hornsofelfland2

Talislanta

2010-12-30T19:42:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite Fantasy settings of all time is being released to the public free! Check it out Talislanta is awesome.http://talislanta.com/

Check out the 4th edition Big Blue Book!

The Heart of the Matter

2010-01-12T10:20:00.000-08:00

I really like John Eldredge and his books. I think they have an important message for the Church. That being said sometimes I just can't get what they are talking about. They seem too good to be true.

Wishful thinking

Most of the time I have no idea how God feels about me. I certainly have a hard time capturing where they are coming from.

Not much has changed with my life. I still struggle with Lust, still struggle with my marriage, still struggle to find time for God in my life. And I often wonder what God is thinking.

The Gathering Storm

2009-11-11T10:36:00.000-08:00

This is book 1 of what would have been Robert Jordan's finish to The Wheel of Time.

Robert Jordan died in 2007 leaving his fantasy epic unfinished. Brandon Sanderson a good author in his own right stepped in to finish Jordan's epic.

I am very impressed at how well Brandon Sanderson pulled off a very tricky job. Working with Jordan's outlines, notes and parcial scenes Sanderson brings things together amazingly well.

It doesn't have Jordan's ultradiscriptiveness but the Character's feel "right" as you read them. And plotlines are actually brought to conclusion rather than simply spinning off more and more pages of stories of terciary characters.

I finished the book last night and it really brought out a sense of lostness and nostalgia. I started reading these books when I was 17 and now I am 37. I remember I would save reading them for vacations where I could the new books strait through without much interuption. These books have been a thread running through my life and now it's almost over. I also feel like shouldn't I have accomplished more in my life than I have. I will never be able to go back to those times and while they had their own problems I miss them.

The world seemed a lot simpler back then.

Hero of the Ages

2009-10-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

I just finished Hero of the Ages by Brandon Sanderson. It was a very good series afterall but I didn't like the conclusion of the series.

I am also re reading the Dresden Files books by Jim Butcher.

These books are so good.

Night of Knives

2009-07-29T07:20:00.000-07:00

I think Ian Esslemont is a better introduction to the Malazan universe than even Steven Erikson. I am really enjoying Night of Knives.

I am also about half way through The Worm of Ouroboros. It is fantastic although hard reading from time to time. Well worth it.

The Red Wolf Conspiracy

2009-06-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

Hello Folks,

This is a new book by a new author that I am almost 3/4's of the way through.

It is worth reading and I very much enjoy the style.

Durin

Turn Coat

2009-05-06T19:23:00.000-07:00

To Durin

Jim Butcher

(Conjure at your own peril!)

Ooohhyahh! I have a signed copy of Jim Butcher's new book Turn Coat.

I really like Jim Butcher's sense of humor and it really shows in his writing.

Read the Dresden Files! You will not be disapointed.

I am a 37 year old married Pen & Paper Gamer

2009-03-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

I still get to play D&D every other week with some folks from my Church.

Curently I am playing a 7th Level Human Beguiler

We have a great time.

:)

Pre-WW2 Germany, Rome Sweet Home, Drizzt

2009-02-23T07:54:00.000-08:00

Since you asked Rich,

I am reading The Rise of The Third Reich, Rome Sweet Home, and The Orc King right now.

As you can see I am skipping around in what I am reading. I felt compelled to read about pre Hitler Germany because of the problems in the U.S. right now. After the Hyper-inflation years Hitler was the man on a white horse coming to save Germany. I worry about a similar deception sometime in our future.

Getting Thirsty

2009-02-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

I know this is not a new idea but I really feel that God lets us try to fulfill ourselves with anything and everything. We just get hungrier and thistier and finally like the Prodigal Son we realize that what we need more than anything is to return home.

I have gone through this cycle time after time in my life and hopefully I come to my senses sooner but at least God is working in my life.

Marriage and Mt. Doom

2009-01-14T09:04:00.000-08:00

I get my best thoughts when I am half asleep. Last night I was thinking about my marriage and the struggles my wife and I are going through.

My mind wandered back to The Lord of the Rings where the part in the Return of The King movie where Sam Gamgee picks Frodo up and carries him the last part of the way up Mt. Doom.

I think that's how married life is sometimes. It's not fun but it is learning to bear one another's burden's.

I fail often, pray for me.

Toll the Hounds

2009-01-12T08:28:00.000-08:00

I am currently halfway through the 8th book in The Malazan Book of the Fallen.

So far there are many interesting twists and turns but as usual for Steven Erickson "The Payoff" is in the last half of the book.

Life has been strange the past few months. I really feel led to return to the Roman Catholic Church but at the same time I am entwined in the leadership of our current church. So I am walking that one out step by step.

Please continue praying for my Marriage, as things are not all Kosher, we are in counseling right now so hopefully things will get better.

Durin

Song For The Basilisk

2008-12-03T15:04:00.000-08:00

I am reading this now and it is another wonder written by Patricia McKillip. If you want an hour or two of wonder read one of her stories. Don't let the girly cover keep you from reading it.

