“There was this about vampires : they could never look scruffy. Instead, they were... what was the word... deshabille. It meant untidy, but with bags and bags of style.”
I think I've said before that I read in all genres, at least a little. I'm reading my first Lord Peter Wimsey right now, but I hadn't dug into Fantasy or Sci Fi in a long time, til recently.
This week I read my first Terry Pratchett. I heard 1 & 2 of Discworld are just spoofs on the high Fantasy genre, whereas he comes into his own in book 3; so I decided to skip the book I have (#2). I went to the library and picked out a stand-alone title called Monstrous Regiment. It begins with the trope of the girl who dresses as a boy to join the army, but what Pratchett does with that trope is hilarious. One reviewer compared it to Sharpe, and I think that's a good comparison (and to the Hornblower TV series). A small squad of anti-heroes, funny and quirky, but in a serious setting.
Anyway, it was fantastic, I highly recommend it. Especially if you like to read books with women protagonists. You'll find it fulfilling in a way I can't describe without spoilering the book.
On the other side, I've been watching Connie Willis' favorite show, Primeval. (Well something had to replace Psych, of which I watched every single episode.)
Watched all 5 seasons. It's about a group of London scientists who discover these anomalies through which prehistoric creatures are able to come through time. They have to contain them, so there's a dino-of-the-week element; but the real strength of the series is in its long stories. I enjoyed every one of them, through each season. Now: There are plot holes you could fly a spaceship through. There are so many absurdities I'm tempted to create a drinking game! You have to be able to disregard the logic of the thing, and just enjoy the sort of political-thriller-tude of it.
The series also does romances well. There are several, plus the one Grand Romance between Connor the geek and Abby the animal lover. Willis is right--Connor is adorkable.
"So, eight years she's been living in the past. My God! How are we going to explain Celebrity Love Island to her?"
The show gets a ZERO in terms of casting people of color (or, needless to say, people of non-heterotude). There are a lot of cast changes, so it's really inexcusable. Especially since it takes place in London! Really, really bad. But the ladies are done up well. It's always a man, plus Connor, who *stars*, so this is no Alien. But the women basically dress appropriately, shoot accurately, and are active.
Oh and then there's Lester, the bureaucrat running the operation. He gets all the good lines, I lurv him."You know I could have been ambassador to Moscow by now. Maybe even Cabinet Secretary. Instead I'm watching a dinosaur trash my office. Still, no regrets."
"We may stand on the brink of Armageddon, but at least we have an irritating student on our side. How reassuring!"
Not sure whether to continue in this vein or not. Maybe get back into Dr Who. Or read the SFF books I brought with me--the Nanaimo 50 List! I've got Rothfuss, Sawyer, Shinn, Wicked and that underwater book. I've only read 3 books from the list so far (I'm counting Pratchett), though Step-mommy the French horror novel, and my dad read Living Biblically. Does that count?
I've read (not counting kids' books) 24 books since moving out here, just not the "right ones" ! Meh heh heh. Ahhh books. Having a library card isn't helping (graphic novels!)
5 comments:
I watched a lot of Primeval a couple of years ago but got bogged down in the politics and then something happened that just broke it for me, something to do with one of the characters but I don't remember. I was happy when it was dino of the week and not Major Conspiracy.
I loved comics as a kid, but left them far behind when I discovered SF/F novels.
When the movie, 'V-for Vendetta' came out and I learned it was based on a graphic novel, I hit my library for a copy.
It certainly wasn't the comic of my childhood. It's still not a favourite format of mine, but do I have a whole lot more respect for them, or what?!!!
P.S. also one of the best book-to-movie movies I've seen.
I'll have to check it out. I haven't read Pratchett but I hear he's good.
Un-Script from Primeval: "So, you say we're going out to another anomoly where we will most likely encounter gigantic, voracious, viscious and unpredicatble predators from the earth's deep past?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"So, then ... dress code - Office casual? And my cell phone for protection?"
"That'll do."
(however there are many aspects about the show I'm enjoying. I like the drinking game idea!)
@Skye - Yeah they do nutty things with the characters.
@widders - Graphic Novels are getting more and more varied all the time. I'd have difficulty picking favorites--so many good books!! But they're expensive, which is why I'm glad libraries are carrying them more and more.
@Judie - Definitely worth a try. And before Harry Potter he was the bestselling author in the UK.
@ladada - And even after they shift into a more military mode, they still only go out as a team of 4 or 5. It's hilarious! I love it. (Well let's face it, how entertaining would it be if they showed up, zapped creature with overwhelming force, went home?)
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