At the start of day 2, we roll a prowling monster roll of 3. That means goblins and the Octopus are prowling today. Since there are no wandering monsters in the valleys, my second day in the Magic Realm ends uneventfully.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Magic Realm: Day 2
During day two of our Magic Realm adventures, we once again use all four actions to move, past the Dragon's Lair, through the Dark Valley, and into Evil Valley. Despite their fearsome names, the valleys are actually quite safe, particularly if you end your day outside of the occupied dwellings.
At the start of day 2, we roll a prowling monster roll of 3. That means goblins and the Octopus are prowling today. Since there are no wandering monsters in the valleys, my second day in the Magic Realm ends uneventfully.
At the start of day 2, we roll a prowling monster roll of 3. That means goblins and the Octopus are prowling today. Since there are no wandering monsters in the valleys, my second day in the Magic Realm ends uneventfully.
Magic Realm: Day 1
A Magic Realm game lasts 28 game days. In order to win, a player must, by the end of those 28 days, achieve his pre-selected victory conditions. At the start of the game, each player assigns 5 points to their victory conditions. In the case of my character, the Black Knight, I have assigned one point to Fame, three points to Notoriety, and one point to Gold.
The Black Knight starts the game at the Inn, the haunt of the unpredictable Rogues. There are seven Rogues, too many for the Black Knight to vanquish single-handed. Therefore, I use my four actions to travel into the Deep Woods (every Magic Realm character gets two actions per day, plus another two actions if the character stays in the outdoors for the entire day, for a total of four actions).
Normally, I'd have used one of my four actions to hide. However, this is the first day of the game, so I take the chance that I'd encounter a monster unhidden (that's usually a bad thing). If I perish on day 1, I can just re-spawn on day 2, losing only one day of adventuring. At the start of the day, I roll to see which monsters are active: I rolled a 6, so the bats are active. At the end of my four actions, the monster and treasure indicators are turned over, and we discover that the Deep Woods are the home to the Lair of the Tremendous Dragon as well as a Heavy Spider. Neither monster appears this turn (I have placed them on the board so you can see which indicators they relate to) since only bats are active.
The Heavy Spider is an easily dispatched opponent of the Black Knight, and is worth a modest amount of Fame and Notoriety. However, the Tremendous Dragon will make mincemeat of the Black Knight. The Dragon's Lair contains 7 treasures, which is a nice-sized treasure site, but we're going to forego the opportunity for now, as we have Guards to defeat.
The Black Knight starts the game at the Inn, the haunt of the unpredictable Rogues. There are seven Rogues, too many for the Black Knight to vanquish single-handed. Therefore, I use my four actions to travel into the Deep Woods (every Magic Realm character gets two actions per day, plus another two actions if the character stays in the outdoors for the entire day, for a total of four actions).
Normally, I'd have used one of my four actions to hide. However, this is the first day of the game, so I take the chance that I'd encounter a monster unhidden (that's usually a bad thing). If I perish on day 1, I can just re-spawn on day 2, losing only one day of adventuring. At the start of the day, I roll to see which monsters are active: I rolled a 6, so the bats are active. At the end of my four actions, the monster and treasure indicators are turned over, and we discover that the Deep Woods are the home to the Lair of the Tremendous Dragon as well as a Heavy Spider. Neither monster appears this turn (I have placed them on the board so you can see which indicators they relate to) since only bats are active.
The Heavy Spider is an easily dispatched opponent of the Black Knight, and is worth a modest amount of Fame and Notoriety. However, the Tremendous Dragon will make mincemeat of the Black Knight. The Dragon's Lair contains 7 treasures, which is a nice-sized treasure site, but we're going to forego the opportunity for now, as we have Guards to defeat.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Player Agency: Magic Realm
Avalon Hill's Magic Realm is a clever melding of board game and roleplaying game.
While there is, admittedly, a game-board, which the players construct before beginning play, the game mechanics encourage both in-character player interaction and diplomacy, and provide incentives to hew close to your character's default role. Your experiences while adventuring within the Magic Realm will often reinforce your default role, but can occasionally provide you with novel new paths to victory.
The measurement of victory in Magic Realm is determined by the players. After selecting one of 16 Magic Realm characters, each player secretly records their individual victory conditions. If, by the end of the game, any or all have achieved their victory conditions, those that do so, win the game.
