Holidaze and Gifts and Review

No essay this time. No rambling about some arcane topic. Just rambling about common topics.

Once again, I return to e-books. In particular, the Kindle. I spotted a commercial for the Kindle on television last night. Very stylish, and creative. Very little mention of reading. But after you see the ad, you feel like you need to own a Kindle. As luck would have it, I do own a Kindle 2. It came to mean through a promotional means related to the publishing industry. The ad didn't sell me - mainly because I hadn't seen it at that time. (That is the shadow of my paws over the Kindle)

I confess, I was torn between the Nook and the Kindle, and any Sony device. I went with the discount. And then I started running into people who had purchased Kindles for gifts, or were receiving them as gifts for the holidays. Everyone was excited - you can read books anywhere (I could before). You can bring all of your books with you (couldn't do that, and still can't with the Kindle, but I see the point, although I'm not sure of the need). The Kindle is small (so is a book). It is light-weight (most books are). It looks just like a book (so does a book).

And yes, I own a Kindle. It is a delightful gadget. I can read books anywhere, even though I can with my iPhone and a Kindle application. It is light...looks like a book. Okay, enough said.

What I've been wondering about with all of this excitement is this: How many people are purchasing e-readers because they are nifty technology? The Kindle commercial certainly pushes heavy on "coolness" and "style." At a metaphoric level it hints at reading by becoming different characters. But at no point does it show someone sitting in a chair, gazing at a Kindle. That approach probably wouldn't work. But my guess is that is how it is used most often. I've not tried dancing with my Kindle yet.

In the end, if you're interested in a Kindle, I'd say you'd probably enjoy it (particularly if you like to read). You can make notes on it. Look up words. Listen to Audible.com books or MP3 anythings. You can store your own documents on it, and it has free Internet access. Yes, you can browse the web, read blogs, use web-based email. None of those things work as well as a computer. But they do work. Of course, you can get books very quickly, and there are many free books to be had (out of copyright). And I'd suggest quizzing Jeff Edwards about e-readers. He puts them to very good use, and is quite knowledgeable on the subject.

The drawback in all cases is the price of these things. Sometimes they range the price of a netbook (which can do all of the above). But you don't get a free screensaver with one of your favorite authors. All in all, they make great gifts because the person being gifted does not have to pay the high price. So maybe gift yourself.

So what am I reading on my Kindle? Everything I was reading on my Kindle application for my iPhone/iTouch. But I did go back in time and read Tobias S. Buckell's novel Ragamuffin (2008).

Yes, I know this isn't his most recent book. I've read the recent ones, but for some reason I didn't read Ragamuffin. So, it seemed like a good test of the Kindle. And a way to catch-up on books.

For those who don't know, this novel is a SF novel, set in the future, with a rough and tough protagonist. A female protagonist. And the novel has strong social undercurrents as humanity is far below being second-class citizens. Oh, before anyone says, you're reading too much into it, I'll respond: I'm not. :) Even if Tobias says otherwise, I will disagree. Why? Because it's there to be found, regardless of the author's intent. Although, I suspect there was intent.

In many ways, the novel reproduces the themes of the Harlem Renaissance literature (don't moan; I'm not going into a history lesson).Social stratification, species-ism, and biological discrimination are a part of this work. So is action, combat, witty dialogue, and an interesting universe. Certainly, there is science in this work of fiction, but it is not hard science fiction, which means those of you who dislike long explanations of how technology works or why there is gravity on a spaceship don't have to worry.

The novel starts with a bang and ends with a boom. You'd have to read it to get the joke. I'd certainly recommend reading it, either in print or on an e-reader. And as for the e-book edition on the Kindle, the format was smooth, with the exception of what I suspect are "drop caps" for the first letter of every chapter. The first character of each chapter stood above the body of the text - it was clearly not intentional.

Ah, but someone is bound to say: It is too late to get any of these gifts. It's not! If you go with a Kindle, you can get it delivered before Xmas. And if you include a gift certificate, the books can be downloaded in minutes. This means that every following year you can do last minute gift buying as the gifts can be downloaded.

Quarantine - The Film

I confess, when Quarantine was released to the theaters, I did not rush out to see it. I didn't speed to the rental store to grab it when it was released on DVD. I didn't rent it on "Pay-per-View," or iTunes, or NetFlix when it arrived in these locations. I skipped it at the Red Box video vending machine in the local grocery story. In fact, when I finally rented it, I didn't watch it, and had to return it to avoid late fees. In general, there was little that inspired me to watch the film in the promotional material, the cover, or the copy.

