monday night rambling, ramblers.

Listening to Bad Religion while I pay bills and try to accomplish some freelance work.

Reading fantasy manuscript in PDF form on iPad, not so bad, with the multitasking I can jump to notepad, jot some quick notes then transfer my notes to reader report later on.

Oh, now Pearl Jam, I do love the shuffle. ("W.M.A." if you're wondering.)

Not sure if anyone even reads this blog anymore. And hell, I don't blame you, as I am an infrequenaut of blog activity.

I actually started writing a draft blog the other night about how in my world (and my buddy Joe's) when we were kids, Cobra worked with the Empire, storm troopers and Cobra soldiers in AT-ATs, Snake Eyes vs. Vader. Seriously. A Jedi-trained Snake Eyes is nothing to scoff at. (Still saved as draft, I might post some day.)

I particularly liked Firefly working with Boba Fett. My two favorites.

I digress.

Some more book reviews will be posted soon. A few manuscripts I've read recently are close enough to publication to write about them. I'd also like to write a review of a friend's play I saw (full disclosure, it's a friend and I liked it, so it's more of a discussion).

Anyway, I'm stalling. Back to work.

Look ma, no pictures in this post. Who would have thought.

One random commenter on this post will win a copy of book I did some copyediting work on. It's a snappy science fiction collection exclusive to a certain book club where I used to work.

Prove to me you're still out there. Shoot up a flare.

I'll end as Radiohead's "Reckoner" comes on. Nice.

Iron Man Noir by Scott Snyder and Manuel Garcia: a review

Pulp adventurer Tony Stark and his team go on journeys looking for rare artifacts. In his newest trek into the unknown he is seeking an ancient jade mask. Unknown to the rest of the group is his bad heart and the reason why he searches for this mystical item.

That is the core of this reinterpretation of Iron Man in the 30s. What I really liked were the interspersed old magazine covers for: MARVELS: A Magazine of Men's Adventure. The cover gallery alone, a clever way to intertwine pieces of actual Marvel history in this pulp setting. Reminded me of what I liked best about the X-Men: Noir collection, the segments of pulp science fiction novels about a hero known as the Sentinel.

Also, the issue covers (and cover for the trade paperback) illustrated by Mike Fyles drew me in when I initially saw solicitation for the collection, I feel like the below image with blimp would make for an awesome limited edition print.

Of course what tale taking place right before World War II would be complete without nazi involvement, and they weave the Marvel villianry right in with the world's most evil from our own history. Baron Zemo and Baron Strucker, who have been working with a figure from Tony's past, reveal themselves at the real threat and are after the technological advances that Tony seems to be endlessly making.

The combination of story by Scott Snyder and moving illustration work throughout by Garcia made for a good read.

Sadly, I felt the most underwhelming part of the book was the design of the armor itself. I felt that this what if type scenario book, would give the creative team some freedom to come up with an interesting interpretation. Look at how Spider-Man was re-imagined for his noir book, all black with goggles and pistol, that version even wound up in a recent video game as a different costume option. There are actually 3 suits in this book and they all felt like rough interpretations of the Mach I suit made by Tony in the cave in the Iron Man I movie with a helmet inspired by the Ultimates version of Iron Man -- the manga-esque helmet.

The mini-trade paperback was terrific. Extras included the full script of issue #1 by Scott Snyder and concept art and sketches by Manuel Garcia. I was really pleased with that, a small trade, only 5 x 7 inches, and Marvel still remembered to add in some extras.

I still don't get why the Wolverine: Noir book was released as a more expensive full-size hardcover, I guess because Wolverine can still drag in the bucks, although I would have prefered the mini-trade like the X-Men, Spider-Man, Daredevil, and now this Iron Man Noir for a nice little collected spot on my book case. (I'm still holding off on my purchase of the Old Man Logan book because the collection was so expensive, and I read all but the last two issues I believe, talk about torture). I digress.


Overall an enjoyable Marvel noir tale. I wouldn't rate it as high as the Spider-Man, Daredevil or even Wolverine story, but they were real good. If you're a fan of these noir Marvel re-imaginings, it's worth checking out.

Mission Accomplished, Ebook App Released: War in the Pacific

As some of you may know my day job at Gameloft is developing ebook projects. I've been working on adapting War in the Pacific [this is the iTunes link] by Richard Ovary for many months, and was very proud when it was released in iTunes for the iPad last week.

It was great to see some of the early reviews such as: http://stylishipadapps.tumblr.com/post/2793308704/remember-the-war-war-in-the-pacific, it seems the tech world is starting to grasp what we're trying to do. Expand.

Check out this promotional video made by our team at Gameloft made to promote the app.

It was a fun project to bring to the digital world, it was a lot of work, but very satisfying to see the vision come to fruition. Developing ebook apps for the iPad is incredible work, and the possibilities seem limitless.

There is much more to come. Stay tuned.

In the way of blogging.

Hi all! Happy New Year, 2011 is here. Well, many things have gotten in the way of blogging in the latter part of 2010, but I'm not going to sit here and whine about it, instead, I'm going to move right along just like father time...as it keeps ticking.

My day job of developing digital book projects has me working many hours and although much of my commute time had turned into sleeping in bits when able, I also managed to keep the reading going right on into this new year.

