Manga Review: Die Wergelder by Hiroaki Samura There’s something weird going on with the isolated island of Ishikunagajima. A decade ago, it was a poverty-stricken backwater inhabited mostly by fishermen and their families. Now it’s a thriving red-light district, despite being a five hour boat trip from Japan. It seems that someone has plowed a… Continue reading Manga Review: Die Wergelder 1
Tag: assassins
Book Review: Infinity Five
Book Review: Infinity Five edited by Robert Hoskins This is the fifth and last (so far as I know) of the Infinity series of science fiction anthologies from Lancer Books. As mentioned in my review of Infinity Two, they’re heavy on the New Wave style of story, free to have sex scenes and rough language (but not yet… Continue reading Book Review: Infinity Five
Manga Review: Akuma no Riddle Volume 1
Manga Review: Akuma no Riddle Volume 1 story by Yun Kouga, art by Sunao Minakata Azuma Tokaku is the star student at Private Academy 17, secretly a school for assassins. As such, she’s being temporarily transferred to Myojo Private School, to participate in Class Black. Supposedly, Class Black is a game disguised as an ordinary homeroom… Continue reading Manga Review: Akuma no Riddle Volume 1
Book Review: Second Street Station
Book Review: Second Street Station by Lawrence H. Levy The “historical mystery” sub-genre is the intersection of the mystery and historical fiction genres. Pick a time period in the past (there’s no minimum gap requirement, but it’s best to pick one far enough back that everyone involved is conveniently dead), research it, stir some… Continue reading Book Review: Second Street Station
Book Review: Ben-Hur
Book Review: Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace Judah of the house of Hur is a handsome and wealthy seventeen-year old Judean, saddened by the death of his father, but still possessed of a wise mother and sweet sister. He’s initially pleased when his Roman friend Messala returns to Jerusalem from several years being educated in Rome.… Continue reading Book Review: Ben-Hur
Book Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Mad
Book Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Mad by E. Randall Floyd American history is full of offbeat people, some downright weird. The author was (like many a lad) fascinated by their stories when he was young. Then he got to interview Erich von Daeniken (Chariots of the Gods) and decided to make writing about… Continue reading Book Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Mad
Book Review: Twin Cities Noir: The Expanded Edition
Book Review: Twin Cities Noir: The Expanded Edition edited by Julie Schaper & Steven Horwitz Like the previously reviewed USA Noir, this is a collection of grittier crime stories from Akashic Books with a regional focus. In this case, the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in Minnesota, and the surrounded metro area, plus one up… Continue reading Book Review: Twin Cities Noir: The Expanded Edition
Manga Review: Assassination Classroom
Manga Review: Assassination Classroom by Yusei Matsui Things are tough for the students of Class 3-E at Kunugigaoka Junior High School. 3-E’s where the elite school sticks all the losers and freaks, the bottom 5% of the student body. Their classes are held in a decrepit outbuilding, they aren’t allowed any extracurricular activities, and the… Continue reading Manga Review: Assassination Classroom
Book Review: Sherlock Holmes: The Crossovers Casebook
Book Review: Sherlock Holmes: The Crossovers Casebook edited by Howard Hopkins One of the fun things about fan fiction is the “crossover.” That’s where two separate fictional worlds are combined in the same story, which is generally impossible in the source material. Having the Enterprise crew battle the Daleks, Sailor Moon teaming up with the Brady… Continue reading Book Review: Sherlock Holmes: The Crossovers Casebook
Comic Book Review: Showcase Presents Super Friends
Comic Book Review: Showcase Presents Super Friends by Various Back in the 1970s, there was a Saturday morning cartoon titled Superfriends. It featured several superheroes from DC Comics,, plus “Junior Super Friends” Wendy and Marvin, trainee superheroes with their pet Wonderdog. Each episode taught valuable life lessons to kids across America. While reruns of the… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Showcase Presents Super Friends