The Castle Herald No. IV - October 2026

Only Castles Playing

Conspiracy: The Solomon Gambit (Restoration Games, 2019): I found this game to veer slightly into a stalemate/kingmaker type of game, which doesn't always feel enjoyable to play and I admit, I wasn't feeling it halfway through. The game itself is fun in how it operates, but because of the way actions work, you can just bounce people back and forth until someone relents. I suppose you are waiting for a mistake or them to run out of money, but the feeling is less strategic than that.

Wingspan Pocket (Stonemaier Games, 2026): Doesn't fit in your pocket. I'd probably be more apt to buy this than the full game at this point, though. It's short, to the point, and distills the mechanics into a less elaborate form. It's interesting that this is what the original design was closer to. If only it fit in your pocket.

Vantage (Stonemaier Games, 2025): Every time I've played this, it has gone differently and that really surprises me. It's a credit to the design, of course. This time I had a lot more cards in my grid than usual, but was not successful in accomplishing as many game goals as usual. Given how many cards we all had, I found the synergies to be really robust on this play. Lots of helping each other out, lots of slots to put dice. I'm glad this game has more than just scene variety. The mechanic variety keeps it vital to me.

This Is Not A Game About A Pipe (2025): One of my group bought this self-published surrealist trick-taking game at the PAX Unplugged Night Market last year. It is a trip. I think I finally got it towards the end but something I got really stuck on was that I could not figure out what to do when my hand was mostly low value cards. At some point you just try to feed "bad" cards to whoever is winning, but it doesn't really help you catch up because of the scoring. Interesting game I'd totally play again and be interested to see how it goes.

The British Way: Counterinsurgency at the End of Empire (GMT Games, 2023): See my piece on playing this remotely.

Only Castles Reading

Senet Magazine: After buying the first couple issues sporadically, I finally subscribed to this beautiful magazine about board games. The latest issue came at the beginning of the month and it's packed with interesting articles, lovely photography and illustrations, and impeccable design. It's a bit pricey but the cost definitely looks like it's on the page.

Blightfall by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson (Delacourt): I liked Sanderson's Skyward series, despite it being a YA space opera that felt a little silly at times. This new collaborative series is leaning a lot more into the YA aspects and it's a bit ridiculous to read about teenagers relationship woes in the middle of deadly situations. I'm not sure if I'll continue this series to be honest. After abandoning the very disappointing Songs of the Dead, things don't bode well for Sanderson collaborations.

The Fires of December by Brandon Sanderson (Dragonsteel Books): By contrast to Blightfall, this is an extremely mature Brandon book and I appreciated that aspect of it (although it veers into Romantasy at times). Very intriguing Cosmere ties, a thoroughly interesting world, and some of Brandon's best writing in years make this a great addition to the Secret Projects/Hoid's Travails series. The art in this one is stellar, too, and the world/story really needed it to be.

Edge of the Abyss [Star Wars: Reign of the Empire] (Random House, 2026): I loved The Mask of Fear, the first in this series, so was excited to dive into this one. It doesn't disappoint. If the Andor reference in the first book's title wasn't enough, this second one actually fills in a few characters from Andor. If you liked that show, you'll definitely appreciate the tone and concepts in this, as well as a few appearances by various characters.

Only Castles Listening

Dinosaur Jr - Near There (Jagjaguwar, 2026): Have not given this nearly the time it deserves but what I've heard has been great.

Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts - Second Song (Reprise, 2026): Well well, this is definitely one of those albums that people will call a "late career highlight" or "swan song." But Neil has more lives than a cat, so it's hard to define what late career really is for him. Certainly better than Talkin' to the Trees, and more akin to Silver & Gold or Prairie Wind, this one has lovely instrumentation, some of Neil's most poetic lyrics in years, and more introspection than usual. I think fans will be unpacking this one for awhile.

Only Castles Watching

Silo (Apple): What a finale! So glad that the next, final season is already in production and slated for next summer. I've been contemplating reading the books but will likely wait until the show wraps. This finale certainly sets things up for a wild and momentous fourth season.

Lanterns (HBO): The big episode 5 climax was pretty incredible although I think I found all the setup in the prior four episodes much more compelling. I do appreciate how much of Damon Lindelof's style is on this. You think you are watching one thing and then there's an unexpected turn and it becomes something else.

Furious (Hulu): After hearing about this a lot on The Watch, I decided to give it a try once I finished The Agency. It is extremely good, but very disturbing and uncomfortable to watch. That is certainly fitting and likely somewhat the intention, but it's continually strange to me that the show comes from the creator of New Girl. There are a bit too many coincidences in it for me to sing its total praises, but a good show nonetheless.

Marble Hall Murders (PBS): Another "Susan Ryeland Mystery" from Anthony Horowitz! Lesley Manville & Tim McMullan are so engaging to watch and these have been clever meta mysteries. I'm glad Horowitz keeps writing and adapting them.

Slow Horses (Apple): This is basically the most satisfying show to follow on TV. Clockwork schedule, tight writing, fantastic cast. Every year it comes back, I'm thrilled. There's some talk about when they might end it, but it's renewed for a couple more years already so that's all I need right now. As long as Gary Oldman is interested in being Jackson Lamb, I'm along for the ride.

Ted Lasso (Apple): My opinion on Ted Lasso is that as long as I laugh, I'll keep watching it. I don't really go in for all the meditating on what seasons are best or when it fell off or if it's not really a soccer show anymore. For me, it's just about the jokes. My other opinion on Ted Lasso is that Shrinking is a better show for pontificating on. There's more meaning and emotion in that show for me.