So the new Holiday Guide presents a special new feature! Best Of. That’s right. I got some folks together and asked them to contribute a list of their top ten movies and top ten books. Along with an intro and some pimping of their stuff when I can, we’ll be doing one a day when I have one. I had nothing to do with these lists except soliciting them. The descriptions are the authors’ as are the picks. Remember, I do not write these. The people listed to.

James Chambers’ tales of horror, fantasy, and science fiction have appeared in Bad-Ass Faeries, Crypto-Critters, Dark Furies, The Dead Walk, The Dead Walk Again, Hardboiled Cthulhu, No Longer Dreams, and Warfear, plus the magazines Bare Bone, Cthulhu Sex, and Inhuman. His short story collection, The Midnight Hour: Saint Lawn Hill and Other Tales, was published in 2005. His website is www.jameschambersonline.com. In no particular order…

BOOKS

1984 by George Orwell and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury: The only two books I can confidently say that everyone on Earth would be better off for having read. These simple, brilliant distillations of what it means to be human, as an individual in conflict with and existing in a society, remain as powerful to me today as the first time I read them. Required reading for anyone chafing at our increasingly restrictive, privacy-demolishing, history-ignoring culture, especially you creative-type folks. Your government is not your friend.

Tripmaster Monkey: His Fake Book by Maxine Hong Kingston: A lush read following recent college grad Wittman Ah Sing as he drifts through the 1960s Bay Area, experiencing the clash of Chinese and American culture, all dosed liberally with references to everything from Silver Age comics to Chinese mythology to an obscure gem of Polish cinema, The Saragossa Manuscript.

I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets by Fletcher Hanks: Full-bore, Golden Age, comic book insanity rescued for twenty-first century readers in this nicely designed volume. Follow the adventures of cosmic sorcerer Stardust, eight-feet tall and the most powerful being in the universe, as he keeps busy busting up crime rackets on Earth. See terrorists turned into rats! Watch as crooks are reduced to oversized heads and absorbed into the body of the hugest giant in the universe, the Headless Headhunter! Marvel as Stardust crosses the galaxy in his tubular spatial! Meet Fantomah, Mystery Woman of the Jungle, who transforms from jungle beauty to disembodied, flying skull to protect the natives! These are the comics Fredric Wertham warned you about.

Confessions of a Crap Artist by Philip K. Dick: One of PKD’s overlooked gems. A character-driven novel. Utterly lacking in sci-fi conventions or reality-bending concepts, this novel paints a rich picture of its time and place, of the cruelty of family, and of the inevitable violence of everyday madness. This is PKD the writer at his best, with nary a sign of PKD the phantasmagoric wizard in sight.

Demons by John Shirley: Hands down, the best apocalypse story I’ve ever read. Richly imagined, tightly-woven, and beautifully written in prose that often borders on poetry, Demons delivers John Shirley at his darkest, most heartfelt, and most compelling.

The Elephant Vanishes: Stories by Haruki Murakami: The first Murakami story I recall reading is “A ‘Poor Aunt’ Story,” in which the lead character finds a “poor aunt” sprouting from his body (and it’s not his aunt, either). It’s a helluva story. It’s not in this collection, but lots of other great stories are. Sometimes with Murakami, you don’t know whether to laugh or cry or put the book down and walk away, slowly. Weird stuff. Good stuff.

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk: The framing sequence for this collection let me down, but the short stories did not. There’s no shortage of inventiveness in these tales. They range from amusing to disturbing, from horrific to gross. Palahniuk delves deep into the guts of his characters and settings (sometimes literally), turns them inside out (again, sometimes literally), and then quietly snickers behind your back. I didn’t like this book the moment I finished reading it, but I changed my mind weeks later when I was still thinking about the stories.

Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell: Chilling and bleak, yet beautiful and gripping like a pure, winter day, this mystery/thriller from Norwegian Mankell introduces Kurt Wallander, a middle-aged cop in a small Norway town, as he works to solve a brutal and bloody murder that might ignite the friction between Norwegian natives and African immigrants. A novel that stands out for me for its truly powerful sense of place; the setting almost rises to the level of a silent character.

Discouraging at Bestt by John Edward Lawson: Five interwoven stories that grab modern society by the neck, throttle it unconscious, and then kick it while it’s down, giggling sadly all the while. Not for the squeamish or the impatient, but highly recommended for those who enjoy virtuoso wordplay and satire incisive in the extreme.

