Month: August 2003

Sandman Presents: The Furies

This is a spin-off from the classic Sandman series written by Neil Gaiman.
An ancient figure from greek mythology is back and is aiming for the destruction of the Furies.
The plan involves Lyta Hall who is tightly bound with the Furies after events in Sandman.
An interesting aside and worth it’s short reading time – it is not in the same class as the original Sandman stories.
I really liked the art, with it’s blending of the photoreal and utterly fantastical.

Random Nuggets

or, books I’ve read most of but can’t be bothered finishing for one reason or another

Adventures In the Screen Trade
by William Goldman

This is a highly entertaining look at the business of making films from the perspective of the screen writer. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Why didn’t I finish it? Well there’s this section at the back about adapting a short story that I can’t be bothered reading right now.

A Confederacy Of Dunces
by John Kennedy Toole

This is by all accounts a magnificent book. Well I’ve persevered to about the halfway point and I’ve lost all interest. I assume something cool happens in the next couple of chapters that makes people rave about it. I’ll get round to it someday.

From Joy Division To New Order: The True Story of Anthony H Wilson and Factory Records
by Mick Middles

Does what it says on the tin, this one. I borrowed it from the library but I lost interest so I took it back when the loan ended. I might have finished it if I had it lying around, as it was good for dipping into. I’m a bit burnt out on this story after 24 Hour Party People (book and film) and Touching From A Distance.
If you’re interested in the Factory story, worth reading. If you’re not interested in Factory don’t bother. Instead get a Joy Division best of and listen to Transmission, She’s Lost Control, Atmosphere, Love Will Tear Us Apart, etc.

R.E.M. | Fiction: An Alternative Biography

David Buckley

This is a well-written and entertaining look at the career of the best band in the world (In my opinion, of course).
Sometimes Buckley glosses over interesting periods in the band’s history and you never really learn how the band dynamic works.
His biggest fault is trying too hard to find some dirt on the band. The departure of Jefferson Holt is covered well, which is the single most controversial bit of the band’s history. It seems weird when he talks about Bill Berry leaving the band that he would even consider that this was down to politicking behind the scenes. Especially how well covered the story was when it happened.
If you’re sort of into R.E.M. and would like to learn more about them, this is a pretty good starting place. If you’re an R.E.M. nut, then you’re going to find very little here that you didn’t already know, go read ‘It Crawled From The South’ by Marcus Grey for a mountain of detail on the band – the second edition is just amazing.
If you couldn’t give a shit about R.E.M. (why?) then avoid like the plague. Go and listen to their music instead.