As long time readers of my pixels know, I suffer from both multiple sclerosis (MS) and fibromyalgia (FM) (and some argue delusions of grandeur… but I’ll leave that for others to determine). I’m not going into exactly what MS or FM are (follow the links above for explanations), but they’re both chronic, incurable illnesses that vary in severity from moderately annoying to debilitating. My primary MS symptoms include severe fatigue, numbness, double vision, and spasticity (stiffness). My FM primarily focuses on constant pain, that changes due to the weather, fatigue and other factors, around the joints.

An MRI of my brain with lesions typical of people with multiple sclerosis

Over the past five months, I’ve developed this pain along my right rib cage (if I was baseball player, they’d be talking about my oblique injury). It comes and goes and can be quite severe at times. Nothing short of pain drugs seems to help it, but not always. Sometimes exercise makes it better but then the same exercise can at times make it worse. Same rules apply to sleep or no sleep. There is no structural damage or pulled muscles. It’s a different kind of pain than FM. After 12 years with FM, I recognize that particular feeling.

Confounded, my doctor sent me to physical therapy. In Austin we are lucky enough to have a physical therapist who not only specializes in MS but actually has MS herself! Her understanding helps greatly.

After a half a dozen visits, nothing was working. I was already doing the daily stretches that should have alleviated the pain. (I start my day with roughly 30 minutes of stretching. Helps incredibly with the FM.) Again it sometimes felt better after stretching, some times worse. Now of the traditional PT worked. The only thing she didn’t try was heat, which usually exacerbates the MS. The fact that the pain comes and goes in no discernible pattern lead to the idea that the pain maybe caused by spasticity. (There are no diagnostic tests for most MS symptoms. Just diagnosis through process of elimination.) The muscle stiffness along my side is quite literally stretching apart my ribs, causing the pain. While this won’t kill me, it can be very uncomfortable and lead to other issues such as poor posture and other pain.

A four-lead TENS unit.

At my last visit, the therapist suggested a TENS unit to me. The Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation unit sends a small electrical current into the body to stimulate the nerves. The theory with me is that the unit might “loosen” up some of the spaciticity, affording me some relief without pain meds. No one is sure if this will “correct” the issue but it certainly won’t make things worse.

She loaned me an Empi Select unit. The device is amazingly simple. Basically attach the four leads around the area of the pain, usually along the muscles or nerve clusters. You then turn on the unit, adjusting the charge as needed. The only bad places are the eyes and neck.

I’ve used it on and off for a week and it does offer some relief for a few hours after using it for a ½ hour or so. I’ve also used it on some other regions affected by FM (different type of pain, caused by different factors) with some success. Keeping the device all depends on how much my insurance covers of it. But I plan on using it for my various pains while I can! Far better than relying on pills.

Shocking relief was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Strange Adventures #1
Written by Selwyn Hinds, Tala Hershewe, Peter Milligan, Lauren Beukes, Jeff Lemire, Ross Campbell, Kevin Colden, Paul Cornell, and Brian Azzarello
Art by Denys Cowan, Juan Bobillo, Sylvain Savoia, Inaki Miranda, Jeff Lemire, Ross Campbell, Kevin Colden, Goran Sudžuka, and Eduardo Risso
Cover by Paul Pope

Promo copy:

Don’t miss this eighty page collection of science fiction short stories from some of Vertigo’s all-time greats, as well as the hot new talents of tomorrow! From the far reaches of space to the not so distant future, we bring you eight science-fiction stories as only Vertigo can do them. Plus: the Eisner Award-winning 100 BULLETS team of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso reunite to bring you the first chapter of their upcoming new series SPACEMAN!

