Monday, July 27, 2015

Author Interview - David Annandale (2nd appearance)

Well, I have been a fan of Black Library for a few years now. And one of the authors who got my most admiration is definitely 'David Annandale'. So when I got the chance of doing an interview of him on the eve of his release of the second Yarrick novel I couldn't have been more happy. Here goes the episode -

1) Welcome back to the blog. Please start by telling us a bit about what's been going on with you lately?

It's been a busy time since we last spoke. My Grey Knights work appeared -- the novel Maledictus and two audio dramas -- and I wrote the novels Lemartes: Guardian of the Lost and The Pyres of Armageddon. There are three other novels in the bag too, but they must remain shrouded in secrecy for now. Beyond the writing front, I've carried on as one the co-hosts of the Skiffy and Fanty Show podcast, while Shaun Duke and I have begun the Totally Pretentious film podcast. I also had the opportunity to teach courses on fantasy films and drive-in movies, so that was fun too.

2) 'Yarrick: Pyres of Armageddon' is your second novel featuring Yarrick, so how does it feel to write about the character again?

I've now written more about Yarrick than any other character in the 40K universe, so I feel very close to him. I enjoy writing Yarrick very much -- it's rather like visiting with an old friend. And while Imperial Creed was about his first mission as commissar, and was an entirely new adventure, The Pyres of Armageddon deals with events about which there is plenty of lore, and so there was the extra spice of writing about some of the most important moments of his life.

3) So why do you think Yarrick is an interesting character? Why would your readers like him?

Yarrick is very human, yet capable of extraordinary feats, often through will alone. Here is an old man who is respected by both Space Marines and orks, which takes some doing, and I find it fascinating to explore the nature of the man who could achieve this most unusual position. And then there's the Ahab-Moby Dick relationship he has with Ghazghkull, which I love delving into. I've written about one facet of it in Chains of Golgotha. The Pyres of Armageddon is where it begins.

4) Is this novel a sequel to the first one or can new readers jump right on board with this one?

There are threads linking the book to Imperial Creed, but well over a century has passed between the two books. New readers should have no trouble jumping in.

5) The mention of Armageddon in the name smells of action. So is this book solely action oriented or does Yarrick deliver some thing more here?

This may be the most action-oriented novel I've written for Black Library, given the apocalyptic events that take place as the ork invasion begins. But I hope you learn more about Yarrick and why he acts as he does. This was also a chance to bring figures like Herman von Strab onto the stage, and Canoness Errant Setheno is back (and she has gone through a lot between Imperial Creed and now too).

6) What's in future for Yarrick? Do you plan to write more with him as a protagonist?

I would certainly like to, and the logical place to go would be what happens next in the Second War of Armageddon. That will depend on the Black Library schedule, and it's looking very busy (in the best sense of the word!) right now.

7) Can we expect some more 'Black Library' fiction from you in 2015? Care to divulge a bit?

Oh yes, much more to come! Lots that I'm excited about, but nothing I can divulge for the moment. Sorry!

8) So have you ever thought about writing on 'Warhammer' universe? And can we as fans expect some original fictions from you in near future?

I would jump at the chance, so we'll see what the future holds! As for my original work, the short story "The Broken Choir" in  A Grimoire of Eldritch Inquests (edited by Josh Reynolds and Miles Boothe) has ties to the events in Gethsemane Hall, and I'm continuing to work on that. There are a few other short stories that will be appearing too, including a fantasy one, in times to come.

About Yarrick: Pyres of Armageddon - 
The thrilling exploits of one of Black Library's most iconic characters.

Commissar Sebastian Yarrick returns to action to defend the world of Armageddon. When the largest ork horde seen for centuries hits the hive world, the Imperial forces are faced with an overwhelming attack. As battle rages across the planet, Yarrick and his allies lead the defence, striking at the orks in a series of daring assaults. Even if it means incurring the wrath of Armageddon's corrupt Overlord, Commissar Yarrick will not let Armageddon fall.








About David Annandale -
David Annandale is the author of the Yarrick series, consisting of the novella Chains of Golgotha and the novel Imperial Creed, as well as the Horus Heresy novel The Damnation of Pythos. For the Space Marine Battles series he has written The Death of Antagonis and Overfiend. He is a prolific writer of short fiction, including the novella Mephiston: Lord of Death and numerous short stories set in the Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000 universes. David lectures at a Canadian university, on subjects ranging from English literature to horror films and video games.

