When any given publisher releases a book with a theme in which it specializes, such a work does not necessarily warrant attention; chaff gets pretty thoroughly mixed with palatable morsels in many cases, and this is as true with horror -- more true, perhaps -- than with many other genres. But when a reputable regional publisher releases a bona fide horror title, it makes a conscientious fan wonder whether it might not be worth a closer look.

This is certainly the case with Emmis Books' Shadows in the Asylum: The Case Files of Dr. Charles Marsh (2006, ISBN 1-57860-204-1, $14.95), an innovative work written by D.A. Stern, bestselling author of a number of Blair Witch Project adaptations and spinoffs. Not only does it warrant a closer look, its innovative structure both encourages and compels one.

Unlike more traditional books, Shadows in the Asylum’s story unfolds in the form of a variety of documents, including medical records, newspaper clippings, historical documents, journal entries, email messages, and even the scribbled notes of its central character. This makes a passive reading of the book difficult and challenges the reader to glean the information that will reveal the secrets contained within its pages.

Events in the book revolve around the title Dr. Charles Marsh, a man with a dark past who has recently assumed a position as a psychologist at an asylum in Wisconsin. Marsh soon develops an interest in one of the institution’s patients, a woman who suffered a mental breakdown while on an archaeological dig in northern Wisconsin and now claims to be haunted by spectral monsters. From that point onward, the lines between patient and healer begin to blur, and Marsh is inexorably drawn into a struggle with his uncertainty about what is real and what is imaginary, and what can be addressed with the tools of science and what cannot.

While the works of horror master H.P. Lovecraft are evoked by the contents of this book -- and, along with the Blair Witch Project, invoked by the publisher in its promotional and backflap materials -- discerning readers will also detect the influence of an earlier by equally seminal father of the genre: Bram Stoker, whose Dracula is a compilation of diary entries, letters, newspaper articles, phonograph transcripts, and the like. Shadows in the Asylum takes this concept a step further by presenting it graphically as well as textually. (A technique, by the way, that would make this book an ideal prop for live-action horror roleplaying games like Cthulhu Live.)

It would not be right to include any spoilers or give away any surprises here, and so this review will forgo providing too many details of the horror that lurks at the roots of this compelling story (although the most fanatic horror aficionados already know what sort of creatures lurk in the cold wastes of the upper Midwest …). For those looking for that exceptional work that transcends what they have come to expect from an often dissatisfying genre, however, suffice it to say that Shadows in the Asylum will not disappoint.

WASHINGTON, DC -- Book Expo America 2006, held here 19-21, was the place to be for anyone involved in writing, publishing, selling, or distributing books (and, from the looks of a great number of overburdened people struggling with totes bursting with samples and swag, those who love books as well).

Old friends Skirmisher publisher Michael J. Varhola visited with at the show included Writer's Digest Books and for which he wrote Everyday Life During the Civil War and the Writer's Complete Fantasy Reference and Savas -- now Savas-Beatie -- for which he wrote Fire & Ice: The Korean War, 1950-53 and D-Day. Others whose books have been favorably recognized on this site and in other publications with which Varhola is affiliated included Dover Publications, Emmis Books, Inner Traditions, Stackpole, and Wizards of the Coast. All had great looking new titles displayed at the show and it was encouraging to see so many nice titles from so many favorite companies.

New friends Varhola met with for the first time and with who's work he was impressed included Adventures Unlimited Press, American University of Cairo Press, Barron's, Casemate, Encounter Books, Illumination Arts Publishing, Leading Books Press, MapQuest, Meisha Merlin Publishing, and Word Forge Books.

Keep your eye on this space for reviews of some of the most fun, interesting, and promising titles we ran across at BEA '06! Just a few of them include Shadows in the Asylum, The Giza Death Star Destroyed, and DragonArt.

