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Top 10 Books I read in 2012

December 27, 2012 Mathias Leave a comment

Comments on this list before I begin. First of all, this is not a top 10 list of books published in 2012 that I read. This is a top 10 list of books that I read in 2012, regardless of year published. Only books that I read for the first time in 2012 qualify for the list. For example, I reread The Black Company by Glen Cook. which I have rated at 4.75 stars and my #18 favorite book. However, because it is a reread, it does not qualify for this list. Lastly, these are my opinions, and my opinions alone. Read more…

Categories: Book Reviews Tags: Abraham Lincoln, Alchemist, Amp, Empire, Favorite Book, Games, Glen Cook, Grahame Smith, Heir, Hunger, Lincoln, List Of Books, Michael J Sullivan, O Malley, Rook, Seth, Suzanne Collins, Swords, Tina, Top 10 List, Vampire Hunter

Is It Me, Or Is Dark Fantasy “Just Getting Lazier”?

December 13, 2012 Mathias Leave a comment

In an episode of Family Guy, Peter is listening to the police scanner. Brian walks in and remarks, upon hearing a crime being reported, by saying, “Is it just me, or is rap music just getting lazier?”

Well, I have come to believe something similar when it comes to what is popularly known as “dark fantasy”. Dark fantasy is that sort of fantasy where you have an anti-hero with morally questionable motives. Decades ago, I read The Black Company by Glen Cook. It’s a great piece of dark fantasy, following a band of anti-heroes (The Black Company) and narrated by an analyst (named Croaker) who has a knack for coming up with really fun, yet bizarre, ways of describing common occurrences and The Company’s exploits. Read more…