Clearly, the Black Gate-verse wants to know some more Things I Think I Think, since it’s been three weeks since that last time I shared that. I mean, The Bob View is certainly nerd-centric and somewhat….different. So, without further ado (and leaving out a couple numbers…)

1) I LIKE MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN

This is a brand new Fox shows, four episodes in. The lead is Kiefer Sutherland’s brother, Rossif. I recently watched him on the excellent Three Pines (a show that TOTALLY deserved a second season). I’d never guess he was Donald’s son, looking at him. But I think he’s REALLY good as a former big city, divorced dad, being sheriff in a small, waterfront town. I didn’t watch Smallville, but Kristin Kreuk (Lana Lang) is the other lead. I did see her in season one of Reacher.

I really like that I can play ‘I Know that Actor’ (if you follow me on Facebook, you’ve seen that game MANY times) with the great guest stars, ala Columbo, Monk, Suits, and so many other shows I enjoy. So far, I’ve seen James Cromwell (LA Confidential), Erica Durance (a Hallmark favorite), Stana Katic (Beckett in Castle!), and Jason Gray-Stanford (Monk’s Randy Disher). My favorite new show so far.

2) I HATE BEING BETWEEN BOOKS

I sometimes find that when I finish a book, I can’t find the next one I want to start. Now, it’s not a physical thing, it’s mental. I own over 2,000 physical books, plus a lot of e-books. I don’t have a problem re-reading, either. But I finish something, and I just can’t figure out my ‘mood.’ I will start a half-dozen short stories, or novels, by different writers. Or even the same one. Different genres. I stare at my shelves for a half hour, trying to pick out something.

And nothing hits right. It’s SO weird. Right now, I’m trying to stay in the sword and sorcery genre – or anything Robert E. Howard or Harold Lamb. But I just can’t find it. I look at my Mystery shelves, and it’s like when you stare in the fridge, or the cupboard, and nothing looks good.

I’m still listening to a couple audiobooks as part of my day. And I’m still working through one of the Marvel Conan Omnibuses. But I put two books back on the shelf yesterday. It’s not a reading malaise. I need a name for this. And I need a cure. It’s quite possible that Glen Cook’s most recent Black Company Book, Port of Shadows, will fill the bill. I read a couple chapters last night as the Cleveland Guardians ruined my evening.

3) FORTNITE REMAINS FUN

I’ve talked about Fortnite before. First and foremost, it was a way to reconnect with my son after my divorce. And now that he’s a teen with five of six high school classes being AP, it’s one of the few ways I get to spend time with him.

But in of and itself, it’s a cool thing. I’ve gotten good, and I try to win and complete quests, but I also like to have fun. I want to enjoy playing. And I pretty much do. The skins are both fun, neat, and frequently tied into pop culture. I don’t do Anime, but Sean has liked a bunch of those. Family Guy, Marvel, Star Wars, Nightmare Before Christmas – constant options. And you can actually play, and get new skins, without paying anything.

you can buy an initial Battle Pass for like $10. If you complete it each season, you earn enough in-game coins, to pay for the next Battle Pass, with some left over. There’s always the option of buying more coins and buying skins, of course. But this latest chapter (Dr. Doom themed) has included Battle Pass skins for Gwen Stacy, War Machine, Peelverine (Fortnite’s Peely banana character as Wolverine), Emma Frost, Captain Jones (FN’s Jonesy character as Capt. America), Mysterio (SO cool!), and Shuri (Black Panther). I didn’t pay for any of those. And there are multiple variations of the skin you can earn in game with quests. There was also a new Dr. Doom skin (I had earned one previously).

I generally play Solo, or with my son. And you can turn your mic to only be on with folks you’ve friended. THAT is a key for me. But I played with a new person this weekend who has my odd sense of humor, and it was a fun couple of hours. You can play for ten minutes, or three hours. It all works. Fun game, and It’s only a cash drop if you choose to make it one. And you can play on your own, or with up to three others, however you want.

4) AUDIOBOOKS ARE PERMANENTLY A PART OF MY LIFE NOW

I’m old. I like reading physical copies of books. But I do find reading on my Fire Tablet is easier. Especially compared to old paperbacks with such small print. And also, audiobooks fit my lifestyle. I can listen in the car, while I’m writing, running at the gym, in bed at night. I have some regulars that I can put on and it doesn’t matter if I’m not totally paying attention, or I fall asleep.

I listen to books I’ve read – ones I would NOT have time to actually re-read. I did the entire Black Company by Glen Cook, and it was great to revisit. Same with the first four books of Thieves World (I did re-read the first Wizardwall spin-off after that).

And I listen to new books, like the SPQR series from John Maddox Roberts, which I love. And I’m on volume four of Seabury Quinn’s Jules DeGrandin.

Audiobooks work for me, which is why What I’ve Been Listening To is a semi-regular feature here. I am, once again, immersed in Tony Hillerman’s Navajo Tribal Police series, which I never tire of re-reading and listening to. I’m in for audiobooks. Period.

5) ONLINE BETTING BRINGS A WHOLE NEW GALAXY OF FRUSTRATION TO SPORTS

I’m not pushing anybody to engage in this exasperating activity. I’ve been big into sports my whole life. I think I’m pretty knowledgeable about it. Three weekends ago – perhaps swayed by Kevin Hart – I signed up for Draft Kings. First weekend I went 1-9, with several totally improbable things happening.

Second weekend, I was way more diligent and made some bets related to only two games. I won back all I had lost, and more. So, this weekend, I only made one bet, kind of ‘on the fly,’ Two teams combined to score 18 points less than they have all season, and I lost a bet by two points. I’m still ahead, but I’m just doing this to see if I’m smart enough to win. I’m not betting large amounts, and I don’t need the money. But man: it ain’t fun so far!!

6) THAT WAS WEIRD

Dr. Strange just popped in, said “I need your Seven” and went back through a portal. He also complimented me on my Sherlock Holmes bookshelves. Really weird.

7) SEE NUMBER SIX

The whole Dr. Strange thing…

8) I NEED TO WRITE A DANTE’S INFERNO-RELATED POST

I really enjoyed reading Dante’s Inferno. I got through Purgatorio, but it wasn’t as good. I quit Paradisio – reading about the really good people was boring. I mean, c’mon. But I often make a comment about something annoying – like people who take their food out of the microwave early and leave the timer blinking – as deserving a special circle in Hell. I am totally going to do a post with at least my nine favorite such items as getting their own circles. I think that’s gonna be fun.

9) IT’S HARD COMING UP WITH TEN THINGS

Which is why we are ending on Nine, this time. Now I’m gonna go knock off the Daily Quests in Fortnite.

Things I Think I Think

Five More Things I Think: Marvel Edition (September 2024)
Ten Things I Think I Think: Marvel Edition ( September 2024)
Five Things I Think I Think (January 2024)
Seven Things I Think I Think (December 2023)
Talking Tolkien: TenThings I Think I Think (August 2023)
A (Black) Gat in the Hand: Ten Things I Think I think (August 2023)
5 More Things I Think (March 2023)
10 Things I Think I Think (March 2023)

---

Bob Byrne’s ‘A (Black) Gat in the Hand’ made its Black Gate debut in 2018 and has returned every summer since.

His ‘The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes’ column ran every Monday morning at Black Gate from March, 2014 through March, 2017. And he irregularly posts on Rex Stout’s gargantuan detective in ‘Nero Wolfe’s Brownstone.’ He is a member of the Praed Street Irregulars, founded www.SolarPons.com (the only website dedicated to the ‘Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street’).

He organized Black Gate’s award-nominated ‘Discovering Robert E. Howard’ series, as well as the award-winning ‘Hither Came Conan’ series. Which is now part of THE Definitive guide to Conan. He also organized 2023’s ‘Talking Tolkien.’

He has contributed stories to The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories – Parts III, IV, V, VI, XXI, and XXXIII.

He has written introductions for Steeger Books, and appeared in several magazines, including Black Mask, Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, The Strand Magazine, and Sherlock Magazine.