Sometimes inspiration comes from the strangest of places. Oftentimes, we find these in our fictional works, and today’s infographic compiles 32 of these great life lessons from arguable 32 of the cutest creatures from across different media. Hopefully you can find something (or someone) to relate to. [VIA]
I always take these lists with a grain of salt, because what is deemed as the “best” by one, is always contested by several others. Regardless of that fact, however, today’s infographic provides a nice list of fifty books that are each set in a different one of the United States. That alone makes for an interesting list in my opinion, and a great jumping off point to find something new and exciting to read if you’ve been in a rut lately. [VIA]
“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . . .
Bestselling Star Wars veteran James Luceno gives Grand Moff Tarkin the Star Wars: Darth Plagueis treatment, bringing a legendary character from A New Hope to full, fascinating life.
He’s the scion of an honorable and revered family. A dedicated soldier and distinguished legislator. Loyal proponent of the Republic and trusted ally of the Jedi Order. Groomed by the ruthless politician and Sith Lord who would be Emperor, Governor Wilhuff Tarkin rises through the Imperial ranks, enforcing his authority ever more mercilessly . . . and zealously pursuing his destiny as the architect of absolute dominion.
Rule through the fear of force rather than force itself, he advises his Emperor. Under Tarkin’s guidance, an ultimate weapon of unparalleled destruction moves ever closer to becoming a terrifying reality. When the so-called Death Star is completed, Tarkin is confident that the galaxy’s lingering pockets of Separatist rebellion will be brought to heel—by intimidation . . . or annihilation.
Until then, however, insurgency remains a genuine threat. Escalating guerrilla attacks by resistance forces and newfound evidence of a growing Separatist conspiracy are an immediate danger the Empire must meet with swift and brutal action. And to bring down a band of elusive freedom fighters, the Emperor turns to his most formidable agents: Darth Vader, the fearsome new Sith enforcer as remorseless as he is mysterious; and Tarkin—whose tactical cunning and cold-blooded efficiency will pave the way for the Empire’s supremacy . . . and its enemies’ extinction.” — Publisher’s Description
Taking on one of the most intriguing characters in the Star Wars universe, James Luceno does an admirable job fleshing out the persona of Wilhuff Tarkin. Played perfectly by Peter Cushing in 1977, Tarkin has always been an enigma. How did this man become the commander of the Death Star and an equal to, or sometimes seemingly a superior of, Darth Vader himself? Luceno weaves a story filled with action surrounding a joint Tarkin-Vader mission for the Emperor and flashbacks to Tarkin’s childhood and adolescence.
Set five years after the events in Revenge of the Sith, we are treated to a triple threat here: the growth of Tarkin into the man we see in Star Wars: A New Hope, the continued development of Darth Vader as he grows in the Dark Side, and the seeds of the Rebellion that will reach its pinnacle 15 years into the future.
The action opens on the mysterious Sentinel Base where the newly promoted Moff Tarkin is overseeing a project of epic proportion for the Emperor. The base is attacked by remnants of the Separatist Movement from the Clone Wars. While he is able to deflect the ambush, Tarkin is recalled to Coruscant where he faces the Emperor and is tasked to lead a joint mission with Darth Vader to root out the Separatists and eliminate them completely. While on this mission, the Moff’s cruiser, Carrion Spike, is hijacked and after being used by the Separatists to attack Imperial installations it is up to Tarkin and Vader to track the ship down before more damage can be done, all the while unraveling plots and conspiracies over two years in the making.
To say I had high hopes and expectations for thie book would be an understatement As a life long Star Wars fan, I have always been intrigued by Grand Moff Tarkin ever since seeing him on the big screen. What made this ruthless Imperial tick? How did he get to such a prominent position in the Imperial pantheon, especially command of the Death Star? When I saw that James Luceno was taking the reins and fleshing out this story, I was even more excited, and was not let down!
