Fantasy/sci fi covers
Found out that this site BoingBoing links to a bunch of very funny fake sci fi/fantasy book covers. Find them here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
Brisingr
Author: Cristopher Paolini
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Inheritance Cycle (3rd of 4 books)
Reading the third book in line, I could not help but wonder why.
- Why am I reading this?
Paolini's way of telling the story keeps bugging me immensely. Every single moment overflows with unnecessary details and stray thoughts. The details are probably meant to help creating a more diverse fantasy world, but they just don't. It causes irritation, because the plot comes to a complete halt every other page, for us to marvel at some boring banner, legend or feeling. As for feelings - although the constant complaints and general emoness of the main character is realistic, it is utterly annoying.
Brisingr was supposed to be the last book in the "trilogy", but it became too long so there are going to be four books. Maybe if Paolini did not feel the need to tell us of every single time his main character takes a bath, the trilogy would actually have consisted of three books?
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Inheritance Cycle (3rd of 4 books)
Reading the third book in line, I could not help but wonder why.
- Why am I reading this?
Paolini's way of telling the story keeps bugging me immensely. Every single moment overflows with unnecessary details and stray thoughts. The details are probably meant to help creating a more diverse fantasy world, but they just don't. It causes irritation, because the plot comes to a complete halt every other page, for us to marvel at some boring banner, legend or feeling. As for feelings - although the constant complaints and general emoness of the main character is realistic, it is utterly annoying.
Brisingr was supposed to be the last book in the "trilogy", but it became too long so there are going to be four books. Maybe if Paolini did not feel the need to tell us of every single time his main character takes a bath, the trilogy would actually have consisted of three books?
1984
Author: George Orwell
Genre: Political satire
Published in 1949, this book portrays a future dystopia, where cameras watch your every step and troublemakers are quickly disposed of. The main character is a middle aged, middle class citizen. His job is to alter obsolete information in newspapers, but he's got the nagging feeling that something must be amiss.
Genre: Political satire
Published in 1949, this book portrays a future dystopia, where cameras watch your every step and troublemakers are quickly disposed of. The main character is a middle aged, middle class citizen. His job is to alter obsolete information in newspapers, but he's got the nagging feeling that something must be amiss.
It is a harsh, cruel world that is revealed to the reader. Freedom of speech has not existed for a long time - freedom of thought barely does either. Love between family members is an exception to the rule; friends you do not have; constant war rages. The disturbing thing is that you do understand how they got there, and how easily we could end up with a world just like it. Orwell does a very good job, creating a scaringly credible dystopia.
Now, I am a big fan of languages - so if you aren't, please excuse this whole paragraph. One thing Orwell certainly understood is the importance of language. He saw that a totalitarian state can not have the same vocabulary as a country of freedom. The mere fact that the word "freedom" exists would raise too many questions. The invention of a new language in 1984 is a minor detail, but a truly brilliant one. By erasing words that are bothersome to them, the totalitarian state strenghtens its power. A generation later, when nobody remembers those words anymore - how will they express disdain? How can you complain about something that you cannot express? Will you even think of it?
Don't feel like going to the library? Here is a link to the book online:
http://www.george-orwell.org/1984/index.html
Now, I am a big fan of languages - so if you aren't, please excuse this whole paragraph. One thing Orwell certainly understood is the importance of language. He saw that a totalitarian state can not have the same vocabulary as a country of freedom. The mere fact that the word "freedom" exists would raise too many questions. The invention of a new language in 1984 is a minor detail, but a truly brilliant one. By erasing words that are bothersome to them, the totalitarian state strenghtens its power. A generation later, when nobody remembers those words anymore - how will they express disdain? How can you complain about something that you cannot express? Will you even think of it?
Don't feel like going to the library? Here is a link to the book online:
http://www.george-orwell.org/1984/index.html
Saker som min sambo och jag tyckte olika om
Author: Sabina Strand
When Sabina Strand's partner dumped her (over the phone) two months after they moved in together... well, she wasn't thrilled. She started writing a blog about the relationship they had, and now that blog has turned into this book.
