J.K. Rowling announced today on Pottermore that the official scripts from the upcoming two-part stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I and II, will be available in print and digital versions as a "Special Rehearsal Edition" later this summer, shortly after the stage production's debut.
As soon as die-hard Harry Potter fans watched the golden trio wave off their children at platform nine and three-quarters, 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts, they quickly craved for more from J.K. Rowling, the author that penned all seven books in the magical series turned major film franchise. The announcement of a stage production excited every muggle around the world, though plane tickets, a hotel, and a ticket to the performance would cost you a hefty penny (better stop at Gringotts). Fortunately for the rest of us, Rowling will be releasing the script simultaneously with the play's London premiere in July. "Pottermore is proud to be a key part of the multi-platform effort that will allow the epic eighth Harry Potter story to be read and enjoyed by a wider, global audience," Susan L. Jurevics, Chief Executive Officer of Pottermore, said in a press release. "With the script eBook of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child helping to lead the way, 2016 will be one of our most exciting years yet. We have other innovative content initiatives coming soon that will also thrill and engage our vast global audience of Wizarding World fans as well as create new ones."
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child picks up right where we left off, and will be staged in two parts due to the "epic nature of the story." Life has never been easy for the boy that lived; we learned in the epilogue to Deathly Hallows that he is now a Auror for the Ministry of Magic and father of three: James, Albus, and Lily. His youngest son, Albus (who was sorted into Gryffindor, the house of both his parents, Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley), faces the weight of his family's legacy, learning that darkness comes from unexpected places.
The Special Rehearsal Edition of the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a comprised version of the play's script and will only be available for a limited time as the script is subject to change prior to the opening performances. A definitive collector's edition will be available at a later date.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, an original play by Jack Thorne based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, will debut at the Palace Theatre in London on July 30 and is the first official Harry Potter story presented in a theatrical production. In collaboration with Little, Brown Book Group in the United Kingdom and Scholastic in the United States and Canada, the print editions will be published on 12:01 am on July 31 (Harry Potter's birthday), priced at $14.99.
The wizarding world has greatly expanded recently, with new content on Pottermore released earlier this year that included information on four of the eleven prestigious wizarding schools around the world: Mahoutokoro in Japan, Uagadou in Africa, Castelobruxo in the Brazilian rainforest, and Ilvermorny in the United States (information still yet to be released). Pottermore also brought back the Sorting Hat and Ollivander's wand shop.
J.K. Rowling will also be making her screenwriting debut with her film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, taking us deeper into the wizarding world on November 18.
Are you excited to expand your Harry Potter book collection? We did our waiting—NINE years of it—in Azkaban! Will you be one of the chosen ones to see the stage performance in London?
Richelle Mead's intricate writing has always captivated me. She has this uncanny ability to mix mythical creatures with a believable plot and a modern-day romance.When her newest adult series, Age of X, hit stores a few years ago, I decided to wait a while before diving in. I'm always distraught over cliffhanger endings, and being able to read a few back to back is just what I need to cure a good book hangover. After finishing both books in the series, I can't believe I waited two years!
Gameboard of the Gods is a dystopian world–driven story that is so well developed, so detailed, that I actually felt as though I were part of its culture. Given that Mead has a Master's degree in comparative religions, I wasn't surprised to find that the story had a lot to do with the gods of different cultures.
The story follows Mae, an enhanced military soldier, and Justin, a drug-addicted and sometimes too snippy religious group investigator. Without giving too much away, the book is exactly as the title says. The entire world is a gameboard of the gods. Deities finding followers, performing miracles, and demanding a lifetime of servitude are just a few of the plots that unravel throughout.
Although Mae and Justin have a relationship not unlike the star-crossed versions of other series, Mead writes with such mature diversity that their relationship cannot be compared to that of the infamous young-adult Vampire Academy series. In fact, if you begin this series expecting it to be anything like her bestselling series, you may not enjoy it. It's told in a third-person limited point of view by three different characters.
At 160,000 words, this epic novel really gets inside the heads of the characters and explores all the twists and turns as each scene unfolds. The sequel, The Immortal Crown, furthers the story as we learn more about the controlling deities who have decided to make Mae and Justin their puppets.
If you are a fan of complex adult novels such as A Game of Thrones, this may be just the book for you. If you want something lighthearted and flimsy, you may want to pass. The third installment in the series is due out early next year. Either way, this book is a must read and is going on my list of top series of all time. Have you read or are planning to read this series? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.
After years of Star Wars storytelling avoiding the time period between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, the Lucasfilm Story Group is now filling the gap with its new material. James Luceno's (Darth Plagueis, Labyrinth of Evil) first fully canon Star Wars novel tells the tale of how Governor Wilhuff Tarkin became Grand Moff of the Empire, as well as filling out his backstory and giving life to the character.
All spoilers will be relegated to the end section and relatively brief, but first I would like to give a spoiler-free review and a grading for this novel. My perspective is that of someone who has read almost everything with a Star Wars label on it and enjoys the stories and the world that this explores. I read almost all of the Expanded Universe before it was relegated to a non-canon Legends label, but I approach the new stories with excitement.
My first impression of Tarkin was that it is really short, with the page count of the actual novel at just over 260 pages. A book does not need to be long to be good, however, so while the page count was disappointing, it did not factor into the way I read the story.
The tale is essentially two different stories about the titular character that weave together to tell a broader story about who Wilhuff Tarkin is beneath his frown. The main story takes place around 5 years after Revenge of the Sith. It is a team-up story of Tarkin and the other character featured on the cover, Darth Vader. The two of them are brought together to find a small cell of rebellious revolutionaries (well before the formation of the Rebel Alliance that we all know and love from A New Hope and, more recently, Star Wars Rebels). Tarkin has had some experience with their methods from his days fighting in the Clone Wars. This is the first mission that he is working together with Vader on, so the reader can watch their camaraderie develop as the mission plays out.
The second story is a flashback to Tarkin's youth. He and his uncle, Jova, come from a wealthy and prominent family on a world far from the Galactic center. They are put together by Tarkin's parents because Jova lives in the wild and will train Tarkin to survive. This story is meant to show how Tarkin thinks and the reasons that his personality is as calculating and ruthless as it is in all the other media where he has appeared.
Quite honestly, I found the secondary story, that of Tarkin's upbringing, far more interesting than the primary tale. While it might be entertaining to many to see Tarkin and Vader getting in sync with one another and pursuing rebels without regard for anything in between them and their goal, for me it was a greater story to see where Tarkin came from and the planet which spit him into the undisputed third place in the Imperial hierarchy.
