(no subject)

[shadowkat]

1. Currently robo-vacuuming my apartment with the ILife Robot vacuum which has lasted longer than the stand-up variety. The Miel was problematic. Although it is acting oddly tonight, so not certain, keeps going back and forth over the same territory.

I'm watching the first episode of Halt Catch Fire at the same time. It's been rec'd now by my brother and my mother. Also yourlibrarian and herselfnyc. So trying it again.

2. I finished the audible version of Jim Butcher's Peace Talks, as read by James Marsters. Who is rather good - he manages to pull off about ten different accents, and multiple voices. I've picked up a few others...which I've read, but not the audios.

The story itself? Well, if you don't like Butcher's The Dresden Files, don't bother. And if you've never read them - this is not where you should start. If you want to start? Storm Front or Changes. Skip Full Moon and Death Masks. Anything with the Fae or the Vampires is good, anything with the Knights of the Cross or Werewolves...isn't.

If you do like Butcher's Dresden Files - this doubles down on the character stuff. We get scenes with Harry and his grandfather, brother, and Murphy. All good.

Is it great writing, no popcorn. Doesn't require a lot of focus, and he overdoes on the he and she saids, in my opinion. You only really need the saids - when you can't figure out who is speaking. Readers skip over them.
I'm of the Elmore Leonard school of thought - delete everything readers skip over.

Also, I think Butcher is tired of the story and pushing through.

3. Als finished the comic book series Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search by Brian Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino - which is developed with the creators of the Avatar series. Nickleodeon has character bibles and strict rules regarding novelizations or comics of its works.

Anyhow, it was good. Followed the Avatar series rather well, and resolved the whole question of what happened to Zuko's mother and why his father treated him poorly (his father is an abusive asshole). Also, explained Azula's craziness, and her reactions to her brother.

If you are a fan of the series - this works well within it, and the art is the same as what was shown in the series.

[ETA: Realized this morning that I'd forgotten to indicate what series The Search was related to...this is what happens when you write a post..half asleep.]

4. Currently reading stuff by audio - or listening to books. I just don't have the patience to read books right now, not sure why. Or the time. Which may be part of it. I spend a lot of time on the computer reading and writing things daily - so my eyes are tired.

5. Five episodes into The Mandalorian - which is holding my attention and I'm thoroughly enjoying. It doesn't require much concentration. And baby yoda is really adorable.

It's kind of a space Western - with a kind of anti-hero character on the road of redemption, helping and killing people along the way. It's a sci-fi version of Have Gun, Will Travel or The Bounty Hunter.

But more family oriented, and kind of hopeful. I like it a lot better than expected.

Comments

[mtbc]

I grudgingly concede that baby Yoda is indeed more endearing than I expected.

[shadowkat]

Yes, I was somewhat surprised by my reaction to it. Because when I read the spoiler way back when this first premiered, I rolled my eyes. But they actually handle it well. I give Favreau a lot of credit here. Lucas tried the "cute kid stuff" with Phantom Menace and Return to the Jedi, and it did not work.

[avrelia]

I quite liked the post ATLA comics, I think they portray the post-war world there in interesting ways. My favorite is Shadow and Smoke, which deals with state of mind of Fire Nation mostly.

[shadowkat]

I haven't tried that one yet, thanks for the Rec. I did this one - because I was curious what had happened to the mother.

[colls]

I'm considering The Mandalorian as a comfort-show, re-watch sort of thing.

[yourlibrarian]

I imagine Catch Fire is a pretty slow view compared to Mandalorian! Also, I found S1 a mixed bag as things got more compelling for me in S3, but I do think the character development rewards viewing. Plus, for me it was so interesting watching an industry develop that I was around for but not aware of at the time.

[shadowkat]

It's also longer. The Mandalorian was only 8 episodes. Halt Catch Fire - I think is four or five seasons? I don't know if I can stick with it - I had issues last night, but I'd admittedly started the episode at 10:30 and wanted to go to bed. LOL!

[shadowkat]

I should note - it was rec'd by my brother because he worked in the industry - in the start-ups, and told my mother this is what it was like. I kind of did - I worked for Oberon. We both flirted with the techie start up dot.com industry - who all wanted to be the next Apple, Google, etc. They weren't.