The past few months I don't feel like I have been living but just going through the motions. Things are really rough when it comes to my marriage and It is a day by day thing.

I don't know what God is doing in my life at the moment. It feels like I'm just marking time.

Pray for me

Things I Learned from Fantasy and Sci-Fi

2008-10-23T08:22:00.000-07:00

1. There is real Evil in the World
2. Evil sounds good and taste's bad.
3. Heroes come in all shape's and sizes and can be found in the most unusual places.
4. Shared Joy is Increased, Shared sorrow diminished
5. When all Hope is lost, Keep Going.
6. Thing's are not as they first appear.
7. Evil can never be conquered by Evil.
8. Evil corrupts all it touches.
9. Goodness is NOT common.
10. This life is not all there is.
11. The Greatest Power in the Universe is Love

Dresden Files

2008-10-20T11:01:00.000-07:00

Following on the reccomendation of two folks I have started reading the Dresden Files books by Jim Butcher.

If you care about your free time don't read them. You will get sucked in by this page turning phenomena.

I started reading Storm Front last week and I am now about to start on the 6th book in the series.

So Don't read Jim Butcher's awesome Dresden books or you will become an addict like me.

My Name is Durin and I am a Dresdenholic.

The Bell at Sealy Head

2008-10-13T10:49:00.000-07:00

I am reading the new Patricia McKillip book The Bell at Sealy Head.

I love it, I love all of Patricia McKillip's books but I have found this one to be a real treasure so far. McKillip's books are wonderful escapisim in the best sense of the word. She writes about rich lyrical worlds that leave you with an emense saddness and wonder at what she has produced.

The very best do that.

She does it well.

Also on a personal note my wife and I have been going to counseling and please pray for that process.

I feel like I have entered a new territory in my life and need to keep my ears tuned in to what God would say to me. I need his leading.

Books on CD

2008-10-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

Right now I am listening to Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War by Clive Barker and I listened to Draco Tavern by Larry Niven on the way to a Vineyard conference in Michigan.

Draco was a great set of stories that contained some heavy cosmic musing. I thought that Niven handled folks with Faith as most hard Sci-Fi folks do, dismissivly. But I have to admire the cosmic issues that he addressed in some really well done stories.

I enjoyed listening to Days of Magic, Nights of War again. I really think Clive Barker has created something special in this series and I cannot wait for the mysterious Abarat book 3.

At the Vineyard conference I attented a workshop on God's Calling. I really feel that I need to commit to writing on a regular basis. I have never been able to get that done before but I do think there are several stories running around my brain that I need to set down in text.

Pray for me in that.

Durin

Phoenix Endangered

2008-09-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

I am very much enjoying the latest book in the Endarkened saga by Mercedes Lackey.

I am going to a Vineyard conference on Friday with my Pastor and would covet your prayers

Song of Durin

2008-09-22T07:16:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pISzxdEgDCU

This is an great rendition of the Song of Durin. There is something about all of Tolkein's work that has such a meloncholy. It touches my heart in ways I can't explain.

Very Hard Choices

2008-09-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

I am reading Very Hard Choices by Spider Robinson. If anything It is much superior to the book preceding it Very Bad Deaths. In Very Bad Deaths Russell a lovable hippie throwback is reunited with his college roomate Smelly.

Smelly is a telepath and has picked up the thoughts of a serial killer as the killer flew a plane that flew right over where Smelly was. Smelly enlists Russell to help track down the serial killer.

On a personal note, please continue to pray for my marriage as it could use your prayers

The Book that will never end.

2008-09-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

Normally I breeze through books. Lately I have been stuck in the second book in the third Thomas Covenant series by Stephen Donaldson.

Will this book never end.

I have also been reading off and on

The Way of the Wild Heart- by John Eldredge

Enneagram

2008-08-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

I was reading this book that was on my mother's bookshelf and I thought it was very interesting.
From the test I will link I am a Strong Five just like I figured I was from reading the book

http://www.enneagramspectrum.com/

Take the test and see where your personality is.

:)

Kindle ADD

2008-08-18T20:23:00.000-07:00

The one thing I have noticed since I started reading on the Kindle is that I tend to jump around between different books.

This might be because I am learning my new toy but it also could be the nature of having a huge selection of reading right at your fingertips.

I just finished reading Callahan's Lady and I was able to completely enjoy the book and not feel the device I was reading with.

Kindle Love

2008-08-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Technolust meets Booklust

Yooweee!

This thing is Cool! Expensive but very, very cool.

I just transfered some items that I downloaded from Baen Books onto my Kindle and it was a snap. Very, Very easy.

I mainly played with it so far bopping back and forth from different books and checking out the cool features. I loved the Basic Web browser. Very Nice.

On the downside the page flash takes a little bit to get used to and the pages load a little slower than I would like. I only read the intro and first Chapter to Fatal Revanant and I have not experienced that "Lost in a Book" feeling quite yet as I am still getting comfortable with this machine.

But I love it. The Kindle is a Home Run for me thus far.

:)

Spider Robinson IS the best.

2008-08-12T23:58:00.000-07:00

A long time ago a very troubled boy bought a book.

