In my Nexus Graphic review of I Thought You Would Be Funnier, I declared that Wheeler "pulls back the thin veneer of American society to reveal the comedic underbelly" and the book "supplies yet further evidence that Shannon Wheeler is one of the preeminent cartoonists of his generation." So you can imagine my excitement when this interesting piece of news appeared in my inbox today.

A passel of new Shannon Wheeler cartoons is always a much-anticipated and humorous event!

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

Action! Mystery! Thrills!: Comic Book Covers of the Golden Age 1933-45
Edited by Greg Sadowski
Foreword by Ty Templeton
Cover by Alex Schomburg

Promo copy:

176 classic covers unfurled in full-sized glory!

When we contemplate a memorable old comic book, the first thing that comes to mind is its cover, and that was no accident. Publishers realized fairly quickly that if they spent a little extra to hire a good cover artist, they could fill the insides with mediocrity and still make a sizable profit — that all it took was a striking cover to entice thousands of kids to fork over their dimes.

Even today, covers drive the collectors’ market. Apart from number-one issues and first appearances, the strength of a comic book’s cover is the first consideration in determining its value. Indeed, it is now common practice to entomb the book between slabs of sealed plastic — with only the cover visible — as if the interior pages’ sole purpose was to provide a place to secure the staples.

In order to locate the best possible examples, collectors from around the world have been enlisted to share their rare and valuable comic books. The scores of cover artists represented include Carl Barks, Charles Biro, Dick Briefer, L.B. Cole, Jack Cole, Reed Crandall, Will Eisner, Bill Everett, Lou Fine, Walt Kelly, Jack Kirby, Mac Raboy, and Alex Schomburg. Every comic book genre will be explored, from superhero to detective to Western to funny animal.

Majestic, iconic, chaotic, or downright weird, a classic comic book cover has an undeniable appeal, and Action! Mystery! Thrills! celebrates in spades this unique cultural icon. The covers will be printed full-sized on glossy paper to most faithfully replicate the originals, and arranged chronologically to give the reader a sense of the sweeping trends and stylistic developments throughout the medium’s first decade, as inexorable waves of dazzling imagery battled monthly for newsstand attention. 240 pages of full-color comics.

Two of Sadowski’s previous Golden Age compilations (Setting the Standard: Comics by Alex Toth 1952-1954 and Four Color Fear: Forgotten Horror Comics of the 1950s) made my annual Nexus Graphica best of year lists.

Echoes of Betrayal: Paladin’s Legacy
by Elizabeth Moon
Cover by Paul Youll

Promo copy:

The action continues fast and furious in this third installment of Elizabeth Moon’s celebrated return to the fantasy world of the paladin Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter. This award-winning author has firsthand military experience and an imagination that knows no bounds. Combine those qualities with an ability to craft flesh-and-blood characters, and the result is the kind of speculative fiction that engages both heart and mind.

All is not well in the Eight Kingdoms. In Lyonya, King Kieri is about to celebrate marriage to his beloved, the half-elf Arian. But uncanny whispers from the spirits of his ancestors continue to warn of treachery and murder. A finger of suspicion has been pointed toward his grandmother, the queen of the Ladysforest elves, and that suspicion has only intensified with time and the Lady’s inexplicable behavior. Clearly, she is hiding something. But what? And why?

Meanwhile, in Tsaia, the young king Mikeli must grapple with unrest among his own nobility over his controversial decision to grant the title and estates of a traitorous magelord to a Verrakaien who not only possesses the forbidden magic but is a woman besides: Dorrin, once one of Kieri’s most trusted captains. When renegade Verrakaien attack two of Dorrin’s squires, suspicion and prejudice combine to place Dorrin’s life at risk—and the king’s claim to the throne in peril.

But even greater danger is looming. The wild offspring of a dragon are on the loose, sowing death and destruction and upsetting the ancient balance of power between dragonkind, humans, elves, and gnomes. A collision seems inevitable. Yet when it comes, it will be utterly unexpected—and all the more devastating for it.

Inner Sanctum: Tales of Horror, Mystery and Suspense
by Ernie Colón

Promo copy:

The Inner Sanctum is one of the most fondly remembered mystery and horror radio shows from the 1940s—it is brought to life here with striking illustrations that re-create four chilling tales. In “The Horla,” a man is haunted by a mysterious, grotesque being that only he can see. At first, the being seeks to enslave the man, but in the end it turns out the being is actually out to destroy him. “Death of a Doll” tells the tale of a reporter who is investigating the identity and death of an unidentified female corpse. Throughout his investigation, he carries her doll with him and, instead of “mama,” the doll continually cries out “Kara Nana,” another name for the devil. “The Undead” follows a young woman as she discovers a 10-year-old obituary for her living husband. Terrified, she goes to his tomb to investigate. The last story in the collection, “Alive in the Grave,” follows a man who may have unwittingly consigned another man to being buried alive.

Books received 2/1/12 was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

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

Action! Mystery! Thrills!: Comic Book Covers of the Golden Age 1933-45
Edited by Greg Sadowski
Foreword by Ty Templeton
Cover by Alex Schomburg

Promo copy:

176 classic covers unfurled in full-sized glory!

When we contemplate a memorable old comic book, the first thing that comes to mind is its cover, and that was no accident. Publishers realized fairly quickly that if they spent a little extra to hire a good cover artist, they could fill the insides with mediocrity and still make a sizable profit — that all it took was a striking cover to entice thousands of kids to fork over their dimes.

