Is change necessary for a hero?

 I'm now writing regularly over at the Rogue Blades site, and this week my articles asks the question, Is change necessary for a hero?

Books read in 2021: No. 5 -- Shane

by Jack Schaefer

Started: Jan. 24

Finished: Jan. 27

Notes: Yep, this is the Western novel which was the basis for the famous 1953 movie starring Alan Ladd. I enjoy the movie, so I'm looking forward to this one.

Mini review: Though I've read this was a children's book back in the day, it would probably be considered too strong for kids today, at least by most parents. No, this tale was written for the boys of my father's generation, and I have to say maybe we've lost a little because of this. Anyway, this was a pretty good book, and it didn't seem childish to me at all though told from the point of view of a boy. The movie version pretty much sticks to this novel, though some scenes shown in the movie were only told of here, and there are some minor differences. Western fiction fans would do themselves a service to read this.

Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: Blue Ridge Amber Lager

Beer score: 5.9

Another beer that's no longer in production, it went through multiple brewing companies before eventually dying off. The Frederick Brewing Company had it for a while, and then it got bought out by the Flying Dog Brewery for a bit, and then ended up with the Wild Goose Brewery. Such a shame this decent beer is no longer around.

It poured an orange color and had a caramel, malty smell to it. Good cold. Wet and a little thin with more caramel in the tasting.

A pretty good beer for premium beer drinkers to expand their tastes with. Not bad at all, but by no means an awesome beer.

Books read in 2021: No. 4 -- The Unforgiven

by Alan Le May

Started: Jan. 20

Finished: Jan. 24

Notes: I've been reading a fair amount of non-fiction concerning the Old West of late, so thought I'd turn to some of the fiction on the era. This particular novel was the basis for the 1960 movie starring Burt Lancaster. I've read this author's novel The Searchers and generally enjoyed it, so thought I'd give him another go.

Mini review: After a somewhat slow start, this turned out to be a damn fine novel. It's written in a style more common to half a century or more ago, being verbose by today's standards, but this is necessary as this isn't simply a tale of gunfights and adventure, though there is some of that. This is mainly a tale of the cowfolk who helped build the frontier and the hardships and dangers they faced, especially their struggles against Native American tribes, her being the Kiowa. Also, by modern standards this isn't the most politically correct of novels, but the anger and curses thrown at the Kiowa is mostly understandable (at least from some characters) because of the tense situations; in other words, if you're fighting for your life, you're not going to worry so much if the words coming from your mouth are politcally correct.

Black Gate and Rogue Blades

Over at Black Gate this week, I talk about how I'll be writing articles over at the new Rogue Blades web site while also still writing at Black Gate.

Books read in 2021: No. 3 -- Lady at the O.K. Corral: The True Story of Joesphine Marcus Earp

by Ann Kirschner

Started: Jan. 10

Finished: Jan. 20

Notes: Believe it or not, I did not purchase this book when I visited Tombstone, Arizona a few years ago, site of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Instead, I found it at a used book store in North Carolina, but thought I'd read it now since I'm in the middle of a spell of reading about the Old West. Also, for some time now I've been interested in Josephine Marcus Earp, the actress who married Wyatt Earp.

Mini review: For those wanting to learn more about Tombstone and the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, there will not be much new information here. However, for those who are seeking knowledge of Wyatt and Josephine Earp's life after the events of Tombstone, there is much to be found here. The writer is mostly sympathetic towards her subject matter, but is more than willing to tell when others had negative recollections of Wyatt and Josephine. The writing style is not a favorite of mine, but it's not awful.

Beer of the Week: Molson Canadian

Beer score: 5.6

Company: Molson Coors

ABV: 5.0
IBU: 15

A cheese and crackers lager. A good, plain, all-around beer. Not necessarily a beer snob's beer, but not a bad beer at all. You could serve this one to your beer snob friends and not be disgraced.

Has a light, pale color like gold when you pour it, though there is something of a corn and rice smell that's not uncommon among premium beers.

There's a touch of malty sweetness here, a nice beer flavor, and a frothy head. This is a clean, fairly smooth beer. Not a favorite of mine, but I could see myself drinking these while doing work around the house.