Repairman Jack

There's a lot of Jacks going around. Always have been. Jack Skellington, Jack Bauer, Jack Sparrow, Jack Sparks. Here's a new one—or more correctly, an older one: Repairman Jack (created by F. Paul Wilson). My editor recommended the Repairman Jack books around the time when I was working on my Eberron submission, but it wasn't until after I started working on my own book that I got around to reading one of them.

And I'm hooked. So I'm highly recommending these books to anyone. This isn't science-fiction and it sure isn't fantasy, but it does straddle the line between mystery and horror. They're fast paced, well-written, and tell some great stories that center around one man. Those of you who watch "24," think of Jack Bauer, only off the books, no credit cards, no social security number, doesn't work for the government at all, and replace all the high-tech CTU technology with one man's innovation and his career of "fixing" things. Prior to finding these books, I really couldn't imagine a non-fantasy book to be so engaging. But I was delightfully wrong.

If even one reader someday draws some comparison between my Eberron protagonist and Repairman Jack, I'll be honored. I'll admit the influence is there, even though I never intended it. My character has a very different background, but the end result isn't so far off from Just Jack.

If you have any interest in this at all, start with the first book that kicks off the series: The Tomb (which has nothing to do with a tomb, thanks to the original publisher's misguided marketing).

El Laberinto del Fauno

Pan's Labyrinth is a movie I recommend to anyone who can stomach a bit of severe and shocking violence—though nothing on par with Apocolypto or other gory films—and doesn't mind reading subtitles.

It's a beautiful movie and a very intruging fairy tale. My only issue with it is that the English title is rather misleading. There's a big difference between a faun (woodland creature/spirit with goat horns and legs) and Pan himself (a faun-like god in Greek myths). In this story, we are introduced to a faun, not the lascivious deity.

Beyond that, this movie is visually and thematically amazing. Please go see it to keep encouraging directors to make movies like this. But don't bring your kids, of course. There's some scary stuff in this movie.

Fighting Off Death For 30 Years

In Dungeons & Dragons, there's a spell called deathwatch that assesses the condition of people around you and determines their status in relation to death. The only categories are: dead, fragile (alive and wounded), fighting off death (more alive but still possibly wounded), undead, or neither alive nor dead (such as a construct). I love that. Even at a person's healthiest, they are still just "fighting off death." Its a tad nihilistic, perhaps, but I find it charming.

Seems like only yesterday
We would sit and talk of dreams all night
Dreams of youth
And simple truths
Now wer're all so involved
So involved with life

I jumped forward through time today, and I'm pensive about it. I just turned 30, you see. I'm pretty quiet about birthdays (mine and most others), but try as I may to downplay the significance of humanity's counting system and the coincidental landmarks of time, I'm still retrospective on this occassion. Well, why not?

"Take that, decades!" Josh said.

"In your face, multiples of ten!" I added.

But I do feel okay about it. I'm content where I'm at and what I've done by this stage of my life.

But even when I am grey

I'll still be grey my way

Yeah

Never Winter

Well, we had a lovely spring weekend here in New York, over 72º, with some moderate showers. Which would have been fine, except that it's freakin' winter. And moreover, it's January. We should be buried in snow right about now. I'm one of the few New Yorkers who seems to enjoy the seasonal variations that Earth's axial tilt affords us. Also, everyone around me seems to want to be in Florida-like climate. This just goes to show how insidious Summer is. I'm onto you, Summer, and all your warm-weathered cultists!

In other news, I finally got my new computer. I love it, and the game of Neverwinter Nights 2 that I was given for Christmas from a friend. I rarely play computer/video games, but when I do, I become an addict.

Two Thousand Seven

2006 is dead, may it rest in peace. 2007, be gentle. Although 2006 brought many good things, it also brought things I'm happy to leave behind. I wish good health and restless kineticism upon you all!

The new Ashlock.org has come, though it must begun under construction and will currently only redirect you back here for the time being. But look for developments to come. Thanks to Josh Wentz for its new look.

Here's a toast: to a prosperous year!
To the new chandelier!