Even today, covers drive the collectors’ market. Apart from number-one issues and first appearances, the strength of a comic book’s cover is the first consideration in determining its value. Indeed, it is now common practice to entomb the book between slabs of sealed plastic — with only the cover visible — as if the interior pages’ sole purpose was to provide a place to secure the staples.

In order to locate the best possible examples, collectors from around the world have been enlisted to share their rare and valuable comic books. The scores of cover artists represented include Carl Barks, Charles Biro, Dick Briefer, L.B. Cole, Jack Cole, Reed Crandall, Will Eisner, Bill Everett, Lou Fine, Walt Kelly, Jack Kirby, Mac Raboy, and Alex Schomburg. Every comic book genre will be explored, from superhero to detective to Western to funny animal.

Majestic, iconic, chaotic, or downright weird, a classic comic book cover has an undeniable appeal, and Action! Mystery! Thrills! celebrates in spades this unique cultural icon. The covers will be printed full-sized on glossy paper to most faithfully replicate the originals, and arranged chronologically to give the reader a sense of the sweeping trends and stylistic developments throughout the medium’s first decade, as inexorable waves of dazzling imagery battled monthly for newsstand attention. 240 pages of full-color comics.

Two of Sadowski’s previous Golden Age compilations (Setting the Standard: Comics by Alex Toth 1952-1954 and Four Color Fear: Forgotten Horror Comics of the 1950s) made my annual Nexus Graphica best of year lists.

Echoes of Betrayal: Paladin’s Legacy
by Elizabeth Moon
Cover by Paul Youll

Promo copy:

The action continues fast and furious in this third installment of Elizabeth Moon’s celebrated return to the fantasy world of the paladin Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter. This award-winning author has firsthand military experience and an imagination that knows no bounds. Combine those qualities with an ability to craft flesh-and-blood characters, and the result is the kind of speculative fiction that engages both heart and mind.

All is not well in the Eight Kingdoms. In Lyonya, King Kieri is about to celebrate marriage to his beloved, the half-elf Arian. But uncanny whispers from the spirits of his ancestors continue to warn of treachery and murder. A finger of suspicion has been pointed toward his grandmother, the queen of the Ladysforest elves, and that suspicion has only intensified with time and the Lady’s inexplicable behavior. Clearly, she is hiding something. But what? And why?

Meanwhile, in Tsaia, the young king Mikeli must grapple with unrest among his own nobility over his controversial decision to grant the title and estates of a traitorous magelord to a Verrakaien who not only possesses the forbidden magic but is a woman besides: Dorrin, once one of Kieri’s most trusted captains. When renegade Verrakaien attack two of Dorrin’s squires, suspicion and prejudice combine to place Dorrin’s life at risk—and the king’s claim to the throne in peril.

But even greater danger is looming. The wild offspring of a dragon are on the loose, sowing death and destruction and upsetting the ancient balance of power between dragonkind, humans, elves, and gnomes. A collision seems inevitable. Yet when it comes, it will be utterly unexpected—and all the more devastating for it.

Inner Sanctum: Tales of Horror, Mystery and Suspense
by Ernie Colón

Promo copy:

The Inner Sanctum is one of the most fondly remembered mystery and horror radio shows from the 1940s—it is brought to life here with striking illustrations that re-create four chilling tales. In “The Horla,” a man is haunted by a mysterious, grotesque being that only he can see. At first, the being seeks to enslave the man, but in the end it turns out the being is actually out to destroy him. “Death of a Doll” tells the tale of a reporter who is investigating the identity and death of an unidentified female corpse. Throughout his investigation, he carries her doll with him and, instead of “mama,” the doll continually cries out “Kara Nana,” another name for the devil. “The Undead” follows a young woman as she discovers a 10-year-old obituary for her living husband. Terrified, she goes to his tomb to investigate. The last story in the collection, “Alive in the Grave,” follows a man who may have unwittingly consigned another man to being buried alive.

Books received 2/1/12 was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

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

Action! Mystery! Thrills!: Comic Book Covers of the Golden Age 1933-45
Edited by Greg Sadowski
Foreword by Ty Templeton
Cover by Alex Schomburg

Promo copy:

176 classic covers unfurled in full-sized glory!

When we contemplate a memorable old comic book, the first thing that comes to mind is its cover, and that was no accident. Publishers realized fairly quickly that if they spent a little extra to hire a good cover artist, they could fill the insides with mediocrity and still make a sizable profit — that all it took was a striking cover to entice thousands of kids to fork over their dimes.

Even today, covers drive the collectors’ market. Apart from number-one issues and first appearances, the strength of a comic book’s cover is the first consideration in determining its value. Indeed, it is now common practice to entomb the book between slabs of sealed plastic — with only the cover visible — as if the interior pages’ sole purpose was to provide a place to secure the staples.

In order to locate the best possible examples, collectors from around the world have been enlisted to share their rare and valuable comic books. The scores of cover artists represented include Carl Barks, Charles Biro, Dick Briefer, L.B. Cole, Jack Cole, Reed Crandall, Will Eisner, Bill Everett, Lou Fine, Walt Kelly, Jack Kirby, Mac Raboy, and Alex Schomburg. Every comic book genre will be explored, from superhero to detective to Western to funny animal.