Tarkin reads more like an espionage thriller and psychological case study than a science fiction adventure, as with most other Star Wars Expanded Universe novels. The pacing was deliberate and methodical, giving you a true sense not only of the way in which the main investigation in the story is handled, but also a look at the personality of Tarkin himself. Luceno never lacks on the details, but the story does not get bogged down in them either. By weaving in stories of Tarkin’s childhood and adolescence, as well as the trials he endured to shape him, we are treated to a wonderful character study that slowly reveals more complexity and layers to Wilhuff Tarkin than you would ever imagine existed. Couple that with the asides and glimpses into characters such as Vader and the Emperor while interacting with Tarkin, and the entire triumvirate truly comes alive.
There are some points where the action seems to drag, but, much like Tarkin himself, the story is well metered, calculated, and focused on its desired end. Readers looking for lots of action will be disappointed, but hopefully not for long as they get to know and understand the personality of one of the most calculating and fearless leaders of the Galactic Empire.
Many thanks to LucasBooks, NetGalley, and James Luceno for the opportunity to read and review Tarkin early in exchange for an honest review. The final version will be released on November 4, 2014.
Four out of five stars.
Tarkin (Star Wars) on Amazon
Tarkin (Star Wars) on Barnes and Noble
Tarkin (Star Wars) on Goodreads
Tarkin (Star Wars) on LibraryThing
Tarkin (Star Wars) on Shelfari
The Last Temptation 20th Anniversary Deluxe edition by Neil Gaiman and Alice Cooper; art by Michael Zulli and Dave McKean. October 21, 2014. Dynamite Entertainment, 168 p. $39.99 ISBN:9781606905364.
“Neil Gaiman (Sandman, Coraline, American Gods) brings shock rocker Alice Cooper’s concept album to life in a surreal sideshow of the soul! Join a young boy named Steven on a surreal journey of the soul, as an enigmatic and potentially dangerous Showman seduces him into joining his carnival. Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this seminal Gaiman work, returned to print for the first time in over a decade. Fully remastered in color, this Deluxe Edition incorporates complete scripts to all three chapters, black-and-white thumbnail art of pre-colored pages, an original outline of the project by Neil Gaiman, and a collection of letters between shock rocker Alice Cooper and the author! “I’m really happy that The Last Temptation is coming out for a new generation of readers, who have not seen Michael Zulli’s glorious drawings, or know of the Showman and his wicked ways,” says Neil Gaiman. “I wrote this a long time ago, driven by love of Ray Bradbury’s dark carnivals and of Alice Cooper’s own pandemonium shadow show. It’s time for it to shuffle out onto a leaf-covered street and meet the people who don’t know about Stephen and Mercy and show what’s coming to town.”” — Publisher’s Description
Imagine if you will the collaboration between a rock and roll icon and an up and coming gothic, macabre author and you have the brilliant result in The Last Temptation. Both the graphic novel by Neil Gaiman, and the concept album by Alice Cooper tell the story of a young boy, Steven, who is tempted by the mysterious, supernatural Showman (depicted as Alice Cooper) to join his “Theater of the Real” in exchange for eternal youth. All is not what it seems, however, as Steven grapples with the Showman’s twisted morality plays and his own fears about growing up and growing old.
Only Steven can see and enter the Theater, as he was selected by the Showman as “this year’s model” for entry into the cast. Steven will grapple with the morbid presentations of the Showman to convince him that his life would better be spent with the Theater than in his small town American life. The book is divided into three acts where we see Steven first enter the Theater and receive his offer from the Showman, a second where he spends a day living his life as a normal tween on Halloween, and the third where he returns to the Theater to meet the Showman and make his final decision.
Set around Halloween, this book draws on the themes of the seasonal change and the symbolic death we see in the Autumn. It also pulls on the fears that most children have around the end of October. The artwork is key to getting the feel for this horror and the outright fear Steven feels at times. It is an older style than most modern comics I have seen (I mean, this is a 20 year old book), but younger or newer audiences will definitely appreciate it and the emotions it conveys clearly throughout the story. You come to fear and almost loathe the Showman for what he is trying to do, while at the same time rooting for Steven to make the right choices when he needs to.