Saker som min sambo och jag tyckte olika om is almost without exception sarcastic. Strand's ironic rants about the ex are certain to make you smile a couple of times. Unfortunately she chose to paint a very one-sided picture of the ex, which after a while leads you to wonder how fucking naive she actually was, continuing to date such an unsympathetic bastard.
Too much is about how heart-broken she was after he left her, how much she cried and how wonderful her friends were for being there for her. Frankly, I don't give a damn.
When Sabina Strand's partner dumped her (over the phone) two months after they moved in together... well, she wasn't thrilled. She started writing a blog about the relationship they had, and now that blog has turned into this book.
Saker som min sambo och jag tyckte olika om is almost without exception sarcastic. Strand's ironic rants about the ex are certain to make you smile a couple of times. Unfortunately she chose to paint a very one-sided picture of the ex, which after a while leads you to wonder how fucking naive she actually was, continuing to date such an unsympathetic bastard.
Too much is about how heart-broken she was after he left her, how much she cried and how wonderful her friends were for being there for her. Frankly, I don't give a damn.
2009 statistics
A new year, a new list!
Note: An asterisk* means that I have not yet finished reading/watching something.
Note 2: Of course I haven't written down anything that I re-read/watched. Only new stuff!
Books
001. | The Halfling's Gem | R.A. Salvatore
002. | Saker som jag och min sambo tyckte olika om | Sabina Strand
003. | 1984 | George Orwell
004. | Brisingr | Christopher Paolini
*005. | The Pirate King | R.A. Salvatore
Comic books
Movies
001. | Björn Gustafsson: Ett Livsverk | 2008
002. | In Bruges | 2008
003. | The Last Samurai | 2003
Shows
001. | Kyle XY | Season 2
002. | Generation Kill | -
Note: An asterisk* means that I have not yet finished reading/watching something.
Note 2: Of course I haven't written down anything that I re-read/watched. Only new stuff!
Books
001. | The Halfling's Gem | R.A. Salvatore
002. | Saker som jag och min sambo tyckte olika om | Sabina Strand
003. | 1984 | George Orwell
004. | Brisingr | Christopher Paolini
*005. | The Pirate King | R.A. Salvatore
Comic books
Movies
001. | Björn Gustafsson: Ett Livsverk | 2008
002. | In Bruges | 2008
003. | The Last Samurai | 2003
Shows
001. | Kyle XY | Season 2
002. | Generation Kill | -
Summary of 2008
New books read: A very weak 24! I blame university, moving thrice and World of WarCraft.
Best book: Ender's Game
Worst book: Linas Kvällsbok
Happiest moment: Placing the Dark Elf Trilogy comic adaption in my actual bookshelf >w<!
Most disappointing moment: Re-reading Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for the seventh time. It's just not good anymore. I ruined it. Thus proving it possible.
Looking forward to 2009: Reading the twenty new books in my bookshelf. Buh-bye social life!
Best book: Ender's Game
Worst book: Linas Kvällsbok
Happiest moment: Placing the Dark Elf Trilogy comic adaption in my actual bookshelf >w<!
Most disappointing moment: Re-reading Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for the seventh time. It's just not good anymore. I ruined it. Thus proving it possible.
Looking forward to 2009: Reading the twenty new books in my bookshelf. Buh-bye social life!
---> HAPPY NEW YEAR! <---
Batman & Son
Writer: Grant Morrison
Illustrator: Andy Kubert, Jesse Delperdang and John Van Fleet
One of the more impressive scenes of Batman & Son is the one in which Batman fights a never-ending hoard of man-bats in a pop art gallery. The pop art pictures are used to illustrate many of the sound effects in a most humouristic way (a picture with a "WOW" speech bubble hanging over a gorgeous woman, for example).
Otherwise, Morrison's way to tell the story leaves a lot to wish for. Sometimes he lets a character imply something, never to bring the subject back up again. At other times Morrison completely drops a storyline and nothing is ever spoken of it again, as he starts a new arc. Talia al Ghul was the most tangible disappointment, as she acts very irrational and out of character.