Links - Website, Twitter

[PS: I just can't wait to find out more about the future projects by David. Well, at least in the mean time I can read this 2nd Yarrick novel, which hopefully would be even better than the first.
You can also check out my 'first interview of him'; as well as reviews of his works - 'Yarrick: Chains of Golgotha', 'Yarrick: A Plague of Saints', 'Yarrick: The Gallows Saint', 'Yarrick: Imperial Creed' on this blog.]  

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Got 3DS XL + Pokemon X

FINALLY I GOT IT.

It has been a dream since the day the handheld came out, to own a Nintendo 3DS, so I could play the games as soon as they came out and enjoy playing with people from all around the world.
Due to my new job the dream came true, as with the help of the bonus for Eid and through my hard earned cash through private practice I was finally able to save enough money for a 3ds XL and Pokemon X.


And for Pokemon X, well, pokemon was a favorite of me since early childhood when I used to watch the same episode of the anime twice in one day during Toonami on Cartoon Network. And after a few years when I finally learned of the games and got my hand on Platinum I was amazed. It was so much fun and addictive. And as Pokemon X has supposedly reinvigorated the series I was really looking forward to get nostalgic with this new and improved entry. So, the first game I got for my 3DS XL is obviously 'Pokemon X'.


So now I am off to complete my pokedex, fight and trade with people all over the globe and may be finally I would try to IV and EV train pokemons to get my perfect team, who knows?

Do expect a full review to come soon.

BTW, can you guys please recommend a few games that I might buy next?

Saturday, July 11, 2015

New Book Review - A Debt to be Paid

Book - A Debt to be Paid
Writer - Patrick Lacey
 
Published By -
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

First things first, I got this book from NetGalley, so thank you netgalley and Samhain Publishing, Ltd. for this opportunity.
What would you do when faced with a horror that no one else can see? How far will you go to save your loved ones? And what if the hallucinations that defined your past turns out to be no hallucinations at all? These are some of the questions that the characters must ask themselves in this book. We get a fast paced ride as the main character tries to escape from an unimaginable horror while confronting some disturbing truth from the past.

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Graphic Novel Review - Secret Wars Prelude

Name - Secret Wars Prelude
Published by - Marvel
Writer - Jonathan Hickman, Jim Shooter, Brian Michael Bendis
Artist - Steve Epting, Mike Zeck, Ryan Stegman, Sara Pichelli, Esad Ribic

The 'Secret Wars Prelude' graphic novel is a mixture of various issues of past comic series' which brings the concept of the mega-event to focus as well as introduces a few of the key characters to the readers. While it may not be essential to enjoy the event, it does spice up the anticipation while waiting for the main experience.

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

June 2015 New DC Comics Ongoing Series' To Watch For

I will start off this month with a 'special feature' article, a feature dedicated to the change of DC Comics line-up in the past month. DC Comics saw the start of DC You in June, which featured the start of quite a few new ongoing series'. This proves to be a great starting point for new readers as well as overall promising stuff. Let's begin -

BATMAN BEYOND #1
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art and cover by BERNARD CHANG

At last, Batman Beyond gets his own ongoing series in THE definitive future of the DCU! But this isn’t the Beyond you think you know! With the Justice League missing and without Bruce to guide him, this new Batman will need to explore this bizarre world on his own while fighting to raise humanity from an opponent that’s already won.
The heroes Batman knew have failed, the world he knew has been turned on its head, and every step he takes will lead him either toward finding home – or further down the road of disaster!

BLACK CANARY #1
Written by BRENDEN FLETCHER
Art and cover by ANNIE WU

Dinah Lance hits the road! After years as a soldier and vigilante, the LAST place Dinah saw herself is on stage…but she’s quickly learning she’d die to protect the gang of misfits she’s fallen into. And she just might have to – for some reason, the newly rechristened band Black Canary seems to be a magnet for trouble…and Dinah’s not gonna believe it when she finds out the reason why! Martial arts, super-spies, and rock ‘n’ roll combine, from Brenden Fletcher (BATGIRL) and Annie Wu (Hawkeye)!



CONSTANTINE: THE HELLBLAZER #1
Written by MING DOYLE
Art and cover by RILEY ROSSMO

The dark adventures of DC’s foremost occult detective continue in an all-new series as he investigates the cruelest case he’s ever come across – his own dark history!


DOOMED #1
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by JAVIER FERNANDEZ

In this startling new series, a Metropolis U student gains the power to transform into the monstrously powerful Doomsday! The power may be the key to fixing his life, but every time he transforms he risks getting stuck forever as Superman’s most heinous adversary! How far can he go before he’s doomed?






DR. FATE #1
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art and cover by SONNY LIEW

You thought global warming was bad? Anubis, the Egyptian Lord of Dead, is preparing the flood to wash the world away. Standing in his way? An overwhelmed Brooklyn med student who’s been handed the helmet of Fate, without an instruction manual.



