Phoenix Rising by William W. Johnstone
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Oh my! Another Johnstone book that’s getting low marks from me. It was just a couple months ago I was wondering if I would find one. This makes about four.

Thee problem in this book is the premise that America could crash and burn so quickly. It completely ignores the economic forces that would not let this happen and the political ocean that would also not let this happen.

It’s a reason I’ve told so many friends not to worry so much about the current president and what they feel is some sort of takeover. It’s possible – though i think extremely unlikely – that Obama has tried some sort of takeover as some suspect. But the actual forces that move our country along would snap into place and stop any attempt like that. It’s the only rope I’ll give to the theorists of a takeover: It might have happened, been stopped and we’ll never know there was even an attempt. As I wrote earlier, i don’t believe this has, or will, happen.

This book is clearly riding the wave of those thinking that Obama is a muslim and is out to doom America. The names have been changed, but the intent is almost as much satire as an action/ adventure story. It’s also clear that the TV/radio fellow depicted is based upon Glenn Beck, who, to a lesser extent than portrayed here, has been very vocal about actions taken and the possible results. His views are grounded in facts. This book takes those views and propels them to melodramatic levels – as this book generally is throughout.

As the takeover business settles, about 250 pages in, the book also starts to settle and become more practically readable. Basically what makes the westerns so good comes into play and the rest of the book is good.

This book is another of the survivalist books that is part of the Johnstone cadre. I’m no fan of science fiction or fantasy. This fits well in the genre, but isn’t packaged that way. It should be.

Despite this review kicking the book around, I’m moving on to Part 2. Hoping the latter part of this book will be found in the second of the series.

Bottom line: I don’t recommend this book.

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Performed at a community event today at Jones High School in Orlando and above is one of the drawings I did. Had fun drawing the werewolf. CAn’t even recall the last time I drew a werewolf.

Below are more drawings I did.

Janice collects elephants and loes to cook and furnish food at family reunions. The elephant’s ear was an artistic tactical issue.

No Questions Asked by Oliver Bleeck

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very good and engaging mystery. Thomas does and excellent job of painting the scenes and interacting the characters. The “Go-Between” is very well thought out and the mystery is solid.

This is also a tight book that tells the story with little extraneous scenes. There is one sex scene that seems odd in the context of the rest of the story. Wondering if the publisher pushed for the scene and that it was later added.

The extra characters kind of makes the bad person, or people, an easy choice, though there are a few shifts in the story that keeps the reader guessing and that makes a great mystery.

Bottom line: I recommend it.

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Another of the ongoing comic I’m doing. More still for tomorrow’s post. Since I’m working on it now, I’ll be posting Wednesday’s very soon. 🙂

To all American veterans out there – Thank you for all you’ve done, are doing and will do to keep our country free!

Been playing an enormous of Catch Up after a very hectic five days. Almost didn’t draw a thing. The #DailyInks got me to ink the pencils I did for this a few days ago. This will be the next Swampy’s Florida webcomic next Sunday. You’ll have to wait until then to se what the exchange is between Swampy and Pasco Pete.

This is one of a good 100 caricatures I drew today between two events of 4 hours each in Orlando and Tampa.

Aunt Dimity and the Duke by Nancy Atherton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the first of the Aunt Dimity series I’ve read and I liked it a lot. The writing is outstanding. The description of setting drape the reader in vivid awareness of the surroundings. The characters are extremely well done with dialogue very well thought out.

The down side to the book are the contrivances of the plot. The main character is quickly drawn as wrapped up in work, leaves from America for England and suddenly, not only does work not matter, it’s not brought up again until the very last pages. The new location for the main character takes her in far too easily and suddenly the character is a sleuth who shrugs it off as something a computer expert could become. All too pat. All too contrived.

I will set that aside only because the excellent writing and the intriguing story line, which is really not all that much of a mystery.

The whole “Aunt Dimity” thing takes up far too much of the book cover considering her involvement in the book. I guess as the series continues “Aunt Dimity” takes a more important role.

I do find it interesting that this is the second book in the series and the supposed main character, “Aunt Dimity”, takes such a small role. The same happened in the last fiction book I read before this in which the second book in that series has it’s main character, Miss Silver, also take a very back seat.

Bottom line: I recommend the book. Enjoy the atmosphere but be warned of a very shaky plot.

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Been going back and forth with these birds. Finally put some ink on them during a Silver Springs Advisory Committee meeting this morning in Ocala. There happened to be am Audubon Society leader there who i got to consult with about the birds. She approved. I’ll stop going back and forth with them. This inked version stays.

Was at Ocali Days today helping man the Marion County Museum of History booth. The event continues through Sunday at Silver Springs State Park.

After the event I hit the swamp hiking trail in the park and made my way to the connecting Silver River. I made a video, which I will feature separately. As I finished the video Scott Mitchell, Silver River Museum Director, was coming up with a group to take a boat ride on the Silver River to the head springs of the river.

After teh boat ride we all jumped in a trailer to be taken back to the main park. It was late, we traveled slow and discovered deer along the way. i decided to put ink pen to paper and whipped out these nearly contour drawings of various deer we saw. Drawing while the vehicle and the deer were in motion was a challenge!!!

This is part of  larger Happy Birthday card for an old friend. Penciled and inked it while at the annual Ocali Country Days today while tending our Marion County Museum of History and Archaeological booth at Silver Springs State Park.