Recent Reads
banner
recentreads.bsky.social
Recent Reads
@recentreads.bsky.social
Not necessarily recently written. I read a lot of old books.
Also, I read a lot of comix.
A Dance at the Slaughterhouse
By Lawrence Block

A Matthew Scudder mystery, and I'll definitely be looking for more of them to read. Complex plotting, great characters, moral philosophizing, and a violent conclusion.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#matthewscudder
#lawrenceblock
#mystery
#crime
#thriller
#booksky
January 25, 2026 at 1:47 AM
The Wild Geese
By Daniel Carney

A British mercenary is hired to rescue a deposed African leader before he is executed, and sets about gathering equipment and hiring and training a troop of mercenaries for the attempt. Plans go awry.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
#mercenaries
#military
#thriller
#booksky
#action
January 25, 2026 at 1:42 AM
This Ends Tonight
Ws: Gerry Duggan, Kelvin Mao, Robert Window
A: Jae Lee

Lee's art, as always, is wonderful. The story is disjointed and confusing; maybe too many chefs in the kitchen? Dual storylines, poorly delineated characters, not at all memorable.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
#comicbook
#jaelee
#booksky
January 25, 2026 at 1:34 AM
We're Taking Everyone Down With Us
W: Matthew Rosenberg
A: Stefano Landini

SciFi thriller with a young girl being protected from a cabal of criminals by a robot built by her murdered father, as she seeks revenge. Groovy art, fun story.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#comicbook
#sciencefiction
#booksky
January 25, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Hayduke Lives!
Edward Abbey

The sequel to the infamous The Monkey Wrench Gang. A few sections were too overly verbose for me, but the antics of the old gang versus the dastardly Bishop Love make for a fun read. Plus Abbey's descriptions of the desert Southwest are beyond compare.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
#monkeywrench
January 18, 2026 at 5:07 PM
The Goon: Them That Don't Stay Dead
By Eric Powell

More delightful shenanigans from the macabre world of the Goon, in an outre city populated mostly by villains, criminals, zombies, and other unsavory creatures. Think Charles Addams on speed.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#comicbook
#thegoon
#ericpowell
#booksky
January 8, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Usagi Yojimbo: Ten Thousand Plums
By Stan Sakai

Usagi and his nephew deal with a supernatural situation, and then encounter an actual historical phenomenon in this latest gem from master storyteller artist Sakai. Guest appearance by Gen the bounty hunter.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#comicbook
#usagiyojimbo
#stansakai
January 5, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Rama Revealed
By Arthur C. Clarke & Gentry Lee

The final novel in the Rama series. Life with aliens and conflict with humans who have embraced fascism, aboard a giant alien spacecraft. Neatly concludes this multigenerational tale.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#sciencefiction
#arthurcclarke
#booksky
January 5, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Lady Mechanika, Vol. 5: La Belle Dame Sans Merci
By M.M. Chen & Joe Benitez
(Complete credits in photos.)

More adventures of the mysterious partly mechanical woman with no memory of how she came to be. (Cont.)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#comicbook
#steampunk
#booksky
January 2, 2026 at 8:04 PM
Redcoat, Vol. 2
By Geoff Johns & Bryan Hitch
(Complete credits in cover photo.)

Accidental immortal and soft-hearted rogue Simon Pure meets American legends, gets drunk a lot, and ... (Cont.)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#comicbook
#immortal
#timetravel
January 2, 2026 at 7:52 PM
I'm having a Didn't Get the Books You Wanted for Xmas Sale in my PangoBooks shop, 20% off orders of $50+!

pangobooks.com/bookstore/ag...
Agustin Goba's Bookstore | Pango Books
Browse books from Agustin Goba's bookstore on Pango Books. Native of Earth, still living here. Have spent much of my life buying books; now I'm selling some of them. All books securely shipped in ca...
pangobooks.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Frankenstein: New World, Vol. 2: The Sea of Forever
(See photos for creators.)

