Topic: What books/comics have you been reading lately?

[Johnny Alucard]

I was really surprised by the quality of Tarzan the first time I read it to. You gotta love old pulp stories, something about them that can't be duplicated. The second book in the series is also good and kind of closes off some of the loose threads. I've bought most of the 20 some books in the series (about $1 apiece at the flea market) and read the first 3, it really becomes a slough with "The Beasts of Tarzan" though, as Burroughs was starting to lose interest in the character. A year or two ago I started reading "John Carter of Mars" but got distracted and never finished it. Thinking I might try "The Land of Hidden Men" next.

If you like pulp style you should check out some of the great crime drama and detective stories from the period. The novels of Dashiell Hammett would be a good place to start there. On the more fantastic side of things, Edgar Rice Burroughs (creator of Conan) is another well-known adventure/fantasy pulp author who dabbled in many settings and genres. Though like his friend and fellow pulp author HP Lovecraft his output was unfortunately not nearly as large as Burroughs due to an overly short lifespan.

I've actually read some of Robert E. Howard's works. Mostly his Solomon Kane stuff, though I might give Conan a go one of these days.

[Abnormal Freak]

We're talking about both. actually :0)

Whoops. o.o Somehow missed that part of the discussion.

On the more fantastic side of things, Edgar Rice Burroughs (creator of Conan) is another well-known adventure/fantasy pulp author who dabbled in many settings and genres. Though like his friend and fellow pulp author HP Lovecraft his output was unfortunately not nearly as large as Burroughs due to an overly short lifespan.

I think you mean Robert E. Howard. :o Great pulp author and friend to Lovecraft, created Conan. But since you were just talking about Burroughs' work, I can understand the mistake, heh.

[Ratty]

Whoops. o.o Somehow missed that part of the discussion.

I think you mean Robert E. Howard. Great pulp author and friend to Lovecraft, created Conan. But since you were just talking about Burroughs' work, I can understand the mistake, heh.

Indeed I did, we all make mistakes lol.
Actually reminds me of one of the best lines in GitS- after Kusanagi tells Togusa to focus on the current mission:  "Hey, I'm not a robot, Major."
"Hah! That's why you're still a rookie."

I've actually read some of Robert E. Howard's works. Mostly his Solomon Kane stuff, though I might give Conan a go one of these days.

I'd really like to read the Solomon Kane stuff, so far I've only read his work on Kull and a bit of Conan, but I read a snippet of a Kane story and it looks great. Like what "Van Helsing" was trying to be but less self consciously campy. I know Conan mostly through the 70s comics, which I inherited a few dozen of.

[uzo]

Hahahaha, gotta love Lupin the Third! I love the music for that series, especially the opening theme. Sooooo classy:

THEME FROM LUPIN III

Oh yeah! Lupin never disappoints in the sound track!

ルパン三世のテーマ　'80　2005　（高音質）

One of my top favorites from the history of Lupin music.

It's been about a year since I read the little of the manga I have read, but the friend who sent it to me described the main difference being the likability of the character of Lupin himself. (Basically they made him more likable as a character for the TV shows and movies, his unlikeability being part of the original mad-magazine influenced joke.) Said friend is a huge fan of Lupin, even fan-translating one of the video games. I've liked what I've seen of the anime, enough to make me seek out the first Arsene Lupin book, and the manga was entertaining. But whenever I think of Lupin I just remember that old Lupin/Reel Big Fish amv lol.

Ahh. I've heard it was darker than the animations. I can see that happening, given what Lupin realistically represents.

[Johnny Alucard]

I'd really like to read the Solomon Kane stuff, so far I've only read his work on Kull and a bit of Conan, but I read a snippet of a Kane story and it looks great. Like what "Van Helsing" was trying to be but less self consciously campy. I know Conan mostly through the 70s comics, which I inherited a few dozen of.

That's what appealed to me in the first place about it. After reading some stories, you can really tell that Howard really thought about the character. He's really dynamic and defined in his role as a Puritan.

[Ratty]

That's what appealed to me in the first place about it. After reading some stories, you can really tell that Howard really thought about the character. He's really dynamic and defined in his role as a Puritan.

Have you seen the official film adaptation?
Solomon Kane OFFICIAL TRAILER (2012) - U.S. Release
Again it looks pretty badass, but I'd like to read the original works first.

