Anyone who's known me for more than, like, fifteen minutes knows that I've had frequent struggles with depression. I can't say for sure whether it's officially depression; I've never been diagnosed or anything...but I've spent a lot of time being varying degrees of miserable.
A few years ago, a good friend suggested a tactic that might help--writing a list of things that made me happy. ("And you can't say 'nothing,'" she said. She was always pretty good about seeing through my bullshit.)
I never did this, of course, because I was in one of my moods and being sad is easy. But I feel like I'm about ready now. With that in mind, here's the beginning of the list. (Not the most important, mind you, but it's a good place to start.)
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Book List: June 2014
14. Fiddlehead by Cherie Priest
This is the (probably) final book of Priest's Clockwork Century series, which are all about steampunk and zombies. Zombies aren't really my scene, but I have on occasion held a passing interest in steampunk, which is what got me into the series. I found the first book of the series, Boneshaker, at a small bookstore in Manzanita, Oregon, and was unable to put it down. (This was also the place where I kicked the Pacific Ocean. It was a good day.) I've been keeping up with the series ever since.
The series in a nutshell: a mysterious gas flooded Seattle that turns people into zombies. Enterprising criminals found a way to turn it into a drug (which also zombifies, but at a slower pace.) This has had ramifications on the Civil War, which is still going on in the 1880s (because of course it is.) Also, there's airships and airship pirates (because goddamn right there are.)
In Fiddlehead, a scientist has invented the world's first "thinking engine," which tells him that both sides are going to lose the Civil War because of the undead menace. Also, a Confederate businesswoman switches sides with an offer of a new superweapon that will help them win the war. There's intrigue and action and returning characters and airship battles and an assault on the home of Paralyzed Former President Lincoln (with defense lead by Freshly Sober Current President Grant.) Good times.
The pacing gets weird at times, in part because it switches between two action sequences (which only slows down both of them.) Overall, though, it's still pretty fun. It's a solid effort that falls in line with the trends of the series--the books based in Seattle (Boneshaker, The Inexplicables) are vastly superior to the ones that don't (Dreadnought, Ganymede, Fiddlehead.)
This is the (probably) final book of Priest's Clockwork Century series, which are all about steampunk and zombies. Zombies aren't really my scene, but I have on occasion held a passing interest in steampunk, which is what got me into the series. I found the first book of the series, Boneshaker, at a small bookstore in Manzanita, Oregon, and was unable to put it down. (This was also the place where I kicked the Pacific Ocean. It was a good day.) I've been keeping up with the series ever since.
The series in a nutshell: a mysterious gas flooded Seattle that turns people into zombies. Enterprising criminals found a way to turn it into a drug (which also zombifies, but at a slower pace.) This has had ramifications on the Civil War, which is still going on in the 1880s (because of course it is.) Also, there's airships and airship pirates (because goddamn right there are.)
In Fiddlehead, a scientist has invented the world's first "thinking engine," which tells him that both sides are going to lose the Civil War because of the undead menace. Also, a Confederate businesswoman switches sides with an offer of a new superweapon that will help them win the war. There's intrigue and action and returning characters and airship battles and an assault on the home of Paralyzed Former President Lincoln (with defense lead by Freshly Sober Current President Grant.) Good times.
The pacing gets weird at times, in part because it switches between two action sequences (which only slows down both of them.) Overall, though, it's still pretty fun. It's a solid effort that falls in line with the trends of the series--the books based in Seattle (Boneshaker, The Inexplicables) are vastly superior to the ones that don't (Dreadnought, Ganymede, Fiddlehead.)
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Book List: May 2014
11. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
12. The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
13. Golden Apples of the Sun by Ray Bradbury
For the last two years, I have been completely unable to shut up about how much I love Ray Bradbury. It started when a friend lent me Fahrenheit 451, then continued when my sister and her husband gave me an old copy of Dandelion Wine. So you can guess how super-excited I was when I got this B&N hardbound collection for my birthday last year.
All three books are collections of short stories. The first bundle are related by theme--they all take place on Mars (it's like a space version of Dandelion Wine in that respect.) The second has a sort of thread that connects everything, but it's pretty loose (and the individual stories don't really relate at all.) The third...doesn't.
