Books read in 2025: No. 25 -- The Mercenary

by Jerry Pournelle

Started: June 24

Finished: June 30

Notes: Since I'm reading sci-fi of late, I thought I'd take a turn to some action-oriented material. I don't believe I've read this author before, so this should be a learning experience.

Mini review: In the future, Earth's governments are withdrawing from colony planets and leaving those local governments to fend for themselves. In that situation, mercenaries find they are needed. I expected action, but most of what I got was politics. Oh, there was some action, but most of it came in the form of battles and there's not a lot of close-up action, almost like reading military reports. The main character is interesting, however, and the writing style is decent though not great. I can't say I'll be tempted to read more from this author, but I also didn't despise this novel.

Beer of the Week: Samuel Adams Porch Rocker

Beer score: 6.0

Company: Samuel Adams
ABU: 4.5
IBU: 8 

Apparently this beer is based upon an old Bavarian recipe that mixed beer with lemonade.

It definitely gives off a light lemon scent when you pour it, and in the glass it has a fairly light golden coloring, though not completely pale.

Has a big, foamy head, but no carbonation in the drinking. Very smooth and light with plenty of lemon flavoring. A little sweetness, but not really any bitter.

I've read where others have found this one to be very carbonated, so maybe I got an old one or something. Either way, I stand by that mine didn't have any fizz in it once the head had foamed out.

Would I drink this again? Hmm, yeah. I can't say it'll be on my regular rotation, but I wouldn't say "no" to one. In fact, this one might be a good trial for your friends who want a drink but say they don't like beer.

Books read in 2025: No. 24 -- Titan

by John Varley

Started: June 16

Finished: June 23

Notes: As sometimes happens to me, this is one of those books that's been haunting me for decades. What I mean is, I seem to keep running across it time and time again, and not just in book stores. There have been other books that have been that way for me, almost as if the universe is calling out for me to read them. Or maybe it's just good marketing. Anyway, after all this time, this novel being originally published in 1979, I thought it time I read it.

Mini review: A scientific exploration unit is sent to study the moons of Saturn and discovers far more than expected. I won't say more, and that's the bare tip of the iceberg, because to say more would spoil far too much. I have to say, though, this was a fine novel. The writing style is solid, the characters interesting, the world building done quite well. There are a number of elements that are almost fantasy instead of science fiction, but they work quite well here whereas a lesser writer might have made them rather silly. Those who love adventures where the protagonist has to go on a journey through many a hardship should enjoy this novel. The ending is quite solid, and while there isn't a cliffhanger, that ending does open doors to the other books in this series.

Beer of the Week: Samuel Adams American Light

Beer score: 5.6

Company: Samuel Adams
ABU: 4.2
IBU: 7

Samuel Adams Light has existed for decades, but apparently they've retired that beer and replaced it with this one.

It pours a pale golden color, almost clear, while giving off slight smells of wheat and grass.

The head foams up rather large, but I have to say, for a light beer there doesn't seem to be a ton of carbonation in the drinking of this one, an unusual trait for most light beers.

Goes down smooth with some light bitterness and a little sweetness. I think I tasted I touch of clover, maybe. Other than that, there are more of those wheaty and grassy flavorings.

Not an exceptional beer, but nothing awful. In truth, when I want a light beer, I'd grab this one before most others.

Chaos & Courage: 6 short stories and 2 novellas

Early this year I wrote and self published 6 fantasy short stories and 2 novellas exclusive to Amazon, and exclusivity is not my usual. This was basically an experiment, and that experiment is ongoing.

That being said, I've now gathered those tales into one collection: Chaos & Courage, also exclusive to Amazon. This collection is available in e-book, soft cover, and hardback. Also, occasionally, as Amazon allows, the e-book version will be free for at least a few days here and there.

Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: Harpoon Ale

Beer score: 6.7

I was disappointed to learn this one was no longer on the market, for I had enjoyed plenty of these back in the '90s when I lived up north.

Anyway, at least I still have some notes about this quality brew.

It poured a great caramel color, and the taste was a little stronger than many traditional American ales.

When poured, it gave off scents of bread and maybe a little citrus. The tasting was much the same, but stronger with medium textures and maybe a little dryness.

A pretty good beer. Hopefully they'll start brewing it again some day.

