You’d be hard-pressed to find someone more capable of holding down the low end with rock an metal music than Brooklyn native James LoMenzo. As the bassist of the underrated glam metal quartet White Lion‚ LoMenzo set the standard for bassists in an era when looks often triumphed over musicianship. Later‚ LoMenzo lent a hand to Black Label Society‚ Ozzy Osbourne‚ David Lee Roth‚ and Slash’s Snakepit‚ to name a few. Of course‚ Megadeth fans have come to know and love LoMenzo‚ as he laid down masterful grooves across records like United Abominations (2007) and Endgame (2009) before hitting the The post James LoMenzo of Megadeth: 10 Albums That Changed My Life appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

The sandworms are coming. Not until March‚ sure‚ but Warner Bros. doesn’t want you to forget: they’re coming. And so is a whole lot of war‚ and the “psychotic” Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler)‚ and Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh)‚ and everything else the first half of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune didn’t have time for. This trailer‚ though‚ is mostly war‚ with a sweeping score to intensify the feelings. On the one hand‚ there’s violent conflict; on the other‚ there’s the relationship between Paul (Timothée Chalamet) and Chani (Zendaya)‚ who come from very different backgrounds. Here’s the synopsis: Dune: Part Two will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe‚ he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee. Dune: Part One was very beautiful‚ but one might also argue that it was more technically fascinating than emotionally or narratively compelling. (Personally I remember the thing about cereal being used in the sound design more than anything else). But it looked really‚ really cool. And so does Part Two. What else it has to offer remains to be seen. Returning stars include Chalamet‚ Zendaya‚ Rebecca Ferguson‚ Josh Brolin‚ Stellan SkarsgÃ¥rd‚ Charlotte Rampling‚ Dave Bautista‚ and Javier Bardem; new cast members include Butler‚ Pugh‚ Christopher Walken‚ and Léa Seydoux. Villeneuve co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Spaihts; cinematographer Greig Fraser‚ production designer Patrice Vermette‚ editor Joe Walker‚ visual effects supervisor Paul Lambert‚ costume designer Jacqueline West‚ and composer Hans Zimmer all return for this second adventure in the desert. Dune: Part Two is in theaters March 1‚ 2024.

In this bi-weekly series reviewing classic science fiction and fantasy books‚ Alan Brown looks at the front lines and frontiers of the field; books about soldiers and spacers‚ scientists and engineers‚ explorers and adventurers. Stories full of what Shakespeare used to refer to as “alarums and excursions”: battles‚ chases‚ clashes‚ and the stuff of excitement. Novels that tie into other forms of entertainment don’t always have the best reputation. They are generally written by authors who are working for hire‚ and their quality can certainly vary. But back around the turn of the century‚ when I saw a book featuring one of my favorite comic book characters‚ Nick Fury‚ Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.‚ I couldn’t pass it up. Plus‚ it was written by an author I was familiar with from his work on the venerable Doc Savage adventure series—and the fact that it had an eye-catching cover by Joe Jusko didn’t hurt either. You might wonder why I chose to review this book during the holiday season‚ but it turns out the fictional terrorists schedule their attack for Christmas Eve. So‚ like the movie Die Hard‚ this book is a Christmas tale. Books are often used as source material by other media‚ and their stories frequently get adapted as movies‚ TV shows‚ cartoons‚ and comic books. But when the reverse happens‚ it is often looked down upon by those who take a relatively limited view toward what works have literary value. Authors of those adaptations rarely own the product they produce‚ and work for a fixed fee. But those adaptations sell well‚ and thus even the heroes of lowly comic books find themselves in prose form. And‚ of course‚ some of the books can be quite good… Nick Fury‚ Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Empyre is one such adaptation (while the acronym is presented as S.H.I.E.L.D. without periods on the cover‚ it is presented with periods on the copyright page‚ and throughout the book). The book is a paperback original‚ published by Berkley Boulevard Books in 2000. The author‚ Will Murray‚ is a noted author of adventure fiction with a long career. As mentioned above‚ the book has an evocative cover by the prolific comic book and cover artist Joe Jusko that echoes posters from the James Bond films. And it is illustrated with clever chapter headings by Jim Steranko‚ who illustrated one of the most popular runs of the S.H.I.E.L.D. comic book during the 1960s. These chapter headings start out as abstract shapes with a 1970s computer graphics feel‚ and slowly transform into a recognizable picture that appears at the end of the final chapter. But while the cover proudly proclaims this is‚ “THE FIRST NOVEL STARRING MARVEL’S SUPER-SPY!‚” it is also the last I know of to feature the classic version of Nick Fury in a starring role.   About the Author Will Murray (born 1953) is an American journalist and author of both books and comic books‚ specializing in new adventures of old pulp heroes. He has also edited magazines and reprints of classic pulp tales. In his youth‚ he was a fan of the Doc Savage pulp adventure series‚ and began his writing career with articles in fan magazines. He then got approval from Bantam Books to write additional Doc Savage novels under the house name of Kenneth Robeson‚ and began ghostwriting for the Destroyer adventure novel series. He has since gone on to publish over twenty new Doc Savage books‚ as well as adventures featuring Tarzan‚ John Carter of Mars‚ the Spider‚ the Executioner‚ and other characters. Murray has written adventures for a range of classic comic book characters for both Marvel and DC comics. His most notable contribution to the comics field‚ working with famed artist Steve Ditko‚ was creating the popular humorous character Squirrel Girl. He has won several awards recognizing excellence in the comic and pulp fiction fields.   