Short book Review: Captain Harlock, Classic Collection, Volume 3

Reiji Matsumoto (author and artist), Zack Davisson (translator), Captain Harlock, Classic Collection Volume 3. New York: Seven Seas, 2019. ISBN: 9781626929524.

Genre: science fiction, space opera

Subgenre: manga

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library

 

The story continues as Harlock, Tadashi, and the crew of the Arcadia go deeper in discovering the Mazon's  nature and connection to Earth. The story does have some moving moments, such as the First Mate's confrontation with a couple of Mazon. 

The art is in black and white. The story has a good pace, and it draws you in. If you've ever watched the animated series, reading this feels very much like watching an anime. This is a series I enjoyed. If you are new to the series, you will enjoy a classic immersive story. If you are familiar with the series, it will be fun rediscovering Captain Harlock and his crew. The volume includes a bonus story about Queen Emeralda and airships. The bonus story can stand on its own. 

Overall, I really liked the volume for a good and well paced story. 

4 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: Honour Imperialis

Various authors, Honour Imperialis: an Astra Militarum Omnibus. Nottingham, UK: Black Library, 2014. ISBN: 9781849706674. 

Genre: science fiction, dystopian

Subgenre: military science fiction

Series: Astra Militarum, Warhammer 40,000

Format: e-book

Source: I own this one

 

This is a Warhammer 40,000 omnibus edition that features stories focused on the Astra Militarum, also known as the Imperial Guard.  The Guard are the foot soldiers of the Imperium of Man, the regular soldiers from the various places in the vast Imperium. This volume features three novels: 

• Cadian Blood by Aaron Dembski-Bowden. 
• Redemption Corps by Rob Sanders. 
• Dead Men Walking by Steve Lyons.

The volume also includes four short stories: 

• "Regicide" by Aaron Dembski-Bowden.
• "Down Among the Dean Men" by Steve Lyons.
• "Hunters" by Braden Campbell. 
• "The Mouth of Chaos" by Chris Dows. 

As in any collection or anthology, especially one featuring various authors, story quality can vary quite a bit. This volume has its ups and downs. Let's look at the contents. 

For me, Cadian Blood may be the best novel in the set. The world of Kathur has a serious Chaos infestation, and it is up to the Cadian 88th Armored Regiment and other imperial units to take the planet back. Nothing is simple here. After the setbacks, the 88th is assigned a commissar they do not want and then get seconded to an inquisitor. Meanwhile, the Chaos forces get reinforced. We get action and a good amount of intrigues and plotting. The story has a good pace, and it keeps readers interested. The author delivers a strong story here. 

On a side note, previous Dembski-Bowden works I have read so far are Helsreach and The First Heretic (part of the Horus Heresy series); links go to my reviews of the books. 

The second novel is Redemption Corps. Here, Major Mortensen leads the elite storm troopers of the Redemption Corps, who are described in the novel as: 

"The Redemption Corps were a mixed group-- from schola students to veterans: the best that bring born on a dozen different worlds could offer. Each brought their own natural talents to Mortensen's small, elite storm-trooper company, honed to zealous perfection in the sector's various schola progenium institutions and drawn together to damn the enemies of the Imperium" (220). 

Like many elite units that operate with high autonomy and risk, they are unconventional and don't always work by the book. As a result, Mortensen and his troops have admirers, and a lot of enemies, and that does not include the orks they are assigned to fight. To make things worse, Mortensen and his troops are outright assholes, which does not endear them to their allies and superiors. In fact, a battle sisters superior really hates him and makes things even more difficult for the company. 

An issue with this novel is that pretty much every character is a seriously unlikable asshole. Yes, I get this is 40K, a setting full of assholes, but this novel has no one with any redeeming qualities. The result is the reader spends a lot of time annoyed at the characters that you hope die sooner rather than later. Also at times the novel's pace slows down, making the novel feel longer. Mortensen gets away with stuff because he gets results, but still certain higher ups want his head. That he is an outright dick does not help his cause. As for his men, they may be seen as elite, but they are more psychos and feel more like dregs drafted to do their worse, which they do to both friend and foe. In other guard novels sure the guardsmen may be flawed, but you can find some reason to be sympathetic to somebody. Not here. To be honest if they all get killer it may be an improvement. Add to it that their superiors are no better. The plot at times seemed to just get more complicated for the sake of complication rather than making a good story. 

