newnumber6 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
newnumber6) wrote2008-10-26 12:27 pm
newnumber6) wrote2008-10-26 12:27 pm
Book Foo mostly
Finished: Consider Phlebas, by Iain M. Banks (reread)
Started: A For Anything, by Damon Knight
Consider Phlebas was the first banks I read, and, although it was also the first he'd published in the Cultureverse, I'd wanted to go back to it, having the feeling that I wasn't quite ready for all the ideas in it and so would get more out of it on a second reading. So how did that go? (no spoilers) Not quite as well as hoped. I did get a bit more out of it, understanding more of the greater context of the Culture, but I still think it's one of the weaker books in the series. Although it's interesting for a viewpoint character who's opposed to the Culture, it kinda disengaged me, at least on the second read. Also there was a sort of pacing problem from last issue which sort of continued here - the story took too many side trips for my taste, and although I can sort of see how each of them helped build up the plot, it did feel a little tiresome at times. Not bad, but I'll probably reread the other Culture books more than I would this one.
Finished: Nine Princes in Amber, by Roger Zelazny (reread)
Started: The Guns of Avalon, by Roger Zelazny (reread)
I'm low on new books, so I figured I'd reread at least a few books of the Amber series. (Slight summary of the 'verse behind the cut, minor spoilers for the first book I guess)
It's set in a universe where there is one true city, Amber, and the people in it, and an infinite of other worlds which are distorted shadow reflections of it. One of those distorted shadow reflections is our own Earth, for example. The royal family of Amber (who are constantly fighting and scheming against each other) have the ability to walk through the shadows and go to any Earth of their choosing (or in some cases, inventing). The first book deals with Corwin, who has been on Earth for centuries without memory, but after an accident he's starting to get it back.
The "I have amnesia" is a bit of a cliche in terms of allowing readers to follow along the main character in a fantastic setting while still having be relatable, but it works here. Corwin's a bit of a bastard at times, but he can also be likable and noble, especially before he regains his memory fully. Mostly, though, I still like the general universe and idea of Shadow-walking more than the story itself, which is probably why I'm not planning to read the whole series - just the first two or three books.
Sometimes I do try and imagine how, if anyone were going to, they'd film it. I'd have to imagine scenes in Amber would have some hyped up color, making it look 'hyper-real' (I've seen effects like that before, but I can't remember exactly where. The dream sequences in VR5 come _close_ but not exactly to what I mean). Of course, I don't really think it's filmable without changing quite a bit of the plot, but at the same time it might be cool to see the same universe and characters but with an opening plot that's rather different.
Looks like no Wolverine and the X-Men this week, YTV was playing Halloween specials. Curse you Halloween! Speaking of Halloween (bless you Halloween!) I've finally started on a couple of my entries for One Hundred Words of Horror. As for the holiday itself, well, I'm not planning on going anywhere or doing anything, so a costume is sort of irrelevant. However, I do have some military gasmasks from my Dad and so if I _was_ going to be anything it'd probably be some kind of radioactive mutant (with my bright green zombie hand and maybe a little makeup under the mask).
And speaking of cartoons, I finished watching Avatar. It didn't finish up quite as well as I'd hoped. With a few exceptions the third season was a bit disappointing, in fact. But as a whole the series was still enjoyable.
Started: A For Anything, by Damon Knight
Consider Phlebas was the first banks I read, and, although it was also the first he'd published in the Cultureverse, I'd wanted to go back to it, having the feeling that I wasn't quite ready for all the ideas in it and so would get more out of it on a second reading. So how did that go? (no spoilers) Not quite as well as hoped. I did get a bit more out of it, understanding more of the greater context of the Culture, but I still think it's one of the weaker books in the series. Although it's interesting for a viewpoint character who's opposed to the Culture, it kinda disengaged me, at least on the second read. Also there was a sort of pacing problem from last issue which sort of continued here - the story took too many side trips for my taste, and although I can sort of see how each of them helped build up the plot, it did feel a little tiresome at times. Not bad, but I'll probably reread the other Culture books more than I would this one.
Finished: Nine Princes in Amber, by Roger Zelazny (reread)
Started: The Guns of Avalon, by Roger Zelazny (reread)
I'm low on new books, so I figured I'd reread at least a few books of the Amber series. (Slight summary of the 'verse behind the cut, minor spoilers for the first book I guess)
It's set in a universe where there is one true city, Amber, and the people in it, and an infinite of other worlds which are distorted shadow reflections of it. One of those distorted shadow reflections is our own Earth, for example. The royal family of Amber (who are constantly fighting and scheming against each other) have the ability to walk through the shadows and go to any Earth of their choosing (or in some cases, inventing). The first book deals with Corwin, who has been on Earth for centuries without memory, but after an accident he's starting to get it back.
The "I have amnesia" is a bit of a cliche in terms of allowing readers to follow along the main character in a fantastic setting while still having be relatable, but it works here. Corwin's a bit of a bastard at times, but he can also be likable and noble, especially before he regains his memory fully. Mostly, though, I still like the general universe and idea of Shadow-walking more than the story itself, which is probably why I'm not planning to read the whole series - just the first two or three books.
Sometimes I do try and imagine how, if anyone were going to, they'd film it. I'd have to imagine scenes in Amber would have some hyped up color, making it look 'hyper-real' (I've seen effects like that before, but I can't remember exactly where. The dream sequences in VR5 come _close_ but not exactly to what I mean). Of course, I don't really think it's filmable without changing quite a bit of the plot, but at the same time it might be cool to see the same universe and characters but with an opening plot that's rather different.
Looks like no Wolverine and the X-Men this week, YTV was playing Halloween specials. Curse you Halloween! Speaking of Halloween (bless you Halloween!) I've finally started on a couple of my entries for One Hundred Words of Horror. As for the holiday itself, well, I'm not planning on going anywhere or doing anything, so a costume is sort of irrelevant. However, I do have some military gasmasks from my Dad and so if I _was_ going to be anything it'd probably be some kind of radioactive mutant (with my bright green zombie hand and maybe a little makeup under the mask).
And speaking of cartoons, I finished watching Avatar. It didn't finish up quite as well as I'd hoped. With a few exceptions the third season was a bit disappointing, in fact. But as a whole the series was still enjoyable.
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