3.0
Take Traveller, bloat it up a lot, make sure you have tables for as much as you can think of, including double level fatigue and dropping the ball. This comment also nails it :- “the barely sketched out campaign milieu is a mish-mash of animal-men, vulcans, jedi, lightsabres, space nazis, space commies, martians-from-War-of-the-Worlds and implacable [...]
Continue reading about Space Opera – Edward E. Simbalist and A. Mark Ratner and Phil McGregor
Pretty tie. 3 out of 5
Icing man. 3 out of 5
Bilby beach three. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about Exotic Indulgence – Vivan Arend and Lexxie Couper and Jess Dee
An ok anthology. School of Spank : School of Spank – John McKeown School of Spank : Party Girl – Anna Sansom School of Spank : Smile for the Camera – Kathleen Tudor School of Spank : Jacqueline’s Punishment – Natasha Knight School of Spank : Not Funny – Giselle Renarde Tipperary security Head. 2.5 [...]
Crop train. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about Jacqueline’s Punishment – Natasha Knight
Club variety. 3 out of 5
Scientist meets a scientist who meets another pair of scientists. Then they are attacked by ancient Persians. They then find a hidden city with a woman with metal control powers. Flowery metal mastery transformation conflict then needs escaping. 3 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3479
Dwarf, blacksmith and warrior team up to fight icy badness. With random crazy valkyrie action. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about The Forge In the Forest – Michael Scott Rohan
“With Bulwark back, Djinni is forced to find new ways to amuse himself… aside from taking cheap shots at the big guy.” 3 out of 5 http://www.secretworldchronicle.com/seasonsix/swc6_21_brothersinbloodpt1.mp3
Continue reading about Brothers in Blood 1 – Mercedes Lackey and Dennis Lee
Crazed suicidal alien attack run by psionic witch cabal space opera. Consultant, doctor and bureaucrat to oppose. 3 out of 5
Crazed suicidal alien attack run by psionic witch cabal space opera. Consultant, doctor and bureaucrat to oppose. 3 out of 5
Josh and Janie take a collection for viewing. 3 out of 5
Champion couple. 3 out of 5
Tied up with a spy, no dye. 3 out of 5
Library observation fine. 3 out of 5
A werewolf double, even. 3 out of 5
Finding a speller. 3 out of 5
An introduction to the story as the 21st Phantom deals with the passing of his father and inherits the mantle. Also the story of growing up, including the time Julie became the Phantom. So some interesting bits here. 3 out of 5
Surrogate for a couple of ghosts for a while. 3 out of 5
Time to leave. 3 out of 5 http://www.innsmouthfreepress.com/?p=4734
Gibberish machine. 3 out of 5 http://www.innsmouthfreepress.com/?p=4630
Continue reading about If You Want To Leave A Message – G. W. Thomas
Yasmini, outlaw loot, Dost Mohammed and a not so bright captain. 3 out of 5 http://freeread.com.au/@RGLibrary/TalbotMundy/Yasmini/ASoldierAndAGentleman.html
Continue reading about A Soldier and a Gentleman – Talbot Mundy
A hypnotist act gets too real on the kill yourself suggestion, and the Shadow’s adversary leaves him with a sore throat. 3 out of 5
Other universes, goddess? Maybe? 3 out of 5 http://worldsf.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/tuesday-fiction-ratan-mirrors-by-geetanjali-dighe/
Even stuck in hospital Lamont Cranston finds death. 3 out of 5
Being a combo of the Hero System and Interlock, universal style. 3 out of 5 http://rtalsoriangames.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/fuzion1.pdf
Dad killed mum, so I’m drunk. 3 out of 5 http://thrillbent.com/comics/insufferable/insufferable-vol1-issue-16/
Snow machine booze axed. 3 out of 5
Clean setup. 3 out of 5
Dulcey spectacle. 3 out of 5
Neighbour distraction. 3 out of 5 http://samanthasommersby.com/FreeReads/Skin.html
Cigarette housemate. 3 out of 5 http://samanthasommersby.com/FreeReads/Smokin.html
Fine liquor motive. 3 out of 5 http://www.stabenow.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Under_the_Influence.zip
SF author gets involved in time travel experiment…alternate Australia has a rebel Ned Kelly having revolutionary success, complete with multinational and German socialist plotting. Backwards and forwards it goes from the present day President Kelly – in the Vietnam war area. Dirigibles and cannons, Kate Kelly as time tracks shift as Grimes decides what to [...]
New gym employee has competition for boss orders. 3 out of 5
Quickly the world is overrun by mutant ratpeople. Russia even nukes a couple of its own cities to know avail. A plucky band of survivors with a ship find a scientist near an oblivious nudist colony that may just be able to make a weapon to stop them. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about The Hamelin Plague – A. Bertram Chandler
An evolved race of porpoises that have been taught to talk to humans, a couple of crazy guys and a marine scientist and colleagues equals a conflict with delusions of grandeur on both human and sea beast sides. Stuck on an island captive people work for the guy with the weapons and those that control [...]
Dying energy collector. 3 out of 5
Galactic entropy gathering ennui. 3 out of 5
Dream machine interview. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about Journey To the Heartland – Brian W. Aldiss
Dead Neal track. 3 out of 5
Moped heist wreck. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about One Day In Heist City – David Ira Cleary
Bad guy crossover. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about Birds of Prey – J. A. Konrath and Blake Crouch
Head parasite plan. 3 out of 5
Arrow problem. 3 out of 5
Squinty hang. 3 out of 5
Priest bloodletting. 3 out of 5
Elder God twitter countdown. 3 out of 5
Wind watcher no. 3 out of 5
Surge victim. 3 out of 5
Stevenson note. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about The Strange Case Of Dr Mcintyre – William Meikle
Sweet Wyatt. 3 out of 5 http://samanthasommersby.com/FreeReads/ItWasAlwaysYou.html
Continue reading about It Was Always You – Samantha Sommersby
Forty-five is officially old in this society…paperwork and a euthanasia pill if you prefer that option as life becomes very difficult. Or, survival and forced labor camps…or Martian prison work camps. Men in prison, women in prison, areoforming screwups and revolution for a new Mars. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about The Bitter Pill – A. Bertram Chandler
Realistic boy simulation. 3 out of 5 http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/cosmos_online/the-pinocchio-complex/
“If science fiction inspires scientists and engineers to create new things–Stephenson believes it can–then more visionary, realistic sci-fi stories can help create a better future. Hence the Hieroglyph experiment, launched this month as a collaborative website for researchers and writers. Many of the stories created on the platform will go into a HarperCollins anthology of [...]
An AnySystem tomb raiding Egyptian pulp adventure…AnySystem skill descriptions and percentages presumably giving generics that a GM should be able to transform to their preferred system. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about The Charioteer’s Tomb – Peter Schweighofer
Goat hosts. And bids. 3 out of 5 http://www.tor.com/stories/2013/04/sing
Ambassador trip shake. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about Looking the Lopai in the Eyes – Indrapramit Das
Some generic space opera advice, fair amount of space given to psionics and gear as opposed to larger scale or gaming issues in this 2003 Humanoids version. 3 out of 5
A starship crew has to make some hard choices, including their families, when helping out some new allies and coming under attack by their enemies in space. A really long walk around a planet, too. 3 out of 5
Crying in the cinders. 3 out of 5 http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/findingaids/view?brand=general&docId=InU-Ar-VAC2229&chunk.id=VAC2229-00582&startDoc=1#
Specialist dancer murder. 3 out of 5 http://kriswrites.com/2013/04/29/free-fiction-monday-the-destruction-of-a-goddess/
Continue reading about The Destruction of a Goddess – Kristine Kathryn Rusch
A job with the (Russian) company drilling for oil. And shooting bears. And selling beers. 3 out of 5
“Isaac Asimov was arguably, for a time, the most influential science-fiction author in America—and under your editorship, Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine was arguably the most influential sf magazine. In the new media era, do you think any one entity will ever again have the same singular impact on the field that either Asimov or Asimov’s [...]
Continue reading about Meet a Geek: Fantastic-Story Collector – Gardner Dozois
In which houses get floaty. 3 out of 5 http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/environment-nature/the-eighth-year/
In which a cool 20 grand is cleared. Each. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about Shadowrun 4th ed RPG Twists and Turns Part 3 – Dice Storm
Necks, guns and megacorps. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about Shadowrun 4th ed RPG Twists and Turns Part 2 – Dice Storm
In which there are enough PIs but not enough guns for sale. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about Shadowrun 4th ed RPG Twists and Turns Part 1 – Dice Storm
Vortex sucking, with no scathing. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about Carrion Crown Session 3 Part 3 – Dice Storm
To tavern or not to tavern? And what is the etiquette for hitlists and professors? 3 out of 5
Continue reading about Carrion Crown Session 3 Part 2 – Dice Storm
Additional Pathfinder D&D information for a cheesy said style witch class. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about Advanced Feats the Witch’s Brew – Siegfried Trent
Louis the XIVth courtly setting. Add an alien invasion of the ‘land in rocky thing from space and terrorise’ variety. Also suggests adding the supernatural. Which is all good and the title is a play on words of course. Not much spaceship in this..a bit beyond the capabilities of this tech level to deal with [...]
A straightforward superhero rpg with 3 levels of stats with 5 ability gradations designed to play ‘street level heroes’ which would actually appear to mean lower or reasonable power heroes. Includes some oddball multiplier mechanics but has the basics, powers, skills, advantages etc. and would also be a quick to learn introduction. 3 out of [...]
Continue reading about Basic Action Super Heroes! – Chris Rutkowsky
Extra storage survival. 3 out of 5 http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/science-fiction/sleeping-beauty/
Similar quality to the last couple, just ok, with Ted Chiang bonus here. Lightspeed 31 : Story of Your Life – Ted Chiang Lightspeed 31 : Cold Days – Jim Butcher Lightspeed 31 : The Perfect Match – Ken Liu Lightspeed 31 : Swanwatch – Yoon Ha Lee Lightspeed 31 : Dreams in Dust – [...]
Continue reading about Lightspeed Magazine 31 – John Joseph Adams
Werecoyote, nun? 3 out of 5 http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/family-teeth-part-6-st-polycarps-home-for-happy-wanderers/
Continue reading about Family Teeth 6 St. Polycarp’s Home For Happy Wanderers – Sarah Langan
d20 Highlander Immortals add-on module. 3 out of 5 http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?279123-New-Highlander-the-Immortals-%96-OGL#post5228192
“Right off the bat, this story breaks out of many of the conventions that space opera has typically used. You’ve built a rich, multicultural world—how did your background influence this? I can’t lay claim to a strong multi-cultural background myself. I was born in Mexico City and we would return periodically to visit relatives, but [...]
By far the weakest of the DC Heroes RPG incarnations, this is a d6 system based version. The production does have a comic style flavour though. More worth it if you like that system particularly I think. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about DC Universe Roleplaying Game – Fred Jandt and Nikola Vrtis
Working at getting enough water for lots of pee. 3 out of 5 http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/dreams-in-dust/
Illusory reality madness gnostic horror game. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about Kult – Gunilla Jonsson and Michael Petersen
Funny rpg where unsuspecting aliens come to Earth to hunt humans for sport. 3 out of 5
One for the meta fans. RPG based on a book by Niven, Pournelle and Barnes about people playing hi-tech immersive LARPs, generally crossgenre. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about Dream Park Roleplaying Game – Michael Pondsmith
A short universal game system with 3d6 style attributes and d100 skill rating checks, mostly only for fantasy etc. at the time. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about Basic Roleplaying – Greg Stafford and Lynn Willis
Similar to the last issue, but with an interesting Mignola interview and a Bad Santa bit. Nightmare Magazine 03 : Nightmare Magazine 03 – John Joseph Adams Nightmare Magazine 03 : The Nowhere Man – Sarah Pinborough Nightmare Magazine 03 : Chop Shop – J.B. Park Nightmare Magazine 03 : Summer – Tananarive Due Nightmare [...]
Continue reading about Nightmare Magazine 03 – John Joseph Adams
Confederate cavalry troop gets transported to the red planet module. 3 out of 5
Getting older and crazier, Somewhere. 3 out of 5 http://nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/the-nowhere-man/
Tracking down Dragon magazine stories for the kid. 3 out of 5
Getting into the early nineties the X-teams had split up, and the original members had founded their own duplicitous bunch, in X-Factor. This module is based around that concept, and starring those heroes, for fans of the good old-fashioned mutant team, and the new conspiracies they have to deal with. 3 out of 5 http://www.classicmarvel.com/download/download.php?file=TSR6899.MSL1.X-Terminate…
X-Men module, not as good as some of the others. 3 out of 5 http://classicmarvelforever.com/cms/assets/files/other_stuff/downloads/download.php?file=TSR6875.MX2.X-Potential.pdf
Mini-dungeons. We haz them. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about The Book of Ruins – Michael E. Mayeau
A D&D module from Judges Guild, from a Gen Con tournament dungeon I think. 3 out of 5
Continue reading about Of Skulls and Scrapfaggot Green – Bob Blake
An ok issue. Nightmare Magazine 02 : Construction Project – Desirina Boskovich Nightmare Magazine 02 : Graves – Joe Haldeman Nightmare Magazine 02 : The Ash of Memory the Dust of Desire – Poppy Z. Brite Nightmare Magazine 02 : At Lorn Hall – Ramsey Campbell Creature arrival escape. 3.5 out of 5 Creepy crawly [...]
Continue reading about Nightmare Magazine 02 – John Joseph Adams
“Can you tell me a little bit about the genesis of “The Ash of Memory, the Dust of Desire”? I wrote it for an anthology of “city horror,” so there was a lot of my fascination with cities and ruined industrial spaces in there, along with a great deal of dream imagery. I don’t usually [...]
“Vietnam gave me the central image for “Graves.” We were airlifted into an area that included a graveyard, which had been extensively shelled. Plenty of moldy old corpses. Very different from the fresh ones we normally dealt with.” 3 out of 5 http://nightmare-magazine.com/nonfiction/author-spotlight-joe-haldeman/
A Fantasy role playing game from those whacky guys that made Warhammer 40K. As a consequence, this is much grimmer, nastier and dirtier than some of the fantasy roleplaying games out there, so if that is not your thing, and you want a more lighthearted high fantasy type of approach, then do not get this [...]
Continue reading about Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying – Games Workshop
Unstable escape. 3 out of 5 http://kriswrites.com/2013/02/18/free-fiction-monday-hitchhiking-across-an-ancient-sea/
Continue reading about Hitchhiking Across an Ancient Sea – Kristine Kathryn Rusch
A range of quality here from poor to Barron’s very good. With some ok non-fiction bits and pieces. Nightmare Magazine 01 : Property Condemned – Jonathan Maberry Nightmare Magazine 01 : Frontier Death Song – Laird Barron Nightmare Magazine 01 : Good Fences – Genevieve Valentine Nightmare Magazine 01 : Afterlife – Sarah Langan Crow [...]
Continue reading about Nightmare Magazine 01 – John Joseph Adams
Limbo kids. 3 out of 5 http://nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/afterlife/