The Many Adventures of Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury is one of my favorite fictional characters. He is not a super-hero (at least‚ not at the start of his adventures)‚ but is simply a man without special powers thrust into a super-powered world. He is a veteran of World War II’s European theater‚ just like my dad (my own personal hero). And when the writers thrust that pragmatic man‚ like a fish out of water‚ into the high-tech world of international espionage‚ the result was something special. Fury was a creation of writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby‚ and first appeared in the book Sergeant Fury and his Howling Commandos in May of 1963. The book was inspired by the WWII adventures of both men‚ especially those of Kirby‚ who served as a scout on the front lines (and beyond them) in Europe. I reviewed one issue of that comic (issue 13‚ where they met Captain America) after Stan Lee died‚ and you can find that review here. The review contained short biographies of Lee and Kirby‚ and also a roster for the commandos. The comic companies tend to copy characters and elements that have proved successful for their competitors‚ and Sergeant Fury was probably intended to appeal to the same readers as DC’s Sergeant Rock‚ who had been around since 1959. But Fury’s WWII adventures were just part of his role in Marvel Comics. He began to appear as a CIA agent‚ in comics set in the present day of the 1960s‚ in stories featuring superheroes like the Fantastic Four. And then in August 1965‚ in issue #135 of the anthology comic Strange Tales‚ Fury was recruited by defense industrialist Tony Stark to head the shadowy international entity called S.H.I.E.L.D.‚ the Supreme Headquarters‚ International Espionage and Law-Enforcement Division. The organization was obviously modeled on the popular James Bond movies with their fancy gadgets and vehicles. The world-weary and cynical Fury served as an audience surrogate‚ an ordinary guy thrown into an extraordinary environment‚ and that contrast gave the adventures a unique feel. Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. had their own book for a while‚ and even after it was cancelled‚ frequently appeared in other comics. Over the years‚ however‚ it was increasingly implausible to have the character rooted in WWII‚ given that he hadn’t been frozen in suspended animation after the war like Captain America. In the comics‚ the writers explained Fury’s longevity to an “Infinity Formula” that he and some of his allies used to extend their lives. Starting in 2001‚ Marvel created a new “Ultimate” universe to give their characters a fresh start‚ and introduced a new alternate world version of Nick Fury‚ whose appearance was modeled by the artists on actor Samuel L. Jackson‚ and who was not tied to a WWII origin. Jackson was persuaded to allow the comics to use his likeness on the condition that he would be offered the role if the character was ever featured in a movie. Thus‚ when the new Marvel Cinematic Universe (or MCU) was launched in 2008‚ Jackson donned the eyepatch. This new version of Fury soon eclipsed the classic character. The comics eventually introduced a son of the original Nick Fury who resembled the MCU version. The older Fury‚ who had long since stopped being a fish out of water‚ and thus lost much of his pragmatic appeal‚ was drawn into increasingly improbable adventures in space‚ appearing occasionally as a guest in comics focused on other characters. The organization S.H.I.E.L.D. went on to make many appearances on TV and the big screen. There was a made-for-TV movie in 1998 starring David Hasselhoff as Fury‚ which while not being very good‚ was not as bad as some other comic book adaptations in that era. There were a number of S.H.I.E.L.D. appearances in Marvel Comics-based animated features. Nick Fury (the new version) was a central figure in the MCU‚ and the downfall of S.H.I.E.L.D. was a major plot point in the movie Captain America: Winter Soldier. The TV show Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.‚ starring actor Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson‚ ran for seven seasons from 2013 to 2020 (and you can find Tor.com coverage of the show here).   Nick Fury‚ Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Empyre Before reading a book‚ I often flip to the front and back to read copyrights‚ forwards‚ and author biographies. In this one‚ I noticed some additional information in Will Murray’s biography. It stated that he is a professional psychic‚ with skills including clairvoyance and precognition. This put me on my guard‚ because while I enjoy science fiction stories of paranormal powers‚ I am skeptical when people claim such abilities are real. And when it transpired that a psychic character‚ Starla Spacek‚ plays as big a role as Fury in the book‚ I was not pleased. I wanted to read about Fury and the characters from the comic book‚ not some character I’d never heard of. While psychic abilities take up a lot of the narrative‚ however‚ there is still a lot of exciting old-fashioned spy stuff‚ and Murray has a good feel for the comic book characters and a knack for thrilling action scenes. Fury has a way of charging into action like a bull in a china shop that might not be very realistic‚ but sure is fun to read. After a short training scene where Fury meets Spacek‚ he is lured onto a commercial airliner that is piloted by men who seem to be hypnotized‚ and are determined to crash the plane. The plane goes down in spectacular fashion. Murray did his homework on the aviation field‚ and the flying scenes are full of realistic details. Then a badly injured airliner requests permission to land on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier (a giant flying aircraft carrier)‚ only to blow up on the deck and damage one of the massive turbines that keep the craft aloft. Spacek is assigned as the new S.H.I.E.L.D. Special Powers Director‚ taking over an organization that had been on the verge of being eliminated due to erratic results. She immediately clashes with Director Skindarian‚ who oversees traditional intelligence for the organization. Spacek’s first job is to find out what happened to Fury‚ who appears to be dead. Fury‚ in a typical S.H.I.E.L.D. act of misdirection‚ is only pretending to be dead‚ and uses one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s high-tech devices to temporarily reshape his features. We meet Contessa Val de Fontaine and Gabe Jones from the comics‚ but other than a few tangential mentions‚ they do not play a role in the narrative. The staff’s first guess is that these airline disasters are the work of Hydra‚ the evil organization that opposes S.H.I.E.L.D. at every turn‚ because some of the planes were carrying Life Model Decoys‚ or LMDs‚ human-like robots that are used by