2020 Reading Round up

 

This year I read 111 books which included 10 Nonfiction and 101 fiction. My intent to read from my physical shelves went by the way side and I ended up reading  38 physical, while my Ipad and I were joined at the hip and read 70 Ebooks.  I did manage to listen to 3 audiobooks. I think my son and I also listened to 2 or 3 star wars books which I forgot to list. Statwise, 53 female, 15, and 25 were new to me authors.

I made progress this year with my Wheel of Time read by Robert Jordan and finished #11, 12, and 13.  Oh my gosh, # 13 Towers of Midnight brought so many answers and so many characters back together again and I’m looking forward to reading the last book soon.  It may have taken me a few years reading only one or two books a year, but it’s been worth it.  Great series.

I really enjoyed my 10 x 10 reads immersing myself in dragons, space operas, fantasy, and science fiction, delving into romance and mysteries as well as a few historical fiction reads.   

New to me authors and stories that blew me away this year with their unique worlds, interesting characters and intriguing story lines with themes of discrimination and classism, good versus evil,  mythology, and  cultural differences were:   

Alix Harrow: Ten Thousand Doors of January

Deborah Harkness: A Discovery of Witches

Kim Michelle Richardson:  Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek

Michelle Diener: Dark Horse - #1 - 4  Class 5

Samantha Shannon:  Priory of the Orange Tree

TJ Klune:   The House in the Cerulean Sea

All were entertaining as well as heartwarming

Which one made you giggle, weep, dance, or sing?  Book Woman of Troublesome Creek as well as The House in the Cerulean Sea made me weep.  A.J Jacob's It's All Relative made me laugh.  Two space opera series had all the feels:  Michelle Diener’s Class 5 space opera as well as Becky Chambers Wayfarers.

Made you want to dive in and live in their world?   The space operas definitely.   

Which book would you like to revisit?   Too many to list as I am a fast reader so sometimes I’ll speed through a story because I want to know what happened, then immediately reread at a much slower pace to take in all the details. Every Nora Roberts book written probably.  Also  Faith Hunter is one of my favorite authors and when Junkyard Cats came out in audio, I listened to it twice and was really pleased when the ebook was released which I also read twice. 

Which book would you recommend everyone read?  I fell in love with the characters in the  House in the Cerulean Sea.

Completed Books 

Nonfiction

1. A.J. Jacobs:   It's All Relative - (352)
2. Barbara Abercrombie:  Year  of Writing Dangerously  (410)
3. Francine Prose:  Reading Like a Writer  (273)
4. Hyeonseo Lee:  Girl with Seven Names  ( 322)
5. Matthew McConaughey:  Greenlights  ( 304)
6. Michael Card:    Luke  ( 272)
7. Molly Manning:  When Books Went to War - ( 288)
8. Ray Bradbury:   Zen and the Art of Writing - ( 176)
9. Trevor Hudson:   Pauses for Lent - ( 64)
10. Madeleine L'Engle:  Walking on Water - ( 224)

