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Book Reviews for 2023 So Far
We appear to be in the midst of a resurgence of pulp. But rather than spinning a rack of pulp magazines and comics at your local grocery store, instead you spin the scroll wheel on your mouse to browse online shelves. Mountains of adventures are ready to be downloaded to your device, or delivered straight to your door. Books dominate my entertainment diet, and I’ve found myself more excited for book releases than for upcoming movies and TV shows.
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The Black Crown Book Review
The Black Crown is the new debut fantasy novel by John A. Douglas. Douglas is a family man living in Louisiana. He’s a huge coffee fan, and a tabletop gamer. He’s been writing for years, honing his craft, and this debut novel displays his fantastic storytelling skill.
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Meno and Authority Over Virtue
But, wait a minute. I have questions. What was wrong with the list of virtues approach? Why is having a list of virtues inferior to having a list of the universal characteristics of virtues? I don’t think I see a practical difference in how the information for either approach could be obtained, nor applied.
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Create the Culture
When big studios announce that they’ve acquired a beloved IP, or are remaking a classic story, there’s no excitement left. There’s no anticipation other than dread for whatever flop they’ll end up delivering. The fix for this is simple and time-tested (although Hollywood can’t bring themselves to embrace it).
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Story: Malice at Midnight
It’s the dead of night, and something is clearly wrong. The family dog raises the alarm, and wakes the house. A family man must rely on his wits, will, weapons (and a stranger’s help) to battle a beast who’s dead set on attacking his home and loved ones.
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The Pilgrim's Hope
The last time I read The Pilgrim’s Progress, I was inspired by Christian’s courage in the face of evil. This time, I am struck by how Christian’s hope kept him from succumbing to despair.
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The Fairy Tale Horror, Little Red Riding Hood
When I decided to analyze Little Red Riding Hood, I was not expecting to find a story that bludgeoned the reader over the head with a spiked bat. But that’s exactly what this version of the story does. It’s a full fledged horror story that has a moral for the kids, but there’s also a moral for the adults reading it.
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The Fairy Tale of Hansel and Grethel
This is a children’s story. It’s meant to be read to children. The themes of starvation, death, betrayal, murder, and cannibalism might be jarring to modern audiences (it’s a long way from If You Give A Mouse A Cookie) but I think it’s very important. Children need to grapple with these topics so that they can be inspired to overcome. This story teaches children to have faith in God, to have hope in the face of danger, and to aspire to vanquish dragons.
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The Pilgrim's Courage
The Pilgrim’s Progress has a particularly inspiring passage about courage. It’s when the protagonist, Christian, faces off against evil in the form of Apollyon.
