Jason Waltz > Recent Status Updates

"One Less Hand for the Shaping of Things," Jason Ray Carney: um, not my cup o'tea. One extremely long-winded hallucinogenic tale of little moment.

"The Night Maere," Scott Hannan: Lovecraftian Dark Mythos in a modern setting, nice horrific touch, banger of a climax.

This book was written within touching time distance of its topic and involves conversations with folks alive and well during its time. So the conversations attributed to them is pretty darn authentic -- and a hoot. Politics always plays a hand in every game, let no one say different. Oh, and Doc Holliday has been saying 'I'll be your huckleberry' since forever.

After the introduction of purpose follows a short but thorough biography of Howard. There's a little bit of personal opinion escaping through, but for the most part it is a decently comprehensive look at the man and his career.

"Hungry," Charles Gramlich: weird and dark sci-fi, a little sciency and a little more horrific.

This is the way history should always be writ. Tall tales made truth and memories made tall. This book will sit alongside Cunningham's TRIGGERNOMETRY once I'm finished.

Doc Holliday "was not one to waste time, energy or ammunition; when any shooting was to be done, he shot to kill." Exactly how every fight should be conducted: with overwhelming force and speed, wasting nothing, and getting home to loved ones securely and surely.

Colorful storytelling establishing the creation of Tombstone and the people behind and within it.

Geesh, this is a rough start. Lots of bitching about how rough his father was on him mentally and emotionally and then a series of examples of how horrible he was to others. Seems odd to use your therapy sessions as the introduction to your biography.

An extremely easy to read brotherly love letter. You can sometimes feel Alex' anguish. He also makes it easy to relive the 80s and the pre-Internet society.

Good start explaining the purpose of this book. I have it on good authority that the contents are a worthwhile exploration of Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age.

Taylor, "The Drowned Dead Shape": classic, grisly and bloody storytelling from Keith Taylor, a bard indeed!

Very easy reading, what a personal story.

Alex' open letter to his brother to jump things off -- damn.

Ahh, Don Hamilton has such a marvelous way with phrases and scenes. Helm is a blessed character with such an author behind him.

Hot blood! Righteous rage and vengeance! Cold and savage battle. This book is as bloody and desperate and horrific and heroic as any Sword and Sorcery tale!

Shit's gonna hit fast and hard stat! Real hard. Tons has happened since last we've met; lots of battle, blood, and - again - betrayal. This is a vicious tale, wonder what the final headcount will be.

And I turned the page and run right into a Robert E. Howard quote! Full sword salute, Jack; thank you.

Something awful looms and I really wanna read it but I know I'll have to continue reading how it's dealt with if I do...and my eyes are so very tired. So I shall behave and stop now. Carr has built tension well, even though he also spends time telling me the full complete name and lineage of almost everything that can be given a proper noun. But he's drawn the tension well and left me with a feeling of dread.

Authors have done a progressively strong job of pulling us into the life of each contestant. This one was sad.

So after half a dozen shots across the bow, geesh! Apparently white men are the root cause of all misery in the publishing industry.

Hahahahahahahaha!

Sienna's personality and motivations are well-presented...but I don't like her much. Not saying Malcolm is preferable, but I'm tired of Sienna's POV. Millie is fun whilst shallow, but so far her POV is entertaining. Both young men having only been slightly explored, am looking forward to learning more of them.

The plot is fun. Need some deaths now.

Fluffy, younger crowd story. The premise is cool, the players... we'll see. It was the story behind the story that caught my interest: the story that the duo writing this are using this story to tell-all about the real world publishing industry. Feels like a streaming movie murder mystery, but let's see what the fuss is all about.

Well things quite nicely ramped up big-time since last we spoke. Momentum never let up once things began accelerating. Carr sure can write intense action. And now, here, he got me in the throat and somehow my eyes are leaking.

Almost halfway through and there's been lots - and lots - of very thorough telling me stuff. It was good to work through Reece's transition(s), but I believe it could have been accomplished with less words.

Philosophy is spot on, camaraderie is awesome, weaponry and battle fun. Reece is still a good guy and hero.

Interesting but also mildly treading water method of jumping chapters back and forth between Reece's past and present and two different current bad guys POVs. It's not building tension thus far though, so not sure this method works.

I'd read the whole book tonight, but I gotta long drive tomorrow, so calling it at the start of Part 2. This was the kind of story I was looking for, spec ops, revenge, and brotherhood. Not the smoothest of writing, but a good story.

Very cool to find a ONCE AN EAGLE name drop here from Carr.

"Crow's Murder: One" - fun introductory piece gives us a bit of flavor of the author. Introduces an enjoyable protagonist and an intriguing world/galaxy. A 'lite' noirish tale that holds promise.