by Jane | Nov 15, 2014 | Write Here Write Now
I recently had the occasion to watch retrospectives of two television shows — Star Trek: The Next Generation and Supernatural. The first of these was streamed by Netflix as its last show for the TNG series. It was shot during the final episode and hosted by Jonathan Frakes. Very informative and entertaining, the retrospective showed clips from throughout the series, as well as behind the scenes action and interviews with the cast and crew. I enjoyed the retrospective so much, I wished it could have been longer. It even got into Deep Space 9 a little and mentioned the “new” series currently in production — Voyager. (As an aside, having just watched the final episode of TNG, “All Good Things”, a two-parter that brought things full circle, I must say that it has to be one of the best finales ever. Now back on topic.)
I enjoyed the retrospective largely because I really like learning about what it takes to make a hit show like Star Trek. As a teen, I read The Making of Star Trek, an insider’s view to how the show was conceived, produced, and sent to our TV screens week after week for three seasons. Now a book entitled These are the Voyages — TOS: Season One graces my coffee table. It’s a rather hefty volume at 648 pages (including the appendices) and I haven’t started it yet, but I’ll be sure to let you know what I think of it when I do. And as I’m sure you’ve realized, it is the first volume in a series of books about TOS. It will take me some time to get through them all.
I had intended to talk about the Supernatural retrospective here as well, but I will postpone that until next time. This post is already a little long, and I have quite a bit to say about Supernatural and my experience with that series. Until then, I will recommend to you the TNG retrospective. I’d like to know what you think.
by Jane | Oct 31, 2014 | Write Here Write Now
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas is the third book in the Throne of Glass series. At the end of the last book, Celeana Sardothien discovered that she was really Princess Aelin Galathynius, heir to the throne of Terrasen. Now she has traveled to Wendlyn to meet Maeve, Queen of the Fae to find out what the queen knows about the Wrydkeys, a weapon being used by the evil king of Ardolan. But before Celeana can get the answers she seeks, she is forced into a training program to develop her fae abilities.
Back home, Celeana’s cousin Aedian, whom she hasn’t seen in years, has traveled to Ardolan and met Chaol of the King’s Guard and Prince Dorian. Both Chaol and Dorian seem to have matured since the last book. Chaol is trying to make sense of Aedion’s resemblance to Celeana and where his true loyalties lie. Dorian is trying to forget Celeana and is back to his womanizing ways. Or is he really?
Maas also introduces a coven of witches in this book, who are in serious training for something. An upcoming war, perhaps? And who are they working for?
Heir of Fire is a good continuation of the Throne of Glass series, furthering the story of Celeana, once a notorious assassin and now a royal heir. Read to find out how she accepts more challenges to determine her true fate.
by Jane | Oct 24, 2014 | Write Here Write Now
The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima is the third book in the Seven Realms series. I continue to enjoy these books greatly. I’m really surprised she doesn’t have a movie deal yet. I have to repeat from my last Seven Realms review that I think it’s the best YA series on the market.
In this installment, Raisa is trying to make her way back to the Fells after her escape from wizard Micah Bayar and Prince Gerard Montaigne. While at Oden’s Ford, she had heard of unrest at home, with a group of people intent on making her sister Mellony princess heir in her place. In addition, having escaped assassins at Oden’s Ford, she continues to meet people trying to kill her.
After meeting with Edan Byrne, Captain of the Queen’s Guard, and his soldiers, she makes her way north, but the next attempt on her life almost succeeds — she is saved only through the efforts of Han Allister, former street lord and wizard, who is also making his way north.
Han feels betrayed when he discovers the girl he knew as Rebecca Morley is really Princess Raisa, but he sticks by her to protect her, as does Amon Byrne. These are the only two people Raisa can trust. She must decide how to lead her country, while protecting herself, but giving up both Han ad Amon for a political marriage.
The Gray Wolf Throne is a roller coaster. The speed with which I go through the Seven Realms books is a testament to Chima’s storytelling ability. Certain things resolve in this book, though many more are left open to tease the reader. I eagerly await the fourth and final book — The Crimson Throne.
by Jane | Oct 17, 2014 | Write Here Write Now
I am not now a regular reading of horror, though that was not always the case. In the 70’s and 80’s, I read Stephen King, Peter Straub, and Dean Kootnz with glee, often discussing the stories with my friends and sharing books. Then, somehow I got out of horror and started reading action/thrillers, followed by a return to my first love, fantasy and science fiction. In the past few years, I have picked up a couple of Stephen King books, but they’re either not as good, or I have just changed.
