Fantastic Metropolis

The Worm Ouroboros, E. R. Eddison

It reminds me of Edgar Rice Burroughs meets J. R. R. Tolkien with maybe a hint of Dunsany here and there.

Jurgen: A Comedy of Justice, James Branch Cabell

You should all read James Branch Cabell. Here’s a reason why, from Chapter 41:

“One thing I did not understand, sir: and that was when you spoke just now of the War Roof.”

“It is a stone roof, made of the two tablets handed down at Sinai, which God fits over Earth whenever men go to war. For He is merciful: and many of us here remember that once upon a time we were men and women. So when men go to war God screens the sight of what they do, because He wishes to be merciful to us.”

“That must prevent, however, the ascent of all prayers that are made in war-time.”

“Why, but, of course, that is the roof’s secondary purpose,” replied St. Peter. “What else would you expect when the Master’s teachings are being flouted? Rumours get through, though, somehow, and horribly preposterous rumours. For instance, I have actually heard that in war-time prayers are put up to the Lord God to back His favourites and take part in the murdering. Not,” said the good Saint, in haste, “that I would believe even a Christian bishop to be capable of such blasphemy: I merely want to show you, Jurgen, what wild stories get about.”

That would explain a lot.

Other

Superman: Birthright, Mark Waid, Leinil Francis Yu and Gerry Alanguilan

If you’re looking for a detailed, colorful, interestingly illustrated origin story for the Man of Steel, you can do a lot worse than Birthright.

Eberron Campaign Setting, Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek and James Wyatt

All the Howard and Moore I was reading dovetailed well into this setting for the Dungeons & Dragons RPG, a stylish pulp/noir take on killing monsters and taking their stuff that elevates the game.

Futurama, Matt Groening et al

I collected the entire series this year on DVD. It is one of the few television shows I actually enjoy watching.

Hellboy (the movie by Guillermo del Toro or the comic by Mike Mignola)

The film was great up until the very end, when it becomes only good, but I still recommend it. Mignola’s work on the comic is even better.

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Matthew Rossi is the author of Things That Never Were (MonkeyBrain, 2003). Forthcoming work is scheduled to appear in Postscripts and in a new collection, Bottled Demons.