I suppose it would be more accurate that they bring guns to a knife-fight and then laugh about it. RED is none other than Retired, Extremely Dangerous, a movie about aging covert operatives who appear to be targeted for forceful extra-retirement by some very well connected people. Loosely inspired by Warren Ellis’ graphic novels of the same name, this movie takes those books’ themes and runs with them, delivering in a huge way. A few names you’ll recognize own the movie’s screen with their presence: Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Brian Cox, Karl Urban, and Mary-Louise Parker. They’re maybe kind of a big deal, and they totally make the movie.
Author Archives: Henry
Artemis Bridge Simulator Offers Arch Entertainment
Pun aside, this game is not about building bridges. It is about being on bridges. Spaceship bridges. While it can be legitimately panned for its exceedingly high computer requirements (it isn’t demanding about system specs, it demands many systems), this game is a multiplayer gem of excellent quality. I played it for the first time this weekend, and now…
Off Armageddon Reef, by David Weber
Do you like Arthurian legend, religious war motivated by politics, and the burgeoning Age of Sail? If yes, then try Off Armageddon Reef. This book will feel abundantly familiar to anyone who has read a moderate number of David Weber‘s other works. Not only is he recognizable by his language (and especially by his descriptions of violence in naval combat, which bear a striking resemblance to those used in the Honor Harrington series), but the story itself is often assembled from elements which he has already used in other books. It speaks well for him that he’s found another way to combine those pieces, and used them to explore new topics and themes. With naval battles and wonderful Arthurian parallels, I’m sold on this series. Maybe I’ll change my mind six books from now, but I suspect that much like with the Honor Harrington series I’ll continue to be drawn in by the story being told here. I happily anticipate gorging myself on the next book posthaste.
Goddess of the Ice Realm, by David Drake
Once again I have grabbed hold of a David Drake book by the lapels, roughed it up, and shaken it until all the delicious story-bits come out. Goddess of the Ice Realm continues the formula that David Drake has found so successful previously, returning to his excellently conceived Roman / Greek / Atlantean setting and pitting the heroes against multiple enemies serving one greater terrifying threat. There are few innovations in this addition to the series, and most of the storylines will feel familiar to those who have read the previous books of the series, but if you like the characters and enjoyed the previous books you’ll almost certainly like this one too.
Somebody like my friend Mattias
Many of you will by now have read Mattias’ excellent post talking about his experience growing up.
As I was talking with him about it afterwards, we hit on another related topic: what happens when people with that experience of falling in-between society’s accepted definitions are in your gaming group? Is there anything in particular that you should do? I have a pretty definite agenda here, so I’ll ask some leading questions; how can you make your games and gaming group more inclusive, and how can you do that while including potentially uncomfortable topics in your games?
Schindler’s List, and stories that inspire us
It is rare for a movie to reduce me to tears. Not just tears, but quiet sobbing too. Schindler’s List does it.
Schindler’s List tells a powerful, horrifying, and moving story, one which ought to be heard by everyone. It is more than a story of persecution and salvation, it’s a story of inspiration and hope.
Temple in the Sands: A Musical Teaser
I’ve been working on a module for Call of Cthulhu for several years now, and I’ve finally found a model I like for organizing my written content. It’s not fancy, and I’ll have to alter a few things eventually when I get around to posting maps and pictures alongside the text, but it will mean that other people can play the game that I’ve made without me running it for them. But the module isn’t done yet, and is already far longer than most of our posts. So with that in mind…
The Daylight War, by Peter V. Brett
The Daylight War is the third installment in Peter V. Brett‘s slowly growing Demon Cycle. I enjoyed it, though my reading of it was rudely interrupted by HPMoR rearing its really rather fetching head. While not as horrifyingly addictive as its fanfic competitor, The Daylight War does offer a great deal of demon fighting, moderate doses of political intriguing, and a few dashes of vaguely awkward sex scenes. Oh, and I guess I wasn’t paying attention when I read the first two books several years ago, but there’s a decent helping of weird cultural stuff going on too. Maybe I’m not being fair?
HPMoR: Its Appeal is Surprisingly Reasonable
Early last week I finally gave in to the steadily building pile of recommendations and started reading Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality. By Friday I had barely managed to keep up with my other commitments and had forcibly redistributed my sleep cycle; but I finished all 87 chapters that are presently out, and was left wanting more. I hadn’t understood why so many other people had thought that I would like the story: I’m not normally attracted to any sort of fanfic, and while I enjoyed the Harry Potter series I didn’t think it was the alpha and omega of wizardly fiction. But now…
Held at Gunpoint
There’s a lovely new game that came out very recently. It’s called Gunpoint. Perhaps you may have heard of it…
Fistful of Wits 