Scyfi List Challenge

I love lists and Science Fiction.  Then NPR put together the Top 100 Science Fiction Books in a list challenge.  Check it out.  Click on each book that you have read and get your score.  I thought I would have most of them but it turns out I only got 30-ish.  After going over the list, some of the books are older than what I normally read but I picked up a few to see if they were any good.  I had never read Ender's Game and it blew my mind (then I found out they were making a movie of it).  I also discovered a number of movies which were originally from books.  Examples would be I, Robot, World War Z, Starship Troopers, and others.

After the list challenge, you might like the flow chart below.  It is the same books but helps you decide what to read next.

Picture found here

And finally, the interactive version of the above chart.

So what's your score and what will you read next?

Pathfinder

While I have been fairly silent on the blog front, I have been leading a Pathfinder adventure each week.  We are playing through the newly re-release anniversary edition of Rise of the Runelords.

If you liked DnD 3.5, you should check out the Pathfinder system by Piazo.  It seems to be DnD 3.7.  I like the way they have cleaned up some of the rules (like grappling and bull rush) while keeping a lot of 3.5.  Also, the Rise of the Runelords adventure path is rich in material and fun to play through.  We have been playing fairly consistantly for the past year and we are at level 10 on a 20 level progression.  Believe me when I say you can go through this much quicker but we only play about 1-2 hours each week and we have missed more than a couple of weeks.

There are 6 chapters in the story and 4-6 sub-chapters in each.  Each sub-chapter should probably be one game session (approximately 30-40 in total) but that doesn't always work with my group.  They do have some epic fights though.  This is a picture of the monk trying to "ride" the stone giant.  It was a good night.

Book 5

A while back, I started my top ten list of books that got me into the fantasy / gaming scene.  These are more in order of when I read them than greatest impact, but I thought I would continue the list.  Incomplete lists drive me nuts!

Early in college, I started reading the Honor Harrington Series by well known sci-fi author David Weber.  I loved this series and still read it as new ones and spin offs come out.  The main protagonist is a strong female lead with a crazy sense of honor and duty.  She is given sometimes impossible tasks and is able to work her way through it.  It is set in the distant future and she begins as a space ship captain in the midst of a galactic political mess.  She is in a back water assignment and makes a huge impact.  The logistics of space combat are realistic and deep.  The characters development over the many books is fantastic.  Try the first one, On Basilisk Station, and see what you think.

And they are making a movie!!

I know there is always a hope (and fear) that your favorite movie will make it to the big screen but this looks like it might happen.  Evergreen Studios has aligned with the author and looks to be starting up.  However, I will try not to get too excited until it goes into production.

Painting Bones Minis

I primed about 100 of my bones minis the other day and they are sticky.  I am sure it had to do with my technique or the humidity or something but it is disappointing.  I have painted 13 of them so far and I am trying not to get caught in the details.  I pulled out my paints, base coated (over the sticky primer) and brushed them with Delvan Mud and Bedab Black washes as needed.  I quickly started running our of my washes, went online, and realized I can't get those washes anymore.  Now I have sticky models and I used the last of some great product on throw away minis.  Grrr... 

On the positive side, I painted 13 of 240 minis and moved my progress bar to 5%.  I am calling that a win =)