Books read in 2025: No. 13 -- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

by C.S. Lewis

Started: April 14

Finished: April 17

Notes: I've read this book a couple of times in the past, but I'm doing so again because it has been decades since and because I want to read all the Narnia books. I've read the first four of those books, but never finished the series. So, I thought since it's been so long, I should start back at the beginning and then follow through.

Mini review: I enjoyed this one, but not quite as much as I have in the past. It didn't help that I'd read this novel more than once before and that I had seen the movie, so I always knew what was going to happen. Still, quite the fine children's tale.

Beer of the Week: New South White Ale

Beer score: 5.6

Company: New South Brewing Co.
ABU: 4.6
IBU: NA

This one pours a faint golden color with a bit of cloudiness while giving off light smells of citrus and beer.

I tend to like white ales, but I can't say this is a favorite. I don't mean that this one sucks, just that there are better ones available.

Still, this one isn't bad, just a bit heavy compared to most white ales.

Fairly smooth with a light bitterness on the aftertaste, with a bit of a bready flavor and just a hint of that citrus.

If you're in the Myrtle Beach area and try this one, it's not awful, but if you're looking beyond, yeah, there are better white ales available.

Books read in 2025: No. 12 -- Elegy Beach

by Steven R. Boyett

Started: April 4

Finished: April 14

Notes: I realize it's probably stupid of me, but I've been holding off reading this novel for much of the last decade, since its publication, mainly out of a sense of delayed gratification. See, this is a sequel to one of my favorite fantasy novels, Ariel, where our world has gone through something of an apocalypse, except instead of nukes or plague or zombies, it is magic which has changed the world. Ariel has been around since the early 1980s, which is when I read it for the first time ... and since I love the book so much, I've been hesitant to read it's sequel, which just came out about 8 years ago. So, I have a mixed feeling of dread and of overjoyment ... if that makes sense. Anyway, here goes.

Mini review: God damn it. Here I was thinking Steven Erikson was the only fantasy writer who could make my eyes grow wet, and then after decades I'm reminded of another Steven who can do the same to me. Boyett has done more than a service to his earlier book and his younger self and to generations both young and old. Magic, a journey, centaurs, unicorns, swords, it's all there and more. I won't go into details concerning the plot, for that could ruin things for anyone interested, but I can highly suggest reading Ariel and then Elegy Beach. However, I will add, if you're of the Gen X generation, keep in mind when these books were published, and what they have to say about those times.

Another novella and a short story

Recently I published a fantasy novella and a short story over at Amazon. Here are the basics.

Trials of Magic: a high fantasy novella

At 14, Princess Alljoy is full of self determination, even stubbornness, so it should be no surprise when she finds life within the castle quite dreary and she sets out on her own for adventure.

But then she discovers The Veil, a misty, magical wall which surrounds and protects her family's kingdom, a wall which none can pass through.

Intrigued by the mystery, the princess sets out to find a dragon who supposedly knows the secrets of The Veil.

Yet the dragon will not be without needs of its own.

Midnight at The Skewered Pig: a dark fantasy short story

Two bandits, one a murderer and the other worse, ride to the top of a mountain road where they find an unexpected sight, an inn that is not supposed to be there. Tired from their travels and their most recent villainous acts, they decide what better place to rest than this mysterious place.

Yet what they find waiting for them will be beyond their understanding. A reckoning awaits.

Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: Pyramid Scotch Ale

Beer score: 6.2

Here's another beer, and another brewery, that's no longer with us. Such a shame.

This beer was sturdy and sweet like many a good Scotch ale.

Unfortunately, I don't care much for overly sweet beers, so Scotch ales sometimes suffer in my beer ratings. Still, Scottish ales often make a good sipping beer, especially on winter evenings when you're in the mood to drink but not get drunk. Also, Scotch ales can grow on you, but I wouldn't suggest breaking out a case at a party, not unless the party is full of beer snobs.

Anyway, this was one of the better Scotch ales, in my opinion, so I wish it was still around.

Books read in 2025: No. 11 -- The Guns of Avalon

by Roger Zelazny

Started: March 27

Finished: April 3

Notes: I've been meaning to read more Zelazny, and a decade or more back I saw an online discussion with 2 editors from Tor publishing, and they agreed this was the best of Zelazny's Amber novels. So, I thought this a fitting place to jump back into reading this author.

Mini review: This one was pretty darn good. I felt it slowed a little in the middle, but it had a solid beginning and quite a good ending, though it did leave things open for the next Amber novel. Anyway, in this once, Corwin seeks to gain the crown of Amber, and this takes him through various worlds, including one version of our own, but just when he seems on the verge of reaching his goal, a new threat presents itself.

Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: Ruddles Pub Ale Draught

Beer score: 4.8

The company that makes this brew got bought out by another company a decade or so, and many of that original company's beers are no longer on the market, including this one.

I'm not usually a fan of these draught ales in a can, but this one wasn't too bad. It had a smooth, milky head, and it was very wet, almost to the point of being flat. There was a slight bitter hops flavor that was a little stronger in the aftertaste.

All in all, not a great beer, but not a bad one. Too bad it's no longer around.