Azriel’s Infinite Bookshelf Double Feature, Sandman Universe: Lucifer and The Bonehunters

I’ll start off by talking about the epic sixth volume of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, The Bonehunters.

It took me 69 days to read, which is typical for me on this series.

When I say that this series is epic, I mean it, it has the feel of reading the annals of a long gone Empire.

The story picks up two months after events of the fourth volume, The House of Chains, The Malazan Fourteenth Army has come out of the field victorious, but a new menace is brewing in the Imperial Court and with a mysterious plague ravaging the seven cities, the Empire hangs on the balance and puts all off its fate on the new master of Deck of Dragons, Ganoes Paran, to bring balance back.

Mr. Erikson is a master of fantasy, the scope of the world is vast, I highly recommend this series, but a fair warning, this is a really tough read, the whole series is about 11,000 pages and more than 3,000,000 words, this over 10 books of the main series, if you are not that familiar with epic fantasy ,you should really start with a milder series, and work your way up.

For my second feature is the first volume of the Sandman’s Universe Lucifer, written by Dan Watters and beautifully illustrated by Argentinian artists Max and Sebastian Fiumara.

The morningstar is missing, from Hell that is, he embarks on a perilous quest to find the mother of his abandoned son Caliban, while mysterious forces brew against him, looking to imprison him.

Of all the titles of the Sandman’s universe relaunch this is my personal favorite, Mr. Watters captures beautifully the essence of the character created by Mr. Gaiman, and does it justice just as good as Mr. Carey did on the series of 2000.

Now off I go to look for my next adventure.

azr

(Y-12) Quarantined Days, Update 15

It has been a week since my last update, I promise to write more often, but it was a week to run errands and stockpile our pantry, and it was crazy busy.

So I’ll just jump right into it.

I have 4,101 pages to reach 40,000, and 29 days to do so, that’s 141 pages per day, I like those odds.

This past week I have read some amazing things.

I continued with Brian Wood’s Vertigo comics series Northlanders, and currently reading the fourth volume, The Plague Widow, and still have another 2 volumes left available on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Also, I finished another story arc of Batman written by the amazing Tom King, The Tyrant Wing,  What is Bane up to?

But the highlight of the week was the tenth volume of my favorite comic book, Hellboy,  which includes a story with the legendary art of Richard Corben, The Crooked Man, exploring some American folklore for the first time in the series.

Today I plan to read the seventh volume of the current run of Detective Comics, Batmen Eternal, written by James Tynion IV, which has become really quickly one of my favorite authors writing on the DC universe.

On the book front, I expect to finish soon with The Adversary, currently on page 436, an start with the next chapter of The Malazan Book of the Fallen, The Bonehunters.

Now concerning my numbers for this year.

I have a total of 35, 339 pages of 41,665 that was my proposed goal for the year, and with 103 days left, I am more that confident that I’ll hit that mark, and according to my projections, and if my current pace holds up, I will finish with around 49,719 pages,  more that 2,000 pages more than my best year.

I also made some progress with my date to reach 1,000,000 pages, right now my projected date is December 15 of 2045, which is 5,307 days more than my original plan, but it came down from 5,321 days that I calculated about ten days ago.

That would mean that I would be 64 years 6 months, and 10 days old when I reach my goal, it stills needs work but I have gained ground steadily over the last few months.

With that in mind, I am off to read, because I am not getting any younger.

azr.

 

(Y-12) Quarantined Days, Update 14

It has been a week since my last update, I am doing quite fine, but you know sometimes life gets in the way, fortunately, this is not the case with my reading.

I still have 5,125 pages to reach 40,000 pages, and 36 days to do so.

In the book front, I decided to scrap the idea to complete the 49 books in my reading list for the year, I prefer to focus on enjoying the book instead of reaching a goal.

Right now I am on page 256 of 507 of The Adversary, and loving the main character Farideh, the Tiefling Warlock.

On the comic book/graphic novel/manga front, I started the Vertigo comics series Northlanders, written by Brian Wood, and centering on life as a Viking near the year 1000 A.D.

I have finished the first volume, and still have 5 more volumes available in my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Also. I started reading the first volume of the classic manga Berserk in all its bloody glory, I don’t read that much Manga, but alongside The Lone Wolf this title is one that has been buzzing around my head for quite a while.

For now, I am off to read.

azr.

(Y-12) Quarantined days, Update 7

A bit of a slow day for my read.

My total was 134, and I still have 7,007 pages to reach 40,000.

