Journal #29, Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. Considering I'm currently on Journal #23, well, it will be quite some time before I get to this one. But having it all ready to go takes that miniscule amount of pressure off of my shoulders and as an inveterate long term planner, that means a lot to me.
I've only got a few more journals to showcase before I'm caught up. Of course, Paperblanks is always bringing out new ones and since I have to buy 4 to get free shipping, well.... The alternate is to buy them individually on Amazon and just order 2 to qualify for free shipping from there. It never fails to amaze me how that kind of thing works. Why doesn't Paperblanks offer free shipping over $35 on their own website, since that is what they are actually doing when they sell through Amazon? I'd much rather buy direct. The mysteries of commerce I guess.
But back to this specific journal, ahem. I read Frankenstein back in '12. I am glad I read it and I can see why it is a Classic, but it is not a book I've been tempted to re-read. I thought maybe seeing this journal would kindle a little ember of interest in re-reading it, but so far, nada. Considering it will be several years before I ever get around to writing in this, maybe by that time I'll be ready for a re-read. I remain doubtful of myself though. Some books speak to you on multiple levels over the years (Dickens for me) but Shelley's book just didn't seem to have that power when I read it. That is ok though, not every book has to be like that.
This
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Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted
Permission Title:
The Dracula Tape Series: The Dracula Files
#1 Author: Fred Saberhagen Publish:
1975 Rating:
3 of 5 Stars Genre: Fantasy Pages:
186 Words: 76K
When
I was looking around for another series to add to my tbr, I ran
across these and didn’t really pay attention to the author. I
probably should have, as I haven’t had the best luck with
Saberhagen for the most part. However, it has been over 8 years since
I last read a book by Saberhagen, so when I realized this series was
by him, I figured I’d give him another chance.
Back
in ‘14 I called his Berserker book dry and pedantic and
“workmanlike” (and not in the good way). This was very much in
the same vein. What saved it from an ignominious 2star rating and
series abandonment was reading about Dracula try to justify
everything that took place as chronicled in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
He’s an unreliable narrator and what’s more, he’s a big fat
whiny loser. It was hilarious. I don’t know if Saberhagen intended
things to turn out that way, but my goodness, watching Dracula
perform mental contortions of unfathomable proportions to justify
himself was better than going to the circus.
For
this book to work, you really need to have read Dracula, not
just know the basic premise but have read it and be familiar with it.
Which leads to the biggest drawback, for me, in regards to this book.
I knew, roughly, what was going to happen and was bored. Dracula’s
re-writing of the events aren’t different enough to make this book
stand out as something truly new. Kind of like watching an actor’s
commentary track on a movie. Sure, it is a little different and you
get a slightly different view, but it is not a different movie. Same
with this book, and since it wasn’t in epistolary format, it
automatically wasn’t nearly as good as the original.
With
all of this complaining, I’m still giving this 3stars. Dracula is a
great story and even Saberhagen couldn’t cover that up. I’m
really hoping that the next book is more original though, or I’ll
have to dnf the series.
★★★☆☆
From
Fandom.com
The
Dracula Tape is a novel by Fred Saberhagen where Dracula tells his
version of the events in the Dracula novel.
Dracula
tries to paint himself in a better light and while some of his claims
ring true (like the issue of blood type and the blood transfusions
Lucy Westenra received) others (such as what happened on the Demeter)
have an unreliable narrator quality about them.
According
to this novel the final events of Dracula took place in early
November 1891.
Per
this novel the fates of the other characters are:
Jonathan
Harker - dies of apoplexy in 1938 while raging at Neville
Chamberlain.
Mina
Harker - dies of old age in 1967; rises as a vampire her youth
restored in the "present" day
Lucy
Harker (Mina's daughter) - still alive
Quincey
Harker (Mina's son) - killed in the Battle of the Somme, 1916
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Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted
Permission
Title:
The Amazing Quest of Doctor Syn Series:
Doctor Syn #5 Author: Arthur Russell Thorndike Rating:
3 of 5 Stars Genre: Historical Fiction Pages:
164 Words: 81K
In
previous books, the Scarecrow had refrained from killing government
people because of the problems it would bring down on his head. In
this book, he throws that all to the dungheap and kidnaps and hangs a
Revenuer in the public square. He also kills several other men in the
process of rescuing one of his confederates. The reasons given were
spurious and cheap.