Here is a Magic Realm game I just recently started. In the centre of the game board is my character, the Black Knight, relaxing at the Inn, whilst keeping a watchful eye on the Rogues carousing there. Before him are a plethora of options for adventure.
In this game, immediately to the north of the Inn are the Ledges. The Ledges, along with the Cliff to the west and the Deep Woods to the south, are generally teaming with monsters and treasure. Further to the south, following a somewhat circuitous route through the Maple Woods, are the Ruins, one of the Black Knight's favorite stomping grounds, as they are well-known for a pair of Trolls, easily dispatched by the Black Knight. To the northwest lies the High Pass: it's underground passage can be accessed though the Cliff; or, if the mountain pass is preferred, the Deep Woods and Evil Valley is our alternate route. We can also follow that same route to visit the Borderland, to the east, however the Borderland is generally worth shunning, as it is riddled with underground passages from which hordes of deadly goblins emerge.
All of these adventure locations are immediately available to the Black Knight. And the player might be tempted to invoke their agency and visit one or more of them. However, the Black Knight, while heavily armored and wielding his mace to deadly effect, is better off first visiting the Guards. It will take three days to travel to the Guardhouse, but it is worth it, as the Guards are the Black Knight's sworn enemies, and he is notoriously effective at dispatching them, thereby accessing the treasure and weapons they possess. Several of the weapons possessed by the Guards, such as the axes and broadswords, make the Black Knight an even more formidable foe.
The Chapel to the southeast is another tempting destination. The Knightly Order residing there possesses the Black Knight's favorite weapon, the Morningstar. However, the Order rarely parts with it for less than two or three times its' worth. The Black Knight needs to find some gold or treasure first, before haggling (or tangling) with the Order.
My plan for the first couple of game days: travel as quickly as possible to the Guardhouse, dispatch the Guards there, and start amassing my fortune from the loot they leave behind. My victory conditions: a little bit of Fame (from the opportunistic killing of smaller monsters), a lot of Notoriety (from slaughtering the Guards and any other Magic Realm denizens that dare cross me), and a little bit of Gold.
While there is, admittedly, a game-board, which the players construct before beginning play, the game mechanics encourage both in-character player interaction and diplomacy, and provide incentives to hew close to your character's default role. Your experiences while adventuring within the Magic Realm will often reinforce your default role, but can occasionally provide you with novel new paths to victory.
The measurement of victory in Magic Realm is determined by the players. After selecting one of 16 Magic Realm characters, each player secretly records their individual victory conditions. If, by the end of the game, any or all have achieved their victory conditions, those that do so, win the game.
Here is a Magic Realm game I just recently started. In the centre of the game board is my character, the Black Knight, relaxing at the Inn, whilst keeping a watchful eye on the Rogues carousing there. Before him are a plethora of options for adventure.
In this game, immediately to the north of the Inn are the Ledges. The Ledges, along with the Cliff to the west and the Deep Woods to the south, are generally teaming with monsters and treasure. Further to the south, following a somewhat circuitous route through the Maple Woods, are the Ruins, one of the Black Knight's favorite stomping grounds, as they are well-known for a pair of Trolls, easily dispatched by the Black Knight. To the northwest lies the High Pass: it's underground passage can be accessed though the Cliff; or, if the mountain pass is preferred, the Deep Woods and Evil Valley is our alternate route. We can also follow that same route to visit the Borderland, to the east, however the Borderland is generally worth shunning, as it is riddled with underground passages from which hordes of deadly goblins emerge.
All of these adventure locations are immediately available to the Black Knight. And the player might be tempted to invoke their agency and visit one or more of them. However, the Black Knight, while heavily armored and wielding his mace to deadly effect, is better off first visiting the Guards. It will take three days to travel to the Guardhouse, but it is worth it, as the Guards are the Black Knight's sworn enemies, and he is notoriously effective at dispatching them, thereby accessing the treasure and weapons they possess. Several of the weapons possessed by the Guards, such as the axes and broadswords, make the Black Knight an even more formidable foe.
The Chapel to the southeast is another tempting destination. The Knightly Order residing there possesses the Black Knight's favorite weapon, the Morningstar. However, the Order rarely parts with it for less than two or three times its' worth. The Black Knight needs to find some gold or treasure first, before haggling (or tangling) with the Order.
