Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Sunday, November 14, 2021
Saturday, June 19, 2021
One Review, One Advertisement, and Several Streams
Let's open this post with the review: Yesterday, I started - and rapidly finished - Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary, which is absolutely outstanding and thus earns my highest recommendation. Indeed, I don't think I've been this excited about a book in quite some time.
How shall we describe the premise of Weir's third novel? Well, I read it as an offspring of a marriage between The Martian (reviewed here) and my favorite first contact narratives (like, for example, James Cambias' A Darkling Sea, reviewed here), .
Like Mark Watney, the protagonist and point-of-view character in Project Hail Mary - Dr. Ryland Grace - is a wise-cracking, super-skilled scientist who must rely on his wits to solve seemingly insurmountable problems. In this case, however, the primary test he faces is not mere survival but an imminent apocalypse: a newly-discovered space-faring unicellular lifeform is syphoning energy off our sun (and off many other stars in our local cluster), and Grace has been sent to Tau Ceti on a fast-tracked suicide mission to find a solution before crop failures and radical climate change destroy the human race.
Interestingly, the above remit is not something Grace realizes right off the bat; interestingly, it is something he has to discover gradually after waking up from an extended medically-induced coma with severe memory loss. And it is this choice to situate the main character in the same condition of ignorance as the reader as to the full context of his predicament that, in part, makes for a riveting story.
The other thing that kept me turning the pages besides Grace's slow-to-resolve amnesia (and, of course, Earth's impending doom) is "Rocky," our second principal character. "Rocky" (dubbed thus by Grace because of his mineral-based exoskeleton) is an ammonia-breathing alien spider from the Eridani system who has come to Tau Ceti to save his own species from the very same invasive organism that is threatening Earth. It is "Rocky" who brings the Darkling Sea elements to the table; after Grace and "Rocky" encounter each other, much of the middle chapters are devoted to their attempts to 1.) recognize each other's sapience, 2.) communicate, and 3.) learn about each other's biology and cultural traditions. I suppose another breed of reader might find such exposition boring, but I don't; on the contrary, I'm attracted to science fiction precisely because it tackles this challenge of mutual comprehension so often.
Plus? "Rocky" is so. damned. likable. Once Grace and "Rocky" learn the basics of each other's languages and it's revealed that they're both the sole survivors of their respective missions, they strike up a genuine, heart-felt friendship that, at several points, moved me to tears. The end of chapter 19 in particular is a stand-out moment. I actually had to stop for a while to collect myself before proceeding to chapter 20.
Bottom line, what we have in Project Hail Mary is a book that brings several positives to the table: 1.) sympathetic characters, 2.) high stakes, and 3.) more than one intellectually engaging mystery. On top of all that, we can add the fact that our main characters do not, as we eventually learn, hail from the cream of the crop. "Rocky" is a workhorse engineer, and Grace -- well, I don't want to spoil the specifics about his history, but suffice it to say that he's not a stellar specimen either. And I like what that says, implicitly, about the heroic capacities of ordinary people. This novel is competence porn -- but it's also Human Wave to the core. A+
Now for the advertisement: If you have the time, I encourage all of you to sign up for the July 3rd Zoom seminar that's been arranged by The Society of Tolkien. Said seminar promises to celebrate Tolkien's works as they were intended to be celebrated: without Current Year nonsense. Because of course, Tolkien was a mid-20th century Catholic fantasy writer who, if he were ported to 2021, would find present-day fixations utterly incomprehensible and bizarre.
(Yes, I'm throwing shade at a certain converged organization that shall remain nameless. And no, I'm not even remotely sorry about that. Authorial intent does matter -- and so does historical context.)
And finally, here are the links to my most recent streams:
This one is our discussion of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.
This one is our regular Iron Man stream, which covered the latest annual, a plot-arc from the early 2000's, and one story from Tales of Suspense.
And this is the one we streamed today on C.S. Lewis' Out of the Silent Planet.
Hope you enjoy!
Saturday, March 20, 2021
Don't Destroy Cultural Artifacts. Contextualize. - Round II
Or: Dr. Seuss and the Hygiene Hypothesis.
I know I'm late to the party when it comes to commenting upon the Dr. Seuss brouhaha. Forgive me, but it took me this long to track down some of the forbidden books so that I might revisit the so-called "offensive content" - and its context - for myself. Unlike The Very Smart Set, I'm not inclined to follow, sheep-like, whenever the clerisy declare that some popular American writer or artist is "problematic." No: our blue check twits are currently encouraging a moral panic that outpaces the Red Scare in its cultural destructiveness -- and its detachment from anything resembling reality. I'm not going believe that the books that taught my brother and me how to read are racist simply on these commentators' say-so.
So I read four of those books again (I couldn't find the other two): McElligot's Pool, If I Ran the Zoo, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, and Scrambled Eggs Super. My conclusion? Some of the content would never pass muster today because it's dated at best and - yes, in a few cases - racist at worst. If I Ran the Zoo is the biggest offender on this score (for relative values of "big"). But in none of these books - not even Zoo - were the questionable bits so omnipresent that they completely overshadowed the benign elements of the text in which they were embedded. In fact, in three out of the four books, I could only find one page that featured words or art that would offend the politically correct. Why pull a book out of print for one controversial page out of 20-30? Why not simply add an introductory disclaimer (if you absolutely must)?
And yes, before some Very Smart Person says it, I know this was the choice of the Seuss estate, I know they have the right not to publish certain works if they choose, blah blah blah. It's still overkill driven by a craven and eminently critique-worthy fear of sociopathic bullies -- and I think it's only going to do more damage in the long run to the people our censors say they're trying to protect. According to the hygiene hypothesis, asthma, allergies, and autoimmune conditions may be more common in the developed world because, given our public sanitation and almost obsessive personal cleanliness, we no longer train our developing, antifragile immune systems to fire on the right targets. Similarly, purging our cultural space of anything deemed offensive seems to be making people more upset and uncomfortable, not less. Granted, some SJW's claim to be traumatized by, say, simple mentions of the n-word because they know the victim card confers the power to intimidate -- but I also think the younger folks who've been swept up in this are dead serious. Because they have not been taught how to confront less egregious instantiations of cultural insensitivity in a measured, confident way, they sincerely process every such "microaggression" as a Thanos-level threat. This is not good for them; it locks them into a state of permanent anxiety that prevents real empowerment and productive activity. Better, I think, to allow kids to encounter the questionable in the relatively safe context of old picture books than to bubble them up and deny them the chance to build their resilience.
"That's easy for you to say, RG." Is it, though? Do you think I've never had the experience of being the only X in the room? Because I have bad news for you: as a conservative-leaning Catholic Christian, I get "hit" all the time in fannish spaces - and in many of the books and comics I read - with casual, unthinking misconceptions about my political and religious beliefs. Do I complain about it? Yes. Do I wish writers and my fellow fans would actually do some research instead of embracing cheap stereotypes? Of course. Does the "hitting" inspire me to lift up people and works that actually get my worldview right? You bet. But I while I hope that fandom one day learns to respect the conservative minority in its midst and will continue to write posts that challenge fandom's endemic bigotry, I will never ask that any book that contains a problematic representation of conservatives and/or Christians be pulped for the sake of my feelings because, over time, I've learned to attribute such nonsense to ignorance -- and I've learned not to take them as intentional, malicious attacks on me as an individual. (At least, not without very good evidence.)
What's more, I have a couple intellectual questions about the assumptions beneath these censorship efforts that I think deserve real answers. First, have we actually demonstrated that pop culture has a significant impact on our behavior or beliefs? Or is this something we merely assume because it appeals to our common sense? Do our books/movies/television shows/etc. actually shape us as a people, or do they merely reflect a cultural reality that already exists? I don't think this is an idle line of inquiry. After all, I've been told repeatedly that there's no reliable evidence that violent video games lead to increased aggression in children. And those historical figures who've launched campaigns warning the world about the corrupting influence of novels/games/comic books/etc. are - in fandom at least - universal targets of ridicule. So what's the logic here? How can pop culture make us racist -- yet not make us violent, antisocial, or sexually promiscuous?
Secondly, how exactly does a drawing of a Chinese man wearing a conical hat and eating with chopsticks cause harm? What is the mechanism? And is this result truly inevitable? Traditionally, many Chinese did wear conical hats -- and even today, many Chinese do eat with chopsticks. What's the harm in observing something that, in certain times and places, is true? Mere acknowledgement of cultural differences in dress and eating style need not lead to disparagement of those differences (fortunately for any school that's held a multicultural fair). It certainly didn't in the context of And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. The boy in said book added the Chinese man because he thought such a person was more interesting than one of his American neighbors. "Orientalism!" cry the activists. "It's objectifying the so-called 'exotic'!" Or, if you would permit me to blow your minds, maybe this depicts a spark of child-like curiosity that could be fanned into a fire of genuine cultural appreciation and - just maybe - friendship and peace. Yes, the visual shorthand in that Mulberry Street illustration would not be used by an artist in current year -- but a child growing up today is not going to look upon such a picture and conclude that the Chinese are rightful targets of prejudice unless he is told by idiot adults that this is what the picture means by default. Or, to put it another way: we as teachers, parents and mentors can, through careful guidance, absolutely change how the young folks in our charge interpret a book like Mulberry Street and thereby squelch any bigotry before it takes root. The Wokerati seem to regard pictures and words as magic charms that instantly re-wire our brains at the moment we encounter them, but that's not what happens at all. Top-down processing exists -- and it can be molded.
