by Jane | Aug 10, 2015 | Write Here Write Now
In Half a King by Joe Abercrombie, Yarvi, a young boy with a deformed hand, becomes king when his father and brother are killed. He doesn’t want the crown but has no choice. Though he feels that no one will ever accept him as king, he takes the throne under the auspices of his strong but harsh mother and supportive uncle. Immediately, they send him to war to avenge his father. But when he reaches the battlefield, Yarvi is betrayed by someone close to him and is sold into slavery.
Wanting nothing more than to regain his throne and have his revenge, Yarvi finds a set of unlikely comrades to assist him in his long journey back to his home. Along the way, the companions face dangers from weather, disease, and sword.
Although Half a King has not been marketed as young adult, but simply a fantasy novel, it has many elements of YA. The protagonist is young, and he faces many challenges. Uncertain of himself in the beginning, he grows enough during the book to consider this a coming-of-age story.
I would recommend this book for young adults and adults. It reads very fast and will maintain your attention throughout. Pick up the book and enjoy.
by Jane | Aug 1, 2015 | Write Here Write Now
What if you were a 12-year-old girl and you start receiving mysterious notes telling you to write a letter in order to save your friend’s life? This is exactly what Miranda does in When You Reach Me. The only child of a single mother, she has the same trials and tribulations of most children that age, but add to it this remarkable occurrence, and the book becomes one of wonder and intrigue.
Author Rebecca Stead tells this story in the voice of Miranda, and as such, it is fluid and very easy to read. We grieve with Miranda when she seems to lose her best friend Sal and rejoice with her when she finds new friends Colin ad Annmarie. But beyond all this preteen angst are the mysterious notes. They seem to know things about Miranda that nobody should know, even things that haven’t happened yet.
It is this hook that will keep you reading. Who is this mysterious person and how can he or she possibly know these things? But more importantly, what should Miranda do about it?
When You Reach Me is a fast, easy read that will keep you engaged until the end. Young adults will love it, but adults will also find it entertaining.
by Jane | Jul 15, 2015 | Write Here Write Now
Who wouldn’t want to have superheroes as parents? Celia West, that’s who. With a father who can knock down walls and a mother who can start fires with her hands, Carrie was expected to inherit some power of her own. When she didn’t, her father started ignoring her and she felt like a failure. Now, she’s all grown up and working as a forensic accountant, trying very hard to distance herself from her parents. Unfortunately, avoiding her parents is impossible. Since their secret identities were revealed, she has been a kidnap victim so often, it is now commonplace to her. And who is going to rescue her but her super parents and their super colleagues?
But Celia’s life gets even more complicated when her job draws her into contact with a super villain who once attacked the city and fought her parents. Stories come out about her rebellious teenage years, but more than that, her own exploration draws her into a story, not just about he villain, but also her parents and the other super humans.
In After the Golden Age, Carrie Vaughn presents a delightful story of a young woman with more problems than most trying to understand her place in the world. Humor, mystery, and suspense fill the pages. If you ever read comic books, this will be a fun read for you.
by Jane | Jul 13, 2015 | Write Here Write Now
Feyre is a young girl who must hunt for her family to put food on the table, because neither her crippled father nor older sisters will help. One day while hunting in forbidden woods, she kills a wolf. Unfortunately, it was not a wolf she killed but a faerie in disguise. Since this is a crime, a faerie named Tamlin comes to take her away to live in his world.
A Crown of Thorn and Roses, Sarah J. Maas’ newest book tells a tale of a world divided between man and faeries. A truce ending a war between the two erected a wall to separate them. a wall which humans were not allowed to pass. Now Feyre has been taken across that wall against her will to live among the faeries. When she arrives, she finds they are none too welcoming to her, because she has killed their friend. Lucien is especially mean to her. Feyre is very unhappy, until she finds that her feelings toward her captor Tamlin, the faeries in general, and even Lucien begin to change. In fact, she may be falling in love.
