Demons: A Clash of Steel - Review

Demons: A Clash of Steel Anthology by Jason M. Waltz
S.E. Lindberg rating: 3 of 5 stars

Quick Review :
A stellar concept for a collection; "Demons" delivers some entertaining tales. *** Note, the current eBook (*.mobi, 2012) version is marred with truly demonic formatting (Kindle version & Kindle-App viewing on iPhone), so consider tracking down a paperback ***

1) Concept: Rogue Blades Entertainment (RBE) delivers what it claims: a sampling of demon stories and adventure. Your chance of finding appealing stories is decent with 28 entries. Chock full of demons, champions, possession, witches, etc.. Kudos to RBE for keeping these tales alive from a 2006 publication (Carnifex Press). The purpose of an anthology is to provide an array of options, allow new readers to explore the genre, allow self-described “veteran readers” identify new authors, and enable reading in small doses (i.e. great for travelling or parents with small children constantly interrupting their activities). “Demons” delivers this.

2) Content
For anthologies, we do not expect to enjoy all entries. We expect to experiment with small doses of new material/authors. For me, three stories that emphasized personal demons (or personal challenges) were outstanding. They stuck with me and are worth rereading:
- Fifteen Breaths - by Phil Emery
- Into Shards - by Murray J.D. Leeder
- Through the Dark – by Darla J. Bowen

Many more were entertaining:
- The Man With the Webbed Throat –by Steve Moody
- Body Guard of the Dead –by C.L. Werner
- The Beast of Lyoness –by Christopher Stires
- The Vengeance of Tibor – by Ron Shiflet
- First League out From Land –by Brian Dolton
- Son of the Rock -by Underwood Laura

The remaining tales were largely more juvenile in content or pacing … or (as a long-time, desensitized fantasy reader) the material did not impact me; however, they should appeal to the younger adult audience or readers making the transition to darker/edgier fiction.

3) Demonic Kindle formatting
Despite feeling an urge to rally behind RBE (or any others who support growing the Dark Fantasy genre), I must highlight that the conversion of this book to the Kindle reader (and its App for the iPhone) was simply terrible. Granted most eBooks have some formatting issues (this book has those too, which many of us are accustomed to overlooking), but an anthology requires a means to navigate to the chapters independently and this has product no means to do so:

(a) No hyperlinked Table of Contents Really. Want to jump to one of the entries just recommended? Want to reread a chapter ? Good luck getting there. There are NO links. This really distracts and diminishes from the experience. Perhaps in a chapter book we could excuse this since it is assumed readers will go through linearly… but not in an anthology!
(b) No titles at the chapter locations Really. Let us imagine that you finally scroll or jump to an approximate %-complete to read an entry and…guess what?…the Chapter Titles are missing! Luckily, the “by author name” was converted, so if you memorize the name you may know when to stop scrolling. With an eBook, you will have little feedback (no page numbers or headers) to guide you.
(c) Indents and returns/breaks for paragraphs are often missing: Really. I was willing to forgive some of this for a while, but too many dialogue scenes were scrolled/wrapped-up into each other.

In short, I recommend hunting down the paperback.

View all my reviews

Sword and Sorcery Group - Goodreads

An earthier sort of fantasy: Sword & Sorcery

Thanks to Goodreads member Periklis for setting up a Sword & Sorcery Group on Goodreads and for sharing the moderator roles with me.  He titled it appropriately as "An earthier sort of fantasy: Sword & Sorcery" - the earthier description is a bit cryptic but is explained on the site.   

Essentially, if you like to read Dark Fantasy you should stop by.   Haven't checked out Goodreads yet?  You should if you like books.  From getting advanced review copies via Giveaways, getting smart phone Apps to scan your books and catalog your library, and enabling you to connect with your favorite authors... Goodreads is the social networking site for book worms of all types (and all over the world; Periklis hails from Greece!).  

This Sword & Sorcery group just started (~Oct 2012) and has already attracted authors such as Howard Andrew Jones and Nathan Long, publishers like Rogue Blades Entertainment, and acclaimed editors like Forrest Aguirre.  

You are invited too! Click here!

An earthier sort of fantasy: Sword & Sorcer...
27 members Books and related material (videos, podcasts & blogposts) about Sword & Sorcery.

View this group on Goodreads »

BLOODSONG: VALKYRIES OF HEL - Bloodsong returns in 2013!

