Book 2 of 2013's reading list! Woo.... And today it is the turn of "Animal Kingdom: An Apocalyptic Horror Novel"
This review is going be a total downer and I wish it wasn't. It's competently written which is pretty good for a book in its price range and shows the hard work the author has put into this novel. But it doesn't work for me.
Set in a zoo on the day that every animal in the world turns against humans, it has a very interesting premise. I've seen this premise work out a little in Brian Keene's "The Rising", although in that book they were undead animals adding to an already pretty serious zombie apocalypse. However the first flaw in the book is the way that premise works out. These now, at the very least semi-intelligent, animals with a bloodlust don't really try very hard to get at the humans. It isn't just mammals affected but reptiles and even anthropods. I just couldn't see how the timing worked. This premise might have worked played out over a day, maybe two. But over a few days? By then the spiders could've slipped into ears, noses and mouths of the people and down untold amounts of damage. Monkeys could've destroyed the window and torn apart doors.
I know, I'm an animal obsessive, but just the presentation of a group of chimps being fairly easily avoided (and luckily killing one of the antagonists) seemed totally unreal. The way the premise played out seemed to defy belief and given with these type of books one has already suspended ones belief that takes some doing.
And I can't decide if the characters were just paper thin or if I just didn't like any of them. They acted in unbelievable ways. Take Bill, whose boyfriend is killed during the opening events of the novel, he doesn't spend a moment (not a single moment) grieving. Now of them seem all that fazed by events. The only person who has anything approaching a breakdown is already on tablets for OCD. And the lead character, Joe, is just unlikeable. The villains are 1) selfish, power hungry businessman, 2) aggressive yobbish former soldier and 3) God-botherer.
I couldn't bring myself to read the short stories that come with this book. I read it to the end simply because I felt I owed it to myself not to give up on my plan to read all the books on my reading list so early on.
I was looking forward to this book (hence it being 2nd on the list!) but I'm greatly disappointed.
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
Sunday, 6 January 2013
Review: Island Life By William Meikle
After a particularly big Amazon binge following some unexpectedly large gifts of Amazon vouchers, my Kindle is overflowing with books. I'm a terrible hoarder and already had a backlog of books anyway. Now something must be done so I'm dedicated to reading as many of the unread books I own as possible this year.
First up was Island Life by William Meikle. The Kindle edition was under £2 and I wasn't expecting much but bought it as it had quite a good rating. I was more than pleasantly surprised.
Set on a Scottish island, it details a scary couple of days as supernatural horrors burst forth from a recently begun archaeological dig. It is a very simple story, and Meikle does not waste time on unnecessary intricate details, so the pacing of the book makes for an easy read.
Meikle writes characters well enough that you do worry about what might happen to them. There are a few chilling scenes (especially the main character Duncan's flashback to a time he ended up trapped in caves in his youth), and enough realistic interactions to keep the supernatural aspects grounded.
This is no masterpiece, but it is well-written, genuinely creepy and was a great antidote to Stephen King's (also awesome) 11/22/63 that I had just managed to get through. Stephen King writes masterpieces but they aren't easy reading! Island Life was a pleasure compared to that.
I'd rate it 4/5 and, once I'm through my backlog, I'll be looking up more of Meikle's work.
First up was Island Life by William Meikle. The Kindle edition was under £2 and I wasn't expecting much but bought it as it had quite a good rating. I was more than pleasantly surprised.
Set on a Scottish island, it details a scary couple of days as supernatural horrors burst forth from a recently begun archaeological dig. It is a very simple story, and Meikle does not waste time on unnecessary intricate details, so the pacing of the book makes for an easy read.
Meikle writes characters well enough that you do worry about what might happen to them. There are a few chilling scenes (especially the main character Duncan's flashback to a time he ended up trapped in caves in his youth), and enough realistic interactions to keep the supernatural aspects grounded.
