David Drake: The Complete Hammer's Slammers, Volume One (Night Shade Books; 2006; ISBN 978-1-892389-69-5; cover by John Berkey).

David Drake: The Complete Hammer's Slammers, Volume Two (Night Shade Books; 2006; ISBN 978-1-892389-73-2; cover by John Berkey).

David Drake: The Complete Hammer's Slammers, Volume Three (Night Shade Books; 2007; ISBN 978-1-892389-80-0; cover by David Martin).

As I read more and more of David Drake's books, I find that I did him something of a disservice in my earlier review of this series. It is only after going through the series, hearing a couple of interviews with him, and reading a chunk of additional tales (of varying lengths) that I see how lightly I dismissed his work.

And for that, I apologize.

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Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 08:03 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Following up on the previous entry, I really recommend a visit to The Agony Column's audio page and Adventures in Sci-Fi Publishing (silly name, that). I've been downloading podcasts like mad; and even if I've never heard of the author, or have had any interest in the genre being discussed, I've been finding a lot of stuff that is making its way to my wish list! more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 09:46 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I'll freely admit to having ignored this gentleman's work. There are two reasons, really: (a) I'm not as interested in fantasy as I am in science fiction; (b) other than a few exceptions, I tend to ignore long open-ended serial novels (especially if they fit the first category!).

However... more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 09:31 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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A friend passed on a link to an interview with Douglas R. Hofstadter, author of I am a Strange Loop as well as the (in)famous Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 09:10 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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NewDog likes to block the stairway from the deck to the yard, engaging OldDog in a stare down.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:07 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Yes, folks, even the end of the world can be funny. But you have to have been in a unit with a new butterbar to really appreciate something like this.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:04 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I am currently watching Being John Malkovich.

Posted by: JohnL at 10:03 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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So many books, so little time, so many ex-lovers to bury!

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 09:00 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The posting can now be read here.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 08:59 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Some good news from Mars. After several days of failed attempts at obtaining a soil sample that can be analyzed from the clumpy regolith of the Martian Arctic, the Mars Phoenix Lander shook a sample into its "oven." Now we wait for about a week to receive the results of the probe's thermal and evolved-gas analyzer. More here and here.

Posted by: JohnL at 09:12 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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My favorite song as a young child, and one that I still sing to my 8-year-old daughter, is My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.

Posted by: JohnL at 08:44 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Hmmm...time for another little ice age?

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 11:51 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Some nice pictures of early...valves...I mean, tubes! Great stuff, reminds me of my grandfather's amateur radio setup. More nifty stuff here, as well. You can find an occasional supplier, but it is becoming more difficult. more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 11:20 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Kim Stanley Robinson is a sad, bitter, depressing man.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 09:38 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Box turtles make really great pets.

Posted by: JohnL at 09:27 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The Board of Education, in their infinite wisdom "gave back" our snow days as extended weekends; now we need to close the school due to the heat.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 08:40 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I would advise against consuming liquids near a keyboard while reading John Ringo's AAR on RavenCon 2006.

Oh my aching sides...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 11:15 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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It's been so hot of late, that I'd wear a kilt, if I could get a hold of one.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 06:21 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I've scored a copy of Psychological Warfare by Paul A. Linebarger.

Who the heck is he, you ask? For shame!

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:45 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I returned home from a weekend visit to find my obituary of Sir Arthur C. Clarke spammed with 32 porno comments.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:32 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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