I done wrote me a haiku on H.P. Lovecraft, summing up his ouevre.
Ahem.
Monsters come from space
People try to fight and die
Or end up bonkers.
Picked up Call of Cthulu: The Dark Corners of the Earth last night after having coffee with Lisa. The game is evil. The controller beating like a triphammer is a nice touch, as is the way I wet my pants when I wandered down into the cultist's basement. I played far, far too late last night considering my early rising hours.
It was nice to meet up with Lisa. I seem to doomed to be surrounded by Women Of A Type: smart, sarcastically funny, knockout brunettes. I don't know what karma I incurred to receive this fate. I mean, I've married one, one of my dearest friends is one, and now Lisa is one. I bemoan my fate. Tis horrid.
Started reading Flashman after having everyone recommend the series. You have to love a character who gets kicked out of school and bangs his old man's mistress in less than two days. And that's only in the second chapter. You see? Readin' teaches ya stuff.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Monday, October 24, 2005
14 Years
As of today, I have been married for 14 long years. Actually, longer: my wife has been with me for 19 years. That's--in scientific terms--Nineteen fucking years.
We celebrated by eating Thai food and seeing the English Beat. Well, okay, we saw Dave Wakeling and some session musicians, but still. So what have we learned in all our time together?
We know we will never achieve our dreams, and will probably never leave the braindeath that is London, Ontario, Canada. But still we smile, because deep down, way down in our hearts, where small hopes linger like little teddy bears, we have realized one, deep, important truth:
We no longer give a fuck.
We celebrated by eating Thai food and seeing the English Beat. Well, okay, we saw Dave Wakeling and some session musicians, but still. So what have we learned in all our time together?
We know we will never achieve our dreams, and will probably never leave the braindeath that is London, Ontario, Canada. But still we smile, because deep down, way down in our hearts, where small hopes linger like little teddy bears, we have realized one, deep, important truth:
We no longer give a fuck.
Saturday, October 22, 2005
What Has Been In My Hands
Been reading a fair amount lately. Trying to cut down on my fantasies of multi-tasking (never works) and read one book at at time. So here's what I've burned through in the past two weeks:
Star Wars: Labryinth of Evil
This was recommended to me by my karate teacher. I don't read the Star Wars book religiously, because the quality isn't always of the highest order. Evil (by James Luceno) is a prequel to Revenge Of The Sith, and as such, does a very good job of setting up the machinations and impending tragedies that unfold in that film. Unlike anything we really see in or Attack of The Clones or Sith, Luceno does a very good job of capturing the relationship between Obi-Wan and Anakin: an amalgamation of best friends/ father and son. That they are the most powerful Jedi team in the galaxy is never left in doubt, as is the deep love between them. Luceno also shows how Obi-Wan fails Anakin, a failure Obi-Wan is deeply aware of: Anakin wants definite answers and some reassurance about his life and his future, but Obi-Wan can only offer Jedi platitudes. Obi-Wan simply doesn't have those answers, and won't lie. Unlike Obi-Wan, Anakin spent the first nine years of his life in the 'real world', as it were, and not in the enclosed environment of the Jedi Temple. The reassurance he needs he finds with Palpatine, who lies and strokes Anakin's ego. And this is why everything goes to hell.
The action scenes in the book are among the best I've read in a Star Wars novel. The deep sadness that permeates the story just gets worse as the novel continues, with the final scene in the book leading directly into the first scene in Revenge. A good read, and applause for Luceno for taking a sharecropper and making it something special.
Infinite Crisis: (DC Comics)
I was underwhelmed. I really thought this issue tried too hard to be Crisis On Infinite Earths, with action spread all over the DC Universe, huge scenes of destruction and galactic import, that all just came across feeling hollow. Heroes no one has really thought about in years die, and it seems gratitutious. Since this is a big book, there has to be a body count, so why not wipe out characters no one cares about? The big argument between Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman seemed trite: Batman accuses Superman of not living up to his responsibilities, Wonder Woman accuses Batman of judging everyone but himself, and both Superman and Batman pull a World's Finest and bitch on Wonder Woman for killing Maxwell Lord--forgetting that if she didn't, Batman would have died along with many others.