Majestic, iconic, chaotic, or downright weird, a classic comic book cover has an undeniable appeal, and Action! Mystery! Thrills! celebrates in spades this unique cultural icon. The covers will be printed full-sized on glossy paper to most faithfully replicate the originals, and arranged chronologically to give the reader a sense of the sweeping trends and stylistic developments throughout the medium’s first decade, as inexorable waves of dazzling imagery battled monthly for newsstand attention. 240 pages of full-color comics.

Two of Sadowski’s previous Golden Age compilations (Setting the Standard: Comics by Alex Toth 1952-1954 and Four Color Fear: Forgotten Horror Comics of the 1950s) made my annual Nexus Graphica best of year lists.

Echoes of Betrayal: Paladin’s Legacy
by Elizabeth Moon
Cover by Paul Youll

Promo copy:

The action continues fast and furious in this third installment of Elizabeth Moon’s celebrated return to the fantasy world of the paladin Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter. This award-winning author has firsthand military experience and an imagination that knows no bounds. Combine those qualities with an ability to craft flesh-and-blood characters, and the result is the kind of speculative fiction that engages both heart and mind.

All is not well in the Eight Kingdoms. In Lyonya, King Kieri is about to celebrate marriage to his beloved, the half-elf Arian. But uncanny whispers from the spirits of his ancestors continue to warn of treachery and murder. A finger of suspicion has been pointed toward his grandmother, the queen of the Ladysforest elves, and that suspicion has only intensified with time and the Lady’s inexplicable behavior. Clearly, she is hiding something. But what? And why?

Meanwhile, in Tsaia, the young king Mikeli must grapple with unrest among his own nobility over his controversial decision to grant the title and estates of a traitorous magelord to a Verrakaien who not only possesses the forbidden magic but is a woman besides: Dorrin, once one of Kieri’s most trusted captains. When renegade Verrakaien attack two of Dorrin’s squires, suspicion and prejudice combine to place Dorrin’s life at risk—and the king’s claim to the throne in peril.

But even greater danger is looming. The wild offspring of a dragon are on the loose, sowing death and destruction and upsetting the ancient balance of power between dragonkind, humans, elves, and gnomes. A collision seems inevitable. Yet when it comes, it will be utterly unexpected—and all the more devastating for it.

Inner Sanctum: Tales of Horror, Mystery and Suspense
by Ernie Colón

Promo copy:

The Inner Sanctum is one of the most fondly remembered mystery and horror radio shows from the 1940s—it is brought to life here with striking illustrations that re-create four chilling tales. In "The Horla," a man is haunted by a mysterious, grotesque being that only he can see. At first, the being seeks to enslave the man, but in the end it turns out the being is actually out to destroy him. "Death of a Doll" tells the tale of a reporter who is investigating the identity and death of an unidentified female corpse. Throughout his investigation, he carries her doll with him and, instead of “mama,” the doll continually cries out “Kara Nana,” another name for the devil. "The Undead" follows a young woman as she discovers a 10-year-old obituary for her living husband. Terrified, she goes to his tomb to investigate. The last story in the collection, "Alive in the Grave," follows a man who may have unwittingly consigned another man to being buried alive.

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

Expedition to the Mountains of the Moon
by Mark Hodder
Cover by Jon Sullivan

Promo copy:

From the winner of the Philip K. Dick Award 2010

AFRICA, 1863.

SIR RICHARD FRANCIS BURTON
AN EXPLORER, A LINGUIST, A SCHOLAR, AND THE KING’S AGENT OR IS HE A PUPPET BEING MANIPULATED BY FORCES HE CANNOT UNDERSTAND?

A RACE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE NILE!

ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE
A FAMOUS YOUNG FLAME-HAIRED POET, THRILL-SEEKER, AND FOLLOWER OF THE MARQUIS DE SADE. FOR HIM PAIN IS PLEASURE, AND BRANDY IS RUIN!

BACK TO WHERE THE ADVENTURE BEGAN!
It is 1863, but not the one it should be. Time has veered wildly off course, and moves are being made that will lead to a devastating world war. Prime Minister Lord Palmerston believes that by possessing the three Eyes of Naga he’ll be able to manipulate events and avoid the war. He already has two of the stones, but he needs Sir Richard Francis Burton to recover the third. For the king’s agent, it’s a chance to return to the Mountains of the Moon to make a second attempt at locating the source of the Nile. But a rival expedition led by John Hanning Speke stands in his way, threatening a confrontation that could ignite the very war that Palmerston is trying to avoid!

Caught in a tangled web of cause, effect, and inevitability, little does Burton realize that the stakes are far higher than even he suspects.

A final confrontation comes in London, where, in the year 1840, Burton must face the man responsible for altering time—Spring Heeled Jack!

Burton and Swinburne’s third adventure completes the three-volume story arc begun in The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack and The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man.

Shadow’s Master
by Jon Sprunk
Cover by Michael Komarck

Promo copy:

THE NORTHERN WASTES…
A land of death and shadow where only the strongest survive. Yet that is where Caim must go to follow the mystery at the heart of his life. Armed only with his knives and his companions, he plunges into a world of eternal night where the sun is never seen and every hand is turned against him.

Caim has buried his father’s sword and found some measure of peace, but deep in the north an unfathomable power lies waiting. To succeed on this mission, Caim will have to do more than just survive. He must face the Shadow’s Master.

With this novel, Jon Sprunk brings his action-packed trilogy to an epic conclusion.

