The Dark Menace of the Universe

[ringsyde]

I received my 2120 editions and the DARK MENACE book today. I haven't had a chance to read the whole book, but I have skimmed through a lot of it.

One of the reasons why I'm such a fan of Tom Filsinger's work is that he and nearly everyone associated with the COTG is frank and open in discussing the product and the many processes that lead to creating characters and stories.

While skimming the book, I got the sense that I was reading a letter from a successful friend who I hadn't heard from in a while, excitedly filling me in on what's been going on in his life. He doesn't try to be an author. Instead, Tom is a raconteur who mixes humor, frankness and a little emotion to tell the reader about how the COTG universe has inspired others to be creative, how a COTG boom period almost led to the end of the product line, and how many of the marquee characters of the GWF / CPC came to be.

I don't like to start several books at once because that's usually a sure path to not finishing one or more of them. I started reading Dean Koontz's "Frankenstein" a few days ago, and I've been fairly impressed with it. I found myself walking right past that book and reading DARK MENACE quite a lot today. I've read the full Appendix section and most of pages 105 to 170, and I'm getting the itch to turn to page one and read on. The book - what I've read so far - has been an entertaining and engrossing experience, and the writing style and plain speech are the big hooks here.

I hope those of you reading this have either ordered the book or plan to. As a budding writer and English teacher, I can tell you that the book reaches beyond the COTG world and into the mainstream because of the focuses on family, creativity and personal motivation. It's also a great piece of history and exploration of characters and concepts for the GWF fan.

[Thad Killian]

Oh yeah...I sat and read the entire thing while i was traveling back to home...it's a great book and your right that it has a letter to a freind quality. It talks about the community kinda squashing the creativity out of young people and that they are viewed as "the dark menace" of society...it was awesome and a great read!

[dennish]

I'm just in the first few chapters of the Dark Menace, but I can say for sure it is a inspiring book. I have to make a comment on when I first met Tom in Jamestown was at the Taco Hut and I did not know it when I shook his hand was Tom at first... but when we exchanged names and we talked the friendship started there. Reading this book confirms to me that Tom Filsinger is not just the creator of Champions of the Galaxy and Legends of Wrestling, he is a true
friend. I can also say that this game has reached out to all of us, and has made us friends... and I owe that luxury to Tom Filsinger,
and in the end thats why there are so many inspiring reasons to collect and play the great products from the mastermind himself... TOM FILSINGER!

[TheOtherTravis]

Just finished reading The Dark Menace today. I have to say it was a really good read. I learned a lot, laughed a lot, and was inspired. It was very conversational, which is how I like memoirs, and it covered a wide range of information...which also was great. The commentaries on certain characters covered the majority of my favorites. Thank you, Tom. Can't wait for your next book. ;D

Peace.

~Travis

[Tom]

This message was also posted under Misc. COTG stuff since there are two places where people have posted about The Dark Menace of the Universe:

The gang at Fed HQ wants to use some of the comments about The Dark Menace of the Universe to promote the book at the official game site. I hope this is okay with loyal promoters. Please let me know if you DON'T want any of your comments to be listed.

My understanding is it'll be a few lines here and there. It'll appear on the page about the Dark Menace book.

Thanks for the kind comments about the book, which means a lot to me. And keep those dice hot!