Jason Waltz > Recent Status Updates

Not done and don't know how to remove that from Goodreads' pain-in-the-ass app. Still enjoying reading this piecemeal.

Author opinions get much more intense as the book progresses. Several more instances of pages that discuss the cover yet require lots of searching to find that cover. Book could have used another editing eye before going to publication. For the most part have agreed with the author thus far, but disagree with him on the Ken Kelly 1993 CONAN THE SAVAGE cover which has always been one of my favorite Kelly pieces.

See now, if you're going to specifically reference a book cover you better dang well include it. Including none-Conan cover art was totally unnecessary in this book and I am disappointed by that, as it's a waste of space, not tied into the material in any way of merit, and obviously prohibited putting on the same page covers discussed.

Berkeley section was awesome, and the Ace section is pretty good, though I wish pages that discuss a cover had that cover on them rather than having to search for it. I also wonder why the Gor books got a whole color spread in a Conan cover collection. And this is obviously a very opinionated author.

Brunner's tale added an interesting bit to Gotrek's saga, but it was a difficult read, both in POV and overwrought style.

Josh Reynolds tale had its fun moments and a very entertaining Knight Grandmaster. Now on to Brunner's tale, which he somehow managed to write for the Black Library Warhammer world that didn't even publish its first book (and a non-Gotrek one too) until 4 years after his death.

Pretty cool book I'm thinking. Very informative, though strongly opinionated, and great covers. The history of UK's Sphere was illuminating.

Flipped through, beautiful collection of color covers. Great pulp chapter, now on to Lancer's paperbacks.

Simply put, man thinks far too much of itself, and Christians even more so. I believe in a God, an ultimate being who instigated all and will be accounted to by all. Is he unfair? If I apply me to him, then yes. Is he silent or hidden? If I don't look for him, then yes. It's fairly simple, despite being a rigged game.

"In the Ring" is terrific fun, an entire bout and battle rolled tightly and mightily into a galloping verse a joy to read!

Nathan Long's opening "Slayer's Honour" was a blast! Nonstop balls-to-the-wall action with about as much swords and sorcery as could be gotten. Great fun with a multileveled moral of honor.

Enjoyed 'Emancipation' & 'Roundelay of the Roughneck' in The Times & World of REH section.

The entire reason for this book also sums my joy at nearing its completion: "Men, we have gathered here this morning to put an end to an intolerable peace. This suffering that we have endured since the end of Korea is at last coming to an end. We are going to war."

Finally getting a real story and a rather good one these last 30 pages! These Marines are gearing up for a new war and now they've purpose, so now the book has purpose as well. Guess that's its point though -- how mindlessly UNpurposeful warriors at peace become.

Gotta be one of the weirdest books I've read. Meanders all over, moves into different players' heads, makes lots of noise, says very little. Far more a great crapshoot than remotely a story.

Sections on The Joy of Life, Humor, and Love, and I most enjoyed "Earth-Born." The Love poetry was rather decent as well.

plodding along. random POV jumps - from brief to entire chapter - have begun appearing, which is odd after the 200+ pages of a single POV. however, it is these that have spiked my interest, as a few of these perspectives have been far more informative/enthralling than the primary one who is pretty darn boring now that I've learned that what he pretty much thought/saw on page 1 is still what he sees/thinks on page 330

It'll be a short friendship. Ever seen a dog try to run on a wood floor? While you might love dogs, wood floors, even running dogs, I'm sure you don't love watching and hearing the poor dog scrambling and scratching and even squealing all while trying so hard to run. That's what reading this is like. Decent plot is buried beneath a writer trying to one-up every. single. crime. noir. thriller. wiseguy and wisecrack.

'Flight' (about the Biblical Cain) is rather cool, as is the popular 'Recompense'

Turns out I know a guy who knows a guy, in this case a good friend of this author who gets a personalized copy of every one of his books. Here's looking to the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Asprin's own story is best by far. Exciting subterfuge, thrilling battle, cunning ideas.

I'm trying to be a well-rounded reader. Sometimes. I've met Gene, talked with him, respect his lyrical, elegant storytelling... But either he's light-years beyond me or I'm an ignorant. I'm close to tossing this book because not a single one of these stories means a thing. Nada. Zilch. Whole lotta words beautifully assembled building nothing I recognize or appreciate or recall. He says his next is his best-I'll see.

Lots of extremely common sensical expressions here, most of which would make humanity better right about now if the majority could be bothered to read and apply them.

Poul's tale was passable, Offutt's -- wherein I finally officially meet the infamous Shadowspawn -- was fluffery and flimflammy. Spent a lot of effort adding lots of words in torturous contortions to tell a decent tale. At least Shadowspawn was mostly the featured character.

still slogging through this one - finally had some meaty insertion within a sub-character's arc that's been the best the book has offered so far.

Lynn Abbey's tale was fine, nothing spectacular but a clever set up for things to come. I find it interesting that thus far the opening stories don't feature the signature characters - an odd approach, as I've attached to what seems to be non-continuing characters instead of the biggies. Also, there hasn't been the anticipated slapstick or crude humor I thought TW was famous for -- does that come in later books?

Nice intro setting things up - it's not attributed, but I imagine Asprin penned it. Jack Brunner's opening story introduces a great protagonist and another decent character in the magician, who seems to be the continuing one sadly. Good tale typical of the era's style and the author of his era; in other words, tolerable fun overtold.

I decided to start with Robert Asprin's essay at the close, "The Making of Thieves' World," after his opening Editor's Note. It was a good idea, as he relays the wonderful and terrible joys and fears of anthology building. I empathize. I've always postponed reading this series as I'm not terribly thrilled by reading slapstick s&s, which has been my impression of this. Here goes.

Finally some meat, the pathos of a warrior treading water in a peacetime Marine Corps. Prior to this a whole lot of whining and moping meandering; I've been waiting for the protagonist to grow some balls and for something important to happen. Had to find a tertiary character for some meaning and a possible reason to even keep this book on the USMC shelves.

Gene Wolfe is beyond me. I can recognize his elegance and majesty, but that's about all. Like awakening mesmerized by a beautiful voice on a beautiful beach in a beautiful day and blinking into a cold, dreary silent reality. I can ache for something I think is supposed to be wonderful, right? I keep trying his work, but every short seems incomplete, and when I find myself flipping pages to learn how much further...