Humanity has mostly disappeared from a post-cataclysmic Earth, as the Monster quests with a young girl on a journey that has him discovering new species and old dangers. Mythological.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#frankenstein
#mikemignola
December 31, 2025 at 1:26 AM
The Savage Sword of Conan, Vol. 3
See photos for contents & creators.

The third collection of Titan Comics' new Howard-themed anthology, in a magazine-sized format with lovingly produced b&w and grey-toned art. Included are stories featuring non-Conan Howard characters.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#conan
#comicbook
December 31, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Geiger, Vol. 4
By Geoff Johns & Gary Frank

Adventures of a post-apocalyptic radioactive superhero. In this volume he meets a woman with the same powers/affliction, gets psychoanalyzed, and deals with nasty bad people. Mayhem ensues.

Great writing & art.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#comicbook
#postapocalypse
December 31, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Solomon Kane, Vol. 1: The Serpent Ring
Written, drawn, & colored by Patrick Zircher

Robert E. Howard's Puritan bad-ass is beautifully illustrated and written in a story that admirably captures the spirit of the character, and shows that Zircher carefully researched the time period.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#comics
December 31, 2025 at 12:49 AM
The Private Eye
W: Brian K. Vaughan
A: Marcos Martin

Science fiction graphic novel with an interesting premise: the USA bans the Internet. Total personal privacy is standard, which makes finding a murderer problematic. Well-written, art a bit loose for my taste, but does the job.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#comicbook
December 31, 2025 at 12:27 AM
The Judas Goat
Looking for Rachel Wallace
Early Autumn
By Robert B. Parker

Three Spenser novels, all excellent reads. If you enjoy some social consciousness with your crime noir, Spenser is your man.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#Spenser
#robertbparker
#crime
#mystery
#privateeye
December 29, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Spirits in the Wires
By Charles de Lint

Urban fantasy, magical beings, mythic characters, shadow lands and otherworlds, the Internet, and the catastrophic effects of a computer virus introduced into a website that has become part of the magical realms.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#urbanfantasy
#charlesdelint
#booksky
December 23, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Doc Savage, Vol. 4: Land of Always Night; Mad Mesa
By "Kenneth Robeson" (W. Ryerson Johnson and Lester Dent)

More derring-do from America's original superhero, this time in a mystery involving a hidden civilization, and a major crime plot masterminded by an evil lawyer.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#docsavage
#pulps
December 18, 2025 at 1:16 AM
The Saint Vs. Scotland Yard
By Leslie Charteris

A collection of three novelettes starring the ever debonair, bon vivant, thief with a heart of gold, man who always has a plan, Simon Templar. Originally published in 1932. (Cont.)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#thesaint
#simontemplar
#lesliecharteris
#booksky
#crimefiction
December 15, 2025 at 12:19 AM
50 in 50
By Harry Harrison

50 short stories from 50 years of writing. Mostly SF, a couple fantasy, maybe one dud, but several classics of the genre. Very enjoyable. A wide variety of subject matter within the genre.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#sciencefiction
#shortstories
#booksky
#harryharrison
December 10, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Criminal: Wrong Time, Wrong Place
W: Ed Brubaker
A: Sean Phillips

Another excellent addition to the crime stories featuring members of the Lawless family, this time focusing on a father/son relationship, a road trip, & a sword & sorcery comic.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#comicbook
#graphicnovel
#booksky
#crimefiction
December 10, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Doc Savage #5: The Golden Peril; Death in Silver
By Kenneth Robeson (Lester Dent)

Two complete Doc Savage novels in one book, presented in the original pulp layouts with the original interior illustrations. Dated, of course, but so much fun.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#docsavage
#pulps
#derringdo
#scifi
December 7, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Doc Savage #3: The Spook Legion; The Submarine Mystery
By Kenneth Robeson (Lester Dent)

Two Doc Savage novels in one book, reprinted in the original pulp layouts with the original illustrations. I devoured the pocket paperback reprints in the '70s.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#docsavage
#pulps
December 7, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I was listing this old book on Pango and I couldn't help but wonder why Sylvester Stallone is on the cover 😉
December 4, 2025 at 12:09 AM