Jason Waltz > Recent Status Updates

Alright, we've amped it up now! Actually last chapter. Fun times ahead.

Gerstmar, "In the Jungles of the Thing God": Rosnick has a good time, some great battle, some good drugs, and mucho flying monkey death! An obvious homage to REH, Conan, and Belit. Decent storytelling and lots of horror-tinged daring-do.

Mildly interesting so far. Lots of describing and telling and page-filling. Started a little boring, better now yet sort of dull. There's no power here, no passion. Finally getting a hint of that "Die Hard in a castle" blurb promise.

Slow, plodding, very descriptive so far. Hope it picks up.

Howard, "A Sorcerer's Pledge": I enjoy Howard's Ptero Knight, set sort of in a prehistoric AND post-apocalyptic world, and often very savage. This tale delivers both once again, but this time there's some missing or discombobulated information that is glossed over a few times, and while the hero is assuredly bad ass and violent, filled with defiance to win, I don't enjoy him much. Good bits, but not as good as usual.

Prior to this point I already knew I won't read any further works from this author. However that was cemented here on these last 2 pages by the choice to tell us something extremely important about one of our main, possibly the main, characters AND foreshadow exactly the grand finale. Now, I could be wrong and I'll admit it if so, but I doubt it. Odd writing/translation choices are one thing, bad writing another.

This is an intense read: great if you're prepared to fully commit to God, harsh if you're not, condemning either way. It is interesting to learn 80+ years ago they were experiencing cheap grace to the degree we are today. That was unexpected but ultimately unsurprising.

The mystery is interesting even though it is not the mystery I expected. So both of those thoughts and the smoother, improved writing style have retained my attention. I'm rooting for the culprits so I wonder how this writer will steer me.

Grew interesting after a rather difficult opening. Now actually knowing one of the main characters the beginning is a bit more easy to grasp, but at the time of reading it was boring and disjointed. I like the mathematical mind for now. Writing has grown smoother as story continues.

Black, "The Warlock's Looking Glass": dangerous adventure with some lusty hijinks -- what could be better!? Black & Redgar are back!

Good stuff, sound logic, sincere guidance.

Blankenship & Stimson, "Final Words": well finally one not for me. Very wordy, made me start skimming, then surprised me with a quick close after the laborious buildup, and then I must admit to not grasping its punch-line.

Sorondo, "Light in the Mine": creepy sci-fi, take-no-shit hero, lingering after effects.

Haddrell, "The Price of Gold": novel monsters and a good double twist with some sacrifice, entertaining.

Setzer, "Birds of Prey": interesting enough, decent foe, decent hero. A good family challenge too, dealing with death and loss. Sort of an okay solution to the problem, bit deus ex machina.

Fascinating that this saga went where it did. Not what I anticipated and not really my preference but it works. Amazingly, I hear Reeves' voice whenever Unute (B.) speaks, which is cool, they have the same beats and rhythms. Like William Shattner, there is only one Keanu Reeves.

Did not expect to visit the quantum pre-time world here.

Denning, "The Hills had a Heartbeat": another fun, rip-roaring yarn! Good action, danger, supernatural threat, and banter.

Bondoni, "A Day's Ride from Tarabuco": fun story well told using a couple of famous characters who may or may not have escaped into Bolivia. A good combination of movie myth and South American myth. Quite enjoyable.

I love, love the Belit reminiscences and the things she triggers in Conan. Much of the art is decent, some cool, some meh. The ultimate evil threat is cool. This ongoing save-the-day magical interference of Brule is not. Once was ok, vaguely Kings of the Night-ish; this one was not. A blatant magical salvation is epic fantasy not Sword and Sorcery.

Guessing at page, in Chp 6. First incongruity, B. says "I don't want to kill." Which is quite different than what his actions and body language say. I believe he wants to *no longer* kill, not that he doesn't want to kill, that's too much his DNA. He wants it not to be and he wants to be able to die, which he keeps saying is what he wants instead of wanting to die. I like the distinction but don't think he grasps it.

Child and Finder end this with a real banger. It's a fun union of Reacher and Heller, and it feels like both of 'em. Nice closer. Get it?

Berry and Rollins, "The Devil's Bones": fun jungle thriller reminiscent of a Frago tale. Good action and the heroes worked well together.

Herz, "The Cost of Gold": was another historical thriller, this featuring a pair of pals leaving the US Army only to end up worse off. I enjoyed their camaraderie.

Nicoll, "Entrails West": great, clever title. Nicely historical and tensely horrific.

Arnette, "What Was Once Wild": And I thought the last one was lame. I at least skimmed that one. This one ... Marine cats. Not even going to read it.

Ezell and Wolf, "And The Void Stared Back": weird psychedelic shit that ain't for me.

"Silent Hunt" from Lescroat and Parker was a fun though disjointed read.

Khoury and Barclay, authors I'd never heard of, wrote an adrenaline filled high risk, high stakes thriller.

"Infernal Night" gave me a good story, my first exposure to Repairman Jack, and two authors new to me to eventually read. Enjoyable story with thrilling danger physical and magical, featuring 2 tough guys.