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson: If you’ve only seen the official movie adaptations and countless cinematic knock-offs, then you still don’t know what this seminal piece of horror/sci-fi literature is really all about. This book is always better than the movie. For desired results, read it before watching Will Smith give a bunch of CGI bloodsuckers the big smackdown this holiday season.

MOVIES

Ultraviolet: The British television series about vampires (not the live-action anime dud starring Milla Jovovich). It’s a smart, understated, and creepy modern take on the undead bloodsuckers that sidesteps most genre conventions or cleverly subverts them. It ran only six episodes, and they’re all collected here.

The Fountain: Apparently there was a lot of production hoopla around this movie, cast changes and such, and then it sort of tanked at the box office. Too bad. It’s remarkably touching, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, especially for something starring two Hollywood A-listers. The story clicks together on a thematic level and the plot is wonderfully ambiguous. Visually it’s a treat. Bonus points for being Darren Aronofsky’s most upbeat movie.

Altered: Directed by one of the Blair Witch Project creators, this went straight to DVD, probably due to a lack of big name stars and the story’s high-level of unexplained weirdness. But it deserves a bigger audience. Unlike Blair Witch, this flick actually tells a story. Partly a classic style monster movie, partly a twist on alien abduction mythology, and partly just high strangeness, it’s a vicious little treat for fans of horror/sci-fi.

The Third Man: The classic thriller written by Graham Greene and starring Orson Welles, wherein Welles delivers his immortal “cuckoo clock” speech.

The Big Sleep (1946): Bogey and Bacall, an unsolvable plot, and non-stop killer dialogue. This film noir classic is thick with style and still surpasses most of the private eye flicks that have followed it.

Joe Versus the Volcano: This unjustly maligned classic of the (admittedly small) philoso-comdey genre stars Meg Ryan in three separate parts and a pre-Oscar Tom Hanks; it heightened public awareness of the terrible affliction of “brain cloud.” How can you go wrong with Abe Vigoda in a grass skirt? No, seriously, how? You can’t. Now, feed the big Woo.

The Uninvited: My favorite ghost story, starring Ray Milland. The setting is an old estate on the English seaside, and the haunting brings cold air, strange sobbing, and the unearthly scent of perfume. There’s even a treacherous cliff, a séance, and haunting music. But an air of genuine mystery and romance put the polish on this forgotten gem.

Cure: Cerebral Japanese serial killer movie with an effectively slow pace, an unerring sense of setting, and the one of the most satisfyingly ambiguous endings ever. J-horror minus schoolgirls in uniforms and ghosts desperately in need of a haircut; a stocking stuffer for the thinking horror fan.

The Crow: A classic comic book movie, an adaptation of James O’Barr’s frenetic and violent series. With a basic plot that could’ve played out like an overextended episode of Tales from the Crypt, this one accomplishes far more than it reaches for through style, characterization, some surprisingly good performances, and most of all, music.

The Val Lewton Horror Collection: Nine films from producer Val Lewton, directed by folks such as Robert Wise and Jacques Tourneur, and starring the likes of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Distinct in vision and style, these movies are the definition of atmospheric. My favorites are Bedlam, Isle of the Dead, and I Walked with a Zombie. When people say “They don’t make them like that anymore,” this is what they’re talking about.

The Midnight Hour: Saint Lawn Hill and Other Tales by James Chambers and Jason Whitley: Shameless self-promotion in this bonus pick! Eight tales of supernatural adventure penned by yours truly and copiously illustrated by Jason Whitley. For details, review blurbs, samples, and artwork check out www.atthemidnighthour.com or www.diemonsterdie.com

So the new Holiday Guide presents a special new feature! Best Of. That’s right. I got some folks together and asked them to contribute a list of their top ten movies and top ten books. Along with an intro and some pimping of their stuff when I can, we’ll be doing one a day when I have one. I had nothing to do with these lists except soliciting them. The descriptions are the authors’ as are the picks.

Pete S Allen, aka D Richard Pearce (and vicey versey) is an editor and writer (and vicey versey as well, too). The names are to keep things simple — see how well it works? Pete does some things with Creative Guy Publishing, such as editing and writing cheques to various authors. He also edits reviews for SFReader.com, and will be judging its short fiction contest this year. DRP is just Pete writing – you got that part, right? www.drichardpearce.com because neither the name or domain was taken.