The Imperial characters in this book—mainly Tarkin and Vader but also the Emperor and some officials—feel in character and are fleshed out in interesting and mostly fulfilling ways. Tarkin comes across as a bit of a snob and comes to some correct conclusions too easily, but in some places his confidence in his intelligence and underestimation of his opponents hurts him as it does in A New Hope. The rebel characters in this book, however, are generally uninteresting and one-dimensional.
Overall, I would give this book a C+. I know of some online reviewers who really enjoyed and raved about Tarkin, but I cannot bring myself to fall into this category. The primary story was too dry, and, despite the shortness of the novel, dragged on too long for me. I understand that some important things happened throughout the course of the book, but I did not feel that the plot itself was important enough to the character or the galaxy to write or read about. The storytelling, as is Luceno's way, is great and probably of a higher class than most licensed novelists bring to the table. However, the first chapter of this wonderfully written prose is spent talking entirely about the design of a uniform. One of the things Luceno has excelled at in the past is pulling from all the other Star Wars material that exists, so I think he suffered here primarily from two things: a lack of ideas about what to do with the plot and where to bring the characters, and a lack of other resources to pull from since this is only the second canon novel in the Star Wars galaxy.
Now, a couple of notes for those who have read the book or do not care about spoilers.
WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW!
1) So there's a lot of talk going around about how Palpatine's first name is Sheev, which is first introduced to us in this book. Do you like it or not like it? For me, I think this is mostly a moot point because it's not likely to start popping up everywhere. It's not the best name he could have been (I was kind of pulling for Frank, myself).
2) I can understand Tarkin's reasoning to come to the conclusion that Darth Vader was Anakin Skywalker, because he's working closely with him and has previously worked with Anakin. However, I believe it's a much bigger leap to see Tarkin determine that Palpatine is also a Sith Lord. And Tarkin doesn't care because he sees Jedi and Sith as basically the same, but Palpatine has unified a galaxy. Of course, Tarkin also knows that Palpatine started the war. I don't think that Tarkin just shrugging off this information is entirely rational, and I probably would not have had him reach the conclusion that Palpatine is a Sith Lord. Let him think Vader is the only Sith in the galaxy.
3) So Palpatine uses the Jedi Temple as the Imperial Palace. That's fine, I can understand that. But he does it because the Jedi Temple was built on a Sith lair? That's a little stranger and needs development in a future story. Does this mean that the Jedi have not been pure lightside since they built their Temple on Coruscant? Does this have no effect whatsoever, but maybe Palpatine wanted to recover Sith knowledge? Is this meant to be a social commentary exclusively, about how the Jedi and Sith go after the same things (like power and knowledge and exact locations for building)?
4) Just how important is Tarkin's ship? I don't think that Vader and Tarkin are going after these rebels because they stole the ship, because that is pure overkill for a ship that is basically falling apart by the end of the book. I think they are going after the rebels because these are the first rebels who are actually able to pull off something like this, and they must be shut down before they can organize into a larger force.
Of course, my opinion does not matter nearly as much as everyone else's. If you've read the book, want to comment on the points I've raised or should have raised, or if you'd like to discuss anything else about it, please leave a comment below.
Following a decision by Lucasfilm to move forward with Star Wars storytelling without the baggage of the existing Expanded Universe came an announcement of four books to begin a new era of storytelling. Starting with A New Dawn by author John Jackson Miller (Kenobi, Knight Errant, The Lost Tribe of the Sith), all of the novels will follow the canon of the six movies of the saga so far. They are now immutable objects in the Star Wars history books.
What this does for fans is multilayered. First, it made a number of fans sad, because the Expanded Universe has now not happened in the Star Wars galaxy. Lucasfilm's hope is that this will be mitigated by the new opportunities it affords. Second, it allows for a blank slate, which was necessary for the new films and to establish an improved eye on continuity. Third, it opens the door for new fans who want to know where to start and might be overwhelmed by glancing at a collector's bookshelf.
Of course, with such an approach, it was important for the new Star Wars canon novels to begin with a strong performance. What follows will be first a spoiler-free review of A New Dawn, complete with a grading and my reasoning behind it. I have read the vast majority of the previous Expanded Universe and have bought into Star Wars storytelling since childhood, so I hope that you will find my reasons to be well informed and considered. I will follow that with a warning for spoilers and then get into a more detailed discussion. I will try to keep this format for future Star Wars reviews as well.
A New Dawn focuses on two of the stars of the Disney XD show Star Wars Rebels. This is the story of how Kanan, an ex-Jedi who has been hiding his Force abilities since Order 66, met Hera, a Twi'lek woman fully invested in a yet-developing rebellion against the Empire. Hera is searching for information from a secret informant. Kanan is jumping from one odd-job employment to the next, currently flying a loadlifter for a mining company. Additional characters include Count Vidian, an efficiency expert for the Empire; Rae Sloane, an Imperial captain serving her first interim command under Vidian; Skelly, a miner who has perhaps worked in the heat more than was good for him; and Zaluna, a Sullustan woman in charge of spying on everyone and everything via HoloNet in order to gather information for the Empire.
This novel takes place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, about 10 years before the Battle of Yavin and 5 years before Rebels begins. John Jackson Miller is a student of history, especially Russian history, and he weaves storylines of both the current political climate and his Russian history into this novel. Certainly the climate of a paranoid Empire operating on a backworld, unimportant planet that exports a mineral used only for turbolaser batteries is compelling when paired with the range of characters caught in the mix.
The book has a slow build that reminds me of Kenobi, Miller's previous novel. That was western in feel, and this is structured similarly. If the first half of the book feels dry, do not put this book down. The climax is at the finale here, and everything points to that final destination. With that said, there was plenty to hold my interest throughout this novel. As I read I was constantly worrying that they would do too much; neither the Rebellion nor the Empire should be quite as powerful as we see them 10 years later in A New Hope. Those worries were unnecessary, however, as the story works within its setting, allowing its scope of danger without escaping its context.
The characters are good as well. The original characters for this book are well thought through and behave reasonably. Hera and Kanan provide depth to their television characters, especially Kanan, although Hera's backstory is still shadowy here. We do not learn much about her other than how she behaves in certain situations and some of her motivation.
