Books!

Hey guys

Thought I'd take a moment out to talk books.
Under Steve Blease's advice on 'must read VSF', I read Edison's Conquest of Mars. Written for an American newspaper, it is meant to be the sequel to War of the Worlds. It was actually written before War of the worlds was even in print!

However, as a seperate book, it is very inspiring when it comes to ideas for games and models, as a sequel it is, if for a better word, shite. It holds very little in common with the social commentary of War of the Worlds and reads more like a science book. But I guess that's why it is Science fiction, not Romantic Science. Others have pointed out that Serviss makes a lot of changes which are quite specific to war of the worlds, almost as if to make the book 'work' for him. Very odd.

I suggest it to anyone interested in VSF, I found it enjoyable.

I am currently reading the 'Trolltooth Wars' by Steve Jackson, last time I tried to read it, I was about 8, and got to the end of the first page and gave up. I was like that until I was about 17, so I have decided to give it a go now. It is very dated Fantasy War fiction, but reading it is giving me ideas for various generic Fantasy forces for Song of Blades and Heroes. I'm trying to whizz my way through the book though, but I am unsure as to what to read next.

As for wargaming, I am currently painting up flintloque models for the old Demonstration pack. I am updating it to 3rd edition and planning on playing it soon. It looks quite good, if a little one sided in some cases. The new edition makes this much easier to sort out. I think somewhere along the lines, Ogres got weaker as 1 ogre with no ranged weapons against 6 elves with muskets seems a little unfair!

Cheers guys!
Rob