BOOKS

1. The Great Book of Amber, by Roger Zelazny — I’ve owned at least three copies of this book now, because of loaning it out and losing it. For people who know Zelazny, this is a great book because it collects all ten of the Amber novels in one place. For those who don’t know Zelazny, if you like Steven Brust, Neil Gaiman, writers along those lines, Zelazny was influential on them. His works are all brilliant, but Amber is several doses of brilliance.

2. The Stars My Destination, by Alfred Bester — Bester was influential on Zelazny, among others. This book is brilliant and has been called the best SF novel ever. By other people than me, smart guy.

3. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, by Robert Heinlein — Heinlein’s best, IMHO, but that may be my bias toward revolution and against big government showing. Still, well imagined and maintains its relevance, even now. Oh, Manny…

4. The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury — probably the first SF I ever read, and maybe the most influential on me, even now. Bradbury has recently been accepted by the literati, despite his genre connections, because he writes beautifully — just wait til they find out how many other genre writers write beautifully — there’s gonna be hell to pay with the Canon.

5. The Barrytown Trilogy, by Roddy Doyle — ha! Gotcha! You thought this was going to be a SF list, dincha? Well it isn’t. And I’m also cheating by including multi-volume books, such as this one. This book includes “The Commitments,” “The Snapper,” and “The Van.” Three pretty awesome novels by an outstanding Irish author.

6. Gardens of the Moon, by Steven Erikson. I only need to recommend this one, because once you read it, you’ll get the ones that follow on your own. For those who like Robert Jordan and George RR Martin type of fantasy — this is better.

7. The Desert Look, by Bernard Schopen — This one will be tricky to find, I imagine, but it’s one of the best detective novels I’ve ever read — the author wrote this one and one more (The Big Silence) and as far as I know, that’s it, which is a shame.

8. Get Shorty, by Elmore Leonard — do not give me the excuse that you’ve already seen the movie. Leonard may not be the best writer I’ve ever read, but he’s wicked at dialogue.

9. The Holcroft Covenant, by Robert Ludlum — everybody’s got a favourite Ludlum novel, and this is mine. Follows the Indiana Jones rule – “everything’s better with Nazis.”

10. Different Seasons, by Stephen King — my favourite of King’s work, and coincidentally, the works whose translation into film were most successful…

MOVIES

1. Casablanca — it’s not hyperbole; this is an awesome movie, which I watch at least once a year.

2. Silverado — this tribute to the classic Western was so much better than so many Westerns, although…:

3. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid — the original Newman and Redford, written by Goldman. you need no other reasons.

4. The Magnificent Seven – ok, I’m done with Westerns now, promise.

5. Charade – Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. Very fun mystery, and hey, it’s Paris.

6. Forget Paris – or really, just about anything with Billy Crystal. But this is my favourite.

7. Boondock Saints – well, #6 was without guns, and we obviously needed to get back to movies with guns.

8. Big Night – well, this one is also without guns, but with food. Seriously, if you haven’t seen this, and you like to eat, go. Now. Are you still here?

9. The Usual Suspects – brilliant! and more guns!

10. The Pink Panther – the original of course. Sex and violins!

Most of my writing work is scattered across magazines and anthologies – I have a story in the _In Bad Dreams_ anthology from Eneit Press, a story in the upcoming Spring issue of GUD magazine, and that’s about all I can think of right now. However, you’d be doing me a Great Personal Favour if you were to purchase anything published by Creative Guy Publishing, and some fine, fine titles there are, not to mention the latest Amityville House of Pancakes anthology (#3!) Lucy Snyder’s new book, Installing Linux on a Dead Badger, and many many more — check them out here: www.creativeguypublishing.com. Oh oh oh! And be sure to check out and perhaps even subscribe to our new historical fiction magazine, Tales of Moreauvia – and other flights of historical fancy. (www.moreauvia.com).

Will try to get aother Top Ten done later. In the meantime:

If you buy a Sony Reader you can get 100 free books. I don’t like the Kindle, personally (DRM’d books?) and I’m not a huge fan of this thing either – but 100 free books? That I’m a fan of.

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THINKGEEK is having a big holiday sale! too many things to mention by themselves so go and see all the deals.

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Get a Konami Arcade Cabinet! You can pick one up here for only $399.99 (normally 450). The Konami Arcade Game comes with 12 classic games. The unit stands 62″ tall and has an included, built-in, full color monitor. Includes: Frogger, Green Beret, Blades of Steel, Contra, Gyruss, Castlevania, Hyper Sports, Time Pilot ‘84, Shao-Lins Road, Jungler, Scramble, Super Basketball.