My plan for the first couple of game days: travel as quickly as possible to the Guardhouse, dispatch the Guards there, and start amassing my fortune from the loot they leave behind. My victory conditions: a little bit of Fame (from the opportunistic killing of smaller monsters), a lot of Notoriety (from slaughtering the Guards and any other Magic Realm denizens that dare cross me), and a little bit of Gold.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Appendix N: June 2013
Once again, we attended the CBC and Calgary Herald charity book sales and found several titles to add to my Appendix N collection.
Those book finds included: Lilith and Phantastes by George MacDonald; the collected short stories of Edgar Allan Poe; The Colour Of Magic by Terry Pratchett: The Lost Valley of Iskander, Conan of Aquilonia, Conan the Warrior and Tigers of the Sea by Robert E Howard; The Ship of Ishtar and Seven Footprints to Satan by A. Merritt; Star of Danger, The Planet Savers, The Sword of Aldones and Sword and Sorceress VII by Marion Bradley; The Guns of Avalon by Roger Zelazny; The Anubis Gates and On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers; The Undying Wizard by Andrew Offutt; Lost On Venus by Edgar Rice Burroughs; New Worlds For Old by Lin Carter; Eye In The Sky by Phillip K. Dick; A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain; The Face In The Frost by John Bellairs; At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft; The Return of She Ayesha by H. Rider Haggard; The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein; Ogre Ogre by Piers Anthony; and The Citadel of the Autarch by Gene Wolfe.
Abbey, Lynn:
Abbey, Lynn:
Adams, Richard: Watership Down; Shardik
Alexander, Lloyd: The Book of Three 1; The Black Cauldron 2; The Castle of Llyr 3; Taran Wanderer 4; The High King 5
Anderson, Poul: Ensign Flandry; Flandry Of Terra; Agent of the Terran Empire; The Long Night; Three Hearts and Three Lions; The Broken Sword; The High Crusade; A Knight Of Ghosts And Shadows; The Last Viking 1
Anthony, Piers: A Spell for Chameleon; Split Infinity; On A Pale Horse; Ogre, Ogre
Ariosto, Ludovico: Orlando Furioso
Asprin, Robert A.: Thieves World I; Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn II; Shadows of Sanctuary III; Storm Season IV; The Face of Chaos V; Another Fine Myth
Barker, M.A.R.: The Man Of Gold; Flamesong
Baum, L. Frank: The Wizard Of Oz, Emerald City Of Oz, Land of Oz
Beagle, Peter S.: The Last Unicorn; A Fine And Private Place
Bellairs, John: The Face In The Frost
Bellamy, Francis R : Atta
Blackwood, Algernon:
Bloodstone, John: Thundar Man Of Two Worlds
Bloch, Robert: Strange Eons
Bok, Hannes: The Sorcerers Ship
Brackett, Leigh: Eric John Stark, Outlaw Of Mars; The Best Of Leigh Brackett; The Sword Of Rhiannon; The Ginger Star 1; The Hounds Of Skaith 2; Reavers of Skaith 3
Bradley, Marion Z: Warrior Women; Sword and Sorceress Anthology; Sword And Sorceress VII; The Planet Savers 1958; The Sword Of Aldones 1962; The Boody Sun 1964; Star Of Danger 1965; The Winds Of Darkover 1970; The Forbidden Tower 1977; Stormqueen! 1978; Seven From The Stars;
Brooks, Terry: The Sword of Shannara
Brown, Fredric: The Best Of Fredric Brown
Brunner, John: Secret Agent Of Terra;
Burroughs, Edgar R.: Pellucidar; Tanar of Pellucidar; A Princess Of Mars 1; The Gods Of Mars 2; Warlord Of Mars 3; Thuvia, Maid Of Mars 4; Chessmen of Mars 5; The Mastermind of Mars 6; A Fighting Man of Mars 7; The Moon Maid; Out of Time’s Abyss; Jungle Girl, Land of Hidden Men; Pirates Of Venus; Lost On Venus; Carson Of Venus; Escape On Venus; Tarzan Of The Apes 1; The Return Of Tarzan 2; The Beasts of Tarzan 3; The Son Of Tarzan 4; Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar 5; Tarzan and the Lost Empire 10; At The Earth's Core
