Recent Reads

Analog Magazine May 1964 issue Notable authors this time around include John Brunner and Christopher Anvil. The first part of a 2-part serial gets off to a promising start. An article arguing about the links between smoking tobacco and lung cancer. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #sciencefiction #magazine #booksky

The Forged, Vol. 04: Galaxy's Most Wanted Ws: Greg Rucka; Eric Trautmann A: Mike Henderson The epic space opera continues, as our intrepid rebels continue in their struggle against an immortal empress. This great series is only getting better. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #graphicnovel #booksky #sciencefiction

Thorgal #26: Kah-Aniel W: Yves Senate A: Grzegorz Rosinski Thorgal leaves the frozen tundra behind, sailing south and joining a camel caravan into the desert in his quest to find his missing son. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #thorgal #graphicnovel #comicbook #booksky #sciencefiction #fantasy

Thorgal #25: The Blade Ship W: Yves Senate A: Grzegorz Rosinski In the sci-fi fantasy world of Thorgal, one never knows what to expect, like a pissed off orca mom. Always entertaining and beautifully illustrated. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #graphicnovel #comicbook #booksky #sciencefiction #fantasy #thorgal

Last evening's classic film viewing...

Battler Britton: Bloody Good Show W: Garth Ennis A: Colin Wilson WWII British aviator Britton has to get an American squadron to work with his squadron, as they fight the Germans in North Africa. Great story, lovely aviation art. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #graphicnovel #comicbook #booksky #worldwar2 #WWII #garthennis

Daredevil & Punisher: The Devil's Trigger W: Jimmy Palmiotti See photos for complete credits. Matt and Frank, never the best of friends, continue their on-again, off-again relationship, as Daredevil tries to stop the Punisher from murdering a crime family. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #comicbook #booksky #daredevil

More Than Fire By Philip José Farmer The 5th book in the classic World of Tiers series, with the continuing adventures of Earthman Kickaha in multiple bubble universes as he fights against Red Orc. Out of this world (literally) concepts & intrigue. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #sciencefiction #booksky #novel #series

The Witcher: The Last Witch (See photos for complete credits.) From an original short story by Andrzej Sapkowski, Dandelion frees a djinn with a nasty disposition. Geralt needs a mage to save him, and meets Yennefer for the first time. Sparks fly. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #comicbooks #graphicnovel #booksky #witcher

Miss Truesdale and the Rise of Man W: Mike Mignola A: Jesse Lonergan Miss Truesdale is a primary figure in adventures in what I classify as a future mythology. Hold on tight and enjoy the ride; it's going to be wild. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #comicbook #graphicnovel #booksky #fantasy #mikemignola

Resident Alien, Book 8: The Book of Life W: Peter Hogan A: Steve Parkhouse The penultimate collection volume, in which Harry Vanderspiegle faces his greatest challenge yet: fatherhood. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #comicbook #sciencefiction #booksky

Resident Alien, Book 9: The Book of Changes W: Peter Hogan A: Steve Parkhouse The final collected volume of the story of extraterrestrial Harry Vanderspiegle and his journey from castaway to doctor to detective to husband, and now father. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #comicbook #sciencefiction #booksky

Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Vol. 2: Las Vegas W: Nancy A. Collins A: Jesús Hervás The continuing adventures of the rebel replicant, trying to survive in an apocalyptic world where her own creator is trying to kill her. Good fun. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #bladerunner #sciencefiction #comicbook #booksky

Assorted Crisis Events, Vol. 2 W: Deniz Camp A: Eric Zawadzki (See photos for full credits) More character studies of people dealing with a world where time, physics, and dimensions have become abnormal and bizarre. Delightfully weird. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #comicbook #graphicnovel #shortstories #booksky

Tank Girl: Summer Love Sensation By Hewlett & Martin Originally published in Deadline Magazine, 1990. More adventures of the lovable tank-driving punk Aussie & her mutant kangaroo boyfriend. Guest appearance by a pair of bikers who definitely aren't Peter Fonda & Dennis Hopper 😉. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #tankgirl

Shadows in Bronze By Lindsey Davis The second book in the Marcus Didius Falco series, and a delightful read, as the "informer" of classical Rome investigates a plot against the Caesar, assassins, and pursues a love interest. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #marcusdidiusfalco #ancientrome #mysteries #booksky #investigator

This looks fantastic!