The only problem I have with Bradbury's writing is that he was something of a technophobe--there are a lot of stories about how dependence on technology will make us forget how to be self-reliant (or even people), and a couple about our pursuit of science will make us revile fantasy. (I only half-agree with the first, and fully disagree with the second.) When he wrote about humanity, though, Bradbury absolutely shined--whether he used a sci-fi backdrop or not. (The one story in the collection I always go back to is Kaleidoscope, in The Illustrated Man. Such an amazing piece.)
My only regret is that I didn't read his work sooner, which I plan to hold against everyone who could have told me to do so, but didn't. Well, you won't be able to do the same, because I'm going to tell you right now. Head to the library or book store, get some of his books, and read the shit out of them. You won't regret it.
Do it. Now.
GO.
12. The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
13. Golden Apples of the Sun by Ray Bradbury
For the last two years, I have been completely unable to shut up about how much I love Ray Bradbury. It started when a friend lent me Fahrenheit 451, then continued when my sister and her husband gave me an old copy of Dandelion Wine. So you can guess how super-excited I was when I got this B&N hardbound collection for my birthday last year.
All three books are collections of short stories. The first bundle are related by theme--they all take place on Mars (it's like a space version of Dandelion Wine in that respect.) The second has a sort of thread that connects everything, but it's pretty loose (and the individual stories don't really relate at all.) The third...doesn't.
The only problem I have with Bradbury's writing is that he was something of a technophobe--there are a lot of stories about how dependence on technology will make us forget how to be self-reliant (or even people), and a couple about our pursuit of science will make us revile fantasy. (I only half-agree with the first, and fully disagree with the second.) When he wrote about humanity, though, Bradbury absolutely shined--whether he used a sci-fi backdrop or not. (The one story in the collection I always go back to is Kaleidoscope, in The Illustrated Man. Such an amazing piece.)
My only regret is that I didn't read his work sooner, which I plan to hold against everyone who could have told me to do so, but didn't. Well, you won't be able to do the same, because I'm going to tell you right now. Head to the library or book store, get some of his books, and read the shit out of them. You won't regret it.
Do it. Now.
GO.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Book List: April 2014
5. Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain
The last of the Twain compilation, and probably the weakest in terms of story. The best parts are the little snippets from Wilson's calendar that lead off each chapter. Some classic witticisms in there ("When angry, count four. When very angry, swear.")
6. The Woman Who Died a Lot by Jasper Fforde
This is the seventh in the Thursday Next series. Comes with all the strengths and flaws of a typical Fforde book--great world-building, clever (sometimes too clever) dialogue and jokes, and a story that probably could have used a bit more attention. I'm sure I'll get the next book, but if that's the last one I don't think I'll be too sad.
7. Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout
My sister and her husband like to give me books; this is one of them. I was a big fan of the Nero Wolfe Mysteries television show, and have read a few of the novels. They're not the greatest detective novels, but they definitely have an interesting style. Fer-de-Lance is the first one...and while not the best, it's still pretty good.
On the downside, the POV character (Nero's primary legman, Archie Goodwin) would occasionally refer to one of the suspects as "a spiggoty," which I'm pretty sure is bad. I don't like to think of Archie as a racist.
8. Eat, Brains, Love by Jeff Hart
A zombie comedy love story, written by a guy I know from my internet writing days. Jeff was one of the most talented from our group, and I'm glad to see him getting published. The book itself is a light read, and very funny.
9. Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov
I'd never read Asimov until I picked this one up (another of my sister's gifts.) He definitely lives up to the hype--I was impressed by a statement on the first page--in the foreward, no less. "Even as a youngster, though, I could not bring myself to believe that if knowledge presented danger, the solution was ignorance. To me, it always seemed that the solution had to be wisdom."
So, yeah. I'm already on board.
Caves of Steel is equal parts science fiction, mystery and social commentary. One of the most interesting things is when they talk about Earth's overall population, which is roughly at its maximum before people start getting malnourished...eight billion.
10. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Almost a direct opposite in tone from the Asimov story; this is definitely in "forbidden knowledge" territory. (By comparison, Caves of Steel is less "Man was not meant to know" and more "Man was not meant to be such a dumbass about it.")
It's an interesting book, though vastly different from the later films. No details on the creation of the monster, no assistants or angry villagers...they don't even sing "Puttin' on the Ritz!" Boo, Mary Shelley. Boo.
The last of the Twain compilation, and probably the weakest in terms of story. The best parts are the little snippets from Wilson's calendar that lead off each chapter. Some classic witticisms in there ("When angry, count four. When very angry, swear.")
6. The Woman Who Died a Lot by Jasper Fforde
This is the seventh in the Thursday Next series. Comes with all the strengths and flaws of a typical Fforde book--great world-building, clever (sometimes too clever) dialogue and jokes, and a story that probably could have used a bit more attention. I'm sure I'll get the next book, but if that's the last one I don't think I'll be too sad.
7. Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout
My sister and her husband like to give me books; this is one of them. I was a big fan of the Nero Wolfe Mysteries television show, and have read a few of the novels. They're not the greatest detective novels, but they definitely have an interesting style. Fer-de-Lance is the first one...and while not the best, it's still pretty good.
On the downside, the POV character (Nero's primary legman, Archie Goodwin) would occasionally refer to one of the suspects as "a spiggoty," which I'm pretty sure is bad. I don't like to think of Archie as a racist.
8. Eat, Brains, Love by Jeff Hart
A zombie comedy love story, written by a guy I know from my internet writing days. Jeff was one of the most talented from our group, and I'm glad to see him getting published. The book itself is a light read, and very funny.
9. Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov
I'd never read Asimov until I picked this one up (another of my sister's gifts.) He definitely lives up to the hype--I was impressed by a statement on the first page--in the foreward, no less. "Even as a youngster, though, I could not bring myself to believe that if knowledge presented danger, the solution was ignorance. To me, it always seemed that the solution had to be wisdom."
So, yeah. I'm already on board.
Caves of Steel is equal parts science fiction, mystery and social commentary. One of the most interesting things is when they talk about Earth's overall population, which is roughly at its maximum before people start getting malnourished...eight billion.
10. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Almost a direct opposite in tone from the Asimov story; this is definitely in "forbidden knowledge" territory. (By comparison, Caves of Steel is less "Man was not meant to know" and more "Man was not meant to be such a dumbass about it.")
It's an interesting book, though vastly different from the later films. No details on the creation of the monster, no assistants or angry villagers...they don't even sing "Puttin' on the Ritz!" Boo, Mary Shelley. Boo.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Book List: March 2014
4. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
Well, I'm almost done with this giant Mark Twain book--only one story left, and it's the shortest by about 50 pages. Connecticut Yankee, on the other hand, was the longest...but significantly more engaging than, say, the Prince and the Pauper.
I hadn't read it before, and enjoyed it quite a bit. I thought the way the Boss's adventures ended was a little weak, but the story had to be wrapped up somehow. Overall, well worth the read, both on its own merits and because it's Mark fucking Twain and I shouldn't have to justify it any farther, you heathens.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Let's Meet Critical Mass
Making a bit of progress this morning, as I've made it to the first appearance of one of Beacon City's other villains. I'm trying to tweak him a bit from most of his appearances, in an effort to explore one of the weird thoughts I've had about this project. Also to help differentiate him from another villain I'll be introducing later down the road.
They
made their way through the crowd, with most people giving them as
wide a berth as possible. But that's to be expected, since Isaac
Rothschild was one of the city's most feared villains.
Also,
he generated radiation. People usually don't like to be around
someone who does that.
The
nearby crowd was in no danger, of course. The radiation was gathered
and stored by Isaac's metallic gloves, where it was converted into
energy that could then be fired at convenient targets. These atomic
blasts, paired with his unbridled scorn, had earned him the name
“Critical Mass.”
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Book List: February 2014
3. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
I last read this in...junior high, maybe? High school at the latest...but I was still kind of surprised at how little I remembered. I knew about Huck and Jim and the raft, and they spent some time on Jackson Island...and that was pretty much it. So it was almost like reading a new book.
Also, Tom Sawyer is a *dick.*
I last read this in...junior high, maybe? High school at the latest...but I was still kind of surprised at how little I remembered. I knew about Huck and Jim and the raft, and they spent some time on Jackson Island...and that was pretty much it. So it was almost like reading a new book.
Also, Tom Sawyer is a *dick.*
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