Jason Waltz > Recent Status Updates

Finally a very good story, this from Martini and Fairstein. Nice lawyer drama without feeling forced.

Not sure how to react to this book so far. Only *good* story is the first with Bosch. Pendergast's was interesting. The others? Feel forced. Perhaps it's because I'm not familiar with some of the starring protagonists.

The fun begins.

Ross, "Werewolf Nation": long story about getting along. And conspiracy.

Zeidler, "The Country Road": a homey, safe, feel-good tale with a fun twist.

Hanlon, "Trail of the Black Coach": another good story from a fine storyteller I've been appreciating. Dark deeds, dark foes, and a persistent killer of a hero. Fine story.

Buck, "The Watch": fun, creative, new monster and an interesting way to frame the tale.

Milbourne, "Pia": ok. Decent vengeance tale. 2nd human trafficking story in a row.

Howard, "Beneath Red Sky": poorly written teenage horror scape

Floyd, "Silverlake": entertaining with a nostalgic twist.

Smith, "Only One Color Matters": good and clever on multiple accounts. I enjoyed the ingenuity of slightly tweaking commonly expected tropes. Good storytelling. Damn, that marshall will be hurting!

Phelps, "Riding Out with a Dead Man": interesting. Reads like a first chapter to a longer work though. Would be curious to learn the cause and such.

Dan Schilling's closing chapter is poignant, personal and pointedly blunt. Good ol' American military f'd up again, sending our warriors into war undermanned, under supplied, under informed, under led, and under supported. And then ultimately under utilized and finally dumped aside. I appreciate his direct relating of his experience.

Powell, "Water Talks to Water": pretty cool idea, unique (to me at least) and fun. I'd read more of these water-based tales.

Bloody as hell, dark and darker, and surprisingly stupid political preaching.

Pretty dang good mystery here. Super high stakes and super bloody. Terribly dark. The "meataxe" protagonist is big, bad, and brainy. Also fortunate to know the right sorts of people. Action-filled with also some snappy dialogue.

Been an interesting read thus far. Tough guy, hint of the hardboiled, bruiser. He has strength and smarts and sensitivity for friends. He prefers a sledgehammer but doesn't hesitate to use his fists, knees, and other body parts. He seems more Viking NFL linebacker...and yet we just learned he was a pro NBA player. Interesting authorial choice.

Grayson's "A Father's Promise" finally brings the good adult storytelling back with a vengeance-fueled scavenger hunt. Well-described protagonist's emotions and attitude.

Yeah, "Fur, Fangs, Family" is another animal fest. 2 strikes.

Okay, seriously: was the theme for this book including sentient animals? One more story with them and I'm outta here.

Well...all I got on "Peer Review Parenting" is...it met the theme.

Why the hell do people find cat stories entertaining?

"The Deadly Oasis" closes the book on a spectacularly grim tale. A very good story pitting brawn and bravery against dastardly evil. While I enjoyed this story quite a bit, I'm not a fan of the denouement wherein 3 future tales of Harkan's adventures are summed in sentences rather than saved for another collection. Seems wasteful to me, and I feel a lost chance to read them.

"The Pit of Despair" (though not that one which resides in THE PRINCESS BRIDE, sadly) is a strong story that really gives some deeper looks into Harkan the man. A couple clever lines and some great scenes round this out nicely.

I'd read "Queen of the Shifting City" before so knew what to expect, yet reading it again here in the company of other Harkan tales was still exciting.

Dang! Blood n battle, hooh-rah! This first person storytelling is odd though.

Man oh man, y'all should be reading this. "The Forest of the Red Boar" is another monstrously grand S&S tale and Harkan is a beast! Great story in a great collection.

Pierce, "A Mother's Pyre": a well told, strong to theme tale, featuring a sentient spaceship. Great start to this anthology.

Now this is exciting Sword & Sorcery! Fun tales with an indomitable warrior filled with heart and Attitude!

Well that's a great opening story setting a promise for the tales ahead!

Boop & Fairman, "Of Trains and Tentacles": and this is why I don't do Boop. Or any other slapstick for that matter, so it's nothing personal.