This is no masterpiece, but it is well-written, genuinely creepy and was a great antidote to Stephen King's (also awesome) 11/22/63 that I had just managed to get through. Stephen King writes masterpieces but they aren't easy reading! Island Life was a pleasure compared to that.
I'd rate it 4/5 and, once I'm through my backlog, I'll be looking up more of Meikle's work.
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
11.22.63 - Stephen King Still Has It!
I've just finished reading Stephen King's 11.22.63. It is the story of a man who is shown a way to travel into the past and, on the way to stopping the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, begins to discover time doesn't want to be changed.
I'm a huge Stephen King fan. This does mean I'm more able to put up with the "extra padding" he tends to put in his books. It exists here, I won't deny it, and there is a great deal that could've been left out. But then again that is a bit like being unhappy that someone would do a painting when they could just do a line drawing.
The story is good, the pacing is up there with the better Stephen King novels, and you do start to care about the mission. Will he stop the assassination? What will happen if he does? Those questions are answered and the ending of the book is far more satisfying that you'd think given we know JFK really was assassinated.
The usual King touches are there. He has brief snippets of what I'd call "Kingese" (Jimla!). We have references to his other works, with an extended stay for Jake Epping (the main character) in Derry where he interacts with characters from IT not long after the 50s segment of that book. I'm a huge IT fan and I was so pleased to read Bev and Richie once again! And yes, the protagonist is an English teacher...
This is certainly one of his better books, coming somewhere just below IT and The Stand on my personal favourites list. Check it out!
Saturday, 3 November 2012
I Don't Have A Bad Feeling About This: Disney Star Wars FTW
I suppose it is time for full disclosure. Before I became obsessed with science fiction in all its many forms, I was a Disney fan.
It all started when I was about 5 and my Auntie's boyfriend was collecting Ducktales characters from Kinder eggs (he was about 15, so don't judge him too harshly!). I absolutely adored looking at them as I passed them on the stairs. Around that time I also became profoundly jealous when I found my cousin, who had taken over my room in my Nan's house after my Mum and I moved out, had got the room decorated with a large wall painting of Dumbo! I perused my Jungle Book merchandise and began a collection of Disney paraphernalia which would last until we abandoned our home, yes literally abandoned in the middle of the night, when I was 10 and it (along with my beloved Ghostbuster's toys and Monster in my Pockets) was lost to me forever.
I loved the movies; the Rescuers, the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and I pined to visist Euro Disney. I never did get the chance.
So needless to say, I still have a soft spot for Disney even today. Even so when Disney purchased Marvel (which had almost seemlessly replaced Disney in my affections during our escape from Snodland to Folkestone) I was concerned. Was Disney going to totally mess up Marvel? I needn't have worried. Marvel goes from strength to strength, its new Marvel NOW! initiative is looking good and its Marvel movie universe is taking over the cinema.
So this week, when we got the surprise news that Disney was acquiring LucasFilm, I was happy rather than sad. The Star Wars universe has become sleeping giant, its full potential laying dormant. It need a new direction, a new leash of life. And I think Disney purchasing LucasFilm will provide it with the necessary kick up the bum to get it whirring back into action. Disney are going to want to see a return on their investment, and thus I think the next few years will be a new dawn for Star Wars even beyond the announcement of Episode VII.
Disney, Marvel and Star Wars. Together. Did all my Christmases just arrive at once? I think they did!!
It all started when I was about 5 and my Auntie's boyfriend was collecting Ducktales characters from Kinder eggs (he was about 15, so don't judge him too harshly!). I absolutely adored looking at them as I passed them on the stairs. Around that time I also became profoundly jealous when I found my cousin, who had taken over my room in my Nan's house after my Mum and I moved out, had got the room decorated with a large wall painting of Dumbo! I perused my Jungle Book merchandise and began a collection of Disney paraphernalia which would last until we abandoned our home, yes literally abandoned in the middle of the night, when I was 10 and it (along with my beloved Ghostbuster's toys and Monster in my Pockets) was lost to me forever.