Abattoir Issue #5
Created by: Darren Lynn Bousman
Concept by: Michael Peterson
Written by: Rob Levin, Troy Peteri
Illustrated by: Bing Cansino
Cover art by: Tae Young Choi

Promo copy:

Radical’s ABATTOIR, from horror director Darren Lynn Bousman (SAW franchise, REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA), steadily inches toward its horrifying last act in ABATTOIR #5! Desperate to clear his name and reclaim his life, Richard Ashwalt searches frantically to unravel the deadly mysteries surrounding the strange old man at the root of his troubles: Jebediah Crone. But as the final pieces of this puzzle begin to come together, Richard must come to terms with a series of disturbing truths that may shatter his already fragile psyche.

Basic Anatomy for the Manga Artist: Everything You Need to Start Drawing Authentic Manga Characters
by Christopher Hart
Cover by Roberta Pares

Promo copy:

This most basic and complete book on manga anatomy ever written is targeted to beginners, the widest segment of manga fans. The latest from bestselling author Chris Hart is not your father’s anatomy book, it’s an anatomy book strictly for the manga artist. Packed with dynamic step-by-step demonstrations detailing how to draw correctly proportioned manga faces and bodies, plus lots of tips and tricks of the trade, this practical guide has everything aspiring beginners need to start drawing convincing manga characters.

Tom Strong and the Robots of Doom
Written by Peter Hogan
Art by Chris Sprouse and Karl Story

Promo copy:

Tom Strong, the popular “science hero” created by Alan Moore, returns in a new epic starring Nazi robots, super-powered villains and political intrigue.

As Tom Strong and his family prepare to celebrate a wedding, the unthinkable happens: Before their eyes, reality alters to become a world conquered by Nazis and ruled by Tom’s nefarious son, Albrecht. What mysterious secret from Tom’s past has brought about this catastrophe? To overthrow Albrecht and restore the world he knew, Tom must find a way to journey back in time and seek help from the only man he can trust: himself. But will even two Tom Strongs be enough to stop the Robots of doom?

Graphic Novels/Comics received 6/2/11 was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Over the past couple of months, I’ve had several discussions with first time authors about their first book signings. After some twenty years of working in bookstores and producing my own works, I’ve accumulated a lot of info and opinions on the subject.

Back in 2000, I devoted two of my “Geeks With Books” columns to the subject of bookstore signings, one for authors and the other for booksellers. Neither of the columns are currently available online but were reprinted in my collection Geek Confidential. Since this subject has come up recently, I thought I’d reprint the articles. The author one today and the bookseller piece in the near future.

As I reviewed the essay I was surprised to discover that even with all the changes in publishing over the past ten years (ebooks, etc), these guidelines still apply to author appearances.

Don’t Make Me Call You Mama

After many false starts, the talented Mark London Williams recently published his first novel. Mark is an award winning playwright, acclaimed journalist, and a part-time comic book scripter. To his already impressive resume he can now add young adult novelist with Danger Boy: Ancient Fire, a rollicking time travel adventure that introduced the world to its eponymous hero.

Mark planned on promoting his book by attending several signings (including one at Book People), and so weeks before the book came out, he and I discussed signing etiquette. Mark had done many things but a signing was not one of them. Being the helpful, opinionated guy that I am, I came up with a few guidelines that I thought I’d share with the rest of the class.

1) Be pleasant to your fans. They are the ones who put the food on the table.

You would be amazed how many authors I have met that do not follow this simple creed. Fans have long memories. They always remember the assholes. Smile. Thank everyone who showed up. Be humble: you are never as important as the person who has come to see you. NEVER. I don’t care if you are Stephen King or even if you think you are. Without the readers you are NOTHING!

No writer typifies this better than Michael Moorcock. Most of you reading this column are well aware of this legendary writer. I have been lucky enough to host a half dozen or so of his events. Every single fan who comes and sees Moorcock goes away feeling like he has touched them in some way. He is pleasant to everyone. Always makes time to say hello and often some small talk. Moorcock feels if it is important enough for someone to come to his signing then it is his duty to treat this person with respect. He understands the creed.

2) Be pleasant to the booksellers. Remember they want to sell your book as bad as you do.

