Susan Hated Literature

Author: Jim C. Hines
ISBN: 0756404002 DDC: 813.6
Group read with FantasyFavorites
Book 1 in the Jig series.
See also: LibraryThing ; Jim C Hines’ Sff site ; Backcountry Musings ; Barbarienne’s Den

Jig hated muck duty.
He didn’t mind the actual work. He liked the metallic smell of the distillation room, where week-old blood and toadstool residue dried in their trays.

Jig is a goblin; a smaller than average, weaker than average goblin. This means he gets picked on a lot. He gets a bit of a raw deal most of the time. But that is the norm for most goblins, their fate is to live underground in their tunnels, fodder for any adventurous type that might come looking for treasure, or maybe to die at the hands of the neighbouring hobgoblins. An early death is a fairly usual end; the best to be hoped for is a quick one.

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Dir: Christian Volckman
Writ: Alexandre de La Patellière, Jean-Bernard Pouy, Jean-Bernard Pouy & Patrick Raynal

• Daniel Craig - Barthélémy Karas
• Catherine McCormack - Bislane Tasuiev
• Romola Garai - Ilona Tasuiev
• Ian Holm - Jonas Muller

It is 2054, Paris and a young woman has just been kidnapped. Karas, a police captain specialising in kidnapping is charged to find her, and to find her alive. The company she works for, Avalon, are very insistent that this researcher be found.

But if I’m honest the plot isn’t really all that interesting. Run of the mill sci-fi detective noir, if such a thing exists. You’ll quickly guess that the big “concerned” company isn’t all puppies and squishy kittens. But it doesn’t really matter that the plot is a little boring, because you can just enjoy the visuals.

This is a motion-capture film, then transformed into an animated one, all in black and white. Well, apart from a few colour scenes toward the end, and it looks fantastic. Like a comic book in motion. There have been comparisons with Sin City, but I don’t see it, apart from the comic book/noir aspect. The storyline and characters are all very different.

But there is a slight coldness, or distance in the film. It’s hard to engage with. Whether this is the fault of the plot, or the technical aspects taking away from the performance/art I’m not sure.

Go to enjoy the pretty noir pictures, but don’t expect a masterpiece.

IMDb | wikipedia | Official site (in french) | No-Necked Monsters | Everything Is Nice

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ISBN: 1841491837
Wheel of Time #10
Author: Robert Jordan
DDC: 813.54

First line:
Rodel Ituralde hated waiting, though he well knew it was the largest part of being a soldier.

This was a reread for me, I first read it when the hardback was released a few years ago. Sped through it and then said, in disgust, Nothing Happened. But as the newest book in this series came out recently I figured I’d take a skim through in preparation. Lucky I did, as I didn’t remember anything from this book. Apart from the very very end. And I think the reason is that nothing actually happens in this book, apart from one thing. At the end.

There is a lot of X going there, and Y preparing for that, and Z recovering from the other. But actual events? Few and far between.

I suppose that is the problem when you write such a long series and have so many major characters, not to mention a multitude of other minor characters. Through in a load of politics and scheming and there is quite a bit of setting up of scenarios.

Obviously, if you haven’t read the others in this series there is no point in picking this one up. If you haven’t enjoyed the others then you won’t enjoy this one. And if you read it after waiting and waiting ages since the previous one you’ll be annoyed at the lack of action and forward movement. However it does make a lot more satisfying reading when you have book 11 there and waiting to be picked up.

6/10, doorstop, epic, fantasy, jordan, Jordan, Robert, magic, One Power, Wheel of Time, robert

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Episode 1.03 - written by Damon Lindelof

This basically follows on from episode one. We learn a bit more about some of the survivors, mainly through flach-back. But overall I’m still failing to see why this has been so hyped. Still I’ve been told that once we get to episode #4 everyone who watches will be hooked.

This episode is mainly about Kate, but there is some interesting interaction with Sawyer. Despite his claims to be “living in the wild” he was clearly upset at being the one to “put the marshal out of his misery” not to mention not doing it right.

So, still watchable, but nothing to write home about

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