Ultimately, am I saying suck it up and deal? When it comes to openly prejudicial actions perpetrated with malice aforethought, no. When it comes to lingering inequalities that should be tackled with smart public policy, no. But when it comes to art? Yes, especially if you have to pull out an electron microscope (or take a class in critical theory) to see what's offensive -- or if you have to yank the troubling thing out of its exculpatory context in order to argue that it's beyond the pale. By all means, do what I do and - within reason - argue for more accuracy and more sensitivity in our current books. But it's crossing a bright line to say, for instance, that a historical work like McElligot's Pool deserves to be unpublished because on one page, the point-of-view character imagines a school of "Eskimo fish." No, we don't use the word "Eskimo" anymore. Yes, we now perceive it as derogatory. But lots of innocent people didn't see it that way at mid-century. All a teacher or a parent need do is point out that we don't use that word anymore because we wish to respect the Inuit people -- and then move on to enjoying the beautifully illustrated story about a boy with a sense of wonder who doesn't judge a pond by its outward appearance.
And ICYMI, here's the second stream in my dystopian fiction series. Here, we discuss The Giver and its relationship to the worship of perfect order, the rise of safetyism, the tension between rationalism and romanticism, and many other topics!
Friday, February 12, 2021
ICYMI: Discussing Fahrenheit 451 (Cross-Post)
The stream above is the start of a new series discussing mid-20th century dystopian literature and its concerning parallels with today's political landscape. In said stream, we talk about Ray Bradbury's ability to anticipate censorship's true origins -- with, of course, many tangents thrown into the mix.
Friday, November 13, 2020
Two Recommendations & Iron Man #3
Recommendations:
Carly Vanders has a problem: she's now a superhero, but no one seems to appreciate her -- or even notice that she exists. And if she's perfectly honest with herself, that really sticks in her craw. But does the recognition of adoring crowds actually matter? Or is Carly allowing her envy of an old childhood rival to cloud her view?
Like everything else produced by this artist/writer team, the second volume of Kamen America features bright, adorable manga-inspired art and an entertaining story driven by a powerful - and sadly rare - moral sensibility. Specifically, Lim and Pellegrini take direct aim at the unearned emotional validation and "yass-queen-slay!" cheerleading that is sadly epidemic in mainstream comics featuring female heroes, electing instead to keep their leading lady humble and focused on doing good for its own sake. The result: a book that's a breath of fresh air in a genre otherwise weighed down by tiresome narcissism and political correctness.
The Kickstarter campaign for Kamen America 2 has already ended, sadly, but I've linked to the pre-campaign page for their Indiegogo for anyone who missed the first pass. Do pick this up if you can; I give it my highest recommendation.
The Archer's Cup, S.D. Smith
This is another addition to Smith's middle-grade Green Ember universe, which I have praised on this blog on multiple occasions for its able storytelling, depth of characterization, and strong themes. Here, Smith follows Emma and archer Jo Shanks as they attempt to recruit Blackstone Citadel to join the fight against the Preylords -- and incidentally stumble into a mystery that's tearing the secret citadel apart. Said mystery is pretty simple - I figured it out quite early on - but Smith's young audience should enjoy it regardless. And the message here - that love is not a passion but an act of an honorable will - is remarkably wise and necessary in a world that elevates lust and shallow sentiment over sacrifice and virtue. A good choice for a read-aloud!
Iron Man #3
So what do I think of this particular issue? Uh. Well. The art remains top-notch (and is the reason why I'm buying these at this point), and the story does dial back somewhat on the obnoxiously overt political commentary, so -- that's a marginal improvement, I guess? On the whole, though, it still isn't what I'm looking for. It still feels like Cantwell, at best, only partially groks Tony on a fundamental level.
Friday, October 23, 2020
More Reviews!
Marymae and the Nightmare Man, A.M. Freeman (Author), Jeslyn Kate (Illustrator)
Iron Man #2
This book strongly evokes the silly stories my brother and I used make up as bored little kids. Pirates? Dinosaurs? Chainsaw battles? A heroine who, upon confronting the big bad, essentially calls him a poopy head? Yeah: the author here doesn't bother with sense-making. Instead, she's having fun -- and there is a crystal-blue purity to it all that needs to be experienced to be appreciated. Definitely pick this up if you want something happy and imaginative and hopeful to read to your younger children. I think most kids will immediately take to the plucky Marymae.
This anthology, on the other hand, is strictly for adults -- but it's a very, very interesting read. Imagine, for example, that someone could alter reality simply by convincing enough people to believe an outright falsehood? Or: imagine we could, through technological wizardry, create the perfect safe space by essentially erasing all perceptible traces of anyone who disagrees with us or makes us uncomfortable? These are the premises behind the two longest (and best) stories in this collection, which are both blisteringly effective literary explorations of the profound fundamental problems with today's identitarian, truth-denying ideological zeitgeist. Also covered here: the steady erosion of parental rights in Western society, the excesses of the trans movement, our elites' condescending attitudes towards the religious (and the plebs in general), etc., etc. Fox says upfront that he's trying to poke sacred cows; I'd say he's succeeded beautifully. I shall wait with bated breath for the multi-author follow-up!
Iron Man #2
Okay: now that two issues of the Iron Man relaunch have been released, it's time for some more extensive commentary on Christopher Cantwell's so-called "back-to-basics" take. And as I said yesterday on Twitter:
At any rate, buckle up for some ranting in re: Tony and the most annoying discourse in the world.
— The Right Geek (@TheRightGeek) October 21, 2020
Honestly, the fact that issue two royally honked me off is an absolute tragedy because this new run - despite the rage-inducing bull I'm about to discuss - brings quite a lot to the table.
Continue reading over on my Iron Man blog...
(And then afterwards, if you'd like, watch my rant on YouTube, which adds a few more things I didn't include in the blog post.)
Friday, October 16, 2020
Capsule Recommendations & My Iron Man #1 Reaction
Capsule Recommendations
The Unexpected Enlightenment of Rachel Griffin, L. Jagi Lamplighter
If you're in the mood for another magical school story, this book (the first of five) is a pretty good choice. The main characters here actually feel like real children with real, child-like points of view, and the suggestion that there are multiple layers to this world (or perhaps a multiverse?) is actually quite intriguing. I do think it took a little too long for the actual plot to get going in this opening installment -- but if you're patient and stick with the long, long set-up, I think you'll ultimately appreciate the potential of the series as a whole.
Pack Dynamics, Julie Frost
Urban fantasy is not generally a go-to genre for me; for some reason, vampires, werewolves, and the like just don't excite me all that much. This particular novel, however, completely won me over purely on the strength of its characterization. In particular, I fell absolutely in love with Frost's incorrigible human disaster of a "mad scientist," who managed to make me smile basically every time he appeared. Very, very fun!
Shiloh, Helena Sorensen
If you're willing to suspend your disbelief and roll with the premise - that the world has been plunged into a spiritual and literal perpetual night by the actions of an evil god - I think you'll appreciate what this particular novel (also the first of a series) has to say about the ways people can fall from grace -- and how they can find their way back to light and hope. The Amazon algorithm recommended this one to me based on my purchase of the Green Ember books, and I think the connection is apt.
And as for my reaction to the new Iron Man #1, click below...
To sum up my reaction to Iron Man this week: 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
— The Right Geek (@TheRightGeek) September 16, 2020
Sunday, July 19, 2020
Book Recommendation, 7/19/20
At the End of the World, Charles E. Gannon
Full disclosure, as always: I've talked to Chuck in person on several occasions and we're friends on Facebook. As a matter of fact, right now, we're trading pings with each other in an ongoing discussion of the MCU. But there's a reason why I approached him in the first place: I like his stuff. As I've noted many times in the past, Chuck is crazy-smart and always thinks through the details -- yet somehow, at the same time, he refrains from showing off. He often deals with big ideas (like, for example, the tension between freedom and safety), but he writes in a style that's accessible and fast-paced.
At the End of the World, is, essentially, licensed fan fiction for John Ringo's Black Tide Rising universe. (As I understand it, he was asked to write a story for one of the anthologies when Baen decided to open things up to other writers and - er - got a little carried away.) And yes: it lines up with the spirit of the "canon" perfectly. Like the novels that inspired it, At the End of the World features engaging, generally competent characters who, in the face of the zombie apocalypse, decide the survival of civilization is the only acceptable outcome.
Chuck builds his story here with a series of first-person journal entries. It's a different choice for him, but I like it, as it allows readers to really get into the head of his main character and keeps the story moving at a page-turning clip. Also worth noting is the organic diversity of Chuck's cast. Alvaro, the male lead, is Hispanic. The female lead, Chloe, is an indigenous Alaskan. But neither of these two facts is belabored to the point of obnoxiousness -- and both characters are fully realized, not mouthpieces.
I happily recommend this to anyone in my audience who's a fan of the other Black Tide Rising books. It's definitely a solid "beach read"
Full disclosure, as always: I've talked to Chuck in person on several occasions and we're friends on Facebook. As a matter of fact, right now, we're trading pings with each other in an ongoing discussion of the MCU. But there's a reason why I approached him in the first place: I like his stuff. As I've noted many times in the past, Chuck is crazy-smart and always thinks through the details -- yet somehow, at the same time, he refrains from showing off. He often deals with big ideas (like, for example, the tension between freedom and safety), but he writes in a style that's accessible and fast-paced.
At the End of the World, is, essentially, licensed fan fiction for John Ringo's Black Tide Rising universe. (As I understand it, he was asked to write a story for one of the anthologies when Baen decided to open things up to other writers and - er - got a little carried away.) And yes: it lines up with the spirit of the "canon" perfectly. Like the novels that inspired it, At the End of the World features engaging, generally competent characters who, in the face of the zombie apocalypse, decide the survival of civilization is the only acceptable outcome.