Books read in 2025: No. 23 -- Star Trek 1

by James Blish

Started: June 14

Finished: June 16

Notes: These paperbacks were quite popular when I was a kid back in the 1970s, and despite my being a fan of the original Star Trek show, I've never read one before now. There were a dozen or so of these books, and each one contains a short adaption of a variety of episodes of the original show. Apparently these adaptations, I suppose one could call them short stories, were based upon the scripts and not the actual airing of the show, so some differences are to be expected.

Mini review: Each of these shorts got to the point, not spending a lot of time of characterization or speculation, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. More than half a dozen episodes of the original show were covered here, and yes, there were some differences from the episodes as they aired, but not much. I wouldn't think such a book would sell well today, but back when these were popular in the 1970s, Star Trek and sci-fi fans didn't have nearly the options they do today, so I can why this series was snapped up by fans. This was a nice bit of nostalgia for me, and I could see returning to this series at some point.

Books read in 2025: No. 22 -- Orbit 1

edited by Damon Knight

Started: June 8

Finished: June 13

Notes: Since I'm reading sci-fi of late, I thought it fitting I jump into a collection of short stories so as to experience different writers. This one as first published in the 1960s.

Mini review: With every anthology, there are always some stories that are better than others, but this one kind of stumped me. While none of the tales were truly awful, neither did any stand out to me as great. It was weird. There was almost this seeming middle-ness, like every story stylistically and often thematically were the same, as if they could have been written by the same person, though I know that not to be the case. Maybe it was a matter of the times, with writers somewhat sounding like one another, or perhaps the editor had a singular voice which he sought for publication. Whatever the case, I didn't love this one, but I also can't say I hated it. It was just sort of ho-hum.

Beer of the Week: Cave Creek Chili Beer

Beer score: 4.1

Company: The Chili Beer Brewing Company
ABU: 4.5
IBU: 20

This one has come and gone a few times over the last few decades, but a new company has brought it back. While I can't call it a favorite, it's definitely different, and I'm always happy to see a beer survive.

As can be expected, this one is an extremely spicy hot beer because there's a pepper sitting in the bottom of the bottle. This isn't a match I car for, but you pepper fans might enjoy it. I just want my beer to taste like beer and my peppers to taste like peppers.

It pours a pale yellow color while giving off pretty much nothing but a spicy pepper smell.

Pepper dominates the flavor so much there's barely any beer to taste. The texture is smooth and the flavor might be worth trying if you didn't have so much of that pepper taste with which to contend. All that being said, while this is a spicy brew, I didn't find it so hot that I couldn't finish it, and I didn't need to follow up with a drink of another kind to cool me off.

Worth trying if you like Mexican food with peppers, but I can't recommend this one as a regular drinking beer.

Books read in 2025: No. 21 -- Childhood's End

by Arthur C. Clarke

Started: June 2

Finished: June 7

Notes: It dawned on me recently I have not read much science fiction in recent years, so I thought I'd correct that in coming weeks and months. I decided to start with a known author in the genre. I've read some Clarke before but not much, and wanted to try him out again because it's been so long since I read any of his work that I don't really recall if I enjoyed it or not.

Mini review: When mankind is on the verge of first venturing forth to the moon, spaceships appear in the sky and suddenly the world has new Overlords, which is what they are called. Not malicious, the Overlords work over years to better mankind, but ultimately even the Overlords have others to which they must answer. Taking place over a century, this novel jumps forward in time on more than one occasion, but it's not jarring. The writing style is solid, though having been published originally in the early 1950s, there are a few places where things seem outdated or even anachronisms, but there is very little of this.

Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: Liftbridge Amber Lager

Beer score: 7.6

This one had been out of circulation for a while because the brewer went out of business about a decade ago. Anyway, I didn't have a chance to try any new beer this week, so I thought I'd share a few old notes about this beer I tried years and years ago.

This one instantly assaulted the tongue with a strong amber and caramel taste with just a hint of sweetness, and I mean that in a good way.

It went down smooth and frothy.

That's about all I have on this one. Wish I'd taken a pic.

