I don't like everything I read, and if it's really bad, I don't finish it. Here's the latest set of books I've read, in no particular order.
Trade Paperbacks
I'm very fond of the old, silver age comics so I look for the compilations that the 2 big publishers put out. DC calls theirs "Showcase Presents" and Marvel calls theirs "Essentials". They run about $17, but the older ones run to 500 pages, or approximately 20 issues. I try to buy them when I have a coupon from Borders who stocks a lot of them but their supply is limited. I recently found a comic book store near me and they had quite a few so we'll see what happens in the future.
"Showcase Presents: Green Lantern #4" (issues 60 to 75, April 1968 to March 1970, writers Gordon Fox and Denny O'Neil etc., artists Gil Kane etc.)
Gotta say I was disappointed. When these started, GL was established and yet most of the villains in the book are common, everyday 1950s thugs. Sure there were a few space adventures, and a Sinestro appearance, but come on....GL is probably the second most powerful guy in the DCU and his stories should reflect this.
"Showcase Presents: The Flash #1" (Flash #104, Showcase#4, 8, 13, 14, Flash #105 to 119, February 1949 to March 1961, writers Robert Kanigher and John Broome, artist Carmine Infantino)
This is what I'm talking about. This collection starts with the last golden age Flash (Jay Garrick) story then carries on through the introduction of the silver age Flash (Barry Allen). You can find the introduction of many of the Flash Rogues gallery of villains, and see Flash use his knowledge as a scientist to get him out of tight spots. Thoroughly enjoyed this.
Miscellaneous
"Cross Bones" - Kathy Reichs (459 pages, $9.99/$.50 at the library, copyright 2005)
I'm a big fan of the TV series "Bones" and this is one of the series of books that it's based on. This particular one starts with a murder in Montreal and leads to tombs in Israel that may cause religious problems. I was disappointed to learn that most of what makes the show fun for me is not part of the series. The Jeffersonian and the lab crew of "squints" don't exist in the series (at least not in this book) and Temperance's back story is different. Also, it took place partially in Montreal. Who cares about Montreal? Not bad, but disappointing. What it was missing sort of colored my opinion of it.
"Good Omens" - Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (367 pages, $6.99/$.50 at the library, copyright 1990)
In a nut shell, this is the story of Armageddon (you know, the end of the world, heaven versus hell) as told by a couple of irreverent, humorous English writers. The action takes place in England but fortunately they include footnotes to explain some of the more obscure English references, and these are almost as funny as the rest of the book. Enjoyed it very much.
"The Man Who Tried to Get Away" - Stephen Donaldson (357 pages, $7.99/$.50 in the library, copyright 1990)
Donaldson, at least to me, is more popularly known as the author of the Thomas Covenant series of fantasies. In those, the main character has leprosy, and the main conflict, played out in a fantasy world is balanced on his inner struggle to accept his fate. This book appears to be part of another series centering on a PI named Axbrewster. Most of it involves his struggle with his feelings of inadequacies, and his past as an alcoholic. It's a locked room, people trapped in a snow-bound cabin kind of thing. I figured out part of it early on, which normally doesn't detract from the enjoyment. But, I found his constant defeatism to be dragging down the story. I was disappointed, because I did like the Covenant books, but it was a long time ago that I read them. Somethings changed.
See you next time.
