Blood Noir (Anita Blake) Review
By Flames | May 22, 2008
You can outline a story beforehand or write it by the seat of your pants. It’s clear the author wrote Blood Noir the latter way, and not just because I know the backstory. Like Micah, this was originally going to be a novella, until something more developed. And it shows. Not only that, but I would’ve really enjoyed this had it been a novella and not this.
Jason Schuyler has never got along with his father, who is now dying of cancer. But now he has to go home to Asheville and say goodbye. And he’s traumatised enough that he’s bringing Anita Blake with him.
Review by Tez Miller
Topics: Fiction Reviews | No Comments »
Interview with Ed Wetterman and Preston DuBose at 12 to Midnight
By Matt-M-McElroy | May 21, 2008
12 to Midnight publishes modern horror roleplaying games and accessories.
In this interview Ed Wetterman and Preston DuBose take us on a tour of Pinebox and then they explain a little bit about the design process that went into the new Steamworks d20 fantasy book.
We also get to hear about why 12 to Midnight likes the Savage Worlds system and get some details on the first ever Midnight Charity Project.
Topics: Interviews | No Comments »
Feast of Fools Review
By Flames | May 21, 2008
For any of you who were frustrated or disappointed with Midnight Alley (Book Three), you’re in for a treat with Feast of Fools. Feast of Fools takes all that we learned or thought we learned from Midnight Alley and puts it all together in a very entertaining package. I could not put Feast of Fools down, and there aren’t a lot of books that I’ve read lately that I can say that about.
There is a level of tension in the Morganville books that keeps you on the edge of your seat, even in the background scenes you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. And it always does. Rachel Caine abuses her characters like a pro, and she doesn’t shirk because these are YA books. Claire and her friends go through hell just trying to survive in Morganville.
Review by Jenn Moffatt.
Topics: Fiction Reviews | No Comments »
Ghostories Enhancement Pack Now Available!
By Matt-M-McElroy | May 20, 2008
The Ghostories Enhancement Pack contains new material for use with the Ghostories Core eBook.
The Pack includes new roles (expressive artist, martial artist, and new age monk), new character and creature gimmicks, a new pursuit (meditation/mystics), new horror classifications (brownies, liches, lost souls, skin walkers, and trolls), a full-length adventure, and six sample characters.
Publisher: Precis Intermedia
Authors: Brett M. Bernstein, Peter C. Spahn and Matt McElroy
The Ghostories Enhancement Pack is available at RPGNow.com.
Topics: Horror News | No Comments »
Hunter: the Vigil “Endowments”
By Matt-M-McElroy | May 20, 2008
We’ve talked about Light in Shadows as the theme of Hunter: the Vigil and we’ve looked at one of the Professions featured in the upcoming game.
Yet the question remains…how do they hunt the monsters of the World of Darkness?
Anyone can grab a gun and start blasting away, but is that enough to destroy a vampire or werewolf? What good are bullets against a ghost?
Topics: Resources | 1 Comment »
WotC to Co-Sponsor Gen Con Indy 2008
By Flames | May 19, 2008
Gen Con is pleased to announce that once again Wizards of the Coast, will be a co-sponsor of Gen Con Indy. Fans of all ages come to Gen Con each year to see and experience the latest in analog and digital gaming, and Wizards’ participation is a highlight for many fans. This year, Wizards of the Coast will be showing off their latest offerings, including the release of Dungeons & Dragons® 4th Edition.
“We are so pleased to have Wizards of the Coast once again be a sponsor of Gen Con. Its long history with the show, as well as the popularity of its products makes it an integral part of the entire Gen Con experience,” said Adrian Swartout, president of Gen Con.
Topics: Horror News | 1 Comment »
Biting the Bullet Review
By Flames | May 19, 2008
Finally, Jaz Parks goes where those in the CIA usually go: overseas. From Florida and Texas respectively in the first and second novels, the spotlight is now on Iran…as well as hell.
Jaz’s twin Dave is part of a CIA special ops squad, whose big target is the Wizard, whereas Jaz’s team’s enemy is the Raptor. Here’s where I don’t quite follow – why the two squads come together, and how the Wizard and the Raptor are linked. The Raptor is part of the series arc, but the Wizard may only be in this episode.
