Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Get your D&D on without D&D

Legends & Lattes V01: A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes by Travis Baldree

Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins: Volume III by Jody Houser

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If you are looking for a couple of books that allow you to get your D&D love on, but are not D&D, there are two books (well one book and one series) that can work. The first, is a novel that has been getting much attention. And I understand why Legends & Lattes V01 is a hit. Travis Baldree made a story that captures the elements of fantasy, humor and romance in a package that allows it to be accessible to non-readers and readers of […]

Good old fashioned pop culture salutes

Villains' Vignettes Volume 1 by Drew Hayes

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Bingo 4: Hold Steady Drew Hayes has been one of very few authors who has been both reasonably consistent and prolific without getting dull; he’s also a favorite of mine, so for all those reasons, he counts as Holding Steady. What’s new is that Villains’ Vignettes Vol 1 is a story without a connecting plot building; the three tales are a bit long to be short stories, so maybe we’ll call them novelettes. The style somehow manages to be straightforward but still have snappy dialogue […]

Not the Holy Grail of Writing

The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

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Many of the DIY writing books I’ve been consuming over the last couple years mention Joseph Campbell’s extensive mythology analyses (written in 1949!), The Hero with a Thousand Faces, and credit him with inspiring them. George Lucas says Star Wars is a result of having read Campbell’s seminal work. I went into this book with the wrong expectations and was immediately disappointed. His 416-page work has little to do with writing. Although it labels all the familiar (and unfamiliar) legends from around the world, the […]

Be the Hero

The Mythics #4: Global Chaos by Patrick Sobral and Patricia Lyfoung

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The Mythics #4: Global Chaos is obviously the fourth graphic novel in the series by Patrick Sobral and Patricia Lyfoung. One should read them in order, but thankfully there is a recap at the start that not only introduces you to the characters, but it also gives a recap of what has previously occurred. The aged (strong) 8 to 13-or-14-year-old might not be able to jump into the middle like this, but I was able to piece together enough to get the idea of things. […]

Expectations and Reality clash and have a lovely time

Princess Princess Ever After by Kay O’Neill

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All points/rating for this book, Princess Princess Ever After comes from the lovely, classical folktale illustrations that Kay O’Neill gave us. This modern twist of Prince saving the Princess has been seen before, (this time we have a Princess saving the Princess). But this time O’Neill also tosses in a prince who has a little side story (which is not really needed, or at least could have been expanded a bit Perhaps he’ll get his own story someday?). However, it is still about expectations and […]

“You had to hand it to the Patrician, he admitted grudgingly. If you didn’t, he sent men to come and take it away.”

Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett

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The Night Watch of the sprawling city of Ankh-Morpork consists of only three people (although people might question if Nobby Nobbs is entirely human) led by the depressed and shambolic Captain Samuel Vimes. No one is more surprised than he when he finds out that they have a new recruit from the mountains who actually volunteed for the Watch. No one ever does that. The fact that young Carrot Ironfunderson claims to be a dwarf, even though he’s 6 foot 2 and seems to keep […]



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