Rogue Warrior: Seal Force Alpha by Richard Marcinko

Okay, I'll admit that this is my guilty pleasure series. Ever since I discovered an old war novel series as a kid (I think it was called "The Rat Bastards") I've had a thing for tales of derring-do from our armed forces. Unlike some of the imaginative second-hand tales told in these soldier stories, Marcinko is the real deal, a been there done that, "shoot and looter" from the old school SEAL tradition. He may not win any literary awards for his stories, but you know there's a thin line between his fiction and things that he and his warriors have actually done.

Seal Force Alpha follows a cookie-cutter plot (bad guys steal high tech weapons and Dickie and his band of marauders must find and punish them). The devil is in the details. Marcinko, since his first fictional novel Red Cell, has been a strong proponent of homeland security and proactive action against terrorism. Seal Force Alpha was written in 1999, well before our current war on terror, but manages to express concerns about nuclear proliferation, threats from within our nation and beyond, and the need for men to work behind the curtains to ensure our security.

It's good old escapist fun, but there are plenty of lessons to be had. Marcinko peppers his tales with important aspects of battle preparation that cross over into every day life. Check and double check. Minimize (or eliminate if possible) Mr. Murphy of Murphy's law fame making his presence known. Saturation training keeps you ready. Never surrender ground.

I could go on and on. If you're into chest-thumping, knuckle-dragging, salty-language-filled, gung-ho,non-stop action, these are the books for you. If not... that's fine. Just don't tell Dickie, or it'll be Doom on You.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

16 years ago, Mssrs Pratchett and Gaiman unleashed this classic onto the world: Armageddon as folly. It's an amazing tale of two children switched at birth, one, destined to grow up happy in a small rural England town, the other to grow up to become the Antichrist and bring about the end of the world. The babies are to be switched at birth by an order of satanic chattering nuns, and unfortunately, some errors are made in their shell game. The Antichrist winds up destined for pleasant England, while the decoy child grows up in America (fairly happily, we can imagine). Adam Young, the boy who is to bring about the End Times, forms a gang with four other children, terrorizing their neighborhood, causing trouble, being kids (no more, no less).

Two Holy residents (one from above, one from below) have been waiting for this moment on Earth since the dawn of creation. They are to ensure that the final cogs are prepared to set the machine of battle in motion. Unfortunately, over the years, the angel Aziraphale and the Demon Crowley have become rather attached to the planet and its inhabitants, and aren't quite ready for the end. So, learning of the baby switch faux pas, they set out to find a way to stop (or at least stall) Armageddon.

It's a race against time as Adam discovers his burgeoning powers, a book of prophecies pops up to bring more trouble, an army of Witchfinders (well, actually only 2), the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and the Four bikers who follow them all converge in tiny Tadfield, England for the War to end all Wars. Will Adam's love for humanity override his desire to make the world a better place. Is fate written indelibly, or can the pages be edited (or erased, or ripped from the book)? How do Freddy Mercury and small dogs fit into all of this?

Good Omens is a rare comedic work. It takes a "What If" scenario and instead of making a story out of it, buries it inside of a supremely good story about choices, friendship, destiny, and courage. Heaven and Hell are not all that different, aside from the scenery. Both offer hardships and enticements, but the Human Spirit shines above it all.

Mage: The Hero Defined by Matt Wagner

Ten years after beginning the mythical tale of Kevin Matchstick, Wagner returned with an expanded, improved continuation of his hero's journey. When we catch up with Kevin, he's been traveling the world, battling "the nasties" the forces of evil that seem to be growing in number as some type of cataclysmic event approaches. His constant traveling companion this time is Joe Phat, the Coyote trickster. They meet Kirby Hero, a Herculean figure on some monumental tasks for his father. Other myths and legends pop up as Kevin learns more about his powers, and a shadowy figure form his past plans an attack. Kevin journeys into the underworld to face his foes, ultimately winning the battle while losing those closest to him.

Mage remains one of my all-time favorite comics, chiefly because of the unlikely characters and realistic settings. Nothing too cartoony or campy here, just straight ahead action. I hadn't come back to this series since its release almost ten years ago, and some of the references (and MOST of the clothing) seem dated. Overall, the series is an irresistible joyride.

The Hero Defined ends with several threads left floating. It's been ten years AGAIN Mr. Wagner. PLEASE finish this epic for your fans!

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

There's a moment in every child's life where they make a transition from seeing their parents and family as this mythical, secure unit to realizing they're people, full of flaws, beauty, truth, and lies. When Susie Salmon is murdered at the beginning of The Lovely Bones, she finds she's able to peacefully float through her family's life as they recover and move on from her death. She doesn't haunt them so much as she is haunted by them. Her departure becomes the catalyst for a myriad of changes in the lives of those that knew her. Some of the changes are huge and life changing, others are small changes in direction, lacking immediate impact but having a greater effect on the future.

Susie watches her first crush move on, her parents grow apart, her sister's approach into womanhood, all while learning what it means to grow up, to let go. The story weaves effortlessly between the lives of her family, her friends, and the rapist that killed her.

Sebold made waves with this book when it arrived in 2003, and rightfully so. The book is a rush, a coming of age tale unlike any in modern literature.

The Alphabet of Manliness by Maddox

What can be said about a man who titles his webpage thebestpageintheuniverse.com? A lot. And most of it rude. But Maddox is just that kind of guy. Love him, hate him, he doesn't care. He's all about kicking ass, extolling the virtues of pirates and lumberjacks, and defending the Earth from scum and villainy through the use of the internet. He rants in a way that few can, and he enlightens. Do you know what a pedosmile is? Once you learn, you may become a hero in your neighborhood, preventing crimes before they happen. You can help Maddox take a stand against corporate idiocy and conspiracy theorists. You're with Maddox, or you're with the enemy. It's as simple as that.

In this book, Maddox gives us an A-Z definition of 26 manly things, from ass-kicking to zombies. Illustrations and helpful instructions abound, and the cover of this handsome volume features a barbarian punching a gorilla. If I need to tell you more to convince you to buy this book, perhaps you're not man enough to handle it.