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Culture Junkie report...
1. Books
* I've gotten into T.A. White's Rules of Redemption: Firebird #1. A lot of the language and world-building has an Asian flavor to it - it feels Japanese. They have Houses, and a lot of samurai fighting sequences. I'm wondering if the author may be Japanese or Asian or has an affinity for it? At any rate - it's more interesting than a lot of the sci-fi series I've read, because of the Asian slant. Most world-building in these novels is very Western European or US/UK, so to get Asian or Euro-Asian, is a novelty and intriguing. Although, it admittedly also reminds me a little of Dune.
It takes me into a different perspective and gives me new ideas as a writer.
The story is a trope I've read before - wounded alien heroine, kidnapped at birth, has powers, experimented on by scientists, escapes/rescued by human military commander who helps her take them down, humans train her and she joins their military, fights interstellar battle against a horrible enemy, and is now a bit of a pariah due to a controversial action during the war. Now, after a few years of being a salvager on the edges of space - she saves a few alien kids at a space station - and comes into contact with her own kind - who decide to take her back to their home planet - that's the first fifty pages.
* on Audio - listening to an urban fantasy novel by Illona Andrews, entitled Iron and Magic - it's the redemptive tale of Hugh D'Ambrey (a major villain and antagonist in two of the Kate Daniels novels, but interesting enough to warrant a redemptive tale and his own book - which was independently published by the writers.) The narrator is excellent. I could listen to him read anything. He can do multiple voices, and has a voice like British silk.
2. Television
* Finished Rings of Power S2 - which surprised me. I found it compelling and far better than S1 after about the third episode. You do, however, have to watch S1 to be able to follow it. I realized that I liked pretty much all of the characters, except possibly the folks in Numenor - who began to irritate me. (I had the same issues with the Lord of the Rings, then male political maneuvering and the men fighting a war - bored me in that as well. I'm much more interested in the Wizards, Ents, Harfoots, Stoors, Elves and Dwarves. The humans are kind of dull for the most part.)
* Finished Skeleton Crew - on Disney +. It's Star Wars meets the Goonies by way of Treasure Island. Heavy on the Treasure Island references. The writers basically borrowed lock stock and barrel Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale of Long John Silver hunting for the legendary Treasure Island. Jude Law plays the Star Wars version of Silver, with a droid as the cranky first mate of the legendary Captain who discovered Treasure Island. It works for the most part, except when it falls too deeply into Goonies territory. Playing up the cuteness of the kids for laughs doesn't quite work? If anything I found the kids annoying, and was sympathizing a wee bit too much with Jon Silvo, who may or may not be a Jedi Wizard. Law and whomever is playing KB, the kid with visor, are the best things in it, along with the droid. In other words - it works best when it pushes hard on the Star Wars, Sci-Fi, and Treasure Island Pirate aspects (which Star Wars admittedly lends itself too) and not so well when it plays into the Goonies. That said, there are some good episodes in there, and only six in all. I'd say it's worth the watch - if you like Star Wars and Treasure Island meets the Goonies.
What's up next? I'm flirting with The Witcher. I may rewatch S1 and watch it. By the time, I get through S3, S4 will be released. I don't really care that Henry Caville is being replaced by Liam Helmsworth, since I prefer the later to the former anyhow. Caville is apparently up for a Marvel role - looks like Captain Britain - and he's perfect for Captain Britain.
I've decided to stick with Sci-fi and Fantasy for a bit. I'm not in the mood for spy thrillers, horror, or mysteries at the moment. I want to escape reality and politics, not watch horrific televised versions of it. The news is terrifying all on its own. Although, down-grading to basic cable has managed to block a lot of it. What I can't decide is if my issues with my cable and television have anything to do with the downgrade?
By the way - where is Interview with a Vampire streaming all its episodes? Just AMC? Or is there another streamer covering it?