The
“Amazing Quest” only takes up about the last third of the book. I
was expecting more. The other “despicable smuggler” let me down
too. Dr Syn defeats him so easily that it made me wonder how the
Revenuers had any problems with him in the first place. I wanted a
battle of wits and I didn’t get one. Some of the government men
down in Romney Marsh put up a smarter fight than this guy did.
I
think most of what I’d like to talk about are the covers. The
little one I used as my featured image shows some white haired
gentleman with an eyeglass. I’m guessing it is supposed to be Dr
Syn? But the reality is that it is an Uncle to the kidnapped girl and
said Uncle gets pushed off that stone he’s sitting one and
splattered all over the ground by the Despicable Smuggler. Then I saw
this black and white wood cut style cover. These are the first
edition versions and you know, I really like them.
Syn
is showing his age here and yet you look at his arms and you know he
can swing that sword with the best of them. And looking at his face,
that is the Scarecrow and not one shred of the Reverend Doctor Syn. I
see the entity that hung a Revenuer, kidnapped families and exiled
them to France and generally thinks he is above the law.
★★★☆☆
From
Bookstooge
Doctor
Syn, as the Scarecrow, battles it out with revenuers and dragoons and
kills at least one of them. Due to this, he heads to Wales to
investigate another smuggler who has kidnapped a young girl. Money is
involved. Doctor Syn plunders and kills the other smuggler and gives
the money to the girl so she can marry the man she wants. Who is a
revenuer. How Ironic.
This review is written with
a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede
all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing
without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at
WordPress, Blogspot, & Librarything by Bookstooge’s Exalted
Permission
Title:
The Wild Adventures of Cthulhu #2 Series:
Cthulhu Anthology #22
Editor: Will
Murray Rating: 1 of 5 Stars Genre:
Cosmic Horror Pages: 210 Words:
77K
The first story in this anthology ends
like this:
“All mysteries are contained in
the Great Mystery. The Great Mystery has authority over all lesser
mysteries. Lesser mysteries have no power over the Great Mystery.
Wakan Tanka is far more powerful than they. I walk with Wakiya
medicine. So I partake of that power.”
Thus, the Great Spirit is elevated so
far above Cthulhu and his ilk that humanity doesn’t need to worry.
Then you have a later story about a preacher of Christianity and it
goes as you’d expect. God and Jesus are denigrated and spit upon
and shown to be impotent and powerless before Cthulhu.
I’m stopping reading these
anthologies. The hypocrisy shown here finally pushed me over the
edge. I’ll revisit the idea of reading more cosmic horror later
this year or early in ‘26.
Not exactly the way I wanted to start
the month.
★☆☆☆☆
Table
of Contents
Introduction 5
God General Nakji 7
Evacuation Day 31
The Hindmarsh
Abomination 46
Moonday 60
Smoking Mirror 88
In The Lightless Chambers of Hellish
N’gah-Kthun 100
I had bought a sunlamp in the middle of February and by the beginning of March really hadn't noticed a difference. I was told that it could take up to a full month to notice any difference, so I didn't just give up in despair. I got this from Amazon and it's an 11,000 lux version with variable color and brightness levels. I have kept it at its yellowest color and on the brightest setting. I use it as a "regular" floor lamp while sitting on the couch, so use it a good 2-4hrs after work. I did notice a big difference by mid-March. Unfortunately, that also coincided with warmer temps outside and more sunshine, so it might not have been the lamp itself. I guess a true determination will have to wait until this Fall and Winter when I can start using it from the get-go of the season. It would be really nice to not feel like I did this year, that's for sure.
Mr Zip had his 40th birthday this month and I enjoyed celebrating that with him. Good food, good drink, good friends and lots of books to choose from. Doesn't get much better than that. Except by adding a big ol' banana cream pie to the mix!
Our Kia (car) passed inspection for another year. With about $1800 worth of help, sigh. Our State House of Representatives just passed a bill that would do away with state inspections. I am all for that. Still has to go through the State Senate and be signed by the Governor, but things are looking up in that regards.
Cover Love:
Ruin by Nate Crowley wins the cover love award hands down. Much like Jimbo, I too have a thing for axes.
Jimbo says "Bring it, Necrons!"