There is no call for being rude to the booksellers. No matter how much you think they screwed up your event or that they treat you like you are nothing special. (And let me tell you, after meeting like a zillion authors you realize that they all put their pants on one leg at a time.)
Booksellers have even longer memories than fans, and they are the ones that hopefully will be promoting your books. Happy bookseller = better sales.

At Book People almost every employee recognizes Neal Barrett, Jr. on sight. Why is that? It’s because Neal takes the time to greet everyone. To make the time to be pleasant to them. He is not above them. Neal is always willing and ready to sign books. No matter what kind of hurry he might be in. It doesn’t matter to him. He will stop and sign that book. And always with a smile. And the results? Neal Barrett, Jr. is one of the bestselling authors at Book People. And I don’t just mean genre. I mean over all. Neal being Neal makes everyone want to sell his books.

3) Don’t be angry if no one shows up, especially if the bookstore promoted your signing.

Bookstores are in the business of selling books and they will usually do everything in their power to do so. You can expect them to promote the event. What constitutes promotion? Well more than just a sign in the window is a good start. An author can expect a display of their most recent title and either an ad or a mailing. If the store has a newsletter, a mention there is expected as well. But sometimes all this doesn’t work.

Even successful writers have poor signings. The abovementioned Neal Barrett, Jr. is a fine example. Book People hosted an event for the paperback releases of Hereafter Gang and Interstate Dreams, and even though Barrett is one of the store’s bestselling authors, no one showed up. Not a soul. The books sold very well before and after the signing with Hereafter bouncing on and off the Book People bestseller list.

Stores cannot force people to come. And a poor turnout is not a reflection upon the author or the store. Almost every writer has a horror story about some poorly attended event. The best thing to do in this case is to thank the bookstore for having you and to sign as much inventory as they request. Signed books will often sell for weeks after the event. For whatever reason, some fans do not like to meet the author but love to have a signed book.

4) Don’t be too demanding.

There is a major author who has four pages of conditions for store appearances. Her demands include a table of a certain height, special cheese, special pens, and entertainment for the people in line. No matter how famous you are (or think you are), bookstores get real pissy about unreasonable requests. Four pages of demands is too much. Reasonable requests are just fine. Things like a place to sit, water, even a special type of soda are fine. Just keep this in mind: there is a fine line between eccentricity and insanity.

5) Be prepared to do more than sign.

The most popular authors are the ones who do more than sign. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. No one expects a multimedia show (though sometimes it’s nice). A simple reading and/or Q&A session will do.

Any of you out there ever been to a Joe R. Lansdale signing? If you have, I bet one of the key things you remember is Lansdale reading his marvelous stories with that thick East Texas accent of his. (For the uninitiated out there, Texas is sooooo big that we actually have regional accents. There is a difference between a East and West Texas fella.) Not only does he read from his latest work but he started taking requests. Even people who have all his books signed show up just to hear him read.

The single most important thing to remember is to behave the way your mother taught you. Don’t make us call your mom.

And how did Mark do? About 100 kids showed up and four months later his book continues to sell. He was gracious and friendly. Answered all the kids’ questions. Even did a little reading. In other words, he was GREAT. Mark has been invited back in October for the release of the second Danger Boy, Dino Sword.

Signing Etiquette for Authors was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

One of the many reasons I enjoy writing for Moving Pictures is that I occasionally get to review non-geek fair such as Submarine.

Check out my entire review over at Moving Pictures.

The charming, off-kilter Submarine was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Last night I saw Terence Malick‘s acclaimed film Tree of Life. The beautiful movie amazingly mystified and produced utter boredom at the same time. Magnificent and often emotionally detached, Malick created an intriguing mediation on the cycle of life; one which I’m not sure I ever care to see again but at the same time I think highly of… perhaps. I know, quite the conundrum and somewhat surprising from me since I usually have a definitive opinion on damn near everything.

