Essays on Pop Culture

I've been wandering around the house for about a week, trying to find something to read. I normally read history books, but recently I've been in the mood for fiction, some classic fantasy or scifi fiction. I have tons of old paper backs in various holes around here, but I've become a bit of a bookist, wanting to read hardcovers. They open easier, stay open and are usually slightly less packed text density wise.

But having exhausted my hardcovers and not wanting to re-read them I started poking into my paper backs. The first box I opened and the first book I picked up...Kane Dark Crusade by Karl Edward Wagner...proved a joy.

It wasn't because of the reading, but rather the book itself. I opened the long closed cover and that wonderful scent of old paper rose and rolled across me. It was wonderful. I love that smell.

It reminds me of a similar experience in a  comic book store, where I commented on the smell to the proprietor. He laughed but the kid next to me said, "what? you mean that wet, cat-piss on newspaper smell?" I fell over laughing and remarked, "yeah, that one!"

Its all in what memories the smell captures I suppose.

The Walking Dead Mid Season Trailer

The Mountain

At the feet of the mountain you stood, and it was daunting, but the choice was not yours to make. 

You must climb . . . . 

Daily Cosplay

Nadya as Triss Merigold (Witcher 3)

5th Edition on Kickstarter

We are barely a week in and are a quarter funded! Don't miss out on all the kickstarter that will help redefine your character. From role playing to roll playing familiars, animal companions, mighty steeds, heroic blades, muses, and more all bring an old genre to life.

Imaginarium ~ Turn the Mist

Essays on Pop Culture

Apocalyptic movies and TV shows are everywhere these days. They seem a bit more prevalant than they have in the past. There are probably several reasons for this.

Perhaps they are an expression of frustration and doubt seeded in a populace that has come to believe that the society they live in is too fragile and there is an inevitable collapse.

Or maybe this genre reflects the primeval in us as homo-sapiens, that through these movies we live a vicarious life, one less ordinary, far removed from the mundane nature of our lives.

It could be that we have an instinctive need for violence and struggle, for our species has fought a monumental series of battles to achieve its place in the world.

Of course it could be something as simple as access. Film equipment is inexpensive compared to a decade ago. The secondary market is flooded with it. You can learn the basics of the trade at school. And apocalyptic movies are cheap to make as you just need old, dilapidated materials and sets.

Then there is the inevitable question driven by the central core of Darwinism: competition. What would I do?

There is probably no one answer, there are probably multiple answers and multiple reasons. That's the way it generally is. Seeking a 'reason' is more often than not, a fool's errand. Better to look at a bigger picture.

Dangerous Fey

"Fairy cave" by Tianhia Xu (flowerzzxu) on DeviantArt (detail).

Digitizing World War Posters

FIGHT or Buy Bonds!

Whether you're a history buff or love a good pulp game, this is incredible stuff. Head on over and take a look!

From the source:

"The Pennsylvania State Archives, in cooperation with the State Library of Pennsylvania, has digitized a collection of World War I posters from its Manuscript Group 200 – Poster Collection and made them available online. This assemblage consists of 258 posters, most of which include color or black-and-white illustrations. The posters were produced primarily on a national scale, although some were also made locally. Most were created in the United States, however, a number were manufactured in Europe, particularly in Britain, France and Italy. Some portray famous and legendary figures such as Joan of Arc and Uncle Sam, while others feature illustrations of common soldiers and civilians. The posters helped to fan the fires of patriotism throughout the United States during the Great War, and helped to transition the country’s position from one of isolationism to one of openly becoming military partners with the Allied Forces in Europe."

Then, once you've got your hackles up to run a pulp game set in the teens, roaring 20's or all the way through World War II, why not pick up Amazing Adventures and give it a go? 

Daily Cosplay

Annette Lunde as Captain America

5th Edition Gaming on Kickstarter

5th Edition Familiars & Companions is the ultimate resource for all your familiars and companions. In a well balanced approach we bring the classic animal companion back to life. We restore the wizard's familiar to its prominent place. But there is so much more....

Check out the full Kickstarter by clicking the picture below!