EARTH 2: SOCIETY #1
Written by DANIEL WILSON
Art and cover by JORGE JIMENEZ

The survivors of Earth-2’s war with Apokolips find themselves on a new world, but can Green Lantern, Power Girl, a new Batman and the other heroes of Earth-2 create a new world that’s better than the last, or will their interference and good intentions doom this world, just like the old one?





GREEN LANTERN: THE LOST ARMY #1
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art and cover by JESUS SAIZ

Imagine waking up in a strange place where you didn’t recognize anything, and everyone you knew and loved was nowhere to be found. Now imagine that you are a Green Lantern. The rest of the Corps is missing, you don’t know where you are and there’s not a Power Battery to be found for as far as your ring can scan. Where are you? How did you get here? Those are just two of the many questions facing our heroes.
Starring John Stewart, Two-Six, Kilowog and Arisia, and featuring a surprise guest-star we promise you’ll never predict, LOST ARMY is an incredible journey of discovery, survival, morality and heartbreak. Never has the Corps been challenged in this way – and not everyone is going to make it home!
 


 JUSTICE LEAGUE 3001 #1
Written by KEITH GIFFEN and J.M. DeMATTEIS
Art and cover by HOWARD PORTER

Travel even deeper into the future than before with the all-new JUSTICE LEAGUE 3001! They’ve managed to become the World’s Greatest Heroes of the 30th century, but with legions of foes gunning for them, can they stay alive long enough to see the year 3002?





JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1
Written by BRYAN HITCH
Art by BRYAN HITCH and WADE VON GRAWBADGER

It’s massive widescreen JUSTICE LEAGUE action and adventure from superstar writer/artist Bryan Hitch! In this extra-sized debut issue, the League comes up against an armada of aliens heading for Earth that claims to be a peaceful religious tribe. But something sinister is lurking in their ranks...something with ties to ancient Krypton!
This amazing kick-off issue is available with seven different open-to-order variant covers by Bryan Hitch, each spotlighting one of seven core members of the JLA, plus an incredible 1:100 seven-panel foldout variant cover that presents all seven open-to-order covers together! 




MARTIAN MANHUNTER #1
Written by ROB WILLIAMS
Art and cover by EDDY BARROWS and EBER FERREIRA

Shape-shifting Martians are invading Earth – so where is J’onn J’onzz to stop them? Trust no one as the Martian Manhunter tries to stop these ruthless alien terrorists from destroying everything!






MIDNIGHTER #1
Written by STEVE ORLANDO
Art and cover by ACO

Spinning out of GRAYSON comes a solo series starring the man who can predict your every move… but no one will be able to predict what he’ll do next! A theft at the God Garden has unleashed a wave of dangerous biotech weapons on the world, and Midnighter intends to put that genie back in the bottle by any means necessary. But something else was stolen from the Garden as well…the secret history of Lucas Trent, the man Midnighter once was!



THE OMEGA MEN #1
Written by TOM KING
Art by ALEC MORGAN

The Omega Men are back in an all-new series! They’ve murdered White Lantern Kyle Rayner and now, the universe wants them to pay! Who are these intergalactic criminals – and is there more to their actions than meets the eye?






RED HOOD/ARSENAL #1
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art by DENIS MEDRI

These brothers in arms face off against incredible odds while burning their way through the underbelly of the DC Universe – and it’s only a matter of time until they get gunned down in return!



ROBIN: SON OF BATMAN #1
Written by PATRICK GLEASON
Art by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY

The son of a Bat and a Demon, Damian al Ghul has set out to forge his own destiny – and atone for the shameful Year of Blood! Will he be aided or hindered by the behemoth Goliath? And what mysterious legacy trails behind him? Join writer/artist Patrick Gleason as he chronicles the globe-hopping adventures of ROBIN: SON OF BATMAN!




STARFIRE #1
Written by AMANDA CONNER and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO

From the writers of the outrageous smash hit HARLEY QUINN comes former Outlaw Starfire in her all-new ongoing series! She’s an alien warrior princess trying to find peace on Earth, and she’ll fight anyone and anything to get it!




WE ARE...ROBIN #1
Written by LEE BERMEJO
Art by ROB HAYNES and KHARY RANDOLPH

Spinning out of the pages of BATMAN! The teenagers of Gotham City have adopted the “R” and made it their own. A new Robin? No, HUNDREDS of new Robins! Don’t miss the start of this new series from rising star writer Lee Bermejo (JOKER, SUICIDERS), who also provides the covers! 



[I do have very high hopes for some of these series, let us see how well DC provides this time.]