Despite the film’s long emotionless periods, the acting was exemplary especially from Jessica Chastain and Brad Pitt, who also served as one of the producers.

And that is where we come to the unexpected connection.

Deciding I needed a more traditional narrative structure and the fact that X-Men: First Class premieres next week, I watched Kick-Ass this morning. Helmed by Matthew Vaughn (director of the forthcoming X film, natch) and based on the twisted graphic novel by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr, Kick-Ass posits a vision of what if an ordinary geek decided to become a super-hero. While I’d read the book years ago, I had never seen the lauded film version until this morning. (I know… I’ll turn my geek card in later. I swear.) I enjoyed Kick-Ass, though much like the original book, it entertained me but ultimately proved to be yet another nihilistic, Millar vision of super heroes.

So the connection? The opening credits roll on Kick-Ass: Lo and behold there’s Mr. Pitt again listed as one of the producers. (He’s produced 17 movies, several of which he doesn’t appear.) Beyond the fact that both Tree of Life and Kick-Ass might be classified as fantasies they couldn’t be much different. The former, a lyrical, haunting mediation on the nature of life and perhaps reality. The latter a bombastic mediation on the ugly nature of violence.

It all struck me as kind of odd in a cool, cosmic-balancing kind of way.

An Unexpected Brad Pitt Connection was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

[  Mood: Scared ]
[  Currently: Listening to the neighbourhood kids playing street hockey ]
We have all heard of the Nigerian Scam. You know, the one where a Nigerian Prince or a deposed government member of some nation you have barely heard of or someone related to one of them, is trying to get money out of the country. Or maybe they are trying to rightfully reclaim their fortune. The why doesn’t really matter. What matters is that they want you to help them. Your reward would be a cut of the millions this person was trying to shuttle out of Africa. All you needed to do was give him your bank account information.

And clearly it works, because they keep coming up with new variations every few months. And I have gotten all of them. But even I have to admit that the one below is a unique and clever.

Now you got to admit this is clever. They are clearly thinking about a new spin on the old scam, and perhaps a way to hit old victims again.

But again, it has all the earmarks of a scam.

1. It is not specifically addressed to me.

2. It uses the names of International organizations or business to gain credibility. (In this case the UN)

3. It uses ridiculous amounts of money as bait.

Caveat emailer. But these things wouldn’t work if their weren’t people out there who thought they could make a quick buck at the expense of "the man". As Mickey always said, "You can’t cheat an honest man."

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights

Promo copy:

With stories by acclaimed writers including Geoff Johns, Alan Burnett and Dave Gibbons, this DC Universe Animated Original Movie explores the rich mythology of the Green Lantern universe through six interlocking chapters. While awaiting a battle with Krona, an ancient enemy of the Guardians of the Universe, Earth’s Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Kilowog, Sinestro and other members of the Green Lantern Corps recount their greatest adventures to new recruit Arisia – everything from tales of the first Lantern to the ominous events that led to the Corps’ Blackest Night! The power-packed voice cast includes Nathan Fillion, Jason Isaacs, Elisabeth Moss, Henry Rollins and Arnold Vosloo.

Special Features (blu ray only):

Sneak Peek at upcoming DC Universe animated movie “Batman: Year One”
Sneak Peek at “All-Star Superman"

Featurette:“Only the Bravest: Tales of The Green Lantern Corps”
Featurette: “Why Green Lantern Matters: The Talent of Geoff Johns"
Feature Film Commentary with Dan DiDio and Geoff Johns

Pod: “From Comic Book to Screen: Abin Sur”
Pod: “From Comic Book to Screen: Laira Omoto"
This short pod will take a peek into Geoff John’s Green Lantern Secret Origin book, which for the first time, showed fans what really happened to Abin Sur before he crashed landed on Earth, and passed on his ring to Hal Jordan.