Interestingly enough, Morrison has Alfred to read Artemis Fowl in one arc. Alfred ought to be at last 50 years too old for that.
Illustrator: Andy Kubert, Jesse Delperdang and John Van Fleet
One of the more impressive scenes of Batman & Son is the one in which Batman fights a never-ending hoard of man-bats in a pop art gallery. The pop art pictures are used to illustrate many of the sound effects in a most humouristic way (a picture with a "WOW" speech bubble hanging over a gorgeous woman, for example).
Otherwise, Morrison's way to tell the story leaves a lot to wish for. Sometimes he lets a character imply something, never to bring the subject back up again. At other times Morrison completely drops a storyline and nothing is ever spoken of it again, as he starts a new arc. Talia al Ghul was the most tangible disappointment, as she acts very irrational and out of character.
Interestingly enough, Morrison has Alfred to read Artemis Fowl in one arc. Alfred ought to be at last 50 years too old for that.
Mystic Warrior
Author: Tracy & Laura Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Bronze Canticles (1st of, so far, 3 books)
Inanimate objects speak to Gaelen, and he is therefore shipped off with other "crazy" people to be executed. In another world a faerie is desperately seeking for a way to save her threatened people, and takes an interest in the fate of Gaelen. In yet another world, a lowly goblin finds a machine. It ticks.
Much more does not have time to happen in Mystic Warrior, since it is a very short book. The book would actually have benefited from being longer. As it is, there is simply too little material to create any long-lasting interest for the plot.
I recognize a lot of promise from the book though, as it at least tries to be original. I might read the next book in line one day, I just fail to feel very excited about it.
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Bronze Canticles (1st of, so far, 3 books)
Inanimate objects speak to Gaelen, and he is therefore shipped off with other "crazy" people to be executed. In another world a faerie is desperately seeking for a way to save her threatened people, and takes an interest in the fate of Gaelen. In yet another world, a lowly goblin finds a machine. It ticks.
Much more does not have time to happen in Mystic Warrior, since it is a very short book. The book would actually have benefited from being longer. As it is, there is simply too little material to create any long-lasting interest for the plot.
I recognize a lot of promise from the book though, as it at least tries to be original. I might read the next book in line one day, I just fail to feel very excited about it.
The Icewind Dale Trilogy
Author: R.A. Salvatore
Genre: Fantasy
The Icewind Dale Trilogy comes after the Dark Elf Trilogy from the same author, making it the second trilogy in order. It is not one of Salvatore's better trilogies, as far as I'm concerned.
The Icewind Dale Trilogy is probably worth more if you read it after having read some of Salvatore's later works. That way, the story (especially the first book) may feel more interesting than it actually is. Having read later books you know Drizzt and his friends as full-fledged heroes - and to see them still in the beginning of their lives is... well, almost sweet.
Genre: Fantasy
The Icewind Dale Trilogy comes after the Dark Elf Trilogy from the same author, making it the second trilogy in order. It is not one of Salvatore's better trilogies, as far as I'm concerned.
The Dark Elf Trilogy being all about Drizzt Do'Urden, this trilogy starts out with introducing the rest of the characters properly. Spending so much time on characterization, the first book has a quite bleak plot.
The trilogy does not gain momentum until its second book, Streams of Silver. The main plot is interesting, with the friends out on a quest to find the legendary Mithral Hall. Strange places are visited, evil monsters slain, epic weapons found and Drizzt meets up with one of his greatest antagonists, a foe truly worthy the drow. Never a dull moment. The Halfling's Gem rounds everything up and the story ends. Pretty neat book I suppose, though not more nor less than you would expect.
The trilogy does not gain momentum until its second book, Streams of Silver. The main plot is interesting, with the friends out on a quest to find the legendary Mithral Hall. Strange places are visited, evil monsters slain, epic weapons found and Drizzt meets up with one of his greatest antagonists, a foe truly worthy the drow. Never a dull moment. The Halfling's Gem rounds everything up and the story ends. Pretty neat book I suppose, though not more nor less than you would expect.