Lance of Earth and Sky (The Chaos Knight, Book Two)
by Erin Hoffman
Cover by Dehong He

Promo copy:

In the sequel to Sword of Fire and Sea, Vidarian Rulorat faces the consequences of opening the gate between worlds. elemental magic is awakening across the planet after centuries of dormancy, bringing with it magically-powered wonders including flying ships and ancient automata; empires leap into war over long disputed territory as their technologies shift; the spirit of his oldest friend, Ruby—killed in the immediate aftermath of the gate’s opening—is trapped inside one of the gems used to open the gate; and Ariadel, his one great love, isn’t speaking to him. Called into service by the desperate young emperor of Alorea, Vidarian must lead sky ships in a war against the neighboring southern empire, train the demoralized imperial Sky Knights to ride beasts that now shapeshift, master his own amplified elemental magic, and win back Ariadel—all without losing his mind.

Compounding his task is a political minefield laid by the Alorean Import Company, which may or may not be fomenting war across the planet, and a shapeshifter that bonds to Vidarian during his early attempts to subdue the rogue bird-like seridi—a wolf pup that will prove to be the fabled bridge between sky and earth magics, an electricity elemental that takes the shape of a dragon upon maturity: the lance of earth and sky.

Boneyards
by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Cover by Dave Seeley

Promo copy:

When multiple Hugo Award winner Kristine Kathryn Rusch decided to put her stamp on classic space opera, readers wanted more. Now Rusch’s popular character Boss returns in a whole new adventure, one that takes her far outside her comfort zone, to a sector of space she’s never seen before.

Searching for ancient technology to help her friends find answers to the mystery of their own past, Boss ventures into a place filled with evidence of an ancient space battle, one the Dignity Vessels lost.

Meanwhile, the Enterran Empire keeps accidentally killing its scientists in a quest for ancient stealth tech. Boss’s most difficult friend, Squishy, has had enough. She sneaks into the Empire and destroys its primary stealth tech research base. But an old lover thwarts her escape, and now Squishy needs Boss’s help.

Boss, who is a fugitive in the Empire. Boss, who knows how to make a Dignity Vessel work. Boss, who knows that Dignity Vessels house the very technology that the Empire is searching for.

Should Boss take a Dignity Vessel to rescue Squishy and risk losing everything to the Empire? Or should Boss continue on her mission for her other friends and let Squishy suffer her own fate?

Filled with battles old and new, scientific dilemmas, and questions about the ethics of friendship, Boneyards looks at the influence of our past on our present and the risks we all take when we meddle in other people’s lives.

Boneyards is space opera the way it was meant to be: exciting, fast moving, and filled with passion.

Burning Man (Kingdom of the Serpent, Book 2)
by Mark Chadbourn
Cover by John Picacio

Promo copy:

After a long journey across the ages, Jack Churchill has returned to the modern world, only to find it in the grip of a terrible, dark force. The population is unaware, mesmerized by the Mundane Spell that keeps them in thrall. With a small group of trusted allies, Jack sets out to find the two “keys” that can shatter the spell.

But the keys are people—one with the power of creation, one the power of destruction—and they are hidden somewhere among the world’s billions.

As the search fans out across the globe, ancient powers begin to stir. In the bleak North, in Egypt, in Greece, in all the Great Dominions, the old gods are returning to stake their claim. The odds appear insurmountable, the need desperate… This is a time for heroes.

Books received 2/1/12 Pyr edition was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

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

Expedition to the Mountains of the Moon
by Mark Hodder
Cover by Jon Sullivan

Promo copy:

From the winner of the Philip K. Dick Award 2010

AFRICA, 1863.

SIR RICHARD FRANCIS BURTON
AN EXPLORER, A LINGUIST, A SCHOLAR, AND THE KING’S AGENT OR IS HE A PUPPET BEING MANIPULATED BY FORCES HE CANNOT UNDERSTAND?

A RACE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE NILE!

ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE
A FAMOUS YOUNG FLAME-HAIRED POET, THRILL-SEEKER, AND FOLLOWER OF THE MARQUIS DE SADE. FOR HIM PAIN IS PLEASURE, AND BRANDY IS RUIN!

BACK TO WHERE THE ADVENTURE BEGAN!
It is 1863, but not the one it should be. Time has veered wildly off course, and moves are being made that will lead to a devastating world war. Prime Minister Lord Palmerston believes that by possessing the three Eyes of Naga he’ll be able to manipulate events and avoid the war. He already has two of the stones, but he needs Sir Richard Francis Burton to recover the third. For the king’s agent, it’s a chance to return to the Mountains of the Moon to make a second attempt at locating the source of the Nile. But a rival expedition led by John Hanning Speke stands in his way, threatening a confrontation that could ignite the very war that Palmerston is trying to avoid!

Caught in a tangled web of cause, effect, and inevitability, little does Burton realize that the stakes are far higher than even he suspects.

A final confrontation comes in London, where, in the year 1840, Burton must face the man responsible for altering time—Spring Heeled Jack!

Burton and Swinburne’s third adventure completes the three-volume story arc begun in The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack and The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man.

Shadow’s Master
by Jon Sprunk
Cover by Michael Komarck

Promo copy:

THE NORTHERN WASTES…
A land of death and shadow where only the strongest survive. Yet that is where Caim must go to follow the mystery at the heart of his life. Armed only with his knives and his companions, he plunges into a world of eternal night where the sun is never seen and every hand is turned against him.

Caim has buried his father’s sword and found some measure of peace, but deep in the north an unfathomable power lies waiting. To succeed on this mission, Caim will have to do more than just survive. He must face the Shadow’s Master.

