Books Read - September to December 2025

 Sept

The Men Who Would Be Kings: The Last Samurai Rebellion by Eric Wood and Daniel Mersey

How My Rescue Dog Rescued Me edited by David Gowriluk and Donna White

Codex Orks 8th edition by Games Workshop of Nottingham

Chapter Approved 2018 by Games Workshop of Nottingham

Odd Interlude by Dean Koontz

Caged by Jennifer Blackstream

Chapter Approved 2019 by Games Workshop of Nottingham

 

Oct

Codex Tyranids 8th edition by Games Workshop of Nottingham

Psychic Awakening: Phoenix Rising by Games Workshop of Nottingham 

Psychic Awakening: Faith & Fury by Games Workshop of Nottingham 

Betrayal by Jennifer Blackstream

Psychic Awakening: Blood of Baal by Games Workshop of Nottingham 

 

Nov

Psychic Awakening: Ritual of the Damned by Games Workshop of Nottingham

Psychic Awakening: The Greater Good by Games Workshop of Nottingham

Odd Apocalypse by Dean Koonz

Psychic Awakening: Saga of the Wolf by Games Workshop of Nottingham

Canadian Boomers by Frederick and Helga Ross

Psychic Awakenings: Engine War by Games Workshop of Nottingham

Psychic Awakenings: War of the Spider by Games Workshop of Nottingham

Worth Dying For by Lee Child

Thrall by Jennifer Blackstream

Warhammer: Triumph & Treachery by Jervis Johnson and Andy Clark

 

Dec

The Silver Bayonet: Britain – Bones of Albion by Joseph A McCullough

Marvel Universe Role Playing Game: Guide to the X-Men by Jim Krueger, Jeffery Simons, Evan Jones, Den Gelber

Marvel Universe Role Playing Game: Guide to the Hulk & the Avengers by Jim Krueger, Jeffery Simons, Evan Jones, Den Gelber

Eat, Drink, and be Murray by Andy Murray

Conviction by Jennifer Blackstream

Ravening Hordes the Warhammer Fantasy Battle Lists by Richard Halliwell with Brian Ansell

Your next favorite author?

We are at the end of summer, and are heading into fall.

If my friends are looking for some cozy books in the urban fantasy genre, I have a recommendation,

I’ve recently gotten into the Blood Trails series by rock-tumbling gamer, Jennifer Blackstream. It follows Shade Renard, a village witch turned private eye. Each book has been a contained case so far, with a some overall arcs weaved through the series. The characters act believably, and the mysteries seem fair.

Think of it as a cross between Supernatural and Murder She Wrote. (Or MSW and Granny Weatherwax, or Tucker’s Witch depending on your age.)

I am five books into the series and have not been disappointed yet. Shannon is four books ahead of me, and tells me I have nothing to worry about.

If you are intrigued, but don’t trust me enough to commit, or are just younger than I, you can also sign up for her newsletter at www.jenniferblackstream.com and, after the first couple intro emails that you get over the next few days, you will be provided with a code for a story (Temptation) that leads into the first book (Deadline). I would tell you more about it but we haven’t yet figured out how to download it.

If you a fan of e-readers, and you like her writing, you can get them right from her site. She even has bundle deals available. If, like me, prefer a more dead-tree version of the story, you can also order the books online.

But wait you say, I’m a fast reader. I don’t want to get into another series with an author who takes forever to write the next book. Not to worry. Jennifer is pretty prolific. This series is already 19 books long. Plus she has two other series (Blood Realm, and Blood Prince) that are 5 and 5+ books each respectively. These are more or a paranormal romance genre. We haven’t read those though but again, there are links to samples in her newsletter.