Plans for Next Month:
Same old, same old. I still want to find a long term series to blog about, but right now I'm flailing and not coming up with much of anything.
Hiei, Kurama, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Keiko and Botan (the Grim Reaper)
Title: The Dark Tournament Saga
Series: YuYu Hakusho (1992 Anime)
Episodes: 26-66
My Thoughts:
Forty episodes of pure shonen fighting. When I watched this story arc when it originally came out on dvd, I remember it dragging. It was long, the fights never ended, blah, blah, blah. This time around? Holy smokes, this was some tightly edited story telling! It felt like the tournament was over before it began. That's a good thing, really. It means the story telling never stumbled or stuttered and I was never bored.
There were also some genuinely sad moments too. It was always leavened with humor though. This is NOT a grim anime that makes you want to kill yourself. One example is when Kurabara (the tall guy on the left with the pompador style hair) pretends to die. He does it because he knows it is the only way to get Yusuke into the fight mentally and emotionally. So you have this really sad moment when everyone (including those watching) thinks he is dead and Yusuke gets all pumped up. Then Kurabara pops his head up, does his stupid grin and gives Yusuke a big thumbs up. It was hilarious and moving all at the same time.
The one thing that did annoy me though was the "accents" of the leaders of the teams that they fight. They are demons even though they look mostly humanoid. So to differentiate them, they get "accents", terrible, horrible, no-good accents at that. One guy gets some sort of Irish/Scottish pixy brogue thing. It embarrassed me just to listen to it! Another leader used a drunken master style of fighting. He was put with an australian accent. Ever hear some American try to sound like a drunk australian? It is not pretty. Then you had this kid. He was voiced by the same voice actor who did one of the girls and they didn't do much to disguise her voice. So you have this pipsqueak fighter who uses yo-yo's who sounds just like Botan (the blue haired girl in the picture above, who happens to be the Grim Reaper). There's a reason I eventually started watching my anime subtitled.
Other than that though, I had an absolute blast watching this. Everything was bigger than life and I liked that. This was also the longest arc in the series, so it's all kind of coasting after this. I am looking forward to the next story arc.
The Departure to Hanging Neck Island (Manga Chapters 51-53, Anime Episodes 26-27)
Yusuke goes on a date with Keiko (against his will), meanwhile in spirit world it is revealed that Toguro threw his fight with Yusuke to give SakyoTarukane's fortune. After the two discuss Yusuke's potential Toguro kills an insanity driven Tarukane and heads off. Toguro meets Yusuke and forces him to come with him. Toguro then reveals 60% of his power, scaring Yusuke and Kuwabara who was watching from a distance. Yusuke then agrees to the Dark Tournament as Hiei and Kurama were also watching. In preparation Yusuke goes to train some more with Genkai, while Hiei and Kurama train Kuwabara. The quartet reunites at the boat for the Dark Tournament, while a fifth unknown fighter joins. The five head onto the boat and Yusuke falls asleep due to his training. The host then reveals that only one team will be allowed to go to the Dark Tournament and the attendees have a battle royale where Team Urameshi ends up being the last ones standing.
Round One - Team Urameshi vs. Team Rokuyukai (Manga Chapters 54-60, Anime Episodes 28-32)
Team Urameshi and Team Rokuyakai are the first match, where Yusuke is still fast asleep. A boy named Rinku steps in and agrees to fight. He is pitted against Kuwabara. The two fight and Kuwabara managed to wound the boy, but sadly he is caught in his yo-yo's and ultimately loses the fight when he stays out of the ring for 10 seconds. With 0 - 1, Kurama steps in and is pitted against Roto, who reveals that he knows about his alias and fake mother. Roto then forces Kurama not to fight back as he beats him savagely and begins to torture him, but Kurama throws a pebble at him and after more torture Roto begins to feel pain and Kurama reveals that when he threw the pebble he also threw a seed in and when Roto asks Kurama to lick the scum off his boots he starts to feel pain and Kurama's death plant begins to grow, as Roto begs for mercy he learns Kurama doesn't show any and dies. The score is 1 - 1 as the third match involves Hiei being pitted against Zeru. The two fight and it seems Zeru has the upper hand, until Hiei unleashes the Dragon of the Darkness and disintegrates Zeru, but at the expense of his right arm. Hiei wins the match and the score is 2 - 1. After witnessing Kurama and Hiei's abilities Gaou and Imajin attempt to flee, but are killed by Chu for such a cowardly act. Chu then steps in to fight as his alcoholic smell finally wakes the long sleeping Yusuke who steps into fight. The two prove to be an even match, until they both emit all of their spirit energy and decide to have a knife-edge death match, where the two savagely beat each other, until Yusuke finally wins and the score is 3 - 1, making Team Urameshi the winners.
