“Ocean: A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man – who has no gills.”
– Ambrose Bierce
I object to the name sea “monster”. Its more like sea “awesome”.
The process of unmaking monsters is often as illuminating as the process of making them. Not debunking them, rather historically revising them, for certainly a “hoax is a hoax, of course, of course” and humans are indeed predisposed to regard the unfamiliar with horror (evolutionarily important, since before we figured out that rocks were good for hitting things over the head with, it was a good bet that the unfamiliar was distinctly interested in eating you), rather I’m speaking of the steady and inexorable reinterpretation of phenomena into noumena (that which is known without the use of senses) over time. The mechanism by which conventional wisdom asserts itself to explain away the anomalistic across the years…
That’s right wind-up salt and pepper bots for your table. Wave your geeky flag for all to see. When someone asks you to pass the salt … wind up the bot and march it to him.
I didn’t sleep well this week, and I’ve been in a bit of a mental fog. Last night, I only managed a couple of hours sleep before the morning thunderstorms rolled in …
The weather is nice and the flowers are blooming.
I’ve reviewed “The Casebook of Newbury & Hobbs” this week. It was a fun read. I’ve also made a video review of Legenderry #3.
On the gaming front, I’ve downloaded a couple of Steam games. I’m a bit old-fashioned when it comes to digital purchases. I’d rather have a physical copy. Having said that, Steam is a good deal. I guess that I need to join the 21st Century and embrace ebooks and Steam games.
My Klout score remains steady at 46, but my Youtube subscribers have increased to 481. That’s all for this week — have a great weekend!
As usual, Amazon can change the price at any moment so take some time to check that the price is still $0.00 before making your purchase.
INTRODUCING
HONOR HARRINGTON
Having made him look a fool, she’s been exiled to Basilisk Station in disgrace and set up for ruin by a superior who hates her.
Her demoralized crew blames her for their ship’s humiliating posting to an out-of-the-way picket station.
The aborigines of the system’s only habitable planet are smoking homicide-inducing hallucinogens.
Parliament isn’t sure it wants to keep the place; the major local industry is smuggling; the merchant cartels want her head; the star-conquering, so-called “Republic” of Haven is Up To Something; and Honor Harrington has a single, over-age light cruiser with an armament that doesn’t work to police the entire star system.
But the people out to get her have made one mistake. They’ve made her mad.
At the publisher’s request, this title is sold without DRM (DRM Rights Management).
This April 1st Sunday Driver (link) will release their new album “Flo”. Sunday Driver has a very unique sound that is a sort of fusion of folk, jazz, and classical Indian. The result is magical. I highly recommend them …
A collection of short stories detailing the supernatural steampunk adventures of detective duo, Sir Maurice Newbury and Miss Veronica Hobbes.
Along with Chief Inspector Bainbridge, Newbury and Hobbes will face plague revenants, murderous peers, mechanical beasts, tentacled leviathans, reanimated pygmies, and an encounter with Sherlock Holmes.
My thoughts:
Okay, I think by now that everyone who has visited Gnostalgia is aware of my love of steampunk, detective stories, and the paranormal, so it should come as no surprise that I enjoyed The Casebook of Newbury & Hobbes. Having said that, I had already read “The case of the Nightcrawler” in Encounters of Sherlock Holmes (see my review of —link).
The Casebook of Newbury & Hobbes is a collection of 15 short-stories from various times in the Newbury & Hobbes history. If you are not familiar with the characters or the stories, I don’t think that you will have any difficulty with these stories. Although, you would obviously enjoy the stories more having read: “The Affinity Bridge”, “The Osiris Ritual”, “The Immorality Engine”, and “The Executioners Heart”.
Despite having read “The case of the Nightcrawler”, it was by far my favorite story. Mann is an excellent story-teller, and in my opinion, is an essential read for the Neo-Victorian, steampunk, and Gothic fan. I give this collection of short-stories 4 1/2 stars out of 5 and highly recommend The Casebook of Newbury & Hobbes.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Titan Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Today we have a guest post by Tee Morris, co-writer of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences novels. The latest book, Dawn’s Early Light, is out March 25th, and I have been eagerly awaiting it! Check after the post for a giveaway from the Ministry team!
When I was asked what type of guest post I wanted for my part of this blog tour, my first thought was about the Fate game, Ministry Protocol, that they kickstarted last year. (I backed, of course.) I am very much looking forward to running this game for my group.
Undiscovered Country: When a Gamer becomes a Player
by Tee Morris
It’s one thing when you yourself are a gamer, but when you are on the verge of becoming a player in the gaming industry, that’s a whole different world. Pun intended.
I will be the first to admit that I am not a hardcore…
Originally posted on EsoterX:
The Casebook of Newbury & Hobbes (Newbury & Hobbes Investigation)
Originally posted on Just For Button:
