Besides the short stories I wrote about in my previous post I read three books and three comic book trades this month.
Swords Against Death by Fritz Leiber (Ace Books, 1970)
I finished my reread of the second Fafhrd and Gray Mouser book which I posted about here: We Learn by Writing: Swords Against Death by Fritz Leiber
Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (Book of the Month Club, 1994. Originally published in 1894)
While I enjoyed all the stories in this collection, a few in the beginning came across as weak compared to most of the later ones, which I found to be more interesting and complex. Still, it was great spending time with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson again and I loved the introductions of Sherlock’s brother Mycroft and Sherlock’s nemesis Professor Moriarity.
Brothers of the Snake by Dan Abbnet (Black Library, 2008)
After reading the Warhammer 40K anthology Into the Maelstrom recently, I was wondering what to read next, so I watched some YouTube videos that recommend 40K books for newcomers. This book showed up on a number of lists and sounded right up my alley. Like a lot of Black Library books, the paperback is out of print, but the Kindle version is available.
Brothers of the Snake follows Priad of Damocles Squad, part of a Space Marine chapter known as the Iron Snakes, as they defend the Reef Stars against aliens and other agents of Chaos. Each chapter is basically a short story, but they all build upon each other which makes for a good mix of world building and character development. A very enjoyable read. I’ll be posting a longer review soon.
Comics
Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 1: Ronin (Fantagraphics Books, 1987)
Usagi Yojimbo (Rabbit Bodyguard) Volume 1 collects the early appearances of Stan Sakai’s anthropomorphic rabbit ronin Miyamoto Usagi, based on the historical figure Miyamoto Musashi. While the stories are primarily historical adventure, there’s humor as well as action and one of the stories includes a supernatural creature. They’re exciting and fun with wonderful art.
I’ve been a fan since the character's first appearance in the 1980s. Somewhere along the line I stopped reading, but I kept buying the trade paperbacks as they were released. I finally decided to jump back in from the beginning. It was interesting revisiting these early stories as Sakai hadn’t quite settled on Usagi’s character design yet, but the situations and themes presented here are a great taste of what he explores even more deeply in later volumes.
Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 2: Samurai (Fantagraphics Books, 1989)
Most of this volume is devoted to telling Usagi’s origin story, how he goes from student, to samurai, to ronin. Also included are stories where he meets a kappa, a young kaiju, and helps defend a village of silk workers from bandits. A great mix of action and humor with a variety of interesting characters and excellent art.
Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 3: The Wanderer’s Road (Fantagraphics Books, 1989)
Seven more adventures as Usagi wanders Japan and meets some returning characters like the mercenary rhino Gen and the blind swordspig Zato-Ino. There’s also the introduction of the demon-like Jei, a tribute to Groo the Wanderer, and a quick crossover with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Some of the stories are dark, some are humorous, all are excellent.
