"Sword Woman" available next Tuesday 01/25/2011

Sword Woman and Other Historical Adventures

From the Amazon website:

The immortal legacy of Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan the Cimmerian, continues with this latest compendium of Howard’s fiction and poetry. These adventures, set in medieval-era Europe and the Near East, are among the most gripping Howard ever wrote, full of pageantry, romance, and battle scenes worthy of Tolstoy himself. Most of all, they feature some of Howard’s most unusual and memorable characters, including Cormac FitzGeoffrey, a half-Irish, half-Norman man of war who follows Richard the Lion-hearted to twelfth-century Palestine—or, as it was known to the Crusaders, Outremer; Diego de Guzman, a Spaniard who visits Cairo in the guise of a Muslim on a mission of revenge; and the legendary sword woman Dark Agnès, who, faced with an arranged marriage to a brutal husband in sixteenth-century France, cuts the ceremony short with a dagger thrust and flees to forge a new identity on the battlefield.

Lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist John Watkiss and featuring miscellanea, informative essays, and a fascinating introduction by acclaimed historical author Scott Oden, Sword Woman and Other Historical Adventures is a must-have for every fan of Robert E. Howard, who, in a career spanning just twelve years, won a place in the pantheon of great American writers.

In the immortal words of Al Pacino "Say hello to my little friend"

I bought a Kindle a few weeks ago and I'm loving it. It's very light and really does read like a book.
I opted out of all the accessories and found my own case ( I use a Swiss Army brand passport holder).
 Being the big pulp geek that I am I have mine filled with Burroughs, Howard, Lovecraft, Mundy, Lamb, and Doyle. I found most of the titles I have loaded for either under $2.00 or free. 
If your Google Fu is strong and your ethics weak you can also find all kinds of goodies on the Internets (all praise to Al Gore) and format them very nicely with Calibre E-book management software. So far I've found everything from the complete collection of Doc Savage paperbacks

to those books your uncle kept in his old Army footlocker in the closet.

Kindle can "kind of" surf the web and it can "sort of" read PDF's, but it really wasn't made for that. You could shoehorn it to do both, but it doesn't do either real well. If that what you really want then get an iPad and be done with it. 
My buddy Karl has an iPad and he loves it. iPads can do everything a Kindle can do, plus play movies, surf the web in color, write emails, and read PDF games and comic books. 
But thats the thing - When I get my iPad (and I will) I'll be using it for all that other stuff and I'll never just sit and read a book. The Kindle does one thing and does it real well- it stores a ton of books in a light, slim, easy to read format that you can take anywhere. I'm sure that even when I do get my i Pad I'll still be bringing my Kindle along for serious reading.

It's Pulptastic here at the Lair lately

We have been in full on Pulp mode here at the Lair. I've been working on Dicey Tales, and  reading A. Merritt's  Seven Footprints to Satan. 

The Minions have been watching the Tailspin DVD collection (Costco has it for $8.99) , and we are all awaiting our Amazon order of the Tales of the Gold Monkey DVD set.  


I also ordered a cool looking book called The Rook.  It isn't The Rook from the old Warren magazines, but it looks interesting just the same. 
Ron Fortier recommended it, so thats good enough for me.

Today was another great Goodwill day.

the copy I picked up today for $2.49 looks just like this.
Otis Albert Kline
First Edition, 1929


Planet of Peril
From Amazon
Derring-do on a world of primitive monsters!
When Robert Grandon swapped bodies with a prince of the planet Venus, he was concerned only with the thrill and interest of living on a different world. But the situation he found himself in was hardly that of a leisurely sightseer. Instead, he found himself smack in the center of a whirlwind of intrigue, danger, and desperation.
Planet of Peril is a science-fiction adventure on a world of semi-barbaric nations, ferocious beasts, gigantic reptiles, and maidens in distress!

I also found the second book of the Crusader stories, I've had book one for the longest time. but have been waiting to get this one before I started the series.  Woo Hoo!

 

And finally, I snagged & VHS tapes of MST3K for a buck a piece.

The Misplaced paperback

I've had this book for a very long time (23 years to be exact). I bought it brand new in 1987.  I started to read it but I was distracted by something or other and just never got back to it.  Over the years I've spotted it as I moved, sorted, and re-sorted my books. I added neighbors to it- other books by Turtledove like Agent of Byzantium (which I enjoyed), the Worldwar series (which I enjoyed at first but then became bored with), and Conan of Venarium (which I absolutely hated). 

But I never returned to The Misplaced Legion. Until yesterday. This is a damn good book.  Good enough that I ordered the second book from Paperbackswap today. 

Turtledove's style doesn't fire my blood like Gemmell does but he is a scholar of Byzantine history and can mix his expertise with his prose very well. 

lending books

To many people books are just paper and ink, but to a book-lover they are much more. Here are a few things I've learned about lending books.