Q: About 15 to 20 years ago, Dragon Magazine had a cartoon called "Fineous Fingers." He was a thief with a band of adventurer friends. Around that time there was a set of miniature metal figures offered in a box set with all the main characters. A supposed friend of mine got light fingered and walked off with the Wizard miniature from the set and claimed he accidentally lost it. Right!

I was wondering if you could tell me if there is any place I could either get a replacement or another entire set? If not can you tell me where to look or who to ask?

A: Fineous Fingers is a little older than you remember! We checked our 20-year-old Dragon magazines, and he was no longer in them, then went back to our 25-year-old ones -- the oldest ones we had easy access to --and he was not in them either. A little poking around on the Web then revealed that he appeared in Dragon magazine in 1980 and before but, as far as we can tell, not since.

With regard to the miniatures, our condolences; we have all lost gaming stuff over the years to similar "friends" (many of whom no doubt misguidedly style themselves after Fineous). You are not the only one who no longer has a set of these, either; in our cursory research into this subject, we came across the following quote in an online gaming forum: "I used to own a full set of Fineous Fingers figures, but alas, they're lost now. Never got around to painting them, but they were awesome."

If you are interested in replacing any of them, our recommendation would be to periodically do a search on eBay. We ran a quick check for you just now and no luck, but new stuff gets listed every day, and that might end up being your best bet. We have quite a few gaming props there, both ones we used to have and ones we could not afford back in the day.

Hope that helps!

Enter an ancient tomb where the undead lurk, where deadly necromantic powers hold sway, and where a king has arisen from the past to challenge your every footstep ... Discover the Warrens of the ghools, creatures of nightmare, fed by an evil power, cursed never to see the light of day ...

Pied Piper Publishing has announced that it will be publishing Dungeon Module CAS1: Cairn of the Skeleton King -- an adventure compatible with the AD&D 1st and 2nd Edition Games -- and that it will be authored by veteran game designer Robert J. Kuntz.

This adventure is written by veteran game designer Robert J. Kuntz,Ennie award winning designer of Maure Castle from Dungeon Magazine.

"If you are seeking adventure with action, newness and the constant challenge of peril, then Cairn of the Skeleton King is a DM’s dream andthe PCs’ nightmare," Pied Piper Publishing said.

This adventure is a 48-page adventure for levels 4-7, with two scenarios in one, each compatible with both AD&D editions, and includes full-color cover and and blac-and-white interior illustrations by veteran artist Jim Holloway. It will have a limited print run of 500 copies, each signed and numbered by the author. According to the company, these will not be available in bookstores and will not be reprinted. The expected release date is mid-July.

For a limited time, Skirmisher Publishing LLC is selling slightly used or shelfworn copies of its d20 book Warriors on Amazon.com for just $2.37.

"It's true, and these books are actually in very good shape," said Skirmisher Publisher Michael J. Varhola. "We just want the opportunity to get some of our products into the hands of people who might not yet be familiar with them. Warriors is a great book, and we believe that anyone who takes a look at it will want to see some of our other d20 and wargaming books."

Warriors is a comprehensive D20 sourcebook for fantasy role-playing games that expands upon the description of the Warrior class in the 3rd Edition DMG. It is an invaluable resource both for dungeon masters who want to expand the variety and realism of combat encounters and martial non-player characters and for players who want to enhance the military and combat capabilities of their characters.

Features of Warriors include 16 military prestige classes; more than 30 military subtypes; nine non-military subtypes; two dozen skills; nearly a score of feats, including eight devoted to aerial warfare, new weapons, armor, and equipment, including weapon accessories, elephant gear, siege engines, balloons and blimps, and guidelines for incorporating high-technology weapons into a fantasy campaign; 16 new spells; more than 80 new magic items and five new weapon special abilities; three new combat-oriented monsters; two dozen detailed, ready-to-use NPCs; rules for incorporating chariots into combat; rules for using large beasts like elephants in warfare; and guidelines on historical and non-human heraldry.

To purchase a copy of Warriors for just $2.37, go to the book's product detail page on Amazon.com.