What Marvel character did he play...?
What Marvel character did he play...?
All the cyberpunk chatter in various places because of the new Ghost in the Shell, Blade Runner 2099, and Neuromancer inspired me to finally get around to reading Charles Stross's Accelerando, which has been sitting around here for twenty years or so. Way too many unread books here, but retirement is coming.
While Basil Rathbone and Stan Lee were contemporaries, I don't think Marvel was doing movies anytime before Rathbone died. But he was, for many (myself included) the quintessential cinematic Sherlock Holmes, and that's what I thought that was about.
Obviously I was joking. The only live-action Marvel-based production made during Rathbone's lifetime was the 1944 Captain America serial, and Rathbone was pretty busy with the Universal Holmes series at that point.
Hence the laugh reaction emoji.
Which went right out of my mind...
I was thinking of a movie where three Sherlocks play off of each other. I don't know if Cumberbatch will be in Avengers; Doomsday, but if he is there will be three Sherlock Holmes in the film -- RDJ, McKellan, and Bandersnatch.
I confess I missed the Holmes connection.
Meanwhile, I figure it's only a matter of time before Tom Holland plays Holmes, maybe a few years down the road when he looks a little less boyish?
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This was summer reading for my AP US History class. It was definitely too dense and scholarly for me at the time! Maybe I should revisit it; it's been 25 years now.
Maybe they'll bring back Cavillerine and we'll have 4 Sherlock Holmes.Which went right out of my mind...
I was thinking of a movie where three Sherlocks play off of each other. I don't know if Cumberbatch will be in Avengers; Doomsday, but if he is there will be three Sherlock Holmes in the film -- RDJ, McKellan, and Bandersnatch.
It is an extraordinarily dense book, and (as it should be) nuanced, which can make it hard to keep track of the thread of the argument. But it really gets at, not just how the principles of the revolution were a radical break from what preceded it, but at how the actual American nation quickly diverged from those expectations in ways that were also radical. It also captures how early some of the still-existing tensions between government by “elites” and government by “the people” emerged.
I just finished my last book of the month. The full list for July was:
- Una McCormack, Hollow Men*
- Jia Tolentino, Trick Mirror
- Sue Grafton, U is for Undertow*
- Lauren Oyler, No Judgment
- Tana French, The Secret Place
- Robin Hobb, City of Dragons
- Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice*
- Marie Brennan, In the Labyrinth of Drakes
- Sue Grafton, V is for Vengeance*
- Una McCormack, The Never-Ending Sacrifice*
- Tana French, The Trespasser
- Janice Hadlow, A Royal Experiment: The Private Life of King George III
- Logan-Ashley Kisner, Old Wounds
- Austin Taylor, Notes on Infinity
- Deanna Raybourn, The Dark Enquiry
- Jonathan Sims, Thirteen Storeys
- Gordon S. Wood, The Radicalism of the American Revolution
- Jo Baker, Longbourn*
- Lee Welch, Mr. Collins in Love
- C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
I finished Charles Stross's Accelerando. Not quite a novel, not quite a short story collection, as it was published in several parts but tells a story that begins as cyberpunk and skips through time to see the cast of characters live through the coming of the singularity. Pretty heavy on ideas and exposition, but enjoyable enough. The world changes drastically over the centuries, and how the characters live changes drastically, but their motivations and relationships remain recognizably human.
I also read the short Cory Doctorow book from PM Press, part of their Outspoken Authors series. You generally get a novella (The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow, in this case), an essay or other bit of nonfiction by the author, and an interview. I haven't read much Doctorow. Not bad. I got a lot of the Outspoken Authors books from StoryBundle a few years ago and also recently read the Ken McLeod volume, The Human Front (political alternate world SF).
And then a fast-paced cyberpunk tale, The Extractionist by Kimberly Unger. Basically, the main character extracts people who've been lost in cyberspace. She gets hired for an extraction tied to an undercover corporate crime investigation that gets more and more complicated. I hadn't heard of it before the other day. I was browsing through the Tachyon Publications website, saw it and noticed it was on sale, the reviews were promising, so what the heck. I enjoyed it.
I also read the short Cory Doctorow book from PM Press, part of their Outspoken Authors series. You generally get a novella (The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow, in this case), an essay or other bit of nonfiction by the author, and an interview. I haven't read much Doctorow. Not bad. I got a lot of the Outspoken Authors books from StoryBundle a few years ago and also recently read the Ken McLeod volume, The Human Front (political alternate world SF).
And then a fast-paced cyberpunk tale, The Extractionist by Kimberly Unger. Basically, the main character extracts people who've been lost in cyberspace. She gets hired for an extraction tied to an undercover corporate crime investigation that gets more and more complicated. I hadn't heard of it before the other day. I was browsing through the Tachyon Publications website, saw it and noticed it was on sale, the reviews were promising, so what the heck. I enjoyed it.