Round Two - Team Urameshi vs. Dr. Ichigaki Team (Manga Chapters 61-65, Anime Episodes 33-36)
After their first fight Yusuke is left unable to use his spirit gun, while Hiei's right arm is too injured to even grip a sword. Kurama meanwhile watches the other teams and how strong they are. A group of demons then attempt to kill Yusuke, who is left helpless as he is unable to use his spirit gun. He is saved by another demon who wishes to fight Yusuke properly. After Yusuke and Kuwabara arrive they find Toguro fighting alone against 5 other demons. Toguro then reveals 45% of his power to them and easily beats them before pinpointing Yusuke in the audience. The next day, Hiei and Kurama are ambushed and struggle due to Hiei's injury. Meanwhile, Yusuke, Kuwabara and the masked fighter face the Ichigaki team 3 on 3. Although the team refuses to fight due to learning that the fighters are under Dr. Ichigaki's control. The Urameshi team initially falls back, until the Masked Fighter frees them from the mind control and Yusuke finishes Dr. Ichigaki.
Quarter-Finals - Team Urameshi vs. Team Masho (Manga Chapters 66-76, Anime Episodes 37-43)
A nurse named Ruka asks Hiei and the Masked Fighter to come to the tent to be treated, but oddly doesn't ask Kuwabara (most likely not seeing him as any immediate threat). This turns out to be a trap as Hiei and the Masked Fighter are trapped behind a barrier, leaving only Yusuke and Kurama able to fight. Yusuke and Jin agree to 5 wins. The first match pits Kurama against Gama. Gama at first overwhelms Kurama, who seems to be done for, but Kurama then uses his rose whip to kill Gama. In his second match Kurama is still at a disadvantage, but manages to win, but had to use a death plant to save himself. Next a fighter named Bakken steps in and takes advantage of the unconscious Kurama, beating him savagely until Risho stops him as Yusuke was about to kill him. After that Yusuke steps in the ring and at first is lost in Bakken's sweat fog, but Yusuke uses his spirit gun blast to clear the arena and easily defeats Bakken for what he did to Kurama. Meanwhile, Ruka's barrier begins to not only wear off, but heal Hiei's arm as well. In the next match, Yusuke is then pitted against Jin. Jin at first gets the best of Yusuke, but he is able to win with his spirit wave technique. However the match is called a draw on behalf of Yusuke being out of the ring more than 10 seconds, the committee having been bribed by Butajiri. Just as all seems lost the injured Kuwabara steps in and defeats Risho, keeping the team safe from elimination. Before the semi-finals Yusuke's spirit egg hatches and reveals a spirit beast that is loving and gentle, much to the rest of Team Urameshi's amusement. Friction grows between Yusuke and the Masked Fighter, who step outside. The Masked Fighter is then revealed to be Genkai, who gives Yusuke one final test to kill her to gain her power.
Semi-Finals - Team Urameshi vs. Team Uraotogi (Manga Chapters 77-87, Anime Episodes 44-50)
Yusuke refuses to kill Genkai and thereby passes her test. Genkai then gives Yusuke his final lesson in the form of her spirit orb and he must either endure the pain or die. Koto is replaced due to her ineptitude as a referee and Team Urameshi is pitted against Team Uraotogi. Hiei then claims that he wants to fight every match. However Shishiwakamaru decides to roll dice and determine the fight. Hiei is first pitted against Makintaro, who he easily defeats. Then he fought Momotaro, who Hiei struggles more with, but ultimately defeats. Around this time Genkai decides Yusuke will die if her test continues and decides to remove her power, however Yusuke refuses to give up and endures yet more pain. Kurama is then initially overwhelmed by Ura Urashima, but after having his age reversed it is enough to release Yoko Kurama to kill Urashima. Genkai later shows up to fight Shishiwakamaru, who had defeated Kuwabara earlier. The final match against Suzuki fought with Kuwabara representing Team Urameshi once more, but the match ends in a carbon copy, while Genkai defeats him in the next match.
