Author Archives: fakedtales

About fakedtales

I'm a writer, a podcaster, a reviewer of games. Here's where I share my own fiction and my encounters with other people's media.

Thought Bubble Thoughts

Posted on December 14, 2025 by fakedtales

Thought Bubble is the event for comics creators in the UK (and beyond). That’s what I’ve always heard about Thought Bubble. It’s a convention I’ve been meaning to go to, but there have been too many factors in the way. … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics | Tagged 2000 ad, Comic convention, mad robot comics, Thought Bubble | Leave a comment

Casual Trek Episode 75 “The Flesh Katamari”

Posted on December 1, 2025 by fakedtales

[show notes by Miles] We’re still concerned with the Delta Quadrant as this episode of Casual Trek covers episodes from Modern Trek’s animated series concerning the Voyager, the Delta Quadrant and all assorted antics. First up is the Prodigy Season … Continue reading →

Posted in casual trek | Tagged casual trek, podcast, Star Trek, Star Trek Lower Decks, Star Trek Prodigy, Twovix | Leave a comment

Top Five Non-Game Things of Essen Spiel 2025

Posted on November 21, 2025 by fakedtales

I love a convention and 2025’s been a surprisingly big year for me with them (with two left to go between Thought Bubble and Dragonmeet). The thing is, a gaming convention is more than just games. Here’s my list of … Continue reading →

Posted in board games | Tagged Board Game Mascots, Deluxe Gaming Tables, Essen Spiel, Essen Spiel 2025, in-fighters, Pretzels, StreetPass | Leave a comment

Games I Saw But Didn’t Play at Essen Spiel 2025

Posted on November 17, 2025 by fakedtales

Essen Spiel is big. Really big. It’s difficult to play everything, especially when you’re really awkward about hovering awkwardly by a table for ages. Not that it stopped us by the end, but early on, the three of us were … Continue reading →

Posted in board games | Tagged avery alder, board games, Catan, Catan Dobble, Don Quixote: The Ingenious Hidalgo, Essen Spiel, galaxy trucker, Jisogi: Anime Studio Tycoon, Junk Art Revolution, Kingdomino, Magnetic Board Game Holders, mothership, Squirrel Away, The Presence, Winnie the Pooh: Serious Detective | Leave a comment

The new games I played at Essen Spiel 2025

Posted on November 8, 2025 by fakedtales

This year I went to Essen Spiel for the first time in 23 years. My first experience was a whirlwind 22 hour road trip there and back with my friend Graham. It was fantastic but overwhelming. This time my friends … Continue reading →

Posted in board games | Tagged 6 Nimmt, 6 Nimmt: Baron Oxx, 7 Wonders Dice, AEG, Bohemians, Bohnanza: Dahlias, Carcassonne, Cascadia, chaosium, Charming Games Collective, CMoN, Collect!, Elemystic, Essen Spiel, Essen Spiel 2025, Final Score Games, Flatout Games, Flip 7, Forest Shuffle: Dartmoor, Heat: Pedal to the Metal, Hobbit: There and Back Again, Ink, Lego: Monkey Palace, Lookout Games, Lovecraft Letter, Miskatonic Tales: Journey into Innsmouth, Office Dog, Peanuts Talent Show, Portal Games, Propolis, Red 7, Repos Production, Restoration Games, Saashi & Saashi, Shall we Dance?, Sniper Elite, Star Realms, Star Trek: Chrono Trek, Things in Rings, Unmatched, Use Up All Your Sick Days, Vantage, Wise Wizard Games | Leave a comment

No Wrimo

Posted on October 31, 2025 by fakedtales

I’ve taken part in National Novel Writing Month for so many years now. It’s been a useful exercise and a community I’ve loved taking part in (even co-running for a while). I have several drafts of novels which were made … Continue reading →

Posted in NaNoWriMo, writing | Tagged comics, NaNoWriMo, writing | Leave a comment

Charlie’s 2000 AD Marathon – 1984

Posted on September 23, 2025 by fakedtales

Halo Jones! Helltrekkers! 2000 AD’s got some fun new stories in 1984 as well as great stories for Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog & Rogue Trooper. Continue reading →

Posted in Comics | Tagged 2000 ad, ABC Warriors, Ace Trucking Co, amazing maze Dumoir, Dr and Quinch, halo jones, Helltrekkers, Judge Dredd, Nemesis the Warlock, Rogue Trooper, Slaine, Stainless Steel Rat, strontium dog | Leave a comment

Charlie’s 2000 AD Marathon – 1983

Posted on July 16, 2025 by fakedtales

We’re almost caught up with the comics I’ve read once when I was going to cover them a hundred issues at a time. That was proving untenable as I’ve been needing to keep notes to remember what happened 52 or … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics | Tagged 2000 ad, Abelard Snazz, Dr and Quinch, Harry Twenty on the High Rock, judge Anderson, Judge Dredd, Major Magnam, Mek-Quake, Nemesis the Warlock, ro-busters, Robo-Hunter, Rogue Trooper, Skizz, Slaine, strontium dog, Venus Bluegenes | Leave a comment

Charlie’s 2000 AD Marathon – 1982

Posted on July 5, 2025 by fakedtales

2000 AD has some classic stories like Harry 20 on the High Rock, Judge Dredd’s Apocalypse War and Rogue Trooper’s Fort Neuro. I look at those and some less noteworthy stories like Agent Rat and Joe Black. Continue reading →

Posted in Comics | Tagged 2000 ad, Abelard Snazz, Ace Trucking Co, Agent Rat, Apocalypse War, Blackhawk, Fort Neuro, Harry Twenty on the High Rock, Joe Black, Judge Dredd, Mean Arena, Nemesis the Warlock, ro-busters, Robo-Hunter, Rogue Trooper, strontium dog, The Great Detective Caper | Leave a comment

Charlie’s 2000 AD Marathon – 1981

Posted on May 8, 2025 by fakedtales

We’re back to 2000 AD with a year that finishes up a couple of the longer one-series stories: Return to Armageddon and Meltdown Man, as well as hitting the midpoint of Mean Arena. Judge Dredd’s getting more of a look … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics | Tagged 2000 ad, Abelard Snazz, Ace Trucking Co, Fink Angel, Judge Dredd, Mean Arena, Meltdown Man, Nemesis the Warlock, Return to Armageddon, ro-busters, Rogue Trooper, strontium dog | Leave a comment