The last book of 2010  that I've read goes back a long way. One of the holes in my Stephen King reading has long been the Dark Tower books (gasp, shock! I know), but I'm finally getting around to it. The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger was just the introduction to this western fantasy landscape that I knew it would be. I look forward to continuing with the series, especially the next three books which I've heard many good things about.

I did have a bit of an ass-backward preamble having read many of the Dark Tower comic book tie-ins that Marvel released over the past few years which set up the atmosphere for me and led me right into Rowland's harsh world.

Just wanted to share that bit. I have a few manuscripts to get through before I journey back to the unread shelf in my office, but I plan to be back here reporting on this and that more regularly.

Until next...

The books are piling up...but I'm getting there.

I never did get to that second WFC blog post, did I? Well, life rolls on. And I just returned from Barnes & Noble, in Bayside, where I was picking up some gifts and a few things for myself, of course.

That, and a few books that have come in the mail, and once again, I'm way behind on my reading. Here is what's on the immediate agenda for this reader.

First off I should mention that I'm reading, at the recommendation of my sister, who has taken on a role of a fantasy reader (a new love in addition to her thriller and horror roots), the Jim Butcher Codex Alera series. I purchased on my android phone using the B&N Nook app, and am almost done with book one, The Furies of Calderon. Good pacing, interesting magic system, and a world that is just starting to take shape for me.


And today's B&N purchase included British fantasy author, Joe Abercrombie, and his novel, The Blade Itself, which I've been meaning to pick up since I met the guy at NY Comic Con back in October. Well, I finally have copy in hand and am ready to take plunge. Additional details to come. There are only so many times you can hear from your friends, "Oh, Jay, you'd really like this guy, his stuff is right up your alley."

Next is an interesting near-future, sf thriller I was sent by UK author, John Trevillian, The A-Men. John had sent me a nice email as he saw my blog, and I mentioned I'd check out the book -- and at least mention it here -- so more on this is to come. This series by Trevillian looks promising and I look forward to digging in.

In my attempts to keep literary, I've read so much about Roberto Bolano's 2666, that I finally had to pick up the trade paperback so that I can read and share reading with my wife. When Mediabistro.com's ebooknewster blog put it up as their "free book of the day" and then immediately took it down, I had read a sample then felt obligated to purchase a copy out of respect for the deceased author (currently no digital version of the book is available). Also I was hooked once I started this mammoth and beautifully written novel. I will continue in print and report back much later when I finish it.

Alright, I've sort of updated you all on what I'm reading, and in addition to that I'm editing a wonderful World War II narrative non-fiction book, which I think is going to be really terrific, but that's all I can say about that right now. Stay tuned.

My World Fantasy Con weekend, part I report

Well, I'm back from World Fantasy Con in Columbus, Ohio. I was bummed to miss last year's show in California, but glad to be back. Since I work full-time now, and have a child, getting to conventions is harder than ever, but this one is near and dear to my heart and I'm glad I made it back, to socialize with friends, fantasy publishing industry veterans, and new friends alike.

Being surrounded by so many passionate people left me inspired to find more related freelance editing work, and it also left me with something else... an updated pile of books and authors I have to read. Uh, it also left me severely dehydrated from all the time spent at the bar, but that is where most of the hanging out happens.

I did participate in my first WFC panel, The Art of the Mashup (along with veteran editors Jeff Connor and Jim Frenkel). It was fun to discuss the likes and dislikes, definitions and variations of this popular trend in publishing. Being one of the first panels of the convention, I was pleased with the turnout, the large room filled as people arrived for the weekend. Thanks to the WFC programming staff for letting me be a part of it!

Over the weekend I got a chance to see some folks I hadn't seen since the WFC in Calgary in 2008, like Tim Akers who I was pleased to hear his newest book comes out tomorrow, The Horns of Ruin (which I plan to pick up at lunch on the morrow). I did some copyediting work for Tim's first novel (Heart of Veridon) and am excited for this new series from Pyr.

I also got to meet the proprietors of Subterranean Press, makers of wonderful limited edition hardcovers, novellas, and other interesting projects (it was nice meeting you Bill & Tim). My friend, Peter V. Brett's novella, Brayan's Gold, comes out in limited edition printing in a few months. It's a wonderful new story set in the world of The Warded Man and The Desert Spear. I've read this book, it is great fun, an exciting adventure, and I think fantasy fans everywhere will enjoy it. I should note the beautiful cover was done by illustrator, Lauren K. Cannon. It was great to see her at the con as well.

There was lots more from the weekend, new people I met, other author's I'm excited to read about, and some bloggers worth linking to. I hope to cover the rest of it in a second blog post soon. Stay tuned. But I'll tell you, I have a lot of reading to do.

Congrats to all the winners of the World Fantasy Awards! i09 has the list of winners: here.

Lazy Sunday morning blogging

I know Sunday morning isn't exactly a hotbed of blogging activity. But I am up, just fed little James, and he's playing while I check the Times book review section, and assorted other sites to see what's going on this early Sunday.

Rec'd a copy of The Dark End of the Street yesterday from the good folks at Bloomsbury. I think I received this as part of LibraryThing.com's Early Reader program, so I'll be sure to post my review on there as well as on here. I only just read the Introduction by mystery veteran S.J. Rozan, and will work my way through these noir stories of sex, crime, and, well, whatever else is in there.  


I'm also about half way through The Bloodstained Man, the Heavy Metal Pulp book I mentioned last time. It's fun so far, I hope to have a full report once I finish it.


Just a quick note, enjoy the day.