Toguro vs. Genkai (Manga Chapters 88-92, Anime Episodes 51-53)
Later on Genkai tells Kuwabara to make sure Yusuke stays asleep as she goes to confront the Younger Toguro. Meanwhile, Karasu, Bui and the Elder Toguro fight another team and defeat them. Kurama watches and is later confronted by the trio. Karasu then claims that one of Team Urameshi's team is going to die, worrying Kurama. Genkai beats Toguro down, but he ultimately wins with his demonic powers. Yusuke wakes up and heads after Genkai after learning of what she is doing. Genkai then says goodbye to Yusuke before dying and Yusuke angrily strikes Toguro, breaking his fingers. News of Genkai's death reaches Botan and Koenma and they begin to mourn. Meanwhile, Team Urameshi trains to rival Team Toguro, with Suzuki giving Kurama and Kuwabara gifts for their match because he doesn't like them, but he hates Toguro. Hiei strengthens himself to prepare to release the Dragon of the Darkness Flame without crippling his arm again. Yusuke tests his new Spirit Gun power and shoots a much more powerful spirit gun blast for Genkai's sake.
Finals - Team Urameshi vs. Team Toguro (Manga Chapters 93-110, Anime Episodes 54-64)
The Dark Tournament finals start off with the first match between Team Toguro's Karasu and Team Urameshi's Kurama. Although Kurama narrowly defeats Karasu before passing out, in a twist, the fight is deemed a win for Team Toguro (Kurama passed out for a 10 count before Karasu died). The next match is between Hiei and Team Toguro's Bui. After a long match, Hiei chooses to spare Bui's life, earning him the first victory for Team Urameshi. The third match is between Kuwabara and the Elder Toguro. It is revealed in the beginning of the fight that information pertaining to Genkai's death was withheld from Kuwabara. After obtaining his Spirit Flyswatter, Kuwabara takes the second victory for Team Urameshi. The final match between Yusuke and Toguro takes place shortly afterward. Genkai, possessing the body of Pu, tells Toguro that in order to bring about Yusuke's true fighting potential, he must kill the one closest to him. Kuwabara rushes towards Toguro, intending to be the sacrifice needed in order to help Yusuke attain the power needed. Toguro then proceeds to impale him in the chest, presumably killing him. Yusuke's power is finally brought to the surface, turning the tides in his favor. However, it is revealed that Toguro has considerably held back against him up until this point.
After a heated battle with Toguro using his true power, Yusuke uses his remaining spirit energy to fire one last Spirit Gun. In the end, Toguro manages to successfully catch the Spirit Gun, only to die afterward. With Toguro defeated, it is revealed that Kuwabara, in fact, faked his death in order to trick Yusuke into going all-out. It is implied that Toguro had purposely avoided Kuwabara's vitals, as he was only interested in fighting Yusuke in his prime.
Shortly after the defeat of Toguro, Koto and Juri officially declare Team Urameshi the winner of the Dark Tournament. However, Sakyo appears and informs them that he intends to destroy the tournament arena, along with himself and his work. With the press of a button, a bomb set by Sakyo is to detonate within 15 minutes, blowing up both his underground lab and the Dark Tournament itself.
With no time to spare, everyone makes a break to get out of the crumbling arena, save for a few. Keiko is traumatized and is unable to consciously react to the situation, prompting Yusuke to literally slap some sense back into her. In the anime, Kuwabara's sister Shizuru, follows Koenma to Sakyo's underground lab, in order to convince him to reconsider taking his life.
It is through his conversation with Sakyo that it is revealed that he intends on taking his ambition to create a portal between demon world and human world with him. Before he is crushed by the ceiling, Sakyo flicks his lighter to Shizuru as a momento to remember him by. Heartbroken, Shizuru is evacuated from the room, and the gang manages to escape with their lives as the arena explodes behind them.
Although relieved that it's over, Yusuke is still torn over the loss of Genkai. It is shown later that after Toguro's defeat, he specifically requested Koenma to assign him to Hell for the afterlife (or "limbo" in the Funimation English Dub) as he feels that he is unable to ever atone for his sin. As he is approaching his destination, he comes across Genkai at the crossroads. She is however, unsuccessful in changing his mind, and the two part ways once more.
