A CELEBRATION OF BOOKS & COMICS, & FRIENDS
By Alex Ness
February 17, 2025
FROM THE DISTANCE:Brief discussion of politics
Due to a political system that depends on two parties, America has had a mostly stable government over the last 250 years, nothing driving ideologies too far left or too far right. There were campaigns for office that were personal, others that were ideological. But those have come to reveal themselves both with the kind of candidates of our system create. And, this isn't a critique of the American system, it had a goal of centrism by using the ideologies within limits. That is, both sets of candidates, the two major parties, has done well, with fewer disasters than are usually discussed. But the true center has lost its meaning.
By making the winning of the office of president of the US a prize, voters have become an open door to lies, flawed choices, and greed. In new president administration, the winner will declare there to be a new enemy, and debate, fight or obfuscate the ultimate goals of our country, in the congress. The less complex minded will only perceive the need for power, rather than by clarity of moral ability, even the less honorable depth of charisma to help make an argument. The spirit of compromise and spirit of governance requires everyone accepting the rules, and jointly agreeing upon the goal we attempt to fulfill. What happens if we can no longer be able to achieve what we were able to in the past, due to the desire to have your side alone winning the debate, spitting upon the lost opportunities to change the the nation into a monolithic armed camp. I mention all of this because we just had a President's day holiday, and I had to go more than a few administrations deep to find someone I could still trust as President.
WINTER BREAK IS FOR READING:
Winter Break also includes cold air, a couch, animal companion, (in my case a purring sleeping cat), quiet, but for the purring and sound of a space heater... and a beverage. I think the best thing you can do when needing a break mentally, physically or spiritually, is use the time for pleasure reading. I think a deep dive of music works too. Anything that reminds of work, of time spent on research, or rituals or habits and/or time spent that exhausts you, needs to be forgotten and replaced by depth of writing, music or arts.
The books shown above are books mostly in the genre of fantasy, era of its creation, or works linked by the concept of imagination.
The books shown are surely not going to please everyone. I've done this for most of my life, even if I don't like the writing, the characters, there are books that are valuable even if I am not moved by the narrative story. Once a year I do a reading week to learn more what others like, to go deeper to see if I like it, and to explore how great authors and poets create with different skill sets and talents than others. I believe we might in fact assume a quality when what we are seeing and considering good or great are an artist who is different and new. And don't think I don't assume there is talent in that.
Elizabeth Moon
Juliette Marillier
Clark Ashton Smith
Robert E. Howard
Alan Dean Foster
Lord Dunsany
And Vintage books important to the genre of fantasy, weird fiction and edited by Amy H. Sturgis
MIKE BARON RULES!
Mike Baron is a friend, but far more than that, a great writer of books and comics. He also is a very funny dude.
He is a warm person, and despite not agreeing all the time, I never feel compelled to agree out of the power of his personality. He is funny and kind, but could kick my ass. He knows his Martial Arts, and I am a flabby old fart. Over time, he has offered tips, and support. Frankly, he is more trusted and beloved by other creatives than anyone I know. People from both sides of the political divide have told me talk to Baron, he is a mad genius, worthy of praise. He is writing new works, 40 year old characters, different formats, prose, comic scripts, and much more. Here are some of his most recent works...
BADGER MAD MONKEY SHOCK N ROLL #1 (OF 5)
1FIRST COMICS
NOV241567
(W) Mike Baron (A) Val Mayerik (CA) John McCrea
Mike Baron is back with more martial arts mayhem in the latest instalment of The Badger! When Badger's friend purchases an island paradise off the coast of Venezuela, it may hold the cure for cancer or the end of the world! Will Badger be able to avert this apocalyptic crisis?
BRONZE STAR A WEIRD WESTERN TALE. with Pat Broderick
NEXUS: SCOURGE
PRIVATE AMERICAN
SHERLOCK HOLMES
BADGER NOVEL
I recommend Mike's writing, but beyond the quality of grammar, imagination, character creation, dialogue, spelling, he has a way of propelling the pace without letting loose the characterization during the action, in fact, he also mixes humor with all the action going on.
The image below shows all the works I've published or wrote that someone else published since 2022. In that start date to present I had people to collaborate with, friends to share a project with, and am able to control the stock of, since the printer is local, and does excellent work, inexpensively.
First section comprised of Chapbooks and then according to subject
Cthulhu: Madness Awakens, Cthulhu and the Dreamlands, Crash with Paul Ewert
Sasquatch: Sasquatch Encounters with Nate Barlow The World Remains Wild with Joe Hilliard and John Morgan Neal Rave Massacre: Glencoe MN, Blizzard 1997 with Joe Monks
Mary Shelley Considered: Biography with Michael Harmon
Skinwalker versus Berserkers, and Wrestler faces Devil's Night wrestler with Joe Hilliard
AI: AI/Cybernetics Humans with John Morgan Neal and Joe Hilliard
TWO BOOK Length works
TALES OF LOST KINGDOMS with Peter Urkowitz
SIGR Poems of the Viking era
All chap books are available starting in March, for $5 a piece and if you order more than one, I'll give a discount. I charge $10 for the two books.
I mentioned my numerous Hiatuses, and since 2020 I've had, a broken neck, frozen left shoulder, right shoulder separation or possibly frozen, possible cancer, many kidney stones, back arthritis and broken ribs, tailbone and more. I think to have put these works out, I've done well considering.
Contact me at AlexanderNess63@gmail.com All my works done can be found here, not all are available due to being out of print. Feel free to inquire at my email address.
Published Works AlexNessPoetry.Blogspot.Com/2007/01/My-Work.html
ERIK LARSEN SHARES A CELEBRATION OF WORKS
Savage Dragon's formative years collected at last!
This
MASSIVE hardcover continues the deluxe re-presentation of the Savage
Dragon's greatest adventures! Featuring team-ups with Spawn! Hellboy!
WildStar! The Maxx! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Plus: Dragon gets
engaged! Rapture has a baby! And the classic showdown between God and
the Devil! SAVAGE DRAGON: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION VOL. 3 is a must-have
for any fearless Fin-Addict in search of an easy entry point into one of
Image Comics’ longest-running series! Introduction by GEOFF JOHNS.
Collects SAVAGE DRAGON #22-35
Art and story by Erik Larsen
CONCLUSION
I'll be back in a couple weeks. I have much going on. In the meantime, for all your printing needs, Matt at Speed Print Inc. is amazing.
My Poetry AlexNessPoetry.Blogspot.Com
This place Poplitiko.Blogspot.Com
Personal: AlexNessFiction.Blogspot.Com/
Social Media
https://bsky.app/profile/alexanderness63.bsky.social
https://x.com/alexnesspoetry
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