A Crown of Thorn and Roses reminded me greatly of “Beauty and the Beast”. In fact, Maas draws heavily on the tale.The only real difference is that Feyre is a strong, independent woman, who even in captivity, tries to help her family, at a possible cost to her own life. The relationships and enchantments also vary enough to keep the reader entertained. In spite of the similarities, A Crown of Thorn and Roses is a well-written young adult novel, which fans of Maas’ other books are sure to enjoy.
by Jane | Jul 5, 2015 | Write Here Write Now
Last week I posted some of my thoughts on These Are the Voyages, Vol.2 by Marc Cushman. Having just finished the book, I thought I should continue with some more information other than what William Shatner was doing to maintain his image onthe show. The second season was actually a very interesting one. Gene Coon was on board to produce most of the shows until stepping down near the end, three comedies were produced thanks to him, and George Takei missed out on some juicy parts by taking a role in a John Wayne movie.
One of the most interesting things to me about this book series is how a script was developed, first from an idea, then to an outline, the first draft script, and several drafts later to a finished product. It is reported that George Takei was a little upset when Walter Koenig joined the cast, because he was afraid it would take lines away from his character. And that it did. But more than that, it took away entire roles. There were many scripts that had Sulu listed for certain things. For instance, he was supposed to be in the landing parties in “Who Mourns For Adonais” and “The Apple”. When he had taken time away to film The Green Berets, he missed out on others, such as “The Trouble With Tribbles” and “The Gamesters of Triskelion”. Takei did not return to the series until “Return to Tomorrow”, with no big parts for him the rest of that season.
Having read the first two volumes of this series, I also understand what a great influence Gene Coon had. Apparently, he was the only one on the production staff who had a sense of humor, except for Script Consultant D. C. Fontana. He was responsible for the comedy of “I, Mudd” and “The Trouble With Tribbles.” All the cast, except for Leonard Nimoy, loved what he was doing with the humor, but theirs weren’t the votes that counted. Gene Roddenberry was involved in another project at the time these were produced and was none too happy when he returned. Coon’s resignation as producer was at least partially due to these artistic differences. Still, he was brought back to rewrite “A Piece of the Action,” and I, for one, am glad he was. It’s one of my favorite episodes. After Coon resigned, Fontana was left to supply the comedic elements, but there would be no more all-out comedies.
There’s more, much more to be garnered from this book, so if you’re a Star Trek fan, I would definitely recommend getting a copy for yourself. I’ll report on Volume 3 soon with more Star Trek tidbits.
by Jane | Jun 29, 2015 | Write Here Write Now
I reported on my views of the first volume of These Are the Voyages, a detailed retrospective of the production of Star Trek, back in February. Now, I have almost completed the second volume and have more information to share. Along with production information of each episode, which I greatly enjoy, volume 2 seems to focus a lot on William Shatner’s ego. Although most reports of Shatner during the filming of the first season involved how happy and funny he was around the set, that changed after the first season had aired. He was still funny around the set, but was also very concerned about his role as star of the show.
One reason for Shatner’s concern was Leonard Nimoy’s popularity: the amount of fan mail he received, the success of his record albums, the demand for public appearances, and an Emmy nomination. Plus, in response of his growing popularity, Nimoy held out for a raise and more say in his character. (Nimoy had contributed to his character in the past, suggesting, for instance, the Vulcan neck pinch, but now it was in his contract.) In addition, DeForest Kelley was also elevated to a starring credit at the beginning of the show for his role as Dr. McCoy. All this, it seems, made William Shatner insecure.
On one occasion, Shatner was seen striking out Nimoy’s lines to make sure he (Shatner) had more than his co-star. In “The Doomsday Machine”, this left an order by communicator unacknowledged by Mr. Spock. The production staff thought it was strange, but let it go to placate their star. However, the producers also took an active role in finding ways to boost Shatner’s ego. Giving him a new, wrap-around tunic was one way to set him apart. They also tried to find scripts that would let him do more interesting things. Reportedly, this led to episodes like “A Piece of the Action” and “Patterns of Force”, where he got to act the part of a gangster and Nazi, respectively.
It was around this time that Shatner started cutting, and/or taking lines from the supporting cast, causing hard feelings that have lasted to this day. He had also been known to restage a scene, so he wouldn’t appear shorter than a guest star. According to Mark Cushman, who wrote the books, Shatner also wore a hair piece and lifts in his shoes. These last two facts surprised me more than the rest, which most Star Trek fans are aware of. I could understand him wearing lifts, since he’s only 5’9″ and Nimoy was 6′. I had just never heard that he was bald or balding. If so, even today, he doesn’t appear without a toupee.
I report on these facts merely because I find them interesting, not to put down Mr. Shatner. He did great work on the show and created a character that has stood up for fifty years. That is quite an accomplishment for any actor. It is said that while Leonard Nimoy wanted to be a great actor, Wiliam Shatner wanted to be a star. I’d say both of them accomplished both things.
I look forward to reading the third volume of These Are the Voyages and will report on it when I am finished. In the meantime, I will watch and enjoy Star Trek even more, having a new understanding of what went into making the show.
by Jane | Jun 22, 2015 | Write Here Write Now
Ever since I finished the last episode of The 4400, I have been searching for some more good sci fi tv to watch. Not wishing to rewatch Star Trek shows just yet and being too early for return of the summer shows like The Last Ship and Falling Skies, I was lost. I’m happy that the two aforementioned shows will be airing soon. I can’t wait, actually. It will be the last season of Falling Skies and I want to see how things are resolved. Hopefully, there’s a happy ending, the aliens will be dispelled, and the humans can start to rebuild their world. As to The Last Ship, I was very unhappy with the season closer. I couldn’t believe that a ship of seasoned Navy sailors would allow their ship to be taken by civilians. Disbelief looms large. The only reason I’m thinking of tuning back in is because the previews of the first episode looks like they may be retaking their ship. Let’s hope so. Otherwise, it’s a disgrace to the U.S. Navy.
So, what have I been doing in the meantime? Watching a lot of documentaries (science instead of science fiction). But also, I discovered a couple of new Netflix programs released this year. The first of these shows is entitled Sense8 and is advertised as being from the creators of The Matrix and Babylon 5. Well, I liked both of those so I decided to give it a try.
The first episode begins with a woman on a pedestal writhing in agony, having visions, then shooting herself. It was interesting, but not knowing the woman, I had no particular empathy or interest in her, other than wanting to know who she was or what exactly was happening to her. Then, we start to see other people around the world in their everyday lives, some mundane, others criminal. But the thing about these people is that they are having visions of the other people’s lives, and they seem to be connected through the suicidal woman.
While on the surface this might seem interesting, I found that splitting the first episode among the eight different psychics diluted it too much, so that I didn’t get enough of any one person to feel really involved. Also, there didn’t seem to be much of a plot except for what each of these different people was doing, in other words, no through plot to connect them other than their visions. I expected them to come together somehow, for the viewer to find out something about the first woman and what was happening, or at least, for someone to raise the question. There was nothing.
There were 12 episodes of Sense8 produced, and since I don’t like to make a judgment on just one episode, I will watch more. Hopefully, it will get better and start to more sense.
The other show I watched was Between. It is the story of a small town called Pretty Lake, where a strange disease is striking down people 22 years of age and older. It seems to me like a cross between The Stand, Logan’s Run, and The Dome (this last because of a quarantine fence erected around the town). This show includes action and dramatic situations. One or two of the actors are overly dramatic, but I’ll overlook that. It has intrigued me enough that I want to see more. Unfortunately, there are only 5 episodes of this show, so I’ll probably be disappointed when I get to the end. But at least it’s something to occupy my time for now.
I will keep you informed about all of these shows, old and new. Happy viewing!
by Jane | May 24, 2015 | Write Here Write Now
Daredevil, a 2015 Netflix series, stars Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who becomes Daredevil at night in order to fight crime. His law partner, Foggy Nelson (played by Elden Henson, who many of you may know from the disturbing movie The Butterfly Effect), knows nothing of his double life. Nor does his secretary Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll). However, Karen dangerously and recklessly inserts herself into the same crime gang Matt is fighting, trying to bring them to justice.