For reading this long, I leave you a haiku:

Red coat, witches hat

Peasblossom, tactical pouch

Mother Shade Renard

jenniferblackstream.com

Books Read - May to August 2025

May

Academ’s Fury by Jim Butcher

Deadline by Jennifer Blackstream

Monster by Jennifer Blackstream

Odd Hours by Dean Koontz

 

June

Absolute Emperor: Napoleonic Wargame Battles by Boyd Bruce

Xenos Rampant by Daniel Mersey & Richard Cowen

Taken by Jennifer Blackstream

Wars of the Republic by Eric Farrington

 

July

Teenagers from the Future: essays on the Legion of Super-Heroes edited by Timothy Callahan

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Corruption by Jennifer Blackstream

Stargrave – Science Fiction Wargames in the Ravaged Galaxy by Joseph A. McCullough

 

Aug

The Doomed: Apocalyptic Horror Hunting by Chris McDowall

61 Hours by Lee Child

Mercenary by Jennifer Blackstream

Hairfoot Jousting by Joseph A. McCullough

Avengers Campus the official cookbook by Jennifer Fujikawa + Marc Sumerak

 

Books Read - January to April 2025

 Jan

The Dig by Alan Dean Foster

DK Warhammer 40,000 The Ultimate Guide by Guy Haley and Gav Thorpe

Munitorum Field Manual 2019 by Games Workshop

Reality’s Edge >> Cyberpunk Skirmish Rules by Joseph McGuire

 

Feb

When Nightmares Come – An Investigative Wargame of Supernatural Horror by Patrick Todoroff

Blood Bowl 2002 Annual by Andy Hall

Ragnarok: Heavy Metal Combat in the Viking Age by Tim Korklewski

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

Codex: Drukhari 8th edition by Games Workshop of Nottingham

 

Mar

Ragnarok – The Vanir by Tim Korklewski

Ragnarok – The Abyss by Tim Korklewski

Men of Bronze by Eric Farrington

The Silver Bayonet: Italy: The Shades of the Calabria by T.C. Stephen

Forever Odd by Dean Koontz

 

Apr

Opposable Thumbs by Matt Singer

Blood Bowl Spike! Presents 2024 Almanac by Games Workshop Ltd

Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher

 

Books Read - September to December 2024

 Sept

Dessert Cook Book by Better Homes & Garden

Barbeque Book by Better Homes & Garden

 

Oct

So Good with Fruit by Better Homes & Garden

Microwave Cooking for Today's Living by Kenmore

The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels by Greg Oliver & Steven Johson

Salad Book by Better Homes & Garden

Lunches and Brunches by Better Homes & Garden

The Man in the High Castle – Creating the Alt World by Mike Avila

So-Good Meals by Better Homes & Garden

 

Nov

Snacks and Refreshments by Better Homes & Garden

Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child

Cooking For Two by Better Homes & Garden

 

Dec

Robert’s Rules of Order by Colonel Henry Martyn Robert

Walt Disney World: the official Vacation Guide 2024 by Birnbaum

The Pikeman’s Lament: Pike and Shot Wargaming Rules by Daniel Mersey and Michael Leck

Kobold & Cobblestones by Robert Burman

Smuggler’s Cove: exotic cocktails, rum, and the cult of tiki by Martin Cate with Rebecca Cate

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

 

Books read - May to August 2024

 May

Miracle at the Forks by Allan Levine and Peter C. Newman

Falling by T.J. Newman

The Unofficial Universal Theme Parks Cookbook by Ashley Craft

 

June

Company’s Coming: most loved appetizers by Jean Pare

The Hellfire Club by Jake Tapper

The Devil May Dance by Jake Tapper

 

July

Burrow & Badgers – A Skirmish Game of Anthropomorphic Animals by Michael Lovejoy

Silver Bayonet: Canada by Ash Barker

The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook by Ashley Craft

Silver Bayonet: Egypt: Shadow of the Sphinx by Joseph A. McCullough

All the Demons are Here by Jake Tapper

 

Aug

A War Transformed: WWI on the Doggerland Front by Frederick Silburn-Slater

Nothing to Lose by Lee Child

Vegetable Cook Book by Better Homes & Garden

Disneyland Resort: the official Vacation Guide 2024 by Birnbaum

 

Books read - January to April 2024

 Jan

High Wizardry by Diane Duane

Spike! Presents 2022 Almanac by Games Workshop

Warhammer Leviathan (10th edition) by Warhammer Design Studio

 

Feb

A Wizard Abroad by Diane Duane

Don’t Look Back by Matt Burns

Connections by James Burke

Dice Men – The Origin Story of Games Workshop by Ian Livingstone with Steve Jackson

