by Jane | Nov 17, 2018 | Books
Blood of the Four by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon is the story of the kingdom of Quandis. Phela, second in line to the throne, suspects her mother Lysander of using magic, forbidden to all except the highest level of priest. But Lysander is ambitious, as is Phela herself.
On the other end of the social hierarchy are the Bajumen, the most lowly of slaves, hated by all. But Bujumen can elevate themselves by joining the priesthood, as has Blane. Blane also has ambition, but his is noble, the freeing of his people.
As the story progresses, people of all classes (royalty, nobility, priests and slaves) are called upon to take sides, as both Phela and Blane become more powerful, in a battle for control of the kingdom and its magic.
Blood of <the Four is a page-turner, following the journeys of several characters during the difficult times. It’s definitely worth a look.
by Jane | Nov 8, 2018 | Television
In April 2017 I gave a lukewarm review to the Netflix series 3%, but now that I have seen the second season I am liking it much better. Season 2 occurs about a year after Season 1 and focuses mostly on the Cause and how they plan to stop the upcoming Process. (If you haven’t seen it or read the first review, the Process is a procedure whereby 20-year-olds can compete and hopefully be chosen to leave their miserable lives in the Inland to live in the utopic society of the Offshore.)
The plot involves Cause members both Offshore and Inland working together, most of whom we’ve seen before, and through flashbacks we get to see what happened to them in the intervening year. As befits this series, there are many surprises, betrayals, and deaths to keep the viewer interested. I won’t give away the ending, but I will say it’s one of those which could end the series or pave the way to something new.
After finishing the second season, I did something I never do – I rewatched the entire first season. I did this mainly because I remembered how intriguing the Process itself was and wanted to experience it again. Of course, it also reminded me of what happened with each character and why they were in their current situation at the beginning of Season 2.
I don’t often change my opinion of a show this much. One of the things I said originally was that I didn’t like the acting. Now I believe it was just the dubbing I found annoying. The concept and plot are really quite good. If you get a chance, watch 3% and join me in hoping there’s a Season 3.
by Jane | Oct 30, 2018 | Books
Flashmob by Christopher Fransworth tells the story of John Smith, a bodyguard with a twist. He’s psychic. Not only can he read minds, he can put simple thoughts into people’s heads. This skill can help him get out of danger by, for instance, convincing his attacker he had been shot in the leg or has a punctured lung. With his attacker disabled, Smith can make good his escape.
Smith gets into trouble after he foils an attack on a former client while attending her wedding. Using his telepathy, he finds out about an online site called Downvote developed to manipulate people, specifically to attack someone who rises to the top of the online list of hated individuals. His investigation takes him all over the world looking for Downvote’s mastermind, Godwin, who is trying to kill him.
Not a book I would normally classify as “alternative fiction,” Flashmob is more of a thriller, with both fantastical and futuristic elements. The fantastical elements are, of course, Smith’s mental abilities, the futuristic the program behind the scenes at Downvote. This is an excellent book, particularly if you are drawn more to the thriller genre. The “alternative” elements are fun, though perhaps not enough to satisfy true “alternative” fans.
by Jane | Oct 22, 2018 | Books
The King’s Justice is a book of two novellas by Stephen Donaldson. The first novella, “The King’s Justice,” tells of a stranger known only as “Black,” who comes to a village looking to solve a series of strange events and find the person or thing responsible. Possessing magical abilities, Black is able to gain cooperation from the villagers, who just want to be left alone. It is a mystery well-handled, filled with magic and danger.
The second novella is entitled “The Auger’s Gambit.” Told in first person, this is the tale of Gordian, a court hieronomer who continues to see disaster in his prophesies about the island nation he calls home. He serves Queen Inimica Phlegathon DeVry, who seems to be courting disaster by pitting her Barons against each other. But through history lessons from the queen’s daughter, Gordion learns enough to develop a theory and try to come up with a solution. “The Auger’s Gambit” is a lot of fun. It’s another mystery, though not as dark as “The King’s Justice,” making a good pairing for this book.
Pick up The King’s Justice and enjoy both stories. I certainly did!
by Jane | Oct 12, 2018 | Books
Black Helicopters by Caitlin R. Kiernan is a confusing story of a dystopian Earth, in which accounts are given in several voices ranging over different periods spanning almost 200 years. There are two factions, X and Y, some evil creatures emerging from a bay in Maine, and two albino twin sisters at the middle of this tale. There is also a vague reference to psychological experiments done to these women, along with others.
Kiernan does weave a sense of unease throughout this book, but I am the type of person who likes to know at least the essence of what’s going on before the last page. In Black Helicopters, it’s not even clear what has happened to the Earth by the last page, let alone the main characters. Perhaps that was the author’s intent, but it’s just not my style. For that reason, I cannot recommend this book.
by Jane | Oct 4, 2018 | Books
Subway Love by Nora Raleigh Baskin is the story of two teens who reach out to each other across time. Laura is living in the 1970’s, daughter of a Manhattanite father and a divorced hippie mother. She lives in suburbia with her mother and her mom’s unstable boyfriend and has regular visits with her father. Jonas, who lives in the 21st century in New York City, also has estranged parents but rarely sees his father.