Chuck builds his story here with a series of first-person journal entries. It's a different choice for him, but I like it, as it allows readers to really get into the head of his main character and keeps the story moving at a page-turning clip. Also worth noting is the organic diversity of Chuck's cast. Alvaro, the male lead, is Hispanic. The female lead, Chloe, is an indigenous Alaskan. But neither of these two facts is belabored to the point of obnoxiousness -- and both characters are fully realized, not mouthpieces.
I happily recommend this to anyone in my audience who's a fan of the other Black Tide Rising books. It's definitely a solid "beach read"
Sunday, June 28, 2020
Quick Geeky Recommendations, 6/28/20
Books
Ember's End, S.D. Smith
This is the final novel in the central Green Ember series, and like the other books Smith has penned in this universe (which I discuss here, here, and here), it features some outstanding storytelling, a number of sympathetic characters, and a real moral core. Some may find the ending a little too perfect, but since I understand the underlying Christian worldview in play, I personally thought it was quite appropriate. Indeed, I even cried at least once reading those final, climactic chapters.
Once again, if you have children - and if fairly open religiosity doesn't bother you - please give all of the books in the Green Ember series a try. For children's books, they are extraordinarily well-written, evoking comparisons to C.S. Lewis and other classic tales.
Comics
Iron Age, Various
This is more of a qualified recommendation. The idea behind the story is actually really, really good. In sum: A fading villain destroys the world by pulling the Dark Phoenix forward into the current era (circa 2011), and the resulting conflagration sends an injured and weakened Tony Stark back in time. Bouncing around in the early years of the Marvel Universe, Tony struggles to reassemble the time machine he needs to undo the damage. Along the way, he's forced to confront some of the less comfortable aspects of his own history.
I think people who aren't as obsessively well-versed in this character's canon as I am will find this an interesting, agreeable read. But fair warning: I chafed at some of the subtle rewriting of that aforementioned canon. The creators involved knew enough to joke about the short period of time that Iron Man had a stupid nose -- so why weren't they aware that early Tony Stark actually wasn't an outright asshole? Or that early Tony Stark eventually started drinking to excess because he was stressed and sad, not because he was simply a selfish party-boy? Yes, the Tony Stark of the Silver and Bronze Ages was a flawed hero who made mistakes, but do try to get his motivations surrounding those moments of weakness correct. Grr.
That being said, there's still much in here that even my Tony-Stark-mad butt could whole-heartedly get behind. I loved Tony's crying in the rain over the loss of all his friends (and I loved his repeated pining for said friends as the story continued). I loved the scene in which 2011-era Tony confronts "Deliverance"-era Tony and has that "why are you doing this to yourself/God, I wish I could punch you into sobriety/oh God, I need a drink" moment of angst. I loved Tony's struggle to convince the 1980's-era Avengers that no, he isn't wasted and yes, he actually is from the future. I loved how Tony oh-so-subtly attempts to encourage different characters (like, for example, Hank Pym) in their times of distress without actually messing with the timeline outright. If the writers had recognized that all of this love and capacity for self-criticism has been a feature of Tony Stark from the very beginning, this truly would've been a perfect trade.
Ember's End, S.D. Smith
This is the final novel in the central Green Ember series, and like the other books Smith has penned in this universe (which I discuss here, here, and here), it features some outstanding storytelling, a number of sympathetic characters, and a real moral core. Some may find the ending a little too perfect, but since I understand the underlying Christian worldview in play, I personally thought it was quite appropriate. Indeed, I even cried at least once reading those final, climactic chapters.
Once again, if you have children - and if fairly open religiosity doesn't bother you - please give all of the books in the Green Ember series a try. For children's books, they are extraordinarily well-written, evoking comparisons to C.S. Lewis and other classic tales.
Comics
Iron Age, Various
This is more of a qualified recommendation. The idea behind the story is actually really, really good. In sum: A fading villain destroys the world by pulling the Dark Phoenix forward into the current era (circa 2011), and the resulting conflagration sends an injured and weakened Tony Stark back in time. Bouncing around in the early years of the Marvel Universe, Tony struggles to reassemble the time machine he needs to undo the damage. Along the way, he's forced to confront some of the less comfortable aspects of his own history.
I think people who aren't as obsessively well-versed in this character's canon as I am will find this an interesting, agreeable read. But fair warning: I chafed at some of the subtle rewriting of that aforementioned canon. The creators involved knew enough to joke about the short period of time that Iron Man had a stupid nose -- so why weren't they aware that early Tony Stark actually wasn't an outright asshole? Or that early Tony Stark eventually started drinking to excess because he was stressed and sad, not because he was simply a selfish party-boy? Yes, the Tony Stark of the Silver and Bronze Ages was a flawed hero who made mistakes, but do try to get his motivations surrounding those moments of weakness correct. Grr.
That being said, there's still much in here that even my Tony-Stark-mad butt could whole-heartedly get behind. I loved Tony's crying in the rain over the loss of all his friends (and I loved his repeated pining for said friends as the story continued). I loved the scene in which 2011-era Tony confronts "Deliverance"-era Tony and has that "why are you doing this to yourself/God, I wish I could punch you into sobriety/oh God, I need a drink" moment of angst. I loved Tony's struggle to convince the 1980's-era Avengers that no, he isn't wasted and yes, he actually is from the future. I loved how Tony oh-so-subtly attempts to encourage different characters (like, for example, Hank Pym) in their times of distress without actually messing with the timeline outright. If the writers had recognized that all of this love and capacity for self-criticism has been a feature of Tony Stark from the very beginning, this truly would've been a perfect trade.
Sunday, April 19, 2020
Guest Post: Don't Mess with Dune
By Richard Paolinelli
Growing up as a kid, my first introduction to literary science fiction were the works of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. I spent many an after-school hour at the public library reading those incredible stories.
But, once I got a little older, I encountered a new author and a book that cemented my love of reading science fiction for life. That book was Dune by Frank Herbert. As soon as I finished reading it I turned right back to the first page and started reading it again. The next five books in the series that Herbert wrote soon followed suit.
Over the years, I have probably read those six books, in order of course, at least twenty times. The depth and attention to detail of every facet of the universe Herbert created with Dune was amazing. You easily lost yourself in the stories, even after so many readings when you already knew all too well what was coming.
Herbert’s Dune inspired me to try to create my own universe. The first book in that attempt is When The Gods Fell. Now, I’m not about to tell you it is better than Hebert’s works, but it is filled with all of the political intrigue and mythology that Herbert wove into Dune.
I’m telling you this because later this year Dune will be released in theaters. When I heard that Dune was being redone I was ecstatic. David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation had an incredible cast. Unfortunately, it had David Lynch as the director. While he remained somewhat true to the original material, his outlandish style did not serve the material well. The movie overall was okay, but just okay.
The SYFY channel released a miniseries in 2000 that combined the first three books - Dune, Dune Messiah and Children of Dune. The casting was okay, but lacked some star power that paled in comparison to the 1984 cast. But they remained faithful to Herbert’s material and I thought they did well under the circumstances. Still, the first two attempts at adapting Dune fell short.
Fast forward to 2020. Brian Herbert (Frank’s son) and Kevin J. Anderson have expanded on Frank’s original six books over the years and I feel they have done a great job. News that they were involved in the film gave me hope that the third time would be the charm, especially when the cast and crew were announced.
Denis Villeneuve would direct, and after his work on Blade Runner 2049 I felt this meant a Dune that would stick to the original material like glue. Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto? Nice. Zendaya as Chani? Good! Timothee Chalamet as Paul? Okay, I haven’t seen him in action but he looked promising. Rebecca Ferguson as the Lady Jessica, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, Dave Bautista as Beast Rabban, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, Javier Bardem as Stilgar and Stellan Skarsgard as the Baron Harkonnen?
How sweet it is!
Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Liet-Kynes?
What in the name of Shai-hulud is this madness?
This has nothing to do with Duncan-Brewster as an actress. This has everything to do with screwing around with the original material and in what can only be assumed as a way to show the world how “woke” the film is.
Liet-Kynes is Chani’s father, not her mother. Liet-Kynes is the leader of the Fremen. In the Dune universe Herbert created, the Fremen are a desert-dwelling people with strict rules. One is they do not have women leading the tribes or their entire people. So gender-swapping Liet-Kynes makes no sense whatsoever.
This isn’t like the Battlestar Galactica reboot where Starbuck was also gender-swapped. All Starbuck was ever required to be was a kick-ass, hard-drinking, high-stakes gambling fighter pilot, male or female. So having Katee Sackhoff replace Dirk Benedict wasn’t a huge violation as long as she pulled it off, and she definitely pulled it off.
But Liet-Kynes can ONLY be a male in Herbert’s Dune universe. This decision to gender-swap the character is a terrible disservice to Herbert. And the claim cannot be made that it was done to bring a strong female character to the story.
The Lady Jessica is a very strong female character, as is Chani herself. The Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam is a very strong female character in the story. The Bene Gesserit order is an all-female army of warrior-priestesses with amazing abilities.
There is no shortage of strong females in the Dune universe. There was no need for this casting other than the obvious “Hey, look at how woke we are” by Villeneuve. Worse yet, it is disrespectful to Hebert himself to make a major change like this.
I have long disliked the tendency by Hollywood writers to attempt to write the story better than the original author did. If Hollywood is going to adapt a classic like this, then they should move heaven and earth to make sure they respect the original material.