Fiction

1. A Study of Silk - Emma Jane Holloway (#1 Baskerville Affair, Steampunk, e)
2. Alix Harrow: Ten Thousand Doors of January - (Historical Fantasy, e)
3. Amanda Lee:  Witchin USA - (#1 Moonstone Bay, Paranormal, e)
4. Amanda Quick:  The Girl Who Knew Too Much - (#1 Burning Cove, Mystery, e)
5. Amanda Stevens:  No Less Days - (Christian Fantasy, e)
6. Amy Meyerson: The Bookshop of Yesterday (Mystery, 384)
7. Anne Hackett:  Edge of Eon - (#1 Eon Warriors, space opera, e)
8. Anne Hackett: Touch of Eon (#2, e)
9. Anne Hackett:  Heart of Eon (#3, Sci fi Romance, e)
10. Anne Hackett:  Kiss of Eon (#4, Sci Fi Romance, e)
11. Anne Renwick:   The Silver Skull - (#2 EC, Steampunk, 492, e)
12. Anne Renwick:  A Trace of Copper - (# Elemental Steampunk, e)
13. Anne Renwick:  Golden Spider - (#1 Elemental Chronicle, Steampunk, e)
14. Anne Renwick:  Iron Fin - (#3 EC, Steampunk, e)
15. Banana Yoshimito:   Kitchen/Midnight Shadow - (LOF, Japan, e)
16. Becky Chambers:  A Closed and Common Orbit - (#2 Wayfarer, SF, e)
17. Becky Chambers:  The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet -  (#1 Wayfarers, SF, e)
18. C.J. Archer:  Watchmaker's Daughter - (#1 Glass and Steel, Historical Fantasy, e)
19. C.J. Darlington:  Thicker than Blood - (Mystery, 336)
20. Cassandra Clare:  Clockwork Angel - (#1 Infernal Devices, Steampunk, e)
21. Christine Feehan:  Judgement Road - (#1 Torpedo Ink, Thriller Romance, e)
22. Cleo Coyle:  Brewed Awakening - (#18 Coffee House, Love and Mystery, e)
23. David Baldacci:   Long Road to Mercy - (#1 Atlee Pine, Thriller, e)
24. David Baldacci: The Innocent - (Thriller, e) 
25. David Wingrove: Son of Heaven - (#1 Chung Kuo, Dystopian SF,  England/China, e) 
26. Debbie Macomber: 12 Days of Christmas (Romance, e) 
27. Deborah Crombie: A Share in Death - (#1 Kincaid/James, Mystery, LOF)
28. Deborah Harkness:  Shadow of Night - (#2 All Souls, L and M, e)
29. Deborah Harkness: A Discovery of Witches - (#1 All souls, L &M, e) 
30. Deborah Harkness: The Book of Life - (#3 All souls, L & M, e)
31. Diana Xarissa:  Aunt Bessie Assumes  (Mystery, e)
32. Elizabeth Hunter:   Suddenly Psychic - (#1 Glimmer Lake, LOF  e)
33. Faith Hunter:  Blood Cross - (Audiobook, fantasy)
34. Faith Hunter:  Junkyard Cats - (Sci fi/Fantasy, e)
35. Faith Hunter:  Spells for the Dead - (#5 Soulwood, Paranormal, 384)
36. Faith Hunter: Cat O Nine Tales - (Jane Yellowrock, audiobook, fantasy)
37. Fiona Quinn:  Survival Instinct - (#1 Cerebus Tactical, military romance, e)
38. Fiona Quinn:  Weakest Lynx to Gulf Lynx  - (Lynx series, KU, e)
39. Genevieve Cogman:  The Burning Page - (#3 Invisible Library, Dragons, 368)
40. Greg Keyes:  Godzilla - (Audiobook, Sci Fi, dragons)
41. Gwen Hunter:  Delayed Diagnosis - (#1 Rhea Lynch MD, Mystery, e)
42. Ilona Andrews:  Iron and Magic - (#1 Iron Covenant, Fantasy, e)
43. Ilona Andrews:  Silent Blade -  (World of Kinsman, Fantasy, e) 
44. J.D. Robb:  Shadows in Death - (#51 In Death series, futuristic detective, 368) 
45. J.D.Robb:  Golden in Death - (#50 In Death, futuristic suspense, 400)
46. J.R. Ward:  The Jackal (BDBrotherhood Prison Camp #1, Paranormal Romance, e)
47. J.R. Ward:  The Sinner - (#18 BDB, Fantasy, e)
48. J.R. Ward: A Warm Heart in Winter (#18.5 BDB, Fantasy, e)
49. J.R.R. Tolkien:  The Hobbit - (Dragons, 288) 
50. James Rollins:  Last Odyssey - (#15 Sigma Force, mystery, 624)