* I've gotten into T.A. White's Rules of Redemption: Firebird #1. A lot of the language and world-building has an Asian flavor to it - it feels Japanese. They have Houses, and a lot of samurai fighting sequences. I'm wondering if the author may be Japanese or Asian or has an affinity for it? At any rate - it's more interesting than a lot of the sci-fi series I've read, because of the Asian slant. Most world-building in these novels is very Western European or US/UK, so to get Asian or Euro-Asian, is a novelty and intriguing. Although, it admittedly also reminds me a little of Dune.
It takes me into a different perspective and gives me new ideas as a writer.
The story is a trope I've read before - wounded alien heroine, kidnapped at birth, has powers, experimented on by scientists, escapes/rescued by human military commander who helps her take them down, humans train her and she joins their military, fights interstellar battle against a horrible enemy, and is now a bit of a pariah due to a controversial action during the war. Now, after a few years of being a salvager on the edges of space - she saves a few alien kids at a space station - and comes into contact with her own kind - who decide to take her back to their home planet - that's the first fifty pages.
* on Audio - listening to an urban fantasy novel by Illona Andrews, entitled Iron and Magic - it's the redemptive tale of Hugh D'Ambrey (a major villain and antagonist in two of the Kate Daniels novels, but interesting enough to warrant a redemptive tale and his own book - which was independently published by the writers.) The narrator is excellent. I could listen to him read anything. He can do multiple voices, and has a voice like British silk.
2. Television
* Finished Rings of Power S2 - which surprised me. I found it compelling and far better than S1 after about the third episode. You do, however, have to watch S1 to be able to follow it. I realized that I liked pretty much all of the characters, except possibly the folks in Numenor - who began to irritate me. (I had the same issues with the Lord of the Rings, then male political maneuvering and the men fighting a war - bored me in that as well. I'm much more interested in the Wizards, Ents, Harfoots, Stoors, Elves and Dwarves. The humans are kind of dull for the most part.)
* Finished Skeleton Crew - on Disney +. It's Star Wars meets the Goonies by way of Treasure Island. Heavy on the Treasure Island references. The writers basically borrowed lock stock and barrel Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale of Long John Silver hunting for the legendary Treasure Island. Jude Law plays the Star Wars version of Silver, with a droid as the cranky first mate of the legendary Captain who discovered Treasure Island. It works for the most part, except when it falls too deeply into Goonies territory. Playing up the cuteness of the kids for laughs doesn't quite work? If anything I found the kids annoying, and was sympathizing a wee bit too much with Jon Silvo, who may or may not be a Jedi Wizard. Law and whomever is playing KB, the kid with visor, are the best things in it, along with the droid. In other words - it works best when it pushes hard on the Star Wars, Sci-Fi, and Treasure Island Pirate aspects (which Star Wars admittedly lends itself too) and not so well when it plays into the Goonies. That said, there are some good episodes in there, and only six in all. I'd say it's worth the watch - if you like Star Wars and Treasure Island meets the Goonies.
What's up next? I'm flirting with The Witcher. I may rewatch S1 and watch it. By the time, I get through S3, S4 will be released. I don't really care that Henry Caville is being replaced by Liam Helmsworth, since I prefer the later to the former anyhow. Caville is apparently up for a Marvel role - looks like Captain Britain - and he's perfect for Captain Britain.
I've decided to stick with Sci-fi and Fantasy for a bit. I'm not in the mood for spy thrillers, horror, or mysteries at the moment. I want to escape reality and politics, not watch horrific televised versions of it. The news is terrifying all on its own. Although, down-grading to basic cable has managed to block a lot of it. What I can't decide is if my issues with my cable and television have anything to do with the downgrade?
By the way - where is Interview with a Vampire streaming all its episodes? Just AMC? Or is there another streamer covering it?
no subject
Planning to try Skeleton Crew next time I have Disney - which will probably be when Andor s2 comes out.
no subject
Agree on RoP. It actually works plotting and character-wise. The characters actions make sense. And angry and unwise Galadriel is interesting, as is naive and trusting Elrond.