both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra. But Spacek is picking up hints that there may be a nefarious element based in the Middle East mixed up in this as well. There are more aircraft-related disasters‚ and Spacek helps uncover a psychic Hydra agent who has infiltrated the helicarrier. It appears Empyre Airlines is involved with the crashes‚ so Fury decides to infiltrate their headquarters alone (which makes little sense‚ but feels true to the comic book adventures). He uses Spacek and her powers to stay in touch with S.H.I.E.L.D.. The facility is abandoned‚ and he suspects that’s been the case for some time—because unlike S.H.I.E.L.D. facilities at this time of year‚ there are no Christmas decorations in the common areas. As the facility begins to mysteriously sink into the ground‚ Fury makes a narrow escape. Spacek links the aircraft accidents to people sporting mysterious scorpion tattoos‚ who turn out to be linked to Nadir al-Bazinda‚ head of the fictional nation of Quorak‚ recently defeated in the first Gulf War (a very thinly veiled version of Iraq). Al-Bazinda is eager to exact revenge for his defeat‚ and he and Hydra have been working on a plan to attack cities around the world. Spacek casts his horoscope (exhibiting yet another paranormal power) and discovers that al-Bazinda’s violent death is imminent. If he is going to see his evil plan succeed‚ it will take place on Christmas Eve. At the risk of spoiling the ending—and because potential readers might require some advance warning‚ given the disturbing parallels with real-world events that would unfold only a year after the book was written—it turns out the plan is to use captured jets full of passengers as cruise missiles. In a comic book-style bit of excess‚ the jets will also carry a substance called Inferno 42‚ which packs an explosive power that rivals nuclear weapons. Fury and Spacek take a S.H.I.E.L.D. flying car to confront al-Bazinda face to face (because of course they do). To further spoil the ending‚ Fury and his team are successful in saving Christmas‚ but that will come as no surprise to readers. In this type of book‚ while the journey to victory is assured‚ it’s how they get there that keeps things interesting.   Final Thoughts I don’t imagine that many readers of this column have encountered Nick Fury‚ Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Empyre‚ but if you have‚ I’d love to hear your thoughts on the book. I’d also like to hear suggestions on any good comic book adaptations you have encountered over the years. And we can grapple with the eternal question: should adventures set at Christmas time‚ like this book and the movie Die Hard‚ be considered Christmas stories? And finally‚ I’d like to wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season‚ no matter how or what you celebrate at this time of year. Alan Brown has been a science fiction fan for over five decades‚ especially fiction that deals with science‚ military matters‚ exploration and adventure.

Menewood is the sequel to Nicola Griffith’s magisterial novel of 7th-century Northumbria‚ the critically-acclaimed Hild. Like Hild‚ it focuses on part of the life of Hilda (the eponymous Hild) of Whitby. Unlike Hild‘s decade-plus sweep of childhood to young womanhood‚ Menewood covers only three years‚ 632 to 635‚ and begins very nearly exactly where Hild left off. It is‚ as all historical fiction must be‚ a fantasy of what might have been‚ but Griffith roots her novel so closely and so tightly in the rhythms of that antique world‚ its sounds and smells‚ its textures‚ its necessities and its uncertainties‚ that it begins to seem more real than any other truth. I remember when Hild was first published. I loved it. I had opinions about it. Some of those opinions were foolish‚ some less so . But I don’t think I appreciated the scope and scale of Griffith’s achievement until I re-read it as companion to Menewood. And Menewood is‚ if anything‚ an even more impressive novel. Hild has become an adult. She is lady of Elmet‚ wife to Cian Boldcloak—her childhood companion‚ and unbeknownst to him‚ her half-brother‚ for he is just as much a nephew to the overking Edwin as Hild is a niece. Her personal happiness is at a high ebb‚ for she loves Cian‚ loves Elmet‚ loves even the possibility of a child that has begun to grow in her womb. But Edwin king is beset by rivals‚ as all kings are‚ and his enemies are circling. And Edwin himself is a jealous king‚ both wary of and demanding of Hild in her role as his seer‚ running hot and cold with his favour: His power and his jealousy make him as dangerous to Hild as any outright enemy. When his enemies bring Edwin down‚ Hild‚ too‚ is brought to bay. And in the aftermath of the harrowing and ravaging of Northumbria by the forces of Cadwallon‚ king of Gwynedd and bitter enemy to the Yffing line‚ Hild must decide what path she will take in the wake of the ruin of her personal hopes‚ and what part of the pattern of war and politics she can guide—or change—to win safety for her surviving people and revenge for herself. Buy it Now Griffith has published only a handful of novels‚ but each of them has been in some way extraordinary. She writes with a clarity of expression‚ precision‚ and force that few writers of my experience can equal‚ and with the unflinching ability to look at both the terrible and the tender things that people do‚ and treat them as sides of the same coin. Griffith has a gift for excavating the most raw of human emotions‚ alongside—variously—high-octane science fiction‚ contemporary thriller action‚ or the court intrigue‚ brutal subsistence‚ and bloody battle of Hild and Menewood. In Menewood‚ the rawest of those emotions are grief and loss: the pivot point around which the whole thrust of the narrative turns. The following paragraph contains spoilers. No one should read this book without being braced for the depiction of the death‚ soon after its birth‚ of a much-wanted child. And they should be braced‚ too‚ for the scene that takes place months later‚ where that child is disinterred and reburied‚ the processes of decay not glossed over but described in visceral horror. Scenes that contain absolute‚ gut-wrenchingly terrible grief; scenes that made me close the book and weep great gasping sobs and go hug my own child. End spoilers. There are lines and paragraphs that will haunt me for years. I do not want them to. Griffith has an incredible talent‚ but there is perhaps such a thing as being too effective. This is not a criticism. I deeply admire this book. I wish to do it justice. I