Jason Waltz > Recent Status Updates

ah, this is intense, a great rush to read. I have no knowledge of this series, come to this fresh, so this first volume of the new 52 Batman and Robin 2011 is rocking along nicely. Good suspense, nice touches in story and art throughout, and some really great cells and full page artwork. The foe NoBody is asking Bruce/Batman some pretty sound questions and giving Damian (and me) lots to think upon.

Reading this as a couple with my wife -- good stuff!

now that all the descriptive list narratives are out of the way, the book's moving along quite smartly with terrific dialogue and intrigue. I can't help always mentally picturing Bogie as Spade, and I think it works marvelously both ways. I think Hammett did a right fine job with Detective Sergeant Polhaus also.

Apparently I shall be privileged to actually see a red-shouldered hawk. I am told they are in these here parts, so I look forward to it. I'd love to see me some kites, too.

Delightful, I say. Though the pedantic telling via listing of all characteristics grows dull, there are many an enjoyable turn of phrase and a number of wonderful little moments tween Sam and any number of the girls.

Page 108 gives an absolutely divine description of Mr. Gutman, and 109 quickly gives us two great quotes by the man. Ah, the joys of a simpler time.

"Warlord" is a great, great story. Tremendous character and storytelling. I feel I should keep this anthology simply to always have this at hand.

Michelle West is giving me what I sought in this anthology - a hell of a story!

Book is getting on track finally, but too late to save it. Josepha Sherman's "A Matter of Honor" was delightful, nicely rendered heroine in a great battle magic story.

Julie Czemeda's first fantasy tale is rather well-done and catchy. Unique story with unique delivery of an old premise with ok characters and good use of battle magic.

Finally a quality tale of battling magic in Elizabeth Ann Scarborough's "The Fatal Wager"... though self-admittedly an Irish myth retelling.

"Hell's Bane" - Oy vey.

Ah, the reason I keep reading this mess of a book. Nina Kiriki Hoffman's "Bright Streets of Air" is an elegant, excellent tale I never would have found otherwise. Absolutely outside my regular reading wheelhouse, but a terrifically told story. Again, though, a surprise to find within this anthology as it is yet another story that doesn't match the marketing. A delight to read, but not enough to save this book.

'Rite of Passage' is a God-awfully depressingly and nastily dark story that should never have been included. The selection editing on this anthology sucks. Nothing like reading a cruel and horrific tale in the midst of a bunch of tripe.

Reichert wrote an interesting take on magic and users. Some battling occurred, but mostly it was a whiny fellow's internal struggle.

Tilton's "Miracle of Salamis" definitely brings the battle magic, and it is a great rendition of Greek myth. It is also a boatload of 'tell' in an almost academic delivery.

Helfers' "Principles of Warfare" -- Finally a real story about battle magic as advertised - and delightfully reminiscent of CL Werner's Oba tales.

Had to read a SSOC to get my equilibrium back. Nothing like issue #14, "Shadow-God of Zamboula" to ignite my mojo! Now I can face this book again.

"The Jewel and the Demon" is a joke, right? Definitely shouldn't be here and it's filled with glaringly grotesque improbabilities a la the 'I have no chance in hell of doing this extreme thing but oh looky here how ever did the one super-thingy that was just what I needed happen to appear at my hand at the exact last moment it could save the day whew was I lucky let's keep skipping along since I'm not in over my head

Started this a few years back. First 2 stories failed to deliver on the title-cover text and art combo, so set it aside. Trying to clean up all the anthos I've started, so facing my own battle and hoping for magic. Rusch's opening story is a fine story that shouldn't be present in my understanding of this title and definitely encourages me to fervently pray it doesn't set the tone.

Par for the course, REH's "The Tower of the Elephant" ignites my adrenaline and fervor. I look forward to the soon-appearing REH series at BLACK GATE wherein I may or may not have been granted the opportunity to exclaim over this wondrous tale.

First exposure, as I recall, to Lord Dunsany's Welleran, and in a delightfully classical tale. Ah, those heroes of old!

Bretnor's "Gnurrs" is lighthearted and unmemorable.

"Drop Dead" by Clifford Simak: great story and storytelling that held me enthralled till the stupid close. Yet another of the SF stories that throws its greatness out the portal and goes against all it preached beforehand in its closing sentences. Grrr, far too much bait-and-switch in SF.

Anderson & Dickson's joint effort is a rootin'-tootin' hoot! Thoroughly enjoyable with great characterization and my first encounter with the Hoka cowboy teddy bears 🐻

Easy reading biography of a WWII US airman and his multiple escapes as a POW. Learned, rather learned of, a colloquialism new to me: tush hog. Quite the interestingly varied meaning associated with that, but I get its gist.

Stanley G. Weinbaum (whom I'd never heard of) made this book for me! No matter how many of the remaining tales are as dumb as the first, this story is worth keeping the anthology on my shelves. Absolutely delighting storytelling with a great narrator and wonderfully clever creativity. Silverberg's introduction intrigued and saddened me immediately, and the 1934 "A Martian Odyssey" absolutely delivered!

Michael knocks it out of the park, as usual. These are fun stories in a world and with characters I know, so very delightful to read. These seem a bit more vulgar-inclined than usual, perhaps the star of the tales reflecting a bit of the author?

delightful - but old!

de Camp's "Blue Giraffe" was quite fun - until just ending.
And Dick's "Preserving Machine" - besides being i believe my first PKD story - was a great premise, nicely told, yet rather unfulfilling .