Review by Tez Miller
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David Dunwoody’s new free serial novel THE HARVEST CYCLE begins!
By Flames | May 18, 2008
In 2062, the Year of the Fiftieth Harvest, a Man confined to the sewers, tunnels and caverns of the underworld will venture above ground, into the cities-turned-wilderness left behind after the apocalypse, in a last bid to stop the alien Harvesters and the terrible Other Gods working their puppet-strings.
Only a few things stand in the way of our brave dreamers. First are the Harvesters themselves, who arbitrarily rise from the depths of the ocean to reap humankind; second are the synths, our own robot companions, who now believe that we are better off dead in this new world; third are those men who believe that they can stave off the Harvesters by extracting the human soul and condemning Man to a life without dreams.
This is the new apocalypse. This is the Harvest Cycle.
Start reading The Harvest Cycle here!
Look for more David Dunwoody tales at the Undead Shopping Extravaganza.
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Pre-Order The Cthulhu Mythos Encyclopedia
By Flames | May 16, 2008
Elder Signs Press is excited to announce the title The Cthulhu Mythos Encyclopedia by Daniel Harms, available in summer 2008.
This is the third edition of his popular and extensive encyclopedia of the Cthulhu Mythos. Updated with more fiction listings and recent material, this unique book spans the years of H.P. Lovecraft’s influence in culture, entertainment, and fiction. The voluminous entries make The Cthulhu Mythos Encyclopedia invaluable for anyone knowledgeable about the Cthulhu Mythos and necessary for those longing to learn about the Cosmic Horrors from past and present decades.
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Another One Bites the Dust Review
By Flames | May 16, 2008
With characters working for the CIA, this series is ripe for social commentary on what it means to work for the government, and how to deal with conflicts between their ideals and yours. Unfortunately, the author hasn’t picked up this golden opportunity to create fiction that would really resonate with readers. And I think this is why I’m not connecting with this series ?
It isn’t doing what it could.
Review by Tez Miller
Topics: Fiction Reviews | No Comments »
Delta Green: Targets of Opportunity
By Flames | May 15, 2008
Arc Dream Publishing and Pagan Publishing are working together again to produce a new collection of terrors for Delta Green.
Last year, Arc Dream and Pagan Publishing produced the long-awaited Delta Green: Eyes Only, a gorgeous hardcover sourcebook for Pagan’s award-winning Delta Green game setting. Despite having only 1,000 copies released, Eyes Only is now a finalist for the industry-standard Origins Award for Best Roleplaying Game Supplement of 2007.
We want to do it again with Delta Green: Targets of Opportunity. The authors of Delta Green have been working on material for Targets of Opportunity for years. This fundraiser will tell us if there’s enough interest to finish developing it and to print a limited hardcover edition of the same quality as Delta Green: Eyes Only.
Topics: Horror News | No Comments »
Witch Blood (Elemental Witches, Book 2) Review
By Flames | May 15, 2008
The second installment of the Elemental Witches perhaps unintentionally brings up the question of who’s more evil: demons, or the warlocks who summon them. Or, if you prefer: guns, or the people who use them. The answer in this novel seems to be demons (guns), which is good news for me, who had a thing for hot French warlock Stefan Faucheux in a previous installment.
Another perhaps unintentional issue is what’s more important: being protected, or being independent?
Review by Tez Miller
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The Oblivion Society a semi-finalist for the IPPY awards!
By Flames | May 14, 2008
Marcus Alexander Hart’s apocalyptic novel The Oblivion Society has been chosen as a semi-finalist in the Fantasy & Science-Fiction category of the Independent Publisher’s Book Awards (IPPYs).
With over 3,100 entries for this year’s competition, the Independent Publisher Book Awards (since 1996) award the best indie-published books of the year in 65 categories.
View the full list of this year’s semi-finalists here.
Topics: Horror News | No Comments »
One Who Walked Alone Review
By Flames | May 14, 2008
Like a lot of folks ’round these parts, I’m a huge fan of Robert E. Howard. I think he had all the imagination of Tolkien, and for my money, was a better writer. Your mileage may vary, of course, but that’s all moot.