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Flying animals. Ok, I have to just take this from the site: “Their arms (or head in the case of the Rooster) conceal super-elastic bands, you simply insert your fingers into little pouches on their hands (or head), pull back their legs, and catapult them across huge distances. As they fly you’ll hear a screech of glee from the Monkey, a cock-a-doodle-doo from the Rooster, and a squeal of delight from the pig.” And that says it all. £4.95 each.

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On Amazon: There is a big TV Sale, as well as a big Boxed Set Sale.

So the new Holiday Guide presents a special new feature! Best Of. That’s right. I got some folks together and asked them to contribute a list of their top ten movies and top ten books. Along with an intro and some pimping of their stuff when I can, we’ll be doing one a day when I have one. I had nothing to do with these lists except soliciting them. The descriptions are the authors’ as are the picks.

Today I give you the choices of Ron Malfi. He’s a great author with more good books coming out than should be allowed. Which means we get to rea dthem, so we’re all lucky. In the meantime – here are Malfi’s picks and explanations.

BOOKS
1. The Bleeding Season by Greg F. Gifune (or, really, anything by Gifune) – It seems any writer worth his or her salt eventually confronts their own mortality, inevitably rearing its head in the form of a coming-of-age novel. Here’s Gifune’s.
2. The Comfort of Strangers by Ian McEwan – If Ernest Hemingway wrote thrillers. I am seriously jealous of this novel.
3. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway – And speaking of Hemingway…hands down, the greatest American novel (that ironically takes place in Europe) ever written.
4. Girl Imagined by Chance by Lance Olsen – Creepiness imagined by Lance.
5. In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje – You cannot beat M.O.’s poetic prose.
6. Rose of Heaven by Michael Hemmingson – The mook’s not just a porn-hound, kids.
7. The Snowman’s Children by Glen Hirshberg – Puts all those sad little Leisure titles to shame.
8. The Throat by Peter Straub – My favorite Straub novel. Might be yours, too.
9. East of Eden by John Steinbeck – This book is his box, and he’s put everything in it.
10. V. by Thomas Pynchon – While his latest, “Against the Day,” reads like the extended director’s cut of tedium, his first novel is quite enjoyable and you won’t need Mr. Webster to help you understand it (the dictionary guy, not the black midget).

MOVIES
1. The Big Lebowski written and directed by the Coen Brothers – Quite possibly the funniest movie ever made. And quite certainly the funniest movie Jeff Bridges ever made.
2. The Descent directed by Neil Marshall – If you like your horror claustrophobic.
3. Eyes Wide Shut directed by Stanley Kubrick – His last film for some reason resonates on a horrific level, depicting the degradation of the American pseudo-family.
4. The Silence of the Lambs directed by Jonathan Demme – A rare example of the film possibly better than the novel.
5. Contact directed by Robert Zemeckis – Same reasoning for “The Silence of the Lambs”…and it makes a nice Jodie Foster boxed set!
6. Summer Lovers directed by Randal Kleiser – One of those peculiar little films I happened to watch years ago, most accidentally, and still resonates with me, mostly in those early mornings when the sun hasn’t fully risen.
7. Fight Club directed by David Fincher – Are you sensing a trend? Part III of the Better than the Book Film Festival.
8. The Exorcist directed by William Friedkin – Okay, maybe not better than the novel, but certainly a worthwhile film and moody as hell.
9. Raiders of the Lost Ark directed by Steven Spielberg – In recognition of the fourth installment to this franchise, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls,” due out Memorial Day 2008, this film stands out so far as the best in an altogether outstanding trilogy. (Also, you know a director is important when his funky last name is recognized by Microsoft World, particularly when words like “Malfi” are not.)
10. Back to the Future directed by Robert Zemeckis – Seriously, what jerk-bar doesn’t like this movie?

Now, Malfi also has a few books of his own out. Including: The Nature of Monsters, The Fall of Never and the jaw-droppingly good Via Dolorosa.

And a second Holiday Gift Guide post for today with other products. Just three that I enjoy:

Over at MoMA they have a page holder. It rocks.

Go grab one for $30. Stainless steel, dishwasher safe.
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From the National Archives store comes some authentic Red Tape:

Official United States documents were once bound with red twill tape that had to be “cut through” to gain access. This encased bit of “red tape” is from Civil War documents found in the records of the Union Army, by volunteers of the Civil War Records Conservation Corp at the National Archives. $30.
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Uranium Ore from Amazon. Not a joke.