I loved the movies; the Rescuers, the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and I pined to visist Euro Disney. I never did get the chance.
So needless to say, I still have a soft spot for Disney even today. Even so when Disney purchased Marvel (which had almost seemlessly replaced Disney in my affections during our escape from Snodland to Folkestone) I was concerned. Was Disney going to totally mess up Marvel? I needn't have worried. Marvel goes from strength to strength, its new Marvel NOW! initiative is looking good and its Marvel movie universe is taking over the cinema.
So this week, when we got the surprise news that Disney was acquiring LucasFilm, I was happy rather than sad. The Star Wars universe has become sleeping giant, its full potential laying dormant. It need a new direction, a new leash of life. And I think Disney purchasing LucasFilm will provide it with the necessary kick up the bum to get it whirring back into action. Disney are going to want to see a return on their investment, and thus I think the next few years will be a new dawn for Star Wars even beyond the announcement of Episode VII.
Disney, Marvel and Star Wars. Together. Did all my Christmases just arrive at once? I think they did!!
Sunday, 30 September 2012
I Will Miss The Ponds: Doctor Who
When David Tennant left Doctor Who, I went through a bit of a sulk. He had been a superb Doctor, one of the finest performances of the lot. So I admit that when Matt Smith took over, I wasn't completely fair in my assessment of the 5th series. And Amy, the Doctor's new companion, irritated me.
She was too cocky, too pretty and, later in that series, when she tried to get off with the Doctor the night before her wedding, too cruel. I'll admit to feeling more like a casual viewer through much of the 5th and 6th series than a Doctor Who fan. I just wasn't getting it. But the gap between series 6 and 7 was filled with me revisiting the episodes. I grew to like Amy, her confidence and her loyalty. And I grew to believe that her husband Rory was one of the best companions of all time.
Their banter, their love affair, their crazy acts of devotion to each other. How could you not, ultimately, end up falling in love with the Ponds?
Now sure, there are still some things I find annoying about Amy's characterisation. Her actions in dumping a man who waited 2000 years for her just because she thought he might want more children which she could not give him seemed truly heartless. But these things are forgivable.
They spent a long time in the TARDIS (on screen that is, by the sounds of things they spent years travelling in it off screen!) and feel like such an integral part of Doctor Who that it's going to take a while to get used to it without them.
But what a way to go, eh? Brilliant stuff. Fare ye well Ponds!
She was too cocky, too pretty and, later in that series, when she tried to get off with the Doctor the night before her wedding, too cruel. I'll admit to feeling more like a casual viewer through much of the 5th and 6th series than a Doctor Who fan. I just wasn't getting it. But the gap between series 6 and 7 was filled with me revisiting the episodes. I grew to like Amy, her confidence and her loyalty. And I grew to believe that her husband Rory was one of the best companions of all time.
Their banter, their love affair, their crazy acts of devotion to each other. How could you not, ultimately, end up falling in love with the Ponds?
Now sure, there are still some things I find annoying about Amy's characterisation. Her actions in dumping a man who waited 2000 years for her just because she thought he might want more children which she could not give him seemed truly heartless. But these things are forgivable.
They spent a long time in the TARDIS (on screen that is, by the sounds of things they spent years travelling in it off screen!) and feel like such an integral part of Doctor Who that it's going to take a while to get used to it without them.
But what a way to go, eh? Brilliant stuff. Fare ye well Ponds!
Saturday, 26 May 2012
DC's New 52 - How Is It Going?
So last September I took the leap into DC comics for the first time. Due to taking a liking to this new universe, I expanded my selection of New 52 titles and I've continued with the vast majority of them.
