Book forty-four of 2019: The Enterprise War, by John Jackson Miller. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Filling in the blanks of Pike’s Enterprise up to the start of season two of ST: DIS. Not a bad romp, and helps to flesh out some of the secondary characters we see in Pike’s crew.

Book forty-three of 2019: Maus, Vol. II, by Art Spiegelman. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The second half of the story, from Auschwitz to America. This really is a powerful piece of work. I really don’t understand how we as a nation are coming so close to letting this happen again.

Book forty-two of 2019: Maus, Vol. I, by Art Spiegelman. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The first part of a graphic novel memoir of one man’s relationship with his father, and his father’s experiences as a Polish Jew during WWII. So many of the early events are sadly topical right now.

Book forty-one of 2019: White Trash Zombie Unchained, by Diana Rowland. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished off the WTZ series in fine form, wrapping up various plot threads, dealing with villains, and even introducing psychic zombie alligators into the mix. All in all, a very fun series.

Book forty of 2019: Frozen Hell, by John W. Campbell, Jr. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A recently discovered longer version of Campbell’s classic novella “Who Goes There” (the source for John Carpenter’s SF/horror film The Thing). Holds up well for a late-30s story; still creepy and fun.

Book thirty-nine of 2019: A Canticle for Liebowitz, by Walter M. Miller, Jr._ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1961 Hugo Best Novel

Not terribly optimistic in its outlook towards humanity’s ability to learn from our mistakes, but an excellent and far-reaching post-apocalyptic tale.

Just (finally) watched Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and wow, does that film deserve every accolade it’s received. A great film, and absolutely gorgeous – that animation work was incredible, and just as groundbreaking as I’d heard. I’m a fan.

Book thirty-eight of 2019: White Trash Zombie Gone Wild, by Diana Rowland. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

More zombie conspiracy fun, this time in the midst of Mardi Gras and a zombie festival. Started off a little tougher than the rest, but got on track again fairly quickly.

Book thirty-seven of 2019: Fall, or Dodge in Hell, by Neal Stephenson. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Still top of my favorite current authors list, Stephenson once again keeps my mind churning with a huge, complex, fascinating SF/F mishmash of VR worlds and religion.

In memory of Mad magazine and Alfred E. Neuman, 1952-2019. What, me worry?

The one issue I keep is part of my Star Trek collection; the bust I inherited from my dad, and dates from around 1960.