"It's all fun and games until someone loses a tentacle."
I'm gradually working my way back into regular reading of something other than things online, which is certainly gladdening my dark heart. It's still going more slowly than I'd like, but it's coming.
Recently finished: A Catskill Eagle by Robert Parker, and the novelette "And Here Be Monsters" by Keith R. A. DeCandido. The book presently at my bedside is Zombies Of The Gene Pool by Sharyn McCrumb, a mystery that's based in science fiction fandom; I'm several chapters in, and I'm finding it engaging and interesting so far, while garnering a certain amount of amusement by the use of fandom. The reference to "Slan Francisco" had me chuckling heartily for some reason. I have another of her mysteries, The Windsor Knot, sitting at hand, and I believe I have a paperback edition of Bimbos Of The Death Sun around here somewhere.
I still have to finish Spy Hook by Len Deighton, and, lest Tribs nag me about it, Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold. I poked my nose at Jim Butcher's Storm Front but haven't jumped in as yet, despite the first two episodes of The Dresden Files having aired (and the third due this Sunday.) The TV series is okay so far, relatively low-impact stuff.
Also to read: the usual pile of traction books. I've been working my way through the CERA Bulletin From Bullets To BART, but this is primer-level material for me, with the result that gazing at the pretty pictures of trams, trolleys and streetcars is the main point of cracking the book open. I should pull down one of the various other railroad and traction books and stuff more information into my brain. It is, after all, what I do.
For those who haven't been with me that long, I started drifting away from reading books a few years ago when my eyesight started to go -- I developed cataracts that eventually blinded me almost completely in my left eye, and reduced vision to about 30% in the right; for a while I was relying on audio books and the use of computer software that compensated somewhat for vision impairment -- I ended up with some hideously ugly screen displays. Fortunately I was able to undergo cataract surgery (proving a somewhat difficult patient) and this brought me back most of the way. My vision is by no means perfect (the left eye still has issues, and I need glasses) but it sure as hell beats the alternative. One of these days I'll go back and rewatch a few things that I only saw in somewhat blurred fashion prior to the surgery. One of the first things I did after the first surgery was to pick up and plow my way through a novel, but despite my intentions I didn't return to reading full-tilt the way I had intended.
Anyway....
Just saw The Prestige, which looks gorgeous, has interesting performances, and absolutely no heart. It did make me quite curious about Christopher Priest's original novel, however. The movie is a convoluted and flat tale, at its core, of horror, and the punchline is telegraphed fairly early on. Overall, it's just a little too precious for its own good.
I continue to enjoy "Heroes." I hope it continues on its current positive trajectory, although there are some corrective measures that could be applied -- as much fun as Greg Grunberg seems to be as a person, his character -- Matt Parkman, the cop -- has been fairly boring. I also continue to be bored silly by the Niki/Jessica story; I'm hoping that both stories will course-correct shortly. I'm delighted by the arrival of Christopher Ecclestone, however, and his dealing with Peter going out of control by knocking him out was perfect. Take that, emo kid. Also good to see: George Takei, who conveyed more with one low growl than most actors put across with yards of dialogue.
Up to episode 10x15 with "Stargate SG-1". This was the flat-out comedy episode, with idiot bounty hunters (one gets run over by a bus) and Claudia Black wearing a Daisy Duke outsit and chewing on an immense corn stalk. Then there was Sam and the BFG, which seems to have impressed a number of people even more than Vala done up as Daisy Duke. Over on "Stargate Atlantis" I stuck it out to the end of the season, even watching the piss-poor Alien rip-off episode (admittedly not particularly closely.) The season ender turns out to be one of the better episodes of the series, doesn't end with Shepherd lost and about to die (well, not in the usual manner anyway), and has a guest starring turn from Jewel Staite as the new chief of medical.
"Battlestar Galactica" is rumbling along, but seems to be hitting that same third-quarter pothole that they ran into in the second season. That all but means that the next episode worth watching will be either 3x16 or 3x17.
"24" has now cracked up thoroughly in true soap opera style. We have a new Eeeeevil Vice-President played by Powers Boothe, and Jack's entire Eeeeevil Family. Well, his brother and his Dad, anyway. Jack just tortured his brother (who last season was trying to get him killed.) Evil Dad (played by James Cromwell) just killed Evil Brother. The show is rapidly approaching "CSI: Miami" levels of crackiness. Speaking of "CSI," I'm behind on NY, but actually current on Original Flavor, where Liev Schreiber just guested for four weeks as a CSI with a Darkly Mysterious Past. It was an interesting character turn, although the conclusion of the throughline story was fairly intense despite revealing the guy to be a bit of an idiot if you look at what he'd done and why he did it.
