Jason Waltz > Recent Status Updates

Another book from a genre and style of writing I don't much read to grab me with it's clever title and blurbs. (And I do think blurbs matter.)

Interestingly relayed 1st person protagonist, so far reading like a story grandly told about the campfire. I'm looking forward to this.

Whitney, "Choir of the Mad Anatomist": ingenious title, good pals who are funny protagonists, diabolical adventure, lots of joy in the storytelling.

Ableson, "Flight of the Marshman": interesting set of humanoid characters in an escape from slavery story. Good battle and good camaraderie and good conclusion.

Eikamp, "Mote in a Monster's Eye": clever title, creepy story with a creepy Lovecraftian world and horror. Strong protagonist, great perseverance, weak closing.

Cintain, "The Last Warrior of R'Kim": strong hero, cool big boss monster at the finale, disconcerting writing choice to fluctuate past events replaying during current. Liked the hero but not the style of storytelling.

Thurot, "Breakers": engrossing tale featuring a tough little character. Didn't see the end early, but once it was hinted I realized what came. Well told.

First, it feels wonderful to read a big book non-stop once again. Something about nonfiction I can't just fly through. Second, there has been some magnificent battle and some ferocious ignoble deaths expected but still exciting. Third, the looming big finale has my blood agitated. Fourth, the war god Tiarnach is a terrific character.

Quite the diabolical evil in this one, with more twisted plans and powers bubbling over each other on every page. Some good character arcs. Some interesting choices in supernatural powers. And lots of looming dangers and double-crosses and deaths to come

And the war begins! Cleverly written lines, dastardly monsters posing as heroes, evil good guys ... it's been rather fun thus far, but at only half way, I'm quite curious what will be going wrong. There are many options.

Gang is gathered, foes know who and where they are, they are not friends and they are actually evil, yet they are all that stands against a vastly greater evil.

Mele, "The Oracle": great story, terrific climax! Ugly, diabolical Old World horror, young warrior, dangers, thrills, betrayal and courage! Also great art.

Interestingly appealing thus far. Gathering the old gang back together has been fun. So far I most enjoy and am intrigued by the once god of war who no longer has believers. Shades of Karl Edward Wagner, Nicholas Eames, and Ari Marmell.

Sirina, "Those Who Look Back": very unique mask magic, a tragic story for two characters, an vague conclusion, but overall unique fantasy. Not S&S.

Palmatier, "Assassinsssss": stopped reading the brain-killing drivel after 3 pages. Wish I could get those minutes of my life back.

Enge, "The Cage at the End of the World": Morlock used to be cool. Now he's just an old senile professor trying to stay relevant.

Jackson, "Guild of the Ancients": not a bad story. Very interesting fantasy world and races. But the further this book gets from its start the further it gets from Sword and Sorcery. I don't know why it claimed to be that.

McConnell, "The Charter": A fine story of learning and growing and maturing with a fine protagonist whose innocence helps to feed a demon.

An observation on this book: our stories seem to be getting further and further away from Sword and Sorcery.

Beauchamp, "The Cull": First of the modern authors stories, decent point of view from the werewolves perspective in modern times. Reminiscent of *The Village* movie in several ways.

Nickel, "Blood and Onyx": interesting tale of an interesting guild of body jumpers.

Farland, "Oathbreaker": Way overwritten, either as an introductory piece to a world and series, or as a piece that assumes we're familiar with this world and series. I'm glad the story did not deliver upon the assumption it projected. The primary character is cool enough, though there was another I am far more interested in. Lots of writing to tell a story whose close was foretold early.

Ball, "The Werewolf Howls": now this is a terrific story. For those read in such matters it is predictable, but it is so well written it does not matter.

Cossack Folktale, "The Iron Wolf": I do not get the lesson here. The Iron Wolf is supposedly the Slavic god Veles. Essentially, it's a sell your soul to the devil type deal. However, this time our protagonist not only escapes his due he actually destroys his devil (god). Odd.

Gullen, "Dragonlight": dreamy, Vance-Dunsany-Silverberg-ish fantasy of clockworks and glass and maze magic and nary a bit of S&S.

Webber, "The Witch that Wasn't": clever silliness that definitely featured a guild but no glaives. And no Sword and Sorcery.

Malan, "Footprints of the Hound": I always enjoy the way Dhulyn and Parno interact. This was an interesting yet also confusing tale.

Over the last few pages Hegseth has revealed a startling truth that accompanies what I've long contended in regards to heroes and what they mean today. The social majority, predominantly extreme liberal, maligns and hates the military and law enforcement, just like they do heroes, because they remind them of their covenants and callings. It is so much easier to bring down what was and should still be heroic.

Chpts 10 and 11 cover complimentary ground and quite accurately state that we - America - should not get into wars we don't mean to win. So if we do head into war, it better be with full intent to dominate and end it as swiftly, safely, and certainly as possible.

VanZile, "Dark Secrets Entombed": new author to me writes a fun character with a Bond/Holmes -like sidekick making him gadgets and knowing things. I enjoyed the story but it's more fun if you try not to think about how some of the actions are accomplished.

Ensal, "The Three Assassins of Lord Slaughter": childishly written and silly. I should have stopped reading it when I first thought about it.

Not a fan of Scharf's jaw and facial structure for Conan - makes him look like a dumb brute. Otherwise most the art works well and flows with the story. As for the story, the introduction of all these Howard characters works and getting them all together also works...but what's the point if they're just there to die? Seems a ridiculous waste after all the hard work. At least Conan, El B, and Kane seem on character.