Michael G. Munz

The official website of Seattle sci-fi/fantasy author and geek Michael G. Munz

Archives for November 2015

Book Review: The Wormwood Event

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The Wormwood Event cover

My rating: ★★★★★ (5 out of 5)

If I’m counting correctly, this is the fifth book I’ve read from JM Guillen, and I continue to be impressed. The Wormwood Event is an excellent, gripping work of short fiction that combines Lovecraftian horror with a modern sensibility and setting. Experience the end of the world through the eyes of college student Grace Juarez, a survivor of the horrifying event that left billions dead and turned billions more into savage, soulless monsters. I enjoyed the references to a couple of elements from his other books–note that these are not gratuitous mentions, but in-universe elements that fit perfectly for how they are used.

My one complaint is that I want more! This is only a brief novella–really more of a long short story–which I read in one sitting. I’m hopeful this tale will prove an introduction to another, to take place after it ends.

Michael Reads Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth – Ch 9

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See sells seashells by the...middle of Texas.

See sells seashells by the…middle of Texas.

Poop! Poop everywhere! Now if that doesn’t get your attention, I don’t know what will. (Seriously, I don’t. I’m really bad at marketing.) But hey, there will be poop, and more, in Chapter 9 of Michael Reads Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth, a.k.a…

I Scoop Poop

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Writing the Zeus Is Dead Sequel!

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Well, it’s official: I’ve now begun to write the sequel to Zeus Is Dead. Or perhaps “follow-up” would be a better term. When I first wrote Zeus Is Dead, it was meant as a single novel rather than a part of a larger series. There’s no “To be continued!” on the end of it. But I had so much fun writing it that I wanted to come back to that world.

Anyway, sequel, follow-up, another-damn-book, whatever you want to call it, it’s coming, and I’ve gotten the first few lines done:

Subject to change in editing, of course...

Subject to change in editing, of course…

I’m still doing my best to finish A Dragon at the Gate, however. The ZID sequel is where my brain goes when I still want to be creative but need a break from the bleaker cyberpunk world of The New Aeneid Cycle. Essentially, I’m procrastinating. But at least I can make procrastination work for me and for all of the fans of Zeus Is Dead.

Also lately I’ve been playing Fallout 4 to procrastinate, but that doesn’t help anyone but Bethesda.

Michael Reads Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth – Ch 8

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"Holy cows, Batman!"

“Holy cows, Batman!”

Well howdy, pardners! Y’all saddle up here and let’s go see us some rootin’-tootin’– Okay, you know what? I can’t pull that off. So instead of going all cowboy on y’all, I’m just going to say that it’s time for Chapter 8 in Michael Reads Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth…

We Visit the Demon Dude Ranch

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Character Interview: Michael Bishop of Aberrant Vectors

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Snazzy Interview Logo

But the technology cannot yet create a snazzier logo. Sorry.

So far, my high-tech quantum-tunneling doowhatsit continues to find fictional characters to interview without imploding the universe. This time around I actually caught the attention of someone out there who deals with people who risk damaging reality in dangerous and irrational ways.
But that’s not me. Right? Right.
His name is Michael Bishop, and he claims my knowledge of him and his organization will soon be wiped from my memory. I guess we’ll see about that. But in the meantime, I managed to get him to talk…

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Michael Reads Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth – Ch 7

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"Welcome to The Rock!" -Sean Connery

“Welcome to The Rock!” -Sean Connery

It’s a jailbreak! On Alcatraz! I’m going to try to resist making reference to one of my favorite action movies (the 1996 Nicholas Cage/Sean Connery action-fest known as The Rock) in this entry. (Though frankly, I won’t be trying very hard.) So let’s get continue Michael Reads Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth with the seventh chapter…

Tyson Leads a Jailbreak

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Cover Reveal: “War Witch” by Cain Latrani

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War Witch: Rise, a fantasy novel by guest geek Cain S. Latrani, is coming next month, and I’m pleased to be one of the first to debut the cover art and tell you a little more about it…

War Witch: Rise

Cover design by the always amazing Amalia Chitulescu…

In the war between Heaven and Hell, mortals are the weapons. Granted Divine Power, the Blessed are agents of the Gods, seeking out the Demon Seed and showing them no mercy in an endless war for the fate of creation.

For one such Blessed, Ramora, the mute warrior priestess of the God of War, to save the Middle World means hunting down the Dark Blessed who took everything from her. A fierce, strong, and clever Cleric, backed by a lost art of magic, she foolishly believes herself ready for the battles to come.

By her side, Chara, a young farm girl with an unusually agile mind, and a fate that may yet destroy her as she is groomed by Heaven itself to be a weapon like none other. Her illusions of herself, and the nature of the world, will be stripped away as she faces absolute evil with nothing but her desire to stand firm.

Together, they will challenge Hell, and the most fearsome foe the world has ever seen.

About the Author: Cain S. Latrani is the totally made up name of a middle aged dude who spends all his free time playing Dungeons & Dragons, watching anime, and herding cats. Sometimes, he makes things up and writes them down in an effort to be a serious adult, a role he has proven to be ill suited for. He’s much better at being a Fighter. They get swords. Nobody will give him a sword in real life, which makes real life kinda suck. Catch up with him on Facebook, Twitter, and his blog…