I think I'm going to go and sleep now. Be well, folks.
Recently finished: A Catskill Eagle by Robert Parker, and the novelette "And Here Be Monsters" by Keith R. A. DeCandido. The book presently at my bedside is Zombies Of The Gene Pool by Sharyn McCrumb, a mystery that's based in science fiction fandom; I'm several chapters in, and I'm finding it engaging and interesting so far, while garnering a certain amount of amusement by the use of fandom. The reference to "Slan Francisco" had me chuckling heartily for some reason. I have another of her mysteries, The Windsor Knot, sitting at hand, and I believe I have a paperback edition of Bimbos Of The Death Sun around here somewhere.
I still have to finish Spy Hook by Len Deighton, and, lest Tribs nag me about it, Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold. I poked my nose at Jim Butcher's Storm Front but haven't jumped in as yet, despite the first two episodes of The Dresden Files having aired (and the third due this Sunday.) The TV series is okay so far, relatively low-impact stuff.
Also to read: the usual pile of traction books. I've been working my way through the CERA Bulletin From Bullets To BART, but this is primer-level material for me, with the result that gazing at the pretty pictures of trams, trolleys and streetcars is the main point of cracking the book open. I should pull down one of the various other railroad and traction books and stuff more information into my brain. It is, after all, what I do.
For those who haven't been with me that long, I started drifting away from reading books a few years ago when my eyesight started to go -- I developed cataracts that eventually blinded me almost completely in my left eye, and reduced vision to about 30% in the right; for a while I was relying on audio books and the use of computer software that compensated somewhat for vision impairment -- I ended up with some hideously ugly screen displays. Fortunately I was able to undergo cataract surgery (proving a somewhat difficult patient) and this brought me back most of the way. My vision is by no means perfect (the left eye still has issues, and I need glasses) but it sure as hell beats the alternative. One of these days I'll go back and rewatch a few things that I only saw in somewhat blurred fashion prior to the surgery. One of the first things I did after the first surgery was to pick up and plow my way through a novel, but despite my intentions I didn't return to reading full-tilt the way I had intended.
Anyway....
Just saw The Prestige, which looks gorgeous, has interesting performances, and absolutely no heart. It did make me quite curious about Christopher Priest's original novel, however. The movie is a convoluted and flat tale, at its core, of horror, and the punchline is telegraphed fairly early on. Overall, it's just a little too precious for its own good.
I continue to enjoy "Heroes." I hope it continues on its current positive trajectory, although there are some corrective measures that could be applied -- as much fun as Greg Grunberg seems to be as a person, his character -- Matt Parkman, the cop -- has been fairly boring. I also continue to be bored silly by the Niki/Jessica story; I'm hoping that both stories will course-correct shortly. I'm delighted by the arrival of Christopher Ecclestone, however, and his dealing with Peter going out of control by knocking him out was perfect. Take that, emo kid. Also good to see: George Takei, who conveyed more with one low growl than most actors put across with yards of dialogue.
Up to episode 10x15 with "Stargate SG-1". This was the flat-out comedy episode, with idiot bounty hunters (one gets run over by a bus) and Claudia Black wearing a Daisy Duke outsit and chewing on an immense corn stalk. Then there was Sam and the BFG, which seems to have impressed a number of people even more than Vala done up as Daisy Duke. Over on "Stargate Atlantis" I stuck it out to the end of the season, even watching the piss-poor Alien rip-off episode (admittedly not particularly closely.) The season ender turns out to be one of the better episodes of the series, doesn't end with Shepherd lost and about to die (well, not in the usual manner anyway), and has a guest starring turn from Jewel Staite as the new chief of medical.
"Battlestar Galactica" is rumbling along, but seems to be hitting that same third-quarter pothole that they ran into in the second season. That all but means that the next episode worth watching will be either 3x16 or 3x17.
"24" has now cracked up thoroughly in true soap opera style. We have a new Eeeeevil Vice-President played by Powers Boothe, and Jack's entire Eeeeevil Family. Well, his brother and his Dad, anyway. Jack just tortured his brother (who last season was trying to get him killed.) Evil Dad (played by James Cromwell) just killed Evil Brother. The show is rapidly approaching "CSI: Miami" levels of crackiness. Speaking of "CSI," I'm behind on NY, but actually current on Original Flavor, where Liev Schreiber just guested for four weeks as a CSI with a Darkly Mysterious Past. It was an interesting character turn, although the conclusion of the throughline story was fairly intense despite revealing the guy to be a bit of an idiot if you look at what he'd done and why he did it.
I think I'm going to go and sleep now. Be well, folks.