DONE: Book of Secrets by Chris Roberson

I saw this attractive little book at the bookstore last month and bought it to fill all the time I seem to be waiting around lately.

The front cover has a picture of an old looking book and reads "It holds the key to the mysteries of the ages, and everyone wants it... BOOK OF SECRETS"

The back cover reads:
"Spencer Finch is an investigative journalist

He's on the trail of the greatest secret in human history...

... hidden within a bunch of old pulp science fiction stories?"

I just couldn't resist.

For the most part I enjoyed the story. Stories actually. There's more than one story going on in Book of Secrets. I like the story of the passing down of the hero mantle and also of the passing along of the Book of Secrets.

When the story of the Book of Secrets is coming to its current resolution within the last 50 pages... things take a random turn. I have to admit, my mind was projecting a grittier, bloodier, more violent ending. But I guess that's not the story Chris Roberson had in mind.

Book of Secrets is a good read and I am looking forward to reading more by Chris Roberson.

Lectio: Shadow Kingdoms: The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard: Volume One

Recently I visited the Mall of America. Of course I stopped in the B&N to look around. They didn't have the second Hellgate London book so I found something else to read at the airport. Along with all the Conan books I found Shadow Kingdoms (The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard).

The back cover reads:

Shadow Kingdoms is the first volume of The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard, presenting all of Howard's work from the classic magazine Weird Tales, meticulously restored to its original texts. This volume begins with "Spear and Fang," Howard's first professional fiction sale, and concludes with "Red Thunder," a gripping sword & sorcery tale. Series characters present in this volume include King Kull and Solomon Kane.

Since I've only read a few of Robert E. Howard's stories, I paid for it and then headed to Game Stop.

Later that night I went to read "Spear and Fang" only to find it was nowhere in the book. Big "OOOPS!" for Cosmos Books. I just now checked the online reviews and it seems they omitted three stories from this collection. But it does have stories from Robert E. Howard and the couple I have read so far are satisfying and there's a greater chance that I'll pick up more of his works in the future (probably from a different publisher though).

Lectio: Hellgate London: Exodus

I did some traveling the last month or so. That means I had a lot of time waiting at airports and sitting on planes. So I picked up a little paperback at an airport bookstore. It has demons, magic, and medieval weapons... What more could you ask for? There's a nod toward HPL and Robert E. Howard.

This, the first of three Hellgate London books is just what I needed.