C. Dean Andersson (a.k.a. Asa Drake) authored an entertaining horror/fantasy trilogy about a heroine called Bloodsong in the 1980's. He has been working on a omnibus reboot and a sequel (Valkyries of Hel). Specific dates not revealed yet. My favorite Sword and Sorcery showcases necromancy; a lot of the weird fiction had this in short stories form. The Bloodsong trilogy struck a nice balance of horror and fantasy in a trilogy of novels.  Here is his synopsis of "The Hel Trilogy":

"The "Hel Trilogy" is the first three Sword and Sorcery books of Bloodsong, a Norse warrior woman fighting to save and protect her daughter and folk from evils and threats in Viking Age Scandinavia. The Bloodsong books were reprinted by Hawk Books in 2000 as WARRIOR WITCH, WARRIOR REBEL, and WARRIOR BEAST, all three under my real name, C. Dean Andersson".

Several years ago Andersson told GW Thomas in an interview (link) that he was working on a sequel featuring Bloodsong; the sequel it has yet to officially emerge but it is nice to know that progress has been made Here is his Sept-2012 announcement on Facebook :

"The first three Norse warrior woman Bloodsong novels, in preparation for their ebook omnibus debut, are being enhanced with new and expanded scenes and revised text. The original stories are unchanged, of course, but time is now being spent on them that was not available under publisher deadlines when they were originally written in the pre-Xena 1980s. The cover painting by Boris Vallejo, created for the second Bloodsong novel, shows Bloodsong and her daughter, Guthrun, fighting together against their enemies, and is being used for the omnibus' cover through a new agreement with the artist. Meanwhile, a new Bloodsong novel, Valkyries of Hel, is being written. Altogether now, on three...BLOODSONG LIVES! BLOODSONG AND FREEDOM!"

I am always excited to be able to touch base directly with authors--in this case, it was Facebook. As a giddy fan, I copy our communications...and invite you to track down your favorite authors!

• September 24, 2012
  
  
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  Seth Lindberg Awesome news. Any idea when Valkyries of Hel will be published?

  13 hours ago · Like
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  Bloodsong Freyadis Guthrun's Daughter Seth Lindberg I'm hoping next year sometime...can't be sure yet...still working on the Omnibus enhancements, then have to finish writing Valkyries...but I'm having a blast doing both!

  7 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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  Seth Lindberg The Bloodsong trilogy exhibited a great blend of horror and fantasy that is seldom approached; I anxiously await the Omnibus and Valkyries. For what a fan's enthusiasm is worth, I'd gladly help plug your work when "Valkries of Hel" is ready to share (ie via Goodreads.com, blog post/interview, etc.). Thanks for the details.

  a few seconds ago · Like 1

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  Bloodsong Freyadis Guthrun's DaughterThanks! As I go back through the trilogy, I am amazed myself (in a generally good way) at some of the stuff I'd forgotten was there. But I am seeing things now, between characters or inside a character, that I feel needs bringing into clearer focus, and a character like Jalna in the first one who ended up being important in the second and third ones, is getting extra attention and added scenes. The enthusiasm of fans is everything! Appreciate the offer to plug it etc...any and all help will be appreciated!

  11 hours ago · Like

  
  

Battlepug Review - Shorty made Battlepuggage

Deliberately Silly, Sword & Sorcery Done Right

Mike Norton's Battlepug by Mike Norton; S.E Lindberg rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a Sword & Sorcery fan and pug owner, I read this with great scrutiny. I love both the genre and breed. Truth is, when it comes to dark fantasy, diehards want it delivered one of two ways: 1) seriously done or 2) professionally campy. Many movies appear neither seriously produced nor well done satire (Conan 2011 for instance). This comic does it right. It delivers an entertaining adventure, a well-designed, cheesy story that is really entertaining. Its appeal should extend beyond that of adolescent teens, aging fantasy folk, and pug owners. There is great fun in this book, and there is more to come with Vol.2 in the works. So inspired, I have already begun calling my snorty, over-excitable, comical ball-of-fur "battlepug" when she begins to show her true powers.

Disclosure: As revealed in a previous blog post- (Sword & Sorcery & Pugs link) I own a funny looking pug named Shorty.  Taken by the allure of this book, I submitted a picture of shorty sitting on her sister (cat Sweetie) and was pleased to see that Shorty made Mike Norton's Oct-19-2012's Battlepuggage Post (link).  Here she is, surveying the family room for the cat, unaware that Sweetie is under her!  How better to demonstrate the awesome powers of a Battlepug?