Overall, I would give this book a B+. This is a solid start to the brand-new canon. My complaints are that the climax is a little cartoonish and that we don't learn enough about Hera (although I believe this is because they are saving her backstory for suspense in Rebels). Also, I can understand complaints about the slow build or that none of the movie characters appear in this book, but I don't personally buy into those. I think the plot and characters were well written and sensical. The finale is suitably epic despite my complaint, and this book has substance. I enjoyed myself reading this quite a bit.
Now, a couple of notes for those who have read the book or do not care about spoilers.
WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW!
1) Zaluna's end is possibly my favorite single idea within this book. She has turned so much from her life, where she used to watch people, that she is literally blind. In real life this would be terrible, and I would never root for someone to suffer an impairment, but in Star Wars, they can give you optical implants so you can see again. Zaluna chooses not to have this done because she's seen enough. It's poetic and absolutely perfect.
2) Skelly's end, on the other hand, was over the top. How he survived that fall is more remarkable than anything else. This guy should have died long before he blew up Vidian.
3) Speaking of Vidian, I did not see the twist with his backstory coming. It was so different from other twists I've seen in this type of work. There were some really political things, reminiscent of the prequel trilogy, happening here, and it was so clever that it added greatly to the character motivations.
4) Not a spoiler, but Vanessa Marshall, the voice actor for Hera, read this book to understand more of Hera and has publicly praised John Jackson Miller for his work. She's a fan, and that's awesome to see.
5) I have seen some complaints that Kanan has a lit lightsaber on the cover but does not actually use the weapon during the book. Personally, covers do not factor into my enjoyment of the book because I basically ignore them. That said, I thought it was wise to have Kanan not use the lightsaber. It was an active disuse, because he thought about it. Even his use of the Force, which was more subtle, was only when he was in dire straits. He's not the character he will be when Rebels starts, and I think this adds greatly to my appreciation for the character. For more on him, Marvel is publishing a Kanan comic series that has been excellent so far.
Of course, my opinion does not matter nearly as much as everyone else's. If you've read the book, want to comment on the points I've raised or should have raised, or if you'd like to discuss anything else about it, please leave a comment below.
Posted by
Eddie Siqueira
- Saturday, April 4, 2015
I don't usually read sci-fi books with any hope of discovering a great piece of literature. Even though I flirt with the genre, I've had many letdowns (with a few exceptions) in terms of fluidity, linguistic interest, and literary credibility. Ender's Game was no exception, but the story was so bizarre that maybe it was a good thing I was reading at a high school level.
I happened upon this novel at a bookstore 1 year after the movie was released. Apart from starring Harrison Ford, who is lucky enough to share his birthday with me, the movie didn't catch enough of my interest to watch it. The book, however, was mentioned to me a few times as one of the best in the category, so that in itself was enough to get me going. I warn you of a few possible spoilers as you read on.
This may sound pretentious, but I really felt the sting of obsolescence in the behavioral traits of most of the antagonistic characters. The bullying and some of the language in the beginning seemed very retro and remained so throughout the book. I really felt as though I were reading a text from the '70s and imagined a world of CRT screens and L.A.S.E.R. guns—although fortunately that did not turn out to be the case. The novel made a good comeback once some technology (quite advanced for 1985 when it was first published) found its way into the story and made it all easier to relate to—setting aside the painfully dusty term "Buggers" to describe the alien enemy force (called "Formics" in the movie).
It's no easy task to transcend the filters of time—to write a classic that shall be enjoyed for generations—but Ender's Game did it. There are references to items such as your everyday tablet (referred to only as "desk"), an intranet system with e-mail and chat, touchscreen technology, and even a highly developed video game AI that puts our generation of PS4s and X-Box Ones to shame. Since my copy is the final revision from 1991, there could have been some updates by the author since the first run.
This is all very secondary, of course. The story's protagonist is Ender Wiggin, a child prodigy in a not-too-distant future where the world finds itself in a dystopian society, suffering waves of attacks from the insect-like aliens, who function as a hive. Children are trained to be the best, the smartest, the quickest, and the bravest in this society, and Ender, an unlikely candidate, is chosen based on his behavior dealing with bullying at school.
A lot of psychology is involved in the introspection of each character, such as Ender and his two siblings who have flashes of brilliance and maturity in resolving intrapersonal issues. There is a prodigious growth and self-taught intelligence in the children, as opposed to the more strict and condescending attitude of the adults, who are mostly military in nature. This, however, is lost in the movie, where narration is gone and only the stern, determined attitude of the kids is portrayed, which can easily be interpreted as arrogant.
I have a theory that any story ever told is either a love story or a social experiment, and Ender's Game is the latter. A 12-year-old child is sent to the finest military academy to potentially become a commander to lead armies and fight the Buggers (wince). He does so, but what is interesting is the sheer openness in emotions and feelings that are contemplated. This isn't a book where it's just action and backstabbing. It's all about being human throughout the most analytical of situations.
In fact—major spoiler—the only way Ender defeats the Formics in the end is thinking that he is controlling an army in a simulation, when in truth it was the real thing all along. The instructors at the academy staged a "final test" so that Ender would not have any resentments at any point (which brings about my theory of Call of Duty and Battlefield never having been the subject of any censor or true restriction). If it's all a game, it's no harm, but in truth, it's a deadly training tool that could turn lethal when need be. This particular detail was well documented in the movie as it stayed true to the book.
The true merit of the story lies in the aftermath, which was respected in the movie as well. Ender discovers that a Formic queen has been communicating with him through his dreams, and she is the last survivor of an entire species. The whole time, the Formics simply couldn't communicate, hence the war. Ender was the first to establish proper contact, and he promises that he will take the queen to a world where they may flourish again—a debt that he must pay for destroying their world.
I have to say this is one of the more bizarre books I've read. Many things about it were oddball, but somehow, that made it really good. The story doesn't seem go anywhere for a while as it all takes place in academies and military schools, but it gets the message across. As for the movie, the loss of the narration has a heavy toll on the pace, but it's a good companion for the book. I understand perfectly if someone puts the film down if they haven't read the book; the richness of the written words is lost in adaptation, as there is nothing remarkable in the film. However, I found nothing wrong on behalf of the actors or director (aside from perhaps some haste in the pacing of the story).
Clear: A Death Trippers Novel is a Paranormal Romance released on February 17, 2015 by New York Times bestselling author Jessica Park. This long awaited standalone book is boasts a beautiful cover designed by Matt of The Cover Lure.