Just started on "Vampire of the Mists" the first in a series of novels based in Dungeons and Dragons classic "Ravenloft" horror setting. This one deals with the darklord Strahd von Zarovich of Barovia, D&D's equivalent of Dracula. It's pretty good so far, I like the idea of having an elf-vampire as the hero. When you're already an immortal elf to start with, getting turned into a vampire has to suck (no pun intended) doubly hard.

[Ravvie]

I've started on the first Dark Tower book. I'm finding it quite difficult, which actually is kind of nice because I'm really used to finding books easy. Last book I finished was probably one of the Vampire Academy ones. They're alright but not anything to write home about. I was reading something called Partials but I've kind of lost interest in it.

When it comes to books, I tend to multitask.

[Gunlord]

I bought Bram Stoker's Dracula from Barnes and Noble yesterday. Looking forward to readin

[Ratty]

I bought Bram Stoker's Dracula from Barnes and Noble yesterday. Looking forward to readin

Happy Reading it's an old favorite.

About halfway through "Vampire of the Mists" and overall it's a bit stronger than the only book in this series I had read previously, "Mordenheim". Which was a tad too close to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein* and thus got a little boring in stretches. Plus that book all but forgot it's original protagonists, a couple of uneasy would-be necromancers in training, halfway through. The focus on the Elven vampire Jander's story keeps Mists from feeling too much like a retread of Stokers work. At least so far.

*Victor Mordenheim and his monster Adam are D&D's version of Frankenstein and his monster.

[Aridale]

Ive seen Solomon Kane and its pretty damn good. The look and feel of the movie is spot on. And I have Vampire of the Mists around here somewhere... I read it one time and thought it was pretty horrible. If your just gettin started with DND book you cant go wrong with pretty much any Forgotten Realms. Everything by RA Salvatore is pretty epic and I cant recommend the Heroes of Phlan trilogy enough. 3 of my fav books ever.

Ive stopped readin now I just cant get into books anymore. Maybe once I get my Nexus 7 Ill take up readin again in the form of ebooks

[Ratty]

Ive seen Solomon Kane and its pretty damn good. The look and feel of the movie is spot on. And I have Vampire of the Mists around here somewhere... I read it one time and thought it was pretty horrible. If your just gettin started with DND book you cant go wrong with pretty much any Forgotten Realms. Everything by RA Salvatore is pretty epic and I cant recommend the Heroes of Phlan trilogy enough. 3 of my fav books ever.

Ive stopped readin now I just cant get into books anymore. Maybe once I get my Nexus 7 Ill take up readin again in the form of ebooks

Eh, doesn't seem that bad to me. Not finished it of course. I'm planning to read the entire Ravenloft line as I'm very partial to the setting. (Though unfortunately have never gotten to play in it. If I ever take up DMing I'd like to give it a try.) I have acquired some other D&D novels though, namely the Dark Elf Trilogy and Azure Bonds, both Forgotten Realms. Not sure when I'll get to them exactly.

[Lumi Kløvstad]

Currently reading "The Kuklukan Manuscript". It's pretty run of the mill so far, but there are some possibilities for some neat storytelling later.

[Ratty]

Finished "Vampire of the Mists" last night, thought it was pretty good. Was genuinely surprised by it at parts. I've never read "Interview with a Vampire" (or anything by Anne Rice for that matter) and never wish to, but "Mists" obviously took some, uh, inspiration from that one. I can tell just by the bits of the movie I've seen. Still, overall not bad for a licensed novel.

Moved on to Ravenloft #2 today "Night of the Black Rose". Wherein DragonLance's evil Lord Soth finds himself transported by the mists of Ravenloft from the world of Krynn to Count Strahd's Barovia. Loved the imagination so far, any book that starts with a flying fortress of draconians and evil dragons paratrooping in to attack a white city whilst led by an undead Darth Vader analog has my attention. I might have to read the DragonLance Chronicles sometime.

[Mooning Freddy]

I've started reading the Watchmen comics today. Read the first part and was sincerely impressed. The characters, the dialog, everything is spot-on. And then the author throws in this prose part from "Under the Hood" by the first Nite Owl and it's really well-written and adds to the story. I've never read anything quite like it.

[TheouAegis]

Reading Kekkaishi and Rosario Vampire currently. Every year I get to read the next volume of Excel Saga and Battle Angel Alita: Last Order and Yotsuba&!. Every once in a while I visit the local library and read some of the Mythos.

If you like long Asian reads and haven't read it yet, read Bandits Of The Marsh. It's the Robin Hood-esque Chinese novel that inspired the Suikoden games. But it's Chinese classic, so it's very long winded.