51. Jessie Mihalik: Polaris Rising  (#1 Consortium Rebellion, Space Opera, e)
52. Jessie Mihalik: Aurora Blazing -  (#2 Space Opera,  e)
53. Jessie Mihalik:  Chaos Reigning - (#3 space opera, e) 
54. Julie Ann Walker - Ride the Tide (#3 Deep Six, Romance, e)
55. Karen Robards:   The Fifth Doctrine - (#3 Guardians, thriller,  mood, 406) 
56. Keri Arthur:  Unlit - (#1 Kingdoms of Earth and Air, Fantasy,  e) 
57. Keri Arthur:  Cursed  - (#2 KoEaA, Fantasy, e)
58. Keri Arthur: Burn - (#3 KoEaA, Fantasy, e)
59. Kim Michelle Richardson: Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (Historical fiction 320) 
60. Kylie Scott:  Stage Dive series (KU Romance, e)
61. Lee Child:   Running Blind - (#4 Reacher, Thriller, 519, mood/dusty)
62. Louise Penny:  All the Devils are Here  - (# 16 Armand Gamache Detective, 443)
63. M.L. Buchman: At the Slightest Sound #1 Shadowforce psi, Military paranormal, e)
64. M.L. Buchman:  At the Quietest Word (#2 Shadowforce, e)
65. Mary Stewart:  The Crystal Cave - (# 1 Arthurian Saga, Historical Fantasy, 288)
66. Menna Van Praag:  Patron of Lost Souls - (Romantic fantasy, 352)
67. Mercedes Lackey: Arrows of the Queen (#1 Heralds of Valdemar, Fantasy, reread)
68. Michelle Diener: Dark Horse - (#1 Class 5, SF, reread, e)
69. Michelle Diener: Dark Deeds - (#2 Class 5, SF e) 
70. Michelle Diener: Dark Minds  ( #3 Class 5, SF,  e)
71. Michelle Diener: Dark Matters - (#4 Class 5, SF,  e)
72. Miranda James:  Murder Past Due - (Mystery, e)
73. Murphy Lawless:  Gladiator Cheetah - (KU, paranormal romance, e)
74. Nalini Singh:  A Madness of Sunshine - (Thriller,  e)
75. Nalini Singh: Alpha Night - (#4 Psychangeling/Trinity, Fantasy, e)
76. Nalini Singh: Archangels Sun (#13 Guild Hunter, Paranormal Romance, e)
77. Nora Roberts:   Northern Lights - (reread, Romance)
78. Nora Roberts:  Hideaway - (Thriller, 464)
79. Nora Roberts:  Night Shift to Night Shield - (Night tales romance series, e)
80. Nora Roberts: The Awakening  (#1 Dragonheart legacy, 448) 
81. Patricia Briggs:  Dead Heat (#4 Alpha and Omega, reread, fantasy,  e)
82. Patricia Briggs:  Burn Bright - (#5 A and O reread, fantasy)
83. Patricia Briggs:  Dragon Bones - (#1 Hurog Duology, Dragons, 304)
84. Patricia Briggs:  Smoke Bitten - (#12 Mercy Thompson, Fantasy, 351)
85. Rachel Hartman:  Seraphina - (#1 Dragons, e)
86. Rachel Hartman:  Shadow Scale - (#2 Dragons, e)
87. Rae Carson:  Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker - (SF, 272)
88. Robert Jordan:   Knife of Dreams - (#11 WOT, Fantasy, 880)
89. Robert Jordan / Brandon Sanderson:   Gathering Storm  (#12 WOT, 800) 
90. Robert Jordan / Brandon Sanderson:  Towers of Midnight  (#13 WOT, 1264)
91. Roxanne St. Claire:  Man's Best Friend - (Dogmother, Contemporary Romance, e)
92. Samantha Shannon:  Priory of the Orange Tree (Fantasy, Dragons, e)
93. Seanan McGuire:   A Killing Frost - (#14 October Daye, fantasy, e)
94. Seanan McGuire: Rosemary and Rue (#1 October Daye, Reread, Urban Fantasy, e)
95. Seanan McGuire:  The Unkindest Tide - (#13 October Daye, mood, e)
96. Shona Husk:  Kiss of the Goblin Prince (Paranormal romance, e)
97. Shona Husk: The Goblin King - (Paranormal romance, e)
98. Steve Berry:  Venetian Betrayal - (#3 Cotton Malone, Thriller, 576) 
99. T Hammond:   Blind Seduction (Team Red #1 - 6, e )
100. Thea Harrison:  Dragon Bound - (#1 Elder Races, Dragons, e)
101. TJ Klune:   The House in the Cerulean Sea -  (Fantasy, dragons, e) 

