For this reading update, the only thing that really matters is I have finally read Paradise Lost. Everything else, no matter how pleasant, substantial, informative, or entertaining is mere vapour in comparison.
I've tried reading Paradise Lost a couple of times before now, and each time have got bogged down in the God bits, which simply have less action than the angsty metal Satan bits. For whatever reason, this time I managed not only to slog through, but to actually enjoy almost all of the poem.
I really can't do justice to the majesty of the language. The best I can do is say that it's probably the most intense, spectacular imagery I've ever come across.
- The Killer Angels, Michael Shaara
- The Bloodline Feud, Charles Stross
- The Trader's War, Charles Stross
- The Revolution Trade, Charles Stross
- The Commodore, Patrick O'Brian
- Wild Cards: Jokers Wild, ed. George R. R. Martin
- Paradise Lost, John Milton
- Leviathan Wakes, James S. A. Corey
- Caliban's War, James S. A. Corey
- Abaddon's Gate, James S. A. Corey
- Wild Cards: Deuces Down, ed. Walton Simons
(James S. A. Corey is the pen name of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. I've mentioned Daniel Abraham before.)
Comics
I think I went a little overboard buying comics this quarter, mostly ones that have been highly recommended for years and years, so they're all pretty good. However, the real standouts are Saga and Hawkeye.
Saga is the tale of a Romeo-and-Juliet couple who have just had a baby, and are now running away from their parents, their governments, their ex-lovers, and trying to figure what to do next. He has horns, she has wings. They're in space. One of the people chasing them has a TV for a head. This is a terrible summary.
Hawkeye looks at what the crappiest Avenger does when he's not avenging. Buy it for the palette alone.
Biggest disappointments were Wanted (since I last read it, I've become less tolerant of ultra-violence), and The Authority (not as witty as Transmetropolitan).
Honorable mention for Hellblazer for some really well done horror. Similar in tone to the first couple of volumes of Sandman, but works better.
- Neil Gaiman's Eternals, Neil Gaiman and John Romita Jr.
- Runaways, Brian K. Vaughan, Adrian Alphona, Takeshi Miyazawa
- The Astonishing X-Men: Gifted, Joss Whedon and John Cassaday
- Saga, volume 3, Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
- Hawkeye: Little Hits, Fraction, Aja, Lieber, Hamm, Francavilla
- Fables: Animal Farm, Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leiahola
- Fables: Storybook Love, Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leiahola
- Fables: March of the Wooden Soldiers, Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Craig Hamilton, Steve Leiahola, Craig Russell
- Hellblazer: Original Sins, Jamie Delano, John Ridgway, Alfredo Alcala, Rick Veitch, Tom Mandrake
- The Authority, volume 1, Warren Ellis, Bryan Hitch, Paul Neary
- Wanted, Mark Millar, J. G. Jones, Paul Mounts
- Action Comics: Bulletproof, Grant Morrison, Rags Morales