Dredd Vs PJ Maybe

I've just finished reading " Judge Dredd-the Complete PJ Maybe".At first I wasn't sure  how I felt about it, but as I read further I was pulled into the Murder mystery-like storyline.

It follows the story of PJ Maybe,  an intellectual genius who keeps his real intellect quiet while pursuing his psychotic misdeeds-most specifically murder.
The syle remind reminds me of Columbo-in the way it shows us the audience the murderer and how he did it, and then follows Dredd's frustrated investigations. I am intrigued enough now to try and track down the other Dredd Comics

For more of Judge Dredd see here:

the irresistable pull of the charity shop vortex

Yup..done it again...couldn't resist the charity shops and found 3 new books I could probably borrow from the library. Ah well the money was well spent..
I got one old scifi by John Scalzi "Zoe's Tale", the first of a fantasy series "The Shadow on the Glass", by Ian Irvine, and a near future novel called "By Light alone" The last is most intriguing to me as it has a n interesting concept whereby humans have been genetically engineered to be able to photosynthesise sunlight with our hair, therefore not needing to eat. Looking forward to that one..Though am still ploughing through Thraxis.

Just added to my reading wish list. Its getting rather long, I don't know how I will find the time, but it a long term project...

London Comica Festival

Oh dear only just found out about this, and wont be able to make as am busy that night. something to put in the diary for next year.
http://www.comicafestival.com/

I can make it!

Thraxas-werewolves and Poets

One of my favourite books recently is called "The Lonely Werewolf Girl",by Martin Miller. It is the tale of an outcast teen werewolf, her complicated family, and unlikely friendships. It is dark and blackly comic. I loved it immediately and wanted more. I of course bought the sequel "The Curse of the Werewolf Girl", as soon as I was aware of it's existence.
 Reading this was a little disappointing, however still an enjoyable read.
Since then I have wanted to read more Miller, and just haven't gotten around to it.Or so I thought....
It turns out that this king of dark poetry a light comic side to his  menu. I discovered today, his alter ego is Thraxas writer: Martin Scott!

Thraxas, by Martin Scott

As a libriarian I try to avoid buying books; however as a charity shop and Forbidden Planet addict I sometimes can't resist...






Yesterday I bought "Thraxas", and am almost halfway through it. It a comic fantasy about a jolly, though not so successful private eye, who stumbles about solving mysteries with the help of his part orc, part elf and part human friend Makri.

It's in no way a piece of literary art, but so far very enjoyable. The story includes secretive princesses, ex-gladiator warriors(Makri), elves , assasins and dragons. I will certainly be continuing to follow Thraxas' further adventures as a previous charity shop binge resulted in the purchase of  two other books in the series: "Thraxas Under Sea" and "Thraxas at War".

Firebrands-The Heroines of Science Fiction & Fantasy

Just stumbled on this book in the library by, Ron Miller, and Pamela Sargent. I was quite excited till I opened the book. It is a confusing book to view, as it appears like a male fantasy art book. It is filled with great portraits of fabulous female characters, with interesting information about the stories they are from,. however many of then are half naked or fully naked, with no explanation as to why. And again there are the warriors with armour on one arm or sexy breast plates that would not save them from a fatal wounding. Grr.
I am going to keep reading though because I would like to track down and read some of the stories mentioned.
The first really interesting one I've come across is:
The epic poem "Orlando Furioso" by Luvico Ariosto, written in the 1500s!
One of the characters Bradamant, the daughter of a duke, is also a knight who fights alongside her brothers and cousins.

I've also just discovered a rewritten version of the story of Bradamant here: