Bryan DeLuca —> Blog You
Every time you read my blog an angel gets its wings.

It has been awhile since I updated my blog and I have a few book reviews I have to do.

Annihilation by Philip Athans

Menzoberranzan fights to survive the onslaught  of attacks by multiple underdark races. There is an evolution in Gromph Baenre and he battles the Lich Drown for control over the city.

Our dwindling expedition of heros travel the multiverse in search of  Loth in the Demonweb Pits. But things are quickly falling apart. Battle for control of the group and the stress of a lost goddess push them to the edge.

This book was well written and there are some unexpected losses you’ll have to read to believe.

Extinction is the fourth book in the War of the Spider Queen Series. While, Lisa Smedmen weaved a hugh amount of Ryld’s tale in the book, it seemed very rushed. First, the beginning of the book seemed more like a cartoon version of the characters, compared to how they were represented in the first three novels. Second, who ever copy edited the novel should be fired. There were numous type-o’s, letter missing off the front of words and the world ”Underdark” spealled two different ways on the dame page. Third, the book just came to a screaming halt. I know it is part of a series, but the novel should still, to some degree, be able to stand on its own merits. Overall, she told and good story and it got better as the novel progressed.

I’ve been reading the War of the Spider Queen book series for some time now, in between other novels. Overall it is one of the best Forgotten Realms series. I’m on book four, Extinction. I loved the first three parts, especially Condemnation by Richard Baker.
The entire series was overseen by R. A. Salvatore, and takes place in Drow society. Lolth (The Spider Queen demi-god) has abandoned her worshippers. All of her priestesses denied of their divine magical abilities, which shakes the foundations of Drow society and sent off a a band of Drow adventurers to figure out what has gone for horribly wrong.
I usually don’t review books or book series until I’m done, but this one is too good to miss, even though I’m a little late in reading it.

Dissolution by Richard Lee Byers
Insurrection by Thomas M. Reid
Condemnation by Richard Baker
Extinction by Lisa Smedman
Annihilation by Philip Athans
Resurrection by Paul S. Kemp

All Cover Art by Brom

I’ve been a gamer all my life. From the days of Atari and Intellivision to King’s Quest to Quake to Kingpin to Call of Duty to Neverwinter 2. I’ve played pretty much all of them, and even designed maps, skins, arenas and worlds!

When gaming first started there were no saves and respawn points. When you played a game you played it from start to finish. If you died you died and you’d have to start from the beginning and play your way through again. Of course, back them there was no such thing as hard drives built into the machines. Hell, my first PC didn’t even have a hard drive.

I’ve been waiting for this movie for some time - being a fan of Frank Miller, having a huge interest in history, and loving the myths surrounding them. So needless to say I went opening weekend. Got my candy, super giant large soda and popcorn. There was nothing better at that moment. 

The movie was good and followed, somewhat, the events of the war, except for the mutants that plagued it. But they did leave out a couple of event that would have made it better, such as the way the Persians marched to Greece. There was also something that didn’t make scenes with the Oracle, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. 

They could have also used a little more research in the costume department, because the Spartans actually wore armor! The movie is packed with fighting scenes – probably somewhere around 70%. Overall it was worth the price of admission and is probably the best action movie this year.