BW1: Happy New Year and cheers to another round of 52 Books

 

It's book week one in our 52 Books quest and I'm excited this year since our armchair travels are taking us around, over, and across the world again as we fly above the seven seas, through the infinite, clear blue sky on the good ship Pumdeg Dau o Lyfrau airship, for another round of read 52 books in 52 weeks.  We'll be taking advantage of Hermione Granger's Time Turner,  Well's Time machine as well as Doctor Who's Tardis, all without upsetting the space time continuum of course, in our travels to go hither, thither, and yon.  

I'm starting off the year in the 12th Century with the first book in Sharon Kay Penman's Plantagenet series - When Christ and His Saints Slept. 

Also the memoir - And Then There were Nuns: Adventures in a Cloistered Life by Jane Christmas which so far is humorous as well as enlightening. 

Plus Light the Dark: Writers on Creativity, Inspiration, and the Artistic Process edited by Joe Fossler. A collection in which authors talk about the one book, book passage, one author, poet, etc who hit them the hardest or  affected their life.  Today's reading by Elizabeth Gilbert who writes in praise of stubborn gladness and introduced me to poet Jack Gilbert.

I like his quote:  "We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have the stubborness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world."

Since it's become a BAW tradition to start off the year with Haruki Murakami, Killing Commendatore is also on my nightstand.

Also pulled out Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to reread this month.  

Guest Post -James M's review of IDW Sonic Bad Guys Issue 4

 

Merry Christmas, everyone. Here's a gift for you, THE FINALE OF IDW SONIC BAD GUYS THE MINISERIES! Ian Flynn went all out with this one, this was solidly written. We had EGGMAN VS ZAVOK and Starline escaping, plus, he's gone from being someone who wants to be back on Eggman's good side to being someone who wants to conquer the world and oust the Eggman.

Who saw that coming? I DIDN'T!

Looks like Starline is officially an independent villain, we will see him later in the main IDW Sonic series. As for Mimic, he'll be back at some point, so will Rough and Tumble. As for Zavok, oh boy, looks like Sonic and friends will have their hands full when they have to contend with him and his pack again in the future, probably during 2021. *POSSIBLE SPOILERS*

Ian Flynn did it again with noooooo SEGA mandates holding him back, he delivered perfection, total awesomeness and a superb and masterful story worthy of Sonic.

I look forward to eventually seeing Eggman and Starline coming into conflict with each other, duking it out to see who is supreme.

See ya later. 10/10, Ian Flynn! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

-James M

Guest Post -James M's review of A Very Merry Christmas With Sonic

 

Howdy doody, folks! Its been ages since I reviewed the Christmas with Sonic series in its entirety and now its finally time to review the latest episode after a good long while of waiting. The wait is over, we shall be reviewing A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH SONIC, the finale to the famous and beloved Christmas with Sonic series thats been going on since the far off year of 2011.

And boy, what a finale it is/was. Santa Claus finally showed up, time travel shenanigans happened and a whole lot more happened. The plot's simple: After Sonic and Robotnik aka Eggman accidently injure Santa Claus himself at a mall during one of their battles, they and Sonic's friends and family have to take Santa's place as the one(s) delivering presents to people around the world on Christmas Eve.

Over the course of twenty three minutes, which makes this episode just as long as the other Christmas with Sonic episodes, Balena Productions' Steve Page once again does his best to deliver the most awesome Sonic goodness any Sonic fan can ever desire, he puts all his heart and soul into such incredible fan storytelling and this shows with the animation and the voice acting.

As someone who saw all the episodes, this one was worth the wait. I was fine with the delay and the fact it was gonna initially come out in 2019, but things happen. Either way, this episode was a solid finale to an awesome series and wrapped everything up nicely. That last after-credits scene with Sorass the dummy Echidna was very funny, despite the fact that I did not laugh. Eh, whaddaya gonna do?

My score for this cool show is a twenty over ten, this was amazing, full of awesomeness and something all Sonic fans should see if they want to, even on Christmas. Well, this is where I take my leave for now and I proudly salute Balena aka Steve for being an amazing Sonic fan who does not disappoint. 

