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isaachar's rating:
Added Feb 23, 2024
isaachar's rating:
Added Feb 23, 2024
isaachar's rating:
Added Feb 23, 2024
isaachar's rating:
Added Feb 23, 2024
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The author paints an amazing picture of the places in this book. The story is more haunting than horror, but it is well told. My only criticism of the story was that it came close to being a slog at times. There were parts of the 'chase' where the characters would go to a place and only find that what they are looking for isn't there, and they need to go to another place. A lot of 'Sorry Mario, but your princess is in another castle' moments, but with a grave instead of a princess. Which are ok the first few times, but 1/3rd of the book is this. Still, the author does a good job conveying the beauty of the various European settings. I also enjoyed the high level of 'meta' in this book. At certain points, you are reading [wait for it] the story of a woman telling a story of her father describing a story from the correspondence of his former professor's travels and memories of a guy telling him a story about the history of a specific part of Romania. That wasn't a run on sentence, the story of a story in another story perspective is standard throughout this book. That could be difficult to keep up with, but the author guides the reader through it well.The author paints an amazing picture of the places in this book. The story is more haunting than horror, but it is well told. My only criticism of the story was that it came close to being a slog at times. There were parts of the 'chase' where…
isaachar's rating:
Added Feb 23, 2024
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In the future, long after the primary sources of energy, oil and gas, have been mostly depleted, the world's governments collapse unto themselves. Energy now comes from natural resources and human energy, stored in bio-engineered 'kink springs' and measured in calories. Bioengineering companies have become as powerful as governments, and a combination of corporate warfare and environmental irresponsibility has resulted in most of the worlds natural foodstocks dying off or becoming biologically contaminated through hybridization. The world relies on bio engineering companies to create disease resistant, high calorie foods to feed humanity. And that's just the background setting!
This was really hard to put down. Bacigalupi has become my favorite 'dystopic' future writer. The stories seem outlandish when being described, but the world he lays out seems very realistic and possible once you get into the story. The writing reminds me of the British science fiction show 'Black Mirror', in that it shows the subtle horrors that the near future could hold. A terrifying future created by technology and industry rather than war. Once I read this, I had to read 'The Water Knife' from the same author, which also takes place in a 'soft dystopian' future. It wasn't until I started reading his short story anthology 'Pump Six' that I realized that each of these stories might take place in the same world, only at different points in the future and on different continents. Great stuff!In the future, long after the primary sources of energy, oil and gas, have been mostly depleted, the world's governments collapse unto themselves. Energy now comes from natural resources and human energy, stored in bio-engineered 'kink springs' and…
isaachar's rating:
Added Feb 23, 2024
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I really liked this book! Other reviewers mention the similarities between this and Matt Ruff's 'Lovecraft Country'. Without spoiling the plots, there are a lot of similarities. Both stories deal with characters of color dealing with 20th century racism. Both stories involve Lovecraft magic, and a wealthy benefactor offering to recruit a talented acolyte. The two stories could almost fit in the same universe, except for a few key differences. Lovecraft Country mentions Lovecraft explicitly, the the story makes subtle implications that the classical authors' writings were based on pre-existing actual magic. Lovecraft's stories often did the same with allusions to works by Alister Crawley and Lord Dunsunay. Ballad of Black Tom occurs within the Lovecraft universe. Without spoiling, by the middle of the story, most readers of Lovecraft will recognize the references to creatures and places from the Mythos. There is even a very brief 'cameo' appearance of a character from 'The Curious Case of Dexter Ward'.
All in all, it's a very short (almost a short story), enjoyable read.I really liked this book! Other reviewers mention the similarities between this and Matt Ruff's 'Lovecraft Country'. Without spoiling the plots, there are a lot of similarities. Both stories deal with characters of color dealing with 20th century…
isaachar's rating:
Added Feb 23, 2024
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A fast paced, dystopian space opera wrapped around a solid revenge story. It's 'The Hunger Games' meets 'The Count of Monte Cristo', with a bit of Herbert's 'Dune' thrown in. The pace and short page count of the book makes it easy to zip through. The main character suffers incredible hardships and sacrifices everything, even his own identity and morality, for revenge. I'm glad I read this after it's two sequels have already been released, it would have been a painful wait for the next part of the story.A fast paced, dystopian space opera wrapped around a solid revenge story. It's 'The Hunger Games' meets 'The Count of Monte Cristo', with a bit of Herbert's 'Dune' thrown in. The pace and short page count of the book makes it easy to zip through.…
Added Feb 23, 2024
Added Feb 23, 2024
Added Feb 23, 2024