Bruce Timm’s Picks:

-Excerpt from “The Siege of Starro! Part One” from “Batman: The Brave and The Bold”
-“Revenge of The Reach!” from “Batman: The Brave and The Bold”

Digital Comic: Green Lantern

Warner continues this annoying trend of blue ray-only bonus material. Some of us without a blu ray (or even an HD TV) might be interested in these extras.

The Company Men

Promo copy:

Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck) is living the proverbial American dream: great job, beautiful family, shiny Porsche in the garage. When corporate downsizing leaves him and co-workers Phil Woodward (Chris Cooper) and Gene McClary (Tommy Lee Jones) jobless, the three men are forced to re-define their lives as men, husbands and fathers.

Bobby soon finds himself enduring enthusiastic life coaching, a job building houses for his brother-in-law (Kevin Costner) that does not play to his executive skill set, and perhaps — the realization that there is more to life than chasing the bigger, better deal. With humor, pathos, and keen observation, writer-director John Wells (the creator of “ER”) introduces us to the new realities of American life.

Kill the Irishman

Promo copy:

Over the summer of 1976, thirty-six bombs detonated in the heart of Cleveland while a turf war raged between Irish mobster Danny Greene (Ray Stevenson) and the Italian mafia. Based on a true story, KILL THE IRISHMAN chronicles Greene’s heroic rise from a tough Cleveland neighborhood to become an enforcer in the local mob. Turning the tables on loan shark Shondor Birns (Christopher Walken) and allying himself with gangster John Nardi (Vincent D’Onofrio), Greene stops taking orders from the mafia and pursues his own power. Surviving countless assassination attempts from the mob and killing off anyone who went after him in retaliation, Danny Greene’s infamous invincibility and notorious fearlessness eventually led to the collapse of mafia syndicates across the U.S. and also earned him the status of the man the mob couldn’t kill.

Written and directed by Jonathan Hensleigh and also starring Val Kilmer, Paul Sorvino and Linda Cardellini, KILL THE IRISHMAN is inspired by Rick Porello’s true crime account “To Kill The Irishman: The War That Crippled The Mafia.”

DVDs received 5/23/11 was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

For the May Nexus Graphica column, I decided to forgo my usual monthly missives in favor of a column devoted to recent reads (and views). I reviewed four graphic novels (iZombie: Dead to the World, Stumptown Volume 1: The Case of the Girl Who Took her Shampoo (But Left her Mini), Bulletproof Coffin, and Buffalo Speedway Volume 2) and one DVD (Thor: Tales of Asgard).

Next month, I’ll return with a more traditionally Nexus Graphica-style piece.

A Little of This… A Little of That was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Robopocalypse
by Daniel H. Wilson

Promo copy:

In the near future, at a moment no one will notice, all the dazzling technology that runs our world will unite and turn against us. Taking on the persona of a shy human boy, a childlike but massively powerful artificial intelligence known as Archos comes online and assumes control over the global network of machines that regulate everything from transportation to utilities, defense and communication. In the months leading up to this, sporadic glitches are noticed by a handful of unconnected humans – a single mother disconcerted by her daughter’s menacing “smart” toys, a lonely Japanese bachelor who is victimized by his domestic robot companion, an isolated U.S. soldier who witnesses a ‘pacification unit’ go haywire – but most are unaware of the growing rebellion until it is too late.

When the Robot War ignites — at a moment known later as Zero Hour — humankind will be both decimated and, possibly, for the first time in history, united. Robopocalypse is a brilliantly conceived action-filled epic, a terrifying story with heart-stopping implications for the real technology all around us…and an entertaining and engaging thriller unlike anything else written in years.

DANIEL H. WILSON earned a Ph.D. in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University. He is the author of such nonfiction works as How to Survive a Robot Uprising. Wilson lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife and daughter.

