Bible, Steampunk, Robots and Fantasy

I love reading my Bible.  

As a Christian it is important to me to read and study my Bible everyday.

Like most other Christians I’ve done my share of highlighting scripture, making border notes and writing sermon notes on notebook paper.

But, what if I could share with you an exciting new way to accent your Bible study and bring out your creative talent?

Authors Joanne Fink and Regina Yoder and publisher Fox Chapel Publishing/Design Originals are proud to introduce to readers of the scripture brand new ways to bring the holy scriptures alive.

The ‘Complete Guide To Bible Journaling Creative Ways To Express Your Faith’ is a colorful and astonishing new book that presents the latest craze in Bible study.

Learn how to highlight your Bible, or journal pages, with colorful illustrations, lettering, images and more using all types of media including color pencils, acrylic paint, and markers along with stickers, tabs and so much more.

Page after page of examples are provided along with stickers, velum images for tracing, lettering and a gallery of images.

Reading the Bible will never be the same again.

A few years back when I was teaching high school drawing classes I discovered Steampunk.  

For those of you unfamiliar with Steampunk it is a truly unique culture of art, attire and much more.

Steampunk artists base their art on combining steam era technology with new or existing technology, cloths, art and other media.

In ‘The Art Of Steampunk’ ‘Revised Second Edition’ from Art Donovan you’ll learn and see all the extraordinary devices and ingenious contraptions from the leading artists of the Steampunk Movement.

It’s truly remarkable to see everyday objects like cameras, motorcycles, rifles and computers all transformed into Steampunk creations.



There're even a few examples of totally original Steampunk creations.
Top Steampunk artists are spotlighted along with their colorful creations.  It’s a jam-packed cornucopia of crazy contraptions that dazzle the eyes and spark the imagination.

’Manga To the Max Drawing and Coloring Book Robots’ from Erik DePrince contains every conceivable type of Manga Robot design along with step-by step instructions on how to draw and color them.

It’s Manga Madness with Robots, their weapons and their mechanisms all wrapped up in clever coloring page designs.

Eric Messinger’s ‘Fantasy Adventure Dragons, Dwarves, Elves And Other Extraordinary Creatures Coloring Book’ brings out the fantasy artist in anyone.

Highly detailed illustrations complemented by color guide instructions and tips make this a fantasy fulfilled for any wannabe fantasy artist.

Hearts And Minds

In the original Star Trek TV series Captain Kirk and the crew of the starship Enterprise are assigned to travel back to Earth to 1968 in order to observe history in the making.
 
When a mysterious transporter beam coming from deep space intercepts the Enterprise a human: Gary Seven, and his cat Isis are beamed aboard.

Gary demands to be beamed to Earth in order to avert a nuclear holocaust.

Seven manages to escape with Spock and Kirk in hot pursuit.  Is he there to help mankind or destroy it?  

Fortunately he averts a near disaster and remains on Earth to monitor events.

Who is/was Gary Seven?  Where did he come from and who are the aliens who sent him?

How long have they interfered with mankind’s progress and are there others like Gary?

Sometime later it is discovered that mankind has indeed been ‘babysat’ by the aliens, but no one knows for how long.

In ‘Star Trek The Next Generation: Hearts and Minds’ written by Dayton Ward and published by Pocket Books, the mysterious race of alien benefactors once again come into play.

Assigned to explore the Odyssean Pass, the Enterprise discovers what is believed to be an uncharted world. 

But when Captain Picard addresses the planet’s representative and mentions Earth the alien knows of Picard’s home planet.

How does the mysterious planet link to Earth’s past? 

 When secret communications from Starfleet about the mysterious planet arrive Picard decides to investigate.

What will he find and how does Earth, the newly discovered planet and Gary Seven’s alien connection all tie in together?

Those are just a few of the questions you’ll be asking yourself as you read ‘Hearts and Minds.’