McCrone Group - Micrographia and Holiday Cards

This month (Oct 2012) I had the privilege of touring and speaking at the McCrone Group in Chicago (thanks to Chuck Zona and Kathy Cyr, Hooke College of Applied Sciences Dean and Director of Program Development respectively). Their educational/training branch is aptly named Hooke College in honor of Robert Hooke, the pioneer of mechanics (Hooke's Law) and the "Father of microscopy" (being the author of Micrographia, 1665) .

The visit was an exchange where I discussed "Microrheology of Formulated Consumer Products",  which shares a different perspective on microstructure since their expertise is largely focused on solid, dry particle analysis rather than wet mixtures (lotions, cosmetics, detergents).  Conversely, I was investigating how their services, training, and tools (i.e the McCrone Particle Atlas) could help P&G.

They are setting up a microscope museum and I was able to have a peak at a First Edition, 1665 printing of Micrographia (link is to the interactive online version) being stored in a vault until its case is ready. Don Brooks (CEO) graciously donned white gloves and opened it up for me...even unfolded the "flea" panel. Sweet. As a nerdy microscopist, this was exhilarating. Like looking into the lost ark :) ... but I didn't melt. 

The Group also shares a passion for creating Holiday Cards. Thanks to Christine Gorman (Admissions @ Hooke College) who tracked some of their historic cards down (see below).  I  will have to work microstructure / micrographs into my cards sometime, but not for 2012; this round I stuck to digital painting again.  Keep an eye our for it: this year's theme is faeries.    

All my cards can be found at S E Lindberg - Card Link.  I will again document the design process as I had for the 2011 cherub card.

Historic McCrone Group 

Season's Greetings Cards:

1973: Snowflakes?

Or... Polarized Light of Sodium Bicarbonate?










1988: Christmas Trees?

Or... Rheinburg Illumination of Ammonium Chloride in Water?







1993: Ornamented Pine Boughs?

Or... Fluorescein Crystals?

Ancient Ohio Trail - Real and Virtual Visits of Earthworks

Seip mound Ohio - For scale, see children

Explore Ancient Ohio

Ancient, Native American Indian architecture, made of earth, saturates the Ohio Valley.  Much of it was obliterated by settlers (admittedly, many of the earth mounds were covered in trees and were overlooked; others were removed without respect unfortunately).  That said, much remains. My family visits these sites ~annually; I and wanted to share some of the resources we use to plan day trips for: hiking, exploration, appreciation of past cultures, and inspiration...at places like:

• The stone henge-like Sunwatch Village near Dayton.
• The Great Serpent Mound
• Mound City near Chillicothe
• Fort Ancient.... and many more... 

Ancient Ohio Trail - Online Travel Guide (click!) 

Interactive Tour Guides Link

Many sites have small museums associated with them (Sun Watch and Fort Ancient have very nice ones).  Many others have been incorporated into rest stops (i.e. Seip Mound), parks, or are hidden in plain site within our cities.

Planning a trip was once complex, but now online mapping and conservation efforts have provided interactive tools.  The Ancient Ohio trail tool works great.  Follow the link and select a city or road you want to travel and it will mark out the earthworks and museums. Not sure which ones to go to?  Then check out the below virtual tours enabled in part by the CERHAS (The Center for the Electronic Reconstruction of Historical and Archaeological Sites (CERHAS), part of the University of Cincinnati's Design and Archictecture program.  These are beautiful, realistic tours that have been integrated into the museums.  Check portions of them from their YouTube.com channel:

Youtube Channel Ancient Ohio Trail (click!) 

Ohio Renaissance Fair 2012

Finally attended the Ohio Renaissance Festival (~45min north of Cincinnati), which has been a big hit for many years.  It lived up to its hype.  Tons of crafts, hecklers, music, entertainment…turkey legs being eaten.  And live jousting, of course! In fact, there is a show on the History Channel called "Full Metal Jousting" and many of the participants have roots to Monroe OH and appear here.  Very family friendly, yet still welcomed the die-hard fans who were compelled to dress in full-plate armor, pirate gear, or druid capes.

Their Entertainment Schedule was buried on their site (linked here) and is useful to plan a visit; the schedule is available at the front gate but it is nice to plan your route first. We were particularly interested the crafts and enjoyed watching one blacksmith and glassblower (images below).  Great place to have your fortune read, purchase armor, or buy a nice leather artifacts (leather bound tomes, capes,etc.).

You can even ride camels, horses, get trapped in a maze, throw knives, shoot bows, and even mud wrestle…I think.  See my daughter and wife below pretend to be the archer Katniss from the Hunger Games (image).  Highly recommended autumn fun.