Haven (Trial of Blood & Steel, Book 4)
by Joel Shepherd
Cover by David Palumbo

Promo copy:

The great powers of the Saalshen Bacosh are falling. The feudal army of the Regent Balthaar Arosh marches victorious across Rhodaan and Enora, determined to restore the old human ways that were abolished by the serrin of Saalshen two centuries before. The army of Lenayin marches in their wake, in shame. The greater battle was won, yet Lenayin’s part in it was defeat, their king slain, their warriors sent running from the field.

Sashandra Lenayin marches with her people, yet she sees the carnage the Regent’s armies are inflicting upon her former allies, and like most Lenays, she feels dishonored. Sasha leads three quarters of the army of Lenayin to defect and fight for Saalshen, leaving her brothers Koenyg and Myklas with the Verenthane hardliners to fight for the Regent.

All forces now converge on the city of Jahnd, an Enoran word meaning “Haven.” A city of humanity’s refugees in Saalshen, its serrin hosts have allowed it to build into a major power over the centuries, humankind’s only outpost in Saalshen. But the Saalshen Bacosh’s third province, the mountainous land of Ilduur, refuses to come to the aid of its neighbors and without it victory is impossible. Sasha must lead a delegation to the Ilduuri capital, to combat the xenophobic Ilduuri regime’s retreat into isolation, and convince the Ilduuri army to defy their own leaders and rise up in rebellion to fight a foreign war that most Ilduuris do not want.

To save Saalshen and all that she loves about Lenayin, Sasha must become a true Lenay warlord, feared and hated by her enemies, uncompromising and all conquering. But will her own people now inflict upon her one of her worst nightmares, by insisting that she, and not her brother Damon, should assume the Lenay throne and lead her people in the greatest battle that the land of Rhodia has ever seen?

Nights of Villjamur
by Mark Charan Newton
Cover by David Stevenson

Promo copy:

Beneath a dying red sun sits the proud and ancient city of Villjamur, capital of a mighty empire where humans coexist with the birdlike garda race, the reptilian rumel who can live for hundreds of years, and the eerie banshees whose forlorn cries herald death. But now all life is threatened by an encroaching ice age. Throngs of refugees gather outside the city gates, while within, tragedy forces the Emperor’s elder daughter, Jamur Rika, to assume the throne. Joined by her younger sister, Jamur Eir, the new queen takes pity on the common people—and takes counsel from dashing teacher Randur Estevu, who is not what he seems. Meanwhile, a grisly murder draws rumel investigator Rumex Jeryd into a web of corruption—and an obscene conspiracy that imperils the lives of Rika and Eir and the future of Villjamur itself. But far north, where the drawn-out winter has already begun, an even greater danger appears, against which all the empire’s military and magical power may be useless—a threat from another world.

The Scarab Path (Shadows of the Apt, Book 5)
by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Cover by Jon Sullivan

Promo copy:

The war with the Wasp Empire has ended in a bitter stalemate, and Collegium has nothing to show for it but wounded veterans. Cheerwell Maker finds herself crippled in ways no doctor can mend, haunted by ghosts of the past that she cannot appease, seeking for meaning in a city that no longer seems like home. The Empress Seda is regaining control over those imperial cities who refused to bow the knee to her, but she draws her power from something more sinister than mere armies and war machines. Only her consort, the former spymaster Thalric, knows the truth, and now the assassins are coming and he finds his life and his loyalties under threat yet again. Out past the desert of the Nem the ancient city of Khanaphes awaits them both, with a terrible secret entombed beneath its stones…

Books received 5/16/11 was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

The War That Came Early: West and East
by Harry Turtledove
Cover by Carlos Beltran

Promo copy:

What if British prime minister Neville Chamberlain had defied Hitler? What if the Munich Accord had gone unsigned, and Nazi Germany had launched its bid for conquest sooner? How would World War II have unfolded—and with what consequences? Dean of alternate history Harry Turtledove has the stunning answers in his breathtaking sequel to Hitler’s War.

