Book review: An Evil Guest

An Evil Guest by Gene Wolfe

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I would never have guessed Gene Wolfe would do a madcap Cthulhu caper, but he did. Fast, funny, and crazy. It has a 1920s feel but is set in a future where the laws of physics are found to be decidedly non-universal. The point of view character, an actress who romances some rather scary men, is way over her head, and is carried on a sea of mythos mischief.
Not one of Wolfe's deeper works, but great fun.


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Memory Error: New Story coming out in July's Golden Visions (Print)

Memory Error will come out in the July print edition of Golden Visions. I just signed the contract. It's a story about a future where people live so long they can't remember everything. So a wise medical company comes up with a solution. And a wiser neurological researcher helps them work out the kinks. With all that wisdom, what could go wrong?

The site is www.goldenvisionsmagazine.biz for the online edition- with information on how to obtain print (and soon) pdf versions.

The April online edition - came out. Print issues for April should be ready by the end of next week.

It's Clean! It's Coal!

Ah, the Coen brothers are at it again. I think they read my blog.

Economic Recovery House Meeting

We had an Economic Recovery House Meeting at our house yesterday. People came over to share their stories and brainstorm on how to help President Obama get the recovery rolling. Some people were unemployed, many were underemployed. Small business owners spoke of cutting back and putting off expansion plans. A professor talked of his students who are about to graduate, and are finding they are competing with 700 or 900 applicants for a single job.

Even so, the mood was upbeat. The Republican attack machine couldn't stop Obama the candidate, and we don't believe it will stop President Obama. And we want to help.

Scrivner's Star: Dark Heresy Contest Finalist

My scenario for Dark Heresy is a finalist in their adventure design contest.

Check it out here!

For those who don't know, Dark Hersey is a Gothic Science Fiction roll playing game where the players are members of the Inquisition, and the galaxy is full of rather frightful stuff.

Dr. King Day Book Review: Lion's Blood

Lion's Blood: A Novel of Slavery and Freedom in an Alternate America by Steven Barnes

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lion's Blood is perhaps the best book about slavery and race in America I have read, told in an alternate world where Europe is the failed continent and Africa is dominant. That Steven's Barnes is an African American makes the scenes of the "middle passage" all the more powerful.

In the very brief overview of the slave trade I was taught as school, one fact was always mentioned: African slaves were captured and sold to whites by Africans. Somehow this made the slave trade not just the European's fault, it spread the blame around. Well, in this alternate world, European (Irish) slaves as sold to blacks by Europeans (Vikings). This twist helps illuminate what should have been clear: if it weren't for the buyers, the slave trade would not exist.

I won't give away how history changed to put Africa on top, and Europe on the bottom, but it is well thought out and interesting. The bulk of the book takes place on a plantation in Bilalistan, which is where Texas is in our world. The technology level is a little different than in our history, but the year the story stars is 1863 AD, or 1279 in the Islamic calendar.

This story concerns two boys who grow into men together. Aiden, the Irish slave, and Kai, the plantation owners son. Can friendship exist between owner and slave? Can honor?

Aiden sees slavery destroy his family, and becomes involved in the politics surrounding Kai's family. Kai is Muslim, and Aiden a Christian. Kai learns there are truths not told in his schools, and finds a mentor in a visiting Sufi scholar. Not only is Africa dominant, but so is Islam, with poor slaves converting to curry favor with their masters. The slaves mix the religions of their former homes, Christianity and Druid based paganism in much the same way as African religions were mixed to create Voodoo.

The book is told through many points of view, not just the two boys, but it is really their tale. I couldn't put it down.


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Game Book Review: Realm of the Ice Queen: A Guide to Kislev

Realm of the Ice Queen: A Guide to Kislev by Green Ronin

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a well done country book for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying. You'll want the core rulebook to make use of this supplement.

The nation of Kislev is stuck between Chaos and the Empire. The culture is an uneasy blending of Russian and Mongolian.

There are many new professions, including new magical ones, such as "Ice Witch."

The art is well done, mostly Gothic pen and ink.

The country, government (or lack thereof), and major cities are well described. New creatures that roam the steppes go along with new backgrounds.

The adventure in the back is very quick, two sessions at most. There are rules for handling either a group of characters from Kislev or the Empire. However, it was too brief for my tastes. It did give examples of some fine Kislev challenges, and I think it's worth more for mining ideas than anything else.

However, if you are the Games Master of a WFRP game, this book will only be useful as background if you ever plan on sending your players to Kislev. Or let the players come from Kislev. Or just want to read up on Kislev. Otherwise, it won't impact your play.

As a player, you might want this book if you want to be from Kislev, or your GM has placed you there and you want to try some of the new professions. "Hag" and "Ice Witch" are my favorites.

If you are running The Thousand Thrones campaign, this will be very useful, as that campaign concludes deep in the Kislevian wilderness.




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