The Icewind Dale Trilogy is probably worth more if you read it after having read some of Salvatore's later works. That way, the story (especially the first book) may feel more interesting than it actually is. Having read later books you know Drizzt and his friends as full-fledged heroes - and to see them still in the beginning of their lives is... well, almost sweet.
American Psycho
Author: Bret Easton Ellis
Genre: Psychological thriller
Patrick Bateman is a rich psychopath, living in uptown New York. In American Psycho we learn about his everyday life, from the competitive dinners with co-workers to the evenings in his apartment, where he tortures and kills unfortunates to cross his path.
(In)famous for its physical violence and crude sexual nature, American Psycho continues to entice readers. Way worse than the movie, the descriptions of Bateman's torture sessions grow very graphic over time. This book certainly should not be read by easily upset persons. Bateman is a detestable main character, and the people around him are not much better.
Common side effects of reading this book might include revulsion, nausea and a loss of your belief in humanity. A very good book indeed, that you might want to consider owning.
Genre: Psychological thriller
Patrick Bateman is a rich psychopath, living in uptown New York. In American Psycho we learn about his everyday life, from the competitive dinners with co-workers to the evenings in his apartment, where he tortures and kills unfortunates to cross his path.
(In)famous for its physical violence and crude sexual nature, American Psycho continues to entice readers. Way worse than the movie, the descriptions of Bateman's torture sessions grow very graphic over time. This book certainly should not be read by easily upset persons. Bateman is a detestable main character, and the people around him are not much better.
Common side effects of reading this book might include revulsion, nausea and a loss of your belief in humanity. A very good book indeed, that you might want to consider owning.
Dreamcatcher
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Thriller
Four childhood friends - now grown men - go for a hunting trip and end up in the middle of an alien invasion. The aliens are actually symbiotic creatures, but humans being a faulty host for them, things take a nasty turn to blood and gore.
I saw the movie first, and I must say the book and the movie are close to identical. The book of course offers a much better medium for explaining the way the aliens are constructed and how the telepathy works. Another strenght of the book is the detailed characterization of all its characters - something you definitely do not get anything of in the movie. Overall though, the movie is a surprisingly exact re-telling of King's original story, and made me feel like I had read the book once already.
If you want depth, read the book. If you just want entertainment, see the movie.
Genre: Thriller
Four childhood friends - now grown men - go for a hunting trip and end up in the middle of an alien invasion. The aliens are actually symbiotic creatures, but humans being a faulty host for them, things take a nasty turn to blood and gore.
I saw the movie first, and I must say the book and the movie are close to identical. The book of course offers a much better medium for explaining the way the aliens are constructed and how the telepathy works. Another strenght of the book is the detailed characterization of all its characters - something you definitely do not get anything of in the movie. Overall though, the movie is a surprisingly exact re-telling of King's original story, and made me feel like I had read the book once already.
If you want depth, read the book. If you just want entertainment, see the movie.
La nuit de l'erreur
Author: Tahar Ben Jelloun
La nuit de l'erreur starts out very promising, with the mystery of an unmarked grave. A girl named Zina is born, destined to be a cursed woman, bringing destruction to the men around her. Completely void of empathy, she plays a dangerous game with the men she meet.
About 1/4 of the book is about how Zina grows up in Marocco - the author skillfully painting the picture of the city Tangier, with its rich culture and history ever-present. This part is written in first person from Zina's perspective - and truly interesting. Then, Zina disappears. Instead of Zina we have to read about a bunch of depressed, middle aged men who's only concern in life is how meaningless life is and how devious and dangerous women are. Har the har.
Unfortunately overall impression of La nuit de l'erreur was one of boredom.
La nuit de l'erreur starts out very promising, with the mystery of an unmarked grave. A girl named Zina is born, destined to be a cursed woman, bringing destruction to the men around her. Completely void of empathy, she plays a dangerous game with the men she meet.