Cabell, James Branch: Figures Of Earth; Domnei; Cream Of The Jest; The Silver Stallion; Jurgen, A Comedy Of Justice; Something About Eve;
Campbell, J Ramsey: Demons by Daylight
Carter, Lin: Thongor and the Dragon City; Thongor and the Wizards of Lemuria; Thongor Fights the Pirates of Tarakus; Thongor and the End of Time; Zanathon; Tower at the Edge of Time; The Black Star; Beyond The Gates Of Dream; Down To A Sunless Sea; Journey to the Underground World; Warrior of World’s End; Flashing Swords 1; Flashing Swords 2; Flashing Swords 3; Flashing Swords 4; Flashing Swords 5; Dragons, Elves and Heroes; Golden Cities, Far; The Spawn of Cthuhlu; Discoveries In Fantasy; New Worlds For Old; The Young Magicians; Lost Worlds;
Cervantes, Miguel: Don Quixote
Chalker, Jack L.: Midnight at the Well of Souls 1; Exiles at the Well of Souls 2; Quest For the Well Of Souls 3; The Return of Nathan Brazil 4, Twilight at the Well of Souls 5
Chandler, A. Bertram: The Road To The Rim; The Hard Way; The Wild Ones; The Inheritors; The Gateway To Never; Star Courier; To Keep The Ship; Matilda's Stepchildren; The Rim Of Space;
Chant, Joy: Red Moon And Black Mountain
Cherryh, C.J.:
Cook, Glen: The Black Company
Daley, Brian: Han Solo At Star’s End; Han Solo’s Revenge; Han Solo And The Lost Legacy
Davidson, Avram: The Phoenix And The Mirror; The Island Under the Earth
deCamp, L. Sprague: The Tritonian Ring; The Complete Compleat Enchanter; The Compleat Enchanter; Lovecraft, A Biography; Swords And Sorcery; Spell of Seven; The Fantastic Swordsmen; Warlocks and Warriors; The Fallible Fiend; Conan The Barbarian; Conan And The Spider God; Lest Darkness Fall; The Carnelian Cube; The Emperors Fan; The Reluctant King; The Unbeheaded King; The Goblin Tower; The Clocks Of Iraz; The Queen Of Zamba
Derleth, August: The Trail of Cthuhlu
Dick, Phillip K: Eye In The Sky
Dickson, Gordon R.: Dorsai!; The Dragon and the George
Donaldson, Stephen: Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever
Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan: The Lost World
Dumas, Alexandre: The Three Musketeers
Dunsany, Lord: The King Of Elfland’s Daughter; Over the Hills and Far Away; The Charwoman's Shadow
Eco, Umberto: The Name Of The Rose
Eddings, David: Pawn of Prophecy, Queen Of Sorcery, Magician’s Gambit, Castle of Wizardry, Enchanter’s Endgame
Eddison, E. R.: The Worm Ouroboros; Mistress of Mistresses; A Fish Dinner In Memison
Ende, Michael: The Neverending Story
Farmer, Philip Jose: The Maker Of Universes 1; The Gates Of Creation 2; A Private Cosmos 3; Hadon Of Ancient Opar
Fiest, Raymond: Magician
Finney, Charles: The Unholy City; The Circus of Dr. Lao
Foster, Alan Dean: Nor Crystal Tears, Splinter of the Minds Eye; The End of the Matter; The Tar-Aiym Krang; Bloodhype; Orphan Star; For Love Of Mother-Not; The Time Of The Transference
Fox, Gardner: Kothar Barbarian Swordsman; Kothar and the Conjurer's Curse; Kothar and the Wizard Slayer; Kothar and the Magic Sword; Kothar And The Demon Queen; Kyrik Warlock Warrior; Kyrik Fights The Demon World; Kyrik and the Lost Queen; Kyrik and the Wizards Sword; Warrior Of Llarn
Funke, Cornelia: Inkheart
Gardner, Craig Shaw: A Malady Of Magicks
Garner, Alan: Elidor; The Moon Of Gomrath; The Weirdstone of Brisingamen
Gemmell, David: Legend