The issue--is killing sometimes necessary? --is a question that DC to answer for its characters. They can either take a darker route and say 'yes', or follow the same path and have Wonder Woman go nuts the way Superman did when he killed those criminal Kryptonians back in the day. My guess is the latter. As for the big reveal at the end, it again left me cold. If the multiverse is indeed coming back--with multiple versions of major characters--that could be interesting. But I feel that in the end, like with Highlander--there will be only one. Which seems to defeat the purpose of this series in the first place.
Conan #21
This is Kurt Busiek's and Cary Nord's continued adaptation of Robert E. Howard's 'The Tower of the Elephant'. It's a very good read, with that gritty, sketchy art really adding to the power of the narrative. I'm enjoying this series immensely.
Star Wars: Republic #78
I think that is the final issue of Republic, which would make sense since it takes place two weeks after Revenge of the Sith. (There ain't no Republic no more, nossir.) John Ostrander's story tells the tale of life under the new Emperor, and his purge of undesirable, newly minted Imperial officers. (Anyone who refuses to accept the Jedi were not heroes, for example, buy themselves a quick trip to an early grave.) Some nice scenes with Imperial officers recoiling at the Emperor's new appearance (which is a secret, since Palpatine's pre-Mace Windu image is now spread all over Coruscant, very much like Mussolini and other dictators), and the mystery of just who this 'Darth Vader' character is. In this story, one Imperial officer learns he's for the dirt and goes on the run, with Vader hiring bounty hunters to bring him down. Some nice action, some very nice Coruscant art, but the big reveal at the end of the story seemed a little too easy. (As well, one bounty hunter looked too much like Casey Jones from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and it took away from the story as a result.)
I also had some difficulty understanding how Anakin goes from being this highly emotional, unstable individual in Revenge to becoming this cold, unrelenting monster that is Darth Vader. One can argue that he thinks he's lost everything (Palpatine lying that Anakin killed Padme), or the reconstruction drove him mad. But he's what? 24? 26 at this point? I don't buy the complete character change. Luke Ross' art could be trying to show Vader's youth in grandiose movements and grandstanding (which he does here, especially in murdering one Jedi-friendly officer), or I could be just trying to find depths that aren't there.
Overall, Ostrander turns in a story that has the usual Ostrander depth and characterization. I just didn't like the ending.
Street Fighter II #0
At $1.99, you can't go wrong here. I'm not huge on Street Fighter mythology, but I have enjoyed Udon's take on the series before. This issue is intended as an introduction to the new series, and is a grab bag of features. A short Ryu story is included, which does nothing more than resubmit Ryu's reason for being once more. A few interviews with team members of both the comic and video game, a Rival Schools story that left me rather cold, and a trading card for the upcoming Street Fighter trading card game. Nothing earth shattering, but an honest attempt to give the reader a decent package for a low price.
The story is light, but there has been depth in previous issues. The art by Alvin Lee is very anime inspired, with great colouring and decent page composition. It can get cluttered, but it still flows reasonably well. I hope that more characterization will be evident in the new series, and that it can come out more regularly. It's not something I'm sure I'll pick up all the time, but this issue was okay for the price.
The Walking Dead #22
This is the best comic I've read in months. Taking the Romero zombie riff ( undead walking the earth, people running for their fucking lives, trying to survive), amp up the characterization, put in some very despicable people (serial killers), and throw in the everyday drama of just trying to live in a world where corpses want to tear you apart, where a single bite is a death sentence.
This issue deals with relationships among the survivors, with some very bloody consequences. It's a great read, with zombies playing a very limited role. Superb stuff. Gives me hope for American comics, this does.