What's Still On My New 52 First Wave Pull List
Action Comics
Grant Morrison has got into my mind! Shortly after getting back into comics, thanks to the new 52, I listened to his Supergods
book. It was a very philosophical and interesting piece of writing, and has allowed me some insight into his thinking. This has made reading his run on Action Comics rather better than I was expecting. The most recent issue, set on Earth 23 with President Superman!, was absolutely fantastic. My favourite of the two Superman books by far.
Aquaman
I started off loving this book, the Trench arc was pretty good. It is now moving on to my probation list as the last few issues just haven't done it for me. I've felt bored and deeply uninterested in the character. I'm keeping it with it for now in the hopes it's just a bad arc and not an ongoing problem.
Batman
Batman is not my favourite character. Oh I liked the Adam West TV series, the camp 1980s/1990s movie series (except Batman and Robin which I can't watch), the Nolan movies AND the crossover with Judge Dredd. But really I've never felt like I got Batman. This book though is fantastic, rather dark and yet fun. The Court of Owls stuff is great!
Batwing
I've picked this series up based on nothing but reading the two issues my brother got. It looked awesome. I'll admit... I haven't read the rest yet although it's still in my stack!!! I need to catch up so I can decide what I think...
Batwoman
I like that they are separating Batwoman from the Bat family for now, and allowing her a chance to be her own character. I like her and I'm interested to see where her story is going. I'm keeping this one on for quite a while yet.
Demon Knights
Not going to lie, I'm loving Demon Knights. It's a bit off-genre for me, but I like that too. I want to get to know the characters more and see where this team goes. I'm hoping this one runs long enough to really flesh this world out.
Green Lantern Corps
This very briefly headed towards the chopping block, Green Lantern stuff just isn't my thing. But the John Stewart story has now got me interested... I think I'll see that out and then find out whether I want to continue following these characters...
Green Lantern: New Guardians
I really want to like this book but this is currently hot favourite to be cut to keep my comics budget under control. I'm just not feeling it.
Justice League
Hmm... I'm not liking this as much as I think I should. I'm quite interested to see more of Cyborg's story and I like the Batman/Green Lantern love/hate relationship (get a room you guys!). But the actual arcs aren't gripping me. I'm putting this one on probation.
Justice League International
I was going to cut this completely. I just don't like the characters. But as it's being cancelled at issue 12, I thought I'd keep with it to see it through to the end.
Nightwing
I have the hots for Dick Grayson. Right now that's what is keeping me with this book. But I'm putting it on probation, I have enough Bat family books on my list and I'm going to start culling soon if things don't get going here.
Stormwatch
I'm interested, really interested, in the characters in this book. I look forward to this book, to see how Apollo and Midnighter's relationship develops, to see if Jenny Quantam erases Midnighter from existence, to see more awesome talking cities. I just love this stuff!!!
Superboy
Superboy has been infected with Legion Lost of late. I'm losing interest rapidly over this "The Culling" arc. It's getting close to being dropped.
Supergirl
I'm up for this book. Kara's journey, her anger at what has happened to her and her urge to just have a bit of a rest are all keeping me interested. I like the fact she pops up in other Superbooks laying down the law before returning to her search for peace.
Superman
It's alright, but nothing special. I'm looking forward to see where it goes though.
Teen Titans
Also infected by Legion Lost... It's getting close to being dropped now.
Wonder Woman
Absolutely LOVING this book. Fantastic stuff, completely different to all the other books. This, Stormwatch and Demon Knights are definitely my favourite books from the New 52!
What Has Been Cut
Legion Lost
Too many characters, none of whom I care about. DROPPED.
Green Lantern
Who? What? Why? Dropped.
Birds of Prey
It seemed okay but I had too many Bat books. I decided I wasn't really interested in these characters, expected I'd need to read Batgirl at some point too, so dropped this with some regret after issue 2
Swamp Thing
Didn't grab me. DROPPED.
Flash
Read the first two issues, seemed okay. But I needed to make some cuts just to keep the list relatively short. Dropped with a little regret.
