I've actually read 2 of the Hugo nominees so far, I'm just behind on my reviews. This was the last one I read, I'm going to have to think a bit further on Dervish House before I put up a review.
Novel: Feed
Author: Mira Grant
In 2014, an act of eco-terrorism releases an untested cure for the common cold into the atmosphere. Days later, upon coming into contact with an experimental cancer cure it mutates into a highly virulent airborne pathogen. Good news, no more cold, flu or cancer. Bad news, the dead are rising and they aren't happy!
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Monday, 23 May 2011
Seperating from GW
In the war gaming world, Games Workshop have managed to get themselves a lot of publicity for doing what they do best, putting their prices up.
In some ways it can even be seen as an annual event by GW, one that gets us annoyed every time and yet we still keep buying the stuff.
This time, I think they might have gone too far. Pulling a large chunk of the metal line and returning it as resin is ok, but coupling it with a price rise on all the mini's when they are nothing more than the same model in a different material is a bit much. On top of that, a wide ranging price hike on the plastic minitures, as much as 20% in some cases, is that last straw.
In some ways it can even be seen as an annual event by GW, one that gets us annoyed every time and yet we still keep buying the stuff.
This time, I think they might have gone too far. Pulling a large chunk of the metal line and returning it as resin is ok, but coupling it with a price rise on all the mini's when they are nothing more than the same model in a different material is a bit much. On top of that, a wide ranging price hike on the plastic minitures, as much as 20% in some cases, is that last straw.
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Quick Vampire Update
Ok, I have a whole list of posts I'm wanting to make, so hopefully expect to see some interesting reading from me soon.
Until then, a quick update on the Vampire the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition I spoke about a few weeks ago. Well, not only will it be available to those not going to the fancy convention in the US, but its now available to pre order here.
While it is $99 (plus at least $25 for P&P), this is the only way to get hold of it, it will not be released in stores. You have until 1st July to get your order in.
Mines in already :)
Until then, a quick update on the Vampire the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition I spoke about a few weeks ago. Well, not only will it be available to those not going to the fancy convention in the US, but its now available to pre order here.
While it is $99 (plus at least $25 for P&P), this is the only way to get hold of it, it will not be released in stores. You have until 1st July to get your order in.
Mines in already :)
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Kong is dead, Long live Kong!
A bizare title, but those that have been following George R R Martin's struggle to complete his latest book will know what I mean.
Earlier this year he annouced that as well as the TV series (review of the first episode coming soon), Dance for Dragons would be released on the 12th July. The one problem was, he technically hadn't finished writing it!
Yesterday, Martin posted on his Livejournal a picture of a dead King Kong (Kong being the proverbial gorilla on his back the last few years), and a post on the publisher's website (Link) confirms this.
Dance for Dragons is complete!!!
So, now all we have to do is wait for July. Hmm, now do I have enough time with my other reading projects to re-read the series. Only time will tell.
Earlier this year he annouced that as well as the TV series (review of the first episode coming soon), Dance for Dragons would be released on the 12th July. The one problem was, he technically hadn't finished writing it!
Yesterday, Martin posted on his Livejournal a picture of a dead King Kong (Kong being the proverbial gorilla on his back the last few years), and a post on the publisher's website (Link) confirms this.
Dance for Dragons is complete!!!
So, now all we have to do is wait for July. Hmm, now do I have enough time with my other reading projects to re-read the series. Only time will tell.
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
EasterCon and the Hugo Awards
With much trepidation, Cathy and I attended our first genre convention over the Easter weekend.
It was an interesting experience, and I suffered from a serious case of being star struck. I admire authors greatly, and to be in the same room as many who's books I've read and enjoyed was an amazing experience. Perhaps next time I could actually pluck up the courage to speak to some of them!!
Perhaps the best bit though is meeting other people interested in the same things you are. We met some great people, and one of my regrets was that we couldn't spend more time drinking and just chatting to people. Something to improve on for the next one.
I'm sure Cathy will do a much more detailed look back at the entire Con on her blog (6 Impossible Things), so if you are interested wonder over and take a read.
Something that has come out of the experience is that I have realised I am no where near as well read as I thought I was. Obviously outside of SF/Fantasy I'm very poorly read, but I thought I had a better handle within the genre. Over the last 4 days I have been proven very wrong. So, I intend to make an effort to put that right, and a start is the Hugo nominations for this year.
The Hugo awards are almost the Oscars of the SF/Fantasy world. They are awarded each year at WorldCon, and have been going since 1955. At EasterCon, the list of the nominees was announced at the ball on the Sunday. For a full list of the nominations they are available on Renovation's website, Renovation being this years WorldCon being held in Reno, Nevada. (Link Here)
The reason why I realised I was so poorly read was that I didn't recognise any of the nominations for best novel. These are supposed to be the best books in the genre, and I've failed to even notice them. So, I'm on a mission to read them all, and post up some reviews for anyone else who might be interested in them.