In the wake of Hitler’s bold invasion of Czechoslovakia, nations turn against nations, old enemies form new alliances, and ordinary men and women confront extraordinary life-and-death situations. An American marine falls in love with a Russian dancer in Japanese-held Singapore, as Chinese guerilla resistance erupts. A sniper on the frontlines of France finds a powerful new way to ply his deadly art—while a German assassin hunts him. In the icy North Atlantic, as a U-boat with a secret weapon wreaks havoc on British ships, occupying Nazi forces target Denmark. And in Germany, a stranded American woman encounters Hitler himself, as a Jewish family faces the rising tide of hatred. From Siberia to Spain, armies clash, sides are chosen, new weapons raise the deadly ante, and new strategies seek to break a growing stalemate. But one question hangs over the conflict from West to East: What will it take to bring America into this war?

Wayfinder
by C. E. Murphy

Promo copy:

THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE—IF IT DOESN’T KILL YOU FIRST

Lara Jansen is a truthseeker, gifted—or cursed—with the magical ability to tell honesty from lies. Once she was a tailor in Boston, but now she has crossed from Earth to the Barrow-lands, a Faerie world embroiled in a bloody civil war between Seelie and Unseelie. Armed with an enchanted and malevolent staff which seeks to bend her to its dark will, and thrust into a deadly realm where it’s hard to distinguish friend from foe, Lara is sure of one thing: her love for Dafydd ap Caerwyn, the Faerie prince who sought her help in solving a royal murder and dousing the flames of war before they consumed the Barrow-lands.

But now Dafydd is missing, perhaps dead, and the Barrow-lands are closer than ever to a final conflagration. Lara has no other choice: she must harness the potent but perilous magic of the staff and her own truthseeking talents, blazing a path to a long-forgotten truth—a truth with the power to save the Barrow-lands or destroy them.

The Measure of the Magic: Legends of Shannara
by Terry Brooks

Promo copy:

After more than three decades of captivating epic fantasy readers, the storytelling magic of New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks’s Shannara saga continues to enthrall. Now the fascinating chronicle of Shannara’s prehistory reaches a thrilling new peak in the sequel to Bearers of the Black Staff.

For five hundred years, the survivors of the Great Wars lived peacefully in a valley sanctuary shielded by powerful magic from the blighted and dangerous outside world. But the enchanted barriers have crumbled, the borders have been breached by predators, and the threat of annihilation looms large once more. Sider Ament, bearer of the last black staff and its profound power, devoted his life to protecting the valley and its inhabitants—and, in his final moments, gave stewardship of the black staff to the young tracker Panterra Qu. Now the newly anointed Knight of the Word must take up the battle against evil wherever it threatens: from without, where an army of bloodthirsty trolls is massing for invasion; and from within, where the Elf king of Arborlon has been murdered, his daughter, Princess Phryne Amarantyne, stands accused, and a heinous conspiracy is poised to subjugate the kingdom. But even these will pale beside the most harrowing menace Panterra is destined to confront—a nameless, merciless figure who wanders the devastated land on a relentless mission: to claim the last black staff … and the life of he who wields it.

Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Conviction
by Aaron Allston
Cover by Ian Keltie

Promo copy:

Chief of State Natasi Daala has been overthrown, and the Jedi Order has taken control of the Galactic Alliance. But while the new governors dismantle Daala’s draconian regime, forces still loyal to the deposed official are mobilizing a counterstrike. And even the Jedi’s new authority may not be enough to save Tahiri Veila, the former Jedi Knight and onetime Sith apprentice convicted of treason for the killing of Galactic Alliance officer Gilad Pellaeon.

Meanwhile, Luke and Ben Skywalker are relentlessly pursuing Abeloth, the powerful dark-side entity bent on ruling the galaxy. But as they corner their monstrous quarry on the planet Nam Chorios, the two lone Jedi must also face the fury of the Sith death squadron bearing down on them. And when Abeloth turns the tables with an insidious ambush, the Skywalkers’ quest threatens to become a suicide mission.

Books received 5/15/11 Del Rey edition was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon