As anyone who likes to read knows, Flash Fiction has taken the literary scene by storm over the last few years. Short, powerful stories that are usually only a couple pages or, in some cases, just a couple paragraphs, they distill fiction down to it’s simplest, most basic form and are full of power and emotion.

Stripped: A Collection of Anonymous Flash, edited by local Philadelphian Nicole Monaghan, takes that premise one step further and gives it a twist. The new anthology, which collects Flash Fiction from authors such as Meg Tuite, Michelle Reale and Robert Smartwood, removes the author’s bylines from the fiction so you will have no idea who wrote what stories in the anthology. It makes the book a unique reading experience and a fun guessing game to boot.

There is going to be a launch party for Stripped: A Collection of Anonymous Flash on Saturday, February 4th at Fergie’s Pub in Philadelphia. The fun starts at 2:00 PM and several of the contributors will be attending and doing some readings from the book. Maybe with enough drinks, you can find out which author wrote what story. Regardless, it should be a great time for all.

Fergie’s Pub
www.fergies.com

There’s a memorable scene in the “Tricks and Treats” episode of Freaks and Geeks in which an English teacher berates her young students for doing book reports on titles like the novelization of Star Wars and Al Jaffee’s Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions.

When I heard the name of the latter title announced, a knowing smile crept across my face — in fifth grade I too wrote a report about the book that was received pretty much the same way. I’m sure I’m not alone. You see, that paperback introduction to the wonderful world of sarcasm has been a schoolyard staple since it was first published in 1975 as a spin-off of Jaffee’s popular Mad feature.

While the aforementioned snarkfest remains my personal favorite of Jaffee’s works, there is no doubt that his greatest contribution to the magazine — and pop culture in general — is the Mad Fold-In. Since 1964 the interactive joke has been closing out each issue of Mad, and each and every one of these gags has been written and illustrated by Jaffee. As the decades have progressed the publication has withered into an edgeless shell of its former self, yet the Fold-Ins have remained sharp and hilarious.

At the age of 90, Jaffee’s wit and talent continues to inspire fans and contemporaries alike. So it is something of a profound honor to have him visiting the Gershman Y this week. Joined by biographer Mary-Lou Weisman (author of the insightful Al Jaffee’s Mad Life), the cartoonist/humorist will be on hand to discuss his work as well as his childhood in which his family fled from their home in Lithuania to the U.S. when Hitler ascended to power.

If you attend, expect to hold court with a true living legend. And if you decide to ask him a question, make it a good one or prepare to suffer the humiliating consequences…

Al Jaffee @ The Gershman Y
Tuesday, January 17th at 7pm. $8 to attend/$22 to attend & receive an autographed copy of Al Jaffee’s Mad Life.

The Gershman Y
401 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-446-3022
www.gershmany.org

Written by Philadelphia native Josh Hechinger and illustrated by mpMann, Archaia Entertainment’s graphic novel The Grave Doug Freshley uses its Old West setting to tell a fun story about life, death and the awesome lengths one man will go to keep a promise. In this tale, that man is Doug Freshley, a former teacher who devotes his time to looking after his friend Shane’s rambunctious son, Bat.

When the notorious Delancey gang arrives on Shane’s homestead, they ruthlessly butcher him and his wife. Having sworn to look after Bat no matter what, Doug’s task is complicated after he himself is murdered by one of the Delancey varmints. Unwilling to let his own death stand in the way of his obligations, Doug just keeps on going like an undead Energizer Bunny.

What follows is a smart and at times surprising touching story about friendship that follows Doug and Bat as they bond and dole out frontier justice to the Delanceys. (It’s not really spoiling anything to say that they do…and in grand style). But when Doug learns that the Grim Reaper is none-too-pleased with how he has cheated death the stage is set for a showdown between the two that is (naturally) held at high noon.

Over the course of the 168-page book, readers witness the Doug and Bat’s relationship evolve from teacher and pupil to makeshift father and son — with both of the characters learning from each other along the way. Hechinger peppers the story with darkly comedic moments that are complimented by mpMann’s whimsical illustration work. And although the main character here is technically a zombie himself, there’s no The Walking Dead-style gore or world-weariness to be found here. Instead, the book revels in the joy that comes from getting through another day in an era when death was as a constant part of everyday life.

After finishing reading The Grave Doug Freshley, I found myself wondering what would happen to the characters next. (Note to AMC: this comic has some serious television potential). The release mashes up elements of Deadwood and Mort the Dead Teenager to create a wholly original creation that easily ranks amongst the best works I’ve read in ages. Believe me pardners, you don’t want to miss this offbeat tale of friendship against impossible odds.

The Grave Doug Freshley hits stores via Archaia this week. Pre-order a copy on Amazon!

Contest Closed!

Ever since his first appearance in The Crystal Shard in 1988, Drizzt Do’Urden has been one of the most popular characters in the world of fantasy literature. With his twin scimitar blades, ebony black skin and white mane of hair, he captured the imagination of gamers everywhere and became more than just a character on a page. Along with the heroes of the Dragonlance trilogy, he put Dungeons & Dragons novels on the map and made most of them must reads for fans of the game as well as lovers of high adventure.

Now Drizzt makes his return in the second chapter of the Neverwinter trilogy, named, appropriately enough, Neverwinter. R.A. Salvatore picks up where book one, Gauntlgrym, left off and shows us a Drizzt entering a new phase of his life, which is part of what makes this such a great read.

Salvatore gives us a Drizzt at a crossroads in his life. The last of the Companions of the Hall has fallen and for the first time the Dark Elf is truly alone. It makes for a fascinating, intense read that takes a new and different look at one of the oldest characters in the world of Forgotten Realms fiction. It’s what made it stand apart from other books starring Drizzt that I have read; you really feel like you get inside his head and you are watching the birth of a new Drizzt that is beginning, as he calls it, “a new road”. (more…)

What would the Founding Fathers think of Facebook? You gotta admit, that is one intriguing question, especially as Philadelphians. I mean, we kinda love those guys.

What would they have thought about using technology to bring down governments, serve as a platform to get folks elected, draft new laws, etc? Would they have loved Facebook and Twitter, or loathed it?

Well, next week the National Constitution Center is going to try to help answer that question, thanks to a visit from “bestselling author Lori Andrew, New York Times reporter Jennifer Preston and Forbes blogger Kashmir Hill to discuss the erosion of privacy online.”

Lori will be talking about her book I Know Who You Are and I Saw What You Did: Social Networks and the Death of Privacy, and will be joined by Preston and Hill, on Thursday, January 12th at 6:30pm. Admission is only $7 for members of the NCC, $10 for non-members.

Founding Fathers & Social Media Talk @ the NCC
Thursday, January 12th, 6:30pm

National Constitution Center
525 Arch Street (19106)
(215) 409-6600
www.constitutioncenter.org

The Western has made something of a comeback in recent years. You saw the Coen Brothers’ remake of True Grit, and you walked around for a week afterward slurring, “I aim to kill ya in less’n a minute.” (Well, I did, and I slept on the couch that week.) Recent entries in the genre have taken an edgier approach than did their classic counterparts: Jonah Hex mixed in the supernatural, and Cowboys and Aliens, well…it had cowboys. And aliens. And Doniel Craig with a laser gun! You get the idea.

While Westerns have had recent success as the box office, they remain a marginalized genre in print. Local author Don Corcoran aims to change that with his forthcoming novel A Road Paved in Iron: A Voodoo Western. The story revolves around an African-American Union soldier’s search for his missing mother in the Louisiana bayou, and the mysteries he uncovers as he seeks her out. Corcoran describes his first book as a “Western fantasy,” inspired by his interest in comparative religion and especially in Haitian Vodoun. Think traditional spaghetti Western meets Stephen King’s The Dark Tower Series, another of Don’s inspirations.

In Don’s own words:

Not only do I want to see my writing in someone else’s eager hands, I also want to bring back a genre that gets so little attention in the print media today – the Western. I want people to be inspired by my books to go back to the classics of Elmore Leonard, Zane Gray and Louis L’Amore. There is something enduring and endearing about the characters and landscapes of these writers that I have always wanted to capture. Add a heap of speculation and wonder to those classic authors and you’ve hit upon the types of stories I want to share.

Voodoo Western? Consider me interested. Don explains that he’s reaching out to fans of all stripes: Science-fiction geeks; steampunk aficionados; historians; gamers. Visit the site to see how you might give Don a hand. There’s a multitude of ways to help out, an equal number of rewards, and some special surprises in store if Don reaches his first milestone of $3000 by December 22nd.

So what do you get for donating? A virtual hierarchy of swag, ranging from a PDF copy of the book (for backers who contribute a mere $5) up to membership in a secret society and a handmade Voodoo doll of one of the book’s characters ($250+). Consider it an opportunity not only to support a local author but also to invest in your future as Philly’s version of Marie Laveau. Be sure to reach out to Don before the project deadline, January 15th, 2012.

To learn more about the project, start at the Kickstarter page for the project to read about Corcoran’s project and learn about the many ways you might support it. Be sure to check out the special ways you might celebrate a very Voodoo Christmas by helping Corcoran reach $3000 in funding by December 22nd.

You can also visit Don on his Blogspot and Facebook pages.

Over the course of the past couple of years, so-called “Vault” books have showcased the histories of everything from Star Wars to Marvel Comics. What makes these massive coffee table tomes unique is that they include removable material that is the closest thing the publishing world can get to DVD and Blu-ray special features. (Usually these items include reproductions of vintage collectibles, movie posters, crew paraphernalia and other drool-worthy goodies). This holiday season sees the release of two new of these types of releases, and if you are a fan of either the Alien franchise or your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man they are utterly invaluable.

First up, Ian Nathan’s Alien Vault accurately bills itself as “the definitive story of the making of the film,” and for anyone who has ever experienced the terror of Ridely Scott’s masterpiece (that’s right, I’m saying it’s better than Blade Runner), it is a perfect organism full of new insights. As someone who has poured over plenty of books about the flick over the years, I was thrilled to find that opening this vault introduced me to tons of unfamiliar stories about Alien’s production.

Spanning from the movie’s initial conceptualization to its release, it chronicles the inside story behind the sci-fi epic through interviews with the film’s key players. (The sequels and spin-off novels are giving a passing mention mainly to contextualize the saga as a whole…so hopefully we will get an Aliens Vault book someday). Arguably the most fascinating thing about the book is its Chip Kidd-esque design that highlighted by rare and previously unseen photographs — including unused poster prototypes and a terrific picture of the man inside the creature costume, Bolaji Badejo. As for the enclosed items, they feature everything from a replica H.R.

Giger painting of the Space Jockey to a sticker of the Nostromo crew patch design and a mini Japanese Alien movie poster that is just begging for you to frame it. To badly paraphrase the film’s tagline, in your home everyone can hear you scream with delight at how great the Alien Vault is. Okay, that was a really inexcusable joke to make. Seriously though, check it out.

When writing The Spider-Man Vault (published by Philly’s Running Press imprint) authors Peter A. David and Robert Greenberger had their work cut out for them. You see, much of Spidey’s history has already been covered in exhaustive detail in works like Stan Lee’s Amazing Marvel Universe, Lee Daniels’ Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World’s Greatest Comics and the similar The Marvel Vault. Naturally there was bound to be some overlap between this and in those books, but thanks to David and Greenberger’s breezy writing at no point does the material here feel repetitive.

Because the wallcrawler’s complex history is condensed into 190 pages, this book is more of a fun pop culture overview than anything else. The only real sticking point I had with this is that it didn’t spend enough time on Spidey’s TV and film excursions — especially the trippy 1960s cartoon and the insane Japanese live-action TV show from the late 1970s. This small nitpick aside, The Spider-Man Vault more than lives up to its promise of being a “museum in a book” thanks to removable ephemera like reproduction art and trading cards.

On a personal note, I feel obligated to mention that this book actually elicited a squeal of delight from me by including a picture of the ultra-rare “Spider-Man: Old and New” poster that I haven’t seen since I took it off the wall of my childhood bedroom in 1988. That nostalgic trip back in time single-handedly won me over. The fact that the rest of the book is equally great was just a bonus really. Thwip!

Alien Vault by Ian Nathan
$35. Voyageur Press

The Spider-Man Vault by Peter A. David and Robert Greenberger
$49.99. Running Press

Although he still hasn’t quite recaptured his 1970s popularity, Bigfoot has experienced a bit of a comeback in recent years thanks to everything from beef jerky ads to low-budget Lance Henriksen films. Perhaps no other medium has welcomed him back with open, not nearly as hairy arms more than comics. The past decade has seen the nutritiously elusive beast grace works written by the likes of Steve Niles, Pascal Girard and Graham Roumieu. Sadly, this Sasquatch renaissance has yet to impact the City of Brotherly Love in any tangible way. But that’s all about to change thanks to Chris McDonnell.

A co-founder of the Meathaus comics collective, member of the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society and instructor at the University of the Arts, McDonnell has just released Sasquatch’s Big Hairy Drawing Book. Billing itself as “120 pages of dynamic drawing diversions,” the book offers up plenty of terrific doodling opportunities. McDonnell’s imagery is best decribed as a mutated combination of Al Jaffee and Basil Wolverton whimsy with plenty of Yo Gabba Gabba!-style joy thrown in. (Which isn’t surprising given that he has contributed animation to the trippy show). Through drawing monsters and completing half-formed comics and jokes, the book allows readers to free their inner cartoonist — resulting in a joyous experience for kids of all ages.

I recently had the opportunity to ask McDonnell about the release. (more…)

The last couple of months have been busy for our friends at Titan Books as they continue to produce some amazing works focusing on artists who should be household names for fans of film and art, as well as branching out with new novels featuring classic characters of literature.

This time around they have re-released an updated collection of the personal artwork of Drew Struzan, as well as a collection of works of popular science fiction artist Chris Foss. Finally, they have also released a new Sherlock Holmes novel, The Breath Of God.

(more…)

Halloween may be over, but the zombie zeitgeist shambles on. Games, TV shows, comics… they’re still just about everywhere. I’ll say this, they’re a versatile bunch of baddies. One thing I think we too often overlook is what we can learn from the impending z-pocalypse, and what the shambling horde can teach us in general.

You know, things like teamwork. Wilderness survival skills. Disaster preparedness. And, um… love of books? Well,  if Chris Conduit has his way, at least. Chris is hoping to create a series that appeals to younger kids, still has a bit of the campy  creepiness we all love, and at the same time instills a real love of  good, old fashioned paper bound books. An explanation of the plot of the first story from Chris himself:

As Zombies Ate My Homework: A Jasper Trout Adventure opens, we are immediately introduced to Jasper:  an 8 year old boy who lives a seemingly normal life in small town America. Jasper enjoys watching scary movies, reading comic books, and using his considerable imagination. He however, does not particularly enjoy school; mostly due to his rocky relationship with his homeroom teacher:  Ms. Pottyworth. She is a woman who seems to spend all her time directing her anger at her students, particularly Jasper.

From the moment Jasper wakes up on this October morning, things just aren’t right. Not only does he find that his parents are missing, but there is a less than welcomed guest in his kitchen: a hideously hungry ghoul rummaging through his backpack. Our hero runs out of his house and makes his way frantically to Beedlebop Elementary, not knowing the type of day that lies ahead of him.

As the zombie invasion envelopes Jasper’s school, his classmates, and the town of Beedlebop; everyone’s courage is tested. However, it is young Jasper who truly rises to the challenge and rallies the rest of the children in an attempt to stop the attack. Finding strength and confidence he never knew existed within himself, and friends in unlikely places, Jasper uses his creativity and cunning to outwit and outsmart the monsters and restore peace to his town.

Blending together action, adventure, the power of teamwork, age appropriate humor, and eye-popping illustrations: “The Jasper Trout Adventures” is intended to be a source of enjoyment for all those who read it.

The art style for the books is really great, and Chris’ passion for the story really shines through. The project is well on its way to being funded, but why not support a local author, and zombie education (and love of literacy) for young geeks everywhere.

The Project: Zombies Ate My Homework, A Jasper Trout Adventure

Creator: The Conduit

The Sweet Spot: $20 will get a signed copy of the self-published book, as well as a Jasper print. There are a handful of high-end rewards ($100) still available as well, which gets you 2 signed books, a Special Thanks in the book, 1 of 10 hand drawn, 5×7 Jasper sketches from artist Brandon Wilt, and a character named after you or your child In the next book: The Beast of Beedlebop Bay.

Funding Deadline: December 2nd, 2011

More Info: Check out the main Kickstarter page for more details on the story, or the The Conduit’s main website.

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Every Monday Geekadelphia features a Kickstarter created by locals. Check ‘em out and support our local geek scene. If you have a project that you’d like featured on site, contact geekadelphia@gmail.com

Come on. You know you’ve Googled “Murder” before. And the authors of A Miscellany of Murder definitely have Googled “murder” a few times, and they put together an interesting collection in this book. If you’re the least bit curious about the worst crime a person can commit, this book is for you.

A Miscellany of Murder is a collection of history, literature, true crime, television, and trivia related to the topic of murder. The Monday Murder Club complied this disturbing anthology by meeting every Monday night in Boston.

Originally designed as a writing club for mystery writers, The Monday Murder Club took their research and made this book possible. (more…)

Update: He’ll be at the Free Library on Saturday, not Friday. – Edt

Like him or not, Chuck Palahniuk, has written some of the most intriguing stories ever put to paper. Most of you would remember his most famous novel turned movie Fight Club, but Palahniuk has published 14 books that range from his non-fiction accounts of oddities that he’s has found across the country to a legendary time-traveler who’s most famous contribution to society is the rampant spread of rabies.

His newest book, Damned, is about a thirteen-year-old daughter of a billionaire couple who dies of a marijuana overdose at a Swiss boarding school. After being dropped in hell, she meets up with a rag-tag group of kids as they wander off to have some words with the Dark Lord himself. Damned looks to be like The Breakfast Club as written by Dante Alighieri.

Chuck Palahniuk is on his way to The Free Library of Philadelphia on Oct 29TH to give you a little taste of his version of Hell and sign a few books. VIP signing starts at 12:30pm. You’ll want to get there early because the first 100 people in line will get a VIP ticket to meet Chuck at the signing. Later on at 2:00pm Chuck will read from his novel and answer some questions.

He’s famous for going way past the line when it comes to researching his novels. He’s made his way through underground fight clubs and has been to numerous sex addict meetings. For this book however, it might be interesting to ask him just how he researched Hell. Maybe he took some notes from John Constantine and had a staring contest with a cat. They’re half in, half out you know.