Mysteries unfold and more questions arise as the book reveals hither unknown secrets of Earth’s past and its ties to other alien civilizations.

British History, Warfare and Spock’s Logic

Britain and The United States have a long, and sometime turbulent, history.

 

While it is true that in the past as nations we’ve had our squabbles, the important thing is that we are staunch allies now.

As allies it behooves us to know about each other histories in order to better understand each other and cement our long-standing relationship of friendship and cooperation.

That’s why I recommend authors Peter and Dan Snow’s new book from Carlton Books/ Andre Deutsch: Treasures Of British History.

In this stunning hardbound, slipcase book readers are privy to some of the greatest events; inventions and innovations from British history, starting with the Roman Era and up until the present.

Important documents, memorabilia and other reproduced artifacts are inserted in special envelopes along with maps, charts and documents.

It’s exciting to read and study the illustrious and fascinating history of Britain with all of its ups and downs, victories and failures and the undying and strong will of its people.

Beginning with World War 1 publisher Andre Deutsch and author Paul Brewer offer a authoritative record of war as experienced all over the world in ‘100 Years Of Warfare’.
From small ‘skirmishes’ to world-shaking conflicts the book successfully chronicles the horrors of war.

Using art, charts, maps, archival photos and concise, no frills text the book also spotlights key battles, military personnel, campaigns, key personalities and much more that changed the face of the world for the better or worse.

As a non-historian I appreciate the simple-to-understand and comprehend text, poignant art and photos and the chronological way the book is arranged by years.

War is chaos and illogical.  For a taste of the purely logical pick up a copy of ‘Spock’s Logic Puzzles’ containing more than 100 riddles, conundrums, and observations…from across the galaxy.

Test you logic and intuitive skills using the Star Trek scenarios laid out that offer challenges in order to come to a logical conclusions.

Filled with classic Star Trek images the book is more than a puzzle book, it represents logic as presented by Spock in the Star Trek Universe.

Television Series Nostalgia

I’d like to meet author Vincent Terrace.  We have a lot in common.

It’s evident from the three books he’s written about TV series from the past that he loves old, nostalgic TV shows, just like I do.

Mr. Terrace has written and compiled three, fascinating hardbound books about past TV series that list shows from the 1950s to the 1970s in alphabetical order.

The ‘Television Series Of the 1950s (and 1960s and 1970s)’ books are filled with essential facts and quirky details about TV series spanning three decades.

Learn all about the actresses and actors; behind the scenes tidbits and supporting casts of TV fan favorites.

Precise and concise descriptions of each show are included along with character bios, seldom-mentioned facts and production secrets and so much more.

Sprinkled throughout each book are archival photos, airdates and so much nostalgic goodies that even the most diehard of TV fans will be thrilled and excited turning each and every page.

I love many of the TV series from the 1950s to the 1970s and I am excited to get the opportunity to look over all three of these wonderful books. 

If you’re like me you’re going to enjoy walking down TV Memory Lane with all three books published by Rowman & Littlefield.

It’s the perfect way to test your TV knowledge.

Superhero Girls, Wonder Woman and Vixen

Warner Bros. presents three new Blu-ray/DVD releases starring the superwomen (girls) of the DC Universe.

The ladies get to strut their stuff in an exciting trio of adventures that disprove the assumption that women are the weaker sex.  Far from it!

The newest animated stars of DC Comics Universe are the ‘DC Super Hero Girls’ starring in their very own DVD movie: Intergalactic Games.

In this exciting adventure young Wonder Woman, Supergirl and Batgril face off against some friendly (and not so friendly) competition in the Intergalactic Games.

A number of their rivals are some of the baddest of the bad of the DC Universe.

Can the young super heroines overcome all obstacles and win the games?  Especially when there is a far more sinister plot at hand, one that threatens both the Super Hero Girls and those inside and outside the games.