cannot criticise Griffith’s choice to include these scenes‚ these pivotal moments; they are vitally necessary to the thrust of the entire narrative‚ the long slow process of rebuilding from a great harrowing that flows parallel in Hild and in her country‚ the way in which Menewood is in part a meditation on the “wyrd” of kings—the compulsion in men who would be king to be first‚ to be most‚ their jealousy and greed and how it leads‚ inevitably‚ to other would-be kings trying to bring them down—and the consequences that kings inflict on all around them‚ and why it matters that Hild rejects kingship for herself even as she embraces unhidden power‚ battle‚ and revenge. Menewood is continuing a conversation about power that‚ I think‚ Griffith may have been having for her entire career: what kinds of power are open to different people‚ what it means to have power (violent or otherwise)‚ what it means to use it‚ or to refrain from using it‚ to achieve one’s own will. It is certainly continuing a discussion on the theme of power present‚ palpably‚ in Hild‚ given its most obvious expression when the still-child Hild threatens to have one of her few companions‚ the priest Fursley‚ whipped: “Who’s to stop me‚ who in all the world? Only the king‚ and he gives me what I ask. So who is to stop me? No one.” “Then I tell you truly‚ you must learn to stop yourself.” Without Menewood‘s painfully intimate relationship with loss‚ its relationship with power would have a different cast‚ and Hild would be less human‚ her rebuilding and her rise to the kind of power that kings recognise less the product of choices born in pain and necessity and more a triumphalist ascent that would validate all her choices‚ rather than challenge them. Hild is extraordinary‚ and extraordinarily compelling‚ and one of the most extraordinary things about her is her ability to recognise the inevitable fate of kings‚ and refuse the path that leads there for herself. There are many other things to be said about Menewood and its achievements‚ not only the novel itself but Griffith’s approach to historical fiction‚ but I’m already running long—though still much shorter than Menewood‚ which weighs in at over 700 pages in hardback form. It is a truly impressive novel‚ a thoughtful‚ thought-provoking‚ deeply compelling work of art‚ and one that I expect I will return to many times in the coming years. Griffith has added another piece to the masterwork that is Hild’s story‚ one every bit as impressive and magnificent as that which preceded it. I recommend it wholeheartedly. But I also recommend that the reader new to this story should begin with Hild. Menewood is published by MCD. Liz Bourke is a cranky queer person who reads books. She holds a Ph.D in Classics from Trinity College‚ Dublin. Her first book‚ Sleeping With Monsters‚ a collection of reviews and criticism‚ was published in 2017 by Aqueduct Press. It was a finalist for the 2018 Locus Awards and was nominated for a 2018 Hugo Award in Best Related Work. She was a finalist for the inaugural 2020 Ignyte Critic Award‚ and has also been a finalist for the BSFA nonfiction award. She lives in Ireland with an insomniac toddler‚ her wife‚ and their two very put-upon cats.

The second season of Marvel’s What If…?‚ the animated anthology series that tells stories in different realties in the multiverse‚ is headed our way this holiday season. I had the chance to attend a screening of two of those episodes as well as attend a Q&;A with the series’ writers and director‚ and while the three were unsurprisingly tight-lipped about what’s in store for viewers‚ they did tease some things about what we’ll see in the upcoming episodes—not only in season two‚ but the already-greenlit season three as well. I can’t get into details about the two episodes I saw‚ other than to say they were titled “What If… Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?‚” which was solidly channeling film noir/Blade Runner‚ and “What If Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?‚” a holiday-filled special with multiple Die Hard references and Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) villainously dancing his way into Avengers tower. These episodes’ homages to other movies and/or genres are something we’ll see in season two’s other episodes‚ and something director and executive producer Bryan Andrews teased we’ll see even more of in season three. That doesn’t mean‚ however‚ that we won’t see some familiar faces in season two. The already-released trailer for the second season (check it out above‚ if you haven’t already) reveals the return of several characters‚ including Captain Britain Carter (Hayley Atwell)‚ who appears to have struck up a rapport with the Watcher (Jeffrey Wright); something that writer and producer Matthew Chauncey confirmed at the screening. “Fate has made both of them lone warriors‚” he said. “And part of the fun of watching their journey through the show is they’re mirrors for one another. And I think the Watcher is going to reckon with some of the choices he made in Season One through how he engages and watches Captain Carter navigate her life in these episodes.” Other confirmed characters include Cate Blanchett reprising Hela. The Doctor Strange Supreme we saw in arguably the first season’s best episode‚ is also returning‚ as is Michael Douglas as Hank Pym‚ and Kurt Russell as Ego. We also knew that there would be an episode dedicated to a new superhero‚ Kahhori‚ a young Mohawk woman who gains powers in a non-colonized world after finding the Tesseract. The panelists also shared that we would see a new configuration of the 2012 Avengers‚ and also there would be an episode set in the 1980s featuring the aforementioned Ego and Hank Pym‚ as well as T’Chaka as Black Panther. We also knew that there would be a 1602 episode‚ a riff on the comics that place Marvel superheroes into the year 1602‚ and writer and executive producer AC Bradley shared what writing that story was like. “That was the one where we had the most fun‚” she said. “We just went a little nutty [and asked‚] ‘What’s the weirdest we can get with these characters? What is the most different outfits and personas that we can put them through?’” “The cosplay potential is huge‚” added Andrews. “We can’t wait.” The second season of What If…? premieres on December 22‚ 2023 with “What If… Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?” An additional episode is dropped every day after‚ with “What If Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?” appropriately premiering on December 25‚ 2023.