First off NEVER lend a book to a friend. 
If you really want them to read something you think they would enjoy, just buy them the damn book or give them your copy. Lending a book and not having it returned puts a real strain on a friendship. 


Treat books correctly, especially if it belongs to someone else.  I get a lot of my books at the local Goodwill stores, and I cringe when I see the way the clerks throw books into huge bins as they clear space for new titles. 


If a friend lends you a book, try to read at least one or two chapters, even if it doesn't interest you in the least, do it for your friendship. Then you can honestly return it and say you tried to get into it but it just wasn't working for you, your friend will most likely understand and will appreciate the fact that you at least made the effort. 


If you do lend a book to a friend don't get all "Butthurt" (as my son would say), if they don't like it. Not everyone can sit and giggle maniacally through the Flashman series. Anyway its their loss.


And because I always like to put pictures in my posts, here are some books I recently scored on Paperbackswap-

Today was a great Goodwill day!

I did the Goodwill thing today and I happened along quite a few treasures.


First off, to add to my vintage TSR collection we have Hunt for Red October. Has anyone played this? any opinion on it? I bought it simply for the fact that it was a TSR product.

I picked up the Dragonstrike game for the same reason. However this one didn't have the VHS cassette in it.  Still for the price it's worth it for the miniatures and fixin's

Now this one made me do a double take when I saw it on the shelves. I was gonna pass but then I noticed it was only .99 cents. Hell for ninety nine cents I figured it was worth it even as a joke present (it was unopened and still in the cellophane). Imagine my surprise when I got it home and read up on the history of this bad boy. In fact, it's listed on Google as selling anywhere from $50-$200 bucks.  Like I said, today was a great Goodwill day.

Then I ran across this set of Battlestar Galactica paperbacks- now I dont read this series myself but I was willing to bet there was a fan boy over at Paperbackswap who would scoop these up, thereby earning me some credits. I was right these were spoken for within 15 minutes of posting them there. The Han Solo book is for me.

Here is a Frankenstein anthology. the deal maker for picking up this big boy is a short story by Karl Edward Wagner is included. Sold!

I had no idea that Hustler Magazine even had a paperback book publishing arm. Of course it's naughty Sci Fi, what other type do you think Hustler would publish?  But hey, for the oddness factor it was worth $1.50

All the rest of these are just great buys!

Paperback Swap - It works!

A few weeks ago I heard about this service. It's all on the honor system. You post all your old paperbacks at this online site and you can trade them straight across with other folks who have paperbacks to swap. I've been using it for the last few weeks and so far it has worked like a charm! I cant recommend it enough.  it kind of works like this:

I have an extra copy of Conan the Conquerer. 

I post it on the paperbackswap database.

someone, somewhere who is looking for a copy of Conan the Conquerer sends me a request for it through the paperback swap database.

I send him the book (I pay Postage). 

I then get a "Credit" to use when I see a book on thier database that I want.

I see that someone has "King Kull" up on the database. I use my credit to order it. it is sent to me (sender always pays postage).

Give PaperBackSwap a try. and if you do try it tell them "Boojiesdad" is your referrer, I get credits for spreading the word.

Click here

Perry Rhodan-Who knew??

Perry Rhodan.

I found volumes 1-22 at Goodwill the other day at $1.00 a piece.

I'll be honest, I always passed these by while hunting around the Sci-Fi section during my used book hunts. But for some reason these sung out to me to be rescued.

These particular books I found are in wonderful condition-they've been lovingly cared for, up until the moment someone tossed them in donation bin at Goodwill.

But fear not- they have found a home.

I suppose all these years I must have just been ignorant, because as I sit here and look at these wonderfully evocative Space pulp covers, I think- "Why the hell hasn't anyone done a pulp style RPG treatment of these books?"

Or have they? If so please enlighten me.

they just about scream Star Frontiers campaign! I mean just look at some of these...

I'm reading through the first one right now. I'll be honest, it's a bit stilted in parts. But I'm attributing that to the translation from German to English. They are in no way bad though, especially since I'm reading them with my "Pulp Gamer" glasses on.

In any event I've committed myself to reading at least the first four or five, and then we'll see what happens. Don't be surprised if some of these Perry Rhodan creatures and aliens make thier way into Hador in some fashion or other.

****Edit***

Hey I just found a German site that offers a free PDF of their Perry Rhodan RPG. I think it's a rules lite PDF, and its all in German. But its still cool to look at.

Issue #12 of Paperback Fanatic is out!

In this age of the internets there are few publications I buy regularly, Paperback Fanatic is one of those exceptions. Every issue is packed full of information for the paperback collector. The latest issue is out. Go have a look.

Paperback search

As you guys know I'm a bit of a pulp-fiction paperback fanatic. I'm having a helluva time closing up a couple of gaps in my collection.

Here are a couple of titles causing me grief.

I have the first three of the Falcon series but #4 is eluding me.

I'm also looking for any of the Wolfs head series. I have a battered and torn copy of #3 but If I should run across a better one I'll take it.