-James. M

Guest Post -James M's Review of IDW Sonic Bad Guys issue 3

 

Welcome back folks, we're in the home stretch with this one, issue three of the Bad Guys IDW Sonic miniseries is here and its time to summarize. Last time, Doctor Starline, Zavok, Rough & Tumble and Mimic attacked an Eggman base and stole some power cores from Sonic Heroes while trying to trick Eggman into believing that Sonic attacked the base. Now, lets see how things play out, eh?

Synopsis:

Our tale begins with Doctor Starline at his computer, watching one of his own Vlogs which talks about how his plan has been a success so far and how he will soon dispose of Mimic and the others. Then Zavok comes in and its revealed that "Starline" is Mimic in disguise and the real Starline is asleep, however, the bad guys now know of the doctor's intentions. 

Regardless, they intend to play along with Doctor Starline's plans for the time being and make their move later though Mimic wants to kill Starline now rather than wait until later. The very next day, the bad guy group heads over to the main EggNet headquarters and launch their attack on it, deploying the power of the Power Cores to good use as they smash robots and fight their way inside.

While that is happening, Eggman, who is at one of his bases, gets ready to fight his enemies as he deploys his forces when Orbot comes in with some intel that Sonic is attacking a depot in the north which raises suspicion from the doctor as his lackey bot suggests that Tails sent a dummy transmission before Eggman hops into his Egg Hawk and heads off to battle with his enemies.

Who sent the "dummy transmission"? Well, Starline and his crew did that, as they were taking the main room of Eggnet HQ. However, just as Starline is taking care of buisness on the computer, Mimic and the others begin to turn on him. In order to save himself, the platypus does Mimic the favor of deleting his files from the Eggnet and gives Zavok total control of Eggman's army. Unfortunately for Starline, Zavok and his group decide its time for Starline to be disposed of, having served his purpose...

Thoughts:

The ending of this issue was decently written and sets up the finale nicely, I wonder where things will go from here. Hopefully it'll be good, we know Ian is a good writer and can accomplish anything despite running into roadblocks i.e SEGA restrictions here and there. After this series is over, its gonna be a while before we hear from Ian Flynn on the writing front again.

Starline is amazing and I hope he shows up in the games, Zavok's being written well and the other villains are not so bad. I give this issue a 9/10...

Bye folks, see u in the final issue.

Guest Post -James M's review of IDW Sonic Bad Guys Issue 2

 

Welcome back, IDW Sonic fans. BAD GUYS issue 2 is here and you know what that means.

REVIEW TIME!

Where we last left off in issue one, Doctor Starline busted Mimic the Octopus, Rough and Tumble and Zavok out of jail and they got out of there in one almost iconic jail break sequence. Now, its time to see where they're going in this one.

Its simple, Doc Starline and his team attack an Eggman base and they do some damage. In fact, they also try to make it look as if Sonic attacked the base. Very cleaver, I bet Eggman's gonna buy that and, er, he almost does but he sees through the flaws and quickly figures out that somebody else is to blame even though he has yet to know who it was.

My thoughts on the issue?

Well, it was great, Ian Flynn did a masterful job like he always does. He went all out with no SEGA mandates holding him back, Ian always tries to go all out with his storytelling despite being held back most of the time by stuff behind the scenes. Nothing to worry about.

Halfway through this epic miniseries, I am enjoying this ride.

GO IDW SONIC!

Lets hope the Sonic comics get more cooler during Sonic's 30th anniversary in 2021.

I give this issue an 8/10.

Sorry if the review was short, but I don't have a whole load of thoughts. See you later, ya'll.

-James M

Guest Post -James M's Review of Sonic Bad Guys Issue 1

 

Hey folks, after months of waiting, its time to dive into the dark side of the Sonic universe with a story focusing on Doctor Starline and a few rogues in the world of IDW Sonic with issue one of the miniseries SONIC THE HEDGEHOG BAD GUYS!

As you know, Doctor Starline is a comic exclusive character and a villain, he first debuted in issue 11 during year one around the same time as the Battle For Angel Island and he became Doctor Eggman's lackey after Eggman got his memories back. He stuck around during the Metal Virus arc and soon got booted out by the doctor after the Deadly Six hijacked the plot. So what's Starline up to?