At long last I've seen it, and it was quite different from what I had expected. Not that it was better than I had anticipated, but it certainly wasn't as "bad" as I had thought. While the film didn't inspire me much, it was compact, mostly well organized, and focused. It is a 1st person film (Blair Witch, Cloverfield, etc). This allows for a lower budget as filmic perfection isn't always expected, and in theory creates a different mood for the viewer - although it clearly reminds the viewer that he or she is a viewer, something many films attempt remove.

Still, I'd not say the film was bad. If you like suspense/thriller/horror/action films, it is worth your time. The camera isn't overly shaky, which is good. The premise is common to film, but a favorite (being a group of people trapped in a single location with no means of escape).

Fans of the Showtime series Dexter will recognize Jennifer Carpenter in the lead role (Dexter's sister). I believe she does a good job in the role - even if a bit of her character from Dexter bleeds through.

Gore? Yes. Not as much as a typical zombie film. But this isn't a zombie film. Toward the end it works very hard to pull the premise together, which is almost another film in itself. My guess is most viewers will figure out some of the surprises early on. This isn't a problem because it adds to the suspense, as it should. This is akin to everyone knowing a character shouldn't open a particularly door. Regardless of our shouts, and cries of tropes, the door gets opened. While there is such a door in the film, there are other elements that work for the film if the viewer is aware of them in advance, and likely surprise those viewers who do not expect them. Overall, this keeps the film working, and worth watching.

I suppose I have no fabulous words for Quarantine because it didn't work with anything original. Nonetheless, it took established conventions and maintained suspense and thrill throughout most of the film. And it does a good job of pulling it all together at the end. It is a great study in suspense - for film makers and writers. And from what I understand, it is somewhat based on a popular Spanish film [REC] (which I've not seen).

With all of the above, I'd still suggest watching this film - if you fall into any of the aforementioned categories. And keep an eye on the background elements of the story. What might be the most frightening aspect of the film is the Civil response (related to the title of the film). Always good to know there is someone out there to help. :)

Already Dead - Charlie Huston

Joe Pitt is dead, and a P.I. in New York City. At least comes close to describing the urban fantasy/mystery/horror novel Already Dead. Really, Joe Pitt isn't Joe's real name, and Joe isn't a human, and Joe isn't what you'd call a private investigator.

Although this novel is a few years old (2005, Del Rey), it is not dated in the least. The setting is New York City, mainly midtown and lower Manhattan. The protagonist is a vampire, who is a freelancer, working between the political lines of several clans of vampires who share the turf of Manhattan. And he's looking for a murderer - someone who is spreading a flesh eating bacteria that turns humans into zombies.

Needless to say, I always enjoy a novel set in NYC - I've come to know it so well from my own writings. But Already Dead brings with it the hardboiled feel of a Raymond Chandler novel. Admittedly, it is unorthodox in its approach to dialogue. There are no "quotation marks" around the dialogue in this novel. It uses emdashes "-" (a bit longer then that one). Adding to this, Huston doesn't use tag lines such as "he said." What this means to the reader is that you need to pay close attention to who is speaking. In most cases, Huston pulls off the dialogue through context. But for some, this style might be a bit startling at first. Here is an example:

The phone wakes me in the morning. Why the hell someone is calling me in the
morning I don't know, so I let the machine get it.

-This is Joe Pitt. Leave a message.

-Joe, it's Philip.I don't pick up the phone, not for Philip Sax.

I close my eyes and try to find my way back to sleep.

-Joe, I think maybe i got something if ya can pick up the phone.

Other than the unique approach to the character's speaking, the novel is a straight forward work. Well, the protagonist who is dead (a vampire) and is "living" in NYC. As you might expect, Joe follows a trail of death and clues, using his fists a bit more than his head, all the while having to deal with his own past, and the different clans of vampires who dominant the city - unbeknownst to the living in the city.

What I don't want to convey is a setting filled with vampires manipulating the world. That is an undercurrent in the work, but Huston is careful not to overdo it. Things do get rough - Joe is a brute of a vampire - and the crimes are brutal, but not dancing with gore. Also, Huston has provides an excellent tour through the streets of Manhattan - leaving the outer boroughs to "who knows what."

Fans of urban fantasy, hardboiled supernatural tales, and vampires (even zombies) should give this book a read. There are more in the Joe Pitt series, but this is the place to start.

What About Blog Reviews?

I've seen a number of posts along these lines over the last few weeks, so I thought I'd pose a question about the topic - particularly since I just sent my column to Game Trade Magazine about Ken Hite's and Andy Hopp's new book Where the Deep Ones Are.