Yske‚ daughter of the legendary warrior priestess Hessa‚ has dedicated her life to medicine and pacifism in service to Aita‚ the Great Healer. We’re thrilled to share an excerpt from Pillar of Ash‚ the fourth and final book in H.M. Long’s Hall of Smoke epic fantasy series—out from Titan Books on January 16th. Yske‚ daughter of the legendary warrior priestess Hessa‚ has dedicated her life to medicine and pacifism in service to Aita‚ the Great Healer. When her twin brother Berin‚ hungry for glory‚ gathers a party to investigate rumours of strange sightings in the Unmade—shadows in the darkness at the end of the world—Yske joins the mission‚ to keep him safe. Their journey east takes them through primal forests‚ walking paths last trod when gods were at war and ancient‚ powerful beasts were defeated and bound. And the closer they get to the Unmade‚ the more strange and terrible things haunt them from the shadows‚ corruptions in nature and monstrous creatures of moss and bone. Earning the respect of Berin and his warriors‚ Yske must forge a place for mercy and healing in a world of violence and sacrifice. She must survive murderous ambushes and brutal sieges and take her place at the centre of the oldest war of all. Thrust into a desperate conflict of survival‚ Yske and Berin will wage the final war with the gods—in the shadow of a vast and ancient tree‚ the fate of creation is about to be decided.     The knife was smooth and cool to the touch: simple‚ plain‚ but terribly sharp. Light glinted off the blade as my mother settled my small fingers around the hilt. When I tried to let go‚ her callused hand held mine in place. “Do not come out until I call for you‚” she told me. The wind picked up around us‚ heady with pending rain and violence. My gaze flicked past the arc of the shield on my mother’s back‚ through the swaying trees and rustling undergrowth to the empty trail. “Hessa!” a voice roared through the trees. My mother clamped a hand over my mouth before I could whimper in fear. She hovered‚ perfectly still between the boughs of pale green needles. Buy it Now They were looking for my mother. Whoever was out there in the forest was looking for her‚ and there was no gentleness‚ no forgiveness in their voice. “Those are the Iskiri‚” my mother murmured‚ low and warning. “If they catch you‚ if they realize you’re my daughter‚ they will kill you. Tell them you’re Algatt‚ and pretend not to know me‚ even if I’m hurt. No matter what they do. Do you understand? Yske?” I couldn’t nod with her hand so firmly over my mouth‚ but I blinked a frantic‚ fluttering acknowledgment. Slowly‚ she let me go. I lifted the knife‚ clutching it with all the strength of my terror‚ and nodded. Noting my clumsy grip‚ she grimaced and touched my cheek with a gentle hand. “I will teach you how to use that when we get home. Stay here. Stay silent.” I nodded again and she vanished into the forest. Quiet settled around me. Nothing moved in the fir grove save the wind tugging the boughs and a few stray needles falling into my hair. Tentatively‚ I shifted to all fours and stared in the direction my mother had gone‚ but otherwise I did not move. I would be like a rabbit in the garden‚ I told myself‚ holding so still the dogs couldn’t see me. I heard a scream. It was a shocked sound‚ full of pain‚ but it belonged to a man. I bit my bottom lip and screwed my eyes shut. Running. An outbreak of shouts and a husky‚ growling war-cry‚ fringed with bloodlust and ending in a cracking canine yip. My eyes flashed open as footsteps flitted past my fir grove‚ light and leaping. Their owner howled‚ then loosed a manic laugh. I realized I was shaking‚ and that made the tremors worse. I sat down hard‚ dropped the knife‚ and covered my face. I prayed silently‚ a clumsy imitation of my mother’s prayers—one prayer to Thvynder‚ god of my people‚ and another to Aita‚ the Great Healer‚ who made all things whole and well. When my prayers ran out I held myself tightly‚ wishing I was anywhere but here‚ and at the same time longing to be at my mother’s side. At least if I could see her‚ I’d know she was alive. It began to rain‚ hard and swift and cold. The trees swayed and the sky darkened‚ leaving me in a bewitching twilight. I squinted against the droplets and bowed my head‚ my misery and fear reaching a breaking point. I didn’t make a conscious decision to leave the grove‚ but my next clear memory was of hovering at its edge‚ watching a warrior with a blood-streaked face throw my mother against a tree. Her head cracked off a root. She rolled and tried to push up onto her hands and knees‚ but her whole body shuddered. Her head lolled‚ eyes blinking‚ squinting. Fluttering shut. Her axe lay on the forest floor‚ glistening in the rain‚ and a long knife toppled from her fumbling hand. The rain did nothing to wash the blood from her attacker’s face— multiple gashes bled freely‚ and as he snarled at my mother‚ I saw his teeth were filed to vicious points. An Iskiri Devoted. I’d heard the stories many times in my eight years. Though the adults tried to protect us from the worst of those tales‚ other children gleefully whispered the details between themselves. Iskiri Devoted still served Eang‚ the Goddess of War‚ even though she was dead and hadn’t really been a goddess at all but a Miri—a powerful being‚ almost immortal. The Iskiri Devoted reveled in killing the priests and priestesses of new gods in the most brutal‚ bloody‚ and painful ways. But my mother wasn’t just a priestess. She was the High Priestess. She had killed Eang. The Iskiri tore a hatchet embedded in a nearby tree and threw himself at my mother. My mother‚ already on the ground. My mother‚ who protected others‚ protected me. Loved me. My fear flickered like a candle in the wind. That wind was a battering‚ righteous indignation‚ a refusal to accept the reality of the moment and the truth of what was to come. Then there was no thought in me‚ only rage that burst through my veins—hot‚ blinding and feral. I shrieked. I threw myself from the trees and onto the Iskiri’s back. My fingers clawed his face‚ his throat. They pried into his eyes. He threw me to the earth and spun on me‚ spitting blood and roaring like a wounded bear. I rolled