It’s been another wild, but positive week at Palladium Books. The most notable for me was my Dad going into the hospital on Tuesday.
UPDATE: Henry Siembieda. As most of you know, my 79 year old father, Henry, has been fighting bladder cancer for a couple of years now. Every time we’d think the cancer was been beaten, it would return stronger than ever. The doctors finally decided it was best to remove my father’s bladder and prostate while the cancer appears to be contained there. On Tuesday, that’s exactly what they did.
After six long hours in surgery, my Dad seems to have come out of the surgery with flying colors. According to his doctor, the surgery went great and he feels reasonably confident the cancer was contained to the bladder and my Dad is now cancer free. Whew. Of course, we’re not out of the woods just yet. Dad remains in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and has been very groggy, but seems to be doing well. We had a couple little scares with a drop in blood pressure that first night, and a racing heart this Thursday morning, but both were quickly brought under control and he “seems” to be doing well. I spent the entire first night with him in ICU till noon the next day. I make sure I spend several hours with him every day. For more details on the day of surgery, see my the Murmur from the Megaverse report.
Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes, they are very, very appreciated.
UPDATE: Heroes of the Megaverse®! Ships September 10 or 13 (next Friday or the following Monday). I spoke to my printer rep this morning and was delighted to hear the good news about a quick turnaround. Pre-orders have been coming in at a good clip, too. Everyone who has seen the photocopy of the book loves it. I think it’s pretty epic. Still, I’m nervous about what you – our fans who have waited so long for this title – will think of it. I hope it fits the bill or is more than what you expected. I tried to make it special and I think I’ve succeeded, but you never know what your audience will think until it’s in their hands.
UPDATE: What’s next. Right now, Wayne and Alex are working on The Rifter® #52, while I’m putting most of my efforts toward getting Armageddon Unlimited™ to the printer next, followed by Rifts® Dimension Book: Thundercloud Galaxy™, the two Rifts® Vampire books, and more. With any luck we’ll actually squeak out Rifts® Lemuria, Dead Reign™ Sourcebook Three, and even a Robotech® sourcebook. You heard right, Robotech®. I’ve been told the initial manuscript for the New Generation™ Sourcebook should be coming my way soon.
UPDATE: The Rifter® #52. This is another GREAT issue of the The Rifter®. Wayne and Alex are working on it right now. I’ve sent out the art assignments for it and I’ll be sending out contracts tomorrow. We expect the issue will go to the printer in 2-3 weeks and be available the first week of October.
UPDATE: Armageddon Unlimited™ (for Heroes Unlimited™ and the Minion War™). We’re working on this bad boy already. Artwork is coming in and looking great. The text seems smooth, the ideas are awesome, and I think the edit and rewrite will go very quickly! I hope to have this book to the printer in a couple weeks and available to ship mid-October. This is going to be another fantastic book.
UPDATE: Rifts® Thundercloud Galaxy™. John Zeleznik is busy at work on the cover, most of the impressive Mike Mumah artwork is finished, and it should quickly follow the release of Armageddon Unlimited. End of October or early November release.
REMINDER: Heavy Metal® Magazine with the Rifts®/Colt the Outlander™ crossover is on store shelves. The magazine is out and the Rifts® crossover comic strip looks fantastic. It is in the stores and waiting for you to add to your collection. This comic is too cool to miss! On sale at bookstores everywhere, right now.
AVAILABLE NOW! Rifts® SAMAS™ T-shirt – “Accept No Imitations” is in stock and ready to ship. Get those orders in. This shirt is very cool and should be a must for every Rifts® fan. ;)
If you are looking for scary, realistic, life-sized Halloween props, Kathy Simmons makes the best. And you might get a Kevin Siembieda original work of art in the process. As I mentioned before, I paint of most of the hands and masks used on Kathy’s “ghouls.” I also help with her zombies. Not that Kathy needs my help, her creations are masterpieces. If you want something truly unique and scary, check out her monstrous props. You will not be disappointed. Zombies, Dark Jester, Mad Doctor and his Nurse Assistant, witches, wizards, and more continue to roll out of Kathy Simmons’ garage. Kathy makes one of a kind, life-sized Halloween props for sale in her online store at queenofghouls.com. She’s got a new crawling zombie, a standing zombie, a walking zombie, jester and more available in her online store right now. If you are looking for scary and fun, life-size Halloween props for your Halloween party or yard display, take a look at queenofghouls.com. They are awesome.