Serenity: Firefly Class 03-K64Serenity: Firefly Class 03-K64, Graphic Novel[4], Leaves on the Wind
by Whedon, ZackGraphic Novel - 2014Graphic Novel, 2014
Added Feb 23, 2024
Added Feb 23, 2024
Added Feb 23, 2024
Added Feb 23, 2024
isaachar's rating:
Added May 03, 2021
isaachar's rating:
Added Oct 23, 2020
Comment:
Abercrombie has done it again! While the previous book in the leaned heavily on political intrigue and drama, this book starts going one direction and takes a hard turn. Without spoiling, the book continues the politicking and scheming from the A Little Hatred then takes a hard turn toward the gritty warfare previously seen in "The Heroes". Once again, we see how quickly the world is changing, technology and governance are evolving in the world of The First Law. And while the "magic" is just as sparse as it was in the last book ("Magic fades from the world", a recurring theme in this new trilogy), the book is littered with foreshadowing that this might be changing. A "Great Change"-ing, or a changing back. I'm almost sad there's only one book left in the trilogy.Abercrombie has done it again! While the previous book in the leaned heavily on political intrigue and drama, this book starts going one direction and takes a hard turn. Without spoiling, the book continues the politicking and scheming from the A…
Peter GunnPeter Gunn, Streaming VideoSeason One
Streaming Video - 1958Streaming Video, 1958
isaachar's rating:
Added Mar 05, 2020
Comment:
For years I've heard the theme to Peter Gunn in different movies and television, and unknowingly seen countless spoofs (Naked Gun, Archer: Dreamland) without being aware of the source material. After learning about it and deciding to give it a view, Peter Gunn is one of the most best noir shows I've ever watched. Dark, brooding, casually paced and unusually violent (well, at least compared to contemporary network television) Peter Gunn is one heck of a watch. If you are a fan of Black Lizard gumshoe style noir, you'll enjoy it. My only disclaimer is that it was made in the late 50's and early 60's and it shows. There are occasional dated concepts and sometimes outright offensive ideas and commentary in the show. It isn't littered throughout the show like several other shows of the 1950's and 1960's, but it's there.For years I've heard the theme to Peter Gunn in different movies and television, and unknowingly seen countless spoofs (Naked Gun, Archer: Dreamland) without being aware of the source material. After learning about it and deciding to give it a view,…
Tales From the LoopTales From the Loop, Graphic Novel
by Stålenhag, SimonGraphic Novel - 2015Graphic Novel, 2015
isaachar's rating:
Added Feb 27, 2020
isaachar's rating:
Added Feb 20, 2020
Comment:
The latest Expanse novella takes place between Persepolis Rising and Tiamat's Wrath. While chronologically taking place several years before the latter, Auberon offers an interesting glimpse of what early Laconian occupied Human colonies were like. Particularly how local governments and underworlds responded to the takeover. It also gives a glimpse into the militaristic and seemingly-benevolent authoritarian culture of the Laconians. The only downside of the story I found was the ending, while heavily implied, was still left slightly open. That isn't unheard of for the novella's, but if the implied denouement was pressed a little further, the impact of the story would have hit harder. In any case, if the last several novella's are any indicators, the revelations in this chapter will have direct implications to the next (and last?) Expanse chapter.The latest Expanse novella takes place between Persepolis Rising and Tiamat's Wrath. While chronologically taking place several years before the latter, Auberon offers an interesting glimpse of what early Laconian occupied Human colonies were like.…
The ExpanseThe Expanse, DVDSeason Three
DVD - 2018DVD, 2018
isaachar's rating:
Added Feb 10, 2020
Cobra KaiCobra Kai, DVDSeason 2
DVD - 2019DVD, 2019
isaachar's rating:
Added Jan 30, 2020
Conan the BarbarianConan the Barbarian, Graphic NovelVol. 1, The Life and Death of Conan. Book One
by Aaron, JasonGraphic Novel - 2019Graphic Novel, 2019
isaachar's rating:
Added Jan 29, 2020
Comment:
The first volume of Robert Howard's Conan sword and sorcery series since the property returned to Marvel from Dark Horse. I'll honestly admit I went in with low expectations. I'm a huge fan of the original novels and the 80's movies (even the second one). Just as much, I was a big fan of the Dark Horse comic run. The classic Marvel Conan comics of the 70's and 80's had so-so artwork, none of the gore and grit of the original material and the writing was more to fit into the Marvel comic superhero universes. The Dark Horse run had all the gore and was true to the original writing material where it mattered. Plus all the blood and gore of the original material. I'm happy to say I was more pleased reading this new run of the saga. The violence is there with a great deal of the gore but not DH levels. Probably for wider appeal. I'm not familiar with this particular arc of Conan, but if it's not based on an original work you wouldn't know it. The artwork is also just as vibrant as some of the better Dark Horse runs. All in all a worthy transition.The first volume of Robert Howard's Conan sword and sorcery series since the property returned to Marvel from Dark Horse. I'll honestly admit I went in with low expectations. I'm a huge fan of the original novels and the 80's movies (even the second…
Alien 3Alien 3, Graphic NovelThe Unproduced Screenplay
by Gibson, WilliamGraphic Novel - 2019Graphic Novel, 2019
isaachar's rating:
Added Jan 29, 2020
isaachar's rating:
Added Jan 23, 2020
LetterkennyLetterkenny, DVDSeason 2
DVD - 2019DVD, 2019
isaachar's rating:
Added Dec 18, 2019
Comment: