In Which The Writer Assures You He Is Still Alive

Yes, I still live. Things have been hectic around here, though in all honesty, no more hectic than they usually are. The real reason for my absence is that I finished the sixth and seventh books in the Harry Potter series.

The end of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince made me cry, but did not hit me nearly as hard as the events in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Never have I seen an author so ready and willing to kill so many of my favorite characters quite so quickly.

After putting down Deathly Hallows, I found myself having mixed feelings. On the one hand, it was a happy ending and left me feeling as such. But on the other hand, I realized there would be no more Potter books to come. I was overwhelmingly sad, yet a little excited to no longer have to say “I would love to start that series of books, but I should really finish Harry Potter first.”

I’ve started Tick Tock by Dean Koontz.

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There’s a man in a small white car that shows up every two weeks, mows our lawn, then disappears. He turns up a few days later, to accept his payment of fifteen dollars, then he disappears again. He hasn’t been round in almost a month, and our lawn is a small jungle now.

A very nice police officer noticed.

“You’re gonna have to mow this lawn, sir.” he said. I told him the story of the mysterious hispanic man who has been visiting us for years. “Well, the city is really cracking down on people with unkempt lawns. I hate fining people for it, but it’s my job.”

“I understand.” I said, readying myself for what I was certain to be another in a long line of financial blows.

“I can give you a max of five days.” he said. I blinked at him. “To get it mowed.”

“And after five days?”

“I’ll have to fine you a hundred and twenty dollars.” he said in an apologetic tone.

“I’m afraid I have no number for our mysterious landscaper. I also happen to not have a mower.”

“You can get one at Wal-Mart for a hund- Well…” he stammered.

“A hundred and twenty dollars?” I asked. He laughed and nodded.

So it appears that we’ll be spending a hundred and twenty either way.

Still planning a sort of date night with the wife this weekend, dinner and a movie, but I’m not sure how things will work out now.

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There’s a Classic Science Fiction Channel now. I’m not sure that Journeyman and Sliders fit into what I would classify as “Classic Science Fiction”, but I am happy to see Firefly up there.

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Have a list of places to find unabridged books online.

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Right. Reading, then sleep.

A Taste Of Mocha

The new Starbuck’s Dark Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino is far too delicious for its own good. We’ve gone through a four-pack in a single morning, just between the wife and I.

We’ll be buying those again, I’m certain.

—

IRON MAN certainly takes its rightful place amongst some of the greatest comic book movies ever made (Rocketeer, X-Men, Spider-Man, Batman Begins, Sin City, etc.) and is, quite possibly, the perfect superhero movie.

It’s a difficult thing for me to say, considering how highly I regard Batman Begins, but I think I’m finally able to say it; Iron Man is the perfect comic book movie and is, very possibly, my favorite comic book movie to date.

Of course, July’s release of The Dark Knight may change all of that. But let’s bask in the gold-and-red glow of Tony Stark’s alter-ego, shall we?

Yes.

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DailyBits.Com has posted a list of free downloadable graphic novels (though some of them, mostly the DC ones, are merely the first issue of a series). It’s quite entertaining and there’s a lot of very good titles up there. Fables, Deadman and Sandman being amongst some of my favorites.

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While we’re on the subject of free downloadable content, here’s a link to download Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother. I’m doing so and plan on reading it soon, as I’ve heard nothing but good things.

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On to cleaning house and maybe preparing lunch. Such a thrilling life I lead.

Free Fiction.

I’ve recently stumbled across this website, which offers, on average, one to three short stories from many well known (and some not so well known) authors. It’s a wonderful site.

Here’s a story available from Kurt Vonnegut. And here are several from Neil Gaiman. And finally, Arthur C. Clarke. (there’s also quite a few great stories from Greg Egan worth checking out)

Here, also, is a link to where you can find a free downloadable mp3 of Neil Gaiman reading his story, A Study In Emerald.

There’s also, of course, the Daily Lit, which is a wonderful way to rediscover some literary classics (or to sample them for the very first time).

As far as free webcomics worth your time are concerned, there’s FreakAngels, by Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield. It’s nine chapters in as of this entry and it’s marvelous.

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Do you know of any more free online fiction I should know about? Feel free to comment.

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I haven’t had a decent cup of tea in quite some time. I have a little box in my cupboard filled with various inexpensive store brand teas, but none of them are cutting it for me. I must find affordable tea that is worth drinking.