What's Still On My New 52 First Wave Pull List
Action Comics
Grant Morrison has got into my mind! Shortly after getting back into comics, thanks to the new 52, I listened to his Supergods
book. It was a very philosophical and interesting piece of writing, and has allowed me some insight into his thinking. This has made reading his run on Action Comics rather better than I was expecting. The most recent issue, set on Earth 23 with President Superman!, was absolutely fantastic. My favourite of the two Superman books by far.Aquaman
I started off loving this book, the Trench arc was pretty good. It is now moving on to my probation list as the last few issues just haven't done it for me. I've felt bored and deeply uninterested in the character. I'm keeping it with it for now in the hopes it's just a bad arc and not an ongoing problem.
Batman
Batman is not my favourite character. Oh I liked the Adam West TV series, the camp 1980s/1990s movie series (except Batman and Robin which I can't watch), the Nolan movies AND the crossover with Judge Dredd. But really I've never felt like I got Batman. This book though is fantastic, rather dark and yet fun. The Court of Owls stuff is great!
Batwing
I've picked this series up based on nothing but reading the two issues my brother got. It looked awesome. I'll admit... I haven't read the rest yet although it's still in my stack!!! I need to catch up so I can decide what I think...
Batwoman
I like that they are separating Batwoman from the Bat family for now, and allowing her a chance to be her own character. I like her and I'm interested to see where her story is going. I'm keeping this one on for quite a while yet.
Demon Knights
Not going to lie, I'm loving Demon Knights. It's a bit off-genre for me, but I like that too. I want to get to know the characters more and see where this team goes. I'm hoping this one runs long enough to really flesh this world out.
Green Lantern Corps
This very briefly headed towards the chopping block, Green Lantern stuff just isn't my thing. But the John Stewart story has now got me interested... I think I'll see that out and then find out whether I want to continue following these characters...
Green Lantern: New Guardians
I really want to like this book but this is currently hot favourite to be cut to keep my comics budget under control. I'm just not feeling it.
Justice League
Hmm... I'm not liking this as much as I think I should. I'm quite interested to see more of Cyborg's story and I like the Batman/Green Lantern love/hate relationship (get a room you guys!). But the actual arcs aren't gripping me. I'm putting this one on probation.
Justice League International
I was going to cut this completely. I just don't like the characters. But as it's being cancelled at issue 12, I thought I'd keep with it to see it through to the end.
Nightwing
I have the hots for Dick Grayson. Right now that's what is keeping me with this book. But I'm putting it on probation, I have enough Bat family books on my list and I'm going to start culling soon if things don't get going here.
Stormwatch
I'm interested, really interested, in the characters in this book. I look forward to this book, to see how Apollo and Midnighter's relationship develops, to see if Jenny Quantam erases Midnighter from existence, to see more awesome talking cities. I just love this stuff!!!
Superboy
Superboy has been infected with Legion Lost of late. I'm losing interest rapidly over this "The Culling" arc. It's getting close to being dropped.
Supergirl
I'm up for this book. Kara's journey, her anger at what has happened to her and her urge to just have a bit of a rest are all keeping me interested. I like the fact she pops up in other Superbooks laying down the law before returning to her search for peace.
Superman
It's alright, but nothing special. I'm looking forward to see where it goes though.
Teen Titans
Also infected by Legion Lost... It's getting close to being dropped now.
Wonder Woman
Absolutely LOVING this book. Fantastic stuff, completely different to all the other books. This, Stormwatch and Demon Knights are definitely my favourite books from the New 52!
What Has Been Cut
Legion Lost
Too many characters, none of whom I care about. DROPPED.
Green Lantern
Who? What? Why? Dropped.
Birds of Prey
It seemed okay but I had too many Bat books. I decided I wasn't really interested in these characters, expected I'd need to read Batgirl at some point too, so dropped this with some regret after issue 2
Swamp Thing
Didn't grab me. DROPPED.