If they cannot, then they should leave the original alone and create their own Dune-like universe with new characters. When I wrote When The Gods Fell, I did not attempt to rewrite Frank’s original. I would not disrespect Hebert or his legacy that way. I created my own universe.
If Villeneuve was incapable of showing the proper respect to Herbert’s work, he should never have agreed to direct this film. As a longtime fan of the Dune universe I am very disappointed because if they are willing to violate the original material like this one instance, what else are they going to change? Will it even be the Dune that Hebert created by the time they are done?
Sadly, is seems that the Dune reboot we deserved is not the Dune reboot we are going to get in December.
To buy When The Gods Fell and other books by Richard Paolinelli, visit his website.
Growing up as a kid, my first introduction to literary science fiction were the works of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. I spent many an after-school hour at the public library reading those incredible stories.
But, once I got a little older, I encountered a new author and a book that cemented my love of reading science fiction for life. That book was Dune by Frank Herbert. As soon as I finished reading it I turned right back to the first page and started reading it again. The next five books in the series that Herbert wrote soon followed suit.
Over the years, I have probably read those six books, in order of course, at least twenty times. The depth and attention to detail of every facet of the universe Herbert created with Dune was amazing. You easily lost yourself in the stories, even after so many readings when you already knew all too well what was coming.
Herbert’s Dune inspired me to try to create my own universe. The first book in that attempt is When The Gods Fell. Now, I’m not about to tell you it is better than Hebert’s works, but it is filled with all of the political intrigue and mythology that Herbert wove into Dune.
I’m telling you this because later this year Dune will be released in theaters. When I heard that Dune was being redone I was ecstatic. David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation had an incredible cast. Unfortunately, it had David Lynch as the director. While he remained somewhat true to the original material, his outlandish style did not serve the material well. The movie overall was okay, but just okay.
The SYFY channel released a miniseries in 2000 that combined the first three books - Dune, Dune Messiah and Children of Dune. The casting was okay, but lacked some star power that paled in comparison to the 1984 cast. But they remained faithful to Herbert’s material and I thought they did well under the circumstances. Still, the first two attempts at adapting Dune fell short.
Fast forward to 2020. Brian Herbert (Frank’s son) and Kevin J. Anderson have expanded on Frank’s original six books over the years and I feel they have done a great job. News that they were involved in the film gave me hope that the third time would be the charm, especially when the cast and crew were announced.
Denis Villeneuve would direct, and after his work on Blade Runner 2049 I felt this meant a Dune that would stick to the original material like glue. Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto? Nice. Zendaya as Chani? Good! Timothee Chalamet as Paul? Okay, I haven’t seen him in action but he looked promising. Rebecca Ferguson as the Lady Jessica, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, Dave Bautista as Beast Rabban, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, Javier Bardem as Stilgar and Stellan Skarsgard as the Baron Harkonnen?
How sweet it is!
Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Liet-Kynes?
What in the name of Shai-hulud is this madness?
This has nothing to do with Duncan-Brewster as an actress. This has everything to do with screwing around with the original material and in what can only be assumed as a way to show the world how “woke” the film is.
Liet-Kynes is Chani’s father, not her mother. Liet-Kynes is the leader of the Fremen. In the Dune universe Herbert created, the Fremen are a desert-dwelling people with strict rules. One is they do not have women leading the tribes or their entire people. So gender-swapping Liet-Kynes makes no sense whatsoever.
This isn’t like the Battlestar Galactica reboot where Starbuck was also gender-swapped. All Starbuck was ever required to be was a kick-ass, hard-drinking, high-stakes gambling fighter pilot, male or female. So having Katee Sackhoff replace Dirk Benedict wasn’t a huge violation as long as she pulled it off, and she definitely pulled it off.
But Liet-Kynes can ONLY be a male in Herbert’s Dune universe. This decision to gender-swap the character is a terrible disservice to Herbert. And the claim cannot be made that it was done to bring a strong female character to the story.
The Lady Jessica is a very strong female character, as is Chani herself. The Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam is a very strong female character in the story. The Bene Gesserit order is an all-female army of warrior-priestesses with amazing abilities.
There is no shortage of strong females in the Dune universe. There was no need for this casting other than the obvious “Hey, look at how woke we are” by Villeneuve. Worse yet, it is disrespectful to Hebert himself to make a major change like this.
I have long disliked the tendency by Hollywood writers to attempt to write the story better than the original author did. If Hollywood is going to adapt a classic like this, then they should move heaven and earth to make sure they respect the original material.
If they cannot, then they should leave the original alone and create their own Dune-like universe with new characters. When I wrote When The Gods Fell, I did not attempt to rewrite Frank’s original. I would not disrespect Hebert or his legacy that way. I created my own universe.
If Villeneuve was incapable of showing the proper respect to Herbert’s work, he should never have agreed to direct this film. As a longtime fan of the Dune universe I am very disappointed because if they are willing to violate the original material like this one instance, what else are they going to change? Will it even be the Dune that Hebert created by the time they are done?
Sadly, is seems that the Dune reboot we deserved is not the Dune reboot we are going to get in December.
To buy When The Gods Fell and other books by Richard Paolinelli, visit his website.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Geeky Recommendation, 1/15/20
The Best of Jerry Pournelle, Ed. John F. Carr
Jerry Pournelle loomed large in my early development as a science fiction fan. As a matter of fact, one novel he co-authored with Larry Niven was among the very first science fiction novels I read as a kid (Lucifer's Hammer, for those who are curious). Therefore, in the Right Geek household, Jerry occupies a place of honor. Indeed, years back, my late father and I both kept up with his occasional blogging at Chaos Manor; in particular, I respected his commentary on reading education, which, in my experience, was essentially accurate.
Jerry had a strong personality and strong opinions. He was definitely a hard conservative and didn't suffer fools gladly. But he was far too intelligent to be dismissed out of hand -- even if you disagreed with elements of his worldview. And this is not just my impression; this is also the impression of those who worked closely with him over the course of his career, as revealed by the personal reflections published in the above anthology.
On Facebook, I described Carr's "best of" collection as a "Jerry 101" course; it gives you a sampling of each of Jerry's major works, thereby assembling a "further reading" list for anyone who's curious about this particular old master and his contributions to the field. And by the way, said contributions are considerable and generally enjoyable to read. My absolute favorite is probably The Mote in God's Eye (also co-authored with Niven), but if you like mil-SF, expansive future histories, and discussions of nuclear power (among other things), you'll probably like Jerry's oeuvre as a whole.
One final note: Lately, the petty social justice tyrants of SF (whom I will not name so as not to give them undue attention) have been dancing on Jerry's grave because he was an obstacle to their ambitions. Well sorry, cupcakes, but you have been the aggressors and bullies all along. If you'd simply focused on creating the very best SF you could, you would've been welcomed with little complaint (as, in reality, many so-called "marginalized" writers have been over the years). But instead, you've decided to terrorize your fellow writers for not meeting your exacting-yet-ever-changing specifications -- and further, you've attempted to coerce people into agreeing with your delusional radical politics through intimidation, disinvitations, shit-campaigns and the like. So frankly, I'm not surprised - or particularly bothered - that Jerry fought you (and maybe got a little grouchy about it in the process). Boo-freakin'-hoo. As The Best of... illustrates, you're unlikely to erase Jerry's impact no matter how rude you are -- and no matter how much you stamp your feet and hold your breath. You might as well grow the hell up, develop some intellectual humility, and allow yourself to learn from those giants - like Jerry - who preceded you.
Jerry Pournelle loomed large in my early development as a science fiction fan. As a matter of fact, one novel he co-authored with Larry Niven was among the very first science fiction novels I read as a kid (Lucifer's Hammer, for those who are curious). Therefore, in the Right Geek household, Jerry occupies a place of honor. Indeed, years back, my late father and I both kept up with his occasional blogging at Chaos Manor; in particular, I respected his commentary on reading education, which, in my experience, was essentially accurate.
Jerry had a strong personality and strong opinions. He was definitely a hard conservative and didn't suffer fools gladly. But he was far too intelligent to be dismissed out of hand -- even if you disagreed with elements of his worldview. And this is not just my impression; this is also the impression of those who worked closely with him over the course of his career, as revealed by the personal reflections published in the above anthology.
On Facebook, I described Carr's "best of" collection as a "Jerry 101" course; it gives you a sampling of each of Jerry's major works, thereby assembling a "further reading" list for anyone who's curious about this particular old master and his contributions to the field. And by the way, said contributions are considerable and generally enjoyable to read. My absolute favorite is probably The Mote in God's Eye (also co-authored with Niven), but if you like mil-SF, expansive future histories, and discussions of nuclear power (among other things), you'll probably like Jerry's oeuvre as a whole.
One final note: Lately, the petty social justice tyrants of SF (whom I will not name so as not to give them undue attention) have been dancing on Jerry's grave because he was an obstacle to their ambitions. Well sorry, cupcakes, but you have been the aggressors and bullies all along. If you'd simply focused on creating the very best SF you could, you would've been welcomed with little complaint (as, in reality, many so-called "marginalized" writers have been over the years). But instead, you've decided to terrorize your fellow writers for not meeting your exacting-yet-ever-changing specifications -- and further, you've attempted to coerce people into agreeing with your delusional radical politics through intimidation, disinvitations, shit-campaigns and the like. So frankly, I'm not surprised - or particularly bothered - that Jerry fought you (and maybe got a little grouchy about it in the process). Boo-freakin'-hoo. As The Best of... illustrates, you're unlikely to erase Jerry's impact no matter how rude you are -- and no matter how much you stamp your feet and hold your breath. You might as well grow the hell up, develop some intellectual humility, and allow yourself to learn from those giants - like Jerry - who preceded you.
