Books on my reading shelf
In non-writing related news, I had the happy occasion the other day to stumble across the excellent Murder at Wayne Manor, an interactive Batman mystery novel currently residing on my reading shelf. This is a wonderful book, replete with evidence pouches, artwork and a story in which you the reader have to piece together the clues and solve the crime! (But not in a dodgy 'choose your own adventure' way.) I'm only one chapter in so far, as I'm just finishing reading Bad Luck and Trouble by the superb Lee Child (and shall be posting a review soon). Not a lot happening in the Reacher report of late, Mr Child (least ways, I don't seem to be getting much by way of emails on the subject)...
In addition to the murder mystery novel, I've also recently purchased a book on Batman forensics. As a huge fan of the Dark Knight (and, yes, I am bursting with anticipation at the prospect of the movie - five star review on IGN today, I cannot wait) and C.S.I (original, not cheesy Miami or dull New York - missed opportunity on the latter, there, for me), this book is absolutely perfect. Hats off to my good colleague Mr Christian Dunn for recommending it. I shall look forward to reading that too.
What else has graced my reading pallet of late? Well, I had the great privilege in my capacity as Black Library editor to read the first half of Mechanicum by Graham McNeill. I can't say too much about this, and I also don't want the blog to be about my editorial antics, so I'll just say: wow!
Okay, onto more recreational ground, I've just finished off All-Star Batman & Robin by Frank Miller and Jim Lee. For those not in the know, I do like the odd graphic novel now and again (as a huge fan of Batman, how could I not). Jim Lee is one of my favourite artists, having done great work on the two-part Hush series, and Frank Miller really needs no introduction, though I'd have to say his Dark Knight Returns made such an impact on me that I'm still feeling its resonance today. Heroes both, to my mind. The All-Star book was great, stunningly visually with a slightly edgier and even unique approach to depicting the Dark Knight as Miller is so famous for. Roll on volume two, says I.
I already mentioned that I'm reading Bad Luck and Trouble, then I have another Child book to read, Nothing to Lose (along with an excellent mini-book detailing some of the author's rationale in creating the character of Jack Reacher - looking forward to the insights in this). Then I have another of my favourite authors, John Connolly, and his latest novel, The Reapers. I did enjoy his previous offering, The Unquiet, though it was quite a slow burner and densely than a lot of his other books (saying that, it did take me about two years to read The Black Angel, on and off). This one, though, looks like it has all the energy and darkness of the Killing Kind (which I rattled through and disturbed myself greatly) and Every Dead Thing. Fingers crossed that it's as great as I hope. Again, hopefully, a review to follow.
That kind of just leaves The Last Days of Krypton. I got this as a freebie (editorial perk), but I must confess that I had considered buying it anyway. I'm not as big a fan of the Superman mythology but I do dabble and this one intrigued me. Set on Krypton it details all the stuff, the internal politicking, the wars, the noble houses etc, that happened before Superman, before the planet's destruction and even the birth of Kal-El. I have high hopes.
Well, that brings this ramble to an end. Thanks for listening (or not). If nothing else, this spate of blogging has helped me get over my profound annoyance at missing last week's episode of House (which the rather poor Channel 5 don't repeat or make available on their On Demand service - what a modern age we live in...). I can only hope I'll be able to gather up the pieces in this week's finale.
In addition to the murder mystery novel, I've also recently purchased a book on Batman forensics. As a huge fan of the Dark Knight (and, yes, I am bursting with anticipation at the prospect of the movie - five star review on IGN today, I cannot wait) and C.S.I (original, not cheesy Miami or dull New York - missed opportunity on the latter, there, for me), this book is absolutely perfect. Hats off to my good colleague Mr Christian Dunn for recommending it. I shall look forward to reading that too.
What else has graced my reading pallet of late? Well, I had the great privilege in my capacity as Black Library editor to read the first half of Mechanicum by Graham McNeill. I can't say too much about this, and I also don't want the blog to be about my editorial antics, so I'll just say: wow!
