Schlock Mercenary: The Blackness Between [Paperback]

Howard Tayler (Author), Sandra Tayler (Editor), Steve Troop (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2006

This is the second print collection of Schlock Mercenary, and it is chock-full of new footnotes and sketches, plus 8 pages of never-before-seen bonus story explaining how Schlock got rich escaping from the circus. This 100 page, full-color collection can stand alone, but makes an ideal companion volume to Under New Management.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is a brilliant and beautiful work, which will increase the class and resale vaule of any piece of furniture you lay it on. But that's academic, since you won't be able to put it down. --Rob Balder, partiallyclips.com

Howard Tayler's a good guy. He also writes possibly te best (and funniest) space opera done in modern times, Schlock Mercenary --Ryk Spoor, seawasp.livejournal.com

Schlock Mercenary is the most consistently hilarious science fiction since Red Dwarf --PJ Hart, fleen.com

About the Author

Howard Tayler has been a rock musician, telephone support technician, field consultant, record producer, software product manager, and (finally) a cartoonist. He lives in Orem, Utah, with his wife, four children, and The Voices In His Head. They have never been happier.

Product Details

• Paperback: 100 pages
• Publisher: The Tayler Corporation; 1st edition (November 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977907430
• ISBN-13: 978-0977907434
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,059,777 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It just keeps getting better, March 1, 2007

By 

M. Reeve "WWII Fiction Fan" (Santa Cruz, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Schlock Mercenary: The Blackness Between (Paperback)

"The Blackness Between" is a direct sequel to "Under New Management", the first Schlock Mercenary collection. More treachery, destruction, and mayhem than you can shake a stick at. (Speaking of sticks, Sergeant Schlock manages to come up with a herefore unseen use for one which you need to see to believe.) Howard Tayler's really hit his stride here, and once again we get the marginalia, footnotes, and bonus story which make Howard's books the gold standard of dead-tree collections of webcomics.

Buy one. Buy two and give one to a friend. You'll be glad you did.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How hard sci fi can be funny....., March 1, 2007

By 

R. A. Caton "Arcaton" (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Schlock Mercenary: The Blackness Between (Paperback)

Others will tell you how this little volume is the excellent sequel to "Under New Management" and how there exists on line at the Schlock Mercenary site not only the books but the amazing Schlock saga before and since. See the amazing advances in artistic skill that constant practice at turning out a strip that is both scientifically plausible and funny at the same time can produce!
In fact why buy the printed versions at all? - 1. they don't need a computer to access them 2. there are extras in the books in the form of additional illustrations, footnotes and stories that you won't get online.
Buy the books AND check out the strip! (just use a Famous Search Engine and you'll find the URL)

Never mind that the humour here is clean and wholesome with an ominous hummmmm or that "Elf" Foxworthy is hot hot hot.....

This is funny stuff done by an artist who is a great guy. So buy buy buy.

5.0 out of 5 stars A second hit of pure funny, March 1, 2007

By 

Scott Jacobs Jr. "Devoted Schlocker" (Central IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Schlock Mercenary: The Blackness Between (Paperback)

This and his first book are my little bound 'stacks of happiness' to turn a phrase from the books. Howard's artwork is stunning, sharp and perfect. His constant, unending humor adds a touch to the stories he crafts that are simply awesome. He's a modern bard, without the silly guitar-thing. Though I'm sure he could play one if pressed. He's never let me down with a strip yet, always giving me a chuckle. If you are a fan of witty dialog and snappy stories... If you like humor that doesn't rely on foul words, then these books are for you...