Goldman, William: The Princess Bride
Glut, Donald F: The Empire Strikes Back
Gygax, Gary: City Of Hawks; The Samarkand Solution; The Anubis Murders; Infernal Sorceress; Death In Delhi; City Of Hawks
Haggard, H. Rider: King Solomon's Mines; The People Of The Mist; The World's Desire; When The World Shook; She And Allan; She; The Return Of She Ayesha
Hambly, Barbara: The Time of the Dark; The Walls Of Air, The Armies of Daylight; The Ladies of Mandrigyn, Dragonsbane
Harrison, Harry: The Adventures Of The Stainless Street Rat; The Stainless Steel Rat
Heinlein, Robert: Glory Road; The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Hickman, Tracy:
Hodgson, W.H.: The House On The Borderland
Holmes, John Eric: Mahars of Pellucidar
Howard, Robert E.: Cthulhu; Sword Woman; Almuric; The People Of The Black Circle; Red Nails; Shadow Kingdoms; People Of The Dark; Beyond The Black River; The Hour Of The Dragon; Black Hounds Of Death; Conan 1; Conan Of Cimmeria 2; Conan the Freebooter 3; Conan the Wanderer 4; Conan the Adventurer 5; Conan the Buccaneer 6; Conan The Warrior 7; Conan The Usurper 8; Conan The Conqueror 9; Conan The Avenger 10; Conan Of Aquilonia 11; Conan of The Isles 12; Solomon Kane, The Hills Of The Dead; Skull-Face; Black Canaan; Swords Of Shahrazar; Marchers Of Valhalla, The Book Of Robert E. Howard; The Second Book Of Robert E. Howard; Tigers Of The Sea; Bran Mak Morn; Son Of The White Wolf; The Last Ride; The Lost Valley Of Iskander; Black Vulmea's Vengeance; The Vultures Of Whapeton
Hyne, C J Cutliffe: The Lost Continent
Jakes, John: The Last Magicians; Brak The Barbarian; Mark of Demons; The Sorceress; The Fortunes Of Brak
Jackson, Steve: Fighting Fantasy; The Warlock of Firetop Mountain 1; The Citadel of Chaos 2; The Forest Of Doom 3; Deathtrap Dungeon 6; Curse Of The Mummy 27; Armies Of Death 36
Kline, Otis Adelbert: Swordsman Of Mars, Outlaw Of Mars, Planet of Peril, Port of Peril, Prince of Peril
Kuttner, Henry: Fury; The Mask Of Circe; Elak Of Atlantis, The Dark World, Robots Have No Tails
Kurtz, Katherine: Deryni Rising; Deryni Checkmate; High Deryni
Lanier, Sterling: Hiero’s Journey; The Unforsaken Hiero
L’Engle, Madeleine: A Wrinkle In Time
Le Guin, Ursula: A Wizard Of Earthsea; The Left Hand Of Darkness; Tehanu; The Farthest Shore
Lee, Tanith: The Book Of The Damned I; The Book Of The Beast II; The Storm Lord, The Birthgrave, The Dragon Hoard, Night’s Master, Death’s Master
Leiber, Fritz: Swords and Deviltry 1; Swords Against Death 2; Swords In The Mist 3; Swords And Wizardry 4; The Swords of Lankhmar 5; Swords and Ice Magic 6; The Knight and Knave of Swords; Heroes And Horrors
Lewis, C.S.: The Voyage Of The Dawntreader; The Silver Chair
Lindsay, David: A Voyage To Arcturus
Livingston, Ian: The Forest Of Doom3, Deathtrap Dungeon 3; Armies Of Death 36; Curse Of The Mummy 27;
Lovecraft, H.P.: The Doom That Came To Sarnath; The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath; The Shadow Over Innsmouth; At The Mountains Of Madness; The Lurker At The Threshold; The Tomb; The Watchers Out Of Time; At the Mountains of Madness Omnibus 1; Waking Up Screaming; The Dunwich Horror
Lumley, Brian: The Burrowers Beneath; The Transition Of Titus Crow; Hero Of Dreams
MacDonald, George: Lilith; Phantastes
Martin, George R.R.: Dying Of The Light; A Song Of Ice And Fire
Matheson, Richard: I Am Legend
McCaffery, Anne: The Ship Who Sang; Dinosaur Planet; Dragonflight 1
Merritt, A.: The Ship Of Ishtar; The Seven Footprints Of Satan; The Moon Pool; The Face In The Abyss; Dwellers In the Mirage; Creep Shadow Creep