With this novel, Jon Sprunk brings his action-packed trilogy to an epic conclusion.

Lance of Earth and Sky (The Chaos Knight, Book Two)
by Erin Hoffman
Cover by Dehong He

Promo copy:

In the sequel to Sword of Fire and Sea, Vidarian Rulorat faces the consequences of opening the gate between worlds. elemental magic is awakening across the planet after centuries of dormancy, bringing with it magically-powered wonders including flying ships and ancient automata; empires leap into war over long disputed territory as their technologies shift; the spirit of his oldest friend, Ruby—killed in the immediate aftermath of the gate’s opening—is trapped inside one of the gems used to open the gate; and Ariadel, his one great love, isn’t speaking to him. Called into service by the desperate young emperor of Alorea, Vidarian must lead sky ships in a war against the neighboring southern empire, train the demoralized imperial Sky Knights to ride beasts that now shapeshift, master his own amplified elemental magic, and win back Ariadel—all without losing his mind.

Compounding his task is a political minefield laid by the Alorean Import Company, which may or may not be fomenting war across the planet, and a shapeshifter that bonds to Vidarian during his early attempts to subdue the rogue bird-like seridi—a wolf pup that will prove to be the fabled bridge between sky and earth magics, an electricity elemental that takes the shape of a dragon upon maturity: the lance of earth and sky.

Boneyards
by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Cover by Dave Seeley

Promo copy:

When multiple Hugo Award winner Kristine Kathryn Rusch decided to put her stamp on classic space opera, readers wanted more. Now Rusch’s popular character Boss returns in a whole new adventure, one that takes her far outside her comfort zone, to a sector of space she’s never seen before.

Searching for ancient technology to help her friends find answers to the mystery of their own past, Boss ventures into a place filled with evidence of an ancient space battle, one the Dignity Vessels lost.

Meanwhile, the Enterran Empire keeps accidentally killing its scientists in a quest for ancient stealth tech. Boss’s most difficult friend, Squishy, has had enough. She sneaks into the Empire and destroys its primary stealth tech research base. But an old lover thwarts her escape, and now Squishy needs Boss’s help.

Boss, who is a fugitive in the Empire. Boss, who knows how to make a Dignity Vessel work. Boss, who knows that Dignity Vessels house the very technology that the Empire is searching for.

Should Boss take a Dignity Vessel to rescue Squishy and risk losing everything to the Empire? Or should Boss continue on her mission for her other friends and let Squishy suffer her own fate?

Filled with battles old and new, scientific dilemmas, and questions about the ethics of friendship, Boneyards looks at the influence of our past on our present and the risks we all take when we meddle in other people’s lives.

Boneyards is space opera the way it was meant to be: exciting, fast moving, and filled with passion.

Burning Man (Kingdom of the Serpent, Book 2)
by Mark Chadbourn
Cover by John Picacio

Promo copy:

After a long journey across the ages, Jack Churchill has returned to the modern world, only to find it in the grip of a terrible, dark force. The population is unaware, mesmerized by the Mundane Spell that keeps them in thrall. With a small group of trusted allies, Jack sets out to find the two “keys” that can shatter the spell.

But the keys are people—one with the power of creation, one the power of destruction—and they are hidden somewhere among the world’s billions.

As the search fans out across the globe, ancient powers begin to stir. In the bleak North, in Egypt, in Greece, in all the Great Dominions, the old gods are returning to stake their claim. The odds appear insurmountable, the need desperate… This is a time for heroes.

Books received 2/1/12 Pyr edition was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

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

Expedition to the Mountains of the Moon
by Mark Hodder
Cover by Jon Sullivan

Promo copy:

From the winner of the Philip K. Dick Award 2010

AFRICA, 1863.

SIR RICHARD FRANCIS BURTON
AN EXPLORER, A LINGUIST, A SCHOLAR, AND THE KING’S AGENT OR IS HE A PUPPET BEING MANIPULATED BY FORCES HE CANNOT UNDERSTAND?

A RACE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE NILE!

ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE
A FAMOUS YOUNG FLAME-HAIRED POET, THRILL-SEEKER, AND FOLLOWER OF THE MARQUIS DE SADE. FOR HIM PAIN IS PLEASURE, AND BRANDY IS RUIN!

BACK TO WHERE THE ADVENTURE BEGAN!
It is 1863, but not the one it should be. Time has veered wildly off course, and moves are being made that will lead to a devastating world war. Prime Minister Lord Palmerston believes that by possessing the three Eyes of Naga he’ll be able to manipulate events and avoid the war. He already has two of the stones, but he needs Sir Richard Francis Burton to recover the third. For the king’s agent, it’s a chance to return to the Mountains of the Moon to make a second attempt at locating the source of the Nile. But a rival expedition led by John Hanning Speke stands in his way, threatening a confrontation that could ignite the very war that Palmerston is trying to avoid!

Caught in a tangled web of cause, effect, and inevitability, little does Burton realize that the stakes are far higher than even he suspects.

A final confrontation comes in London, where, in the year 1840, Burton must face the man responsible for altering time—Spring Heeled Jack!

Burton and Swinburne’s third adventure completes the three-volume story arc begun in The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack and The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man.

Shadow’s Master
by Jon Sprunk
Cover by Michael Komarck

Promo copy:

THE NORTHERN WASTES…
A land of death and shadow where only the strongest survive. Yet that is where Caim must go to follow the mystery at the heart of his life. Armed only with his knives and his companions, he plunges into a world of eternal night where the sun is never seen and every hand is turned against him.

Caim has buried his father’s sword and found some measure of peace, but deep in the north an unfathomable power lies waiting. To succeed on this mission, Caim will have to do more than just survive. He must face the Shadow’s Master.

With this novel, Jon Sprunk brings his action-packed trilogy to an epic conclusion.

Lance of Earth and Sky (The Chaos Knight, Book Two)
by Erin Hoffman
Cover by Dehong He

Promo copy:

In the sequel to Sword of Fire and Sea, Vidarian Rulorat faces the consequences of opening the gate between worlds. elemental magic is awakening across the planet after centuries of dormancy, bringing with it magically-powered wonders including flying ships and ancient automata; empires leap into war over long disputed territory as their technologies shift; the spirit of his oldest friend, Ruby—killed in the immediate aftermath of the gate’s opening—is trapped inside one of the gems used to open the gate; and Ariadel, his one great love, isn’t speaking to him. Called into service by the desperate young emperor of Alorea, Vidarian must lead sky ships in a war against the neighboring southern empire, train the demoralized imperial Sky Knights to ride beasts that now shapeshift, master his own amplified elemental magic, and win back Ariadel—all without losing his mind.

Compounding his task is a political minefield laid by the Alorean Import Company, which may or may not be fomenting war across the planet, and a shapeshifter that bonds to Vidarian during his early attempts to subdue the rogue bird-like seridi—a wolf pup that will prove to be the fabled bridge between sky and earth magics, an electricity elemental that takes the shape of a dragon upon maturity: the lance of earth and sky.

Boneyards
by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Cover by Dave Seeley

Promo copy:

When multiple Hugo Award winner Kristine Kathryn Rusch decided to put her stamp on classic space opera, readers wanted more. Now Rusch’s popular character Boss returns in a whole new adventure, one that takes her far outside her comfort zone, to a sector of space she’s never seen before.

Searching for ancient technology to help her friends find answers to the mystery of their own past, Boss ventures into a place filled with evidence of an ancient space battle, one the Dignity Vessels lost.

Meanwhile, the Enterran Empire keeps accidentally killing its scientists in a quest for ancient stealth tech. Boss’s most difficult friend, Squishy, has had enough. She sneaks into the Empire and destroys its primary stealth tech research base. But an old lover thwarts her escape, and now Squishy needs Boss’s help.

Boss, who is a fugitive in the Empire. Boss, who knows how to make a Dignity Vessel work. Boss, who knows that Dignity Vessels house the very technology that the Empire is searching for.

Should Boss take a Dignity Vessel to rescue Squishy and risk losing everything to the Empire? Or should Boss continue on her mission for her other friends and let Squishy suffer her own fate?

Filled with battles old and new, scientific dilemmas, and questions about the ethics of friendship, Boneyards looks at the influence of our past on our present and the risks we all take when we meddle in other people’s lives.

Boneyards is space opera the way it was meant to be: exciting, fast moving, and filled with passion.

Burning Man (Kingdom of the Serpent, Book 2)
by Mark Chadbourn
Cover by John Picacio

Promo copy:

After a long journey across the ages, Jack Churchill has returned to the modern world, only to find it in the grip of a terrible, dark force. The population is unaware, mesmerized by the Mundane Spell that keeps them in thrall. With a small group of trusted allies, Jack sets out to find the two "keys" that can shatter the spell.

But the keys are people—one with the power of creation, one the power of destruction—and they are hidden somewhere among the world’s billions.

As the search fans out across the globe, ancient powers begin to stir. In the bleak North, in Egypt, in Greece, in all the Great Dominions, the old gods are returning to stake their claim. The odds appear insurmountable, the need desperate… This is a time for heroes.

Very light month especially with impending end of the Starz content. Highlights included the premiere of the first Netflix-produced series Lilyhammer and the cult classics Caged Heat and Rock and Roll High School. Like I said, a light month.

* streaming for the first time via Netflix.

Premiering February 1:
*The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984)
*Blubberella
Flesh + Blood
Hollow Man
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
*Psycho (1998)
*Quarantine 2: Terminal
*The Stupids
Terror Trap
*The True Story of Puss ‘n Boots

Premiering February 2:
*Waking Madison

Premiering February 4:
*Birdy the Mighty: Decode
*Thomas & Friends: Rescue on the Rails

Premiering February 6:
*Lilyhammer Netflix’s first original series. Check out the trailer.

Premiering February 15:
*Caged Heat
*Carnosaur
*Orca: The Killer Whale
*Rock ‘n’ Roll High School

Premiering February 25:
*2012: Zombie Apocalypse Mayan zombies?

Premiering February 28:
*Wolf Town

Premiering February 29:
*The Adventures of Paddington Bear
*Felix the Cat: Golden Anniversary Edition
*Super Duper Sumos Have no idea of the quality of the show but the description is amusing: This high-impact animated series stars three crime-busting sumo wrestlers, Booma, Kimo and Mamoo, who take on the evil syndicate known as Bad Inc. The wrestlers’ fighting methods include swelling up to Sumo Size to overwhelm their enemies.

