Ad Astra's site is listing convention dates as April 5-7.

The man is a brilliant artist. If I had room left on the walls in my apartment, I'd buy some of his artwork.

Since my wife is a Jim fan and her birthday fell very close to the GS release date, I got her a Jim-signed copy of the book PLUS a full-sized print of the GS cover signed by both Jim and Chris. It's freaking GORGEOUS. It's up on the wall next to our print of Priscellie's Alera map.

Yeah I am a strong atheist but I have always totally hated it when books start to sermonize on the values and wisdom of atheism. Characters can have the values. The story is there to entertain not convert.

Well said.

The Genere is very legitimate.  And perhaps I let a little bit of my own disgust with paranormal romance writers who come on over to the fantasy scene and try to sell me, 'paranormal romance' packaged as urban fantasy.

That said.  Just as there are hum-de-dum writers in the fantasy scene who are more interested in their word count than producing a believeable story with consistent characters, in my few experience the paranormal romance scene has its fair share of inconsistent characters and books that are light on consistent believability as origionally put to paper by the writer and later modified to suit whatever fancy they felt like writing that day.

I've seen good and I've seen bad.  I wasn't labeling the whole genre with a wide brush.  I was just pointing to the stinky underbelly.

And yes I'm a little biased.


The Deposed King

I have sort of the same feelings, but not singling out authors in a particular genre; it's more towards authors who are... well, just not up to snuff, period. I do have my preferences and personal tastes, sure, but it's more a question of "Did the author execute exactly what he/she intended to do? And did they do so in a way that's smart, readable and not dumbed-down?" If so, then they have my respect, regardless of genre. If not... you can figure out the rest. But in the end, what it comes down to is this: if they're published, that's a real achievement and not one to be sneered at.

Stephenie Myers is a perfect example. Her writing is NOT to my taste. And some of the underlying concepts in Twilight's characters set my teeth on edge. I tried to read her stuff, I truly did, but I couldn't make it far at all. Be all that as it may, she had a target with her writing, and she nailed it dead center. For that, she has my sincere respect.

You're right.  There's a lot of drek out there. 

I wouldn't call it dreck. Paranormal romance, although not something that's to my personal taste, is a legitimate subgenre. Besides, Jim's wife writes paranormal romance, and I am NOT going to slam her work.

Just find a cat and you will be safe, Shecky wouldnt dare to harm someone under the protection of our feline overlords..

No, the cat may have grown bored with his current staff. I would have to do the Feline Master's bidding in that case.

Approaching 7ft.

Then it's the perfect height for a home-run swing.

It's april 2nd rapidly approaching april 3rd, a bit late for an april fools joke don't you think?

Every day is a perfect day to mess with people.