Many folks as of late have been wondering if blogs are challenging traditional review sources. With the abundance of blogs on the Internet, reviews in newspapers and magazines could become less significant. Or have they already? This includes reviews of films, books, music, and most anything that can be reviewed.

Think of how easy it is to find a review of anything on a blog. Are these reviews competing with the traditional sources? Reviews are abundant on the Internet from many "official" review sites. But it could be argued that the difference between a blog review and a review from traditional source is that the traditional source has a reviewer with credentials of some sort, while the blog is a fan/reader/blogger. Well, that's how the discussion goes: fans reviewing VS established reviewers.

A word that usually creeps into this conversation is "democracy." My only concern with the use of this word in this topic is that "democracy" is a charged word. If I were to call blog reviews the "democracy of reviews," fewer people are going to say "Hey, democracy is bad in reviews." :) I'm not entirely sure that label fits here, so I'm going to avoid it now that I brought it up.

I think the crux of the issue comes down to fans reviewing as opposed to traditional reviewers. Is there more trust in one or the other? Certainly the traditional outlets are feeling the pressure as newspapers and magazines drop review staff.

Hmm, I think I just wrote a review of reviews.

The Grin of the Dark - Ramsey Campbell

Ramsey Campbell is a master of horror literature. And fans of Campbell will delight in his latest novel. In his typical style, he creates a dark narrative that draws the reader into the story. While I'm not particularly a fan of "clown horror," Campbell manages to win me over with unsettling, spooky scenes containing these notorious circus performers. But he does much more than this.

The story is centered around Simon Lester and his quest to write a book about the silent film star Tubby Thackeray. The task takes him to a variety of locations, all wonderfully filled with intriguing characters. As the novel progresses, the surreal narrative grows strong - as though there is something from the past awakening. The style works well with novel's subject.

As Lester continues to research Tubby Thackeray, things become more mysterious. There is little material to be found about a silent film star who rivaled Charlie Chaplin in fame. It is as though someone is intentionally trying to erase him from history.

With each passing page the novel grows darker, and yet maintains lighter moments - humorous elements that lift the gloom long enough for the reader to dive in again. At first glance, a novel about a character who is researching a silent film star, perhaps doesn't "sound" like horror. But when handled this well, the mystery and the horror unravel into a brilliant tale.

I would suggest that readers who are new to Ramsey Campbell start with one of his other books. The Grin of the Dark is stylish and well done, but it is perhaps not the starting point for acolytes. In this novel, he works with the prose, making the the writing as much a part of the story as the characters and plot. It is an excellent example of why he is a modern horror master.

The Somnambulist - Jonathan Barnes

A milk drinking giant and a stage magician named Edward Moon find themselves investigating murder in historic London. But Moon is more than a prestidigitator - he is the real thing. He uses real magic in his stage act. Even so, as the 1900s arrives, his career as a performer passes away.

By all accounts, this is a urban fantasy (although some would say steampunk). It is set in a gritty historical London. Moon has solved several murders in the past with his uncanny abilities, but when a zealous religious cult threatens the city itself, Edward Moon and his milk-drinking companion (the somnambulist) work to uncover the plans of the cult.

If you're a fan of supernatural detectives, this novel is a good bet. There are a number of clever twists in it, along with an unreliable narrator (not uncommon for such period works). The mood and tone of the prose work wonderfully. The book is filled with unusual characters, with even more unusual names. But it captures the spirit of the genre. And it maintains pacing, which keep the pages turning. Johnathan Barnes produces a nice balance between humor, dark mood, and several eerie moments. This is a fun novel, but it isn't always light hearted. It deals with social issues through an historic lens, and the somnambulist, who is a riddle in himself, is a clever character that acts as a moral guide through a dark world. Yet, the novel does not burden the reader with a n over-determined, historical writing style.

All of the weird elements work together to form a strong narrative, with a surprise narrator. Really, there are too many secrets to be revealed. So try reading the novel before reading too many reviews.

Pan's Labyrinth

While this film has been out for some time, and it had quite a bit of hype at the theaters, I continually encounter people who have heard of it but have not seen it. The most common reason they give is because the film is non-English with subtitles. I admit, sometimes "reading a film" is not as entertaining. Given the total number of U.S. films that are not dubbed, it seems English speaking film watchers have it easy.

With that said, I can only urge anyone who has yet to see this film to watch it. And if you've already seen it, watch it again. It is brilliantly filmed and scripted, with quality performances. Directed and written by Guillermo del Toro, at first glance the film appears to be a "children's film" - at least most of the promotion pushed it that way. Also, the early promotion and cover art focused upon the fantastic elements of the film. So it is a surprise to many viewers to learn that it takes place in 1944 Spain, and while "fantastic" in nature, it also confronts the horrors or war and reality.