Star Wars: Labryinth of Evil
This was recommended to me by my karate teacher. I don't read the Star Wars book religiously, because the quality isn't always of the highest order. Evil (by James Luceno) is a prequel to Revenge Of The Sith, and as such, does a very good job of setting up the machinations and impending tragedies that unfold in that film. Unlike anything we really see in or Attack of The Clones or Sith, Luceno does a very good job of capturing the relationship between Obi-Wan and Anakin: an amalgamation of best friends/ father and son. That they are the most powerful Jedi team in the galaxy is never left in doubt, as is the deep love between them. Luceno also shows how Obi-Wan fails Anakin, a failure Obi-Wan is deeply aware of: Anakin wants definite answers and some reassurance about his life and his future, but Obi-Wan can only offer Jedi platitudes. Obi-Wan simply doesn't have those answers, and won't lie. Unlike Obi-Wan, Anakin spent the first nine years of his life in the 'real world', as it were, and not in the enclosed environment of the Jedi Temple. The reassurance he needs he finds with Palpatine, who lies and strokes Anakin's ego. And this is why everything goes to hell.
The action scenes in the book are among the best I've read in a Star Wars novel. The deep sadness that permeates the story just gets worse as the novel continues, with the final scene in the book leading directly into the first scene in Revenge. A good read, and applause for Luceno for taking a sharecropper and making it something special.
Infinite Crisis: (DC Comics)
I was underwhelmed. I really thought this issue tried too hard to be Crisis On Infinite Earths, with action spread all over the DC Universe, huge scenes of destruction and galactic import, that all just came across feeling hollow. Heroes no one has really thought about in years die, and it seems gratitutious. Since this is a big book, there has to be a body count, so why not wipe out characters no one cares about? The big argument between Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman seemed trite: Batman accuses Superman of not living up to his responsibilities, Wonder Woman accuses Batman of judging everyone but himself, and both Superman and Batman pull a World's Finest and bitch on Wonder Woman for killing Maxwell Lord--forgetting that if she didn't, Batman would have died along with many others.
The issue--is killing sometimes necessary? --is a question that DC to answer for its characters. They can either take a darker route and say 'yes', or follow the same path and have Wonder Woman go nuts the way Superman did when he killed those criminal Kryptonians back in the day. My guess is the latter. As for the big reveal at the end, it again left me cold. If the multiverse is indeed coming back--with multiple versions of major characters--that could be interesting. But I feel that in the end, like with Highlander--there will be only one. Which seems to defeat the purpose of this series in the first place.
Conan #21
This is Kurt Busiek's and Cary Nord's continued adaptation of Robert E. Howard's 'The Tower of the Elephant'. It's a very good read, with that gritty, sketchy art really adding to the power of the narrative. I'm enjoying this series immensely.
Star Wars: Republic #78
I think that is the final issue of Republic, which would make sense since it takes place two weeks after Revenge of the Sith. (There ain't no Republic no more, nossir.) John Ostrander's story tells the tale of life under the new Emperor, and his purge of undesirable, newly minted Imperial officers. (Anyone who refuses to accept the Jedi were not heroes, for example, buy themselves a quick trip to an early grave.) Some nice scenes with Imperial officers recoiling at the Emperor's new appearance (which is a secret, since Palpatine's pre-Mace Windu image is now spread all over Coruscant, very much like Mussolini and other dictators), and the mystery of just who this 'Darth Vader' character is. In this story, one Imperial officer learns he's for the dirt and goes on the run, with Vader hiring bounty hunters to bring him down. Some nice action, some very nice Coruscant art, but the big reveal at the end of the story seemed a little too easy. (As well, one bounty hunter looked too much like Casey Jones from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and it took away from the story as a result.)
I also had some difficulty understanding how Anakin goes from being this highly emotional, unstable individual in Revenge to becoming this cold, unrelenting monster that is Darth Vader. One can argue that he thinks he's lost everything (Palpatine lying that Anakin killed Padme), or the reconstruction drove him mad. But he's what? 24? 26 at this point? I don't buy the complete character change. Luke Ross' art could be trying to show Vader's youth in grandiose movements and grandstanding (which he does here, especially in murdering one Jedi-friendly officer), or I could be just trying to find depths that aren't there.
Overall, Ostrander turns in a story that has the usual Ostrander depth and characterization. I just didn't like the ending.
Street Fighter II #0
At $1.99, you can't go wrong here. I'm not huge on Street Fighter mythology, but I have enjoyed Udon's take on the series before. This issue is intended as an introduction to the new series, and is a grab bag of features. A short Ryu story is included, which does nothing more than resubmit Ryu's reason for being once more. A few interviews with team members of both the comic and video game, a Rival Schools story that left me rather cold, and a trading card for the upcoming Street Fighter trading card game. Nothing earth shattering, but an honest attempt to give the reader a decent package for a low price.
