0031: Eureka?

Okay.. I just read the introduction to C.S. Friedman's In Conquest Born, and one thing stuck out in my mind. My desire to create new campaign world.Basically, the more I read, the more I find myself wanting to write for a while. It might be nothing but some poetry, but I find myself becoming more and more interested in picking back up those stories I started years and years ago.

Now, to fall soundly asleep

0032: Iron Heroes

Today, Aron and I went back to Best Buy. In case I haven't mentioned it (a distinct possibilty lately), the reason goes like this: Saturday before last, Aron decided that he wanted an iPod Shuffle (1 gig). We came back with it and set it up, only to find that it was a USED iPod. This wouldn't have mattered, but it was also DEFECTIVE, not to mentioned registered back in April! Instead of rushing out on Sunday to swap it out, I just bought him one from the Best Buy near my store, with the intention of returning the other at our earliest convenience. That was today, since he's been in Little Rock all week.

After it was returned, I decided that I wanted another Julie E. Czerneda novel. I absolutely loved her writing style, and the fresh way she presented sci-fi. So, we went across the street to Barnes & Noble (I like Borders, but it's at B&N that I have a membership card).

The first thing I saw when I walked in was the RPG section. (Does anyone else wax nostalgic for those RPG sections that places like Waldenbooks had in the late 80s? Those were the days.) I saw Midnight, Second Edition, The Secret of Zi'ran, and, most importantly, Iron Heroes by Malhavoc Press. We talked briefly about the various books there, but I picked up Iron Heroes, planning on showing Aron the archer class, but found myself unable to put it back when I was done.

I toted it with me while I browsed the fantasy/sci-fi section. I found another Czerneda novel. At first I was dismayed, because it was #2 in a series, but I couldn't find the first one. Then, on a lark, I peeked at the books inside (y'know, that page that lists other works by that author). What did I find, but that A Thousand Words for Stranger was book 1? :) I checked out the other books she had there, happily noting that Luis Royo was the cover artist for all of them. ("So that's where all those art pieces of Royo's first showed up," I said as I recognized yet ANOTHER cover.) I settled on the second book in the series I was already reading, though her Species Imperative series looks good, and the second book is only out in hardback, so I can probably find the first one in hardback, too.

We bought our purchases (he bought Robert's Rules of Writing, which I find to be an intriguing choice, and one that I must get at a later date, too), and left. We got food and came home. Rick was here, so Aron, Adam, and Rick left to go back to Little Rock. (Apparently, they needed Adam -- my youngest brother -- to help them finish this job.)

I began to read Iron Heroes, since I didn't feel like playing World of Warcraft. I only got through the first two chapters before I fell asleep reading it.I woke up, and began to read chapter three. The fact that the classes in it are not "professions" so much as "different combat styles" amazes me. Put simply, rather than being something you do (Rogue, Cleric, Mage), it is how you fight (Archer, Berserker, etc.). This, combined with the concept of not being beholden to magic items to make yourself a tougher opponent just really impresses me. I can't wait to finish this book!

My hat's off to you, mearls, for this tome. I'm already impressed, and I'm only at classes. What other great treats lie within?

0033: Got Icons?

My account was about to run out, so I signed up for another year, plus the extra icons. Heh. I have 72 available now. Some are great, some are not. I'm just filling space while I wait for inspiration. For the time being, my new default icon is the cover to Within Temptation's 2004 album, "The Silent Force". I'm gonna have to go through my extensive CD library, and see if anything demands to be an icon.

This is gonna be great. I imagine I'll be posting more, just to use these. *shrug* And if not, they at least are pretty.