Sunday, October 28, 2012

Recent EReads and Acquisitions


I went through a couple of weeks of heavy school work with very little time to read, but finally turned on my Kindle yesterday and began reading some of the shorter stuff I’ve downloaded, as well as finishing up one book I started previously. Here’s my report on said stuff.

First up, I bought Blood and Tacos #3 several weeks ago but finally got around to reading the story I bought it for, “Blood & Sweetgrass: This Rez is Mine,” by Chris La Tray. I love the characters in this, and the high intensity action. I really am looking forward to seeing more about these characters. I will be reading the rest of this magazine as time permits.  This looks to be a very fine magazine and I’ve been remiss in not reading it until now.


Next, I picked up Savage Blood, a western novella from James Reasoner, featuring a one-armed gunfighter named Brodie. Brodie has been drifting since he came home from the war to find that his wife had left him for another man. But now she’s calling for his help, and Brodie responds, to find that she’s in a dirty fight against powerful foes. Soon, they’ll learn that hell hath no fury like a warrior scorned.

Like in all of Reasoner’s tales, you find an excellent mix of characters and action that pull you straight through the story until the end.


I also picked up a very strange item free from Smashwords called Skull Face Revealed, by Roberta E. Howard, which is billed as a “gender switch adventure.” I have heard of this writer before but have no idea who they really are. There is a picture of her at Smashwords, but I don’t know if this is the real author or not. I picked this up because it was free and I was curious.  Ms. Howard apparently writes tales that use Robert E. Howard’s  basic plots, settings and titles but reverses the gender of the hero. Some titles include “Red Nails, Polished,” and “Queen of the Black Coast, Recrowned.” I have started reading the one I have and will say the writing is certainly decent. I don’t really know what to make of this whole thing, though.

I picked up The Unexplained, a collection of terror tales from Christopher Fulbright, and The Fantastical Acquisition of the Sword of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna by Angeline Hawkes.  Fulbright and Hawkes are both writers whose work I have enjoyed before. Haven’t started reading either book yet, but they look intriguing.

I got a copy of “Fuckin’ Lie Down Already” by Tom Piccirilli. I’ve read a couple of Tom’s books and stories and enjoyed them, and Tom has recently been going through some serious medical issues related to brain tumors. I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt his mood to find his books climbing the charts, and no doubt the royalty money would come in handy as well. At Amazon, his author page is http://www.amazon.com/Tom-Piccirilli/e/B001ILM8YQ/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1351439567&sr=1-2-ent>here>.

I also got Hard Case, by Bernard DeLeo. Looking forward to reading it since I’ve really liked some of the other books by him I’ve read, such as The Defenders and Cold Blooded.

There are a lot more I could talk about but wow this blog post is starting to get pretty long so I’ll cut it off there. 
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25 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

On a horror kick right now?

Deka Black said...

Fun trivia: "Tacos", in spanish, have various meanings. It can mean the food... or, in some places "swearing words" (and very dirty ones)

Oscar Case said...

Looks as if you have a mighty fine lot of reading to do. We just can't reduce our backlogs, since we just gotta have that next book that sounds so good.

Golden Eagle said...

Gender switch adventures? That's an unusual idea.

Travis Cody said...

I hate it when time to read is sparce. But I love the feeling when the schedule clears and I'm able to sit down with my Kindle again.

X. Dell said...

The Unexplained looks interesting.

Charles Gramlich said...

Alex, Savage Blood is actually a western, despite the title. There's some noir elements in some of the rest. The unexplained is horror, for Halloween. :)

Deka, I did not know that about tacos. interesting.

Oscar, indeed so.

Golden Eagle, despite it being very pastiche inspired, she has gotten more press than I get for my books. Sigh.

Travis Cody, and I always have plenty of stuff on there.

X. Dell, Fulbright is an inventive writer so I'm sure I'll enjoy those tales.

Deka Black said...

Thanks Charles ;)

nephite blood spartan heart said...

I had heard of Roberta E. Howard but wasn't sure what to make of that either.

Cloudia said...

thanks for the finds




Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral

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Adventuresfantastic said...

I need to check out the Reasoner, Fulbright, and Hawkes titles. The Roberta Howard, well, I'm not so sure.

sage said...

We read such different stuff, but blood and tacos, that's classic--Mexican horror

Charles Gramlich said...

David J., her stuff is free on Smashwords at the moment.

Cloudia, no prob.

Keith, tis passing strange, for sure.

Sage, I read a lot for entertainment, which I get the feeling you don't do as much. I do read quite a lot of nonfic as well but it's not as intersting to talk about for me usually.

David Cranmer said...

You have given me ideas with a few titles I have missed.

Prashant C. Trikannad said...

Charles, I've had a couple of good experiences with new ebooks by new authors on the internet. There's some really good talent out there not to mention innovation. Roberta E. Howard sounds like a pseudonym for it's too close to the famous writer.

Lauren said...

Sometimes it is the scarcity of something that really makes you appreciate it! I'm glad you were able to get in a little reading time. Those all sound really interesting.

Randy Johnson said...

I have all three Blood & Tacos, just haven't gotten to them yet. you know how it is.

laughingwolf said...

sound grand...

curious: how does a one-armed cowboy load his guns?

or is he just a cowboy, and not a shootist, too?

the question then: how does he hold the reins, and throw the lasso?

Rick Robinson said...

I just bought BLOOD AND TACOS also, both for Chris' story and the rest. Looking forward to reading it!

Charles Gramlich said...

David Cranmer, glad to be of assistance.

Prashant, Yes, I imagine Roberta is a pseudonym. I admit I'm kind of curious about the writer's true identity.

Lauren, when I get a little reading time I always want more. Give me a paragraph and I'll take a page. :)

Randy, indeed I do.

Laughingwolf, it would definitely make life a bit tougher. Wouldn't likely be a swift reload.

Richard R., I think you'll enjoy Blood and sweetgrass.

Greg said...

I've read a few things by Tom too and been impressed. I had no idea about his medical issues. Thanks for the link to his Amazon page.

Greg said...

... And I'm picking up a copy of A Choir of Ill Children. Never seen that one before.

Vesper said...

Charles, thanks! I’m tempted to pick up “Blood and Tacos”… And also “The Fantastical Acquisition…” – I think I’ll buy this if only for the title! “Hard Case” I have it already.

(*big sigh*) When, when, when will I be able to read everything I want to read? :-)

Charles Gramlich said...

Greg, I've not read that one by Tom but it certainly has gotten good press.

Vesper, I know what you mean. Reading time is precious, and ephemeral.

Chris said...

Charles, thanks for the plug, and thanks for reading B&T. It's a lot of fun to be a part of.