SO what am I going to blather about this week? On Social Media – Books & Brews, one of our local Used Bookstores/Microbreweries (yes, a great combination), asked people to list their three favorite books… That’s hard but here are my go to books that usually live in my nightstand for when I have trouble sleeping.
- Ready Player One by Ernest Cline – Proof that you should never judge a book by its movie. I do understand the reasons there were so many changes from the book, but still, the book is so much better. If you don’t know the story- dystopian world in which people retreat from reality in a virtual world. The guy running the whole thing dies and leaves his entire fortune and control of the company to who ever can find the three eggs he’s hidden throughout the simulation. Lots of eighties nostalgia so I like it. If you’ve seen the movie – no race cars vs. giant gorillas, or The Shining references… a lot more geeky than that. Oh, the main characters don’t meet face to face until pretty much the last page.
- Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin – May not have aged well (humor usually doesn’t), but my introduction into the genre of “Comic Fantasy.” The story of Skeeve an apprentice to a wizard. He really just wants a good meal and to be a thief. By the end of the first chapter the wizard is dead and he is face to face with a demon. Hilarity ensues and the series continues for a number of books. Unfortunately, maybe I grew up, or the later books just don’t have the same feeling. Also consider: Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series.
- Dream Park by Larry Niven & Steven Barnes – Dream Park is Disneyland on steroids. Besides being a mystery, it interweaves a fantasy story as the suspects are part of a LARP being playing in one of the parks “Gaming areas.” One of those things I wish was real, and actually could be the way technology is developing.
Any of these books I can pick up and open anywhere and just start reading. I usually won’t put them down until I’ve finished. Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve loaned them out before and then had to track down new copies – so you can’t borrow them.
This Week’s Comics:
Jay Garrick: The Flash #6 – Comic stories happen in 6 issue arcs, I was really concerned that this issue would mark the end of Judy Garrick. I actually left this comic as the last one for me to read, because I figured I would need a break at the end. It was a satisfying conclusion and I look forward to the future if they could just figure out what they are doing in the regular Flash comics.
U & I #3 of 6 – The plot thickens… The bad guy, “Bishop,” is on the trail to find U and eliminate him for interfering with his business (you know, running drugs, laundering money, and a protection racket just for starters) Will he find U? Who will get caught in the collateral damage? U and Isabelle have (for the time being) found safety in an enclave of the Reborn.
Helen of Wyndhorn #1 & #2 – Issue one is a typical introduction to the world the writer and artist have created. The story is from the perspective of a writer who was writing about a famous fantasy/horror author (I’m getting H.P. Lovecraft vibes) and stumbled upon a little known tidbit of information leading him to interview the governess of the author’s daughter. The governess was hired after the author’s death when the girl was in her teens. So the story is from those interviews, with bits where we return to the writer in the present day… Issue two the grandfather comes into play and the world around the Wyndhorn estate is fleshed out even more. I had originally put this on my pull list and then decided not to at the last minute. I am very happy I decided to grab it this week.
The Spectacular Spider-Men #2 – Miles and Peter adventuring together while we are still figuring out what is really going on. Clones? Yes, clones, but it doesn’t look like it will end up being a saga. Mind control? Hmmm… strange things are happening in the Arcadium.
Spider-Boy #6 – Bailey has been captured and Madame Monstrosity is trying to figure out why she has no clue about who he is and desperately wants to know. We also learn more about her “Humanimals” as things get weird.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #19 – Is this the end? Lots of fighting and injuries as Miles takes on Rabble and his friends deal with the super up Cape Killers. Who will live? Who will Die? who will end up escaping to create havoc another day?
Titans #10 – Sibling rivalry is a wonderful thing. Trilogy (Raven’s brother) decides he wants to show Dad (Trigon) that he is just as good as his sister and things… well, it’;s a comic so there is a battle, and…
Superman #13 – Let’s bring in the Main Man- Lobo joins to help Superman recover those taken by Brainiac. Since Earth has been quarantined by the United Planets (I don’t know why, I don’t read Green Lantern) Superman needs to figure out how to leave the plane to pursue him. Still trying to figure out what is going on with Brainiac and what his master plan is…
The Displaced #3 – The folks who got out of Oshawa are just trying to figure things out, while also using their new found ability to not be remembered to their advantage. Some more lawfully than others. Some new theories are discussed and there is a power play for leading the group.
Star Trek #19 – So the Theseus is still dealing with the results of the Kahless and his attempts to destroy (pretty much everything). It seems the Prophets what Sisko to return to the Celestial Temple and Benjamin isn’t ready. The ramifications of Kahless’s actions – just reality unraveling have caused T’lir to come out of the closet and admit to everyone that he is an Organian. You know the Organian Peace Treaty from TOS? So now the crew heads to boldly go and save the universe with hopes of maybe a family reunion.
Brick Journal #85 – Yup! It’s Brick Journal the LEGO Fan magazine. The focus is on the Minifigure! Which was interesting, As always inspiring and making me wonder if I’m just not fanboy enough to want to build the stuff I want out of LEGO bricks. Better yet, once I build it, where would I put it?