Books read in 2025: No. 20 -- The Last Battle

by C.S. Lewis

Started: May 30

Finished: June 2

Notes: This is the last of the Narnia novels which I had not read before and the actual last in the series. To tell the truth, I'm glad this is coming to an end, for though I enjoy some of these books, I don't care for all of them.

Mini review: I didn't care for the first three-fourths of this novel, feeling it was too haphazard, but I must say I found the ending quite fulfilling from a Christian point of view. Of course, likely an agnostic or atheistic viewpoint might find the ending rather silly or even banal, but I felt it worked for Lewis' seeming goals.

Books read in 2025: No. 19 -- The Magician's Nephew

by C.S. Lewis

Started: May 26

Finished: May 30

Notes: I'm reading the Narnia books and this one is next in my lineup. It's also one of the few Narnia books which I've not read before now. My understanding is that this is the tale of how Aslan created Narnia, so hopefully it'll be interesting.

Mini review: This turned out to be one of my least favorite of these books. I've found Lewis to be one of the strongest Christian apologists, but I feel his creation myth here was fairly weak, as was the overall plot. I suppose part of my feelings about this are the fact the reader knows everything is going to turn out all right, that there's no real threat to the characters. Lewis was creating not only a mythology and something of a metaphorical tale for Christianity, but also a fairy tale, so I supposed he can be forgiven for what I consider weak storytelling here.

Books read in 2025: No. 18 -- The Horse and His Boy

by C.S. Lewis

Started: May 22

Finished: May 26

Notes: This is the first of the Narnia books I've not read before, so I'm looking forward to what it might hold. My understanding is that it doesn't follow the general timeline that's been presented so far in the earlier novels.

Mini review: I have to say, other than The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, this has been my favorite Narnia book so far. There's nothing like a good quest story, and this one was done well in a fairy-tale sort of way. Of course I have some quibbles, such as I felt the ending came a little too easy for the good guys, but all in all this was a fine story.

Beer of the Week: Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier Dunkel

Beer score: 8.4

Company: Franziskaner Weissbier
ABU: 5.0
IBU: 10

Pours a reddish brown color with a foamy head while giving off smells of dark fruit, caramel, and burnt nuts, but the smell isn't overly strong.

Smooth on the tongue with more of that caramel, along with some bready tastes.

Stronger, fruitier, and a little sweeter than the non-dunkel version of this beer, but not overly powerful, which is somewhat surprising in a German brew.

Definitely worth trying. Too complex for most amateur beer tasters, as they might not even realize this is a beer.

Books read in 2025: No. 17 -- The Silver Chair

by C.S. Lewis

Started: May 15

Finished: May 21

Notes: I took a brief break from reading the Narnia novels, but now I'm jumping back into one. This is the last of the handful which I've read before, but it has been probably nearly 40 years since I read this novel and I remember nothing about it.

Mini review: The first half of this one I didn't care much for, but the second half grew on me until what I felt was a fair and fitting ending. Funny thing, the actual silver chair is barely in this book, just a matter of a few pages, and is destroyed soon after its appearance.

Beer of the Week: Neon Beer Hug IPA

Beer score: 6.0

Company: Goose Island Beer Co.
ABU: 7.0
IBU: 40

Pretty pale when pouring into a clear glass, with some light yellow coloring. The smell isn't strong, but hints at orange and honey with a touch of hoppy bitterness.

In the mouth, this one is quite smooth, but like the scent, the flavor isn't overly strong, though that flavor grows the more you drink. Speaking of flavor, at first there's a slight rush of citrus, but then upon swallowing a smooth bitterness takes over and lays on the tongue for a while. There is a little sweetness at first, but it doesn't last long.

I can't say this one is a favorite, but it's a pretty decent beer. I could see serving this one at parties, or just sitting around drinking one while watching TV. A great beer? No, but it is a good beer.

Books read in 2025: No. 16 -- Fairy Tale

by Stephen King

Started: May 8

Finished: May 15

Notes: I'm taking a break from the Narnia novels so I won't become burned out on them, but I'm still in the mood for some fantasy, so I thought I'd give a try to one of King's more recent fantastical novels. Plus, most times I enjoy his writing.

Mini review: This was a fine tale. It was a combination of what I think of a King's two main styles of writing, his more common one for his horror and thriller novels, and his other style reserved for his fantasy works, especially The Dark Tower series. The first half of this book is of the more traditional, horror type, but the second half dips heavily into the style of King's fantasy works. Worth reading for King fans, and unless you don't enjoy his writing, this one is till worth your time.