The story is light, but there has been depth in previous issues. The art by Alvin Lee is very anime inspired, with great colouring and decent page composition. It can get cluttered, but it still flows reasonably well. I hope that more characterization will be evident in the new series, and that it can come out more regularly. It's not something I'm sure I'll pick up all the time, but this issue was okay for the price.
The Walking Dead #22
This is the best comic I've read in months. Taking the Romero zombie riff ( undead walking the earth, people running for their fucking lives, trying to survive), amp up the characterization, put in some very despicable people (serial killers), and throw in the everyday drama of just trying to live in a world where corpses want to tear you apart, where a single bite is a death sentence.
This issue deals with relationships among the survivors, with some very bloody consequences. It's a great read, with zombies playing a very limited role. Superb stuff. Gives me hope for American comics, this does.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
The Worst Way To Wake Up
..isn't just with a hangover, which I did this morning. (Two whole glasses of wine. TWO. I gave up beer four years ago because even a simple pint made me ill. Now it looks like wine may be next. NOOOOO!)
No, the worst way to wake up is to see your bird cage exploding on the ground.
I had brought the birds in to be with me while I read, something I do every night. Unfortunately, I fell asleep reading. I must have just dropped. While I dozed, a cat got up onto the fireplace, and knocked the cage over. So at ten to four this morning, I was running around trying to capture two terrified budgies, reassemble a cage, and pray they didn't hurt themselves.
They seem fine, and I hope they stay that way. Miho lost a few feathers, but both he and Mara had the sense to sit and wait for me to come get them, and didn't put up much of a fight as I bundled them back in.
So that's it. The birds are hung up on their hook if I even begin to feel a tad drowsy. We were lucky last night, and if I'm one thing, it isn't lucky.
No, the worst way to wake up is to see your bird cage exploding on the ground.
I had brought the birds in to be with me while I read, something I do every night. Unfortunately, I fell asleep reading. I must have just dropped. While I dozed, a cat got up onto the fireplace, and knocked the cage over. So at ten to four this morning, I was running around trying to capture two terrified budgies, reassemble a cage, and pray they didn't hurt themselves.
They seem fine, and I hope they stay that way. Miho lost a few feathers, but both he and Mara had the sense to sit and wait for me to come get them, and didn't put up much of a fight as I bundled them back in.
So that's it. The birds are hung up on their hook if I even begin to feel a tad drowsy. We were lucky last night, and if I'm one thing, it isn't lucky.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Serenity
Even though I felt myself being taken over by one fuck of a cold virus in the theatre, I adored Serenity. I loved Firefly, so perhaps this isn't a surprise. But I don't think being a Firefly fan is necessary to enjoy Serenity. It's just a fun, exciting, well made film.
A review in The New York Times says this film is better than Revenge of the Sith. It is. In fact, I think Serenity has more in common with the original Star Wars than any of the prequels George Lucas has presented in the last ten years. The idea of people being caught up in events far beyond their experience, and trying to do the right thing, is more A New Hope than The Phantom Menace. The idea of a universe where spaceships are held together by hope and jiggery pokery is something we haven't seen since The Empire Strikes Back. Serenity is a movie made by someone who loved Star Wars as a child, and took that love to the screen in their adulthood.
Yeah, it's good. Go see it. Pray for a sequel.
A review in The New York Times says this film is better than Revenge of the Sith. It is. In fact, I think Serenity has more in common with the original Star Wars than any of the prequels George Lucas has presented in the last ten years. The idea of people being caught up in events far beyond their experience, and trying to do the right thing, is more A New Hope than The Phantom Menace. The idea of a universe where spaceships are held together by hope and jiggery pokery is something we haven't seen since The Empire Strikes Back. Serenity is a movie made by someone who loved Star Wars as a child, and took that love to the screen in their adulthood.
Yeah, it's good. Go see it. Pray for a sequel.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Sleepin' Is Givin' In
Arcade Fire's Rebellion is currently my favourite song of all time, ever, in the whole wide world.