Sunday, December 1, 2019
A Non-Geeky Book Recommendation
America's Revolutionary Mind: A Moral History of the American Revolution and the Declaration That Defined It, C. Bradley Thompson
This phrase-by-phrase exegesis of the opening of the Declaration of Independence, is, in my humble opinion, one of the most essential reads of the year. Marshaling the letters, pamphlets, and speeches of the founding generation, Thompson politely but firmly counters the narrative of today's black-washers and establishes that, yes, our nation was rooted in liberty and individual rights (and not, as some would have it, in slavery/exploitation/ist and ism).
"America", in Thompson's (I think accurate) view, coalesced as a unique nation during the Imperial Crisis. Faced with the escalating intrusions of the British government, the Founders assimilated the free-floating ideas of the political Enlightenment and generated a philosophical synthesis that was genuinely revolutionary. What were the features of that synthesis? The belief that human nature is universal; that one's rights to life, liberty, and property are inherent in that nature and are not dependent on government largess or social status; and that government, though necessary, must be restrained to ensure maximum freedom for each human being.
So what are we to make of the existence of slavery in the early American republic? It was a lingering feature of the old order, not an essential component of the new. Thompson points out - again through documentary evidence - that the Founders (even the weakest and most hypocritical) were instantly aware of the contradiction that slavery represented and, in many cases, put the ball in motion to abolish it through local laws and voluntary manumissions. Even some places in the South participated in this outpouring of anti-slavery sentiment!
To put it another way: "American" ideas enabled the eventual end of legal slavery on our continent - even if, tragically, it took generations (thanks to the fallen and sinful nature of man) for the full consequences of those ideas to manifest.
More importantly: Thompson further reveals that mid-19th century slavery apologists were historicists who rejected the animating ideals of the Declaration. They did not believe, as the Founders did, that rights were natural, absolute, and inalienable. Thus, to argue that John C. Calhoun and the rest were in any way expressing a fundamentally "American" point of view is 180 degrees opposed to the truth. Said southern thinkers were aberrations influenced more by modern German philosophy than by Jefferson, Adams, et. al.
Much of the above might seem like old hat to those of us who happen to be enthusiastic students of the Revolutionary period - but even though I've done quite a bit of reading on the Founders, Thompson still taught me several new things. I didn't know, for example, about the Southern towns that manumitted their slaves - or that some towns in the New Hampshire interior didn't really consider themselves part of New Hampshire (heh). And yes: the chapter on the South's pro-slavery political thinkers was an absolute revelation.
"America" is not perfect, but as Thompson makes clear, it is good at its base. So don't listen to whatever oikophobic nonsense is being the peddled by the New York Times. Instead, buy this book and be proud.
This phrase-by-phrase exegesis of the opening of the Declaration of Independence, is, in my humble opinion, one of the most essential reads of the year. Marshaling the letters, pamphlets, and speeches of the founding generation, Thompson politely but firmly counters the narrative of today's black-washers and establishes that, yes, our nation was rooted in liberty and individual rights (and not, as some would have it, in slavery/exploitation/ist and ism).
"America", in Thompson's (I think accurate) view, coalesced as a unique nation during the Imperial Crisis. Faced with the escalating intrusions of the British government, the Founders assimilated the free-floating ideas of the political Enlightenment and generated a philosophical synthesis that was genuinely revolutionary. What were the features of that synthesis? The belief that human nature is universal; that one's rights to life, liberty, and property are inherent in that nature and are not dependent on government largess or social status; and that government, though necessary, must be restrained to ensure maximum freedom for each human being.
So what are we to make of the existence of slavery in the early American republic? It was a lingering feature of the old order, not an essential component of the new. Thompson points out - again through documentary evidence - that the Founders (even the weakest and most hypocritical) were instantly aware of the contradiction that slavery represented and, in many cases, put the ball in motion to abolish it through local laws and voluntary manumissions. Even some places in the South participated in this outpouring of anti-slavery sentiment!
To put it another way: "American" ideas enabled the eventual end of legal slavery on our continent - even if, tragically, it took generations (thanks to the fallen and sinful nature of man) for the full consequences of those ideas to manifest.
More importantly: Thompson further reveals that mid-19th century slavery apologists were historicists who rejected the animating ideals of the Declaration. They did not believe, as the Founders did, that rights were natural, absolute, and inalienable. Thus, to argue that John C. Calhoun and the rest were in any way expressing a fundamentally "American" point of view is 180 degrees opposed to the truth. Said southern thinkers were aberrations influenced more by modern German philosophy than by Jefferson, Adams, et. al.
Much of the above might seem like old hat to those of us who happen to be enthusiastic students of the Revolutionary period - but even though I've done quite a bit of reading on the Founders, Thompson still taught me several new things. I didn't know, for example, about the Southern towns that manumitted their slaves - or that some towns in the New Hampshire interior didn't really consider themselves part of New Hampshire (heh). And yes: the chapter on the South's pro-slavery political thinkers was an absolute revelation.
"America" is not perfect, but as Thompson makes clear, it is good at its base. So don't listen to whatever oikophobic nonsense is being the peddled by the New York Times. Instead, buy this book and be proud.
Friday, November 22, 2019
Geeky Recommendations, 11/22/19
Books
The Adventures of Geraldine Woolkins, Karin Kaufman
This is a cute, wholesome collection of short stories following a young mouse, her family, and her friends as they encounter the joys and dangers of the world in which they live. Though each chapter stands on its own, the tales are linked by several overarching themes, including: that suffering is unavoidable, that bravery is not the same as a lack of fear, and that God (or "Very, Very Big Hands") is always looking out for you no matter where you are. If you have younger children, this is an excellent book to read aloud!
Comics
The Avengers Omnibus, Kurt Busiek, George Pérez
I just finished Kurt Busiek's 1998 run on the Avengers not too long ago, and I loved it! Busiek does an excellent job giving every character in the massive ensemble cool things to do, and the art (by George Pérez and others who tagged in) is consistently high in quality (which is more than I can say for the Avengers comics I've been reading this week - bleh). The link above is to the first omnibus, but every issue is also available on Marvel Unlimited. Go and read!
Strange Planet, Nathan W. Pyle
This guy's comics are posted all over social media, and it's very easy to see why: they may be simple, but they're adorable! The way Pyle injects new wonder into the mundane activities of Earthly living by affecting distance and alien curiosity is something that deserves to be shared -- repeatedly. Catch the orb!
The Adventures of Geraldine Woolkins, Karin Kaufman
This is a cute, wholesome collection of short stories following a young mouse, her family, and her friends as they encounter the joys and dangers of the world in which they live. Though each chapter stands on its own, the tales are linked by several overarching themes, including: that suffering is unavoidable, that bravery is not the same as a lack of fear, and that God (or "Very, Very Big Hands") is always looking out for you no matter where you are. If you have younger children, this is an excellent book to read aloud!
Comics
The Avengers Omnibus, Kurt Busiek, George Pérez
I just finished Kurt Busiek's 1998 run on the Avengers not too long ago, and I loved it! Busiek does an excellent job giving every character in the massive ensemble cool things to do, and the art (by George Pérez and others who tagged in) is consistently high in quality (which is more than I can say for the Avengers comics I've been reading this week - bleh). The link above is to the first omnibus, but every issue is also available on Marvel Unlimited. Go and read!
Strange Planet, Nathan W. Pyle
This guy's comics are posted all over social media, and it's very easy to see why: they may be simple, but they're adorable! The way Pyle injects new wonder into the mundane activities of Earthly living by affecting distance and alien curiosity is something that deserves to be shared -- repeatedly. Catch the orb!
Friday, November 8, 2019
Another Quick Geeky Recommendation
The Far Shore, Glenn Damato
I think I've found a 2020 Dragon Award contender for the science fiction category.
(Though, of course, the year of eligibility is still young.)
When the novel opens, we are introduced to a near-future dystopia that is clearly inspired by China's developing surveillance state. Drones watch the characters 24/7, and each individual has a social credit score that rises or falls based on his or her willingness to go along with the global superstate's propaganda. But we don't linger on "Harmony" for very long because the real point of the story is escaping -- by establishing a foothold on Mars.
First winning feature: the science fiction in this is very hard. I'm no expert, but the technology the main characters use to accomplish their mission - and the various threats to their lives that arise as the plot unfolds - feels plausible. In that way, it reminds me of The Martian -- and we all know how much I love that particular yarn!
(Actually, I don't think it would be out-of-bounds to describe this book as a response to The Martian. At the very least, Damato gets the air pressure thing correct.)
Second winning feature: diversity done right! The point-of-view character is a young Hispanic woman - and the others on the mission hail from every corner of the globe - but Damato doesn't belabor that point. Instead, he writes actual characters with human personalities and human foibles and avoids obnoxious self-congratulation.
Third positive feature: honesty. Damato makes it very clear that choosing freedom is riskier. When people are free, they disagree. They make bad choices. They put themselves in danger. But freedom is still presented as the preferable course because it comes with purpose. Unlike the citizens of Harmony, who spend their days listless (and, in many cases, high), the young folks on Mars will find the challenge we all need to feel truly fulfilled.
So yes: The Far Shore gets my highest recommendation. It does have some cursing and some implied sexual situations, so I wouldn't give it to the younger set. But anyone who's 13 or older and loves liberty will find this book a rousing choice.
I think I've found a 2020 Dragon Award contender for the science fiction category.
(Though, of course, the year of eligibility is still young.)