All right, here’s my July 2026 reading report! Read in July:
Star Wars: Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor by Matthew Stover (Del Rey, 2008) (this one was a reread)
Comics:
Ka-Zar By Mark Waid and Andy Kubert Vol. 2 (Marvel, 2012) (reprints December 1997 to June 1998 issues of “Ka-Zar”)
Heroes Reborn: The Return by Peter David, Salvador Larocca, Chris Claremont, et al. (Marvel, 2009) (reprints December 1997 four issue “Heroes Reborn: The Return” mini-series plus seven-issue “Heroes Reborn” one-shots event from January 2000)
Thunderbolts Epic Collection Vol. 1: Justice Like Lightning by Kurt Busiek, Mark Bagley, et al. (Marvel, 2023) (reprints April 1997 to March 1998 issues of Thunderbolts plus related guest appearances in other titles like Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man Team-Up, and Heroes for Hire)
Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and the Heroes For Hire Vol. 1 by Jim Ostrander, Pascual Ferry, et al. (Marvel, 2016) (reprints August 1997 to February 1998 issues of Heroes for Hire plus other a few other Luke Cage and Iron Fist appearances)
Zorro: Man of the Dead by Sean Murphy (Massive Publishing, 2024) (reprints Zorro: Man of the Dead four issue mini-series from same year)
The Zorro and Thunderbolts were actual physical trade paperbacks that I read. The others above (Ka-Zar, Heroes Reborn: The Return, Heroes for Hire) were read via individual issues on Marvel Unlimited. Counted here by their trade paperbacks for GoodReads tallying.
That’s six books towards my 2026 GoodReads Reading Challenge, which is now at 28 of 75 (37%).
Also read in July (single issues):
Ka-Zar #15-20 (July 1998 to December 1998) (these last six issues of the 1997-1998 Ka-Zar series are not available as of yet in any collected edition)
The Jack Kirby Collector (magazine) #16 (July 1997). “Tough Guys” themed issue (focusing on Jack Kirby’s crime, war, and western comics). This is the earliest actual print issue I own—bought around the same time it came out—of Jack Kirby Collector (and in general of all of my TwoMorrows magazines). I have the previous fifteen issues in the first three “Collected Jack Kirby Collector” trade paperbacks. It was with issue #18 (January 1998, with a Kirby Spider-Man cover) and Comic Book Artist #1 (Spring 1998) that I started my now nearly thirty years of regularly buying all of TwoMorrows’ magazines and books on comics history/nostalgia. (I figured I should probably get around to actually reading them now.)
— David Young
Star Wars: Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor by Matthew Stover (Del Rey, 2008) (this one was a reread)
Comics:
Ka-Zar By Mark Waid and Andy Kubert Vol. 2 (Marvel, 2012) (reprints December 1997 to June 1998 issues of “Ka-Zar”)
Heroes Reborn: The Return by Peter David, Salvador Larocca, Chris Claremont, et al. (Marvel, 2009) (reprints December 1997 four issue “Heroes Reborn: The Return” mini-series plus seven-issue “Heroes Reborn” one-shots event from January 2000)
Thunderbolts Epic Collection Vol. 1: Justice Like Lightning by Kurt Busiek, Mark Bagley, et al. (Marvel, 2023) (reprints April 1997 to March 1998 issues of Thunderbolts plus related guest appearances in other titles like Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man Team-Up, and Heroes for Hire)
Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and the Heroes For Hire Vol. 1 by Jim Ostrander, Pascual Ferry, et al. (Marvel, 2016) (reprints August 1997 to February 1998 issues of Heroes for Hire plus other a few other Luke Cage and Iron Fist appearances)
Zorro: Man of the Dead by Sean Murphy (Massive Publishing, 2024) (reprints Zorro: Man of the Dead four issue mini-series from same year)
The Zorro and Thunderbolts were actual physical trade paperbacks that I read. The others above (Ka-Zar, Heroes Reborn: The Return, Heroes for Hire) were read via individual issues on Marvel Unlimited. Counted here by their trade paperbacks for GoodReads tallying.
That’s six books towards my 2026 GoodReads Reading Challenge, which is now at 28 of 75 (37%).
Also read in July (single issues):
Ka-Zar #15-20 (July 1998 to December 1998) (these last six issues of the 1997-1998 Ka-Zar series are not available as of yet in any collected edition)
The Jack Kirby Collector (magazine) #16 (July 1997). “Tough Guys” themed issue (focusing on Jack Kirby’s crime, war, and western comics). This is the earliest actual print issue I own—bought around the same time it came out—of Jack Kirby Collector (and in general of all of my TwoMorrows magazines). I have the previous fifteen issues in the first three “Collected Jack Kirby Collector” trade paperbacks. It was with issue #18 (January 1998, with a Kirby Spider-Man cover) and Comic Book Artist #1 (Spring 1998) that I started my now nearly thirty years of regularly buying all of TwoMorrows’ magazines and books on comics history/nostalgia. (I figured I should probably get around to actually reading them now.)
— David Young
I'm taking another break from Time's Enemy to read the current issue of Empire Magazine, which features a big cover story on the next season of The Rings of Power, and also has articles about 50 years of Aardman Animation, The Death of Robin Hood, and new interviews with Keanu Reeve, Alex Winter, and William Sadler about Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey.