UPDATE: Sales. Talk about scary. Last weekend’s sales were in the gutter, and we had a couple of lousy days, but then we saw a sharp upswing. Hopefully sales will stay up.
This weekend is the Labor Day holiday in the U.S. To all of you attending Dragon Con, I’m envious. Have a blast. To those of you getting in that last weekend of Summer fun, enjoy. To those you who have to work this weekend, me too (but try to slip in a little time to relax). Stay positive and keep those imaginations burning bright.
– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher and Writer
- NEW! Rifts® SAMAS™ “Accept no Imitations” T-Shirt – Make a statement! Now available.
- The Rifter® #49 – Now available.
- The Rifter® #50 (special anniversary issue) – Now available.
- The Rifter® #51 (official Triax source material & more) – Now available.
- Rifts® Dimension Book™ 12: Dimensional Outbreak™ – Now available.
- Rifts® Logo Hoodies (2 styles, zipper and pullover) – Now available.
- Rifts® World Book 31: Triax™ Two – Now available.
- Rifts® 20 Year Celebration T-Shirt – Now available.
- Rifts® 20 Year Celebration Color Print – Now available. Suitable for framing.
- Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms – “Death is for the Weak” T-Shirt – Now available.
- Palladium Books® – Game Master T-Shirt – Now available.
- Palladium Open House “Checklist” T-Shirt – Now available.
- Rifts®/Phase World®: Heroes of the Megaverse® – Ships September 10.
- Rifter® #52 – Horror Special – First week of October.
- Armageddon Unlimited™ – Mid-October.
- Rifts® Dimension Book™: Thundercloud Galaxy™ – End of October or November.
- Rifts® World Book One: Vampire Kingdoms™, Expanded/Updated
- Dead Reign™ Sourcebook Three
- Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook™
- Rifts® World Book: Lemuria
- Robotech® New Generation™ Sourcebook
- Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames™
- Rifts® Chaos Earth™ – First Responders Sourcebook
- Plus more Robotech® sourcebooks, more Mysteries of Magic™ sourcebooks, more Nightbane® sourcebooks, more Dead Reign™ sourcebooks and other good stuff. Note: Order of release, as listed, may be altered.
White on a black T-shirt featuring a Coalition SAMAS™ as drawn by Kevin Long. The words “Rifts® by Palladium Books®” are in royal blue, the artwork and “Accept No Imitations” are in white.
Type: 50/50 cotton polyester blend.
Sizes: Medium to 5XL.
Color: Black and white artwork, blue Rifts logo and text, slogan in white on a black T-shirt.
Art by: Kevin Long, inked by Brian and Allen Manning.
Cost: $18.95 for Medium, Large and XL. $20.95 for 2XL, $22.95 for 3XL, $24.95 for 4XL and $26.95 for 5XL. Plus shipping.
Cat. No. 2552. Available now.
At the printer and scheduled to ship September 10 or 13.
The Book of Heroes is an ancient magic tome that empowers those with the potential for greatness. (Your player character?) In times of fear and darkness the Book is said to appear to make sure the forces of evil don’t get the upper hand. The Minion War™ is such a dark time, as the forces of Hell ripple across the Megaverse, bringing death and destruction. Are the legends true? Is there a magic book that inspires and empowers new heroes to rise up and make a difference when they are needed most?
Heroes of the Megaverse™ presents the Book of Heroes, its powers and influence. It also lists the names of 2,000 of the greatest champions the Megaverse has ever known and offers rules for turning them into legendary Heroes of the Megaverse. This magic artifact is said to be a hero maker, able to find beings with the spirit of a hero and bestow upon them incredible power to do battle against evil. Only one copy of the book is known to exist, and everyone wants to get their hands on it – good guys and bad (demons, Deevils, the Splugorth, the Dominators, the Kreeghor, etc.). According to legend, he who controls the Book of Heroes and wields the “Power of the Two Thousand” can rule the universe. The book has been missing for millennia. No one knows its fate or the true power contained within its List of Heroes. No one except YOU – the current keepers of this legendary Rune book.