 

Mar

The Wizard’s Dilemma by Diane Duane

On the Road to Abandoned Manitoba by Gordon Goldsborough

Blizzard Cosplay – Tips, Tricks and Hints by Blizzard Entertainment

 

Apr

Hidden Empire by Orson Scott Card

Made in Manitoba: best of the Open Road stories by Bill Redekop

Running Blind by Lee Child

 

Books Read - September to December 2023

 Sept

No Phule Like an Old Phule by Robert Asprin and Peter J Heck

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

 

Oct

Halloween II by Jack Martin

Halloween III by Jack Martin

The Field Guide to Tiki Decorating volume  one by Trader Brandon with Tiki Tony and Typhoon Tommy

 

Nov

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry

Memoirs of a Winnipeg Cab Drver by E Eddy Proulx

Boldly Go by William Shatner with Joshua Brandon

 

Dec

Chosen Men: Military Skirmish Combat Games in the Napoleonic Wars by Mark Latham

Frostgrave: The Wizards’ Conclave by Joseph A. McCullough

So You Want To Be a Wizard by Diane Duane

The Silver Bayonet by Joseph A McCullough

The Silver Bayonet – The Carpathian: Castle Fier by Joseph A McCullough

Deep Wizardry by Diane Duane

 

Books Read - May to August 2023

 

May

Psychic Awakening 1 – Phoenix Rising by Games Workshop of Nottingham

The Cool Side of My Pillow: a book of essays by Bruce Campbell

War Dogs by Guy Lawson

Empire by Orson Scott Card

 

June

Warhammer 40,000: Codex Death Guard (8 Ed) by Games Workshop of Nottingham

Warhammer 40,000: Codex Adeptus Mechanicus (8 Ed) by Games Workshop of Nottingham

Warhammer 40,000: Codex Craftworlds (8 Ed) by Games Workshop of Nottingham

Blood Bowl Death Zone Season Two by Games Workshop Limited

The Civilized Guide to Tabletop Gaming by Teri Litorco

 

July

Trader Vic’s Tiki Party! By Steve Siegelman

Cocktails for a Crowd by Kara Newman

Let’s Get Tropical by Georgi Radev

The Friars Club bible of jokes, pokes, roasts, and toasts edited by Barry Dougherty

The Mickey Mouse Club Scrapbook by Keith Keller

Warhammer 40,000: Codex Dark Angels (8 Ed) by Games Workshop of Nottingham

 

Aug

Supercade by Van Burnham

The Town by Chuck Hogan

The Name of God is Mercy by Pope Francis

Books read January to April 2023

 Jan

The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Gamma Wolves by Ash Barker

The Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Castles in the Sky by Eric Farrington

 

Feb

House Divided by Bruce Campbell

Thuvia, Maid of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

 

Mar

All Quiet on the Martian Front by Alessio Cavatore, Rick Priestly, Ernest Baker, Jeff Hall

How to Photograph Scale Models by Shepard Paine and Lane Stewart

Cinema Alchemist: Designing Star Wars & Alien by Roger Christian

 

Apr

Imperium Nihilus: Vigilus Defiant by Games Workshop of Nottingham

Imperium Nihilus: Vigilus Ablaze by Games Workshop of Nottingham

Books read - September to December 2022

 Sept

The Store that Timothy Built by William Stephenson

Tinsel by William Goldman

Trolley Car Treasury by Frank Rowsome, Jr.

 

Oct

Barbarians at the Gate by Bryan Burrogh & John Helvar

Artemis by Andy Weir

I Killed by Ritch Shydner and Mark Schiff

 

Nov

All Tomorrow’s Parties by William Gibson

A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

 

Dec

Pulp! by Marco Arnaudo

Frostgrave Ghost Archipelago: Gods of Fire by Joseph A McCullough

Frostgrave Ghost Archipelago: Cities of Bronze by Joseph A McCullough

The Men Who Would be King by Daniel Mersey

Frostgrave: The Maze of Malcor by Joseph A McCullough

 

Books read - May to August 2022

 May

Dust Tactics by Olivier Zamfirescu

Street Wars NYC by Iain McDonald

Dust Warfare by Andy Chambers and Mack Martin

Dust Warfare: Campaign Book Zverograd by Andy Chambers and Mack Martin

Airframe by Michael Crichton

US Army Uniforms Europe 1944 – 1945 by Cameron P. Laughlin & John P. Langellier

Dust Warfare: Campaign Book Hades by Andy Chambers and Mack Martin

 

June

Dust Warfare: Campaign Book Icarus by Andy Chambers and Mack Martin

iWoz Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I invented the personal computer, co-founded Apple, and had fun doing it by Steve Wozniak with Gina Smith

 

July

Commodore – a company on the edge by Brian Bagnall

Beast – Peter Benchley

 

Aug

Too Big To Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin

The Science of Battlestar Galactica by Patrick Di Justo and Kevin R. Grazier

Colonies in Space by T. A. Heppenheimer

Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future by Pope Francis and Austen Ivereigh

Books read January - April 2022

 Jan

Italian Aces of World War 1  by Paolo Varriale

Mister Rogers Neighborhood: A Visual History by Melissa Wagner, Tim Lybarger, Jenna McGuiggan

American Aces of World War 1 by Norman Franks

 

Feb

Austro-Hungarian Aces of World War 1  by Christopher Chant

Early German Aces of World War 1 by Greg VanWyngarden

The Costume Technician’s Handbook by Rosemary Ingham & Liz Covey

 

Mar

Blood Bowl – Spike! Presents 2021 Almanac! by Games Workshop Limited

Frostgrave Ghost Archipelago: Lost Colossus by Joseph A McCullough

Frostgrave: Forgotten Pacts by Joseph A McCullough

British and Empire Aces of World War 1 by Christopher Shores

Aces of Jagstaffel 17 by Greg VanWyngarden

 

Apr

The Art of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge by Amy Ratcliffe

A Billion Suns: Interstellar Fleet Battles by Mike Hutchinson

Aces of Jagdgeschwader Nr III by Greg VanWyngarden

 

Books read September to December 2021

 Sept

Pfalz Scout Aces of World War 1 by Greg VanWyngarden

The Frostgrave Folio by Joseph A. McCullough

Into the Breeding Pits by Joseph A. McCullough

Frostgrave: Ghost Archipelago by Joseph A. McCullough

Sopwith Pup Aces of World War 1 by Norman Franks

Blood Bowl: Death Zone – The Ultimate Blood Bowl Companion by Games Workshop Limited

 

Oct

SE 5/5a Aces of World War 1 by Norman Franks

Bristol F2 Fighter Aces of World War 1 by Jon Guttman

Shadow War: Armageddon by Games Workshop in Nottingham

Austro-Hungarian Albatros Aces of World War 1 by Paolo Varriale

 

Nov

Naval Aces of World War 1 Part 1 by Jon Guttman

Naval Aces of World War 1 Part 2 by Jon Guttman

Thaw of the Lich Lord by Joseph A. McCullough

 

Dec

Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 by Jon Guttman

Reconnaissance and Bomber Aces of World War 1 by Jon Guttman

Russian Aces of World War 1 by Victor Kulikov

Asterix and Obelix books

When my sister used to go to Brownies, which was held at a local library, we would hang around and peruse the stacks. This is where I was first introduced to some of the foreign graphic novels. This is where I first encountered Asterix & Obelix. They also had Tin Tin, and even Lucky Luke but you always had to be careful as some of the books were in French. 

Even back then, there were already a multitude of books in these series. The faux Roman and Gaul names really caught my fancy as did the antics of these two characters. 

 When I started working, one of the things I started buying was Asterix books. I did not get many though, due to availability and the quality of printing. The books from this era suffered from the same issue that the early Games Workshop books did – in that the glue that held the covers was noticeably lacking and would often separate. 

 Recently, while going through the books and magazine section in Walmart, I noticed three Asterix Omnibus collections. It seems Papercutz is reprinting the series in three-book collections. So I have been picking them up again. I have the first four already, and the fifth is coming out at the end of December. With volume 39 just being released in the regular series, I am about a third of the way there. 