It’s hard-hitting, super heroine action as only DC Comics can deliver.
DVD extras include seven featurettes spotlighting several of the Super Hero Girls and there’s even a music video.

Speaking of super women, Wonder Woman ranks at the top if the list and as a special commemorative of the upcoming relapse of the live action Wonder Woman movie, Warner Boras. And DC Comics have re-released the spectacular animated Wonder Woman movie on a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD Combo Pack

All new features include a commentary, featurettes about the Amazon Princess and a sneak peek at the next DC Universe animated movie.

It’s Wonder Woman versus Ares The God Of War in one of the most spectacular conflicts ever seen in an animated feature film.
Fan favorite: Vixen, the animal powered super heroine, gets her very own Blu-ray/Digital HD animated movie treatment with ‘Vixen The Movie’.

African native Mari McCabe, grew up in an orphanage when her parents were killed by greedy and corrupt individuals who place profit above human or animal life.

Inheriting her family’s Anansi Totem, Mari gains the power to take on the attributes and powers of animals as she fights for those who can’t fight for themselves.

Join Mari as she uncovers her past, her powers and her purpose.

It’s non-stop action and intrigue as Mari gains the powers of animals as Vixen.

Special features explore her past and her powers and includes two episodes of her appearance in the Justice League animated series.

There are more than a few surprises, including some very special guest voice actors!

Regrettable and Spectacular

You know them by name: Batman, The Joker, Superman, Lex Luthor, Spider-Man, The Green Goblin, Captain America, The Red Skull, Wonder Woman, The Cheetah and dozens of other recognizable superheroes and super villains of comic book fame.

They are the cream of the crop, top of the heap, kings of the mountain and then there are the second, third, fourth and fifth string band of bad guys and good guys.

They are the super villains and superheroes that fill in the lower echelon of the comic book world.

Stuck with lame names and powers characters such as Mr. Hydro, Amazing Man, Dr. Voodoo, Bee-Man and other ludicrous tags with equally lame super powers.

Author Jon Morris and Quirk Books present a duo of books that explore the second tier worlds of super bad guys and good guys.

The ‘League Of Regrettable Superheroes’ and ‘The Legion Of Regrettable Super Villains’ provide in-depth information (with art) of those second string super-powered individuals that crop up in stories on all too-frequent basis.

Comic book collectors and historians are sure to want to get their hands on these two fascinating books that cover the heroes and villains that populate the lower levels of crime and justice.

From the Golden Age to the Modern Age of comic books they are all present and are given their just due.  Plus, the books are a lot of fun to look through!

Today’s TV and movie viewers are used to a plethora of super powered female characters.
Strong female superwomen are everywhere and are proving to be incredible popular with fans.

Just a few of the TV and film heroines that captivate audiences are The Black Widow, The Phoenix, The White Canary and dozens more.

But, there was a time when women in comic books were little more than window dressing and damsels in distress.

Ironically if it were not for those early female characters many of comic books’ biggest superheroes would have little reason to exist.  Take Lois Lane for example.  Where would Superman have been if he didn’t have Lois to rescue?

In ‘The Spectacular Sisterhood Of Superwomen’ by Hope Nicholson, female comic book characters are given due credit for their contribution to the art form.

Join the author as she takes you through a whirlwind tour through the past decades as she spotlights (with the aid of full color art) the illustrious careers of the greatest female characters ever to grace the pages of comic books.

Learn about the creation of each character, who their creators were and how they shaped the comic book industry.

It’s about time women are given their fair share of the credit for the part they played in comic books and popular culture.

Wonder Woman Vol. 2, Year One

DC Comics, writer Greg Rucka and artist Nicola Scott have managed to do something no other Wonder Woman creative team has ever done: chronicle how Wonder Woman (Diana) made the transition to the modern world.

Having spent  all of her life on Paradise Island (Themyscita) Diana knows nothing of the world, save that told to her  by her immortal sisters.