 

The third novel, Dead Men Walking, is not an improvement.  Though it may appear to be a novel about the Death Korps of Krieg, it focuses a good amount on local characters, including the spoiled niece of the planetary governor who we can't wait to see killed during a Necron invasion. The other key character is a mining administrator, who the upper class niece, sort of toys with and teases. At least he eventually does some growing and maturing, but she is pretty much worthless. The Death Korps are the ones we really want to see, and we don't get enough of them. The novel has one or two side plots too many that could've been removed, and the novel would be improved. By the way, the novel includes a sample of the "old veteran only days from retirement getting killed" trope. Still, Commissar Costellin's death is a rare moving moment in the novel. 

As for the short stories, "Hunter" may be the best in the lot. This is a tale of Catachan Jungle Fighters facing great odds against a Tau invasion and the value of reading essential information others may overlook. "The Mouth of Chaos" featuring the Elysian Drop Troops was pretty good too. 

Note that the novels were published previously as individual books. It may be difficult to find them in print given Black Library's propensity to let print books go out of print quickly and the awfully expensive used book market that follows (that is another rant for another day), but you may be able to find them as e-books from the publisher or you may be able to find them at your local library (or via Interlibrary Loan through your local library). Out of the three novels, Cadian Blood is the one I recommend. The short stories were previously published in issues of Black Library magazines. 

What I like overall about the omnibus is the variety. It strives to give a sampler of different Imperial Guard units. Fans of the units featured may find something to like here. For me, I did appreciate the variety, even if most of the stories fell short. The  good ones made the overall reading experience worth it. Yet in the end, as a package, the volume is just OK. One or two works were good; the rest were average or below average. 

For libraries, if you already collect 40K books, and you have readers who are Imperial Guard fans, you may want to add this, For less comprehensive 40K collections, I would consider this optional. This is a volume to borrow if possible, or find it cheap if you must buy it. This one feels like not the best in the Imperial Guard series. Still, I will keep looking for other Imperial Guard tales to see if they get better. 

2 out of 5 stars. 

This book qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge: 

 

Deck Review: Wildwood Tarot

Mark Ryan, Will Worthington, and John Matthews, The Wildwood Tarot: Wherein wisdom resides. New York: Sterling Ethos, 2011. ISBN: 9781402781063. 

Genre: Tarot deck

Subgenre: Celtic, shamanism, pagan

Format: Kit with 78-card deck and companion book

Source: I own this one. 

 

I first used this deck in March 2025. The deck kit includes a companion book and the 78-card deck. The deck has pre-Celtic mythology and shamanic mysteries theme. Will Worthington does the art; he also did the art for the Druidcraft Tarot (link to my review). Part of the reason I chose this deck is the art, which is very good. 

The book is substantial and offers some depth. It is arranged as follows: 

• "Return to the Green." This is Mark Ryan's Preface. Ryan explains how this deck came about and is a successor of the now rare and out of print Greenwood Tarot deck. I've heard of the Greenwood Tarot deck like you hear about some rare antiquarian tome that you are not sure is real or not. Anyhow, can't comment on the previous deck or how it may compare to this one. 
• "The Wildwood Song." This is John Matthews's Preface. He also recalls the Greenwood Tarot. He also writes a bit about his connection to forests and woods. 
• Part One: Into the Green. Mark Ryan writes his introduction. This section looks at the concept and composition of the deck. It goes over how to meditate with the cards. It also explains how the Wheel of the Year underlies the deck's system.
• Part Two: The Path Through the Forest-- The Cards and Their Meanings. This includes the card meanings for the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana by suits: arrows (swords), bows (wands), vessels (cups), and stones (pentacles). The Major Arcana card entries include: Card name, black and white card image, card's position on the Wheel, card description, meaning, reading points, and a small list of Roots and Branches (keywords). Minor Arcana entries include: Card name, a card keyword, black and white card image, card description, card meaning, and reading points. 
• Part Three: Finding your Way-- Working with the Deck. This section includes some tips for using and laying the cards. It also includes 3 spreads to use with the deck: the 3-card Pathway Spread, the 7-card Bow Spread, and the 8-card World Tree Spread. 