When the novel opens, we are introduced to a near-future dystopia that is clearly inspired by China's developing surveillance state. Drones watch the characters 24/7, and each individual has a social credit score that rises or falls based on his or her willingness to go along with the global superstate's propaganda. But we don't linger on "Harmony" for very long because the real point of the story is escaping -- by establishing a foothold on Mars.
First winning feature: the science fiction in this is very hard. I'm no expert, but the technology the main characters use to accomplish their mission - and the various threats to their lives that arise as the plot unfolds - feels plausible. In that way, it reminds me of The Martian -- and we all know how much I love that particular yarn!
(Actually, I don't think it would be out-of-bounds to describe this book as a response to The Martian. At the very least, Damato gets the air pressure thing correct.)
Second winning feature: diversity done right! The point-of-view character is a young Hispanic woman - and the others on the mission hail from every corner of the globe - but Damato doesn't belabor that point. Instead, he writes actual characters with human personalities and human foibles and avoids obnoxious self-congratulation.
Third positive feature: honesty. Damato makes it very clear that choosing freedom is riskier. When people are free, they disagree. They make bad choices. They put themselves in danger. But freedom is still presented as the preferable course because it comes with purpose. Unlike the citizens of Harmony, who spend their days listless (and, in many cases, high), the young folks on Mars will find the challenge we all need to feel truly fulfilled.
So yes: The Far Shore gets my highest recommendation. It does have some cursing and some implied sexual situations, so I wouldn't give it to the younger set. But anyone who's 13 or older and loves liberty will find this book a rousing choice.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Geeky Recommendations, 10/27/19
Books: Dan Simmons Month
Ilium
I'm going to steal Larry Correia's description of the series this book launches because I can't improve upon it: "Personally, I like Olympos and Ilium even better. They have the most batshit crazy plot synopsis I’ve ever heard of. It’s the battle of Troy on Mars, with space gods, and post-apocalyptic Earth has dinosaurs and Jews menaced by killer Muslim robot pods and a giant brain thing, and monster characters from Shakespeare run a space station, as narrated by a reborn history teacher, and a robot from Jupiter who really loves to quote Proust… and Dan Simmons MAKES THIS ALL WORK." Yes. Yes, he does. And in the process, he ties in a subterranean rebuke of the idea that men are meant to be safe and comfortable. Go read and see!
Comics
Marvels, Kurt Busiek, Alex Ross
Words cannot express exactly how beautiful this book is -- all thanks to the art of Alex Ross. You can rip out literally any page and hang it on a wall. (Please don't do that, though!) But lest you think this is mere eye candy, the story - which re-imagines the Marvel Universe's early history through the eyes of an ordinary photojournalist - is also well worth reading. I honestly have no clue why they didn't continue pursuing that conceit for ten, twenty, thirty, forty -- hell, a whole ongoing series of issues. I would have found it interesting at the very least!
Weeb Stuff
Cells at Work: Code Black, Vol. 1, Shigemitsu Harada, Issei Hatsuyoshiya
The original Cells at Work (the anime adaptation of which I squee about here) is an insanely cute, kid-friendly romp through the blood vessels (and sometimes bone marrow) of a healthy human body. This, however, is a darker, more adult variation on the theme. The cells here are working for a man who doesn't take care of himself and consequently suffers from autoimmune conditions, erectile dysfunction, arteriosclerosis, and - in one story - a gonorrhea infection. Needless to say, you probably shouldn't give this to younger readers. I have to say, though: there's something curiously moral about the main character's horrified response when he learns all his efforts to keep the penis erect may not have been for the purpose of reproduction. Hmmm.
Ilium
I'm going to steal Larry Correia's description of the series this book launches because I can't improve upon it: "Personally, I like Olympos and Ilium even better. They have the most batshit crazy plot synopsis I’ve ever heard of. It’s the battle of Troy on Mars, with space gods, and post-apocalyptic Earth has dinosaurs and Jews menaced by killer Muslim robot pods and a giant brain thing, and monster characters from Shakespeare run a space station, as narrated by a reborn history teacher, and a robot from Jupiter who really loves to quote Proust… and Dan Simmons MAKES THIS ALL WORK." Yes. Yes, he does. And in the process, he ties in a subterranean rebuke of the idea that men are meant to be safe and comfortable. Go read and see!
Comics
Marvels, Kurt Busiek, Alex Ross
Words cannot express exactly how beautiful this book is -- all thanks to the art of Alex Ross. You can rip out literally any page and hang it on a wall. (Please don't do that, though!) But lest you think this is mere eye candy, the story - which re-imagines the Marvel Universe's early history through the eyes of an ordinary photojournalist - is also well worth reading. I honestly have no clue why they didn't continue pursuing that conceit for ten, twenty, thirty, forty -- hell, a whole ongoing series of issues. I would have found it interesting at the very least!
Weeb Stuff
Cells at Work: Code Black, Vol. 1, Shigemitsu Harada, Issei Hatsuyoshiya
The original Cells at Work (the anime adaptation of which I squee about here) is an insanely cute, kid-friendly romp through the blood vessels (and sometimes bone marrow) of a healthy human body. This, however, is a darker, more adult variation on the theme. The cells here are working for a man who doesn't take care of himself and consequently suffers from autoimmune conditions, erectile dysfunction, arteriosclerosis, and - in one story - a gonorrhea infection. Needless to say, you probably shouldn't give this to younger readers. I have to say, though: there's something curiously moral about the main character's horrified response when he learns all his efforts to keep the penis erect may not have been for the purpose of reproduction. Hmmm.
Friday, October 18, 2019
One Quick Geeky Recommendation
The Chronicles of Davids, David Afsharirad (ed.)
Apparently, there are a lot of people named David who write good science fiction, and Baen recently decided to collect a bunch of their stories in one volume just for novelty's sake. All in harmless fun, right?
Well, if you're normal, you recognize this for what it is. But if you're a petty social justice bully, you get butt-mad because this one book doesn't meet your exacting specifications.
I find it funny - and by "funny," I mean "really freaking obnoxious and hypocritical" - that these people never live by their own rules. They keep telling us "it wasn't made for you" or "make your own" or "don't like, don't read," but as soon as someone on our side starts having what SJW's designate as Wrongfun, the knives come out.
To steal a phrase Sarah Hoyt used today on social media, it's sick-of-this-nonsense o' clock.
Today, publishing a book is insanely easy -- once you have it written, that is. The barriers to entry are essentially nonexistent if you're willing to do the work required to promote your stuff. The result? Whatever your esoteric tastes, you can probably find something to read on Amazon, the Great Bastion of Dino Porn. You don't need to force everyone else to cater to your whims.
So let me throw your platitudes back in your face, dear wokescolds: if you don't like this particular anthology, then don't purchase it. Go buy one of the many "diverse" anthologies that are out there, as I'm sure they'll be more suited to your tastes. Don't just sit there and bitch; buzz off and let other people enjoy things.
And to those on my side: this book ropes in proven talents. Buy it and enjoy.
Apparently, there are a lot of people named David who write good science fiction, and Baen recently decided to collect a bunch of their stories in one volume just for novelty's sake. All in harmless fun, right?
Well, if you're normal, you recognize this for what it is. But if you're a petty social justice bully, you get butt-mad because this one book doesn't meet your exacting specifications.
I find it funny - and by "funny," I mean "really freaking obnoxious and hypocritical" - that these people never live by their own rules. They keep telling us "it wasn't made for you" or "make your own" or "don't like, don't read," but as soon as someone on our side starts having what SJW's designate as Wrongfun, the knives come out.
To steal a phrase Sarah Hoyt used today on social media, it's sick-of-this-nonsense o' clock.
Today, publishing a book is insanely easy -- once you have it written, that is. The barriers to entry are essentially nonexistent if you're willing to do the work required to promote your stuff. The result? Whatever your esoteric tastes, you can probably find something to read on Amazon, the Great Bastion of Dino Porn. You don't need to force everyone else to cater to your whims.
So let me throw your platitudes back in your face, dear wokescolds: if you don't like this particular anthology, then don't purchase it. Go buy one of the many "diverse" anthologies that are out there, as I'm sure they'll be more suited to your tastes. Don't just sit there and bitch; buzz off and let other people enjoy things.
And to those on my side: this book ropes in proven talents. Buy it and enjoy.
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Geeky Recommendations, 10/9/19
(Note: Sorry for the lack of a post this past Sunday. I got a little busy and ran out of time.)
Books: Dan Simmons Month
For no particular reason at all, I've decided to spend the rest of October highlighting the work of Dan Simmons. Up first? Hyperion, his 1990 Hugo Award winner. The other day, I described this novel to a co-worker as "The Canterbury Tales... IN SPACE," but that only gives you a very basic sense of its structure. In reality, this is an odd, kitchen-sink kind of book that somehow manages to be a space opera, a cyberpunk tale, a mystery, and a literary reflection all at once. My favorite of the six stories told is probably Sol Weintraub's because it seriously grapples with the problem of suffering, but interesting ideas are included throughout. Fair warning, though: since this is the first of a series, you may find the ending a bit unsatisfying, as Simmons leaves the central mystery that drives the pilgrimage unsolved.
Now Playing
Joker. Let's cut through the pervasive mental retardation, shall we?
(Possible spoilers below the cut.)
