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( Goblin Market )
Apr. 12th, 2006
I tell them my dream
and they call it lonely
in the dream I sit in
a crowded room, this room
awash with the scent of
coffee and ale and
conversations that will
scatter across fractured
memories at first light
I sit in this alone
and in the reality
the sound is a
human surf that
lulls me into a
state of comfort.
and they call it lonely
in the dream I sit in
a crowded room, this room
awash with the scent of
coffee and ale and
conversations that will
scatter across fractured
memories at first light
I sit in this alone
and in the reality
the sound is a
human surf that
lulls me into a
state of comfort.
Not that I have not been reading, just that I procrastinate about posting them and then they get swallowed in the anarchist's library downstairs..or foyer..or living room..or attic or. Anyway..part one of the books this year to date.
1. Don't Panic-Douglas Adams and the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Neil Gaiman. 2003 (revised ed) Titan Books. 240 pages.
This is not,as one might be led to assume, really a book about Douglas Adams at all. There are bits and anecdotes about Douglas, and the other books do get some mention. But this is,in fact, a book about the ongoing creation of HHGTTG. And in true guide fashion, it does not keep up with the story. Even the revised version, published shortly after Adam's death,missed out on the movie version. Nor is this a serious,dry version of the history. Neil writes it with obvious affection and true Gaiman humour at times. As a fan I found it delightful, as a writer I found it intriguing.
2.V for Vendetta
Alan Moore,David Lloyd. 1995 (Rev) Vertigo Press 286 pages.
Ok,so![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rorschach99 has been discussing V for some time as only a true comics addict can. So with all the commotion over Alan Moore and the Movie producers I decided to give it a try. Curse you rorschach99 for the new addiction to graphic novels..meanwhile, back at V.
The bad news is that V was an early work for Alan, and at times it shows. But the mark of a good storyteller in an genre is that you ignore the flaws in favour of the story. And thus is the case with V. Gripping,well drawn and usually with a flowing storyline it keeps your attention.
Is the movie as good as the book? Apples and oranges. Alan Moore gave us a modern icon in V,an embryonic mythos as you will. And the book and the movie are just two different retellings of the same myth.
1. Don't Panic-Douglas Adams and the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Neil Gaiman. 2003 (revised ed) Titan Books. 240 pages.
This is not,as one might be led to assume, really a book about Douglas Adams at all. There are bits and anecdotes about Douglas, and the other books do get some mention. But this is,in fact, a book about the ongoing creation of HHGTTG. And in true guide fashion, it does not keep up with the story. Even the revised version, published shortly after Adam's death,missed out on the movie version. Nor is this a serious,dry version of the history. Neil writes it with obvious affection and true Gaiman humour at times. As a fan I found it delightful, as a writer I found it intriguing.
2.V for Vendetta
Alan Moore,David Lloyd. 1995 (Rev) Vertigo Press 286 pages.
Ok,so
rorschach99 has been discussing V for some time as only a true comics addict can. So with all the commotion over Alan Moore and the Movie producers I decided to give it a try. Curse you rorschach99 for the new addiction to graphic novels..meanwhile, back at V.The bad news is that V was an early work for Alan, and at times it shows. But the mark of a good storyteller in an genre is that you ignore the flaws in favour of the story. And thus is the case with V. Gripping,well drawn and usually with a flowing storyline it keeps your attention.
Is the movie as good as the book? Apples and oranges. Alan Moore gave us a modern icon in V,an embryonic mythos as you will. And the book and the movie are just two different retellings of the same myth.
3.From Hell
Alan Moore,Eddie Campbell. Top Shelf Productions.2004(New Ed) 572 Pages
Speaking of books and movies. From Hell was,I believe, the first film adaptation of an Alan Moore work,and not a terribly good beginning. The producers took an intense,rambling novel about violence,philosophy and dark erotica and turned into a film vehicle for Johnny Depp. While they are both loosely based on Jack the Ripper, there just about every similarity ends. The movie is worth watching if you are a serious Johnny Depp fan,which I know many of you are. The book is worth reading if you want some depth to your stories.
4.The Victorian Act II:Self Immolation
Trainor Houghton et all Penny-Farthing Press 2002 188 pages
Did I mention the part aboutrorschach99 spreading his own addiction? This is part of a series of five novels about a mysterious character named the Victorian, about secret orders, about pre Katrina New Orleans,etc. Rambling back and forth between Victorian and present times it is an extremely well drawn,well executed plot line that leaves me hiding my wallet so that I do not go track down the other novels before I am finished with the shelf of books I am reading now.
Alan Moore,Eddie Campbell. Top Shelf Productions.2004(New Ed) 572 Pages
Speaking of books and movies. From Hell was,I believe, the first film adaptation of an Alan Moore work,and not a terribly good beginning. The producers took an intense,rambling novel about violence,philosophy and dark erotica and turned into a film vehicle for Johnny Depp. While they are both loosely based on Jack the Ripper, there just about every similarity ends. The movie is worth watching if you are a serious Johnny Depp fan,which I know many of you are. The book is worth reading if you want some depth to your stories.
4.The Victorian Act II:Self Immolation
Trainor Houghton et all Penny-Farthing Press 2002 188 pages
Did I mention the part about
rorschach99 spreading his own addiction? This is part of a series of five novels about a mysterious character named the Victorian, about secret orders, about pre Katrina New Orleans,etc. Rambling back and forth between Victorian and present times it is an extremely well drawn,well executed plot line that leaves me hiding my wallet so that I do not go track down the other novels before I am finished with the shelf of books I am reading now.5.Cryptonomicon
Neal Stephenson Harper Perrenial 2000(PB) 918 pages
How does one describe this book. I haven't the faintest. I am not even sure what genre it would fall in. It is about WWII, databanks, national security, cryptology,Phillipine and Japanese History,friendship, mathematics, computers,the dot bubble and sex. Not always in that order. Neal sometimes makes Tom Robbins look like a regular prose writer in this meandering,funny,thought inspiring erotic..err..thriller? nah. I give up..just read the thing.