Doc Savage #18: The Monsters/The Whisker of Hercules By Kenneth Robeson (Lester Dent) Two more short novels, reprinted in the original pulp format, with the original interior illustrations. The second novel has probably the strangest title of all the Savage books. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #docsavage #booksky #pulp

Rigel Science Fiction Issue #4, Spring 1982 Another vintage magazine from my TBR stack. Includes stories by Gregory Benford, Terry Carr, and Eric Vinicoff, plus others. Mostly fanzine-level art, but another early appearance by comic book artist Brent Anderson. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #sciencefiction #booksky

Sahara By Clive Cussler I know, you're thinking, I already saw the movie. But the movie leaves out like two thirds of the book. A Peter Jackson version of this book would be four three-hour movies. Anyway, completely improbable fun. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #dirkpitt #booksky #clivecussler #thriller #spies

Black Notice By Patricia Cornwall Celebrity pathologist Kay Scarpetta faces office intrigue, psychological drama, suspicious international actions from INTERPOL, and a bizarre serial killer who might be a... Werewolf!? This one was fun. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #mystery #booksky #kayscarpetta #serialkiller

Rigel Science Fiction Issue No. 1/Summer 1981 The first issue from an independent publisher, featuring stories from Greg Bear, Richard A. Lupoff, Tom Easton, & David Bischoff. Interior illustrators include an early appearance of comic book artist Brent Anderson. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #sciencefiction #booksky

Analog Magazine January 1964 Stories by Randall Garrett, Norman Spinrad, John Brunner, and the 2nd part of Frank Herbert's "Dune World," first publication of "Dune" under its original title. Plus a science article about meteorites. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #analog #sciencefiction #sciencefact #booksky #vintage

Analog Magazine February 1964 Another old issue from my stack. This one's highlight is the concluding section of the original serial publication of Frank Herbert's "Dune," herein titled "Dune World." Front cover by John Schoenherr. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #analog #sciencefiction #sciencefact #magazine #booksky

Sharpe's Fortress, India 1803 By Bernard Cornwell Newly promoted from the ranks, Sharpe faces discrimination from his fellow officers, corruption, the evil machinations of old foe Hakeswill, an impressive Indian fortress, and two scary executioners. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #sharpe #historicalfiction #booksky

Doc Savage #22: Mystery Under the Sea/The Red Terrors By Kenneth Robeson (Lester Dent) Two more short novels, printed in the original pulp format, including the original interior illustrations. I wonder if MUtS was the origin of the Bermuda Triangle myth. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #docsavage #pulpfiction #booksky

Den, Vol. 2: Muvovum By Richard Corben Another volume of Corben's classic work, beautifully restored by José Villarrubia. This volume features the further adventures of the nerd-turned-hero in a bizarre and barbaric alternate universe. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #comicbooks #sciencefiction #fantasy #booksky

Bowling With Corpses, and Other Strange Takes from Lands Unknown W/A: Mike Mignola Colors: Dave Stewart A collection of short tales and vignettes set in a fantastical mythic and magic-infused medieval world of Mignola's imagination. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #comicbook #fantasy #mikemignola #booksky

Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact October 1963 Cover: John Schoenherr I have a stack of old Analogs I am working my way through. This one contains what I believe was the first David Falkayn of the Polesotechnic League story by Poul Anderson. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #sciencefiction #magazine #booksky #vintage

The Last Coyote By Michael Connelly Harry Bosch deals with his multitude of personal issues by finally trying to find out who murdered his prostitute mother when he was a child. His childhood history supplies character development to the max. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #harrybosch #mystery #booksky

Die Trying By Lee Child The 2nd book in the Jack Reacher series, in which our hero is accidentally kidnapped with a woman, by a white supremacist group, led by a megalomaniac intent on fomenting the downfall of the USA, with a deadly plan in place. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #jackreacher #leechild #booksky

Captain Henry and the Graveyard of Time W: Mike Mignola A: Bruce Zick A steampunkish time travel adventure set in the Hellboy universe, with somewhat frenetic art that perfectly suits the subject matter. Very fun. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #comicbook #graphicnovel #booksky #steampunk #timetravel

D'orc By Brett Bean Collects issues #1–5. Silly fun about a halfbreed dwarf/orc with a magic shield, having adventures not of his own choosing, while trying to make his way through a violent fantasy world. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #comicbook #fantasy #humor #booksky

Synthetics, Vol. 1 W: J. Michael Straczynski A: Tony Parker (See photos for complete credits.) Collects issues #1–4. More SF from the Babylon 5 creator, this one about our impending environmental doom and the creation of genetically modified humans. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #comicbook #sciencefiction #booksky