right back onto my hands and knees and weathered the force of his fury. My mother’s knife was in my hands. I darted forward and stabbed at his calf‚ down to the bone. The man stumbled and I went after him‚ still unthinking‚ carried on a wave of hate and the need to destroy the cause of my fear and my mother’s pain. Another stab‚ this one to the thigh. He tried to grab me by the hair; I dodged and hacked at his ankle. But rage couldn’t change the fact that I was a child‚ and particularly small for my age. Another lunge—the Iskiri plucked me from the ground and threw me like a doll. I smashed back into the stand of firs‚ branches cracking and bending‚ tufts of needles painting blood across my skin. I hit the ground and did not move again. I couldn’t. The anger that had fueled me sputtered with the erratic beat of my heart. All I could do was stare through tear-filled eyes as the Iskiri picked up my mother’s axe and advanced on her again. I opened my mouth to scream‚ to try and save her with my tiny‚ torn voice. But Hessa moved. Wielding a fallen branch like a spear she staggered to her feet‚ smashed the axe aside and snapped the other end into the man’s face. His head cracked back and she pressed—beating him again and again in the head‚ face and shoulders until he collapsed‚ choking on blood and shattered teeth. My mother did not stop. She kicked him onto his back and straddled him‚ branch braced across his throat. He clawed and beat at her‚ but she was impervious—she didn’t break his gaze until his hands fell limp and his fingers‚ creased with mud and blood‚ twitched on the sodden bed of needles. Hessa unfolded slowly and stepped away from the corpse. Chest heaving‚ she spat blood and retrieved her axe‚ holding it loosely in both hands. A new kind of dread gripped me then‚ twining through remnants of my ferocity and an incomprehension of what I’d done. That dread wasn’t directed toward the blood on my lips‚ or worry that my mother was badly injured. It wasn’t even because of the body‚ lying face-up in the rain. No‚ this new alarm came from the expression on my mother’s face—cold‚ remorseless‚ and weary. If my rage had been a fire‚ hers was a deep‚ drowning sea. She saw me and her expression faltered. I didn’t know if she’d seen everything I’d done‚ but I saw regret flicker through her eyes‚ the promise of a difficult truth. Then she brushed a tired hand over her face‚ slicking away blood and rain and black hair caked with dirt. “Are you hurt?” she asked‚ composed now‚ her expression guarded. I looked down at myself. I ached and was covered with cuts‚ but those pains were distant. “No‚” I said simply. “Then stay there. Wait for me.” She vanished into the trees again. I stayed this time. I couldn’t have moved if I’d wanted to‚ for as I sat beneath the fir boughs and watched rain drip on the face of the dead Iskiri‚ something within me fractured.   Excerpted from Pillar of Ash‚ copyright © 2023 by H.M. Long.

About 1 in 5 mail-in voters in the 2020 election admit to engaging in some type of voting irregularity‚ a poll released Tuesday shows.  The Rasmussen poll of 1‚085 likely voters was sponsored by The Heartland Institute‚ a free-market think tank‚ from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6.  The Heartland/Rasmussen poll found that 17% of mail-in voters surveyed said that in 2020 they voted in a state where they’re “no longer a permanent resident.” Voting in a state where the voter doesn’t live is illegal.  Another 21% of mail-in voters surveyed said they filled out a ballot for a friend or family member. In addition‚ 17% of these voters said they signed a ballot for a friend or family member “with or without his or her permission” State laws vary on what assistance is allowed in filling out a ballot‚ but all states ban filling out a ballot or forging a ballot for someone else.  The poll found that 10% of all respondents—not just those who voted by mail—said they know “a friend‚ family member‚ co-worker‚ or other acquaintance who has admitted … that he or she cast a mail-in ballot in 2020 in a state other than his or her state of permanent residence.” A smaller portion‚ 8%‚ said they were offered “pay” or a “reward” for voting in 2020. It is a felony to buy or sell votes.  In 2020‚ an election year affected by the COVID-19 pandemic‚ a record 43% of voters voted by mail‚ according to the Election Assistance Commission. In past elections‚ only about one-quarter of votes were by mail. In the poll‚ however‚ 30% said they voted by mail in 2020‚ when Democratic nominee Joe Biden defeated incumbent President Donald Trump. “These survey results show the importance of implementing forward-looking fixes to election rules and procedures that currently allow and encourage fraud‚” Heartland Institute President James Taylor said in a public statement.  “Regardless of what one’s views are on the outcome of the 2020 presidential election‚ Americans deserve an election system that is undeniably transparent and immune from mischief‚” Taylor said. “These survey results conclusively illustrate that election fraud is a rampant and pervasive problem that undermines our democracy.” As explained in my book “The Myth of Voter Suppression‚” absentee and mail-in voting historically has been the largest source of voter fraud. With regard to enfranchisement‚ the Rasmussen/Heartland poll asked: “If your state banned mail-in balloting in next year’s presidential election‚ would you choose to vote in person or would you choose not to vote at all?” Nearly all of those surveyed‚ 94%‚ said they would just vote in person. Another 2% said they wouldn’t vote‚ while 4% said they weren’t sure. Trump and his campaign disputed the outcome of the November 2020 election‚ but Trump’s legal team didn’t conclusively prove its claim that the election was stolen. Judges dismissed several legal challenges for lack of standing. The Rasmussen/Heartland poll found that support for Trump and Biden was about even‚ with 46% of the 1‚085 likely voters surveyed saying they voted for Biden and 45% saying they voted for Trump. The respondents were 33% Republicans‚ 36% Democrats‚ and 31% “other‚” Rasmussen said‚ adding that 32% were 18 to 39 years old‚ 46% were 40 to 64‚ and 22% were 65 or older. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state.  The post 2020 Election Fraud? What One-Fifth of Mail-In Voters Told Survey appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Imagine a group of people who work to destroy Italy because‚ they claim‚ Italy’s origins are illegitimate. Imagine further that these people maintain that of all the countries in the world‚ only Italy doesn’t deserve to exist. Then imagine that these people vigorously deny that they are anti-Italian. Would you believe them? Now substitute “Israel” for “Italy‚” and you’ll understand the dishonesty and absurdity of the argument that one can be anti-Zionist—that is‚ against the existence of a Jewish state—but not be anti-Jew. Yet‚ that is precisely what anti-Zionists say. They say that Israel’s existence is illegitimate. They don’t say this about any other country in the world‚ no matter how bloody its origins. And then they get offended when they’re accused of being anti-Jew. How can they make this argument? First‚ they change the topic. They say it’s unfair to charge those who merely “criticize” Israel with being antisemitic. No one says criticism of Israel is antisemitic. But anti-Zionism isn’t criticism of Israel. Anti-Zionism is opposition to Israel’s existence. Zionism is the name of the movement for the return of the Jews to their historic homeland. Over the past 3‚000 years‚ there were only two independent states located in what is called Israel. Both were Jewish states‚ and invaders destroyed both. No Arab or Muslim or any other sovereign country ever existed in that land‚ which was given the name “Palestine” by the Romans so as to remove all memory of the Jewish state they destroyed in the year 70. Second‚ anti-Zionists claim they can’t be anti-Jew because Zionism has nothing to do with Judaism. That is the same as saying Italy has nothing to do with being Italian. Judaism has always consisted of three components: God‚ Torah‚ and Israel (the people Israel and the Land of Israel). Israel is as much a part of Judaism as are God and the Bible. Moreover‚ the most pro-Israel‚ i.e. the most Zionist‚ Jews are the Orthodox‚ the most religious Jews. That there exists one tiny group of ultra-Orthodox Jews (Neturei Karta) that is anti-Zionist means nothing. They are as representative of Judaism as the Ku Klux Klan is of Christianity. Third‚ anti-Zionists claim that Judaism is only a religion; therefore‚ Jews are only members of a religion‚ not a nation. But the Jews are called a “nation” more than one hundred times in the Bible. That is why there can be irreligious‚ secular‚ and even atheist Jews—because Jews are not only a religion‚ but a people—a nation. No one thinks nonreligious Jews are not Jews. There can be no atheist Christians because Christianity is a religion‚ not a nation. Fourth‚ people point to anti-Zionist Jews to prove that anti-Zionism isn’t anti-Jewish. That would be like pointing to Americans who gave Stalin the secrets to the atom bomb to argue that siding with the Soviet Union in the Cold War was not anti-American. Or‚ to provide another Jewish example‚ it would be like pointing Jews who eat pork in Yom Kippur to argue that eating pork on Yom Kippur is Jewish. What Jews do or believe is not always the same as Judaism. Fifth‚ anti-Zionists claim that Israel is illegitimate because Zionism—and therefore‚ Israel—is “racist.” This is a libel. Half of Israel’s Jews are not even white‚ and anyone‚ of any race or ethnicity‚ can become a Jew. Furthermore‚ 1 in 5 Israelis isn’t a Jew. And these Israeli non-Jews‚ mostly Arab Muslims‚ have the same rights as Jewish Israelis. As for Israel’s presence in the West Bank and Gaza (Israel completely abandoned Gaza in 2005)‚ that has nothing to do with race and everything to do with security. It is because the Palestinians and other Arabs tried to destroy Israel in 1967 and lost the war. If the Palestinians would stop killing Israelis‚ Israel would have no problem with a “two-state solution.” But Palestinians have rejected offers to have their own state on four separate occasions since 1947. That is the only reason they don’t have their own state. And why have they always rejected having a Palestinian state? Because the only state they would accept is one that eradicates Israel. They have therefore been solely dedicated to destroying the Jewish state‚ not in having their own state alongside Israel. Sixth‚ and finally‚ anti-Zionists claim that Israel’s origins are illegitimate. Of all the world’s 200-plus countries‚ the only country anti-Zionists declare illegitimate is also the only Jewish one. That’s pretty much all you need to know about their motives. Why don’t they make this claim about Pakistan? In 1947‚ nine months before the establishment of Israel‚ India was partitioned into a Muslim state (Pakistan) and a Hindu state (India)‚ just as Palestine was partitioned into a Jewish state (Israel) and an Arab one (Palestine). But‚ unlike Israel‚ no Pakistan had ever existed. And unlike Israel’s founding‚ which created about 700‚000 Jewish refugees from Arab lands and about 700‚000 Arab refugees from what became Israel‚ the founding of Pakistan created about 7 million Muslim refugees from India and about 7 million Hindu refugees from Pakistan. And while the highest estimate of Arab deaths in the fighting that took place when Israel was established is 10‚000‚ the number of deaths as a result of Pakistan’s creation is around 1 million. So why is Israel’s legitimacy challenged while Pakistan’s isn’t? The only possible answer is because Israel is Jewish. Of course‚ not all anti-Zionists hate all Jews. But if you seek to destroy Italy‚ you don’t have to hate every Italian to be anti-Italian. Not every anti-American hates all Americans‚ but they are still called anti-American. If you seek to destroy the one Jewish state‚ you don’t have to hate every Jew to be called anti-Jew. And the name for that is antisemite. COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS The Daily Signal publishes a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Heritage Foundation. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Yes‚ Anti-Zionism Is Antisemitism appeared first on The Daily Signal.