From the desc: Radioactive sample of uranium ore. Useful for testing Geiger Counters. License exempt. Uranium ore sample sizes vary. Shipped in labeled metal container as shown. Shipping Information: We are always in compliance with Section 13 from part 40 of the NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules and regulations and Postal Service regulations specified in 49 CFR 173.421 for activity limits of low level radioactive materials. Item will be shipped in accordance with Postal Service activity limits specified in Publication 52. Radioactive minerals are for educational and scientific use only. Only $22.95! For some Uranium Ore! Holy shit!

So the new Holiday Guide presents a special new feature! Best Of. That’s right. I got some folks together and asked them to contribute a list of their top ten movies and top ten books. Along with an intro and some pimping of their stuff when I can, we’ll be doing one a day when I have one. I had nothing to do with these lists except soliciting them. The descriptions are the authors as are the picks.

So to launch this shindig I present Danielle Ackley-McPhail! You can find her at her website, Sidhenadaire.com, and find more info on her at the end of this list.

First up, MOVIES
The X-Files: The Ultimate Collection – What can be said? My all-time favorite series, the only one I watched religiously as it aired. Aliens, conspiracies, unexplained phenomena…For me, timeless.

M*A*S*H – Martinis and Medicine Complete Collection – Okay, MASH was my favorite series before I even knew what a series was. Comedy, tragedy, bloody and bawdy and brawling…everything thrown together against a stark backdrop that just emphasized the colorful characters all the more. It dealt with delicate situations with panache and still managed to laugh in the end. It didn’t trivialize war, but helped the majority of Americans to understand it just a bit more during the darkest period of US Military history. This gift is already under my tree.

Firefly – The Complete Series – Jayne…enough said! Okay…there’s more, but hey, I just love that guy. Never know what to expect from any of them and heartily disappointed that they didn’t take things further than they did….as in ten years further so I don’t have to watch the drivel on TV right now…but hey, there’s always DVD!

The Princess Bride (20th Anniversary Edition) – Okay, the best part of this for me…it’s a flip box! They managed to pull it off so that no matter which way you hold the box…rightside-up or upside-down…it always says Princess Bride!!! Add that to some really cool extras and you have the reason I just bought a DVD I’ve already owned for about ten years.

Ghost Rider (Two-Disc Extended Cut) – Well, I can’t say how true to the source material this stayed, but I can say I enjoyed it worlds and away more than I did Daredevil. Enjoyed it so much on pay-per-view that I regretted not hauling my butt down to the movie theatre to see it there first run. I think the acting was decent, the effects were awesome, and there was actually an enjoyable storyline.

Junior – I don’t know, but there is something about Arnold going all maternal that makes me laugh my butt off…I can’t decide if this or Kindergarten Cop are my favorites of his comedy, but this movie definitely showed a different level of his maturing abilities.

Mrs. Winterbourne – Yes…I LIKE a sappy romance once in a while, and I LOVE Brendan Frazer, yummy! A nice romance with depth and contrast, that didn’t tax the brain or insult the intelligence. I like that in a movie.

My Neighbor Totoro – What can I say, I want to BE Totoro when I grow up…or at least play him in the masquerade. Maybe…someday…I’ve actually bought the softest, creamiest thick faux fur for his belly. But the movie itself has that unique blend of wonder, mysticism and joy characteristic of this director’s work. Love the style and vibrancy, not to mention the creativity of the stories and skill of the animators. Check out any of these titles by the same director for quality, engaging viewing, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, The Cat Returns, Spirited Away, or Naussica of the Wind. (caveat : Graveyard of the Fireflies, which you’ll likely find near all those others is by the same production company and looks an aweful lot like the same style, is NOT by the same director, very dark in content and style. Couldn’t watch it myself.)

V – The Complete Series – Verging on camp, the effects–or the acting–weren’t always great, but the action ran rampant and the series was a lot of fun, especially if you’re looking for junkfood sci fi.

Babylon 5 – The Complete Television Series (5-Pack) Epic. Absolutely Epic. Tight, well-woven stories, interesting backstories, well-developed characters and absolutely visually stunning. The later tie-in movies weren’t always so great, but I really enjoyed the series as a whole.

