258

Firefly

Firefly is one of the great mysteries of 21st century television. How could a series this good, with this much potential get cancelled?
Of course I could be a little bit biased, after all Joss Whedon also created Buffy The Vampire Slayer (one of my favourite things ever). To put things in perspective, though, I watched a couple of episodes when it was finally broadcast in the UK and thought it was disappointing. Still I bought the DVD boxset when it came out hoping that I had just missed the good bits.
I put it to one side and only decided to finally watch the whole thing when the buzz around the Serenity trailer (the Firefly film) hit the net. I am seriously glad that I did.
It’s a bit of an odd piece, you really have to surrender yourself to it’s pacing to get the most out of it (which it was screwed over when it was first shown, what with the network refusing to show the double length pilot, which sets up the pace and characters for the viewer).
MORE LATER

Ultraviolet

This Channel 4 series was something I missed when it was first broadcast. It has since grown in reputation and I was sufficiently tempted to pick it up on DVD (OK, it was half price in a sale).
A modern tale of Vampires, this is a very British take on things. A total contrast to (the sublime) Buffy The Vampire Slayer, with it’s humour and acceptance of magic and the mystical. This version is very dark, characters are full of doubt and have to lie about the hidden world they inhabit.
The lead is played by Jack Davenport. He portrays a police detective caught up in this hidden world when his partner chooses to become a vampire.
MORE LATER

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22:36, April 30th 2005

257

All My Sins Remembered

This book takes the form of linked short stories about a far-future spy. The linking sections deal with his guilt over the actions he has been forced to take by his training in execution of his job, which contradict his internal beliefs.

This is a competently written, entertaining enough little piece. Apparently Haldeman has a large repution, but this is more based on Forever War (which I own but haven’t gotten around to reading yet).

Rating: B-

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11:31, April 28th 2005

yes another post i place to remind to write more later

Cosmonaut Keep

The first of the Engines of Light Trilogy. Which contrasts near future earth and the discovery of alien technology and the ancestors of the people in the first part of the book living on a planet with dinosaur descendents and the descendents of abducted humans. It’s a slow starter but it gets really enjoyable once it gets going. I intend the read the rest of the trilogy now.
I should mention that this book is dedicated to Chris Boyce and is based on his ideas about extra-terrestial intelligence. I knew Chris when I did a work placement at the Herald & Evening Times Library in Glasgow. He was very kind to me and I was very sad to hear of his death a couple of years back.

Rating: A

Dark Light

The second of the Engines of Light Trilogy. Continuing the high standard of the first novel, this book follows the consequences of the Bright Star’s journey and the impact that Cairns and Volkov have on the development of the planet with their diverging agendas in the face of local political intrigue.
I like it very much.

Rating: A

Engine City

The third of the Engines of Light Trilogy. This one follows the lead characters to Nova Terra and the great city state of Nova Babylonia. Contact with aliens is made with fascinating implications, and the impact of Volkov’s neo-socialist politics have on the city.
This was a total blast to read. No sure about the ending, like, but it doesn’t spoil the trilogy.

Rating: A

see the new css effects?
i really should write something about films and music soon too

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09:09, April 20th 2005

more recent reminders to self

The Wee Free Men

You’d think that being a Young Adult Novel that Pratchett wouldn’t have put his full effort into this book. Far from it. It is a very fine novel that takes a middling Witches book and turns it into a masterpiece. Incredibly moving at times, as well as very funny. This is a must read.

Rating: A

Garden State

This was a long winded and rather self-important book. I found most of the characters rather unsympathetic, except for Alice’s mother (and she barely appears after her accident). Moody is obviously a very talented writer, and the prose is rather nicely crafted. Unfortunately the plot was practically non-existent and while some people might love the slice-of-life thing I am not one of those people. I like my stories to have some sort of sense of journey to them.
Well written, but empty.

Rating: B

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16:51, April 14th 2005