Having said that, I was recently in my local public library perusing the “New Book” shelf and noticed a horror title. It being October and Halloween season, I decided to pick it up and hopefully, enjoy the type of fright I used to get from books like The Shining or Ghost Story. The book I chose was The House of Small Shadows by Adam Nevill.
This book is the story of Catherine Howard, an antiques dealer specializing in toys. She is delighted when Edith Mason, niece of the late M.H. Mason, tells her that she wants to sell part of the Mason collection of dolls, marionettes, and stuffed wild animals. Catherine is invited to the house of the late collector to conduct an inventory, but while there, she begins to experience some very strange things. The displays she is shown are morbid and macabre, and the visions she had as a child start to resurface and intermingle with her experiences in the house. She also has to deal with the strange behavior of the hostile Edith Mason and the mute, antisocial housekeeper Maude.
While interesting, the book did not scare me or hold many surprises. A short way into the book, I guessed much of what was going on, but had to wade through many more pages to get to the ending I suspected. It was also, in some ways, derivative of other books I have read in the genre. I will say that Mr. Nevill is a good writer and knows how to create a mood. As to the story, it was adequate and might prove scary and suspenseful to some, but not for anyone as familiar with horror as I am.
by Jane | Oct 10, 2014 | Write Here Write Now
I recently started streaming Star Trek: The Next Generation. I was reluctant because I thought I remembered that it wasn’t that good until the third or fourth season. But I started, and it’s not that bad. I know I’ve said this before in other posts, but this time I have something of an explanation. In TNG, there was a lot of disappointment because fans so fondly remembered the original Star Trek and would probably have preferred it to be revived with the original cast. Meanwhile, the producers didn’t want the new series to be exactly the same. They updated the ship, put a Klingon on the bridge, and deliberately had no Vulcan at the science station. Instead, they added Wesley Crusher.
Fans at Star Trek conventions in those days absolutely hated Wesley Crusher. My feelings did not run that deep. He wasn’t my favorite character, but I tolerated him. The fans’ animosity seemed to derive from the fact that the boy had saved the ship too often. Actually, by the end of the first season, he had only saved the ship two or three times, although that is probably too many times for a 15-year-old aboard a ship of competent Star Fleet officers. No matter how smart he is.
In the second season, Wesley stopped saving the ship. Good for him. But also, Riker grew a beard, Worf became head of Tactical, and LaForge Chief Engineer. The producers felt they needed some changes, and they were all for the good. Instead of redoing or relying heavily on old Star Trek episodes (e.g., “The Naked Now”), they moved on and made TNG its own series.
As an ex-psychologist, I know the impact that expectations can have. Like I said, Star Trek fans wanted everything the same. But that wasn’t going to happen. That couldn’t happen. The new show had to succeed on its own. The characters grew, the plots achieved their own momentum, and the show came into its own. It gained a new audience, as well as pleasing the old. What else could anyone ask for?
by Jane | Oct 3, 2014 | Write Here Write Now
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman takes place in Goredd, a world where there is an uneasy truce between humans and dragons. The twist in this story is that dragons can take human form and live among them, though they must be monitored and wear a bell around their necks to identify themselves.
Seraphina is a teenage musician who works in the court and has a dragon named Orma as her friend and tutor. However, she is quite alone. She never knew her mother, her relationship with her father is stilted, and she has no real human friends. Though Orma is her friend, she finds it difficult to relate to him, since dragons have no emotions.
But there are secrets in Goredd. A prince of the realm has been murdered, and dragons are suspected. There are also secrets in Seraphon’s own family. Why does no one talk about her mother? And how did she become so close to Orma? The murder she is trying to solve with the help of a bastard prince, but the family secrets she must keep to herself.
The book Seraphina, while geared toward young adults, has a lot of depth that adults will enjoy. The dragon-human differences and conflict can be metaphors for our own realationships today, both on a macro- and micro-level. Read Seraphina to get a wonderful story but come away with better understanding of human nature.