And now BOOKS!
The Abhorsen Trilogy Box Set – A nice, unique series. Well thought out and challenging. Mirrors our own world enough to really shake you up at those points where it departs from it. I recommend anything by this author, Garth Nix. It’s not an easy read, but definitely an enjoyable one.

The Radiation Angels: The Chimerium Gambit – Do you like action? Do you like military sci fi? Then grab this book because it rocks! James Daniel Ross is an up-and-comer worth keeping an eye on. This is his first novel, but the sequel, I have on good advisement, just went to the publisher. He also has short fiction in Breach the Hull (Marietta Publishing) set in this same universe. Well developed and action-packed.

Sandry’s Book (Circle of Magic, Book 1) – I love the way that Tamora Pierce pushes the bounds of our expectations. Her fiction is technically considered YA, but to me, all that means is that it isn’t cluttered by all the crap that masquerades as quality adult-oriented fiction these days. This is the first book in a series that is complex and detailed enough to draw you in and magical enough to keep you there.

Dragon’s Son (Lord of Wind and Fire) – Elaine Corvidae has a lot of great books out there, I just particularly recommend this one, though it is the third book in a series, because it was my favorite. This universe is down and dirty examining the varied layers of humanity with characters that transcend humanity. Her short fiction also appears in Bad-Ass Faeries (Marietta Publishing) and though that story is not set in the same universe as Dragon’s Son, she does have a series of novels that are set in that universe.

Baby’s First Mythos – This book is just WRONG! Its very existence is an affront to decency. I love it. I’ve bought at least four separate copies as gifts for others. I know of other people that buy a new copy every time someone they know has a child. The artwork is stunning and the simple text is as twisted as ol’ HP himself. Check it out, if for no other reason than morbid curiosity.

The Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark-Hunter Boxed Set, No. 1: Night Embrace / Dance with the Devil / Night Pleasures – Okay, once in a while I actually like the “crap” that masquerades as quality adult-oriented fiction…when it isn’t crap and there is a story to go along with the smut that actually challenges you to follow it…in a good way. SK creates such a rich and varied universe in her Hunter series’ that there is no danger of any of them being called porn masquerading as a story. I wait in tortured impatience each time I see a new hardcover, knowing I have at least six months before I can get my hands on the paperback (which is all I’m allowed to buy anymore.

Deerskin – A while back fairytale retellings were hot. They were everywhere. Some were good, others were unrecognizable. This one I had never heard of the original before so I can’t tell which category it falls into. What I can tell you is that characteristic of this author’s larger body of works, the writing is wonderful, original, engaging in execution and detail. What I liked even more is that in subtle ways this book was tied into her original series, though the stories themselves have nothing to do with one another. It is a small thing, but to me it speaks of an author invested in what they are doing and caring enough of her audience to link to a universe they cherish.

Sunshine – This is an older work by the same author. Very different from her past works, darker, and urban fantasy rather than pure fantasy like everything else I’ve read. It draw on the vampire myths, transmutes some of them, maintains others. Characters were interesting and the writing as excellent as ever. Not my favorite, but it is a part of my permanent library.

To Ride A Rathorn – PC Hodgell is my absolute favorite, under-appreciated author. Her work is hard to find, and there isn’t a lot of it, but talk about RICH! The detail, the variety in backdrop and character. Some really original concepts here, edges blurred kind of thing. If you like fantasy grab this one for yourself!

Dark of the Gods – Same as above, only this is where it all started. Her titles are God Stalk, Dark of the Gods, Seeker’s Mask, To Ride a Rathorn, and a couple of short fiction collections. Sad to say, most of it you have to find uses…and it doesn’t come cheap! That should tell you how good this author is!

Here are a few words Danielle had to say about her own books for sale!

Breach the Hull – The newest hot title to come out of Marietta Publishing, it combines tried-and-true veterans of the military science fiction genre with hot new authors poised to take over the universe. Get your copy today!

Bad-Ass Faeries – The run-away best-selling hit, brought to you by Marietta Publishing and the incomparable Danielle Ackley-McPhail, et. al., is the absolute must-have in faerie books.

Yesterday’s Dreams – And back to where it all began…but don’t expect it to end here…there’s more on the way! Get your copy of Yesterday’s Dreams today and prepare yourself for the long-awaited sequel, Tomorrow’s Memories (2008).

Every year I try and do the Holiday Gift Guide wherein I post links to odd gift choices. Some years people have actually used it to buy a gift or two. The time for the Gift Guide is almost upon us. But this year – things change!