For reference, the nominations for best novel are:
Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis
Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Dervish House by Ian McDonald
Feed by Mira Grant
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
I've ordered each from across the Birmingham Library system (which surprised me as well, I wasn't expecting us to have them all!) and I hope to get started soon. Watch out for some interesting reviews coming soon.
It was an interesting experience, and I suffered from a serious case of being star struck. I admire authors greatly, and to be in the same room as many who's books I've read and enjoyed was an amazing experience. Perhaps next time I could actually pluck up the courage to speak to some of them!!
Perhaps the best bit though is meeting other people interested in the same things you are. We met some great people, and one of my regrets was that we couldn't spend more time drinking and just chatting to people. Something to improve on for the next one.
I'm sure Cathy will do a much more detailed look back at the entire Con on her blog (6 Impossible Things), so if you are interested wonder over and take a read.
Something that has come out of the experience is that I have realised I am no where near as well read as I thought I was. Obviously outside of SF/Fantasy I'm very poorly read, but I thought I had a better handle within the genre. Over the last 4 days I have been proven very wrong. So, I intend to make an effort to put that right, and a start is the Hugo nominations for this year.
The Hugo awards are almost the Oscars of the SF/Fantasy world. They are awarded each year at WorldCon, and have been going since 1955. At EasterCon, the list of the nominees was announced at the ball on the Sunday. For a full list of the nominations they are available on Renovation's website, Renovation being this years WorldCon being held in Reno, Nevada. (Link Here)
The reason why I realised I was so poorly read was that I didn't recognise any of the nominations for best novel. These are supposed to be the best books in the genre, and I've failed to even notice them. So, I'm on a mission to read them all, and post up some reviews for anyone else who might be interested in them.
For reference, the nominations for best novel are:
Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis
Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Dervish House by Ian McDonald
Feed by Mira Grant
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
I've ordered each from across the Birmingham Library system (which surprised me as well, I wasn't expecting us to have them all!) and I hope to get started soon. Watch out for some interesting reviews coming soon.
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Tau Update
I'm starting to push getting the Tau sorted as I have less than a month to go.
1 unit of Firewarriors done, 2nd about 50% there.
However, the Pathfinders I have turn out to be terribly molded. Not only is there a silly amount of flash to be cut off, but the arms don't fit without much bending and green stuff. :(
Oh well, onwards we go. Lets hope I can manage to get a decent look out of the Crisis Suits though, so far I haven't achieved the look I want.
1 unit of Firewarriors done, 2nd about 50% there.
However, the Pathfinders I have turn out to be terribly molded. Not only is there a silly amount of flash to be cut off, but the arms don't fit without much bending and green stuff. :(
Oh well, onwards we go. Lets hope I can manage to get a decent look out of the Crisis Suits though, so far I haven't achieved the look I want.
Sunday, 20 March 2011
20th Aniversary Vampire
On Thursday, White Wolf announced they were going to release a 20th Anniversary Edition of Vampire: The Masquerade. The book will be the ultimate rule book for VtM, containing all 13 clans and bloodlines, discipline powers from level one to level nine, full colour art work, updated rules, and an open playtest design where the fans can contribute to the final product.
This sounds amazing. The only problem, currently it is only being offered for sale to attendies of The Grand Masquerade event in Atlanta. While they have commented that it should be available to the rest of the world, they have yet to confirm it.
To me, this is one of the stupidest mistakes White Wolf could have made. Vampire the Masquerade is massively popular, despite there being no new books being printed for it since 2004 when they destroyed the world.
When it was first released Vampire the Masquerade was something new and something very different to the RPGs that were around at the time. It took from the horror of Cthulhu, the grit and edge that stylised the cyberpunk movement, let you play super-powered unearthly heroes, and it was very, very Gothic. V:tM helped push the idea of vampires out of the dark (so to speak) and made them anti-heroes. Without it the entire supernatural genre would simply not be the same.
To limit this 20th Anniversary Edition to those that can make it to Atlanta would be a travesty. I hope that White Wolf reconsider, and make it available via normal distribution methods. The day they announce that, I'll be putting in my pre-order!
This sounds amazing. The only problem, currently it is only being offered for sale to attendies of The Grand Masquerade event in Atlanta. While they have commented that it should be available to the rest of the world, they have yet to confirm it.
To me, this is one of the stupidest mistakes White Wolf could have made. Vampire the Masquerade is massively popular, despite there being no new books being printed for it since 2004 when they destroyed the world.
When it was first released Vampire the Masquerade was something new and something very different to the RPGs that were around at the time. It took from the horror of Cthulhu, the grit and edge that stylised the cyberpunk movement, let you play super-powered unearthly heroes, and it was very, very Gothic. V:tM helped push the idea of vampires out of the dark (so to speak) and made them anti-heroes. Without it the entire supernatural genre would simply not be the same.
To limit this 20th Anniversary Edition to those that can make it to Atlanta would be a travesty. I hope that White Wolf reconsider, and make it available via normal distribution methods. The day they announce that, I'll be putting in my pre-order!
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