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Culture Junkie report...
Jan. 2nd, 2025 04:06 pm1. So, it's been announced that Marvel/Disney decided to change the title of their upcoming Avenger's film from "The Avengers: Kang Dynasty" to...
Avengers: Doomsday, which is due to be released in May 2026, and a further instalment titled Secret Wars a year later.
And guess who has been officially cast as Victor Von Doom? (I didn't know until I read my correspondence list this morning.) Robert Downy Jr is cast as Dr. Victor Von Doom
Speaking to reporters, he said: "I like playing complicated characters."
I don't know. ( my rambling take on it for anyone who is remotely interested )
2. Almost through Rings of Power s2 on Amazon Prime. It's much better than expected. It probably helps that I've not read anything but the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, and did that in the 1980s, so can't remember it clearly enough to know what has been changed. I'm not a purist.
I don't think I'm a purist about anything? I read and watch serials that are kind of similar to published fanfiction - in that there is so much turnover between writers and editors that consistency is actually less than it would be for fanfiction sometimes. I'm nit-picky about some things, but not that.
I rather like RoP's take on Gladerial, who is both fierce and kind. I adore the character and how she's been fleshed out from her all-too-brief appearances in the books. I also love the Har-Foots and Stoors - precursors to the Hobbits, and their backstory. Along with the Wizard (who is to be Gandalf) and various others. The characters are compelling. Even Sauron, who is a charismatic and interesting villain.
It makes me want to re-watch the Lord of the Rings. (I saw it in theaters when it was first released, and have since seen it three or four times past that. It's among those handful of films I'll pause on and watch whenever I stumble across them on television.)
After I finish this, I may watch S2 of Wheel of Time. And possibly plunge back into The Witcher. I appear to be on a fantasy kick at the moment.
3. Books
I've gotten embroiled in Illona Andrews latest Kate Daniels Book - Magic Claims (which I think is one of the books that they independently published). What I love about these writers is they aren't wedded to the traditional publishing industry. Oh they do write for it - and get deals - they have to - to survive. But they also publish books independent of it.
The writers who publish independently are more interesting - and less formulaic or "commercial". They tend to take more risks with narrative and characters. And often have more to say.
Courtney Milan also independently publishes her work. As did Anthony Weir, and I think T Kingfisher. I like to read the lesser known writers. Although Illona Andrews has hit the best-seller lists as have Weir and Kingfisher. Ah, the other one was Wells who did the Murderbot series.
Claims is more interesting than Magic Tides - which felt like it was just setting the stage. Claims gets series and evolves the characters and moves things closer to where they were in Blood Heir.
If you are new to the Kate Daniels series? Don't start here. I'd start with either Magic Strikes, or the one just before it. Magic Bites tends to turn folks off - it's rather dark, and the writers hadn't hit their groove and were attempting a kind of dark urban fantasy procedural. Magic Strikes is much better.
That's on audio. Audio books are a mixed bag - you got to hit the right narrators and series. Some books work on audio, some don't. I have a subscription - so I pay about $9.99 a month, and it's kind of part of a bundle, and with that I get a free book and discounted books. If I save up credits or listen to a lot of books - I get lots of free ones.
The other one that I'm currently reading is Rules of Redemption: Firebird #1 by T.A. White - it's a sci-fi. It's okay, has some good banter. Not far enough in - to get a feel for it one way or the other.
Avengers: Doomsday, which is due to be released in May 2026, and a further instalment titled Secret Wars a year later.
And guess who has been officially cast as Victor Von Doom? (I didn't know until I read my correspondence list this morning.) Robert Downy Jr is cast as Dr. Victor Von Doom
Speaking to reporters, he said: "I like playing complicated characters."
I don't know. ( my rambling take on it for anyone who is remotely interested )
2. Almost through Rings of Power s2 on Amazon Prime. It's much better than expected. It probably helps that I've not read anything but the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, and did that in the 1980s, so can't remember it clearly enough to know what has been changed. I'm not a purist.
I don't think I'm a purist about anything? I read and watch serials that are kind of similar to published fanfiction - in that there is so much turnover between writers and editors that consistency is actually less than it would be for fanfiction sometimes. I'm nit-picky about some things, but not that.
I rather like RoP's take on Gladerial, who is both fierce and kind. I adore the character and how she's been fleshed out from her all-too-brief appearances in the books. I also love the Har-Foots and Stoors - precursors to the Hobbits, and their backstory. Along with the Wizard (who is to be Gandalf) and various others. The characters are compelling. Even Sauron, who is a charismatic and interesting villain.
It makes me want to re-watch the Lord of the Rings. (I saw it in theaters when it was first released, and have since seen it three or four times past that. It's among those handful of films I'll pause on and watch whenever I stumble across them on television.)
After I finish this, I may watch S2 of Wheel of Time. And possibly plunge back into The Witcher. I appear to be on a fantasy kick at the moment.
3. Books
I've gotten embroiled in Illona Andrews latest Kate Daniels Book - Magic Claims (which I think is one of the books that they independently published). What I love about these writers is they aren't wedded to the traditional publishing industry. Oh they do write for it - and get deals - they have to - to survive. But they also publish books independent of it.
The writers who publish independently are more interesting - and less formulaic or "commercial". They tend to take more risks with narrative and characters. And often have more to say.
Courtney Milan also independently publishes her work. As did Anthony Weir, and I think T Kingfisher. I like to read the lesser known writers. Although Illona Andrews has hit the best-seller lists as have Weir and Kingfisher. Ah, the other one was Wells who did the Murderbot series.
Claims is more interesting than Magic Tides - which felt like it was just setting the stage. Claims gets series and evolves the characters and moves things closer to where they were in Blood Heir.
If you are new to the Kate Daniels series? Don't start here. I'd start with either Magic Strikes, or the one just before it. Magic Bites tends to turn folks off - it's rather dark, and the writers hadn't hit their groove and were attempting a kind of dark urban fantasy procedural. Magic Strikes is much better.
That's on audio. Audio books are a mixed bag - you got to hit the right narrators and series. Some books work on audio, some don't. I have a subscription - so I pay about $9.99 a month, and it's kind of part of a bundle, and with that I get a free book and discounted books. If I save up credits or listen to a lot of books - I get lots of free ones.
The other one that I'm currently reading is Rules of Redemption: Firebird #1 by T.A. White - it's a sci-fi. It's okay, has some good banter. Not far enough in - to get a feel for it one way or the other.