The concept of gamers being transported into the role playing game they're involved in isn’t new. The Dungeons and Dragons cartoon from the early 1980s and the Guardians of the Flame series by Joel Rosenberg are prime examples. So, while Critical Failures is a fantasy novel, its real value/target audience is readers who’ve played role playing games or at least have some knowledge of them, and Robert Bevan’s novel is a solid addition to this particular fantasy sub-genre.
The characters and their interaction are this novel’s strong points, although if you’re a reader who doesn’t care for foul language in dialogue, then it might not be for you (see the novel's subtitle in the cover image to the right). It annoyed me at times , however, the language is in line with the characters and their actions.
I would have preferred more description of setting and situations. A line here or there would have helped me orient and understand the setting and action as I read, and at the beginning I had difficulty keeping characters straight, especially before they became integrated into the fantasy adventure world as their RPG characters.
I enjoyed the humorous references to the game and mechanics as it affected the characters as well as the characters’ various struggles to survive while helping their cohorts along.
The ending was interesting and well-set up (translate good foreshadowing), and I’d be surprised if there wasn’t at least one more novel in the potential series. `
Today a good friend and co-worker, David Stace, was
laid to rest. Here’s a newspaper article discussing what happened that led to
his death: Local Teacher Dies after Fall
I believe the reason David Stace touched the lives of so many people is because so many felt they had a special relationship with Dave. It is an accurate assessment, because Dave took the time to make and to maintain that special connection with those he came into contact with, whether daily or whenever paths crossed. A smile, a handshake, a pat on the back, a "How're you doing?" or "How was your day?", a joke or bit of humor.
Dave Teaching Math
And when Dave made eye contact, and/or asked that question, you knew it was
genuine. You knew he was listening. It showed in his eyes and in his smile and
laugh, or look of concern and pat on the back. At work it was always, “Terrific
Tuesday” or “Wonderful Wednesday.”
Consider all this to the backdrop of the curve balls life threw Dave's way. Just
one of them was the fact that he suffered from seizures. Sometimes it
frustrated Dave as it caused a lot of inconveniences such as inhibiting his
ability to drive that led to dependence on others. Another was the concern that
he might have a seizure while teaching. His students were always understanding
of Mr. Stace’s concern, and I think the way he handled it and approached them about
his health concern at the beginning of each school year left a positive
impression on them. And, on rare occasion, he did suffer a seizure while
teaching.
For a few summers I worked with Dave for his
landscaping business (Stace’s Landscaping), where I mostly helped him lay paver bricks for patios, driveways and
walkways. In truth, I really hate landscaping, but I really enjoyed the time I spent with Dave. Let me tell you, you
haven’t lived until you’ve dug out sod and dirt while singing Veggie Tales
tunes (to the CDs). You know, they’re pretty fast-paced, so maybe it made us
dig faster. It certainly made us laugh and the time sure went faster.
Truck Dave gave me. It sits on the
shelf above my computer with a
few other nick-nack gifts from
familyand friends
One of the things Dave enjoyed teasing me about was
the fact that I was really inept at backing his truck up with his trailer
attached—often filled with gravel. It’d take me three or four tries to get it
backed up a driveway or lined up next to the proper pile in the gravel pit so
the trailer could be filled. He promised me someday, for working with him, he’d
get me a truck. Well, he did at the end of one summer’s work (see picture).
When I was backing his truck and trailer up he often remind me with a smile,
“You know, Tammy can do this. It doesn’t take her more than one try.” I recall
telling him on more than one occasion, “That’s another good reason you married
her instead of me.” And we'd laugh...and I'd pull forward and then try again.
And speaking of his wife Tammy, he told me many
times he was so blessed and lucky that Tammy married him. He couldn’t imagine
what she saw in him, but he felt so fortunate that she was in his life. That,
and he was so happy to have each of his three daughters, and so proud of them.
God truly, blessed him with a wonderful family (and they with a terrific and caring Dad and Husband).
It is beyond doubt that Dave was a special person
who will be missed, while also being remembered by his wife, daughters, family
and friends. He wasn't a perfect man—no man or woman can be, but he knew and
was 100% on target in his priorities. He cared about and promoted Faith, Family
and Friendship.
So, you’re wondering what might have been one of
Dave’s flaws? It was his gift of gab, sometimes causing him to be late, or have
to be fetched from somewhere in the school so he could get his ride home from
work. But you know, he was really busy making, renewing or reinforcing that connection with someone,
doing God’s work. I better know that now.
Another thing he teased me about most recently was
my election to the St. Paris village council. On mornings when I was doing my
wandering hall duty this past school year, I’d stop by and see him doing his morning
duty, watching and checking off the buses from the various schools as they
arrived and dropped students off. In addition to greeting so many of the
students with a smile and a high five, he’d nod and say, “Councilman Ervin” and
we’d chat for a moment or two. I’ll miss that.
Anyway, on occasion Dave would have a class or two
that wasn’t particularly motivated. With that in mind,
one thing we were planning to do this year was complete a song, rewording the
Veggie Tales’ tune, “The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything.”See, Dave and I often discussed teaching, and
what goes on in the classroom, and how we could be more effective and help
students succeed. It’s what teachers do—our way of talking shop. Yes, teachers
complain a bit too, but our true passion and goal is to do our job better.
If you listen to the clip below, you get the words
that begin the song. More than an few times I sang to him, to the melody with
the following lyrics: “We are Stace’s students who don’t do anything. We just
sit in class and goof around. And if he asks us to do anything…we just tell
him, ‘We don’t do anything...’”
That’s as far as it went, but we laughed together
and said we’d have to finish up the song next year (which would’ve been this
coming school year). If you listen to the song, you can see where it could easily be
made to fit a math classroom of low-motivated students. It would’ve been fun.