Demons and Deevils are trying to turn Earth into one of their playgrounds. It’s worse than you think. The plan is to bring about Armageddon to unleash a powerful force that could change the tide of the Minion War™. Only Earth’s greatest superheroes (that’s your characters) stand in their way. Can be played as a Minion War™ crossover bringing in heroes from across the Megaverse, or as a stand-alone adventure setting for Heroes Unlimited™.
Kevin Siembieda is reorganizing, tweaking, expanding and updating one of the most popular Rifts® World Books ever published: Vampire Kingdoms™. This will include some new artwork and an expanded page count. The book will be updated and expanded in much the same way as Kevin did with Rifts® Sourcebook One a couple years ago. Best of all, it will be accompanied by the Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook that will also come out this summer.
Trouble is stirring in the Vampire Kingdoms as ambitious vampire lords, ladies and misanthropes seek to expand their power to dominate more mortal life forms.
Written by Kevin Siembieda and a handpicked selection of other writers, this sourcebook explores the vampires of Mexico and their kingdoms in ways you never imagined. Tons of new data, adventure ideas and revelations.
The Thundercloud Galaxy™ is the perfect companion to Rifts® Dimensional Outbreak™ to expand one’s gaming Megaverse in the Three Galaxies. History, aliens, weapons, spacecraft, and adventure in a galaxy far, far away.
The Minion War spills across Rifts Earth, where demons and infernals hope to recruit allies and use the Rifts as gateways of destruction. Their influence shakes things up across the planet, especially at locations where demons and Deevils already have a strong presence. More details to follow, but for now, ‘nuff said.
At last, the underwater realm of Lemuria. The people and history of Lemuria, new magic, sea herbs and healing, sea monsters, and more.
Data about the chaos and madness of the early days of the Great Cataclysm, and the brave men and women who tried to stem the tide of destruction and save lives, the First Responders.
‘Nuff said, for now.
Palladium has made 90 titles available as PDF digital downloads from DriveThruRPG.com. This is a great way to try Palladium products and get access to out of print RPG source material. Some notable titles include.
- Splicers® RPG
- Beyond the Supernatural™ RPG, First Edition Rules.
- Boxed Nightmares™ for BTS, First Edition Rules.
- Nightbane® Book Four: Shadows of Light™.
- The Mechanoids® RPG and The Mechanoid Invasion® RPG Trilogy.
- Palladium Fantasy RPG®, First Edition Rules and select 1st edition sourcebooks.
- After the Bomb® RPG and sourcebooks.
- The Rifter® issues 1-40.
- The Best of The Rifter®
- Deluxe Revised RECON® RPG and Advanced RECON® Sourcebook.
- And more – go to DriveThruRPG.com and check ‘em out.
Scary. Life-sized (most are 6 feet or taller). Unique. Palladium’s very own Kathy Simmons makes and sells all-weather, life-sized Halloween props. Each is a one-of-a-kind work of art. Each looks frighteningly “real.” Can survive all types of weather. All come apart and fold down to slightly larger than a king-size pillow for easy storage. Come with easy instructions, a storage bag, and the lawn stake to stand them up in your front yard. Indoor stand sold separately.
Types of “Ghouls” include: Zombies (all kinds!), killer clowns, wizards, witches, devils, grave ghouls, scarecrows, executioners, mad doctors, deadly nurses, vampires, werewolves, and more. Kathy’s also now offering an array of hand-painted Halloween signs, signs with heads and bodies hanging from them, witch’s brewing pots, Halloween centerpieces and more. Best of all, her high quality creations are much more affordable and imaginative than most competitors or mass-produced items in a store, making them affordable Halloween fun.
If you think the photos online look good, you should see them in person. A typical “ghoul,” as she calls her creations, costs $89-$150. You can see some of her work at her Queen of Ghouls™ Ebay store – queenofghouls.com.
© Copyright 2010 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.
Robotech® and Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® are Registered Trademarks of Harmony Gold USA, Inc.
This press release may be reprinted, reposted, linked and shared for the sole purpose of advertising, promotion and sales solicitation.
Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Phase World®, Nightbane®, Megaverse®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Beyond the Supernatural™, Chaos Earth, Coalition States, Dead Reign, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Minion War, Mysteries of Magic, SAMAS, Thundercloud Galaxy, Three Galaxies, Vampire Kingdoms, Warpath, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.