Showing results by narrator "Colby Elliott" in All Categories

Compiled by a veteran writer of the comic series, this collection of essays explores Batman’s motivations and actions, as well as those of his foes. Batman is a creature of the night, more about vengeance than justice, more plagued by doubts than full of self-assurance, and more darkness than light. He has no superpowers, just skill, drive, and a really well-made suit.

Letters to a Young GM is the latest book of GM advice from award-winning author John Wick (Legend of the Five Rings, 7th Sea, Houses of the Blooded, Cat, Banners). In it, John provides his unconventional game mastering advice to both young game masters and those who are still young-at-heart. Looking beyond the usual topics, he offers not only tricks and tactics, but also inspiration to those who want to sit behind the GM screen, but are uncertain about their skills.

It’s no secret that amazing television starts with a great script. But what makes a television screenplay compelling? An effective screenplay is a blueprint, a loan application, and work order. But first and foremost, it must be a work of art and a captivating read all on its own. Using his script for the proposed reboot of Xena, Javier Grillo-Marxauch (Lost, The Witcher, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) shares what he does to make a fascinating television screenplay, from the first slug line to the final fade to black.

After Comic Con International and New York Comic Con, where does a wandering nerd go next for adventure and fun? Why the wilds of Gen Con, of course! Third in the “Nerdly Travels” series takes Colby to the largest tabletop gaming convention in North America, Gen Con, to fulfill his 10-year-old self's destiny of roleplaying at the convention started by Gary Gygax. He'll meet industry luminaries, some of his childhood heroes and maybe even get surprised at the ENnie Awards!

Even after getting bad news at the doctor’s office, Cole Ellis knows the kids still need to be picked up and the realm of dreams needs to be protected. Strange, that the foreclosure two blocks over is bustling with crows in The Overlay, and stranger still, why is the dream neighborhood filled with the delectable smell of cookies for blocks in every direction? It may be time for Cole to call on the most powerful member of his team yet. And time for another to make the sacrifice of a lifetime.

When Cole set something free in the dreamworld of The Overlay, he had no idea it could cause harm in the real world. But now someone is dead and the shaman must use all of his newfound powers to prevent another tragedy and rein in a new menace known only as Dark Beard.

Newly minted dream-walker, Cole, finds everything didn’t get fixed after setting a mysterious spirit free and healing the bruised house next door. Trouble has moved down the road to the nearby Prairie Plains Park where something is attacking people in their dreams. Something hungry. But the Stay-at-home Shaman is going to need some help and a few tricks up his sleeve to tackle these new threats to The Overlay. It turns out naptime is no time to snooze.

When Cole Ellis hits a coyote late one night on I-80, he has no idea how his life will change. Now he travels to a dream realm every time he falls asleep…but all is not well in the drowsing world. There’s mystical talking animals, mysteriously bruised houses, and massive hulking monsters to deal with. How can a stay-at-home dad hope to save the neighborhood by naptime’s end?

Collecting the two first stories in the Dark Prairie Universe, Dark Prairie and Use Yer Brains tells the tales of two western Nebraska lawmen, from two different ages, and how they go about keeping the peace in Platte City. Some bad things crawl outta the ground, while others are brewed up in the local saloon and descend like a bolt of lightning. Whether it's the 1800s or the late 1900s, keep yer wits about ye, and yer six-shooter handy.

A book arrives by Owl, left under an old fir tree in the snow. With it, a mysterious message: Another world’s scientists have discovered the laws of the universe are found in - fairy tales. Is it true? Snotty - the unlikely hero of this tale - is a streetwise adolescent mastermind transported to a mystical realm where the fate of the world rests on discovering who he really is. As Snotty’s perceptions of might and right are upended, the scholarly footnotes point toward a deeper truth.

You won’t need to have read any of the other History of Arcadia books to become engrossed in the drama of Aspern Grayling, whose obsession with creating a new life-form - in the person of ruthless adventurer Pavo Vale - could destroy his whole world. A compelling descendant of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, this is a tale of a man bent on conquest and of an adversary that may yet defeat him: the ghost of the Arcadian Devindra Vale, the only woman he has ever loved.

Ruins of the Grendleroot is a collection of 10 short, easy-to-run adventures for the fifth edition of the world's most popular fantasy role-playing game. Designed for characters of first to fifth level, these adventures take place in the caverns, chambers, tunnels, and ruins of the mountain known as Blackclaw, within which lurks the Grendleroot - a strange and otherworldly sentience.

Jake Trapper isn’t your average organ acquisition specialist. He’s the best in LA. But Jake has a soft spot for underdogs, and his current case is Angel, a young girl from a broken home. She needs a kidney. So Jake makes a deal with a broker and gets seduced into the kidney business. When a potential organ donor is killed, Jake meets LAPD Homicide Detective Megan Densmore, who enlists Jake to help with the investigation.

Journey to the castle of the mad scientist and hear tales of imagination to both amaze and astound! In the grand traditions of the late night horror movie and 1950s scary comics comes an anthology for those who love Science Fiction. Hear unearthed classic tales from authors such as Fritz Leiber, Harry Harrison, and other masters of the genre. Your host may also let you poke around the lab a little. But be careful…those tanks contain beasties best left suspended in their animation!

In this follow-up to his first collection of essays - Shoot This One - television writer and producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach continues to overshare about his misadventures in the small screen to a degree that will make you fear for his future employment. The essays in Shoot That One offer both a tantalizing glimpse into the inner circles of the entertainment industry, as well a management lesson disguised as a juicy tell-all.

What happens when the quaint picturesque town of Broad Brook, CT is suddenly overrun with those loveable creatures from comic book ads, sea monkeys? First of all, we find out they weren't so loveable, and second...we fight!

My Peculiar Family is an anthology of Gothic horror and unusual stories like none ever published before! Combining New York Times best-selling authors (Christopher Golden, Tracy Hickman), Amazon best-selling authors (William Meikle, Derrick Belanger, Rob Watts), award-winning authors (James A. Moore, Stacey Longo), and emerging talents, this anthology unites these authors, who have sold millions and million books between them, to come together for a common cause.

After journeying to Nerdopolis in San Diego, what's the next geeky peak to climb? Colby packs his bags and heads to The Big Apple for the sights and sounds of New York Comic-Con! Get a view from the con floor as he explores the back issues, the panels, and the celebration of multimedia that is NYCC in another exciting installment of this nerdly travelogue!

The staying power of the world's most dashing secret agent and the evolution of the James Bond franchise are explored in this smart yet nostalgic collection of essays. Leading writers, including Raymond Benson, J.A. Konrath, Raelynn Hillhouse, and John Cox, discuss the 10 sexiest Bond girls, the best villains, and the controversy surrounding the latest actor to play James Bond. Topics covered range from the playful - how to build a secret lair and avoid the perennial mistakes made by would-be world dominators - to the thought-provoking.

First there was Buffy the Vampire Slayer; then its spin-off, Angel; then the cult hit Firefly and its follow-up film, Serenity. They all had two things in common: their creator, Joss Whedon...and their surprising psychological depth. Revisit the worlds of Joss Whedon...with trained psychologists at your side. What are the psychological effects of constantly fighting for your life? Why is neuroscience the Whedonverse's most terrifying villain? How can watching Joss' shows help you take on your own psychological issues?