K. J. Parker - Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City

It shouldn't come as a surprise that I'm enamored with K. J. Parker. Not all his work is great, but he has single-handedly established economic fantasy (and yes, I'm going to coin that term). This is an offshoot of the genre, a tall tale of a siege as seen through the eyes of a military engineer trapped in that city and told from his witness perspective (subjective as that may be).

But Orhan, son of Siyyah Doctus Felix Praeclarissimus is not trapped by the city, more so by his own morals, his own interpretation of duties, obligations and maybe even loyalty to people of mutual despise. Shrewd as he is, misguided as he may be, against overwhelming odds none of the 15 established ways of defense are going to work and thus he has to come up with a sixteenth. War and Death forges weird alliances and pushes the ties of friendship to their breaking point with the bad luck of having most of the friends on the other side of the impregnable walls.

Sam Harris: End of Faith (2004)

In a time of unprecedented level of peace, prosperity and individual freedom, the majority of humankind in the 21st century nominally reach back for moral foundations to scriptures written thousands of years ago by scribes of desert-dwelling, xenophobic illiterates following a wrathful and jealous god. Since the dawn of civilization, religion served as much as the engine of war and sadism as a tool of personal guidance and consolation, and almost continuously the main obstacle of scientific progress and human flourishing.

Ed McDonald : Blackwing (The Raven's Mark)

This is the first book of a trilogy, but luckily it holds its own as a standalone book as well. It is filled with grit, like he Misery is filled with sand and hope is scarce just like joy is in the same place. A book which manages to resemble Glenn Cook's Black Company in so many ways: the mood, the tone, the morale. Because you get a bunch of cutthroats who are stuck between a rock and a hard place and against all odds they still try their damnedest just to spite everybody to the bitter end. Captain Ryhalt Galharrow loathes the cream (i.e. the nobility), hates the Drudge and despises himself most of all. Nenn is a shewolf who more than equals Ryhalt in swordplay and the hate of nobility, while Tnota is just a gay dude who wants to find joy where others perceive none to be had. Under the threat of the horror of Darlings, Gillings and all the rest, under the screaming sky of the Misery our "heroes" have to face the ancient Deep Kings with the much needed but truly unwelcome help of the Nameless. To help them get through that they have camaraderie and a dash of black humor. Not much, is it?

Triple Frontier

I can't say enough good things about this movie - the deepest "action" movie I've seen in years. An extremely talented director, great music (hell, we start with Metallica's For Whom The Bell Tolls), exceptional photography and a very good cast of actors. It is really nice to see Charlie Hunnam pulling off a great performance after Sons of Anarchy, Ben Affleck proves that he has not forgotten his act and Pedro Pascal shows that he is much more than a series guy.

Charles Soule: Darth Vader (2017-2019)

Charles Soule's 25-part run picks up the story where Star Wars: Episode III left off. Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One, has fallen. The Dark side consumed his soul, and Obi-Wan Kenobi left his wreckage of a body on the burning planet of Mustafar to die. But Emperor Palpatine retrieved him and gave him a new cybernetic body and a purpose. His new un-life starts with his first task to lead a group of fallen Jedis, the Inquisitorius, to hunt and kill the remaining Jedis who survived the purge.

Zachary Mason: Void Star

It is exceedingly rare to find a good cyberpunk novel. It is even more rare to find an exceptional one like this one. Don't get me wrong, it is not without flaws, but it has everything this genre needs. A cyberpunk society that the reader wants to devour and understand page-by-page. Characters of intertwined fate from all walks of life. The threat of violence brimming just under the surface (and yes, eventually surfacing).

What this book has in addition is paying hommage to the classics of William Gibson. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the novel are the favelas (and one I desperately hope the author will further explore in future novels) reflect Gibson's Bridge while the plot itself is an artful spin on Johnny Mnemonic.

The Devil Makes Three

I wouldn't be able to tell you what sort of music this band plays. I guess it's bluegrass, but quite frankly their style has changed a lot across albums. Hell, it's a small miracle that the band still exists considering the rather storied friendship of the members moving all over the US and whatnot.

To me it's feel-good music - the kind that makes you tap your feet. It's compounded by lyrics that are somewhat sorrow - imagine saying all be damned we'll have fun anyway.

Anyway, I'm not a writer for the Rolling Stone magazine. Have a listen and decide for yourself.