Manga Review: Case Closed Volume 33

Manga Review: Case Closed Volume 33 by Gosho Aoyama Quick recap: Teen genius detective Shinichi Kudo (Jimmy Kudo in the American version) witnesses a murder by mysterious men in black. They try to kill him with an experimental poison, but it instead shrinks Shinichi to look like a small child. To conceal the fact that… Continue reading Manga Review: Case Closed Volume 33

Manga Review: Rin-ne Volumes 7,8 & 9

Manga Review: Rin-ne Volumes 7, 8 & 9 by Rumiko Takahashi Quick recap: Rinne Rokudo is a shinigami, a psychopomp who helps ghosts and wandering spirits move on to the next life. Because he’s part human, Rinne’s powers are relatively weak and he must use gadgets, often expensive, to bolster his attempts. Moreover, due to… Continue reading Manga Review: Rin-ne Volumes 7,8 & 9

Open Thread: Minicon 54

Designed by Melissa Howela

Open Thread: Minicon 54 My involvement with Minicon started early this annum, as I was approached by one of the co-chairs about becoming head of Programming. Citing my entire lack of managerial experience and continued inability to organize, I declined. But I did agree to help the Programming department out. I pitched a bunch of… Continue reading Open Thread: Minicon 54

Book Review: Your Crystal Ball Is Whacked

Book Review: Your Crystal Ball Is Whacked by Nancy Stevens Sometimes, the crystal ball goes dark and you cannot see a future. Whether it’s due to horrible circumstances in your life, a bout of physical illness upsetting your mind, or mental illness, your ability to see beyond the present and its troubles is broken. Nevertheless,… Continue reading Book Review: Your Crystal Ball Is Whacked

Manga Review: Bungo Stray Dogs 01

Manga Review: Bungo Stray Dogs 01 Story by Kafka Asagiri, Art by Sango Harukawa Atsushi Nakajima has had a rough life growing up in an abusive orphanage. When the orphanage was attacked by a tiger that wrecked the place, the people who ran the home decided that Atsushi was somehow responsible and kicked him out.… Continue reading Manga Review: Bungo Stray Dogs 01

Book Review: The Vessel of Ra

Book Review: The Vessel of Ra by Catherine Schaff-Stump It is October 1837, and the acqua alta, the fall flooding, has come to Venice. Lucy Klareon has also come to Venice, as part of her Grand Tour, but she doesn’t plan to leave in the usual way. For on her sixteenth birthday, October 31st, All Hallows Eve, Lucy must do battle… Continue reading Book Review: The Vessel of Ra

Book Review: Tempests and Slaughter

Book Review: Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce Arram Draper is a magical prodigy, but he’s still only ten years old (even if he tells his classmates he’s eleven.) So he’s really excited to be allowed to go to the circus with his father and grandfather while they’re in town. And yes, the elephants are really cool, especially when one saves him… Continue reading Book Review: Tempests and Slaughter

Comic Book Review: Last Pick

Comic Book Review: Last Pick by Jason Walz Three years ago, aliens invaded. They easily crushed Earth’s militaries, and rounded up all the humans between 16 and 65 who were not deemed “unfit” for their purposes. Why beings with such advanced technology needed physical slave labor was not a topic the invaders chose to discuss. The remaining children, senior… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Last Pick

Comic Book Review: Over the Wall

Comic Book Review: Over the Wall  by Peter Wartman The girl shouldn’t be here.  Only boys come to the walled city, and only for their coming of age ceremony.  The city has nothing in it but demons who eat names, and bones. But the girl’s brother did not return from the ceremony.  Perhaps he got… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Over the Wall

Book Review: Rain of the Ghosts

Book Review: Rain of the Ghosts by Greg Weisman Rain Cacique may have just hit puberty, but her future is already locked into place.  Rain is going to stay here in the Ghost Keys near Florida, the Prospero Keys to outsiders, and serve the tourist industry in some way.  Just like her parents and grandparents… Continue reading Book Review: Rain of the Ghosts