Saturday Miscellany – 3/14/15

Happy Pi Day, everyone!

A few odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

• Sir Terry Pratchett has died — which everyone knows (well, everyone who reads fantasy and is online). I couldn’t really get into his stuff, but he was clearly a class act and a great writer.
• Continuing this seemingly never-ending saga, this week started with reports that the State of Alabama was making sure everything was alright with Harper Lee, and ended with statements that their investigation is over. What a mess. I hope this last one is true.
• The Once & Future Podcast talked with Kevin Hearne this week about the Iron Druid Chronicles, his new bestseller about Luke Skywalker, and a little about his upcoming epic fantasy series.
• John Anealio, who “performs geeky anthems for writers, librarians, lovers of Sci-Fi, Best Buy customers & robots” also puts out a newsletter with Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Recommendations, it’s worth singing up. You should also check out his music.
• 6 Gritty Reboots of Children’s Classics will probably induce a smile.

This Week’s New Releases I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
• Anti-Hero by Jonathan Wood — years back I read the first two in this series, which have thankfully been re-released, and really dug them. I can’t wait to get my hands on this one.
• World Gone By by Dennis Lehane — I have got to read this series. I don’t know why I haven’t started — I even bought the first one as soon as I came out! And now we’re at #3?
• The Mirror World of Melody Black by Gavin Extence — I ultimately didn’t like Extence’s prior book, but man . . . while I was reading it, I was hooked. Gotta give this one a shot.
• What the Dog Knows: Scent, Science, and the Amazing Ways Dogs Perceive the World by Cat Warren — just came out in paperback. There’s a bunch of books on the topic, I don’t really know how to evaluate one against another — but Robert Crais blurbed this one, so it has to be excellent, right?
• Archie in the Crosshairs by Robert Goldsborough — after the last two books by Goldsborough, I’m dreading this. But, confound it, it’s a Wolfe book. I have to read it.

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and welcome to jrhehl for following the blog this week. Thanks to Ryan Harris for the interaction — hope we can continue it.