It wouldn’t be fair to not include in the review here, the definitive elements of the 20th Anniversary Edition of The Last Temptation. While the art has been fully remastered in brilliant color, the most interesting additions are the reprinted correspondence between Gaiman and Cooper and the original outlines and scripts of the book by Gaiman. It was wonderful to see how this collaboration was born, and solidified by such diverse artists half a world away. You can truly see the passion both had for this work and the love and creativity flowing off the pages as it all came together.
I would highly recommend this book along any other coming of age stories for tweens and teens. The horror and macabre elements will turn some off, but will open up the lessons of the story to a whole new audience that might usually avoid these themes as well. The wonderful thing about The Last Temptation is that this release is times perfectly with Halloween, making it the perfect gift or story at the end of the month!
Five out of five stars.
Many thanks to Dynamite Entertainment, NetGalley, and Neil Gaiman, Alice Cooper, Michael Zulli, and Dave McKean for the opportunity to read and review The Last Temptation early in exchange for an honest review. The final version will be released on October 21, 2014.
The Last Temptation 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition on Amazon
The Last Temptation 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition on Barnes and Noble
The Last Temptation 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition on Goodreads
The Last Temptation 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition on LibraryThing
The Last Temptation 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition on Shelfari
“Find out what sent Jack Bauer spiraling into his darkest days as an international fugitive in the several years following the events of the final season. ” — Publisher’s Description
Jack is back!
24: Underground is a look at what has become of out favorite CTU agent after he had been branded a terrorist by the US government and sent on the run as a fugitive after the last full televised season of Fox Network’s 24.
In this book, we find Jack Bauer living as “Borys Melnchuk” in the Ukraine where he is working as a dock worker under the supervision of Petro and living happily with his girlfriend (and Petro’s sister) Sofyia. All is well for Jack until in a whirlwind of events, Petro’s brother Roman runs afoul of the Russian Mafia, causing the gang members to seek out Petro to pay the debt.
Of course, Jack cannot let Petro deal with this all on his own and as a result jumps in to help on the promise that with one stolen shipment from the docks, the debt will be paid and all forgiven for Petro. Things never go as they seem and soon the CIA in the Ukraine is aware of Jack’s presence there, the mobsters kidnap Sofyia as bait for Jack, since they have a personal vendetta against him, and there is that infamous race against time to get everything sorted out before innocent lives are lost in the crossfire.
Sticking to the familiar 24 formula, this story sees Jack betrayed and double crossed at several turns, bringing back the famous line: “I thought we had a deal!” He’s also involved in several close firefights, gets himself a wound that needs tending to and has a hostage taken to being him out of hiding while running from two different groups after him for completely different reasons and without knowledge of each other. While a little predictable, this formula did work well on television, and it works well here. Sometimes it feels a little rushed, but the twists and turns you would be expecting and familiar with out of a 24 story are all present and very well executed.
The artwork in this graphic novel is phenomenal as well. It’s dark, very dark at times, but this adds wonderfully to the tone and feeling of the story. Granted, we have to remember that 24 always took place over that 24-hour time period so this is expected. Even more important in the art is the way that Gaydos has captured the edge of your seat quality of Brisson’s writing and story and shows that in the settings, and especially on Bauer’s face. You really can believe that Keifer Sutherland is there on the page with the familiar intense look and I swear, I was able to read all the lines in his voice and felt that intensity of tone as well. All of that said, this is definitely not a book for the kids. The brutality and graphic nature of the Russian thugs, as well as Bauer’s fighting style are vividly portrayed and may not be for the weak of heart.
Overall, this is a high quality, albeit short and a little rushed work. Easy and quick to read at a little over 100 pages, I would have been much happier with another 50-75 fleshing out some of the characters a little more and building up to the final action.
Four out of five stars.
Many thanks to IDW Publishing, NetGalley, and Ed Brisson & Michael Gaydos for the opportunity to read and review 24: Underground. The final version will be released on November 12, 2014.
24: Underground on Amazon
24: Underground on Barnes and Noble
24: Underground on Goodreads
24: Underground on LibraryThing
24: Underground on Shelfari
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope by Ian Doescher. July 2013. Quirk Books, 174p. $14.95 ISBN:1594746370.