With that, I’ll close this blog post because, while
I am deeply saddened at losing Dave, I rejoice in his reward, the Gift of
Eternal Life, granted through the Grace of God. And I look forward to the day
I'll once again hear him ask me, "Hey, Terry, how was your day?"
Dave and Frank at UVCC June Jammer 2012
Dave with Bob and Pam at Bob Evans
===== ===== =====
This post could’ve gone on for a long time where I discussed
events and memories with Dave. I’ll just include a list, which you may
understand—but probably not, but when I click back on this post, it’ll be
enough that I’ll remember. If anyone who knew Dave is ever interested, just ask
me and I’ll flesh out the memory you might be curious about.
> The New Holland that had become a trellis.
> Able to only lift one eyebrow
> Rainbow won’t shed much
> Backyard swamp and manual backhoe
> Brain probe extensions required
> Replacing bulb in sanctuary requiring fully extended ladder
> 4-Weeder, Tunnels, …Mmmm? , and “Jake, don’t take my
brownie.”
> AWANA and CBSH
> Kodak (Kojak) and MINE!
> The Great Divorce and A Tale of Two Sons
> June Jammer water balloon shot
> Gutters, Bushes and Bees
> Digging hard clay for two hours and duct tape fingers
> Completing patio under halogen lights before Russia trip due to redo (me and neighbor) `
`
As a kid, my favorite breakfast cereal was Captain Crunch with Crunch Berries, a treat rarely purchased by my mother. Corn Flakes and Raisin Bran were the staple breakfast cereals in my home.
As an adult, Captain Crunch isn't a staple, but a treat. It's become a tradition of sorts, where I (or my wife) purchase a box around breaks in the school year--Christmas, Easter and Summer. (For those who may not know, in addition to being a writer and a village councilman, my main career is teaching)
Not the healthiest of ways to start the day, but there are worse. Just one of the cool options adults have over being a kid. `
Colin Mochie & Ryan Stiles My two favorites on the show
While I enjoyed the early seasons of the Drew Cary Show, I really enjoyed the show he hosted, Whose Line is it Anyway? I recalled seeing it originally as a British produced show years before, but it translated well to the USA.
It takes a certain type of talent to be a stand-up comedian and make people laugh. It's taken to a whole new (or two) level when you have to improvise moment by moment. Quick-witted and endlessly creative are must-have qualities.
`
At book signing events, individuals have had the chance to sign up to name a character in the third First Civilization's Legacy novel. The current working title is Soul Forge.
If you're interested in potentially naming a character in Soul Forge, visit the contest page on my website and shoot me off an email, or post a reply to this blog with your email address.
If your name/email address is the one drawn, I'll contact you via email and we'll begin the process of your character naming.
`
We had to take our long-time pet dachshund to be put to sleep today. As dogs go, she was a wonderful pet and companion. Loved everyone and everything, even cats—after a fashion.
Duchess: the Cheese Dog
If nicknames can be a measure with respect to how much a dog was loved and played a part in the family, then Duchess strutted her stuff. Besides Duchess and Cheese Dog, she was also:
Cheezer (short for Cheese Dog)
Weiner Dog or Weenie (what a surprise, mostly when Mira or Genevieve was talking to her about food—pretty much Duchess’s favorite thing, or asking her how she's feeling)
Weenie Tot (she had a little song I’d sing to her carrying her up and down the steps to go outside, and especially if she wasn’t having a good day health-wise)
Swammy Cheese (when she’d poke her head from under towel or blanket, cloak or turban and survey what was going on)
CD Gangland Puppy (when she was trying to assert herself, especially with respect to our other dogs Rainbow—her muscle and Maddy—her scout)
Dutch-Cheese (when she was musking)
Franken-Weenie (when she had her back surgeries and twice bore six inches of metal sutures along her spine)
Little Cheese or Cheeze Wiz or Little Cheeser (variations of Cheezer, mostly used when she was invloved in some of her goofy antics)
Bean Head, (a short lived name when she first came home for acting goofy and for the little knot she had on the back of her skull)
She answered to all, but I think she was fondest of Cheese Dog, especially when called by Genevieve and Mira.
Duchess in the yard with her buddy Rainbow
Back when she was five years old, she had two back surgeries to repair where bone had built up, blocking her nerve paths, leaving her hind legs paralyzed. She was a tough pup. Came though those, and up until the last year or so, she’d done very well. Slowly, despite medications to lower inflammation, she was losing strength and coordination in her hind legs. Still, she could muster a semi-run to the kitchen for food on good days. She also became very adept at spitting out her pain meds, even wrapped in cheese or other foods—while not missing one bit of the surrounding food. That’s a problem with a smart, stubborn dog.
But mostly she was friendly and loved everyone. And was loved very much by folks who met her, but especially by us her family.
Cheese Dog sleeping in her bed
She’ll be missed.
Right now, Mira is reading Rainbow the book Dog Heaven, and explaining it to Rainbow, so she can explain it doglike to Maddy (who won’t sit still long enough). Sure, it’s a kid’s book but it’s a good book for anyone who’s cared for and lost a dog.
Fifteen years was a good run, it just seems like it wasn’t nearly long enough. Miss her already, and it’s only been a couple of hours. Will miss her early tomorrow morning—miss her shaking her head, making the smacking/flapping sound with her ears, announcing she’s up and ready to go outside. `
`
I'll be attending Art Affair on the Square (in Urbana, Ohio) from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm this Saturday (July 21st) and will be located near the Douglas Inn on Miami Street.
The characters and their interaction are this novel’s strong points, although if you’re a reader who doesn’t care for foul language in dialogue, then it might not be for you (see the novel's subtitle in the cover image to the right). It annoyed me at times , however, the language is in line with the characters and their actions.