Yes there will still be the occasional Gift Guide post. As I gather things. There will also be special Gift Guide entries by some other people I know, writers mostly, who have agreed to join in the madness. And then there will be a few, very few, spotlight entries.

Yeah, the Gift Guide is getting bigger and stranger and way more fun. That all starts Monday.
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On the other hand I have to share this one with you right the hell now: The Virgin Mary USB key. When connected and transferring data her heart glows and beats. For seriously.
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And well… Joe over at bookofjoe (not Hammer Pants, Hammer Pants is a different Joe) just posted a link to French Fry car mats

I couldn’t ignore them. Only $29.99. I wonder if sometimes they’re Freedom Mats. Huh.
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Yeah I guess the Holiday Gift Guide starts today, kinda. Despite my best intentions.
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Angel-A is out on DVD. Vas ist? Angel-A is the new film directed and written by Luc Besson. The guy who gave us Leon – The Professional (one of the world’s perfect films), La Femme Nikita (not the fucking TV show, the original, and my lord the still great) and The Fifth Element – as well as a ton of other films. Possibly my favorite writer/director, at least one of them, a new Besson film is a cause for celebration. Oh, just to mention, he did the perfectly fun and really enjoyable Arthur and the Invisibles as well. Anyway! Besson! Buy it for people you love! Because it’s a Besson film. Fuckers.
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So for real? Gift Guide starts Monday.

DISCLAIMER: Every day for the next bunch I will post a Holiday Gift Guide entry, until there are 12. They will only show up on weekdays. It will contain gifts of all sorts that I find I don’t see in many gift guides and will have links to where to buy the items. The final item will be the “self-pimp”, a link to fiction that either I have written or a friend of mine has.

If you have an idea for a strange gift, feel free to mail me, but send me a link to a store people can buy it, and a description.

Also, if you own any of the items, any of them at all, please speak up! People will love to have input along the lines of what you do and don’t like about a certain item. So speak up and share your feelings on things.

So let’s start!

A nifty lock de-icer and flashlight. That’s right, now you can de-ice your car locks even in the dark! Which is pretty handy, if you ask me. I don’t own a car, of course. But if I did own a car, I bet the locks would ice up a lot. Yup. $11.50 each, 2 or more for $10.50 each.
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Chopsticks. Not the best travel chop sticks. No to be fair those are the cool ones that disassemble, but I’ve linked to those in the past. These I link to mostly because of the name: Streamside Sushi Sticks. Not chop sticks, sushi sticks. Buh? Anyway. $14.50 each or two or more for $13.50 each.
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Alien finder watch. This might be my pick for how to not make a watch. And yet, I still kinda want one. See you press the button and it flashes and lights up and shit. And then you can learn to read it to even tell the time.

From the site: At the top of the screen the Red & White DNA helix is made of 12 bars to indicate the hour. At the bottom of the watch display the Blue blocks indicate 5 minutes each, while the Green blocks represent 1 minute. There are also indicators for AM/PM and seconds. The Alien DNA % shows the Date, so 12.05% is December the 5th. During the animation sequence all the numbers rotate as they calculate the percentage of Alien DNA.

I mean come on! But still. Only $138.26 if you want one for someone.

No Gift Guide today. Sorry. It’ll get back no track soon. I just haven’t had the time needed to dig enough to find the cool stuff recently.

DISCLAIMER: Every day for the next bunch I will post a Holiday Gift Guide entry, until there are 12. They will only show up on weekdays. It will contain gifts of all sorts that I find I don’t see in many gift guides and will have links to where to buy the items. The final item will be the “self-pimp”, a link to fiction that either I have written or a friend of mine has.

If you have an idea for a strange gift, feel free to mail me, but send me a link to a store people can buy it, and a description.

Also, if you own any of the items, any of them at all, please speak up! People will love to have input along the lines of what you do and don’t like about a certain item. So speak up and share your feelings on things.

So let’s start!

The Flipperoo Clock. “This is a dang sweet analog clock with flipping dates. We drew a whole bunch of numbers and little surprises on the flip things.” They come in three colors and each color is limited to 200 pieces. $60.
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Yes, it’s an eye pillow. It’s also shaped like a puppy. they have them shaped like cats as well. $17.95 for a strange eye pillow. Why? Why not?
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It’s uhh a toad purse.. $26.95, which should be $24.95 if it were me pricing things. But it isn’t. Anyway. Toad purse.
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That’s it for today.