The entire cast is excellent, but Vincent D’Onofrio in the role of the crime lord Wilson Fisk cannot be touched. His character is complex and cunning and exhibits both sensitivity and extreme aggression. I would go so far as to say that this is the best villain I have encountered in the comic to tv/movie genre. Bar none.
From the start, the plot is intricate and involving. I’ll admit that in the early episodes I got a little tired with the amount of time Daredevil spent simply beating up bad guys, but as the series progressed and became even more intricate and involving, I was hooked.
One of my favorite parts of the show are the flashbacks to Matt’s childhood, showing how he became blind but then developed the skills needed to become Daredevil. But there are also flashbacks to Fisk’s childhood, showing how and why he grew up to be the man he is. That brings us into the mind of the villain and draws us into the plot even more.
I would highly recommend Daredevil. If you have Netflix, stream it now. If you don’t have Netflix, Daredevil is a good enough reason to subscribe.
by Jane | May 15, 2015 | Write Here Write Now
I recently picked up a book entitled Werewolf Cop by Andrew Klavan. I’m not sure why I picked it up and fully expected to be disappointed. Based on the title, I wasn’t sure if the title character was a cop who hunted werewolves or a cop who was a werewolf. Either way, I decided to take a chance.
When I opened the book, I discovered it was the story of a Federal agent called Zach Adams, who is assigned to a special task force. Of course, I immediately wondered if this was Klavan’s version of the X-Files. But that was not the case. As I continued to read, I saw Agent Adams tracing gangster Dominic Abend through a number of tortured bodies. The occult doesn’t enter the story until the trail leads Adams to Germany to speak with a woman who might have some information on Abend. Convinced she is mad, Adams returns to America disappointed at having wasted his time. But as he gets deeper and deeper into the case, he realizes that the preposterous story he heard in Germany is true.
Klavan writes very well, and Werewolf Cop is an excellent read. As the title implies, there are werewolves, but also black magic, so it should fall into the realm of fantasy/horror However, there is so much more. It is also detective/suspense, and even has a bit of Fatal Attraction thrown in.
I would recommend this book for those who want a detective novel with an occult slant, or anyone who likes books involving the supernatural. Pick it up today and enjoy.
by Jane | May 4, 2015 | Write Here Write Now
My “Best Shows I Never Heard Of” List must now include The 4400. I started watching it several weeks ago and loved it from the very beginning. The plot revolves around 4,400 individuals who are abducted over a 60-year period and returned all together in a ball of light on a lake near Seattle, Washington. The strange thing is that none of them has aged a day. They are taken by a government agency called NTAC and placed in a detention center for several months. When they are released, it is found that some of them have developed amazing abilities. NTAC is charged with handling any problems relating to the 4400 (what the abductees are now called) and their abilities.
The show focuses on new NTAC agents, Tom Baldwin and Diana Skouris, but Tom has apotential conflict of interest because his nephew Shawn is one of the 4400 and his son Kyle is in a coma brought on during Shawn’s abduction. Another major player in this series is Brandon Collier, a wealthy 4400, who sets up a center to help other 4400’s and to try and develop abilities in people who were not abducted. As people become fearful of the 4400 and their abilities and some of the 4400, in fact, become dangerous, NTAC’s role changes from that of protection for the 4400 to that of containment. This switch brings them in conflict with Collier and his 4400 Center.
The 4400 was aired on USA for 4 seasons, starting in 2004, but having missed it, I was lucky enough to find it on Netflix. Tension, action, mystery, and love kept me watching throughout all 54 episodes. It was also fun for me because I noticed a lot of familiar faces from other sci fi series, including Summer Glau from Firefly (River), Peter Coyote from The X-Files (the Smoking Man), and Jeffery Combs from Enterprise (Shran). The series was canceled in 2007, ending on what many consider a cliff-hanger. I admit I would have liked to have seen more, but I think the finale cleared up a lot of things, and gave more than a hint of what the future would hold.
Imaginative, thoughtful, and provocative, The 4400 is a show to remember. Watch it on Netflix, buy the DVDs or rent them. Do what you have to do. Just be sure to watch The 4400. You won’t be sorry.