We start off the story with Starline snooping around an Eggman base and trying to access the Eggnet, this doesn't go well since he gets locked out and attacked by Eggman's robots, prompting him to use a new power in his shoes to destroy the incoming Moto Bugs. He later returns to the Eggman base that he's set up shop in and struggles to come up with an idea on what to do, until he gets an idea.

Starline visits a prison, specifically, the prison where bad guys are being held. Its one of the most secure of all prison facilities on, well, Mobius. Yes, I'm gonna call Sonic's world Mobius because I like Mobius and I HATE SEGA'S MANDATE OF SONIC'S WORLD CANNOT BE CALLED MOBIUS! Anyways, after tricking the warden of the prison, Starline finds the first person he's looking for. The first person he finds is none other than our old friend Mimic from the Tangle & Whisper series.

Oh and by the way, not only are Rough & Tumble here, but Zavok's here too. Starline attempts to recruit them, but they're not interested. He does managed to persuade them and, so, the "Deadly Four" is born. Starline's allies begin their prison break out and chaos soon ensues with the guards trying to stop them only to get taken out either by brute force or by trickery.

Starline commends Zavok for being a visionary and as the issue ends, the former lackey of Eggman declares that with the warm up done, its time they get started with doing some real damage.

My thoughts on this?

So cool. Guess it doesn't hurt to be a bad guy sometimes in fiction, I love me some fictional bad guys even though I like good guys and being good is good. We've seen a few bad guy centric stories in Sonic before, Scrambled and Eggman's Dozen in Sonic Universe being prime examples of stories focusing on the bad guys of Sonic's world.

Lets wait and see what happens with the next few issues next time folks.

-James M

A to Z Poetry: 4 a.m. fragments

 

4 a.m. fragments

He yells, 

awakening me from sleep

I'm  fighting a war, saving the world.

He won't remember when he wakes

the glorious battle he fought in the deep.

Did the hero win?

Hubby mumbles and nudges me

waking me once again. 

The cell phone dings and we

 can't ignore the beep or blip or ring,

no matter where or when.

 Even with my glasses, too bleary eyed to read.

It's not an emergency.

It's nothing, I say, 

 just the stupid phone with a mind of its own.

Gracie nudged me in the  back 

purring like a tribble.

Images of Star Trek space battles 

coalesce and thoughts start to roam 

from here to there and everywhere. 

Who'd let the damn cat in?

 Unable to sleep, I rise to write  

and characters interject, telling me what to say.

I give in and let them guide the pen.

The story works when I get out of their way.

When all is said and done, 

tired, yet wired, 

It's time to begin my day.

Guest Post -James M's Review of IDW Sonic Annuals 2019 & 2020

Welcome back IDW Sonic fans, its time for a double review.
During mah review of IDW Sonic as a whole during year 2, I kinda skipped over the 2019 Annual. Now, with 2020 out, Ima gonna actually review BOTH!

Lets do it to it, starting with Annual 2019, ok?
Do not fear, I will cover Annual 2020 after that.

So, what are the IDW Sonic Annuals about? Well, for starters, they're a collection of stories that are ALL canon to the IDW Sonic comic universe and a lot of talent from the writers and artists is put to work, they all pour their heart and soul into making these stories.

Without delay, let's start with...

Bond of Friendship:
This one set up the events of the Tangle and Whisper miniseries as somewhat of a pilot episode, pilot episodes are episodes that set up a series by introducing the characters. However, this is a comic we're talking about. The story involves Whisper visiting Tangle in her hometown and the two of them teaming up to deal with the Babylon Rogues (from Sonic Riders). Good story, really good! Thats all I will say about that, next up is...

Jet Set Tornado (sigh really):
First off, the title is a reference to Jet Set Radio (a SEGA game series not associated with Sonic). Second, it's about good old Sonic and Tails doing their usual thing. The story involves them in a battle with one of Eggman's robots in the sky while on a mission to get some supplies to the Resistance. What do I think of it? Its fun, Sonic's all cool and Tails is sweet as always. 8/10, people just love the brotherly bond between these guys, don't they. I like it, I think Tails' is Sonic's adopted brother.

Victory Garden:
This one is technically a Silvaze story as far as most fans are concerned given that the Silver and Blaze pairing is very popular in the Sonic fanbase alongside SonAmy. The story's simple and straightforward, Silver's trying to grow a garden in the ruins of a battlefield, Blaze comes along and helps him, Silver grows his garden and thats it. Friends sure are important, they can help you in the toughest of times and in dear Silver's case, having Blaze help him is very nice! I like this story, this one made me more interested in Silver x Blaze and I give this a 10.5.

There are two more stories, but I've delayed the inevitable long enough!
ONWARD TO 2020!
Note: These stories I'm about to mention actually happen in the Zombot arc.

First up, we have Big's Big Adventure. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL! Sonic Adventure reference. Anyways, this is a story about Big and it turns out he was there for certain events that unfolded over the course of the comic up to this point. He was present off panel in the first few issues in year one and was chasing his pal Froggy (again). Also, Big was there for a bit at the Restoration HQ during the events of Issue 22 RIGHT before the big Zombot outbreak.
So how did Big become a Zombot?
Its simple, his pal Froggy touched a Zombot and eventually converted, also causing Big to become infected with the Metal Virus in the process without him even realizing it.

Next up is, well, a story about radio shows and it happens right around the same time as the events of Issue 19 are starting up with the Eggman Metal Virus attack on the city. Nite the Owl and Don the Rooster, new characters and the show hosts of K-TBR 199.2, a radio show, and yes the cover the beginning of the Zombot attack. The story also ends with a zombot approaching the station!
After this one, we get to... Reflections, its a Metal Sonic story where he studies the Metal Virus and, of course, the Metal Virus has no effect on him. Moving on.

Our fourth story is Eggman's Day Off, short story short, Starline finds Eggman in his EggCave where the doctor often plays with his toys whenever he, well, has a day off. Well, the doc's gotta have a hobby other than trying to take over the world all the time, am I right? Everybody needs time off to themselves and a time to play, who likes all work and no play after all...?
The fifth story, Flock Together, shows Vector and Espio capturing Zombot Charmy, which sets up what happens in issue 22 with Charmy. Finally, we get to The Catalyst, where we learn about how Tangle's buddy Jewel got infected with the Zombot Virus.

My thoughts on these stories.
They're nicely written and I like the art, enough said.

Time to chill now, see ya next time, folks!
-James M

Half way reading wrap up

We are halfway through this crazy year so I decided to check in and see how I'm doing with my reading challenges.  Plus I'm checking out the changes Google has made to blogger to see if it is possible to post properly without entirely hating the new format.  

Here's the scoop. Ten books in ten categories and the winners so far are: 

(4) Answer me this - writing craft and other non fiction 

Girl with Seven Names - Hyeonseo Lee  ( 322e)
It's All Relative - A.J. Jacobs (352)
Reading Like a Writer - Francine Prose ( 273)
When Books Went to War - Molly Manning ( 288)

(5) Clocks and Corsets (Steampunk) 

Trace of Copper - Anne Renwick (, 202, e)
Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare (#1 Infernal Devices, 497,e)
Golden Spider - Anne Renwick (#1 Elemental Chronicle, 486, e)
Iron Fin - Anne Renwick (#3 EC, 520, e)
The Silver Skull - Anne Renwick (#2 EC, 492, e)

(7) Dragons and other fantastical Creatures 

Dragon Bones - Patricia Briggs (#1 Hurog Duology, 304)
Dragon Bound - Thea Harrison (#1 Elder Races, 338, e)
Godzilla - Greg Keyes (Audiobook)
Priory of the Orange Tree - Samatha Shannon (Fantasy, 846, e)
The Burning Page - Genevieve Cogman (#3 Invisible Library, 368)
The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien (288)
The House in the Cerulean Sea - TJ Klune ( 393)