About 1/4 of the book is about how Zina grows up in Marocco - the author skillfully painting the picture of the city Tangier, with its rich culture and history ever-present. This part is written in first person from Zina's perspective - and truly interesting. Then, Zina disappears. Instead of Zina we have to read about a bunch of depressed, middle aged men who's only concern in life is how meaningless life is and how devious and dangerous women are. Har the har.
Unfortunately overall impression of La nuit de l'erreur was one of boredom.
Ender's Game
Author: Orson Scott Card
Genre: Sci fi
Ender's Game is the harsh tale of a group of hyper intelligent children, bred solely for military use. Earth has been attacked by the same alien race twice already and the human race almost wiped out - the next war must be won. Which raises the question: How exactly do you fight against a race you know nothing about?
Ender's Game is amazingly well-written. Not a sentence goes to waste. Orson Scott Card introduces his science fiction world with a certainity that will leave deep marks in your mind. I dare even say it will change your way of thinking.
If you have not already read it I suggest you do, sci fi fan or not.
Genre: Sci fi
Ender's Game is the harsh tale of a group of hyper intelligent children, bred solely for military use. Earth has been attacked by the same alien race twice already and the human race almost wiped out - the next war must be won. Which raises the question: How exactly do you fight against a race you know nothing about?
Ender's Game is amazingly well-written. Not a sentence goes to waste. Orson Scott Card introduces his science fiction world with a certainity that will leave deep marks in your mind. I dare even say it will change your way of thinking.
If you have not already read it I suggest you do, sci fi fan or not.
The Death Gate Cycle
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Death Gate Cycle
This is original, high-quality, mind-blowing fantasy - the kind of fantasy you badly want to read but so seldom find. The same authors also gave out The Dragonlance Chronicles - a series that is widely known and a lot more famous than Death Gate, for some inexplicable reason. Don't get me wrong, Dragonlance is fine, but compared to Death Gate... nothing.
I can't give these books unbaised reviews. I am baised. I love these books.
To be perfectly honest though, the three last books are very disappointing. The first four books are awesome in every way and the story could easily have ended with Serpent Mage - leaving the Cycle at one book for each element and a horrible, foreboding open-to-interpretion ending. Take a second to think about it, when you finish Serpent Mage. It would be an excellent ending.
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Death Gate Cycle
This is original, high-quality, mind-blowing fantasy - the kind of fantasy you badly want to read but so seldom find. The same authors also gave out The Dragonlance Chronicles - a series that is widely known and a lot more famous than Death Gate, for some inexplicable reason. Don't get me wrong, Dragonlance is fine, but compared to Death Gate... nothing.
I can't give these books unbaised reviews. I am baised. I love these books.
To be perfectly honest though, the three last books are very disappointing. The first four books are awesome in every way and the story could easily have ended with Serpent Mage - leaving the Cycle at one book for each element and a horrible, foreboding open-to-interpretion ending. Take a second to think about it, when you finish Serpent Mage. It would be an excellent ending.
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Horror
Had any other author than Stephen King written this book, it would have been forgettable. Why? Because it is a story about a nine-year-old girl who gets lost in the forest. And I think we all read at least one extremely boring book on that subject - when we were nine years old.
So how can King take this passé subject and turn it into an exciting book for adults? The answer is he's an unpredictable son of a bitch. He keeps the reader at the edge at all times - in a constant state of worry. He has a habit of writing books where anything can happen and any character will drop down dead at his call. Seldom do you feel as helpless while reading.
Genre: Horror
Had any other author than Stephen King written this book, it would have been forgettable. Why? Because it is a story about a nine-year-old girl who gets lost in the forest. And I think we all read at least one extremely boring book on that subject - when we were nine years old.
So how can King take this passé subject and turn it into an exciting book for adults? The answer is he's an unpredictable son of a bitch. He keeps the reader at the edge at all times - in a constant state of worry. He has a habit of writing books where anything can happen and any character will drop down dead at his call. Seldom do you feel as helpless while reading.