Nearing the end of Black Fire. My previous re-read of Spock, Messiah! (in which Kirk struggles to find time to re-read Xenophon's Anabasis) got me interested in reading that opus. But it raises a question:
Can anybody here recommend a good, currently-available, inexpensive edition (TPB or MMPB) of Anabasis, in a good English translation?
Looking at what's available is a little bewildering, and it looks like the market is flooded with print-on-demand editions (and while I have a beautiful [except for heavily moire'd photographs] print-on-demand edition of a biography of E. Power Biggs, that came out of a subsidiary of University Microfilms, I also have very problematic print-on-demand editions of both the Lensman and Pre-Lensman versions of "Doc" Smith's Triplanetary, and some poorly-proofread print-on-demand editions of two ADF anthologies). Given all that, I'm more than a little apprehensive about print-on-demand books.
Can anybody here recommend a good, currently-available, inexpensive edition (TPB or MMPB) of Anabasis, in a good English translation?
Looking at what's available is a little bewildering, and it looks like the market is flooded with print-on-demand editions (and while I have a beautiful [except for heavily moire'd photographs] print-on-demand edition of a biography of E. Power Biggs, that came out of a subsidiary of University Microfilms, I also have very problematic print-on-demand editions of both the Lensman and Pre-Lensman versions of "Doc" Smith's Triplanetary, and some poorly-proofread print-on-demand editions of two ADF anthologies). Given all that, I'm more than a little apprehensive about print-on-demand books.
Penguins Classics and Oxford University Press World Classics are both very reliable.
The Penguin translation is "The Persian Expedition", the World Classic, "The Expedition of Cyrus".
Already leaning towards the Penguin. It's cheap and readily available through Alibris.
Finished re-reading Black Fire this morning. I will note that the "big reveal" at the end hangs an enormous lampshade on the previous 200 pages of utter nonsense (the nonsensical situations, and the fact that they're not treated as absurdist comedy, are the reason why I classify it as a "guilty pleasure").
Finished re-reading Black Fire this morning. I will note that the "big reveal" at the end hangs an enormous lampshade on the previous 200 pages of utter nonsense (the nonsensical situations, and the fact that they're not treated as absurdist comedy, are the reason why I classify it as a "guilty pleasure").
Finished Alice in Wonderland.
Alice isn't really all that likeable in the novel. If you read this, opt for a version with good illustrations.
Finished Mansfield Park.
I don't get the hate for Fanny. She's pretty much neglected throughout the entire novel. It does have a happy ending. However, the one thing that frustrates me with Austen is how she wraps up entire storylines in one off sentences or two. It's very unsatisfying.
Half way through East of Eden.
I'm enjoying this novel, but parts of it do come across as heavy handed. The author is definitely beating me over the head with the allegories a bit hard. It's like let's set up the allegory. And then, let's explain the allegory in case you didn't get it. It's so far a middle of the road novel for me.
Started Gone Tomorrow.
I'm ten chapters into this novel. I want to finish it before the next season of Reacher airs. I find the novels far more raw than what we get in the adaptation.
Starting Carrie.
This is another book that I want to read before the show airs.
Alice isn't really all that likeable in the novel. If you read this, opt for a version with good illustrations.
Finished Mansfield Park.
I don't get the hate for Fanny. She's pretty much neglected throughout the entire novel. It does have a happy ending. However, the one thing that frustrates me with Austen is how she wraps up entire storylines in one off sentences or two. It's very unsatisfying.
Half way through East of Eden.
I'm enjoying this novel, but parts of it do come across as heavy handed. The author is definitely beating me over the head with the allegories a bit hard. It's like let's set up the allegory. And then, let's explain the allegory in case you didn't get it. It's so far a middle of the road novel for me.
Started Gone Tomorrow.
I'm ten chapters into this novel. I want to finish it before the next season of Reacher airs. I find the novels far more raw than what we get in the adaptation.
Starting Carrie.
This is another book that I want to read before the show airs.
Yes, obviously.
Totally wasn’t wondering who “Doonesbury” was, and whether the Trudeau in question was Justin or Pierre.
Turns out they are very distant cousins.Yes, obviously.
Totally wasn’t wondering who “Doonesbury” was, and whether the Trudeau in question was Justin or Pierre.
I'm Canadian, but I got into Doonesbury when I was in high school, and that was back around 1980. I may need this book.
Current reading: the concluding trilogy of the Star Wars High Republic series. I skipped the comics, most of the YA books, the kids' books, the radio plays, and some of the flashback books. I wanted to read some Star Wars that wasn't just more footnotes to the Annie and Luke years but I didn't want to make it my life's mission.
Current reading: the concluding trilogy of the Star Wars High Republic series. I skipped the comics, most of the YA books, the kids' books, the radio plays, and some of the flashback books. I wanted to read some Star Wars that wasn't just more footnotes to the Annie and Luke years but I didn't want to make it my life's mission.
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