Miller, Walter: A Canticle For Leibowitz
Moorcock, Michael: Legends From The End Of Time; The Jewel In The Skull; The Mad God’s Amulet; The Sleeping Sorceress; The Runestaff; The Lord of the Spiders; The Masters of the Pit; The City of the Beast; The Warlord of the Air; Stealer Of Souls; Stormbringer; Elric of Melnibone; Elric At The End Of Time; The Vanishing Tower; The King Of Swords 3; Sword of the Dawn; The Sailor On The Seas Of Fate; The Sword Of The Dawn
Moore, C.L.: Northwest Smith; Jirel Of Joiry
Morris, Janet: High Couch of Silistra
Morris, William: The Well At Worlds End I; The Well At Worlds End II; The Wood Beyond the World; The Water of the Wondrous Isles
Mundy, Talbot: Tros Of Samothrace; Avenging Liafail 2; Liafail3; The Praetor's Dungeon 3; The Purple Pirate 6
Niven, Larry: The Man-Kzin Wars; A World Out Of Time; A Gift From Earth; Tales of Known Space; Neutron Star; The Magic May Return; The Magic Goes Away; The Flight of the Horse
Norman, John: Tarnsman Of Gor 1; Outlaw Of Gor 2; Priest-Kings Of Gor 3; Nomads Of Gor 4; Assassin Of Gor 5; Raiders Of Gor 6; Captive Of Gor 7; Hunters Of Gor 8; Marauders Of Gor 9, Tribesmen Of Gor 10, Slave Girl of Gor 11; Time Slave
Norton, Andre: Quag Keep; Exiles of the Stars; Warlock of Witch World; High Sorcery; Witch World; Sargasso Of Space; Lord Of Thunder
Nowlan, Philip F.: Armageddon 2419 A.D.
Offutt, Andrew J.: Demon In The Mirror; Eyes Of Sarsis; Web Of The Spider; Conan, The Sword of Skelos; Conan The Mercenary; Swords Against Darkness I; Swords Against Darkness II; Swords Against Darkness III; Swords Against Darkness IV; Swords Against Darkness V; The Iron Lords 1; Shadows Out Of Hell 2; The Lady Of The Snowmist 3; The Undying Wizard; Cormac Mac Art;
Piper, H. Beam: Space Viking
Poe, Edgar Allan: Collected Stories
Powers, Tim: On Stranger Tides; The Anubis Gates
Pratchett, Terry: The Colour Of Magic; The Light Fantastic, Equal Rites, Mort
Pratt, Fletcher: Land Of Unreason; The Blue Star; The Well of the Unicorn; The Carnelian Cube
Saberhagen, Fred: The First Book Of Swords; Second Book Of Swords; Third Book Of Swords; Empire Of The East
Salmonson, Jessica: Amazons!
Schmitz, James: The Witches of Karres; The Demon Breed
Shackleford, Jack D.: Tanith
Shea, Michael: Color Out Of Time; A Quest For Simbilis; Nifft The Lean; The Incompleat Nifft; The Mines of Behemoth; The A`Rak
Sims, John:
Sirota, Mike: Master Of Boranga
Smith, Clark Ashton: Lost Worlds Volume 1; Lost Worlds Volume 2; Out Of Space And Time 1; Out Of Space And Time 2; The Abominations of Yondo; Genius Loci; Poseidonis; Zothique; Hyperborea; Xiccarph; Tales Of Science And Sorcery; Other Dimensions 1; Other Dimensions 2
Smith, David: Red Sonja 1; Red Sonja 3, When Hell Laughs;
Smith, L. Neil: Lando Calrissian and the Midharp of Sharu; Lando Calrissian and the Starcave of Thonboka; Lando Calrissian and the Flamewind of Osean
Smith, E.E. ‘Doc’: Triplanetary
Springer, Nancy: The White Hart; The Silver Sun
St. Clair, Margaret: The Shadow People; Sign of the Labrys
Stasheff, Christopher: The Warlock Wandering; The Warlock Rock; A Warlock's Blade; Warlock And Son; The Warlock Is Missing; Her Majesty's Wizard; King Kobold
Stewart, Mary: The Crystal Cave; The Hollow Hills; The Last Enchantment
Swann, Thomas: Green Phoenix; The Goat Without Horns; The Forest Of Forever; Day Of The Minotaur; Cry Silver Bells; Moondust; The Gods Abide
Tierney, Richard: Red Sonja 1; Red Sonja 3, When Hell Laughs;
Tolkien, J.R.R.: The Hobbit; The Lord Of The Rings