As the gang gets ready to depart off of Hanging Neck Island the next day, they are surprised when a revived Genkai appears to get on the ferry with them. The ferry takes it's leave, as everyone looks out to the ocean, setting the story in motion for what's to follow.
AI image I took from the internet. Apparently, AI can draw toilets as well as it can draw hands and fingers.
The week started out interestingly. But not in a good way, if you can interpret that picture correctly, sigh. I don't know what I ate on Sunday, but I woke up about 3am Monday morning and I was on the throne with a waste bin in front me until about 10am. I called out of work (which worked out well as it was raining for most of the day) but was too miserable to be able to enjoy it. I sat on the couch "watching" tv (ie, dozing on and off) until Mrs B came home from work.
I did get back to work on Tuesday. Our company is growing and we've hired like 5-6 new people across all the departments (Surveying, Engineering and Environmental) and Survey got two of them. They are both field techs. One is a crew chief (like me), so he ended up working with the instrument operator who I've been working with the last two years. I got the new instrument operator. Who has rudimentary training in another system (think windows vs macs). So he knows enough to think he knows more than he does. Also, he's used nothing but robotic instruments, so half the skills you need for a manual total station he lacks. But he doesn't know he lacks them. In the 5+ years I've been at my current job, I've trained several guys. It's getting old. I just want to work with someone who knows what they are doing, are used to working with me (so they can anticipate me and know exactly what I mean when I use survey terminology short hand) and who has some get up and go. This kid ambles. He's also a flipping environmentalist. He is on the Conservation Commission for our town. When we were working on Tuesday, he stopped what he was doing, listened to some birds and said something like "Oh, listen to the birds, aren't their songs beautiful?" He better shape up. I'm also not making any real judgements about him because I know I instinctively react negatively to new situations and people, period. So it's actually him (yet), just the newness. But man, he is slow. He'll get over that, I just have to be patient. But it is hard to be patient when I see signs of him being a lazy dumbass. We have a code list we use. It is about 2 pages long, probably over 100 codes, but you need to really know about 50 of them. He was given the papers with them to memorize and it is obvious he's not taking that seriously. So I'm just grumpy about that.
Outside of work, nothing is really going on. Not even taxes. Those are due in just over two weeks. I tell you, the older I get the more I am in favor of a consumption tax and getting rid of the blasted IRS and their hellhole of a tax system. I'll keep dreaming, but until then, I have to suffer. It's not that I mind paying taxes, it is the utter labyrinthine system I have to navigate to do it.
On a more positive note, Mrs B and I are going out on date night tonight. Heading out to Amigos, my favorite mexican-american restaurant. Nothing says Mex-Am like a blue cheese cheeseburger with loaded potato skins on the side :-D Even with the Friday Night crowd there, I'm still looking forward to it. And since it is Friday, I don't have to worry about being too full to work the next morning ;-)
Well, I hope you have a wonderful Friday and that when Sabbath comes (ie, sundown), that you can have a truly restful one.
This review is written with
a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede
all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing
without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at
WordPress & Blogspot, by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission
Groo thinks he has eaten his dog
Rufferto. Look at those faces! Ahhh, I laughed my head off.
★★★✬☆
From Bookstooge
Groo
accidentally destroys an army and is hired to replace it. On his
journey, he thinks he accidentally eats his dog Rufferto. Rufferto
was kidnapped by two rapscallions for the reward and they join an
army to blend in. The problem is that it is the army that Groo is
recruiting for. Groo meets up with his boss and everything goes
straight to heck. Groo’s recruits fight the boss’s recruits and
the city they were supposed to fight against sends out their own army
to destroy the victor. During this whole time Groo keeps seeing
Rufferto everywhere. So when he actually does see him at the battle,
he doesn’t believe his eyes, thus allowing for the story to
continue in the next comic.
This
review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained
therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to
copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions.
Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted
Permission
Title:
Moving Pictures Series: Discworld #10 Author:
Terry Pratchett Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars Genre:
Fantasy Pages: 267 Words: 97K
When
I read this back in ‘07, I really didn’t like it. I gave it
3stars back then, but it was one of my least favorite Discworld reads
to date.
