So What Are you Reading?: Generations
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In the last week, I've read the first three hardcovers of Makoto Yukimura's Vinland Saga (which correspond to the first six volumes of the Japanese run).
The series is about a young Viking named Thorfinn who is part of the raiding party of Askeladd. Thorfinn is not exactly an ally of Askeladd -- Askeladd murdered the boy's father a few years earlier, and Thorfinn wants revenge -- and Askeladd finds Thorfinn a useful pawn; Thorfinn's sense of honor won't allow him to kill Askeladd except in a duel, and Askeladd will only agree to a duel if Thorfinn accomplishes various deeds for him.
The backdrop of the series is the Viking invasion of England circa 1010 CE (when Canute gains the English throne), though the series has flashbacks sequences in Iceland (where Leif the Lucky is a minor character) and the eastern Baltic.
I'm not a manga reader by any means, yet I'm really enjoying this. It's very adult -- there's some language, there are off-panel sexual assaults, and there are body parts and gore. The storytelling is compelling; the characters are well drawn (Canute is fascinating), and none of them are simplistic. (Even Askeladd is not unsympathetic.)
I think I see where this is going. There's a thread running throughout the series about the futility of violence, and I suspect that Thorfinn will discover that violence is not the answer and vengeance cannot restore his father or the years he has spent and lost on his quest. Though it will take a few years for the series to reach that point, I hope this ends up with Thorfinn in Newfoundland, his life as a Viking raider far behind him.
In short, if you like History's Vikings or the series Northlanders from Brian Wood and Vertigo Comics, you'd probably like Vinland Saga.
The series is about a young Viking named Thorfinn who is part of the raiding party of Askeladd. Thorfinn is not exactly an ally of Askeladd -- Askeladd murdered the boy's father a few years earlier, and Thorfinn wants revenge -- and Askeladd finds Thorfinn a useful pawn; Thorfinn's sense of honor won't allow him to kill Askeladd except in a duel, and Askeladd will only agree to a duel if Thorfinn accomplishes various deeds for him.
The backdrop of the series is the Viking invasion of England circa 1010 CE (when Canute gains the English throne), though the series has flashbacks sequences in Iceland (where Leif the Lucky is a minor character) and the eastern Baltic.
I'm not a manga reader by any means, yet I'm really enjoying this. It's very adult -- there's some language, there are off-panel sexual assaults, and there are body parts and gore. The storytelling is compelling; the characters are well drawn (Canute is fascinating), and none of them are simplistic. (Even Askeladd is not unsympathetic.)
I think I see where this is going. There's a thread running throughout the series about the futility of violence, and I suspect that Thorfinn will discover that violence is not the answer and vengeance cannot restore his father or the years he has spent and lost on his quest. Though it will take a few years for the series to reach that point, I hope this ends up with Thorfinn in Newfoundland, his life as a Viking raider far behind him.
In short, if you like History's Vikings or the series Northlanders from Brian Wood and Vertigo Comics, you'd probably like Vinland Saga.
I finished Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found) by Paula M. Block & Terry J. Erdmann. It was a fun quick read, I'd like to see more of these types of light-hearted stories.
I also listened the Torchwood audio drama, Lost Souls.
I'm now reading Death Without Company, the second Walt Longmire novel by Craig Johnson.
I also listened the Torchwood audio drama, Lost Souls.
I'm now reading Death Without Company, the second Walt Longmire novel by Craig Johnson.
I decided to switch things up a bit, so I'm reading all of the different Trek mini-series, starting with "Invasion!" Then i'll move onto all the others, "Day of Honor", "Captain's Table", etc. etc.
I haven't read Invasion! since it first was released, so I barely remember anything. The other mini-series, ive never read. Ive been in the mood to read trek, but not just reading one old numbered book after another. So I pulled up Wikipedia, and I'm going to read all the ones they have listed under mini-series, all the way up to The Fall. It'll be a different way to experience trek reading from over the years.
I did this a few years ago. I came away from it thinking that Captain's Table was way better than it should have been, given the gimmick, and that Invasion had its moments, and the rest were universally complete wastes of time.
(Well, except for the Gateways/Section 31 books that were part of other ongoing series anyway, I guess, but that kinda goes without saying.)
i had gotten through "Losing the Peace", "A Singular Destiny" and "Full Circle" in my post-nemesis reading. I thought of skipping over the Voyager and Titan books, and just dive into Typhon Pact/Cold Equations/The Fall. Then going back and reading all the voyager stuff afterwards.
Just posted my review of Kirsten Beyer's new Voyager: Acts of Contrition. Simply put, I was blown away by this one. I loved it. Can't wait for the next one. Etc, etc.
Started reading Terok Nor: Dawn of the Eagles by S.D. Perry & Britta Dennison.
Started reading Terok Nor: Dawn of the Eagles by S.D. Perry & Britta Dennison.
Andrew Martin's Ghoul Britannia was fun but lightweight - a brief ramble through the British love affair with ghost stories, and how they've changed over the years. TBH it felt more a collect set of blog posts or Fortean Times articles than a single book. Then there's a ghost story at the end, which is somewhat trumped by having had all Martin's points about the formula of the ghost story explained in the rest of the book, before he puts them all to use. As a result you notice more of the formula than feel the story.
After an extended break, I'm back and reading Cold Equations 1: Persistence of Memory. Loving it so far, only about 1/4 of the way through. I'm also reading Fool's Gold by Jay Stringer, too. And Q Are Cordially... is waiting on the Kindle.
That sums it up pretty well for the mentioned series. Two of the books in Section 31 are good but the other 2 are forgettable.
And if you include some of series that take place within the numbered books, New Earth and Double Helix, you're taking on some of the worst books in Trek history.
Finished Destiny and started on Full Circle, gotta say I am enjoying it so far with the exception of Security Chief Harry Kim, it just does not seem to feel right (coming from someone who did not mind Harry during the show).
I started yesterday Bajor from Worlds of DS9. I remember starting it years ago, and abandoning due to being boring, but somehow it's not boring this time. Maybe I just needed to be in a mood 
S.C.E Have Tech Will Travel: SCE Omnibus
Finished Cold Equations: Persistence of Memory. Really a good read, gripping, good character moments. I will admit to being really disappointed how Jasminder is handled in the book. I really should have guessed based on how a few things were set up, but I missed it all until it happened.
Started up Cold Equations: Silent Weapons which is pretty good so far, though I haven't really burned through pages yet like I did with Persistence.
Started up Cold Equations: Silent Weapons which is pretty good so far, though I haven't really burned through pages yet like I did with Persistence.
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