Monthly Archives: July 2018

Six-Gun Tarot is a First Rate Genre-Bender

Posted on July 31, 2018 by

R.S. Belcher’s The Six-Gun Tarot is a great novel hampered by a classic first novel problem—it is too ambitious and tries to do far too much.  For a single novel checking in at under 400 pages, Belcher draws in elements … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Fantasy | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Tolkien 101: A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War by Joseph Loconte

Posted on July 26, 2018 by

Joseph Loconte’s book may not have the erudition of the work of a Tom Shippey or a John D. Rateliff, but A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War may be my favorite work on nonfiction on Tolkien.  It is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Throwback SF | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Of Librarians, Guardians, and Gatekeepers

Posted on July 24, 2018 by

Here at Every Day Should Be Tuesday I have a little tradition.  Every Monday night I put my daughter to bed, pour myself a drink, think about finally writing my review of Brandon Sanderson’s Oathbringer, and then write something else … Continue reading →

Posted in Sundry | Tagged | 6 Comments

Tolkien 101: War in Middle Earth Computer Game

Posted on July 19, 2018 by

The work of J.R.R. Tolkien managed to produce one of my three favorite strategy games of all-time—1988’s War in Middle Earth (the other two are Fantasy Empires (1993) and Sword of the Samurai (1989)).  I burned many, many hours playing … Continue reading →

Posted in Fantasy, Sundry | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Why I Will Be Tagging Authors in my Reviews

Posted on July 17, 2018 by

A frequent admonition is circulated around Twitter: Don’t tag authors in Tweets linking to negative reviews.  I have boosted the signal for that message myself, and on more than one occasion.  But you know what?  That’s bullshit.  I’m through giving … Continue reading →

Posted in Sundry | Tagged | 27 Comments

Music Monday: The Last of My Kind by Jason Isbell

Posted on July 16, 2018 by

Originally posted on Hillbilly Highways:
I know I could have gone with the better known song, Elephant.  Believe me, I’ll get to it.  But this is the one that gives me a pain down deep in my gut (like Tim…

Posted in Sundry | Tagged | Leave a comment

Tolkien 101: The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings by Philip and Carol Zaleski

Posted on July 12, 2018 by

At some point even a “101” look at Tolkien has to consider the other Inklings.  I had read both the fiction and nonfiction of C.S. Lewis, but The Fellowship was the first book I read to really cover the other … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Throwback SF | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Country Noir: The Girl From Blind River by Gale Massey

Posted on July 11, 2018 by

Originally posted on Hillbilly Highways:
Finally, a book that weren’t published years ago!  The Girl From Blind River just came out yesterday, but I got my grimy hands on a review copy. Jamie has got problems.  She is stuck in…

Posted in Sundry | Tagged | Leave a comment

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I’ve Read in 2018

Posted on July 10, 2018 by

I can’t say it has been a great reading year thus far.  Sadly, I haven’t read that much.  I have only finished 31 books so far this year.  And, while few of those books have been bad or average, even … Continue reading →

Posted in Sundry | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Music Monday: Shreveport by Turnpike Troubadours

Posted on July 9, 2018 by

Originally posted on Hillbilly Highways:
I’m going to avoid going heavy again this week.  It occurs to me, given I use “Texas country” right in the blog name, that I have been neglected actual Texas country.  What could be more…

Posted in Sundry | Tagged | 4 Comments