On one of Laura’s regular visits to Manhattan, she makes eye contact with Jonas across a subway platform. They both feel an instant connection and do whatever it takes to see each other again. A subway car covered with graffiti and an old camera seem to be elements in this remarkable event, though I choose to believe it is the power of love.
Subway Love is a delightful tale of impossible teenage love. This book is touching, sad, and spooky, but at all times engaging. I would recommend this to both teens and adults. Pick it up and enjoy!
by Jane | Aug 9, 2018 | Administrivia
I am pleased to announce that my new website is now live. If you’re reading this, you have found it.
by Jane | Jul 3, 2018 | Write Here Write Now
There’s a new version of Lost in Space on Netflix, following on the heels of the 1960’s television show and the 1998 movie. The TV show was the story of the Robinson family who went off course and landed on an unknown planet. Also in the cast was Major Don West and a stowaway, Dr. Zachary Smith. I had not planned to watch this iteration, but after seeing several comments on Facebook, both positive and negative, I decided to take a look.
The premise for the 2018 show is similar, a family on its way to a new colony, crash lands on a planet, but there are many differences. For one, several ships on their way to the colony also crash onto the planet, which adds complications to the early episodes. The special effects are, of course, much better than was possible in the 1960’s, the sets are fantastic, and the plots are more complex.
What I’d like to focus on the most, however, are the characters, all of whom are more well-rounded, some of which we see in extensive flashbacks. All the Robinson children are well-acted and multi-dimensional. Judy is a doctor, Penny is adventurous and willful, and Will is an intelligent 11-year old. He sometimes makes mistakes based on his big heart, but also tries to do the right thing, even if it puts him in danger.
John and Maureen, the parents, are not the happy couple of the 1960’s. Instead, they are divorced, due mainly to John’s putting his work above his family, but they have put their differences aside to take their family to a better life. John has had a life in the military, and Maureen is a strong modern woman, an engineer at the forefront of this story.
The other three major characters are Don West, Dr. Smith, and the robot. The robot is an amazing example of alien technology — it is roughly in human form, but with a face that seems to be full of stars. They are blue when it is calm, but turn red when in war mode. The robot is very dangerous but has bonded to Will because the boy found it in its ship’s wreckage and put it back together.
Don West, in this version, is sort of a Han Solo type, a smuggler who seems to be out for himself, but comes through when least expected. He is also the first person to meet the evil Dr. Smith among the wrecked vessels. She is a character that requires much more description. In this version, she has stolen the identity of the real Dr. Smith and taken his place to escape the mother ship Resolute when it is attacked. I won’t describe her interactions on the planet in order to avoid spoilers, but I’ll just say that she ends up living with the Robinsons, posing as a therapist.
Of all the characters, I like Dr. Smith the least. For most of the first season, she just comes across as creepy. We see some bad things she did in flashbacks, but mostly she sits around with an unconvincing sneer on her face, subtly manipulating people. I think what bothered me most was that she had no real goal except self-preservation at all costs and no real feelings for other people, in other words a true sociopath. I just wanted to see more from her early on.
There’s a lot to like about this series, but due to the Dr. Smith creep factor, I, an unapologetic binger, could only watch one show at a time. It gets better around episode 7, things heat up in the plot, and Smith finally decides to act. The season finale set up the next season for some great adventures for the Robinsons. I haven’t decided yet if I will watch, but I will say that a couple of days after finishing the series, I found myself missing it. So I may give season 2 a shot.
by Jane | May 23, 2018 | Write Here Write Now
The Conjuring is a 2013 James Wan film about a family terrorized by a group of spirits. It’s set at a secluded farmhouse in 1970 and based on a true story. The Perron family of six has just moved in when they start to experience paranormal events. First, it’s little things, like all the clocks stopping at 3:07 am or objects being moved around. Then there are actual sightings. When one of the daughters is attacked, the mother seeks help from paranormal specialists. Soon, these professionals learn that this is not a normal haunting and that they have now put their own family in danger.
The Conjuring ranks as one of the scariest movies I have ever seen, certainly in recent years. The only one to come close for me is The Changeling. I was on edge from the first sighting until the end. If you like scary movies, definitely put this one on your list. It was good enough to spawn two sequels, which I hope to see soon. But for now, watch The Conjuring and be prepared to tremble.
by Jane | May 16, 2018 | Write Here Write Now
Prometheus is a 2012 movie directed by Ridley Scott. After archeologists discover what may be a clue to our alien forebears, an expedition is launched to a faraway moon. Once released from stasis, there is an immediate distrust between the crew and the scientists, and everyone seems to be keeping secrets from one another, even the android David, who was in charge while all were asleep. Once they land, things get worse. They find evidence of a humanoid existence, including several dead bodies. They also discover a mysterious liquid which has disastrous effects on them.
I loved the beginning of this film as it captured the exploratory feel that I think science fiction should have. Once on the moon, it developed into a touch of horror, but not so much that it had me covering my mouth and running from the room. It has suspense, sex, intrigue, and just a little bit of gore. If you haven’t heard anything about this film, the ending may be a surprise, and I won’t reveal it. If you do know what happens, know that the final scene is delivered in a very realistic and satisfying way. I would recommend this film.