That book was Callahan's Secret by Spider Robinson

I can not tell you how much Spider's writings and Philosophy have helped me in my life.

Spider has been doing weekly podcasts and now for free, (although we should all pass the hat )and with some great music thrown in you can listen to one of my favorite Spider Robinson stories. The Guy With The Eyes.

http://www.spiderrobinson.com/podcast.html

"Shared sorrow is diminished, shared joy increased."

Amazon Kindle

2008-08-10T20:07:00.000-07:00

I read a lot of books. Maybe at the rate that I read I can justify this gizmo. We will see.

I think this is the future. Im just not sure that it is our future yet. You know what I mean. Will this transform the reading experience. Will it keep the Joy of loosing yourself in a book.

I don't know.

I get mine tommorow and I will probably Blog a bit about it.

At this point I have such a backlog of Dead Tree Books that I don't know how much I will be using the kindle. I like the fact that you can buy new books for 9.99 . That's a big deal. It helps me justify the expense.

I pre ordered a few things to be on my Kindle

The Worm Ouroboros by E.R. Eddison

The Complete Oz Series by Baum

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Gibbon

Bible The New Living Translation

Fatal Revenant by Stephen Donaldson

Thats quite a list and everything except the new Donaldson book and the Bible I got for $.99

Also you can tranfer Project Gutenberg texts to the Kindle and dowload them wirelessly for $.10

So I might read a few classics. Or at least maybe read Princess of Mars by Burrroughs which I had downloaded but found reading it on the pc too hard.

Right now I am reading Cicero by an author I can't remember offhand. It's interesting. A lot of Rome is still present in our lives today. But a lot is Different.

I am also reading Myth-Gotten Gains by Asprin. I started reading the Myth Inc. books when I was about 12. It is a lighthearted romp. But not as good as a Terry Prachett book.

Terry Prachett rocks by the way. Read anything by him and you will be improving your blood pressure. Laughter is Good.

I can't wait to play with my Kindle.

Plantet Stories Rock!

2008-08-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

Hello Acupofrich,

You are about my sole reader. I am going to try to Blog a little more constistantly. God has been doing amazing things in my life lately.

My Wife and I are working together on our problems, and I feel like we are heading in the right direction.

Even more than that I feel that God orchestrating my life in such a way that I am having to rely on Him as my lover. Hard to explain but we all have needs and only when we unite our hearts with God in the midst of the battle can he fullfill us. I think he brings us to a place where we are hungry and thirsty, and then he shows us how the Mead of God tastes.

But any way I am telling you all about a book.

My favorite RPG company Paizo.com has come out with a line of books. These books are all Classics of the SF pulp era and would appear on the shelf with Robert Howard ect.

I just finished The Secret of Sinharat which takes place on a fictional Mars. Amazing!

Do yourself a favor and check out Planet Stories.

Leigh Brackett rocks!

Marriage Problems

2008-03-28T08:33:00.000-07:00

Currently my Wife and I need your prayers. We are going through a rough spot in our relationship and we need God's guidence to get through.

Renegade's Magic

2008-03-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

I am currently reading Renegade's Magic by Robin Hobb. Robin Hobb is one of my favorite writters. She more than anyone else can make me empathize with her Characters. Often her Characters go though tremendous hardship but are completely believable as unique human beings.

This book is the third book is her Soldier Son series. Shamans Crossing and Forest Mage being book 1 and book 2. In this book Nevarre is surrenders completely to the "Speck" magic. Nevarre has a divided soul part Ghernian part Speck. I am only halfway thru this book and right now Nevarre's Speck half has total control. The Ghernian part sitting as another consciousness in the back of his mind.

This series has been Robin Hobb's biggist deviation from the standard Fantasy Setting. There is quite a bit of similarity between Ghernia and America when the great plains were being settled. Ghernia is landlocked and the King has been pushing his road through the countryside trying to get to the ocean on the other side of the mountains. The plains were concoured by soldier's of Nevarre's Fathers Age. In fact, the success of the counquest of the plains catapults many soldiers into being "New Nobles". Which is the case of Nevarre's family.

But, when the road leaves the plains it runs strait into a forest and the domain of the Speck people. The Speck's ancestor trees lie directly in the path of the Ghernian Kings Road and thus the two people are brought into conflict.

The Speck magic seizes Nevarre to stop the Ghernian King's road and with Nevarre's Speck self in charge terrible magic will be unleashed.

The other reason I like this book is the way Robin Hobb presents the Speck Great One's. All Speck magicians are increadibly fat. Apparently that is how they store their magical energy. They also have feeders who fatten them up so they are more and more powerful.

The reason I thought this was intersting is that in a thin obsessed culture it was intrigueing to see fatness and obesity portrayed in a neutral or positive manner. It make you think that even though you think X is best some folks like Y.

That's all.

:)

Horns of Elfland- The Sequel

2008-03-26T07:38:00.000-07:00

Long story short I am going to take a crack at blogging again.

:)

My first Blog can be found at

http://www.hornsofelfland.blogspot.com/