Books: Dan Simmons Month
For no particular reason at all, I've decided to spend the rest of October highlighting the work of Dan Simmons. Up first? Hyperion, his 1990 Hugo Award winner. The other day, I described this novel to a co-worker as "The Canterbury Tales... IN SPACE," but that only gives you a very basic sense of its structure. In reality, this is an odd, kitchen-sink kind of book that somehow manages to be a space opera, a cyberpunk tale, a mystery, and a literary reflection all at once. My favorite of the six stories told is probably Sol Weintraub's because it seriously grapples with the problem of suffering, but interesting ideas are included throughout. Fair warning, though: since this is the first of a series, you may find the ending a bit unsatisfying, as Simmons leaves the central mystery that drives the pilgrimage unsolved.
Now Playing
Joker. Let's cut through the pervasive mental retardation, shall we?
(Possible spoilers below the cut.)
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Geeky Recommendations, 9/18/19 (+ Another IM Vid)
Books
Warrior of the Kizan, by Ann Margaret Lewis
Full disclosure: Ann was one of my roomies at Dragon Con this year. But I'm pretty sure I would've enjoyed this book anyway even if I hadn't met the author. Why? Because it "attacks" me personally on several levels. One: it's science fiction that deals explicitly with religious themes. (If you've been following me long enough, you know my Canticle for Leibowitz-loving butt lurves it when spiritual stuff gets sprinkled into my sci-fi/fantasy.) The aliens in Ann's world are descendants of the biblical Nephilim who were transported off-planet before the Flood. Said aliens are explicitly guided by an angel and therefore have a far more direct relationship with God -- a reality whose consequences Ann handles well. Two: one lead is a soldier with suggested PTSD. (Ahem. You have noticed that this blog has been taken over by my love for another character with PTSD, yes?) Three: another significant character is the son of the big bad and is consequently torn between his familial loyalties and his sense of right and wrong. (Conflicted characters are another of my hot buttons.) (And don't think I don't See What You Did There, Ann, in naming that character Saul.) Thanks to these features - and to that final chapter - I'm eager to see where the rest of the planned trilogy goes from here.
Comics (Sad/Unresolved Angst)
At this point, I've read every Iron Man comic published between 2004 and 2007 (which necessitated my reading Civil War and two other crossover events because Marvel's 21st century money-grabbing strategies are annoying AF). Would I personally recommend anything released in this era? I -- don't know. I have so. many. reservations re: how Tony is handled -- reservations I'm still trying to process and put into words. As of now, what I can do is tell you which issues/arcs elicited a powerful emotional response beyond paralyzing doubt:
Execute Program, Daniel Knauf, Charlie Knauf, et. al.
I talked about this arc briefly before I left for Dragon Con. Suffice it to say that any story that ends with Tony dramatically sacrificing himself generally gets Steph's Seal of Approval.
Civil War: Casualties of War: Captain America/Iron Man, Christos N. Gage, et. al.
Once again, I have so. many. reservations when it comes to Civil War as a whole. But this particular tie-in? This one gets me good and hard. As soon as they start weaving in - and then expanding - the sparring scene from "Demon in a Bottle," I dissolve into a puddle of tears. "You gave me a home." "I've got his back." "He would say the same." STOP I LITERALLY CAN'T.
Haunted, Daniel Knauf, Charles Knauf, et. al.
I screamed at the end of this Mandarin arc, so that counts for something. Also? Tony is slowly going crazy -- to the point that he's hallucinating dead people and living in his armor 24/7. If that sort of angst is your cuppa the way it is mine, this one's for you.
Comics (Happy/Humorous/Resolved Angst)
While reading all of the above, I often had to take breaks to consume lighter fare. The following are my discoveries in this realm:
Marvel Adventures: The Avengers, by Jeff Parker, Manuel Garcia
Marvel Adventures: Iron Man, by Fred Van Lente, James Cordeiro
Captain America: The Fighting Avenger, by Brian Clevinger, et. al.
These are all years-old children's comics, and they are absolutely precious. Indeed, words are inadequate to express exactly how adorable they are. I cannot. stop. smiling just thinking of them. If only the grown-up comics were written with the same sense of fun!
Captain America/Iron Man Annual 1998
The story in this revolves around a serious, substantive dispute between the titular characters, but it belongs in the happy column because Tony and Steve eventually find a way to make peace with each other and get shit done.
Avengers: Prime, by Brian Michael Bendis, Alan Davis
Yes, I know, Bendis. I'm sorry, but I can't help but laugh out loud when Tony decides to cope with being stripped naked by joking that he's come up with a new, high-tech see-through armor. And, like the '98 annual, this mini-series is also good for your Tony-and-Steve-fight-like-cats-and-dogs-but-ultimately-work-it-out needs.
Avengers: Millennium, by Mike Costa, et. al.
This is an "infinite comic" available on Comixology featuring a decent time travel adventure and a blessedly functional Avengers team. If you're sick of the Avengers' constant warring with each other in recent comics, this might be a good miniseries in which to set up camp.
And lastly, before I close for the night, have another YouTube video:
Warrior of the Kizan, by Ann Margaret Lewis
Full disclosure: Ann was one of my roomies at Dragon Con this year. But I'm pretty sure I would've enjoyed this book anyway even if I hadn't met the author. Why? Because it "attacks" me personally on several levels. One: it's science fiction that deals explicitly with religious themes. (If you've been following me long enough, you know my Canticle for Leibowitz-loving butt lurves it when spiritual stuff gets sprinkled into my sci-fi/fantasy.) The aliens in Ann's world are descendants of the biblical Nephilim who were transported off-planet before the Flood. Said aliens are explicitly guided by an angel and therefore have a far more direct relationship with God -- a reality whose consequences Ann handles well. Two: one lead is a soldier with suggested PTSD. (Ahem. You have noticed that this blog has been taken over by my love for another character with PTSD, yes?) Three: another significant character is the son of the big bad and is consequently torn between his familial loyalties and his sense of right and wrong. (Conflicted characters are another of my hot buttons.) (And don't think I don't See What You Did There, Ann, in naming that character Saul.) Thanks to these features - and to that final chapter - I'm eager to see where the rest of the planned trilogy goes from here.
Comics (Sad/Unresolved Angst)
At this point, I've read every Iron Man comic published between 2004 and 2007 (which necessitated my reading Civil War and two other crossover events because Marvel's 21st century money-grabbing strategies are annoying AF). Would I personally recommend anything released in this era? I -- don't know. I have so. many. reservations re: how Tony is handled -- reservations I'm still trying to process and put into words. As of now, what I can do is tell you which issues/arcs elicited a powerful emotional response beyond paralyzing doubt:
Execute Program, Daniel Knauf, Charlie Knauf, et. al.
I talked about this arc briefly before I left for Dragon Con. Suffice it to say that any story that ends with Tony dramatically sacrificing himself generally gets Steph's Seal of Approval.
Civil War: Casualties of War: Captain America/Iron Man, Christos N. Gage, et. al.
Once again, I have so. many. reservations when it comes to Civil War as a whole. But this particular tie-in? This one gets me good and hard. As soon as they start weaving in - and then expanding - the sparring scene from "Demon in a Bottle," I dissolve into a puddle of tears. "You gave me a home." "I've got his back." "He would say the same." STOP I LITERALLY CAN'T.
Haunted, Daniel Knauf, Charles Knauf, et. al.
I screamed at the end of this Mandarin arc, so that counts for something. Also? Tony is slowly going crazy -- to the point that he's hallucinating dead people and living in his armor 24/7. If that sort of angst is your cuppa the way it is mine, this one's for you.
Comics (Happy/Humorous/Resolved Angst)
While reading all of the above, I often had to take breaks to consume lighter fare. The following are my discoveries in this realm:
Marvel Adventures: The Avengers, by Jeff Parker, Manuel Garcia
Marvel Adventures: Iron Man, by Fred Van Lente, James Cordeiro
Captain America: The Fighting Avenger, by Brian Clevinger, et. al.
These are all years-old children's comics, and they are absolutely precious. Indeed, words are inadequate to express exactly how adorable they are. I cannot. stop. smiling just thinking of them. If only the grown-up comics were written with the same sense of fun!
Captain America/Iron Man Annual 1998
The story in this revolves around a serious, substantive dispute between the titular characters, but it belongs in the happy column because Tony and Steve eventually find a way to make peace with each other and get shit done.
Avengers: Prime, by Brian Michael Bendis, Alan Davis
Yes, I know, Bendis. I'm sorry, but I can't help but laugh out loud when Tony decides to cope with being stripped naked by joking that he's come up with a new, high-tech see-through armor. And, like the '98 annual, this mini-series is also good for your Tony-and-Steve-fight-like-cats-and-dogs-but-ultimately-work-it-out needs.
Avengers: Millennium, by Mike Costa, et. al.
This is an "infinite comic" available on Comixology featuring a decent time travel adventure and a blessedly functional Avengers team. If you're sick of the Avengers' constant warring with each other in recent comics, this might be a good miniseries in which to set up camp.
And lastly, before I close for the night, have another YouTube video:
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Geeky Recommendations, 8/21/19
Books
Monster Hunter Guardian, Larry Correia & Sarah A. Hoyt
The Monster Hunter series is an absolute blast (see reviews I've written of other installments here and here), and this book is no exception. Do you like naughty acronyms for government agencies? Do you like fantasy creatures re-imagined for the modern world? Do you like well-written action sequences -- or sly commentary on the idiocy of thinking that the undead are anything but dangerous? This book has all of that -- plus a pissed off mother who will do anything to save her kid. Julie Shackleford kicks some serious ass here -- and Mr. Trash Bags, Julie's pet shoggoth, is still weirdly adorable.