Twain, Mark: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Tubb, E.C.: The Winds Of Gath 1; Derai 2; Toyman 3; Kalin 4; Jester Of Scar 5; Lallia 6; Technos 7; Veruchia 8; Mayenne 9; Jondelle 10; Zenya 11; Eloise 12;
Van Arnam, Dave: Star Barbarian
Van Vogt, A.E.: The Voyage Of The Space Beagle; Quest For The Future
Vance, Jack: The Languages Of The Pao; The Dragon Masters; The Best of Jack Vance; The Dying Earth; The Eyes of the Overworld; Cugel’s Saga; Rhialto The Marvelous; Trullion, Alastor 2262; Wyst, Alastor 1716; Marune, Alastor 933; The Faceless Man 1; The Brave Free Men 2; The Astura 3; Lyonesse 1; The Green Pearl 2; Madouc 3; The Face 4; The Blue World; Galactic Effectuator; Big Planet; City Of The Chasch 1; Servants of the Wanek 2; The Dirdir 3; The Pnume 4; Suldrun's Garden; The Last Castle; The Palace of Love; The Book of Dreams
Verne, Jules: The Mysterious Island; A Journey To The Centre Of The Earth;
Wagner, Karl E: Bloodstone, Death Angel’s Shadow, Dark Crusade
Weinbaum, Stanley; The Black Flame; A Martian Odyssey
Wellman, Manly Wade: The Old Gods Waken; The Hanging Stones; The Lost And The Lurking; After Dark; Silver John; Who Fears The Devil?
White, Theodore: The Once and Future King
Williams, Robert M.: Return of Jongor
Williamson, Jack: The Trial Of Terra; The Legion Of Space
Wolfe, Gene: The Shadow of the Torturer 1; The Citadel Of The Autarch 4
Zelazny, Roger: Nine Princes In Amber; The Guns of Avalon; Sign of the Unicorn; The Hand of Oberon; The Courts of Chaos; Jack Of Shadows; Dilvish, The Damned; The Changing Land; Isle of the Dead; Trumps of Doom; Blood Of Amber; Sign Of Chaos; Knight Of Shadows; Prince of Chaos, The Chronicles Of Amber 1
Flooding In Calgary
As you may have heard, we had a flood in downtown Calgary that resulted in 75,000 (out of a city of 1 million) people being displaced from their homes. As I live at the second highest point in Calgary, we were not affected. Here are just a few photos of the devastation.
That crescent-shaped island-looking bit in front of downtown Calgary is Prince's Island Park. Or it used to be, before it was flooded.
One of my favorite Chinese restaurants, now partially submerged.
Older, historic part of Calgary.
.
Rideau/Roxboro, one of the ritzier neighborhoods in Calgary. Average family income: $150,000.
Someone trying to save his cat.
Completely submerged truck.
That crescent-shaped island-looking bit in front of downtown Calgary is Prince's Island Park. Or it used to be, before it was flooded.
One of my favorite Chinese restaurants, now partially submerged.
Older, historic part of Calgary.
Rideau/Roxboro, one of the ritzier neighborhoods in Calgary. Average family income: $150,000.
Someone trying to save his cat.
Completely submerged truck.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
A Paladin In Pineview?
The home we purchased in Pineview, St. Albert (just outside of Edmonton). I can't see myself changing the name of this Blog. But A Paladin In Pineview is much more alliterative that the current title.
We have been in the midst of some rather dramatic changes over the last 6 months. Two of those have been a promotion and a move to another city. We have finally found a home we like just outside of Edmonton, Alberta (200 miles north of Calgary) and are putting the final touches on the sale of our current home and making plans for the move.
During that time, I have been working two jobs, my current one and new one. It appears that a candidate has been found for my current job, so i'm finally free to focus on the new one, and finish the move.