February Recommendations from the EC Crew (Patreon)

Our recommendations from February! They might not be books or games or movies that came out in that time, but these are some of the pieces we think you all might like. We also all have wildly different tastes so hopefully, there's a little something for everyone.

Arthur Recommends... The Stillness of the Wind (Game)

Here's an example of how questioning a genre convention can give you something entirely different. Most farming sims put you in the shoes of the aimless 20 or 30 somthing year old, inherting their farm from a distant relative (usually grandpa). The Stillness of the Wind puts you in the shoes of that distant relative instead. And it's fantastic for it. Plus you can pet the goats. I don't know what more you want

Jac Recommends... Parable of the Sower (Book)

 This is probably Octavia Butler's most famous novel, and for good reason. It's challenging to read -- major trigger warning here for sexual and physical violence -- but also very well worth it. The story is shockingly prescient: written in 1993, Butler predicts the economic, social, and ecological challenges we're facing today in a dramatic, sweeping apocalypse novel with some small elements of magical realism thrown in for good measure. If you want to read an intense, real-feeling depiction of what the apocalypse could look like, featuring an interesting and unique protagonist, give it a read.  

Matt Recommends... Exit the Gungeon (Game)

 ...you knew this was coming :) 

Rob Recommends...  Sacré Bleu: A Comedy d'Art by Christopher Moore (Book)

 Christopher Moore is one of my favorite humor authors, and this is him in his best mode—getting deeply obsessed with some (often historical) topic and turning it into a hilarious, bawdy farce. This time it's post-impressionist painters, as fictional baker-slash-painter Lucien Lessard teams up with the (very real) Tolouse-Lautrec to investigate the murder of Vincent Van Gogh. A mystery that involves a strange paint salesman, a hallucinagenic and possibly magical shade of blue, and because this is a Christopher Moore novel, a beautiful and sharp-tongued femme fatale. It's chock full of historical detail as well as cameos from real painters, and half the characters are based on real portraits from the artists—which are included in the print edition. Personally, I'm listening on Audible, but keep referring to a paperback I picked up during its orginal release for the images. Content Warning: It is quite naughty even for a Moore novel—his characters specialize in verbal abuse and innuendo—but the freewheeling, drunken, brothel-packed atmosphere of Paris is part of the fun as long as you're up for that. Art knowledge is not required, but does enhance the depth of the jokes.