LibraryCon
In which we sold some books and chatted about the writing process at our local library. Plus a few more of my words were released to the world this week.
Last Saturday we spent a highly enjoyable day hanging out at our local library in Pflugerville Texas for their seventh LibraryCon. We have been lucky enough to be involved in each iteration of this event (save for last year thanks to a badly timed late bout of COVID - Grrr). It’s been great to see it grow and develop over the years into a community-driven celebration of all things pop culture, from comics to art, to crafts, gaming, and cosplay.
It has become a day out for families and individuals to enjoy and express themselves in a shared safe space, while at the same time sharing a love of many different aspects of pop culture.
Each year I’ve participated in a panel discussing different aspects of the writing process, and this year was a highlight as it represented a reunion of my old writers group with old friends Paul Benjamin, Dave Justus, and Lilah Sturges along with participation from fellow comics writers Bill Williams, and Janet Harvey.
As always the day flew by and it was great to meet and chat with a diverse and fascinating stream of people who stopped by the table. Every conversation was treasured, whether they bought a book or not. But, of course, a special vote of thanks to those who did in fact pick up a book or two.
Other Stuff
Thanks to the new subscribers who have joined since last week. There’s also been a notable increase in readership for the newsletter over the last few weeks. I really appreciate your interest and support. If you’re one of those folks who have recently joined us but haven’t subscribed yet, you can do so by clicking the button below to get each upcoming newsletter delivered straight to your email.
Word Slinging
It’s new book week with the launch of GALLOPING AROUND THE COSMOS - a fun collection of recollections of first encounters with STAR TREK from a fine collection of today’s grown-up kids.
My own small contribution looks back at what it was like to discover the final frontier in the colorful pages of British comics six months before the show actually aired on the BBC.
You can order your copy right HERE
Pages and Screens
Book Read in 2023 - “Essex Dogs” by Dan Jones.
When you find out that one of your favorite historians, noted for his engaging narrative style, has written a series of novels set in the Hundred Years War, you just have to pick up a copy.
As expected the resulting tale is rich in historical detail and period-accurate context - but unfortunately, it’s missing two vital elements that a novel needs, a plot, and characters.
When the titular Essex Dogs, a band of soldiers for hire, storm the beaches of France in the opening chapter I felt we were in for a good tale. Unfortunately, that was the only scene where they had any purpose or agency. After that, it was just a sequence of them passively following orders from one minor skirmish to another. They needed to be pulled out from the rank and file and given a “men on a mission” quest so we could get to know them as individuals.
This was definitely a case of unrealized potential. I doubt I’ll be picking up the rest of the trilogy.
Movies watched in 2023 - The Bandit of Sherwood Forest (1946).
One of the better entries in the Son of Robin Hood sub-genre, and a little different as it includes both Robin Sr. and Jr. in the action.
In this take it’s a few years after King John’s death and the evil Earl of Pembroke, regent of the boy king revoked the Magna Carta and sets out to place himself on the throne1. Such machinations are enough for Robin Sr. to get the band back together and his son to take the swashbuckling lead in a rescue mission.
It’s a lush technicolor adventure with lots of flying arrows, rushing around on horses, and sword fights. But let down by a hackneyed unconvincing romance sub-plot and a less than charismatic lead actor as Robin Jr.
Before They Were Beatles Updates
The Before They Were Beatles podcast - While we haven’t recorded or published any new episodes for a while now, I’m delighted to see that we continue to pick up new listeners and the podcast downloads are chugging along at a steady state.
Some unforeseen family events have slowed down the the research for our new upcoming series, The Forgotten Beatles - but it is on the way, it may just take a little longer than I originally anticipated.
The September issue of the Before They Were Beatles newsletter is now online with a focus on John Lennon’s boyhood, and lifelong, best friend, Pete Shotton - who will play a pivotal role in the evolving Beatles story.
You can sign up for a subscription below.
Weekly Web Round-Up
Forest Comics - This seems to have been a week for hot sales on John Gardner’s James Bond continuation novels, and Doctor Who novelizations. - Want to see what else we have in the store? You can check our current offerings HERE.
Bookshop.Org Store
This week I updated our online bookstore to include a few more items from my recent reading list. You can check them out HERE. And remember all sales through a Bookshop.org page help fund local independent bookstores.
Batman On The Cover - The journey through Batman’s comics publishing history continues this week as we move into June 1968 with reprint editions published in Australia and Brazil.
My choice from this week’s selection is from the Brazilian Invictus (Batman & Superman) series with a cover from an uncredited local artist where for some inexplicable reason Superman is being menaced by strange looking trident, not exactly a weapon that would cause much concern for The Man of Steel!
Where on the Web is Alan?
You can now find links to all the places you can find me online, websites, newsletters, social media, and more in a single LINKS page on my personal website.
As always, thanks for joining me this week. If you know someone else who might enjoy the contents of this week’s newsletter, or just my weekly ramblings in general - please feel free to share by clicking the button below.
See you next time
Alan J. Porter
This is the exact opposite of the historical regent, William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke who actually updated and reissued the Magna Carta, and was a strong protector of the boy king.