6. Flights:Extreme Visions of Fantasy
Al Sarrantonio,ed. Penguin/Roc Fantasy. 2005 (trade ed) 578 pages.
Every once in awhile someone decides to come up with anthologies for one reason or another. This one is sort of a fantasy-based descendent of the Dangerous Visions series. Not your average fantasy tale. Nor your typical fantasy author. While I admit I bought it because it has stories by both Charles de Lint and Neil Gaiman, the authors run the line from Larry Niven to Gene Wolfe to Joyce Carol Oates. On occasion funny,sometimes erotic, often thought provoking it is a grand read into what is going on in the field of fantasy apart from the Tolkien clones and the megaemo mulivolumes series.
Neal Stephenson Harper Perrenial 2000(PB) 918 pages
How does one describe this book. I haven't the faintest. I am not even sure what genre it would fall in. It is about WWII, databanks, national security, cryptology,Phillipine and Japanese History,friendship, mathematics, computers,the dot bubble and sex. Not always in that order. Neal sometimes makes Tom Robbins look like a regular prose writer in this meandering,funny,thought inspiring erotic..err..thriller? nah. I give up..just read the thing.
6. Flights:Extreme Visions of Fantasy
Al Sarrantonio,ed. Penguin/Roc Fantasy. 2005 (trade ed) 578 pages.
Every once in awhile someone decides to come up with anthologies for one reason or another. This one is sort of a fantasy-based descendent of the Dangerous Visions series. Not your average fantasy tale. Nor your typical fantasy author. While I admit I bought it because it has stories by both Charles de Lint and Neil Gaiman, the authors run the line from Larry Niven to Gene Wolfe to Joyce Carol Oates. On occasion funny,sometimes erotic, often thought provoking it is a grand read into what is going on in the field of fantasy apart from the Tolkien clones and the megaemo mulivolumes series.
7.Serenity:Those Left Behind
Joss Whedon,Brett Matthews, Dark Horse 2006 104 Pages
Alas, the series is gone and the movie seems to be determined to be a one off, so this is what we have left. And it is not,all in all, a bad thing to be left with. Will Conrad does a very good job of visually recreating the world of Firefly. And it is nice to spend an hour or so with old friend. I enjoyed the book (which is actually a collection of comics but I never have the patience for that..sort of like those megavolume fantasies that..but I digress>)
One thing I did notice reading the reviews in Amazon. It seems the more the person is a Browncoat the more lukewarm they were about the story. Not sure why. For my part, Firefly may be gone but you can't stop the signal. Especially if he pens more books like this.
8.JLA:Riddle of the Beast
Alan Grant et al. DC Elseworlds 2001 104 pages
9. Marvel 1602
Neil Gaiman et all. Marvel 2004 248 pages
It is natural to list these two books together, which is probably not fair to JLA: Riddle of the Beast. For one thing, Alan Grant is quite a good writer in the comic field, but he is not Neil. Only Terry Pratchett is Neil but they've a deal worked out for that. It is all in the Jacket.
Anyway, back to the books. There were several other problems. JLA is a thee and thou high fantasy using characters from JLA. 1602 is an alternate history using characters loosely based on Marvel characters. Neil was also given a lot more space to develop both characters and story. Again, both of these books are collections of loose comics. In the DC story, a different artist did each chapter. And there are a number of (short) chapters. Which in a collected form can be distracting. The JLA version is, I believe, now out in paperback. Which if you are going to get it I would suggest. 1602 is a hardback book, because you are going to want to read it again and again, and lend it and..etc.
Joss Whedon,Brett Matthews, Dark Horse 2006 104 Pages
Alas, the series is gone and the movie seems to be determined to be a one off, so this is what we have left. And it is not,all in all, a bad thing to be left with. Will Conrad does a very good job of visually recreating the world of Firefly. And it is nice to spend an hour or so with old friend. I enjoyed the book (which is actually a collection of comics but I never have the patience for that..sort of like those megavolume fantasies that..but I digress>)
One thing I did notice reading the reviews in Amazon. It seems the more the person is a Browncoat the more lukewarm they were about the story. Not sure why. For my part, Firefly may be gone but you can't stop the signal. Especially if he pens more books like this.
8.JLA:Riddle of the Beast
Alan Grant et al. DC Elseworlds 2001 104 pages
9. Marvel 1602
Neil Gaiman et all. Marvel 2004 248 pages
It is natural to list these two books together, which is probably not fair to JLA: Riddle of the Beast. For one thing, Alan Grant is quite a good writer in the comic field, but he is not Neil. Only Terry Pratchett is Neil but they've a deal worked out for that. It is all in the Jacket.
Anyway, back to the books. There were several other problems. JLA is a thee and thou high fantasy using characters from JLA. 1602 is an alternate history using characters loosely based on Marvel characters. Neil was also given a lot more space to develop both characters and story. Again, both of these books are collections of loose comics. In the DC story, a different artist did each chapter. And there are a number of (short) chapters. Which in a collected form can be distracting. The JLA version is, I believe, now out in paperback. Which if you are going to get it I would suggest. 1602 is a hardback book, because you are going to want to read it again and again, and lend it and..etc.
and for those celebrating Easter (and thanks to cartographer for pointing this one. An Easter recipe to hmm Remember?
cartographer for pointing this one. An Easter recipe to hmm Remember?