Free short story over at Blackgate

 This week over at Blackgate appears my short story "Deep in the Land of Ice and Snow," originally published in Rogue Blades Entertainment's collection The Return of the Sword. Enjoy!

Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: Michelob Dry

Beer score: 3.7

This is another beer that's no longer with us, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. As my notes from a decade or so back tell me, this wasn't the worst beer ever, but it was pretty plain, another example of mass brewers jumping on a bandwagon when something is hot or popular for a short period of time, in this case "dry beers" that suddenly sprang up a few decades or so back.

As for the quality here, this drink poured a weak gold color. It went down smooth at first, but the fizz kept growing the more you drank until it became annoying. There was a little sweetness in the aftertaste, but not much else.

So, yeah, if you didn't try this one, you didn't miss much.

Books read in 2020: No. 23 -- The Book of Joshua, KJV

published by Zondervan

Started: Sept. 29
Finished: Oct. 9

Notes: I took a break, but now it's time to get back to my Biblical reading.

Mini review: This book covers much of the life of Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Moses. Here one will find the early conquests of the Israelites, a lengthy listing of various conquered lands and how they were given out by lots to the Israelite tribes, and the final days of Joshua leading up to his death. While Jews and many Christians consider this history, known history and archeology do not back this up, but historians and archeologists learn more all the time. Some of the harshest history (or mythology, depending upon one's views) are covered in this book, specifically the genocides the Israelites attempt and sometimes succeed against their early enemies, peoples whose lands they sought for themselves as promised by God. Perhaps God had his reasons, or perhaps the early Israelites simply used God as an excuse, or maybe even none of this is true but it's only mythology.

Fantasy fiction for your funny bone

If you like a good chuckle from time to time and enjoy fantasy literature, and you're a fan of the film The Princess Bride, then you need to check out the latest short story collection from Rogue Blades titled As You Wish!

And yep, I had a hand in editing this one.

Enjoy!

Beer of the Week: Labatt Blue

Beer score: 3.9

Company: Labatt Brewing Company

ABV: 4.7
IBU: 12

Word is this is the best-selling Canadian beer in the world, and I guess I can understand why. It's weak and watery with a touch of carbonation, pretty much like most mass-marketed brews. There is a little sweetness, but that's about it.

The coloring is a weak yellowish gold with a touch of foam. Again, about what one would expect.

There are better beers at better prices, but that doesn't mean this one couldn't cool your thirst on a hot day while working beneath the sun. And there are worse beers, so I wouldn't turn down a free one if tossed to me at a party.

Books read in 2020: No. 22 -- Widows

by Ed McBain

Started: Sept. 19

Finished: Sept. 28

Notes: There are three authors I try to read at least once each year: Robert E. Howard, Stephen King, and Ed McBain. So here's my McBain read for this year. It helps I'm a big fan, especially of his 87th Precinct novels, of which this is one.

Mini review: It's always a pleasure to visit with the gang of the 87th again. This one becomes personal as a major character loses a loved one to murder, plus there's another plot line in which someone is murdering a rich fellow and all the women in his life. As always, worth reading.

Beer of the Week: Avery Brewing IPA

Beer score: 6.0

Company: Avery Brewing Company

ABV: 6.5
IBU: NA

Boulder, Colorado, brings us this tasty beverage. Generally, while I love pale ales, I'm not much of a fan of India pale ales because of they often have a sharp, almost grapefruit-like sourness in my mouth. But this IPA is an exception for me.

You'll get a rather large, fluffy head with this one as you pour it, along with a pale golden color and scents of orange and perhaps pine.

The taste has just a touch of that sourness I mentioned above, but not enough to be overpowering. While not overly carbonated, this one does have a fair amount of light froth, which helps it go down easy.

And as a bit of history (for those of you who didn't know), the India pale ale is named after a type of ale shipped to British troops in India during the nineteenth century.