Stella Ford's grasp on reality is already loosening, and it's about to come undone. When the college junior flees Chicago and leaves her toxic family behind, she heads for coastal Maine to find the one person who brought her peace years ago: Sam Bishop. But the Sam she once knew now has painful secrets, and Stella becomes determined to heal them both. Healing, however, is a challenge when the walls of her everyday existence collapse; when Sam's best friend is his worst enemy; when the line between life and death blurs; when an end is just a beginning; and when lust and rage rule. Yet during extraordinary chaos, there also can be extraordinary love—even if that love comes with a twist.
Welcome to death tripping.
A thriller, a paranormal tale, and a passionate romance, Clear crosses genres and breaks boundaries.
My Review: 5 STARS!
I went into this book not knowing what exactly the book was about. I don't even think I thought about it. I skimmed through the synopsis, drooled over the cover, and salivated over the teasers. From all of Park's social media posts. I knew it was different; it crossed genres, and it was more in lined with the genre of Left Drowning.
The book began with a bang. In the first few chapters you are thrown into an amazing love story. As in any good Park book, the family dynamics are marvelous. I don't want to give away any plot details because this is a book best served cold. Clear is unique; I've read hundreds of novels and have never stumbled upon a plot such as this; it's also hot and sexy. The death trippers are so awesome that I almost wish I were one of them! I'm still in book hangover mode a few weeks later, and I hope Park writes another Death Trippers novel soon—well, that is, after she writes something about Sabin from Left Drowning (just kidding!).
I'd love to see more of these characters. Have you read Clear or any other books by Jessica Park? Please let me know what you think of the book or excerpt in the comments.
Excerpt from Clear
Old dock boards creak beneath my shoes, but Sam doesn't turn back. He won't even look at me when I sit down next to him and hang my feet over the lapping water. He holds a half-empty bottle of whiskey in one hand. My worry only increases when I touch his arm, and he pulls away.
"You know, don't you?" he says flatly. "Kelly told you."
I shake my head. "I know something happened, something happened to you."
Sam takes a too-long drink and then corrects me, "I made something happen."
I touch his arm again, and this time, he lets me.
"I'm going to tell you because you'll find out anyway. That's inevitable even though I pretended it wasn't. Then, you're going to hate me, the way most people in this town do."
"Sam, I could never hate you."
Now, he angles his face, and I can see how pained his expression is.
"For about ten minutes, I got to feel good again, good with you, and that's going to end. Of course. And I can't fucking stand that, Stella, because you are a relief in this fucking insane world. I felt it the second I saw you, and it scared the hell out of me. But it was there, as clear as day."
His eyes are red, and I'm not convinced it's from the booze.
"For reasons I can't begin to understand, I am whole again with you. After everything, I get to feel whole. And now, it's all going to blow up. Another bomb detonating in my life." He laughs, but it's filled with anguish. "My fucking life."
About the Author: Jessica is the author of Left Drowning, the New York Times bestselling Flat-out Love (and the companion piece Flat-out Matt), and Relatively Famous.
She lives in New Hampshire where she spends an obscene amount time thinking about rocker boys and their guitars, complex caffeinated beverages, and tropical vacations.
On the rare occasions that she is able to focus on other things, she writes.
Posted by
Fanboys Anonymous
- Friday, November 14, 2014
Throughout the series The Hunger Games by author Suzanne Collins, the symbol of the mockingjay represents the unity of the districts of Panem in their fight against the oppression of the Capitol in honor of their figurehead, Katniss Everdeen.
This symbol is brought to the forefront more than ever in the latest installment of the film franchise, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1.
In preparation for its upcoming release, Fanboys Anonymous is partnering up with TV Store Online for another special giveaway contest where you can win a free mockingjay pendant necklace by showing your support for the website where geeks go for everything nerdy.
Hunger Games fans unite! If you're a fan of this beloved series of novels, why not show it off with this classy Hunger Games necklace? The officially licensed pendant necklace features the Mockingjay pin that Katniss wears during the Hunger Games.
Metal
2" Diameter
Officially Licensed - no knockoffs!
Regular price: $15.95
Emblazon yourself with the symbol of the rebellion by entering this contest now!
HOW TO WIN
Participants can earn the equivalent of one raffle ticket for each of the following tasks they complete.
There are no limits on how many chances to win that you can earn:
3) Share this link throughout the geek community (post a comment below linking to the forum, message board, subreddit, or website's page that you shared it to show proof of this)
You must be following at least one of the following accounts — but you earn multiple chances to win by following each one of them.
Like the Fanboys Anonymous Facebook page
Follow the Fanboys Anonymous Twitter account
Subscribe to the Fanboys Anonymous YouTube channel
The more points you earn, the more chances you have to win! The winner will be chosen in a random draw and contacted through their social media account.
DISCLAIMER: The prize(s) that may be awarded to the eligible winner are not transferable, redeemable for cash or exchangeable for any other prize. If the winner has not redeemed his or her prize in 7 days, a new winner will be chosen. No points will be awarded to contestants who unsubscribe and resubscribe to an account. Only one point is awarded per account subscription. No members of the Fanboys Anonymous team are eligible to win.
Thank you for supporting Fanboys Anonymous and TV Store Online!
Posted by
Eddie Siqueira
- Saturday, November 8, 2014
Often, the greatest works of art, through whatever medium or format, come to this world because stars align. I found this to be the case with Fight Club.
The author's afterword offers a better insight to the origins of the novel. It was a simple but well executed exercise in short story writing (thanks to a black eye the author received one summer), which earned it front-to-back treatment into a full-fledged book. Granted, it did not hit the #1 spot on The New York Times's bestseller list upon release, but when David Fincher came along, Fight Club became a household name—at least to oppressed, middle-class men with nothing to lose or fight for.
The film did wonders for Palahniuk's career, aiding in its takeoff and making his other books more notorious. The question is, was Fight Club, as a book on its own, really that great? Take into account that I have devoured the movie somewhere around 20 times in the past 10 years or so. Whether you liked it or not, the film is unquestionably a directorial masterpiece, but that is not our concern. In true bookworm fashion, let's dissect my edition's 218 pages and weigh its pros and cons.
It goes without saying, but, spoiler alert ahead.
Aside from the obvious Brad Pitt/Edward Norton/Helena Bonham-Carter association in my brain, I found it difficult to separate the movie's grittiness and imagery at first but gradually discovered that the book seemed far darker. Our nameless protagonist narrates the story but in such a way his speech is never in quotations. Only the other characters' (including Tyler Durden) spoken lines are quoted, making us navigate the story from within the mind of the narrator. I felt strongly that this aspect gave us more proximity to the characters than the third-person approach of the movie.