‘The Wonder Woman Vol. 2, Year One’ trade paperback is comprised of several of the early issues of the new Rebirth Wonder Woman comic book series for DC Comics.

In this collection readers learn about Diana’s early life, her education, training as a warrior and life as a princess of the Amazons.

Although steeped in the knowledge of the Amazons and their history, Diana is naïve when it comes to the ways of the world.

Her life changes dramatically when the aircraft carrying Steve Trevor crash lands on her island.

Having never seen a man before, especially one from the outside world, Diana is both fascinated and afraid.

Having been taught about the abuses her sisters suffered at the hands of men, Diana has preconceived notions about the nature of men.

That all changes when she realizes that Steve is near death and yet is still concerned about the other passengers on the aircraft-unfortunately all the others have died.

Taking Steve back to their city, the Amazons nurse him back to health and discover to their horror the condition of the outside world.

Kudos to the writer who parallels the life of Steve and Diana in an opening sequence.  It’s easy to see why they are so drawn to each other, considering their similarities.

Once healthy enough to get about Steve is treated as an honored guest.  While on the island he witnesses the Amazons society and their peaceful existence.

Still, the outside world beckons and Steve insists upon returning home.  Dismayed by the events in the outside world and the discovery of their island it is decided by the queen 0t send a representative of the Amazons to the outside world.

That task falls to Diana.  She is granted great physical powers by the gods along with special Amazonian warrior artifacts to aid her including her famous wrist bands and rope.

She, along with Steve, return to Steve’s military base aboard her invisible jet.

Once arrived Wonder Woman is taken back by her reception.  Suspicious and cautious of her motives she is placed under guard until her story checks out.

The story does an excellent job of showing how young, naïve and courageous Diana is.

She is truly a ‘stranger in a strange land.’

Customs, laws, and protocol –everything is new and strange to her.

What will she do?  Where will she live? What shall she do for a living? How will she fit in?  All of these challenges and more face her.

But, her time of adjustment is short-lived when Ares The God of War appears.  It is up to her, with the help of Steve, to stop his evil plans and become the true heroine she is meant to be.

The story is a well thought-out and executed tale of a young woman, completely alone, who must adapt to her new surroundings and ultimate triumph.

Mobile Suit Gundam and Sound Of The Sky

We all know the story.

The Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon are waging war in the Universal Century 0079.

Amuro Ray discovers a Mobile Suit (Mecha) Gundam and unwillingly becomes its pilot.

Together with his crew of the White Base he is forced to fight for their lives as the enemy masses an attack to destroy the new weapon he possesses.

Spectacular space and land battles endue, coupled with lots of inner turmoil between crew, factions and others as the heated battle between Earth and Zeon escalate with their fate cradled in the hands of NewType.

This is the Anime that started it all, complete in three movies.  Any Anime fan worth their Mecha knows the story and MUST own this Blu-ray collection compiled by RightStuf!

It’s a classic collection that personifies Japanese Anime that set the standard by which other similar Anime must aspire to.

Own it today!

The Sound Of The Sky Blu-ray collection contains all 12 episodes of series plus two bonus episodes and much, MUCH more!

The Clocktower Fortress lies on the edge of the world in No Man’s Land.

The Helvetian Army’s newest recruit: Kanata Sorami is the Platoon’s bugle player that is stationed there.

Saved as a child by a gorgeous soldier, Kanata was mesmerized by the sound of her trumpet and dedicated her life to music from that day forward.

While war and conflict rages around her she inspires her fellow soldiers to look for the beauty all about them and to strive for happiness.

Her unwavering optimism urges them on despite the ravages of war they encounter.

Sound Of The Sky is classical example of how Japanese Anime creators infuse much of their work with quiet, poignant moments, paying close attention to life’s small events taking place all about them.


Beautifully animated and directed, Sound Of The Sky is more than an Anime about war.  It is a celebration of life despite the many hurtles that are thrown in the way.

Film Fatales

You’ve seen them or heard of them.