Beer of the Week: Tropical Beer Hug Imperial IPA

Beer score: 5.3

Company: Goose Island Beer Co.
ABU: 9.9
IBU: 45

In a clear glass, this one looks like a traditional premium beer in America with a light golden color and a bit of fizz with lacing at the top, maybe a little too much head for my liking. The smell wasn't too strong for me, but I picked up a little wheat a citrus, not uncommon for an IPA.

The taste is quite a bit stronger than the smell. There's barely a touch of sweetness on the tongue, but the bitterness is quite powerful, reminding me somewhat of orange zest. Goes down smooth, but the aftertaste has a harsh little kick that didn't do much for me.

For me, this one wasn't great. It's not awful, but I don't I'll be drinking more in the future. 

Books read in 2025: No. 15 -- The Voyage of The Dawn Treader

by C.S. Lewis

Started: April 24

Finished: May 7

Notes: Since I'm reading the Narnia series, this one is the next I come to. However, I did read this book decades upon decades ago.

Mini review: Right off the get-go, this one was far better than Prince Caspian, but still nowhere near the iconic level of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Still, in many ways this is the most adventurous of this novels, or at least of the ones I've read so far, with an actual quest and strange locales. That being said, I think I'm going to take a break from the Narnia books for a while so I won't become burned out on them.

Beer of the Week: West Coast Beer Hug IPA

Beer score: 6.6

Company: Goose Island Beer Co.
ABU: 7.8
IBU: 45

Lots of foam when I poured this one into a glass. In that glass, it gave off a lightly-cloudy golden color with hints of citrus and bread but not a lot of smell.

Another IPA that's a bit too sour for my tastes, but I have to admit that IPA sourness/bitterness is not overly strong here. The flavor is stronger than the smell, with quite a bit more of that citrus, though that gives away fairly quickly to a smoothness bitterness not uncommon to IPAs. Not a lot of complexity here for an IPA, but that's not always a bad thing, depending upon your mood and your tastes.

I could recommend this to, especially to IPA lovers, but I'm not sure it would become anyone's regular drinking or sipping brew.

Beer of the Week: Goose Island Bright Sunshiny Haze

Beer score: 7.9

Company: Goose Island Beer Co.
ABU: 6.8
IBU: 20

This IPA pours a pale lemon color while giving off scents of citrus and light wheat.

The head is foamy but not overly thick nor overly light, just right. The flavor includes more of that citrus and light wheat.

I'm not normally a huge IPA fan because I often find them sour on my tongue, but there's none of that here. This is perhaps the smoothest and lightest IPA I've ever had the pleasure to taste, reminding me somewhat of white ales.

Not a perfect beer, even if there is such a thing, but I don't have any complaints.

Books read in 2025: No. 14 -- Prince Caspian

by C.S. Lewis

Started: April 18

Finished: April 23

Notes: As I'm re-reading the Narnia novels I've read before while hoping to finally complete the series, and since I just read the first book, it's time for the second of them. Yes, I've read this one, but it was years and years ago and I remember next to nothing about it.

Mini review: I seem to recall of the Narnia books I've read before, this was my least favorite, and I still feel that one. Of course it's nearly impossible to be as good as the iconic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. This one feels rushed to me, almost as if the publisher were pressing C.S. Lewis to come out with a quick sequel. That might not be the case, but it feels that way to me.

Beer of the Week: Jolene Red Ale

Beer score: 7.1

Company: Grand Strand Brewing Company
ABU: 6.0
IBU: NA

In the late '90s, generic red ales were fairly popular, though they've tended to fade away since then. However, the Grand Strand Brewing folks near Myrtle Beach, SC, are keeping that trend alive.

And they're not doing a bad job at it, though I have to admit, red ales have never been a favorite of mine, though I've also never detested them.

Anyway, this one pours a medium auburn color while giving off scents of wheat and, maybe, caramel?

Fairly light with not-too-much carbonation, this beer offers some bitterness that's not too strong but also not too light while also giving off a hint of that caramel.

Are there better beers out there? Uh, yeah, but this one is pretty decent. And I have to say, this is perhaps the best "red" ale I've ever had.