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL: Republican Ohio Sen. JD Vance sent a letter Tuesday to Irish Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason expressing strong concerns about legislation that would undermine Irish citizens‘ freedom of speech. Vance’s letter‚ first obtained by The Daily Signal‚ references the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022‚ which is supported by Irish politicians such as Sen. Pauline O’Reilly‚ who is in the country’s Green Party. “We are restricting freedom but we’re doing it for the common good‚” O’Reilly said in viral remarks earlier this year as she discussed the legislation. “Yes‚ you have rights‚ but they are restricted for the common good.” The Ohio Republican warns that this Irish bill is “full of vague prohibitions that would chill important public debate if they were to become law‚ particularly with respect to the most controversial and publicly significant matters.” Ireland senator wants to criminalize speech that causes too much “discomfort” for people. If this were happening in Russia or China or many other nations we would call it totalitarian and threaten economic sanctions. https://t.co/BgzB5aApXC— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) November 27‚ 2023 “Given that President de Valera himself was imprisoned for sedition in 1918‚ I urge your government to consider the impact of this legislation on Ireland’s proud tradition of free speech‚” Vance wrote. The proposed Irish legislation would criminalize “behav[ing] in a public place in a manner … that is likely to incite … hatred against a person or a group of persons on account of their protected characteristics [while] being reckless as to whether … hatred is thereby incited‚” as Vance pointed out. “What on earth does that mean?” questioned the senator. “Would the prohibition include ‘recklessly’ attributing social ills‚ like crime‚ to increased immigration to Ireland? Would it include ‘recklessly’ affirming that gender is biologically determined and that there are only two genders‚ male and female?” “Even if a court would not interpret the law to prohibit that sort of activity‚ Irish citizens could be forgiven for thinking that it does‚” he said. “And if those citizens self-censor to protect themselves from prosecution‚ Ireland will be robbed of the meaningful public discourse that all democracies need.” 112723_IrishHateSpeechLaw-v3Download Vance pointed out that the United States “routinely condemns” censorious conduct from countries like China‚ Iran‚ or Myanmar‚ noting that the State Department just imposed visa restrictions on Iranian government officials who are suspected to have been involved in censoring the rights of peaceful protesters. “I am alarmed that one of our closest friends‚ a democracy dedicated to upholding cherished freedoms‚ should undertake such legislation‚” the senator said. He concluded the letter by calling upon the Irish ambassador to explain whether the legislation would be consistent with Ireland’s treaty obligations and whether the bill would be applicable to all classes of foreign visitors to Ireland‚ including U.S. government officials. The ambassador did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Signal. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state.  The post EXCLUSIVE: Vance Slams Irish Legislation Targeting Free Speech appeared first on The Daily Signal.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. According to a recent study by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and allied organizations‚ cybersecurity concerns are taking on new dimensions. Misinformation and disinformation disseminated via the internet are now being framed as key challenges in ensuring “cybersecurity.” The troubling report was launched on December 5 and designated as “Cybersecurity Futures 2030: New Foundations.” The study postulates the future of cybersecurity lies rather in safeguarding the integrity and source of data. This introduces a novel perspective on the significance of locating and quashing fabricated information‚ cynically tagged as “mis”- or “dis-information” held in the cybersecurity domain. Various international conferences‚ both virtual and geo-located‚ were instrumental in shaping the insights of the study. Sessions held across the world‚ in conjunction with an online gathering inviting participants across Europe‚ were supposedly catalysts in outlining the futuristic‚ hypothetical scenarios catapulting cybersecurity to 2030. The WEF report pushes digital security “literacy training” as quintessential to warding off the threats posed by misinformation and disinformation‚ referring to them as the “core of cyber concerns.” This is similar to controversial proposals for “media literacy” that are taking place across some governments‚ most recently California. The authors opine that a widespread competence in internet literacy is the sine qua non in warred zones of data fraud and run-of-the-mill cybercrime. The report’s writers unfold an interesting perspective where “stable governments‚” with long-term tech and cybersecurity strategies up their sleeves‚ morph into reliable and trustworthy information gatekeepers. The study also puts the roles of government and the private sector in preserving trust under its lens‚ particularly in the US context‚ deliberating who should be entrusted with the key censorship task. The post WEF Likens “Misinformation” To A Cybersecurity Issue In Calls For More Action appeared first on Reclaim The Net.