“Inspired by one of the greatest creative minds in the English language—and William Shakespeare—here is an officially licensed retelling of George Lucas’s epic Star Wars in the style of the immortal Bard of Avon. The saga of a wise (Jedi) knight and an evil (Sith) lord, of a beautiful princess held captive and a young hero coming of age, Star Wars abounds with all the valor and villainy of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. ’Tis a tale told by fretful droids, full of faithful Wookiees and fearsome Stormtroopers, signifying…pretty much everything.
Reimagined in glorious iambic pentameter—and complete with twenty gorgeous Elizabethan illustrations—William Shakespeare’s Star Wars will astound and edify Rebels and Imperials alike. Zounds! This is the book you’re looking for.” — Publisher’s Description
For starters, I was almost literally born and raised on Star Wars — I’m only one year older than the franchise. That brings with it certain biases, including the fact that I hold the original trilogy in my heart with a special reverence for all the happy memories, both as a child, and as an adult, that it brings me. I also know all three movies in their original forms by heart (and yes, Han will always have shot first!). Seeing that this unique take on the series had me very excited, and I was far from disappointed.
I admit, that when I first got the book, I was skeptical at how it would play out. It was either going to be a truly groundbreaking new approach to popular literature and film, or it was going to be an absolute joke. Fortunately, I think Shakespeare himself would be proud of the results. Staying true to the original script, Doescher places a very bard-like spin to it that allows anyone even remotely familiar with the film and the story to follow along with no difficulty. When you have lines like: “But unto Tosche Station would I go, And there obtain some pow’r converters. Fie!“, I think you know where we are in the film! And I agree, Luke sounds whiny here too!
The writing style is exactly as you would expect from a William Shakespeare five act play. In fact, it is written as a script, only lacking some stage direction, but containing all the description and scene setting you would expect from any script. Inner dialogues are spoken aloud, and actions explained in the same way. While we can see these on screen, simple gestures and actions are either written in as direction, or described by the players. As it reads, there would be no doubt that any acting company could easily put on a production of this work.
Granted, there is a little bit of cheek, and some subtle nods to both Shakespeare and Star Wars fans alike, but they are hidden almost like Easter eggs throughout the text. For example, this couplet, a favorite tool of the Bard’s, gives a tip of the hat to the “Han shot first” fans: “I pray thee, sir, forgive me for the mess/And whether I shot first, I’ll not confess.- Han Solo”. There are even points in the book where we see action or have a look at some inner dialogues that we don’t see in the film, for instance a Hamlet-like soliloquy by Luke, lamenting the death of the Stormtrooper whose uniform he has stolen on the Death Star: “[Luke, holding stormtrooper helmet.] Alas, poor stormtrooper, I knew ye not, Yet have I ta’en both uniform and life From thee. What manner of a man wert thou?” Even something as simple as “Once more unto the trench, dear friends, once more!” during the penultimate battle gives a little grin when you get both references.
I simply cannot sing the praises of William Shakespeare’s Star Wars enough. Perfect for fans of both Star Wars and Shakespeare, it will have you coming back again and again, just like the original. I personally have recommended this to patrons who enjoy the films, but have poo-pooed plays and Shakespeare both. Everyone has loved it so far! I just can’t wait to see the stage production!
If you enjoy William Shakespeare’s Star Wars, fear not, the rest of the trilogy has also been given a similar treatment and you will want to find William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back, and William Shakespeare’s The Jedi Doth Return
Five of Five Stars
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope on Amazon
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, A New Hopeon Barnes and Noble
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope on Goodreads
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope on LibraryThing
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope on Shelfari
Today’s infographic was created by lovereading.co.uk and provides a great statistical breakdown of the most popular books of all time. None of the books listed should be surprises, and the calculations of number of translations, editions and sales make for very interesting comparisons. [VIA]
I don’t know about you, but I love to read and anticipate that I always will. I never really thought about what kind of reader I might be though. Today’s infographic is a fun twist on looking at readers and reading where using Linnean classification over 50 species of readers have been “discovered” — even non-readers are included! Which species are you? I’m leaning towards “The Hoarder”, “Compulsive Book Buyer” or “The Kindle Convert” myself… [VIA]
All readers have their own opinion on when to give up on a book — if at all. Goodreads surveyed their users recently to see when readers choose to abandon books and why. Also included are the top titles that they have found marked “not finished” or “abandoned”. I know I find it tough to stop reading once I’ve started…how about you? What is your rule of thumb for when close a book that’s just now working for you and move on to another?