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.

Books read in 2025: No. 10 -- The Curse of Rathlaw

by Peter Saxon

Started: March 18

Finished: March 27

Notes: Apparently this author was a pseudonym used by several authors in the mid-20th Century, but a little Internet snooping has revealed to me to true author of this fantasy novel was Thomas Martin. Either way, I'm not familiar with the author, but I'm hoping this novel will at least be decent because I've been disappointed with a number of my fantasy reads of late. I picked this one up at a used book store because I kept finding it over and over again, almost like it was calling to me.

Mini review: At first I was disappointed because, despite the cover art and title and back copy and front copy and even the first chapter which took place with a maid and a hermit outside a Scottish castle at night, this was not an S&S novel, not even fantasy, unless maybe dark fantasy. No, this turned out to be something of a horror novel set in the modern day (at least by 1968 standards, when this book was published). But that being said, this wasn't too bad. Not great, but not awful. A hermit attempts to rape a young woman engaged to a young man, this is captured before the deed can be done. The local lord has the hermit punished, and afterward the hermit lays a curse upon the family. At first everyone scoffs, but when events start occurring related to the curse, the lord calls in the aid of a group in London called The Guardians, who deal with fighting diabolical forces. Kind of fun, dark but not too dark, so I didn't hate it.

Beer of the Week: Corona Extra

Beer score: 3.8

Company: Constellation Brands
ABU: 4.6
IBU: 18

It pours a very light yellow color, pale and almost clear. The smell is grassy with maybe a little corn.

Weak and watery with a little carbonation. There is a slight sweet taste, but not much more.

My experience has been that this is typical of many Mexican beers, but despite my general lack of excitement, this beer would probably go well with seafood or Mexican food or on a hot day when you're working outdoors in the heat.

Books read in 2025: No. 9 -- The Clocks of Iraz

by L. Sprague de Camp

Started: March 7

Finished: March 18

Notes: I've read some of de Camp's Conan books and some material he edited, but until now I've not read any of his novels of his own creation. So here goes.

Mini review: This novel disgusted me more than anything I've read in a good long while, so I am glad to be rid of it. First of all, calling this Sword & Sorcery, which the book's back cover prompted, is almost ludicrous. I suppose it is S&S, but only by quite loose terms. A master craftsman who at least has some history of soldiering finds himself hired to fix a majestic clock in a city, and then he runs afoul of local politics, facing a battle and eventually a king's abdication. There's very little magic, and most of that in the background, and other than one sword fight early on and a battle that was almost more stilly than serious, there's no real action here, at least not of the sword-swinging variety. The writing is bland at best, and most frustrating, just when things start to get a little interesting, the main character breaks out into song or lengthy stories that don't even have much to do with the plot. Yes, I'm glad to be finished with this book.

Beer of the Week: Molson Ice

Beer score: 4.5

Company: MolsonCoors
ABU: 5.6
IBU: 15

As might be expected from a mass-produced, mass-marketed brew, this one pours a pale yellow color, almost watery. There's a bit of sweet scent in the pouring, but not much.

The taste isn't real strong, though there is a bit of sweet beerness to it. There is a lot of fizz, which makes it hard to swallow.

Meh. There are worse beers.

Two more fantasy short stories available

I've been experimenting with publishing fantasy short stories exclusively to Amazon of late, always in e-book format and print and sometimes even audio.

So, here are my latest two stories.

Jungle of Blood: a heroic fantasy short story

A great foreign evil has arrived by sea near the ancestral lands of the nomadic people of the young warrior Keembu, and he and his fellow clansmen and their shaman must ultimately come face to face with this monstrosity or slowly be forced to fall beneath its terror.

Can spears and magic stand against a vampire who can control the very beasts of the jungle? Or will the blood of men cover the land?

Squad Mage: a short story of military fantasy

The squad of Corporal Jetei is tasked with breaking through the wall surrounding an enemy town, but once they are through, the real dangers begin.

A powerful sorceress has holed up within her own mansion and it is Jetei’s squad’s job to go in and eliminate this magical threat. Yet Jetei is only a squad mage, so how can she and her comrades hope to stand against a strong magical enemy within that enemy’s very home?

