So What Are you Reading?: Generations
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THE OWL SERVICE by Alan Garner
I felt like watching the DVD of the series and then this turned up in our library room, so what the hell. It’s highly acclaimed, and indeed much of it is worthy of that praise – some good flow in places, good mixing in of folklore and myth with a class-clashing subtest, and so-on. The dialogue has dated badly, but that can’t be helped.
On the downside, there are various leaps and jars that make the timescale unclear, often feel like characters have suddenly switched personalities from one line to the next, and leave you wondering “wait, why isn;t this person buggering off” or “why are they suddenly perfectly OK?” It’s a shame as there’s a good folkloric and real character drama here, but it’s either 50% longer than it needs to be, or 50% shorter, and I can’t decide which it is.
Also the ending is spectacularly abrupt, as if it was one of those things where the writer was contracted on pain of death to not go a word over the commissioned count and so just stopped when he hit it, without covering the fallout. Or as if it was a cliffhanger for a sequel that never happened.
I felt like watching the DVD of the series and then this turned up in our library room, so what the hell. It’s highly acclaimed, and indeed much of it is worthy of that praise – some good flow in places, good mixing in of folklore and myth with a class-clashing subtest, and so-on. The dialogue has dated badly, but that can’t be helped.
On the downside, there are various leaps and jars that make the timescale unclear, often feel like characters have suddenly switched personalities from one line to the next, and leave you wondering “wait, why isn;t this person buggering off” or “why are they suddenly perfectly OK?” It’s a shame as there’s a good folkloric and real character drama here, but it’s either 50% longer than it needs to be, or 50% shorter, and I can’t decide which it is.
Also the ending is spectacularly abrupt, as if it was one of those things where the writer was contracted on pain of death to not go a word over the commissioned count and so just stopped when he hit it, without covering the fallout. Or as if it was a cliffhanger for a sequel that never happened.
JUDGE DREDD: AMERICA by John Wagner and Colin MacNeil
(and Garth Ennis on a couple of extra stories at the back) – a hardback collection of the first Megazine story, of the totalitarian rule of the Judges versus what passes for Democracy told from the POV of a tragic character who grew up in MC-1, and its sequel stories where the duaghter of the original character becomes a Judge. It’s a really good story, with great art throughout – MacNeil slightly varying his style perhaps to fit in with prior and later stories by other artists – and memorable characters who mostly are multi-dimensional. Even Dredd himself is shown a little more three-dimensionally than was often the case beforehand.
The two final short stories by Garth Ennis aren’t too bad, but seem like filler, unrelated to the main volume. Still, a really good hardback collection.
(and Garth Ennis on a couple of extra stories at the back) – a hardback collection of the first Megazine story, of the totalitarian rule of the Judges versus what passes for Democracy told from the POV of a tragic character who grew up in MC-1, and its sequel stories where the duaghter of the original character becomes a Judge. It’s a really good story, with great art throughout – MacNeil slightly varying his style perhaps to fit in with prior and later stories by other artists – and memorable characters who mostly are multi-dimensional. Even Dredd himself is shown a little more three-dimensionally than was often the case beforehand.
The two final short stories by Garth Ennis aren’t too bad, but seem like filler, unrelated to the main volume. Still, a really good hardback collection.
Back on Thursday I started Mockingbird Vol. 1: I Can Explain, it features the first 5 issues of the Marve's Mockingbird series from a few years ago, written by Chelsea Cain, with art by Kate Nieczyk and Ibrahim Moustafa. It also features the one shot Mockingbird: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50th Anniversery written by Cain, with art by Joelle Jones. I'm on the #5 right now, and I am loving this series.
EDIT: I finished up I Can Explain, and started Hinterkind Vol. 1: The Waking World, written by Ian Edington, with art by Francesco Trifogli.
EDIT: I finished up I Can Explain, and started Hinterkind Vol. 1: The Waking World, written by Ian Edington, with art by Francesco Trifogli.
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Just posted my review of book two of the New Earth series: Belle Terre by Dean Wesley Smith with Diane Carey. I enjoyed it quite a bit more than the previous book in the series.
Currently reading Burning Dreams by Margaret Wander Bonanno. I initially read it a few years ago, glad to be revisiting it in the wake of Discovery's second season.
Currently reading Burning Dreams by Margaret Wander Bonanno. I initially read it a few years ago, glad to be revisiting it in the wake of Discovery's second season.
When I finished reading Abyss (Section 31) David Weddle & Jeffrey Lang, I felt like not much really happened. I enjoyed the reading, though I was hoping to go deeper into the adventure/conflict/emotive struggles and ethics.
I was hoping to learn that Section 31 had some redeeming qualities (since there might be a spin-off re Sec 31), but it's an awful organization (so it seems at this point). I guess I was thinking MI5 or something haha Some shadowy ways to bring about peace/saving lives... bringing up ethical questions.. end to the means queries .. but alas, seems another nemesis to the federation.. who knows, i haven't seen/read much about it. And, the book didn't have very much insight from the Sec 31 perspective. Now I see why you, Kilana2, aren't a big fan.
I'm looking forward to reading NG/Data-centric bks KimMH recommended!
I was hoping to learn that Section 31 had some redeeming qualities (since there might be a spin-off re Sec 31), but it's an awful organization (so it seems at this point). I guess I was thinking MI5 or something haha Some shadowy ways to bring about peace/saving lives... bringing up ethical questions.. end to the means queries .. but alas, seems another nemesis to the federation.. who knows, i haven't seen/read much about it. And, the book didn't have very much insight from the Sec 31 perspective. Now I see why you, Kilana2, aren't a big fan.
I'm looking forward to reading NG/Data-centric bks KimMH recommended!
I've read most of the Section 31 books. My favorite so far is Control by David Mack. On the other hand, I'm not a real fan of the whole Section 31 idea. But David Mack writes stories which are infernally good....
The equivalent of MI5 or the CIA or whatever is Starfleet Intelligence. A lot of people -- evidently including Discovery's producers -- tend to assume Section 31 is an intelligence agency like SI, but it's really more of an extralegal conspiracy. An agency has oversight and rules, but Section 31 is a group whose sole reason for existing is to break the rules.
thanks for the insight.... i haven't thought too much about Starfleet Intelligence vs Sec 31.. i found this on reddit from a month ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/DaystromIn...section_31/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
Just finished Available Light.
I will note that I was so exhausted on Saturday, after an unusually grueling docent shift at the International Printing Museum, that (finishing my Lenten reading of the entire KJV) I found myself nodding off in Revelation.
And I've begun my Easter reading. This year, I'm re-reading John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress.
I will note that I was so exhausted on Saturday, after an unusually grueling docent shift at the International Printing Museum, that (finishing my Lenten reading of the entire KJV) I found myself nodding off in Revelation.
And I've begun my Easter reading. This year, I'm re-reading John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress.
I wouldn't entire judge the show based on the books since they are probably going to be taking a very different approach to them in the show.
I've been re-reading "recent" post-tv books to remember what was going on when I left off, so right now I'm in the middle of Plagues of Night.
I clicked on the link above to the reading order flow chart looking for some insight, and now I'm dizzy. I think I'll stick with publication order.
I clicked on the link above to the reading order flow chart looking for some insight, and now I'm dizzy. I think I'll stick with publication order.
Australis has a collection of sci-to short stories available on Amazon called Catching Light. I’m not sure if they’re all in the same universe yet but the three I’ve read have been fantastic. Trying not to read them all at once to let them sink in a little and churn about in my head but it may be hard to pace myself - they are really quite good! I highly recommend!
The latest episode of Literary Treks has been posted: Literary Treks 266: Bringing the Truth Out of the Shadows, in which Bruce and I interview Dayton Ward about the newest Trek novel, TNG: Available Light!
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