Flash
Read the first two issues, seemed okay. But I needed to make some cuts just to keep the list relatively short. Dropped with a little regret.
Sunday, 2 October 2011
This Week's Comics...
Justice League Dark #1
I have to say I'm not a big "magic" fan (odd, I know, for a former Wiccan). I'm more your science fiction/super powers sort of a comic book fan. But this was a well-done comic focussing on the weakness of the Justice League with regards to sorcery and establishing a justifiable reason for another Justice League branded team to exist. Plus the characters all stood out as interesting. I'll be sticking with this one.
The Flash #1
Well paced, well written and well drawn. It was my first ever experience of the Flash and whilst I liked it and will pick up #2, I'm not sure I'm fulling in love with the character... except for his looks. ;) I don't know if this will be a keeper.
Superman #1
I loved Action Comics #1 and Superboy #1 and liked Supergirl #1. But this final edition to the New 52 superbooks was dire. It read and felt like a 1980s comic, devoid of anything of interest beyond the new dynamic in Clark and Lois' relationship (or lack thereof!). By the numbers. I'll stick with it only because I got in the New 52 with the idea I'd do it for the superbooks. But still disappointed.
Green Lanterns: New Guardians #1
Yuck. There's a concept here that might work but nothing actually happened in this issue. Boring. But not bad like Catwoman or Legion Lost, so I'll pick it up again in the hopes something might happen next time.
Teen Titans #1
I liked this book, which set up a plot, began to introduce characters and slowly built-up things and was thus the total opposite of Green Lanterns: New Guardians. Plus Red Robin is cute. I liked this one.
Aquaman #1
My absolute fave of the final week of the New 52 launch. Aquaman is again a character I knew nothing about but I liked his stoic nature through the books. Yes, the insults were over done but the Trench look like they will make for an awesome threat for this story arc and look bloody scary!
Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #2
My pick of the week. Myles' family background gets fleshed out for Myles and the reader this issue as Myles also discovers he's no mutant. He's Spider-Man! The last page was no huge reveal yet still has me yearning to read the next instalment.
I have to say I'm not a big "magic" fan (odd, I know, for a former Wiccan). I'm more your science fiction/super powers sort of a comic book fan. But this was a well-done comic focussing on the weakness of the Justice League with regards to sorcery and establishing a justifiable reason for another Justice League branded team to exist. Plus the characters all stood out as interesting. I'll be sticking with this one.
The Flash #1
Well paced, well written and well drawn. It was my first ever experience of the Flash and whilst I liked it and will pick up #2, I'm not sure I'm fulling in love with the character... except for his looks. ;) I don't know if this will be a keeper.
Superman #1
I loved Action Comics #1 and Superboy #1 and liked Supergirl #1. But this final edition to the New 52 superbooks was dire. It read and felt like a 1980s comic, devoid of anything of interest beyond the new dynamic in Clark and Lois' relationship (or lack thereof!). By the numbers. I'll stick with it only because I got in the New 52 with the idea I'd do it for the superbooks. But still disappointed.
Green Lanterns: New Guardians #1
Yuck. There's a concept here that might work but nothing actually happened in this issue. Boring. But not bad like Catwoman or Legion Lost, so I'll pick it up again in the hopes something might happen next time.
Teen Titans #1
I liked this book, which set up a plot, began to introduce characters and slowly built-up things and was thus the total opposite of Green Lanterns: New Guardians. Plus Red Robin is cute. I liked this one.
Aquaman #1
My absolute fave of the final week of the New 52 launch. Aquaman is again a character I knew nothing about but I liked his stoic nature through the books. Yes, the insults were over done but the Trench look like they will make for an awesome threat for this story arc and look bloody scary!
Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #2
My pick of the week. Myles' family background gets fleshed out for Myles and the reader this issue as Myles also discovers he's no mutant. He's Spider-Man! The last page was no huge reveal yet still has me yearning to read the next instalment.
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