 (11) Fantasy

Alpha Night - Nalini Singh (#4 Psychangeling/Trinity, 368, e)
Blood Cross - Faith Hunter (Audiobook,)
Burn - Keri Arthur (#3 KoEaA, 350, e)
Cursed - Keri Arthur (#2 KoEaA, 413, e)
Iron and Magic - Ilona Andrews (#1 Iron Covenant, 394, e)
Knife of Dreams - Robert Jordan (#11 WOT, 880)
No Less Days - Amanda Stevens (Christian Fantasy, 322, e)
Silent Blade - Illona Andrews (World of Kinsman, 64e)
Smoke Bitten - Patricia Briggs (#12 Mercy Thompson, 351, NR)
The Sinner - J.R. Ward (#18 BDB, 498, e, NR)
Unlit - Keri Arthur (#1 Kingdoms of Earth and Air, 413, e)

(5) Feed My Muse

Luke - Michael Card (NF religious commentary, 272, MS) 
Pauses for Lent - Trevor Hudson (NF, 64) 
Walking on Water - Madeliene L'Engle (NF, 224) 
Zen and the Art of Writing - Ray Bradbury (Writing, NF reread, 176) 
Year of Writing Dangerously - Barbara Abercrombie (NF, 410) 

(6) Love and Mystery

Brewed Awakening - Cleo Coyle (#18 Coffee House, e)
The Bookshop of Yesterday - Amy Meyerson (384)
A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness (#1 All souls, 594e)
Shadow of Night - Deborah Harkness (#2 All Souls, 594, e)
The Book of Life - Deborah Harkness (#3 All souls, 564, e)
Witchin USA - Amanda Lee (#1 Moonstone Bay, 274, e)

(6) Mood 

The Unkindest Tide - Seanan McGuire (#13 October Daye, 366e)
Arrows of the Queen - Mercedes Lackey (#1 Heralds of Valdemar, reread)
Rosemary and Rue - Seanan McGuire (#1 October Daye, Reread, e)
Kitchen/Midnight Shadow - Banana Yoshimito (LOF, Japan, 177e)
A Share in Death - Deborah Crombie (#1 Kincaid/James, 288, LOF)
Suddenly Psychic - Elizabeth Hunter (#1 Glimmer Lake, LOF, 324, e)

(10) Science Fiction (Mind Voyage)

Son of Heaven - David Wingrove (#1 Chung Kuo, England/China, 449e)
Dark Horse - Michelle Diener (2) (#1 Class 5, 380e)
Junkyard Cats - Faith Hunter (Audio book, futuristic) Twice
Dark Deeds - Michelle Diener (#2 Class 5, 360, e)
Dark Minds - Michelle Diener #3 Class 5, 286, e)
Dark Matters - Michelle Diener (#4 Class 5, , 321, e)
Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker - Rae Carson (272)
A Closed and Common Orbit - Becky Chambers (#2 Wayfarer, 365, e)
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet - Becky Chambers (#1 Wayfarers, 423 e)
Cat O Nine Tales - Faith Hunter (Jane Yellowrock, audiobook)

 (9) Whodunit

Golden in Death - J.D.Robb (#50 In Death, futuristic suspense, 400)
Delayed Diagnosis - Gwen Hunter (#1 Rhea Lynch MD, 381, e,)
Thicker than Blood - C.J. Darlington (Mystery)
The Innocent - David Baldacci (Thriller)
Murder Past Due - Miranda James (Mystery, 303, e)
Hideaway - Nora Roberts (Thriller, 464)
Long Road to Mercy - David Baldacci (#1 Atlee Pine, Thriller417 e)
The Fifth Doctrine - Karen Robards (#3 Guardians, thriller, 406)
Running Blind - Lee Child (#4 Reacher, Thriller, 519)

 

(2)Step into the Past (Historical Fiction)

Ten Thousand Doors of January - Alix Harrow (385, e)
The Crystal Cave - Mary Stewart (# 1 Arthurian Saga, 288) 

There are a few categories I want to read but don't think I'll hit ten on. So my plan is to read three books in each category which are: Eve, Silence, Agatha Christie, as well as finish the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Mary Stewart's Arthurian Saga, and the Wheel of Time series.  Will I make it?  I have no idea as I've been dipping into and out of many books as concentration on any one thing has been hard this year. Gee I wonder why? 

PS: I still hate Googles new format. Blech!