I own all of the Del Rey collections: The Coming of Conan, the Bloody Crown of Conan, the Conquering Sword of Conan, Bran Mak Morn: the Last King, Kull: Exile of Atlantis, The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane, Crimson Shadows,and Grim Lands. I eagerly look forward to the day when they finally release collections of his western stories, and would love to own collections of his letters (though I currently don’t).
I guess you could say that as a writer I hold the man in high esteem.
Review by Jason Vey
Topics: Nonfiction Reviews | 1 Comment »
Hunter: the Vigil “Professions”
By Matt-M-McElroy | May 13, 2008
Last week I talked a bit about the theme of Hunter: the Vigil. The theme of the game is Light in Shadows and I talked about how Hunters team up to fight against the things that lurk in the shadows of the world.
I also mentioned that most Hunters have “day jobs” since nobody really gets paid to stake or shoot supernatural creatures. This week we’re going to take a closer look at the “day job” element of Hunter: the Vigil.
In Hunter: the Vigil these “day jobs” are called Professions. They seem to be the everyday “real” careers that “normal” people have in the world. The trick for a Hunter is balancing the demands of the hunt with the realities of the job.
Topics: Horror News | 1 Comment »
Writing Game Fiction by Monica Valentinelli
By Matt-M-McElroy | May 12, 2008
Freelance writer Monica Valentinelli (whose upcoming work includes the Tales of the Seven Dogs Society, a novella based on the Abstract Nova game Aletheia) has dedicated her blog recently to writing about game fiction.
Monica has covered audience, theme, and plot to highlight many of the challenges that well-loved and small press games have when writing and publishing fiction. Check out Words on the Water for these articles.
Topics: Resources | No Comments »
The New Kid (World of Darkness: Innocents)
By Flames | May 12, 2008
Suddenly, there’s a new kid at school today.
No one has lived in the Mayfair House for as long as you can remember, maybe even as long as you’ve been alive. Like a big gray toad nestled into the woods, it gazes down on the corner, eyes empty and soulless.
But that’s all changed. You didn’t see the moving van yourself, but everyone at school’s talking about it. There’s a new kid in town.
A story in the Storytelling Adventure System for World of Darkness: Innocents.
The New Kid can also be played using the normal World of Darkness rules.
The New Kid is available at the Flames Rising RPGNow Shop.
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Sentinels: When Strikes the Warlord
By Flames | May 12, 2008
The power-mad Warlord stands poised to conquer–or destroy!–the universe itself. Can anyone stand in his way?
Enter the Sentinels: College student Lyn Li… brilliant inventor and smart-alec Esro Brachis… beloved hero Ultraa… flamboyant showman Damon Sinclair… and mysterious alien powerhouse Vanadium.
When at last they all clash atop the Warlord’s floating city, can the world itself survive?
Topics: Horror News | No Comments »
Munchkin Cthulhu Review
By Matt-M-McElroy | May 12, 2008
Munchkins have hacked their way through dungeons, kung fu temples, starships, haunted houses, and super-foes. Now they face their greatest challenge - Cthulhu! Will they survive? Will they retain their sanity? Will they . . . level up?
Munchkin Cthulhu combines the zany comedy of the previous Munchkin games with the oddities of the Cthulhu Mythos created by H.P. Lovecraft and its further developments by other authors and game designers.
Topics: Other Game Reviews | No Comments »
Introducing: Savage Worlds Online!
By Flames | May 11, 2008
Digital Adventures, LLC and Pinnacle Entertainment Group are proud to present Savage Worlds Online, a new community designed to support and bring together gamers using the Savage Worlds Ruleset for Fantasy Grounds II to play their favorite Savage setting online with friends across the globe!
At the moment Savage Worlds Online (SWO) supports a forum for everything Savage World and Fantasy Grounds, and a gaming calendar for linking up with other SWO members to find or host a game. There will also be product giveaways from Savage Worlds licensees, gaming and development blogs, officially sponsored PEG events, product support, gaming advise, and all great geekness associated with the Savage Worlds setting from Australia to Denmark to England to Arizona!
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