Those deceitful, lying, manipulating and always-sultry bad girls of movies and TV series and their goody two-shoes counterparts of the 1060s and 1970s finally get their stories told.

The sexy, alluring and oh so ‘innocent’ female spies of TV and film that always managed to seduce the good guy or one of his associates, divulge secrets and relay them back to their world-conquering bosses or save the day.

Just as there are ‘bad girls’ in spy movies or TV series there are innocent ‘good girls’ who get the good guy in the end.

In ‘Film Fatales’ the ‘Women in Espionage Films and Television 1962-1973’ as compiled and written by Tom Lasanti and Louis Paul and published by McFarland & Company, Inc., with a foreword by Eillen O’Neill, is chock full of female fatales who put the sex appeal in spying.

All of the women (good or bad) that starred or appeared as characters in James Bond films, spy films and TV espionage series are given their just due.

Photos and text examine each and every lovely lady and their film and/or TV careers and discover what they are up today.

If you love the 1960’s and 1970’s spy films and TV series then this is the book for you.

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, #731, May/June

NOVELETS
Witch's Hour– Shannon Connor Winward
Dirty Old Town– Richard Bowes
The Prognosticant– Matthew Hughes
My English Name– R.S. Benedict
SHORT STORIES
A Thousand Deaths Throught Flesh and Stone– Brian Trent
The History of the Invasion Told in Five Dogs– Kelly Jennings
What the Hands Know– Gregor Hartmann
The Woman with the Long Black Hair– Zach Shepard
The First Day of Someone Else's Life– John Schoffstall
Neko Brushes – Leah Cypess
Rings– Nina Kiriki Hoffman
POEMS
The Path to Peace – Mary Soon Lee
DEPARTMENTS
Books to Look For– Charles de Lint
Books– Elizabeth Hand
Plumage from Pegasus: Happiness Is a Worn Gunn – Paul Di Filippo
Science: Robots on the Road– Pat Murphy and Paul Doherty
Television: Western Histories– David J. Skal
Competition #93            
Coming Attractions                   
Curiosities – Mark Esping
CARTOONS
Bill Long, Arthur Masear, Nick Downes
COVER
Maurizio Manzieri for "The Prognosticant"

Sherlock Holmes, Pocket Bike Maintenance and The Rolling Stones

So you think you are a detective?  You consider yourself a sleuth of sorts and are real good at piecing clues together to solve crimes.

You notice small details and are adept at solving the most complicated of problems.

But, are you on the same level of crime solving as the legendary Sherlock Holmes?

Here’s your chance to prove yourself.

Carlton Books and Dr. John Watson challenge you to solves 140 cerebral challenges in ‘The Sherlock Holmes Puzzle Collection The Lost Cases.’

Use your powers of deduction to solve puzzles, memory problems and all types of brainteasers that will challenge your brain and prove that you can solve puzzles inspired by Sherlock Holmes’ legendary detective skills.

If you love riding a bicycle like I do then you know that the upkeep and repair skills to maintain your bike can be daunting-especially any mechanical issues.

The ‘Pocket Bike Maintenance’ book compiled by Mel Allwood is a handy and portable guide that delves into each and every aspect of owning and maintaining a bike.

Whether it is a simple thing like changing a flat tire to where to store and repair you two-wheel transport, this book covers it all.

Full color photos and informative text lead you step-by step on how to keep your bicycle in tiptop condition.

They are known as the ‘Bad boys of Rock and Roll.’

The Rolling Stones have been around since the early 1960s and show no signs of slowing down.

In Steve Appleford’s new book: ‘The Rolling Stones The Stories Behind The Biggest Songs’ readers get a first-hand look at the group itself over the decades and how they went about creating their biggest hits.

The book delves into the inspiration for each song and includes seldom mentioned or unknown fact tidbits that give life to both the group and their music.

After all ‘It’s Only Rock And Roll!’