The storyline follows a young girl, Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) and her widowed, pregnant mother (Ariadna Gil), through a post civil war setting, and the harshness of dealing with those in power. While on one of her walks through the surrounding forest, Ofelia encounters the faun-god named Pan (Doug Jones). And in this encounter, Pan tells her that she is special, she is a princess - certainly great news for Ofelia given her circumstances. From there a beautiful and terrifying serious of events occur.

The special effects are excellent, the musical score is elegant, the acting is superb, and the story itself is spellbinding. For the most part, it is focusea upon how young Ofelia (10-12 years old) deals with her life and loved ones in the midst of a hellish world. Perhaps she finds an escape to another realm, or simply an escape in her mind. Either way, the film is compelling and brutally honest - even if it is thought of as a "fairy tale."

This film is destined to be a future classic - and it is already a modern classic. So, if you've not viewed it, take the time. Maybe watch it a twice or more. Each viewing will be a new experience.

Blasphemy - Douglas Preston

Science is the new religion, in Preston's latest thriller, Blasphemy. For those who've read other Douglas Preston thrillers, the usual taut writing is present, and the compelling plot. It is filled with science fiction, horror, and the seemingly supernatural. Not that Blasphemy can be slotted into any of those genres; rather, it has a bit of each.

The book opens with a group of scientists powering-up a new particle accelerator in the middle of Navajo territory. From the first few pages, it is obvious, something is amiss. Thanks to Stephen Hawking's theory on black holes and the immense size of the new accelerator, a singularity is created, and communication with an omnipotent entity begins.

Running through the background of this novel is intrigue, espionage, riots, and the opening thrust of Armageddon. It is a very busy and ambitious work; however, it is not overwhelming. On many levels it tackles parallel issues in the "real" world through the lens of fiction. And it stays on track, with everything working to a climactic and somewhat surprising ending.

Now I qualified the ending with "somewhat" surprising. That's only because if you're a fan of thrillers, then you may (or may not) know the "form" of thriller novels (and every genre has a form). So, for me, the ending was telegraphed early in the book. This is a risk all authors take in genre. In a Western, we expect a showdown, and we expect the hero to win. Sometimes it doesn't happen, most of the time it does. Thrillers work in a similar fashion, but for those who are not familiar with it, I'll not reveal it. This way nothing is "spoiled" in any future reading.

Either way, skilled authors such as Preston know that some readers will anticipate the ending, and in this case, he works with that. He cleverly focuses upon how the end comes about, and what happens with the characters. This keeps even the most veteran reader of thrillers turning the pages. And for those who don't guess the ending, there is the promise of a surprise as well.

Overall, this is a compelling and contemporary book - worth reading by those who normally avoid the genre. It deals with a topic, science and religion, that has been on the minds of many for several centuries. At the same time, it is not mired in either topic. The novel is thought-provoking, but it isn't philosophical, didactic, or overly technical. It is a strong blend of several genres, wrapped into a thriller.

And for those not familiar with Douglas Preston, he often works with Lincoln Child. Together they have penned Relic (made into a film), and the Penderghast series of novels (Penderghast appears in the Relic as well). These books sometimes border on science fiction and the supernatural. If you don't start with Blasphemy, then give one of the Penderghast novels a try - they are a strong, detective/thriller novels, brimming with many brilliant ideas.

The Secret Files of the Diogenes Club

Kim Newman is a skilled and talented author, with an imagination that produces brilliant fiction. In his book, The Secret Files of the Diogenes Club, all of these elements come to the surface. For those familiar with Sherlock Holmes, the title of this book reveals the premise. It is based around a club founded by Mycroft Holmes. Well, the club is something of a U.K. investigation unit, or intelligence service. And the "club" delves into a number of uncanny and weird investigations.

This collection spans decades and centuries. For fans of Newman, most of the stories are familiar, previously published, but having them in one collection is wonderful. In his typical fashion, Newman brings to life interesting and thoughtful characters, believable figures, and interweaves them into clever tales. At the thematic level, the collection deals with "good and evil," but the historical settings and events prevent these stories from appearing commonplace. With each story, Newman approaches from an interesting angle, making the collection enjoyable and worthy of re-reading.

The Secret Files of the Diogenes Club is something of a prequel to The Man from the Diogenes Club. Readers can start with either book first - although I'd suggest "Secret Files" first. The "adventures" are supernatural, weird, and Lovecraftian, full of mysteries and suspense. Because every tale in the collection is a gem, I'll not discuss each, or cite favorites. They span from the 1860s to the 1970s, and fit together nicely, providing a delightful backdrop for the clandestine intelligence service. This is a grand book, clever, powerful, and entertaining.