 

The Hooded Man-9

I know card readers often skip reading companion books, but I strongly suggest reading the book before using this deck. The book is informative. The deck is partially within Rider Waite Smith (RWS) tradition, but it has some significant differences in meanings and images, so reading the book, in my humble opinion, is essential. The book is also interesting to read overall. Once you read it, I would keep it handy as I work with the deck. 

Worthington's art is excellent. It evokes nature and the pre-Celtic culture well. The images are colorful, bright, and expressive. Some intuitives might be able to read the deck intuitively, but most of us may want to study the book and images before working with the deck. Having said that, I found the deck responsive for readings. I found I was able to use it and get messages and advice well. I did consult the book here or there, but as you master the cards, you can keep the book on stand-by. 

The cards measure about 4 3/4 inches by 3 inches. The deck is fully illustrated, and each card is truly a work of art. Each card has a white border. Each card is labeled. The card back is dark green with a reversible Celtic tree design. The border is not an issue for me, but I can see certain Tarotistas wanting to trim it. I am fine with the cards as they are. The cards have a very soft gloss finish, and they shuffle with ease. 

Overall I love this deck, and I can appreciate why many folks see it as a classic. If you want a nature-themed deck, this is a good option. If you want a Celtic-themed deck, this is a good option. It is a deck that you need to study, but it is well worth the effort. This is a deck I would use again, and I am glad to have it in my collection. I'd buy a back up copy. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

This kit qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge: 

 

Deck Review: Dark Magick Oracle

Fiona Horne and Jes Abella, Dark Magick Oracle: Reveal the light within. Summer Hill, NSW Australia: Rockpool Publishing, 2023. ISBN: 9781922579386.

Genre: oracle decks

Subgenre: shadow work, dark

Format: Hard box with guidebook and card deck

Source: I own this one.

I first used this deck in March 2025. The deck kit includes a guidebook and the 36-card deck. This is a deck that "addresses the darker aspects of our lives: the difficult emotions, the less-popular choices" (from the back cover description). 

I picked this one up at Half Price Books; they've been stocking Rockpool Publishing decks recently, often at very affordable prices. 

The small softcover companion book is 156 pages. It is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction. The author introduces the deck's concept. The author states this is a shadow deck and a deck for inner child work. (Naturally, you can use it however you wish.)
• How to use this deck. Here we find advice on using the deck and suggested spreads. 
• The Cards. These are the card entries. Each entry includes card name, number, keyword, message. You get interpretation (a short essay), shadow work (instructions to do the shadow work with the card), and some suggestions for daily practice. Each entry is about 4 pages in length, and it also includes a small color image of the card. 

The book is relatively easy to read. Some of the ideas and activities suggested for shadow work and daily practices can be a bit complex; they may require materials for spell work, so on. Depending on what items you may already have or not, there may be additional costs involved. For me, the card messages and interpretations were the most useful part of the book. 

The art for me is great with some surrealist elements. The art is colorful, and it does lean strongly into darkness. Each card is a work of art that works well for daily draws and meditation. These are cards you can spend time just looking at them. I feel they can work well for intuitive readers. Can you read and use the cards without the book? I usually suggest reading the book, but intuitive readers can possibly skip the book if they so desire. Overall, I find the art beautiful, dark, and interesting. 

The cards measure about 5 inches by 3 1/2 inches. The card edges are gilded, which is a nice touch. The card art is borderless. The cards have a soft gloss finish; they shuffle with ease. The card back art features a pentacle. It is not reversible. 

Overall, I really like the deck. For me, so far works best for single draws, meditation, and small spreads. If you want a dark oracle deck, this may work for you. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

This kit qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge: 

Media notes: Roundup for April 2025

 

  

 

Welcome to my somewhat random selection of the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during April 2025.

Movies and films (links to IMDB.com for basic information unless noted otherwise). Some of these I watched via TubiTv.com or other online source. The DVDs come from the public library (unless noted otherwise). In addition, I will try to add other trivia notes, such as when a film is based on a book adding the information about the book (at least the WorldCat record if available).

