Toy Review: LEGO Creator Blue Power Jet (31039)

LEGO Creator Blue Power Jet (31039)

Piece count: 608 - MSRP: $69.99 - Build Time: 1-3 hours

https://shop.lego.com/en-US/Blue-Power-Jet-31039

LEGO's Creator line of construction toys is a little different from the toymaker's typical offerings. Where most of its original-content and licensed sets focus heavily on minifig play, Creator is more focused on general modelling, interesting building techniques, and clever part usage. Many of the Creator sets have multiple building instructions as well, allowing for 2 or 3 models to be built from the same set of parts.

Over the years, LEGO has released a few different plane-helicopter-boat Creator sets (which have been pretty awesome), and the Blue Power Jet is the latest iteration of this theme. Is it a winner? Hit the jump to find out more.

Book Review: Monster Hunter International

Monster Hunter International, by Larry Correia

Modern Monster/Sci-Fi/Horror

4 out of 5 stars

Monster Hunter International (MHI) is the first book in a series of novels that blend monster horror with modern technology and tactics. Add a dash (ok, more like a ton) of hoplophilia, and you've got the makings of an adventure.

Toy Review: LEGO Star Wars Imperial Shuttle Tyderium (75094)

LEGO Star Wars Imperial Shuttle Tyderium (75094)

Piece count: 937 - MSRP: $99.99 - Build Time: 2-3 hours

http://www.lego.com/en-us/starwars/products/imperial-shuttle-tydirium-75094

Tydirium was a Imperial Lambda-class T-4a shuttle stolen by Sullustan Nien Nunb from the Imperial Star Destroyer Shieldmaiden during a diversionary mission called Operation Yellow Moon leading up to he events of the Battle of Endor (apparently). It was also one of my favorite Star Wars ships as a child, and one of the most iconic. As such, it has been modeled in several different LEGO versions in a variety of sizes. How does this one stack up? Hit the jump to find out.

Book Review: Calamity

Calamity, by Brandon Sanderson

Superhero Sci-fi/Fantasy

5 out of 5 stars

http://brandonsanderson.com/books/steelheart/calamity/

Rich. That's a word that I think describes Brandon Sanderson's writings incredibly well, and if he were a chef, I would have died of gluttony long ago.

Thank you for not being a literal chef, Brandon Sanderson.

Book Review: Hidden Empire

Hidden Empire, by Orson Scott Card

Contemporary Fiction, Political/Military Thriller

3 out of 5 stars

http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Empire-Orson-Scott-Card/dp/0765359715

You see that cover up there? Yeah, the one with Card's name emblazoned on it? Deceptive advertising at its worst!

Tabletop Game Review: Risk: Star Wars Edition

Risk: Star Wars Edition

Number of Players: 2 or 4*

Recommended Age: 10+

A long time ago (1957), in a galaxy far, far away (France), Risk was invented! A classic game on par with chess, Risk has aged well. Its simple cards and dice mechanics combined with complex strategy have inspired numerous variations and countless clones, many of them official. With everything from Halo Risk to Plants vs. Zombies Risk (I'm not joking), I guess I really shouldn't be surprised that this game, which I received as a Christmas gift, is actually the 4th Star Wars version of Risk.

I have played tabletop and mobile Risk for years, but this is my first variant. I was pretty skeptical about just how different you can get with cards and dice, but after playing a few rounds with my family, I find my initial lack of faith (in Hasbro) disturbing.

Book Review: The Bands of Mourning

The Bands of Mourning, by Brandon Sanderson

Fantasy (with a dash of steampunk/sci-fi)

5 out of 5 stars

http://brandonsanderson.com/books/mistborn/the-bands-of-mourning/

I greatly admire contemporary fiction authors. Writing within the constraints they have has to be a challenging exercise at times. Writing sci-fi/fantasy, on the other hand, doesn't have many constraints, per se. The sci-fi/fantasy author has to be mindful of this freedom as it can affect the credibility of his story.

When a sci-fi/fantasy author has taken the time to thoughtfully and logically develop his world(s), his systems of technology and/or magic, and his characters, the result is something wonderful. Brandon Sanderson has done this (again) in book six of the Mistborn series, The Bands of Mourning.