Titles expiring soon

Expiring February 1:
3rd Rock from the Sun
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
The Golden Child
Hammett
Hubble’s Amazing Rescue: NOVA
Lethal Weapon 2
Mod Squad (1999)
NewsRadio
Night Watch (2005)
Nowhere to Run (1993)
Rollerball (1975)
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Short Circuit
Speed

Expiring February 3:
Outbreak

Expiring February 4:
Battle of Los Angeles

Expiring February 6:
The Men Who Stare at Goats

Expiring February 7:
Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam This collection of animated shorts is worth checking out if for nothing more than the Jonah Hex story written by Joe R. Lansdale

Expiring February 8:
American Experience: Dinosaur Wars

Expiring February 14:
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie

Expiring February 15:
The Legend of Red Dragon
Lo
A Monkey’s Tale
Monty Python’s Flying Circus
The Sasquatch Gang
Speed 2: Cruise Control
Star Trek (2009) If you haven’t seen this yet, turn in your geek badge and get out! Seriously, if you haven’t watched it yet, don’t let Star Trek pass you by. Check out my review.

Expiring February 16:
Arn: The Knight Templar
Charade
Dorian Gray (2009)
Four Boxes
Ink
Lawnmower Man 2: Jobe’s War
Night of the Demons
Parasomnia
Suck

Expiring February 17:
Camelot (2011)

Expiring February 19:
Simone

Expiring February 20:
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves: The Lost Scimitar of Arabia
Alice in Wonderland: What’s the Matter with Hatter?
A Christmas Carol (2008)
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice
Kong: Return to the Jungle
Legend of the Dragon (2005)
Pocket Dragon Adventures

Expiring February 22:
21 Jump Street Guess they wanted to remove this before what is sure to be a dreadful feature film premieres.
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog
Greatest American Hero
Harlan Ellison: Dreams with Sharp Teeth
Highlander (1992)
Pit and the Pendulum (1991) Stuart Gordon tackles Edgar Allan Poe
Puppet Master
Trancers

Expiring February 25:
Showdown in Little Toyko
Bedazzled (1967) The original Dudley Moore/Peter Cook classic (it was remade poorly in 2000) delivers one of the funniest deal with the devil tales ever. Be sure to catch it before it leaves.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
The Reluctant Astronaut
Ultraman: Towards the Future

Expiring February 28:
Batman Forever
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventures
Catacombs
Clerks (1994)
Delilah & Julius
The Rat Patrol

Additionally, February 28 is D-day for Starz on streaming as the contract between Netflix and the cable channel expires forcing the removal of close to a thousand shows.

The above is accurate as of January 31. As with all things streamng, the info is in constant flux. YMMV.

Content courtesy of FeedFliks and Instantwatcher.

Impending Geekgasm on Netflix Instant Watch- Feb edition was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Very light month especially with impending end of the Starz content. Highlights included the premiere of the first Netflix-produced series Lilyhammer and the cult classics Caged Heat and Rock and Roll High School. Like I said, a light month.

* streaming for the first time via Netflix.

Premiering February 1:
*The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984)
*Blubberella
Flesh + Blood
Hollow Man
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
*Psycho (1998)
*Quarantine 2: Terminal
*The Stupids
Terror Trap
*The True Story of Puss ‘n Boots

Premiering February 2:
*Waking Madison

Premiering February 4:
*Birdy the Mighty: Decode
*Thomas & Friends: Rescue on the Rails

Premiering February 6:
*Lilyhammer Netflix’s first original series. Check out the trailer.

Premiering February 15:
*Caged Heat
*Carnosaur
*Orca: The Killer Whale
*Rock ‘n’ Roll High School

Premiering February 25:
*2012: Zombie Apocalypse Mayan zombies?

Premiering February 28:
*Wolf Town

Premiering February 29:
*The Adventures of Paddington Bear
*Felix the Cat: Golden Anniversary Edition
*Super Duper Sumos Have no idea of the quality of the show but the description is amusing: This high-impact animated series stars three crime-busting sumo wrestlers, Booma, Kimo and Mamoo, who take on the evil syndicate known as Bad Inc. The wrestlers’ fighting methods include swelling up to Sumo Size to overwhelm their enemies.

Titles expiring soon

Expiring February 1:
3rd Rock from the Sun
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
The Golden Child
Hammett
Hubble’s Amazing Rescue: NOVA
Lethal Weapon 2
Mod Squad (1999)
NewsRadio
Night Watch (2005)
Nowhere to Run (1993)
Rollerball (1975)
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Short Circuit
Speed

Expiring February 3:
Outbreak

Expiring February 4:
Battle of Los Angeles

Expiring February 6:
The Men Who Stare at Goats

Expiring February 7:
Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam This collection of animated shorts is worth checking out if for nothing more than the Jonah Hex story written by Joe R. Lansdale

Expiring February 8:
American Experience: Dinosaur Wars

Expiring February 14:
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie

Expiring February 15:
The Legend of Red Dragon
Lo
A Monkey’s Tale
Monty Python’s Flying Circus
The Sasquatch Gang
Speed 2: Cruise Control
Star Trek (2009) If you haven’t seen this yet, turn in your geek badge and get out! Seriously, if you haven’t watched it yet, don’t let Star Trek pass you by. Check out my review.