A lot of one-liners made it to the silver screen directly out of the pages, along with many of the scenes. The fragmentation of events is made even more in-your-face by the insomniac telltale of the narrator, dipped in a split personality disorder that is subtly revealed, much like in the film, but the impact wasn't as dramatic carried out linguistically.
Unfortunately, maybe because I know every frame of the movie, I was unfazed by most of the literary version. Although it is the original story of Fight Club, it's almost like it was a rough draft for a movie script. The language itself isn't poor—far from it—but the book cuts through events too fast sometimes. It's as though the movie was meant to be.
The major differences are some closer looks at certain characters, such as Marla Singer, whom I found to be more involved with the narrator in the movie than in the novel. Some one-liners were a bit different and the homemade explosives are described in more detail.
What David Fincher turned the written words into is nothing short of genius. In fact, rumor has it Chuck Palahniuk likes the movie's ending over the book's, which had an unexpectedly upbeat view of life that completely contrasted everything written up until then.
This is a good read, for sure, but it's eclipsed by the Hollywood adaption. I'll give it a 3 out of 5. I watched the movie first, and this is not one of those cases where the book is better—clearly, I favor the film. The originality of the story, which is not about a fight club but rather what's in the frame: social disparity, loneliness, romanticism, and frustration add to the score. What do you think? Is the read better than the film? You are not the safety of your Internet-procrastinating silence—comment!
Readers. As you all know, I am The Fan of Nonsense…If there ever was one. Personally, I feel the world wouldn't be much without it. It is, in my opinion, already mundane and practically eventless. I suspect it's the reason the joke was invented to begin with. Who knows, but I can say that my tastes tend to lean toward sci-fi/fantasy/action books rather than light comedic/light sci-fi. So, it may come as a surprise when I announce that recently I read through the pages of a comedic gem written by Jackie Kingon, an obviously intelligent woman/teacher/artist/author.
From the onset, Chocolate Chocolate Moons becomes a book that you know you will, if not directly, then eventually finish. Ever since I read the Damon Runyon Omnibus, somewhere around 14 years ago, I've always wanted to pick something up that was just as clever. I'm certain this is it. Although the writing styles differ, in that the DRO is more of an adult Catcher in the Rye, it hit me with the same brick of intelligent writing and shenanigans.
Chocolate Chocolate Moons is a book brimming with misguided reasoning, insanely inaccurate historical references, and quirky characters. I must admit, I was not initially sucked in, but the unending wordplays were a treat that I could not help but gorge myself on, which is almost a trait I share with the main character of this book.
Molly is an eater. Everyone else in the galaxy? Not so much. Picture this: It's far into the future; take your pick of what planet you might want to live on. The gravity of these varying planets has changed the physiques of the modern human into something of a stick, and health supplements have become a part of every person's daily life. The short story? She is looked at through disgusted eyes, but she has a platter of other issues considering her favorite candy, "Chocolate Chocolate Moons" has been putting folks into comas. It must be time to go rogue detective.
This book was the most cleverly written nonsense I have ever read, packed to the brim with funny events, silly remarks, and a pretty ridiculous Schrodinger Box joke that made me smile for the better part of the night. While I still prefer to read sci-fi/fantasy of a much more masculine persuasion, it goes, though not without saying, I would definitely read Jackie Kingon's work again, because life is too short not to laugh, and she is an author lhooves to make me laugh.
Readers, sci-fi enthusiasts, and lovers of everything that is all that it can be. I recently took an order for review from A. Mango, the owner and CEO of our badass little site here, strictly based on description. It was a uniquely described work called Koko Takes a Holiday. In short, Koko is a young retired mercenary in a world where corporations are the governing bodies. Surely you can imagine what that would be like. As a retiree, she has time on her hands for leisure, running a pleasure resort, and pimping male prostitutes. Yes, you read correctly, she's a pimp, hard at work. This, in combination with other subtle descriptions led me to look into into it. Was this a comedy?
Imagine this, because this is how the introduction hit me: A commercial opens up on the old window to the world. It's a beautiful day and clouds are rolling. The land is lush and jungle like. Waterfalls cascade from high cliffs and form exotic pools of water. That's just the scenery outside. Inside, there are resorts, one after another. Pick your poison of pleasure. You can slaughter your boss on the old simulator; have sexual encounters of the most disgusting sort, digital or otherwise; or for people of simpler taste, maybe just hunt big-game dinosaurs or perhaps stop by Koko's bar and have a lusty time with one of her boys. FYI, Koko Takes a Holiday was not a comedy.
While running her little resort bar and "treat," some unwelcome patrons begin to make a scene. They are of the wild sort, probably there to slaughter dinosaurs—or slice up other paying customers. Who knows? But they walked into the wrong tavern with their abysmal animalisms. Koko is always ready for someone to pull out a weapon and start making demands. In fact, you might say she has an itch that keeps her waiting for such a time.
One thing leads to another, and she unloads on the patrons, regains control, feeds them to the local wildlife, makes sure her boy-toys clean up the mess, and gets quickly back to her liquor and lounging. Tomorrow will be a new day, when her supervisors show up and give her a slap on the wrist for dealing with customers in such a fashion. I know, I know, you're thinking I'm telling the entire story, but this is all just the beginning. The discussion with corporate gets out of hand and leads to a landslide of action, violence, and more insane storyline you will not believe.
Just when you thought you had read it all!
Koko is wild. She takes life moment by moment, savors slaughter life by life, and ends existences one at a time. The bitch with the blue hair is for sure an alpha, but is the definite omega; stop at the line and make a direct change of direction to the afterlife. I'm so excited by the this book that I wrote my first review, this one, that contains foul language. Read Koko takes a Holiday and tell me what you think downstairs. You won't regret it! Scope my new game.
Readers and Timothy O. Goyette fans, I just wrapped up his newest read, The Light, the Dark, and the Quick, last week, and I have to say, I found it fun—to say the least. As a compilation of shorts, it did just as you might figure it should. It kept things short and quick and it stayed interesting. You might remember I wrote a review about Timothy's Lockdown not so long ago. I said then and I'll say it again: he's got a definite talent for character development.
I believe, after reading Lockdown, I said something to the effect of, "Lockdown is literally the best book I've read that disappointed me." That was because the characters were so believable. I loved the book. It was action packed and fast paced. The plot never gave up. The alien and its process within life were the only parts I didn't like.
After delving into Goyette's new line of short stories, I was surprised to note that he enjoys using odd and intelligent creations from across the galaxy almost no every time he writes about alien life. He tends to play with the possibilities and see what his mind can ponder, which, in and of itself, is a respectable process for any creative author. I felt as though I were watching him as a child, building rocket ships from Legos and drawing out-of-this-world aliens to visit. In effect, the shorts ended up complementing both Lockdown and Goyette's creative process.
Of the stories within this compilation, a few really caught my eye. One was a sci-fi/fantasy mixture with witches and robots; another dealt with time travel and the complications thereof; and a third, which I enjoyed tremendously, was about a crazy computer-language-based identity theft. These got my attention not only because of how different they were, but also because I felt as though I could really feel Tim's liveliness in them as well.
I heard a saying 4 million years ago by some guy older than dirt that has stuck with me through all these years. He told me, "A man (or woman) that erases and writes and erases and writes until his heart sees art is an author, and a man (or woman) that writes to publish is a writer." In other words, if you love to write, then you write so that people will read your writing, but if you love to tell stories on parchment, then you write to perfection. Timothy Goyette is an author. I think that he took great care in writing these stories, and I think he will take great care in writing many more. This work is a definite 4-star read. Scope the book and let me know what you think downstairs.
Readers and fantasy lovers: This is a great book! Since reading the first volume of The Sara Chronicles, I've noticed a definite—though not drastic—increase in creativity on Laura Hughes' part. Book one followed our heroine through unspeakable dangers, a difficult life, and ugly obstacles, and then left her with the ability to control nature's furious weather patterns. She finds her way and becomes better for it in the end with the tutelage of her powerful mentor.
Sara learns control and she learns to fight, but what happens when the enemy becomes yourself? Book two, Evolution of Us, begins something like this: Sara and friends have become powerful—perhaps too powerful. All the children are boiling pots of magical fury, and all are still dealing with hard pasts. Each and every one is afflicted by painful memories of abuse, abandonment, or loss. Like Professor X (X-Men) says, "The question, Jean Grey, is, are you gong to control the power, or allow it control you?" The children do the latter. They must each learn to defeat the enemy inside in order to overcome the evil tactics of their dark enemy, the soulless Garren.
This series is unique. It's centered around a religion whose God, Iam, a name I assume will mean more later, controls which vessels may recieve souls—a luxury most Garren are not afforded. From its Final Fantasy-like summoning to X-Men style powers, to especially creative lands, Laura Hughes' Evolution of Us was a terrific read. Once again, I felt it was a bit rushed, but all in all, I enjoyed it. A definite nearly 4-star read. Check it out and let me know what you think downstairs!
Universal Studios has finally released the opening date for the highly anticipated Diagon Alley expansion for Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Harry Potter stars James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), and Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) excitedly made the announcement alongside creative director Theirry Coup and Universal President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Davis on Wednesday.
Muggles and magical folk alike will be able to pass through the brick archway into the narrow streets of Diagon Alley on July 8, just as Harry, Ron, and Hermione did each year to stock up on all their magical equipment and Hogwarts apparel in the best selling Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling.
It's been a long and exciting wait as the Orlando theme park kept its summer 2014 opening date unannounced to the muggle world (including park employees) well into the vacation season. The anticipation skyrocketed as Universal released teasers for their new ground-breaking ride, Harry Potter and theEscape from Gringotts, which reunited Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint to reprise their roles for special 3D scenes.
Although Universal's opening date may come as a disappointment to the fans who had hoped for an earlier opening, the park moved cautiously to ensure the new technology was up to speed for its debut to avoid a repeat of Wizarding World's tech issues at its 2010 opening.
The new 20-acre expansion of the original Wizarding World - Hogsmeade—which opened four years ago—is expected to be extremely overcrowded. The wait time for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Hogsmeade was around 9 hours during its opening weeks, according to a park employee at Hogsmeade, and lines for the park stretched out into CityWalk. Hop aboard The Hogwarts Express train that connects Universal Studios and Islands of Adventurefor a one-day park-to-park ticket that costs $136 per adult. The ride will take guests from Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross station, passing by replicated scenes of London and the British countryside. (You must buy a park-to-park ticket in order to ride the Hogwarts Express and enjoy both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.)
Diagon Alley will include fully replicated Gringotts bank, Ollivander's, the Leaky Cauldron restaurant, Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment, and more—but that's not the only magical part about the attraction. Grab your wand a find special medallions on the ground that each include a different spell to unlock a whole exciting adventure as you practice your magic!
Both Diagon Alley at Universal Studios and Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure are a collaboration between Warner Bros., which owns the rights to the Harry Potter film franchise, and Universal, which operates the theme parks.
An exclusive Harry Potter vacation package will allow guests to visit Diagon Alley starting June 29. Starting at $109 per night, the package includes 4-night accommodations, 3-day park-to-park tickets, breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron, and 1-hour early park admission.
Don't forget to stop at Ollivander's and find out which wand chooses you, see what fun Fred and George Weasley have come up with at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and enjoy a nice glass of butterbeer!
Fanboys, ready your wands! Let us know how excited you are in the comment section below!
Readers and Planet of the Apes fans: rewind to before the Planet of the Apes original series of films. Yes, it consisted of more than one film, for those of you who didn't know. The others just aren't recognized because, let's face it, they were a disappointment. Rewind to just after the great escape of the abused chimps, gorillas, and orangutans and the battle of the Golden Gate Bridge. The intelligent apes are now remembering growing up in captivity. For Caesar, this isn't so bad; for the others, it's more like a nightmare.
In this not too distant future, Caesar has been living with his new ape companions in the woods. He isn't the strongest, but he is definitely the smartest; he's definitely their leader. As such, it his job to find food and safety for himself and the rest. Such small accommodations are as difficult to find as water in the desert when you are constantly attempting to escape mercenaries hired to hunt you.
Meanwhile, human civilization struggles with a silent killer. First there is unrest, then there is panic. Eventually, the people let go of their civilized behavior. All but the few unwavering, in-control minds attempt to keep it together. Riots, destruction, and terror ensue. The people call for putting down the wild ape hoard which they think have unleashed death upon them.
The great thing about this book is that it kept my interest the entire time. There was so much going on that it kept my mind moving, whether if it was one of the apes reliving an unfortunate event or in battle, or if they were simply on the run. On the other side, the rapid collapse of human civilization stayed quite eventful. I'm really enjoying how these new Planet of the Apes stories play to the apes' side. The contradiction from the original Planet of the Apes films, which make you cheer for humanity rather than the apes, is unique. I think you'll find that if you go back and watch the original film after the new movies, you'll cheer for the apes and then cheer for humanity later. It's a definite underdog story. Indie?
Thriller fans: Recently I had the privilege of reading a book by Jae Erwin, an author with a knack for unique storytelling. Although I must admit I didn't immediately get into it, the book really begins to take hold of you later on. Being generally less appreciative of lifelike storytelling, I usually steer clear and immerse myself in worlds of fantasy and science fiction. True or nearly true to life stories just never clicked with me. Religious fantasy, or at least a light religious fantasy aspect, is where she sucked me in.
It struck me when I was reading this book how little I knew about the Islamic religion, even having read from the Koran myself. What's crazy is that Erwin was able to take aspects of life that are true to religion—or at least I suspect so—and breathe an odd, light, true-life fantasy into them that really begins to take over the deeper you get into this story. Stillness Dancing begins with some women who are not so different from the female family members we love so much. One has a little more experience with the Bedouin culture. All of them are unprepared for the road ahead.
This book introduces you to a culture that finds little issue with drug peddling. For some, it's just a way of making money for the village. Also, all Middle Eastern laws concerning women tend to apply, with exceptions for Western women in some parts. If you are a Western woman, absolutely do not venture off without your male chaperone. Chaperone or not, the female leads In this story find themselves captive to a psychotic narcissist interested in hurting others and furthering his own end.
A plus and minus of this story is the level of deprivation of these captors. The leader is a terrorist for an organization opposed to the Western way of life. Like all Middle Eastern terrorists, he twists his own religion to mold it into one that allows him to do his evil. His evil…is terrible, inhumane, and some of the worst ongoing physical and sexual assault you can imagine in a book. In fact, it carries on and their situation gets worse. It felt so real sometimes that I found myself stopping to allow my brain time to remind my heart that these women weren't actually real and nothing was happening to them. I had to stop and take breaks, because every time one of them experienced the terror of this brute, the book would give clues to the amount of time they were spending in captivity in between. This story will break your heart. I can't tell you how sad it made me to read the words, two weeks later, or several days later. From my experience with Stillness Dancing, I've learned that well-written books can truly suck you in. Erwin knows how to create characters and conversation, and she most definitely knows how to create a villain.
A great thing about Erwin is that she is an author from within a collective of authors that makes up Firedance books, a non-for-profit editing and publishing company for and by the authors. It most definitely seems to have its advantages. An interesting, if not amazing, fact about Jae Erwin is that she seems to love to invent words, which is something I'm also a fan of. In the publishing and editing world, there is a cut and slash attitude toward inventive wording and, considering Shakespeare himself is credited with inventing somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,700 words, it completely boggles my mind. The crush of the corporate publishing industry is less felt in the pages of Stillness Dancing. I would read this 5 out of 5 star work again, and I think you should as well. Listen to Chapter 1 and tell me what you think downstairs!
When I accidentally "StumbleUpon'ed" this book, I was confused. I thought perhaps it was a cover poster for the fictitious Hank Moody novel God Hates Us All. After a few clicks and paragraphs read, the item in question revealed itself to be the famous book as seen on Californication and was soon on its way to my doorstep, 2-day delivery style.
Yes, I was hasty. I won't say I was under the illusion that it would reveal itself to be a book to rival modern classics such as Fight Club, but I was extremely curious to finally read a novel voiced by Hank Moody. After all, writing is writing regardless of whether the author's fictitious or not. Having said this, the party responsible for this near 200-page lukewarm anthem of reckless young adulthood in New York's transition into the '90s is Jonathan Grotenstein under the premise that it was Hank Moody, magically out of the screen and into the flesh.
Maybe I haven't read too many books recently, or perhaps my previous foraging into English classics like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has left me with a taste for richer journeys than fast-paced modern storytelling. I used "lukewarm" to describe this faux novel turned fanboy material mostly due to the outrageous hype and worship God Hates Us All received in the Californication series. Maybe this is the greatest charm of the novelty item: the debunking of such a critically praised work in a sarcastic "This is it?" tone. Clearly the hype is satirical, because anything that sells is instantly denominated "brilliant" in Hollywood. As Hank himself would say in the show, "Why can't anything be just good, or OK?"
That's exactly what God Hates Us All turns out to be in the real world: an OK pastime rather than a brilliant book, centered around a young man with no true goal or aim who ends up in and out of the world of minor drug dealing. Although the narration does build a romantic, slightly pessimistic vision of the world through personal accounts, there are very few epiphanies or moments of enlightenment. Rather, the character monotonously jumps from one situation to the next, skipping details that would have enriched the circumstances and story. I suspect time constraints forced this novel out early due to contractual obligations with Showtime or some such bureaucratic routine. The result is a mildly amusing tale of transition into adulthood with the occasional sex, drugs, and some mention of rock and roll.
It's not just the lack of attention to detail that bothered me; it seems like the narrating voice stays the same through good times and bad times, something I found lazy. There aren't any memorable moments of drama, save for a family crisis. There are a few anecdotes of bold situational awkwardness that I enjoyed.
It's not a bad book, but it doesn't deserve any special mention. Given that this is a licensed item, I understand the limitations that might have surrounded its inception. It would have been better if Californication writer Tom Kapinos himself had had a direct influence in the writing of this novel so that it could better match the greatness of the show's tome.
I can't give this more than a 2 out of 5, simply because it's a licensed item and one that didn't pay attention to much detail other than borrowing a few lines from Hank Moody's repertoire of dialogue. Sorry to be ripping you a new asshole, "Hank," but this is teenage literature at best. Anyone else feel the same? Comment on this piece by a major, and I do mean major American author, motherfucker!
Indie supporters: I recently took up my most difficult reading task to date. There have been many a book to touch these hands—some I liked, and some I did not. A recent read left me feeling clueless some of the time, though, and I'm not certain it was warranted. In fact, I'm still not exactly certain I followed the book's narrative all that well.