Beer of the Week: Hacker-Pschorr Dunkel Weisse

Beer score: 5.5

Company: Hacker-Pschorr
ABU: 5.3
IBU: NA

This dark wheat (dunkel weisse) beer has way too much carbonation for my liking, which really hurt my rating.

Still, the flavor is nice and sweet.

Pours a dark brown. Smells like slightly burnt molasses. Tastes much the same.

If nor for all the carbonation, this one would have scored a lot higher.

And here's a tip: Don't drink this and smoke a cigar, because the heat from the stogie will burn your tongue when mixed with all that fizz. Some lessons you learn the hard way.

Books read in 2025: No. 8 -- Blood Rites

by Jim Butcher

Started: Feb. 25

Finished: March 7

Notes: I read a couple of these Dresden novels earlier his year and enjoyed them. Since I had one more in my to-be-read stacks, I thought I'd go ahead and read it.

Mini review: This might be my favorite yet of the Dresden novels I've read. In this one, Harry lands a job as a sort of security guard for an adult film shoot (yes, I mean porn) and eventually he ends up taking on vampires and other evils.

Beer of the Week: Great Lakes Cleveland Brown Ale

Beer score: 6.2

Company: Great Lakes Brewing Company
ABU: 5.6
IBU: 40

The Great Lakes folks have made another fine beer here. This one honors autumn and the Cleveland Browns football team.

This brew is one of the better brown ales, in my opinion, with a slight sweetness and just maybe a little too much carbonation for my liking.

Anyway, this one pours a smooth brown color with a nice, lacy head of foam.

While pouring, the smell is nutty with some brown sugar, and maybe some caramel notes.

The taste is much like the smell, though there's possibly more of a syrupy flavor with some breadiness.

Overall, fairly smooth though not the smoothest beer I've ever had, and some nuttiness.

Books read in 2025: No. 7 -- The Road to Corlay

by Richard Cowper

Started: Feb. 10

Finished: Feb. 25

Notes: I'm not familiar with this author nor this 1975 novel, but I keep running across it in used book stores, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Mini review: Mostly fantasy but with some elements of science fiction, this tale delves into a religious persecution happening in our world a thousand years from now after a great flood has rearranged the Earth's map a fair bit. This world is another of those semi-Medieval worlds where some level of magic now exists. This one wasn't quite for me. It was interesting, but the prose I found droll at best and often descriptive where it didn't really need to be. It's not that the descriptions here were way long, but I a hill is a hill and a castle is a castle and a forest is a forest, unless that is there's some literary reason to go more in depth, and I did not feel that was the case here.

Beer of the Week: Iron City Beer

Beer score: 4.0

Company: Pittsburgh Brewing Company
ABV: 4.7
IBU: NA

Been a looooong time since I've had one of these, and I have to say, it wasn't nearly as bad as I had remembered.

Pours a light yellow color, almost clear, with a faint scent of bread and perhaps fruit, possibly banana and/or citrus.

Goes down pretty smooth with a strong American-tasting bitterness that fades fairly quickly.

Nothing great, nothing awful, just a decent serviceable beer that can quench your thirst.

I'd think this one would make a good bar beer and go well at cookouts.

2 more fantasy shorts available

I wrote last month I was experimenting with shorter fiction on Amazon, specifically works that are exclusive to Amazon. So here are two more I've recently made available.

State of Love and Enmity: a novella of high fantasy

Civil war in the land of the elves has brought refugees to the nation of the humans, and it is Captain Izael's duty to round up and deport these refugees to other lands.

But when he is tasked with escorting an elven princess back to her homeland, betrayal piles upon betrayal and suddenly Izael finds himself allied withe one who would be his enemy.

Only time and fate will tell if he and the Princess Alanor can avoid their foes, learn the truth of events surrounding them, and find safety in a world turned upside down.

Charnel Mouths and Sightless Eyes: a Sword & Sorcery short story

Zilander the wizard is dead, and four thieves have taken it upon themselves to investigate the mage's forgotten tower in the middle of nowhere, all in the hopes of discovering treasure.

But though they are prepared for the dangers they are to find within the tower, they are not ready for the threat among themselves.

Beer of the Week: Belhaven Scottish Ale

Beer score: 6.1

Company: Belhaven Brewery
ABV: 5.0
IBU: 21

This is a strong, sweet and sturdy ale brewed in Scotland. This beer is so sweet that the ranking score I gave it would probably be higher if it weren't so sweet.

But then again, Scottish ales tend to be strong, sweet and sturdy, as well as dark colored.

This one pours a dark brown color with tinges of red, all while giving off smells of dark fruit, butter, and caramel. The taste is much the same, though even more so.

This beer isn't for everyone, but it's a fine beer and worth trying. If you enjoy Scottish ales in general, you should love this one.

Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: Highfalls India Pale Ale

Beer score: 5.4

Another week without trying any new beer, but here are a few notes from one I tried years ago.

When I first tasted this brew, it was made by the same folks who brewed JW Dundee's Honey Brown Lager, but later on it was brewed by the Genesee Brewery Folks.

This IPA didn't have the overpowering sour taste common to some IPAs. However, it did have too much carbonation. The taste was slightly sweet and a tad syrupy, almost like a weak Scottish Ale.

Books read in 2025: No. 6 -- Imaro

by Charles R. Saunders

Started: Jan. 30

Finished: Feb. 10

Notes: Though I've long known of this author's importance to the genre of Sword & Sorcery, I've yet to take a look at his work. I expect good things.

Mini review: Holy hell, this is quite possibly the best S&S novel I've ever read. Reading like a series of connected short stories, it all comes to tell the tale of a jungle warrior's origins and the various sorcerous foes he faces during his younger days. The book doesn't end in a cliffhanger exactly, but it definitely leaves open a path to future tales, and I'll have to seek these out.

Beer of the Week: Schlitz Malt Liquor

Beer score: 0.7

Company: Pabst
ABV: 5.9
IBU: NA

So I go a few weeks without tasting any beer, and then all I can get my hands on is this stuff.

Sometimes life ain't fair.

Anyway, it's wet ... and that's about the only good thing that can be said about it (okay, okay, it'll get you drunk, too, if that's what you're looking for).

Pours a light orange color while giving off smells of sweet, cheap alcohol. Hardly any taste here other than a little sweetness on the way down. Not a lot of fizz, though.

At least it's cheap.

Books read in 2025: No. 5 -- The Golden Gryphon Feather

by Richard Purtill

Started: Jan. 20

Finished: Jan. 29

Notes: As sometimes happens with me, I was traveling recently without my Kindle and I finished reading the book I had on hand. So, I popped into a used-book store to find something else, and I came across this novel and this author, both of which are unfamiliar to me. However, I like to try authors new to me, so I'll give this one from 1979 a chance.

Mini review: Set during ancient Greece, a noble Athenian girl is taken to Crete as something of a political prisoner to take part in a holy rite known as the Dance. For the most part, this novel has some courtly intrigue as well as that of the gods. The first half of this one I found to be quite a slog, but I felt the story finally got going with the second half and ended well but abruptly. Readers who enjoy fantasy set in the ancient world might like this story, as well as those who have interests in mythology.

An experimentation in short stories

I've mentioned elsewhere that with age and health difficulties, writing isn't as easy for me as it used to be. Because of this, I've been focusing of late upon writing shorter works, novellas and short stories.

So, recently I published on Amazon a couple of short stories, "The Prison of His Tyranny" and "A More Sudden Revenge." Normally I don't publish short stories straight to the online world. Usually I'll shop my shorts around to different publications, but this time I wanted to try something different, an experiment of sorts to see how well some of my short stories will sell straight to the market.

If anyone is interested, this stories will only be available at Amazon and will be part of Amazon's Kindle Unlimited, so you can purchase the e-book versions of these stories straight out for 99 cents or you can read them if you have a Kindle Unlimited account. Occasionally these e-book stories will even be available for free as Amazon allows. Also, there are print and audio versions of these tales available at Amazon.

Will more stories come? Probably. I'll see how I feel and how many more ideas come to me.

I will admit it's a bit strange working on shorter tales, because I've focused upon writing novels for the longest time. As most writers could tell you, writing shorts and writing longer works requires different talents, different tasks, and a different way of thinking. I'm feeling a bit rusty writing short stories at the moment, but I can feel the old wheels getting greased, so hopefully things will get better in those regards.