Okay, onto more recreational ground, I've just finished off All-Star Batman & Robin by Frank Miller and Jim Lee. For those not in the know, I do like the odd graphic novel now and again (as a huge fan of Batman, how could I not). Jim Lee is one of my favourite artists, having done great work on the two-part Hush series, and Frank Miller really needs no introduction, though I'd have to say his Dark Knight Returns made such an impact on me that I'm still feeling its resonance today. Heroes both, to my mind. The All-Star book was great, stunningly visually with a slightly edgier and even unique approach to depicting the Dark Knight as Miller is so famous for. Roll on volume two, says I.
I already mentioned that I'm reading Bad Luck and Trouble, then I have another Child book to read, Nothing to Lose (along with an excellent mini-book detailing some of the author's rationale in creating the character of Jack Reacher - looking forward to the insights in this). Then I have another of my favourite authors, John Connolly, and his latest novel, The Reapers. I did enjoy his previous offering, The Unquiet, though it was quite a slow burner and densely than a lot of his other books (saying that, it did take me about two years to read The Black Angel, on and off). This one, though, looks like it has all the energy and darkness of the Killing Kind (which I rattled through and disturbed myself greatly) and Every Dead Thing. Fingers crossed that it's as great as I hope. Again, hopefully, a review to follow.
That kind of just leaves The Last Days of Krypton. I got this as a freebie (editorial perk), but I must confess that I had considered buying it anyway. I'm not as big a fan of the Superman mythology but I do dabble and this one intrigued me. Set on Krypton it details all the stuff, the internal politicking, the wars, the noble houses etc, that happened before Superman, before the planet's destruction and even the birth of Kal-El. I have high hopes.
Well, that brings this ramble to an end. Thanks for listening (or not). If nothing else, this spate of blogging has helped me get over my profound annoyance at missing last week's episode of House (which the rather poor Channel 5 don't repeat or make available on their On Demand service - what a modern age we live in...). I can only hope I'll be able to gather up the pieces in this week's finale.
posted by Nick Kyme at
16:52
2 Comments:
Murder at Wayne Manor sounds interesting... and I hope it resolves better than Bruce Wayne: Murderer did (or rather, better than the overall storyline did; that volume in itself was fantastic). I think I'm considerably behind you in Dark Knight materials - I've made promises to myself that one day I'd buy more stuff, like maybe all of No Man's Land, or something, but I've been snared by Peter David's X-Factor, and the Buffy season eight GNs. I did get The Dark Knight Returns fairly recently (thoughts: excellent stuff, I like smart reinvention and the un-retirement of legends, though I felt some changes were unfortunately understated), and I'm as bursting as you re: the movie... tis a good time to be a batfan.
House has been good this season. I can suggest a website from which you could read a transcript of the episode you missed, but they haven't done that episode yet, and obviously it's not as much fun as watching it; I'm in the odd habit of recording episodes on Skyplus even while I'm watching them (pets, siblings, guests, many distractions come through my lounge in the evening) but that's not much help to you where you are. It'll probably be easy to catch up tonight, though. (It's not just Channel 5, though; I think the BBC iPlayer has issues with Heroes.)
My reading has been bouncing a little recently. I fell victim to the 3-for-2 on Pratchett novels at Waterstones a fortnight ago and was halfway through rereading Interesting Times when the latest Doctor Who: Short Trips book fell through the letterbox. Tell George I think he's done a great job with the Fifth Doctor.
Sounds like you have a fair whack to read! I too have a growing pile of books (I think it was 15-odd last time I counted), including a number of Black Library books.
Incidentally, I too have just got into John Connolly via my fiancée and The Book of Lost Things - her favourite read for a while - and I've just managed to pick up, but sadly not read yet, a US copy of Nocturnes (it has a better cover, and I'm odd like that).
And don't knock choose your own adventures! I have many happy memories of being sat in my room deciding whether to go into the jungle or stay on the beach - always with my finger in the last page 'just in case' of course!
I must say all this praise of Lee Child is turning me to try his work out. I might just have to pick up a copy of Killing Floor. You should be on commission...
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