This
time around, I thoroughly enjoyed this, mainly because Pratchett just
skewers Hollywood and movies and it totally aligns with my absolute
disgust with movies and the people who make movies and tv their
hobby. Brainless, gormless, garbage. While Pratchett and I didn’t
see eye to eye on many, many things, I am man enough to admit that he
got at least one thing right. Hollywood is evil and does so much
damage that it is incalculable.
With
that, I just HAD to bump this up a coveted half star. I know
Pratchett is wriggling in his grave with pleasure. He should be.
★★★✬☆☆
From
Wikipedia.org
The
novel begins with the death of Deccan Ribobe, the last member of an
ancient order tasked with 'remembering' Holy Wood through ceremonial
chanting, and the escape of an influence from Holy Wood Hill. Several
months later, the alchemists of the Discworld have invented
moving pictures. Many hopefuls are drawn by the siren call of Holy
Wood, home of the fledgling "clicks" industry – among
them Victor Tugelbend, a dropout from Ankh-Morpork's Unseen
University and Theda "Ginger" Withel, a girl "from a
little town you never ever heard of", and the Discworld's most
infamous salesman, Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler, who introduces
commerce to the equation and becomes a successful producer. The
business of making movies grows rapidly, and eventually Victor and
Ginger become real stars, thanks to the help of Gaspode the sentient
dog (who also develops a manager-client relationship with Laddie, who
everybody considers to be the real Wonder Dog, although in fact is
very simple-minded). Holy Wood for a while becomes an effervescent
place full of humans, dwarfs, alchemists, demons (which essentially
constitute the main technological device to make movies), and trolls
(among whom is Detritus) all living in harmony.
Meanwhile,
it gradually becomes clear that the production of movies is having a
deleterious effect on the structure of reality. After Victor
discovers the body of Deccan and the ancient order's record, Ginger
is possessed by an unspecified entity and she and Victor find an
ancient, hidden cinema, complete with a portal to the Dungeon
Dimensions. Back in Ankh-Morpork, during the first screening of Blown
Away (a parody of Gone with the Wind) which the senior
wizards of the Unseen University are also attending, a creature from
the Dungeon Dimensions breaks through. Victor fights it (in what
eventually becomes a parody of the movie King Kong also
featuring the Librarian of the Unseen University), having
discovered that he could exploit Holy Wood magic and the narrative
conventions of the clicks if he had a camera pointing at him.
However, after the creature is defeated, Victor and the Librarian
realise that the creatures will still try to get through from the
Dungeon Dimensions and that Ginger in her possessed state was not
trying to summon them but trying to keep them from coming through
(possibly as a result of being descended from the High Priestess of
Holy Wood). Returning to the ancient cinema at Holy Wood, Victor and
Ginger witness a golden statue of a warrior (reminiscent of an Oscar)
come to life and travel through the screen to defeat the creatures.
In
the end most things return to normal (also because the Patrician and
the wizards make it clear that they will not allow any more movies to
be produced ever again), although dwarfs find themselves inexplicably
singing "Hihohiho" while mining. Victor and
Ginger have a last dialogue over the meaning of Holy Wood and being
famous, and Gaspode and the other animals under the influence of Holy
Wood lose their ability to reason and speak. The ending lines depict
a poetic scene about the fragility of Holy Wood dreams.
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Title: Transitions Series:
Demon Slayer #13 Author:
Koyoharu Gotouge Rating: 2 of 5 Stars Genre:
Manga Pages: 190 Words:
9K
I realized that
while I really like Tanjiro and his two friends, I simply don’t
care for any other of the side characters. And this volume is
chockful of other characters.
I definitely
struggled to get through this. I sure hope volume 14 works better for
me.
Bookstooge out...
★★☆☆☆
From Wikipedia
"In the Way"
"Thank You, Tokito"
"Won't Die"
"Sneaking Around"
"Pretentious Artist"
"Transitions"
"Bright Red Blade"
"Wanted: Respect"
"To Be a Hashira"
Hantengu and Gyokko attack the
Swordsman Village and Tanjiro fights them, with help from Muichirō
Tokitō, the Mist Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira and
Genya Shinazugawa, the younger brother of Sanemi, the Wind Hashira,
who is eager to be acknowledged by his older brother.