This was a slow month for movies for me. I did not watch any, in part because I've been reading a bit more, and in part because I was binging a TV series (see below). I am almost done with the series, so I should be back to watching a film or two next month. 

Television and other series (basic show information links via Wikipedia unless noted otherwise). Some of these come in DVD from the public library. Others may be via YouTube, which, as noted before, I keep finding all sorts of other old shows in it, often full episodes:

• Master Chef (American series. 2010 to present. Reality. Cooking. Competition). Plot description: " MasterChef is an American competitive cooking reality television series that premiered on Fox on July 27, 2010. Based on the British series of the same name and produced by Endemol Shine North America and One Potato Two Potato, the series features amateur and home chefs competing to win the title of 'MasterChef'." I have been binge watching this from last month. I will be caught up next month I hope. It is the kind of thing I can watch with some ease, and I can also do small tasks while I am at it. In other words, some light entertainment which is helpful to tune out the Hard Times.
  
• This month I continue with Season 7 and finished it. Apparently they could not secure a permanent third judge, or just decided for some variety, as the third judge will be a series of guest judges, among them Wolfgang Puck. In Season 7, they had three finalists instead of the usual two. The finale has been stretched to two episodes, in part because of the three finalists, but in part because we get some more filler such as the finalists going home for a week and then visited by Ramsay and Tosi. 
• In Season 8, they keep the format of three finalists. Christina Tosi stays as second judge, and Chef Aaron Sanchez comes on board as the third judge. Joe Bastianich makes a return to judge in the finals. 
• I mentioned previously that it seems there is a rule one of the competitors, at least one, has to be an arrogant asshole. An extension of the rule seems to be if they pick someone from some elite university, like Harvard, that guy or gal tends to be an arrogant asshole (because they think they are above the rest). And yes, we got one of those in Season 8. 
• In Season 8, at least at that point I noticed, the judges do more lessons for the contestants, demonstrating techniques and recipes, and the contestants get to watch before having to do it. Heck, I feel like I am learning something, and I appreciate those small educational moments. 
• Season 9, the format changes. Now the three judges battle. They each will pick 8 contestants, and they each will mentor their 8 to see who gets the winner at the end. Joe Bastianich returns as the third judge, Aaron Sanchez stays as second judge. On a side note, by the season, the show has a marketing machine pretty much including a summer camp, online website for cooking lessons, and an online store for merchandise. 
• In Season 10, format changes again for the initial rules. The same three judges return: Ramsay, Sanchez, and Bastianich. However, no mentoring as in Season 9; this was a feature that I honestly liked, and wish they had continued. Now, to qualify for the white apron, all three judges have to agree on a contestant, but judges may get one pass to give someone a second change. For prizes, they still get the $250K and the trophy for winning, but adding this season the winner will get training and time in restaurants owned by each of the three judges. Oh, and one more twist. In the finals, they still take three finalists, but one of them is eliminated after the entree round and before the desert, ending with two finalists leading to the winner. Rest of the format remains pretty much the same. 
• In Season 10, Episode 12, Iron Chef Morimoto has a guest appearance for a king crab cooking event. 
• By now, the show has been stretched. For example, mystery box followed by elimination was done in one episode, and now it takes two full episodes. Result is the show episodes feel long and a bit dragged. One way they fill space is more banter with the competitors and drumming up drama. At this point, I am glad this is already done and recorded so doing fast forward is an option. 
• Season 11 is the "Season of Legends." This means they bring in more guest chefs such as Emeril Lagasse, Masaharu Morimoto, Paula Dean and others. This includes the celebrity chefs giving lessons and demonstrations to the competitors as well as judging some of the events. At the start, they will only take in 15 competitors, and to get a spot, they have to impress 3 out of 4 judges, the fourth being the guest chef. In first episode, it is Emeril Lagasse. 
• For Season 12, we get an "All Stars" season where we get 20 previous Master Chef contestants (who did not win previously). An interesting detail is two of those contestants were competitors in Master Chef Junior, and they are now competing as adults, which shows a bit the longevity of the series as well as how time flies. It's the "Back To Win" season. They do auditions to bring the number of former contestants from 40 down to 20 in the first three episodes, then the competition is on. This season has 20 episodes, two more than previous season. I finished Season 12.