Christmas Explained: H is for Hats
As in party hats, or the paper crowns you find in crackers. But how far back do hats and their association with Christmas go?
Well you're have to read Christmas Explained: Robins, King and Brussel Sprouts to find out, but you might be surprised...
Well you're have to read Christmas Explained: Robins, King and Brussel Sprouts to find out, but you might be surprised...
December 6, 2016
Christmas Explained: G is for Grandfather Frost
Today, 6th December, is the Feast of Saint Nicholas, of whom you can find out all sorts of interesting things in
Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts
.
However, it is on this day that children in Poland, and other Slavic countries, are visited by Ded Moroz, or 'Grandfather Frost', an ancient Russian deity given a more secular twist by Russia's Communist regime during the 20th Century.
Check out the horns on that get-up!
You can find out more about Ded Moroz here and here.
Ded Moroz in his troika pulled by three steeds, accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka.
Ded Moroz and his granddaughter Snegurochka traditionally wear blue.
Ded Moroz gives Sputnik a run for its money, by the look of things.
However, it is on this day that children in Poland, and other Slavic countries, are visited by Ded Moroz, or 'Grandfather Frost', an ancient Russian deity given a more secular twist by Russia's Communist regime during the 20th Century.
Check out the horns on that get-up!You can find out more about Ded Moroz here and here.
Ded Moroz in his troika pulled by three steeds, accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka.
Ded Moroz and his granddaughter Snegurochka traditionally wear blue.
Ded Moroz gives Sputnik a run for its money, by the look of things.