Tales From the Emerald Wind: The Green Shadows Trilogy by Saifulnizam Shukor was a long and arduous excavation for me. Actually, what I gathered from it was a unique combination of two themes: a fantasy religion about prophecies, gatekeepers, and bards mixed with a hard science fiction opera. From what I was able to gather, as the forces of evil have nurtured a prophecy and built themselves to rise against all that is positive in the world and subscribe to annihilation, two young boys are recruited to be the new heroes of all civilizations in the deep of space. It all takes place in a futuristic and technologically advanced universe, save for the planet the boys are from. The closest comparison I can make to explain the religious science fiction aspect is The Chronicles of Riddick, but a backwards version.
It took me a good two weeks to gain a pretty decent understanding of the story. It's sad for me because I suspect if I were able to read it in its original language—author is Malaysian—it might have been much easier. Editing, however, was its main downfall. I've seen better dialogue in books, I've also seen much worse in the way of stories. The part that tears me apart with this one is that the story, as I understood it overall, was quite good. It had definite potential.
As a personal note to the author, I'd like to point out that I'm currently a failing author myself. I submitted my book about two years ago to a publisher when I couldn't afford editing and they wrote me a nasty letter back saying they would never waste their time reading a book that contained a typo in the first chapter. I had read and reread my own book about six times. When you've read something that many times, the words run together and the mistakes get harder to find. I think it's a shame the way companies handle hopeful authors. I read Saifulnizam's book to the best of my ability and I'm sorry to give such a negative review because, I suspect, if I had an easier time with it, I would have given a better review. I loved the story for what it was. Don't give up writing. Tell me what you think downstairs.
Ladies and gentlemen, I've spent a lot of time working on nonsense manuscripts. In fact, I like comedy pieces that rely heavily on it. I enjoyed Dream Catcher and, no matter how many people tell me it was supposed to be a serious story, I'm not about it. Being John Malkovich, How to be a Serial Killer, Wristcutters: A Love Story... Some of the best fantasy novels and reads are strictly based in nonsense. I mean they literally have little basis in reality, which makes them, literally, nonsense. Imagine then what it feels like to read nonsense that has an absolutely nonsensical dialogue, inner dialogue, and narrations to boot. Think The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe.
You Can't Kill the Multiverse (But You Can Mess with Its Head) is ridiculous. I was recently sent an excerpt from the author, a fellow purveyor of nonsense like myself, and I was blown away by the writing style. It reads like intelligent gibberish, which I loved. I was stoked to find that it's part of a series for those of us who take life a little lighter than others and expect our reads to do the same.
This sequel to Welcome to the Multiverse (Sorry for the Inconvenience) is almost an invention of style itself. Very few authors would dare it and far fewer publishers would relish in the idea of publishing it. The story goes something like this: A young man, a nearly failed but still "accomplished" (in that he made it through school) wizard is working into the night. His plan is the same as every dark wizard's, to punish humanity through magic. What better way is there to accomplish such a feat than to turn every vehicle on Earth into frogs. Wait, huh? That's right, he turns every vehicle on Earth into frogs, accidentally.
So, he's a bumbling, fumbling idiot. Perhaps not the best trait for a
dark wizard. That isn't even the most funny part. The narration of the
entire story seems to come out almost like a thought—with pauses,
doubling back to slightly change a statement, and modesty overridden by
small inlets of truth. I loved it. The only thing more enjoyable are the
comments from other characters that hilariously make smart remarks
about their own situations or actions. Definitely a book worth checking
out, or set of books as it were. Check 'em out and let me know what you
think downstairs. Indie?
Hey readers, thanks for swimming by! For those of you who didn't catch my Noah review, it's about half-accurate (to the Bible) and half-fantasy. Personally, I got into a few parts and thought it was quite good, beginning with the murder of Lamech by Tubal-Cain when Noah was a child, and then jumping into the future during the time when Noah is contacted by God. The book and, I'm assuming, the play/movie make a pretty decent addition to the religious fantasy arena.
For me, the story's inaccuracies are probably the least of its issues. After all, it's difficult to accept the Bible as pure fact. My biggest problem was with some of the fantasy aspects, but putting aside everything I know about the Bible—or even the Koran and a large portion of other original religious books and stories—I actually enjoyed the read quite a bit. There is a definite story and plenty of action, but Ila's Story—a novel covering Ila's perspective on the Noah story—wasn't as enjoyable.
What I didn't like about it was that there appear to be gaps in Ila's story whenever she doesn't appear in the Noah novelization, almost as if her character doesn't exist unless there is someone around her. Does a tree make a sound if it falls and there is no one to hear it? I don't know, but I know Ila can't hear any trees falling unless someone is there to see her hearing it.
Honestly, it was nicely written. It wasn't terrible, and it did add a little extra perspective, including a more feminine view on the plight of Ila as she deals with the hardships that dominate her life. The problem is that the novel doesn't add much in the way of extra story. What went on with Ila behind the scenes, and what else did I miss that went unmentioned? Considering that the Noah novelization relied so heavily on fantasy, I expected to see more fantasy elements in Ila's Story. It ends up being a wasted read, if you ask me. Indie?
Fantasy fans! Ever had a story to tell that was so out of whack, no one would ever believe you? It seems the main character in this great book, The Gift: Littlefield Chronicles, has a story to tell. Perhaps it's a farce; perhaps there's some truth to it. The thing about Tucker Littlefield is that he loves to tell it and he's very suspenseful about it. It keeps him paid and it keeps him drinking.
The book sets off from this point: Tucker in tavern, either spinning a yarn or telling a tale; however you see it. The details of his story are more Big Fish than believable, but it doesn't stop people from getting lost in his magnificent story telling. In fact, they pay to keep him in his seat. And so he tells his tale. It's a tale about a man who is a little more crooked than caring. He cares more for money than people. One night he finds himself in the company of a king, at a ball or festival of some sort.
Keeping such company is probably difficult enough, but when he meets Enon—a massive warrior of a man—and his dog, who has the ability to spy into his soul, everything he knows will be turned on its head. When a young jewel of a girl is taken from the king's home, Tucker finds himself on a quest with Enon to bring her back, and his eyes are opened to the world as it really exists.
This book was fantastic! As far as fantasy goes, The Gift adds a whole new meaning to the word. Several aspects of the novel are totally original. The relationships between the people in it—especially between Tucker and Eloise—are spot on. I can't tell you how often the situations they got into and the dialogue between them made me laugh. Beyond that, author Tegon Maus gives Tucker a "happenstance hero" kind of attitude. And to top it all off, the ending left a smile on my face. It's definitely a book I might read again, a great read, and I fully recommend it. Tell me what you think downstairs.
