Reporting in, Sir...

Let's see what I've been up to since we last spoke. Well, first I broke down and bought the the 3rd volume of The Walking Dead. Amazing, I'm even more psyched for the AMC television series if it is possible. Trying to control myself, and borrow someone's copies of volume 4 on, but I might not last. I need to have it. 


I also picked up Stieg Larsson's book one of the Millennium trilogy, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Not always one to read what everyone else is reading, I felt I needed to know what the fuss was all about. I was surprised at how dark the book was, I wasn't expecting that. I can admit it when I'm impressed, and I was sucked into the story. I feel the saddest part is that the poor author died soon after submitting all 3 books. I will be picking up the rest of the series at some point.

I hear The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins is very good, I may pick up a copy of that soon. Also, a friend gave me a copy of The Bloodstained Man ARC (advanced reading copy) from Tor books, part of their new Heavy Metal Pulp line of novels. I think it's a cool idea, and even the ARC has rough sketches and panel artwork to compliment the text. Nice. I'll report back on that.


At this past weekend's NY Comic Con, I picked up a few more books. First I got to meet the co-writing team behind  Havemercy, which Ballantine Books was giving out copies of the mass market paperback edition. I had read this fantasy novel in manuscript form a few years back, and I was happy to see Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett carrying on with the series (since then, Shadow Magic the 2nd in their series published in 2009 and a third in the series, Dragon Soul was released in June of 2010). They were super nice and it was great to meet them.
 

At the Tor Books booth, I picked up a copy of Dan Wells' I am Not a Serial Killer. This dark thriller looks like an exciting read, and I'm looking forward to getting right into it. Soon. Patience, young Jedi.

Also, even at Comic Con, I find a military history author, whose name I knew well from my time as Editor of MBC. Dwight Jon Zimmerman and artist Wayne Vansant were in Artists' Alley, and I introduced myself and talked shop with them both. Dwight was nice enough to sign me a copy of his fantastic book about America's special forces, Beyond Hell and Back. Glad to finally meet those guys, I have lots of respect for their work.

I also got a chance to meet and have a few drinks with UK fantasy writer Joe Abercrombie, along with fellow hombres, the writers Peter V. Brett & Myke Cole. I've only heard many good things about Joe's work, and now after meeting the bastard, I can't help but like the guy and simply must read his work. I have no excuse really. 

Well, that's enough for tonight on this not-so-regular blog. As always, I'll report in soon, when able. Until then, reporting from the field will continue.