Expiring February 16:
Arn: The Knight Templar
Charade
Dorian Gray (2009)
Four Boxes
Ink
Lawnmower Man 2: Jobe’s War
Night of the Demons
Parasomnia
Suck

Expiring February 17:
Camelot (2011)

Expiring February 19:
Simone

Expiring February 20:
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves: The Lost Scimitar of Arabia
Alice in Wonderland: What’s the Matter with Hatter?
A Christmas Carol (2008)
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice
Kong: Return to the Jungle
Legend of the Dragon (2005)
Pocket Dragon Adventures

Expiring February 22:
21 Jump Street Guess they wanted to remove this before what is sure to be a dreadful feature film premieres.
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog
Greatest American Hero
Harlan Ellison: Dreams with Sharp Teeth
Highlander (1992)
Pit and the Pendulum (1991) Stuart Gordon tackles Edgar Allan Poe
Puppet Master
Trancers

Expiring February 25:
Showdown in Little Toyko
Bedazzled (1967) The original Dudley Moore/Peter Cook classic (it was remade poorly in 2000) delivers one of the funniest deal with the devil tales ever. Be sure to catch it before it leaves.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
The Reluctant Astronaut
Ultraman: Towards the Future

Expiring February 28:
Batman Forever
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventures
Catacombs
Clerks (1994)
Delilah & Julius
The Rat Patrol

Additionally, February 28 is D-day for Starz on streaming as the contract between Netflix and the cable channel expires forcing the removal of close to a thousand shows.

The above is accurate as of January 31. As with all things streamng, the info is in constant flux. YMMV.

Content courtesy of FeedFliks and Instantwatcher.

Impending Geekgasm on Netflix Instant Watch- Feb edition was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Very light month especially with impending end of the Starz content. Highlights included the premiere of the first Netflix-produced series Lilyhammer and the cult classics Caged Heat and Rock and Roll High School. Like I said, a light month.

* streaming for the first time via Netflix.

Premiering February 1:
*The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984)
*Blubberella
Flesh + Blood
Hollow Man
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
*Psycho (1998)
*Quarantine 2: Terminal
*The Stupids
Terror Trap
*The True Story of Puss ‘n Boots

Premiering February 2:
*Waking Madison

Premiering February 4:
*Birdy the Mighty: Decode
*Thomas & Friends: Rescue on the Rails

Premiering February 6:
*Lilyhammer Netflix’s first original series. Check out the trailer.

Premiering February 15:
*Caged Heat
*Carnosaur
*Orca: The Killer Whale
*Rock ‘n’ Roll High School

Premiering February 25:
*2012: Zombie Apocalypse Mayan zombies?

Premiering February 28:
*Wolf Town

Premiering February 29:
*The Adventures of Paddington Bear
*Felix the Cat: Golden Anniversary Edition
*Super Duper Sumos Have no idea of the quality of the show but the description is amusing: This high-impact animated series stars three crime-busting sumo wrestlers, Booma, Kimo and Mamoo, who take on the evil syndicate known as Bad Inc. The wrestlers’ fighting methods include swelling up to Sumo Size to overwhelm their enemies.

Titles expiring soon

Expiring February 1:
3rd Rock from the Sun
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
The Golden Child
Hammett
Hubble’s Amazing Rescue: NOVA
Lethal Weapon 2
Mod Squad (1999)
NewsRadio
Night Watch (2005)
Nowhere to Run (1993)
Rollerball (1975)
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Short Circuit
Speed

Expiring February 3:
Outbreak

Expiring February 4:
Battle of Los Angeles

Expiring February 6:
The Men Who Stare at Goats

Expiring February 7:
Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam This collection of animated shorts is worth checking out if for nothing more than the Jonah Hex story written by Joe R. Lansdale

Expiring February 8:
American Experience: Dinosaur Wars

Expiring February 14:
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie

Expiring February 15:
The Legend of Red Dragon
Lo
A Monkey’s Tale
Monty Python’s Flying Circus
The Sasquatch Gang
Speed 2: Cruise Control
Star Trek (2009) If you haven’t seen this yet, turn in your geek badge and get out! Seriously, if you haven’t watched it yet, don’t let Star Trek pass you by. Check out my review.

Expiring February 16:
Arn: The Knight Templar
Charade
Dorian Gray (2009)
Four Boxes
Ink
Lawnmower Man 2: Jobe’s War
Night of the Demons
Parasomnia
Suck

Expiring February 17:
Camelot (2011)

Expiring February 19:
Simone

Expiring February 20:
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves: The Lost Scimitar of Arabia
Alice in Wonderland: What’s the Matter with Hatter?
A Christmas Carol (2008)
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice
Kong: Return to the Jungle
Legend of the Dragon (2005)
Pocket Dragon Adventures

Expiring February 22:
21 Jump Street Guess they wanted to remove this before what is sure to be a dreadful feature film premieres.
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog
Greatest American Hero
Harlan Ellison: Dreams with Sharp Teeth
Highlander (1992)
Pit and the Pendulum (1991) Stuart Gordon tackles Edgar Allan Poe
Puppet Master
Trancers

Expiring February 25:
Showdown in Little Toyko
Bedazzled (1967) The original Dudley Moore/Peter Cook classic (it was remade poorly in 2000) delivers one of the funniest deal with the devil tales ever. Be sure to catch it before it leaves.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
The Reluctant Astronaut
Ultraman: Towards the Future

Expiring February 28:
Batman Forever
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventures
Catacombs
Clerks (1994)
Delilah & Julius
The Rat Patrol

Additionally, February 28 is D-day for Starz on streaming as the contract between Netflix and the cable channel expires forcing the removal of close to a thousand shows.

The above is accurate as of January 31. As with all things streamng, the info is in constant flux. YMMV.

Content courtesy of FeedFliks and Instantwatcher.