I read only 5 pages from Midnight Tides, I’m so far behind it’s not even funny.

Also, I finished the fourth volume of Brian Wood’s Vertigo Comics series DMZ, this volume follows the trial of a massacre of peaceful protesters inside the DMZ, it is really sad that this subject matter is till a systematic issue all over the world, and apparently there is no signs of going away.

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For now, I am off to read.

azr.

(Y-12) Quarantined Days, Update 5

My reading is moving along quite nicely, yesterday’s total was 165 pages, and I am down to 7,286 to reach 40,000 pages, and about 54 days to do it.

That’s 134 pages per day, just to keep that in mind.

On my book front, the fifth volume of The Malazan Book of the Fallen, Midnight Tides, I read 28 pages and reached page 158 of 624, still have next Sunday as my deadline to finish it, time to put the pedal to the metal.

My goal for this year is to read the remaining books of the epic series, which has 10 volumes.

I finished the second volume of Brian Wood’s Vertigo comics series DMZ, and I plan to read the next three volumes that are available on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

For now, I am off to read.

azr.

(Y-12) Quarantined Days, Update 4

Yesterday was an amazing day.

I got to celebrate my birthday with my wife and kids, had a great piece of steak, and way too many glasses of red wine.

I didn’t read as much as I intended, but it was a really relaxing day.

On my journey thru Midnight Tides, the fifth book of The Malazan Book of the Fallen, I only read 10 pages, and I still have the intention of finishing it by next Sunday, so I see some intense reading sessions in my future.

Also, I started reading Brian Wood’s Vertigo Comics series DMZ, about a second civil war in the United States, situated in New York City, and following the footsteps of accidental journalist Matty.

I finished the first volume and working on the second one, there are five available to read for free in my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

 

For now, I am off to read.

azr.

 

(Y-12) Quarantined Days, Update 3

Another great day of reading, I had a total of 255 pages, which leaves 7,616 pages to reach 40,000.

I read 37 pages of Midnight Tides, hopefully, I can pick up the pace, and be finished with it by next weekend.

Also, I finished with the first volume of Coffin Hill, loved it, and fortunately, the next two volumes are available to read for free on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

And finally, I read the last 4 issues, 9 to 12, of the amazing series of Aliens: Defiance, written by Brian Wood, if you are a fan of movies you should definitely pick this series or for that matter any Aliens series from Dark Horse, I recommend Aliens: Dead Orbit.

I plan to jump into the next volumes of Coffin Hill, read over 60 pages of Midnight Tides, throw some steaks on the grill, chase those down with some red wine, and have a perfect birthday celebration with my beautiful family.

For now, I am off to read.

azr.

(Y-12) Quarantined Days, Update 2

Another great day of reading is under my belt.

Yesterday’s total was 158 pages.

This was with 30 pages of Midnight Tides, the fifth volume of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, I am taking it really slow, it is a complex world, full of details and characters, especially the magical system.

I read the next four issues, 5 to 8, of Brian Wood’s series Aliens: Defiance, which takes place between the movies Alien and Aliens, it’s always creepy to see the xenomorphs skulking around for new prey.

Also, I started reading the first volume of a very promising series written by Caitlin Kittredge for Vertigo Comics, Coffin Hill, which is also available to read for free with my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

I am shooting for a day above 250 pages, for now, I am off to read.

azr.

 

 

(Y-12) 30,000 pages and hungry for more

Yesterday was another great day of reading.

I finished Star Wars: Phasma, the origin story of the infamous chrome armored menace of the latest installments of the saga.

I found it really good, especially those little hints to Dune, and the writing by Delilah S. Dawson is top-notch, she keeps you glued to the book.

With these book under my belt, and a couple of graphic novels, I have reached another milestone on this year of reading, 30,000 pages.

This, coming 34 days before of what I originally projected .

Obviously this has given a tremendous confidence boost.

For my next books I will be going back to my favorite independent Mexican publishing house, Paraiso Perdido, with a couple of titles I have been meaning to read for a while.

On the graphic novel front, I’m going back home, that’s to my favorite comic book imprint, Vertigo Comics, responsible for Sandman, Preacher, Transmetropolitan, among many other classics.

To start off, or continue, I’ll finish Daytripper, created by the Brazilian dynamic duo of Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá.

Continuing with the first two volumes of Jason Aaroon’s Scalped.

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And to top it off, a manga of Death, Morpheus’ older sister, created by the incomparable Jill Thompson.

Some pretty cool things ahead of me.

40,000 pages, here I come.

For now, I am off to read.

azr.