Hobby Games: The 100 Best

For those attending GenCon, I've learned that Green Ronin's book Hobby Games: 100 Best will be available at the convention (it was a close race). It is also available on Amazon.com for pre-order. If you get a chance, take a peek and see if your favorite hobby game is included in the 100 essays. The book is not limited to any one type of game. Everything from RPGs to board games to card games to miniature games to hybrid games are included. It is also a great way to re-visit some forgotten games, or be introduced to new games.


Below is a rather lengthy list of authors. And, until the book is released, we are only left to guess what topics the authors wrote about:

* Justin Achilli
* Shannon Appelcline
* Wolfgang Baur
* Mike Bennighof
* Richard H. Berg
* Uli Blennemann
* Bill Bodden (appendix)
* Mike Breault
* Bill Bridges
* Stan! Brown
* Timothy Brown
* Alessio Cavatore
* William W. Connors
* David "Zeb" Cook
* Monte Cook
* Peter Corless
* Greg Costikyan
* Tom Dalgliesh
* Richard Dansky
* Dale Donovan
* James F. Dunnigan (afterword)
* Jack Emmert
* James Ernest
* Bruno Faidutti
* Mike Fitzgerald
* Matt Forbeck
* Anthony J. Gallela
* Richard Garfield
* Marc Gascoigne
* Ed Greenwood
* Jeff Grubb
* Gary Gygax
* Scott Haring
* Larry Harris
* Shane Lacy Hensley
* Tracy Hickman
* Kenneth Hite
* Steve Jackson (Games Workshop)
* Steve Jackson (Steve Jackson Games)
* Paul Jaquays
* Tom Jolly
* William Jones
* Steve Kenson
* Chris "Gerry" Klug
* Reiner Knizia (foreword)
* John Kovalic
* Thomas Lehmann
* Nicole Lindroos
* Ian Livingstone
* Dana Lombardy
* Steven S. Long
* Rick Loomis
* Andrew Looney
* James Lowder (introduction)
* Marc W. Miller
* Joseph Miranda
* Alan R. Moon
* Bruce Nesmith
* Douglas Niles
* Christian T. Petersen
* Sandy Petersen
* Mike Pondsmith
* Chris Pramas
* Lewis Pulsipher
* John D. Rateliff
* Ted S. Raicer
* Philip Reed
* Thomas M. Reid
* R.A. Salvatore
* R. Hyrum Savage
* Steven Savile
* Steven E. Schend
* Jesse Scoble
* Mike Selinker
* Bruce C. Shelley
* Zev Shlasinger
* Lester Smith
* Warren Spector
* Ken St. Andre
* Greg Stafford
* Greg Stolze
* S. Craig Taylor, Jr.
* Gav Thorpe
* Jeff Tidball
* John Scott Tynes
* Allen Varney
* George Vasilakos
* Martin Wallace
* James Wallis
* James M. Ward
* Darren Watts
* Tom Wham
* Jordan Weisman
* John Wick
* Stewart Wieck
* JD Wiker
* Skip Williams
* Kevin Wilson
* Ray Winninger
* Steve Winter
* Teeuwynn Woodruff
* Erick Wujcik
* Phil Yates
* Lou Zocchi

Thou Shalt Not Anthology Review

Thou Shalt Not... is an anthology of crime and horror where Rudolph Pearson revisits a lingering nightmare -- one that threatens to haunt others as well. The tale is set in 1930s New York City. A city that once prospered, but finds itself on the edge of darkness.

For those of you who are unfamilar with Thou Shalt Not..., it includes an abundant list of authors and over 400 pages of fiction. Find a review at: www.zone-sf.com/wordworks/thousnot.html

Edited by L. A. Howard, authors include:

* Mary Aldrin * Kevin Anderson * Michael A. Arnzen * K. Tempest Bradford * Sarah Brandel * Leslie Brown * Jennifer Busick * Lawrence C. Connolly * Megan Crewe * Marguerite Croft * Cristopher Fisher * John M. Floyd * Lee Forsythe * Eugie Foster * B. M. Freman * Barry Hollander * William Jones * Simcha Laib Kuritzky * Alison J. Littlewood * M. Stephen Lukac * Derwin Mak * Barbara Malenky * Michelle Mellon * Jennifer D. Munro * Derryl Murphy * Marc Paoletti * Dave Raines * Stephen D. Rogers * Lisa Silverthorne * Barbara Stanley * Chris Stout * Mark Tullius * Bev Vincent * Heather Wardell * Jacqueline West.