I've checked all the regular places E-bay, Amazon, several used book finding engines. But either its a no-go or they are too damned expensive. I collect to read not to put them in little plastic bags, so spending $25.00 for a used book is not gonna happen.

So if any of you guys have a an extra copy of any of these that you would be willing to let go for a decent price (like under $10.00) let me know.

The improbable adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Rob Rogers - a "Friend of the Lair" and the Author of "Devil's Cape" Has been included in an anthology of Sherlock Holmes tales. I'll be picking it up this week.
You should too. Get more information from the man himself at his Blog.

Used Bookstore score of the day: Casca!

I'm an admitted fan of pulp fiction. from the classic adventure stories of Louis L'Amour to the "Adult Western" adventures of Captain Gringo. Today I happened upon a coup that only another pulp paperback aficionado could appreciate:
The first four books in the Casca series by Barry Sadler. The Casca series chronicles the adventures of Casca Rufio Longinus A simple Roman Legionnaire who had the misfortune to draw guard duty during the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

In Sadler's version of the legend, Casca's only concern that day was getting together with a wine shop wench for a little fun after he was relieved at guard duty. Thinking to put and end to his charges misery and get off work early he stabbed Christ with his spear, trying to put a quick end to it all. Jesus was not amused and cursed the legionnaire to eternal life, eternal life as a soldier always going from one battle to another, never knowing peace, until Christ's return.

Each book in the series tells the story of Casca as he lives and fights through the ages. The Casca books are quick, fun reads packed with action and a surprising amount of detail. During the 80's and 90's the books were easy to get, but as the years go by they are becoming a rare find at the local bookstores. If any of you guys run across them, they are definitely worth the read.

want to read a little more about Barry Sadler and the Casca series?
check out these links:
http://www.swordandsorcery.org/swordsmen-casca.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casca_(series)

Finally off the shelf- Stormfront: Book one of the Dresden files

Stormfront by Jim Butcher, has been sitting on my shelf for a couple of years now. No particular reason, I just hadn't gotten around to it yet. There was a time when I was really into supernatural thrillers / detective mysteries. I was a rabid fan of the Anita Blake novels until four books into the series, Laurel Hamilton, the author did a 180 with the character and turned her from a kick ass vampire slayer to a suck ass vampire groupie. After that disappointment I left the genre.
Still, I picked up Stormfront at the recommendation of a friend who has my likes pretty well dialed in. I've spent the last couple of days reading Stormfront and I really enjoyed it. Harry Dresden is a modern day Wizard in a world that mirrors ours but is more in tune with the supernatural.

Dresden works as a "consultant" for both the police and private individuals. The character of Dresden and his universe are interesting and well thought out. There are lawful practitioners of magic, chaotic practitioners, and a whole lot of in between. Parts of the story were reminiscent of author Simon Greens work, other parts reminded me of the movie Mystery Men, in that the main character Harry Dresden spends a lot of the story getting his ass kicked. But he never gives up. I caught an episode of the TV series on Hulu as well, and while it differs from the book, I found it enjoyable, too bad it lasted only one season.

All in all a definite recommendation from the Lair. I'll be picking up more of the Dresden file stories and adding them to my immediate reading stack.

Gabriel Hunt

Well, I'm Reading the first Gabriel Hunt book. I'm really sorry to say I'm not particularly wowed by it so far. My first major disappointment with the book is when I found out several pages in that it's set in the modern world. I had mistakenly assumed that the series would be taking place in the 1930's or maybe even the post WWII era. The only thing that is even remotely "pulpy" is the fact that the hero uses a .45 revolver. Other than that it reads like a contemporary adventure story Ala James Rollins or Matthew Reilly. Maybe it will grow on me in the upcoming chapters but right now I'm just not feeling it.

Gabriel Hunt is out!

I just picked up the new Gabriel Hunt book. It's the first in what I hope is a long and exciting series. *fingers crossed*

I'll be reading Gabriel Hunt: At the Well of Eternity next, right after I finish up the last book in the Destroyermen series (reading it now).

I'll post my thoughts about it real soon.

The Destroyermen

There are books you read, books you plod through, and books you consume.  At the moment I'm consuming the Destroyermen series of books by Taylor Anderson. The story is about a US Navy Destroyer-USS Walker- that heads into a large storm to avoid being sunk by a Japanese Cruiser during a battle in the South Pacific during WWII. After successfully riding out the storm they find themselves in a parallel world almost identical to Earth, with the main exception being that Man never evolved, but other creatures have.

The Destroyermen series is a great read - with interesting characters, vivid battle scenes and a loving amount of attention paid to detail and historical accuracy.

Funny thing is, in the next Product from Evil DM Productions, The Lost World of Hador there is a group of sailors from a Japanese courier ship from the Russo/Japanese War of 1904 who were lost in a storm and landed on Hador. Great minds think alike.