Cher was at a kenpo seminar all day today with Huk Planas, so I was left to my own devices. Which, sadly, did not involve laser turrets and Wav-O-Beams. Because those are the sorts of devices I would like to be left with.
Watched the Naruto anime today. Wondered what in hell this had to do with the superb Naruto manga. I love the manga because of its cinematic feel, the otherworldly aura it conveys (in this world, kids can go to ninja school, and even though it feels eighteenth century, there are overlaps of modern technology in view), and that whole wonderful feeling that the creator is having a blast. The anime--thus far--is about Naruto having a crush on the undeniably cute Sakura--oh, and having bowel problems. In three episodes, we only today managed to get Naruto to the ninja school. Hoo-boy.
Also watched Gundam Seed: if you've seen one version of Gundam, you really have seen them all, but I still jones over giant robots. .hack/sign has far more meaningful, soul searching chatter than it needs, but I still enjoy it. (It seems to owe a fair bit to Snow Crash and Otherland--no, make that it A LOT to Otherland). I still have Witch Hunter Robin to watch tonight. I haven't really turned on to that one yet: moody heroes are getting tough to swallow, especially when it seems every they pop up in every anime I watch these days.
Turned off my brain and thought hard today about my novel. Worked out a few things (alcohol distribution, for one thing) as well as the troublesome first chapter. I really take inspiration from Elizabeth Moon, whose superb Deed of Paksenarrion has shown me that taking a different path in fantasy can be done--and still be entertaining. I think the hardest part of writing this novel for me has been to stop worrying about some invisible Submissions Editor glaring over my shoulder at each word. I will do this my way, this novel is my life's work, and will represent everything I ever wanted to do as a writer. Everything has been a lead up to this. If this is the only novel I write, fine. If anyone ever reads it, even better.
Oh, I finished Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince. I couldn't believe that Hermione actually CENSORED that giant CENSORED while Harry swore that the Half Blood Prince was in fact CENSORED on a pogo stick. And when King Kong attacked Hogwarts, with Darth Vader kidnapping Dumbledore with that tractor beam, I had to admit I got my money's worth.
Cher was at a kenpo seminar all day today with Huk Planas, so I was left to my own devices. Which, sadly, did not involve laser turrets and Wav-O-Beams. Because those are the sorts of devices I would like to be left with.
Watched the Naruto anime today. Wondered what in hell this had to do with the superb Naruto manga. I love the manga because of its cinematic feel, the otherworldly aura it conveys (in this world, kids can go to ninja school, and even though it feels eighteenth century, there are overlaps of modern technology in view), and that whole wonderful feeling that the creator is having a blast. The anime--thus far--is about Naruto having a crush on the undeniably cute Sakura--oh, and having bowel problems. In three episodes, we only today managed to get Naruto to the ninja school. Hoo-boy.
Also watched Gundam Seed: if you've seen one version of Gundam, you really have seen them all, but I still jones over giant robots. .hack/sign has far more meaningful, soul searching chatter than it needs, but I still enjoy it. (It seems to owe a fair bit to Snow Crash and Otherland--no, make that it A LOT to Otherland). I still have Witch Hunter Robin to watch tonight. I haven't really turned on to that one yet: moody heroes are getting tough to swallow, especially when it seems every they pop up in every anime I watch these days.
Turned off my brain and thought hard today about my novel. Worked out a few things (alcohol distribution, for one thing) as well as the troublesome first chapter. I really take inspiration from Elizabeth Moon, whose superb Deed of Paksenarrion has shown me that taking a different path in fantasy can be done--and still be entertaining. I think the hardest part of writing this novel for me has been to stop worrying about some invisible Submissions Editor glaring over my shoulder at each word. I will do this my way, this novel is my life's work, and will represent everything I ever wanted to do as a writer. Everything has been a lead up to this. If this is the only novel I write, fine. If anyone ever reads it, even better.
Oh, I finished Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince. I couldn't believe that Hermione actually CENSORED that giant CENSORED while Harry swore that the Half Blood Prince was in fact CENSORED on a pogo stick. And when King Kong attacked Hogwarts, with Darth Vader kidnapping Dumbledore with that tractor beam, I had to admit I got my money's worth.
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