A Star-Wheeled Sky, Brad R. Torgersen
All the rumors you've heard about Brad are absolute bunk, and this space opera - presumably the first of a series - is proof. Many of the features of this story are traditional for the genre; unsurprisingly, there are battling star-states, ancient alien artifacts, and a mysterious threat to the known universe. But strikingly, the bulk of the action is dominated by the decisions of female characters. Women head up both competing fleets -- and yet another woman is a source of knowledge that will have a critical impact on the story going forward. If Brad is trying to "keep women out of science fiction," he's doing a piss-poor job of it.
(By the way, this one's up for the Dragon Award this year, so if you haven't read it already, pick it up before the August 31 deadline!)
Comics
The Invincible Iron Man, Vol. 3, Various
The link is to the omnibus containing the Busiek/Chen issues. The first forty issues, are, I think, the best - after that, the art gets really inconsistent - but writing-wise, there are good concepts to be found throughout the 89-issue run, including: Tony getting attacked by evil sentient armor (which sounds dumb but is actually legitimately terrifying); a former friend torturing Tony via virtual reality; Tony reaching out to Carol Danvers when she starts hitting the bottle; Tony serving temporarily as the Secretary of Defense; and yet another stellar arc in which Tony is hassled by the legacy of the Mandarin. Hell, even the stuff that didn't impress me all that much didn't make me want to rage-quit in disgust, which is more than I can say for volume 2 or the unspeakably bad final issues of volume 1 mentioned last week.
This week's "Iron Man Blogging" installment is going to be fun.
Monster Hunter Guardian, Larry Correia & Sarah A. Hoyt
The Monster Hunter series is an absolute blast (see reviews I've written of other installments here and here), and this book is no exception. Do you like naughty acronyms for government agencies? Do you like fantasy creatures re-imagined for the modern world? Do you like well-written action sequences -- or sly commentary on the idiocy of thinking that the undead are anything but dangerous? This book has all of that -- plus a pissed off mother who will do anything to save her kid. Julie Shackleford kicks some serious ass here -- and Mr. Trash Bags, Julie's pet shoggoth, is still weirdly adorable.
A Star-Wheeled Sky, Brad R. Torgersen
All the rumors you've heard about Brad are absolute bunk, and this space opera - presumably the first of a series - is proof. Many of the features of this story are traditional for the genre; unsurprisingly, there are battling star-states, ancient alien artifacts, and a mysterious threat to the known universe. But strikingly, the bulk of the action is dominated by the decisions of female characters. Women head up both competing fleets -- and yet another woman is a source of knowledge that will have a critical impact on the story going forward. If Brad is trying to "keep women out of science fiction," he's doing a piss-poor job of it.
(By the way, this one's up for the Dragon Award this year, so if you haven't read it already, pick it up before the August 31 deadline!)
Comics
The Invincible Iron Man, Vol. 3, Various
The link is to the omnibus containing the Busiek/Chen issues. The first forty issues, are, I think, the best - after that, the art gets really inconsistent - but writing-wise, there are good concepts to be found throughout the 89-issue run, including: Tony getting attacked by evil sentient armor (which sounds dumb but is actually legitimately terrifying); a former friend torturing Tony via virtual reality; Tony reaching out to Carol Danvers when she starts hitting the bottle; Tony serving temporarily as the Secretary of Defense; and yet another stellar arc in which Tony is hassled by the legacy of the Mandarin. Hell, even the stuff that didn't impress me all that much didn't make me want to rage-quit in disgust, which is more than I can say for volume 2 or the unspeakably bad final issues of volume 1 mentioned last week.
This week's "Iron Man Blogging" installment is going to be fun.
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Geeky Recommendations, 8/14/19 (One Day Late)
Books
Marque of Caine (Caine Riordan, Book 5), Charles E. Gannon
I'm always down for a book by Chuck Gannon (see also: my reviews of the first and second book of this particular series). The man - to whom, full disclosure, I've spoken often enough that I earned myself a brief cameo in, I believe, the third book - is frighteningly intelligent and erudite, and it's reflected in everything he writes. He doesn't just hand-wave his FTL travel, battle tactics, or cultural anthropology; he thinks all of that through.
(Not that handwavium's necessarily bad; I just marvel when an author manages to avoid it.)
So what did I like about this particular installment (in which Caine and the reader are treated to an up-close, fascinating look at the Dornaani Collective and its dysfunctions)? What did I dog-ear like a God-damned barbarian? Well, here's a little taste:
Comics
The Invincible Iron Man, Vol. 1 (1968), Various
Yes, I've finally finished the entire first run of Iron Man and can now offer up an official recommendation. While there are aspects to these comics that are jarring to modern sensibilities, I ultimately connected to this early version of Tony Stark on a deep emotional level. One caveat, though: stop at issue #318. DO NOT READ ALL THE WAY TO #332 FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. I did because I'm an inveterate completist, and NOW I WANT TO ERASE MY MEMORY OF THAT ABSOLUTE TRASH.
Ahem. Sorry about that. Anyway, check back here tomorrow if you want to read more details (and screaming, probably) about volume 1, as that will be the subject of this week's "Iron Man Blogging" episode.
(By the way, the link above is to the Marvel Masterworks collection that contains the first issue. You can continue from there.)
Iron Man: Fatal Frontier, Al Ewing, Kieron Gillen, Lan Medina, Neil Edwards, et. al.
Yes, I jumped ahead quite a bit to read this one; it's a stand-alone mini-series, and I have enough working knowledge of recent canon that I was able to follow the references. At any rate: this features Tony policing a boom-town on the moon and becoming increasingly megalomaniacal because he's being poisoned by a magical MacGuffin. It sounds stupid, but I promise you, it's not. It actually features some amazing reflection, on Tony's part, on the true source of Iron Man's power -- and on his status as a "necessary monster." And it involves Tony going dark-side for actual reasons, which is more than I can say for A Certain Plot I Refuse to Acknowledge as Canon.
Operation Galactic Storm, Bob Harras, Roy Thomas, et. al.
I picked this one up when I hit the Iron Man tie-ins in volume 1 and realized I really did need to read the whole story to grok it. In this event, all of the Avengers get thrown into the middle of a war between the Kree and the Shi'ar, and much intrigue - and action, of course - ensues. I won't spoil it, but the ending is legitimately shocking. And - well - if you click the cut, you'll see another thing that, for me, made the whole book worth it:
Marque of Caine (Caine Riordan, Book 5), Charles E. Gannon
I'm always down for a book by Chuck Gannon (see also: my reviews of the first and second book of this particular series). The man - to whom, full disclosure, I've spoken often enough that I earned myself a brief cameo in, I believe, the third book - is frighteningly intelligent and erudite, and it's reflected in everything he writes. He doesn't just hand-wave his FTL travel, battle tactics, or cultural anthropology; he thinks all of that through.
(Not that handwavium's necessarily bad; I just marvel when an author manages to avoid it.)
So what did I like about this particular installment (in which Caine and the reader are treated to an up-close, fascinating look at the Dornaani Collective and its dysfunctions)? What did I dog-ear like a God-damned barbarian? Well, here's a little taste:
His eyes opened. "Human, it is your species that possesses the truly decisive power: the inner drive that pushes you outward, the uncritical confidence in your own immanence and will to create."Intrigued yet? You should be. This is a book about trade-offs -- specifically about what is lost when safety and comfort are chosen over danger and challenge. It's a fine meditation that holds up well next to Chuck's previous work.
Caine heard a last-second caesura. "But?"
"But that confidence can also make a race dangerous. A race capable of limitless creation is also capable of the hubris that comes with it. We traded away that vigor and risk for a serene and longer life. Only later did we discover that without vigor and risk, we were no longer living; we were merely surviving. We became accustomed to food without taste, excitement without vulnerability, accomplishment without sacrifice."
Comics
The Invincible Iron Man, Vol. 1 (1968), Various
Yes, I've finally finished the entire first run of Iron Man and can now offer up an official recommendation. While there are aspects to these comics that are jarring to modern sensibilities, I ultimately connected to this early version of Tony Stark on a deep emotional level. One caveat, though: stop at issue #318. DO NOT READ ALL THE WAY TO #332 FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. I did because I'm an inveterate completist, and NOW I WANT TO ERASE MY MEMORY OF THAT ABSOLUTE TRASH.
Ahem. Sorry about that. Anyway, check back here tomorrow if you want to read more details (and screaming, probably) about volume 1, as that will be the subject of this week's "Iron Man Blogging" episode.
(By the way, the link above is to the Marvel Masterworks collection that contains the first issue. You can continue from there.)
Iron Man: Fatal Frontier, Al Ewing, Kieron Gillen, Lan Medina, Neil Edwards, et. al.
Yes, I jumped ahead quite a bit to read this one; it's a stand-alone mini-series, and I have enough working knowledge of recent canon that I was able to follow the references. At any rate: this features Tony policing a boom-town on the moon and becoming increasingly megalomaniacal because he's being poisoned by a magical MacGuffin. It sounds stupid, but I promise you, it's not. It actually features some amazing reflection, on Tony's part, on the true source of Iron Man's power -- and on his status as a "necessary monster." And it involves Tony going dark-side for actual reasons, which is more than I can say for A Certain Plot I Refuse to Acknowledge as Canon.
Operation Galactic Storm, Bob Harras, Roy Thomas, et. al.
I picked this one up when I hit the Iron Man tie-ins in volume 1 and realized I really did need to read the whole story to grok it. In this event, all of the Avengers get thrown into the middle of a war between the Kree and the Shi'ar, and much intrigue - and action, of course - ensues. I won't spoil it, but the ending is legitimately shocking. And - well - if you click the cut, you'll see another thing that, for me, made the whole book worth it:
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