 So far, my only complaint is that they name the Druid Panoramix as in the French versions, not Getafix as I am used to from earlier translations.

Books read - May to August 2021

May

Design for Death by Barbara Jones

Albatros Aces of World War 1 by Norman Franks

 

June

Albatros Aces of World War 1 Part 2 by Greg VanWyngarden

Frostgrave: Fantasy Wargames in the Frozen City by Joseph A. McCullough

Nieuport Aces of World War 1 by Norman Franks

Pusher Aces of World War 1 by Jon Guttman

SPAD VII Aces of World War 1 by Jon Guttman

 

July

Fokker Dr 1 Aces of World War 1 by Norman Franks and Greg VanWyngarden

Frostgrave: Perilous Dark by Joseph A. McCullough

Dolphin and Snipe Aces of World War 1 by Norman Franks

SPAD XII/XIII Aces of World War 1 by Jon Guttman

Sopwith Camel Aces of World War 1 by Norman Franks

 

Aug

Fokker D VII Aces of World War 1 Part 1 by Norman Franks and Greg VanWyngarden

Scale Aircraft Drawings Volume 1 – World War 1 by Air Age Publishing

Fokker D VII Aces of World War 1 Part 2 by Norman Franks and Greg VanWyngarden

Sopwith Triplane Aces of World War 1 by Norman Franks

Books Read January to April 2021

Jan

Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child

Blood Bowl: The Game of Fantasy Football – the official rules (season two) by Games Workshop

Doctor Who Character Encyclopedia by Jason Loborik, Annabel Gibson, Moray Laing, and Emma Grange

 

Feb

Cold Days by Jim Butcher

The Affair by Lee Child

Skin Game by Jim Butcher

 

Mar

Peace Talks by Jim Butcher

Battle Ground by Jim Butcher

Walt Disney World by Walt Disney Productions

Warhammer 40,000 Core Book (9th edition) by The Warhammer Studio

                         

Apr

Zorro, The Novel by Isabel Allende

 

 

 

Books read - September to December 2020

Sept

Fletch’s Fortune by Gregory Mcdonald

Warhammer 40,000 (8th edition) by Games Workshop in Nottingham

Die Trying by Lee Child

Tripwire by Lee Child

No Middle Name by Lee Child

Oct

Imperial Armour Apocalypse by Warwick Kinrade and Alan Bligh

Imperial Armour Apocalypse II by Alan Bligh

 

Nov

Harry Potter: Film Wizardry by Brian Sibley

The Gold Standard: Rules to Rule By by Ari Gold

Echo Burning by Lee Child

Without Fail by Lee Child

 

Dec

Persuader by Lee Child

One Shot by Lee Child

The Hard Way by Lee Child

Rebels and Patriots by Michael Leck & Daniel Mersey

Zona Alfa – Salvage and Survival in the Exclusion Zone by Patrick Todoroff

 

 

 

 

I didn't get anything painted in August.  I was mostly focused on papercraft.  I did pick up a few figures though.  

I had been looking at the Fallout: Wasteland Warfare at my local game shop for a while now.  My son is into Fallout and the game can be played solo if he is not interested.  It's been marked down 25% for a few months now and I keep picking it up and looking at it.  No-one has bought it as it has a huge gash in the bottom - like it had been dropped on the edge of a counter.

I had ordered Fallout Shelter and they brought in the Fallout: Wasteland Warfare: Survivors - Vault Personnel in error.  They saw that it was an error and offered it to me for $30 instead of the $40 it was.  I picked it up.  

The next week when I went back, I picked up the Wasteland Warfare starter and they gave me a further deal down to $55. 

Bought
Unmatched Cobble and Fog – 4
Dracula’s America – The Forsaken – 9
Fallout: Wasteland Warfare – 13
Fallout: Wasteland Warfare: Survivors: Vault Personnel – 4
Chronoscope – Horace ‘Action’ Jackson – 1
Chronoscope – Pulp Era Professor – 1
Reaper – Willow Greenivy – 1
WizKids – Timber Wolves – 2

Painted


Aug total – figures bought 35, figures painted 0
Running total 2020 – figures bought 110, figures painted 67