The Thinking Fan’s Guide to Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom by Aaron Wallace. April 2013. The Intrepid Traveler, 256 p. $15.95 ISBN:9781937011246.
“The Thinking Fan’s Guide is different kind of guidebook for a different kind of theme park experience. Aaron Wallace avoids the ephemera of prices and menus to explore the heart of the Disney experience, the attractions themselves. He provides a lighthearted but scholarly look at the history, lore, and literature that inform the designs and storylines of every ride and attraction in the Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland, as well as the Walt Disney World Railroad, the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game, the Celebrate a Dream Come True and SpectroMagic parades, the Wishes fireworks show, and Main Street, U.S.A. itself. Far from being mere “amusements,” these 36 attractions provide a complex, multi-layered narrative that can be experienced and appreciated just like a great novel, play, or film. The Thinking Fan’s Guide will fascinate Disney buffs with the sometimes surprising insights it offers into old favorites while offering newcomers to the Disney magic a much richer experience. If you are ready to immerse yourself in the magnificent achievement that is Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, this is the guide for you.” — Publisher’s Description
As advertised, The Thinking Fan’s Guide is not your typical guidebook, but then again, Walt Disney World is not your typical theme park. You get some of the “typical” information about attractions like wait times, best time to visit, and “fear factor”, but there is so much more as well. Playing on the fact that Disney is more about the story than the spectacle and thrill, Wallace gives you more of the back story and notes on the theme and development of the attractions in Walt Disney World as well as some of the hidden meanings behind them. The result is a guide that allows new visitors and veterans alike to Walt Disney World to see the park in a totally new light and hopefully gets them to slow down on their race to the next ride.
Broken into chapters based on the themes lands of Walt Disney World (Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Main Street, USA), The Thinking Fan’s Guide serves as a vitrtual tourbook of the park, taking guests on a morning ride on Jungle Cruise straight through to a spectacular view of Wishes at the end of the day. Wallace’s easy to read writing style also adds to this relaxing tour as well. He is able to introduce attractions in a way that doesn’t make old WDW vets feel as though they are being talked down to, but also allows the uninitiated to understand what they are looking for without even having seen the actual attraction itself.
Learning about the history, subtle differences between the Walt Disney World and Disneyland attractions, and discovering some of the hidden secrets and meanings to these attractions helps you to understand why the Disney properties have been so successful over time. More time is spent in the details, making it so that each time you visit you will see something new that you may have missed or overlooked before. Books like The Thinking Fan’s Guide only help to remind us of these subtleties and gives a new incentive to look during the next visit — I know I will be when I am in WDW in August!
My only criticism (and this is almost unfair) of The Thinking Fan’s Guide is that there is very little on the attractions in the New Fantasyland expansion that took place in the Magic Kingdom recently. The two attractions I was looking forward to reading about, Enchanted Tales with Belle, and Journey of the Little Mermaid are missing here, apparently a victim of time constraints for publication as they only opened in December, 2012. Hopefully there will be a new edition with these new attractions (as well as the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train) will come in the future.
I highly recommend The Thinking Fan’s Guide to Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom to old and new fans alike. Make sure this book is either a pre-visit read, or take it along with you so you can fully appreciate all that the Magic Kingdom has to offer. I sincerely hope that with the success of this edition, we’ll soon see similar guides for the other three parks that make up the Walt Disney World Resort.
Four of Five Stars
The Thinking Fan’s Guide to Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom on Amazon
The Thinking Fan’s Guide to Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom on Barnes and Noble
The Thinking Fan’s Guide to Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom on Goodreads
The Thinking Fan’s Guide to Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom on LibraryThing
The Thinking Fan’s Guide to Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom on Shelfari
NJBiblio 