Just a quick note to say that this was Australia's finest football moment. Unbelieveable. I have been broken and remade...
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Discworld, Time Travel, etc.
Just finished Night Watch, another Terry Pratchett novel (Since I read Thud! I have recently re-read “Men at Arms”, “Feet of Clay”, “Jingo”, “The Fifth Elephant”, “The Truth”, “Night Watch” and have begun “Going Postal”).
Some things occur to me:
Firstly that the Discworld novels have become more and more about people and less and less about comedy/fantasy. This, it must be said, is a good thing, the Discworld novels are only getting better and one feels that you are reading a call to arms for a decent world, albeit on the back of a turtle and four elephants.
Secondly I have recently finished or am reading three novels that deal with time travel, “Night Watch” – Terry Pratchett, “The Anubis Gates” – Tim Powers and “Weapons of Choice” – John Birmingham.
The best of these three is the Anubis Gates, for the very simple reason that the story is consistent, and that no matter how people think they are changing history they end up following the script.
Night Watch takes the attitude that history can be deformed but will flex back into shape (with the help of the Monks of Time), this is far less satisfying as it seems to smack of lazy writing and in any event does not explain some of the events of the Night Watch, for example:
Vetinari asks Sam if he ever wondered why he wore a lilac, and Sam says that it was any man’s right, but appears not to know why Vetinari wore one. This makes no sense, the younger Sam would have known that Vetinari joined the fight after the ‘death’ of John Keel and so would have known why Vetinari wore the lilac; similarly Vetinari would have known that as well.
Finally Weapons of Choice just decides that history braches from the instant the battle group goes back in time. This is just a variant on the alternative history novel, which I have never really been that interested in. (I prefer my “what ifs” to focus on the future).
Some things occur to me:
Firstly that the Discworld novels have become more and more about people and less and less about comedy/fantasy. This, it must be said, is a good thing, the Discworld novels are only getting better and one feels that you are reading a call to arms for a decent world, albeit on the back of a turtle and four elephants.
Secondly I have recently finished or am reading three novels that deal with time travel, “Night Watch” – Terry Pratchett, “The Anubis Gates” – Tim Powers and “Weapons of Choice” – John Birmingham.
The best of these three is the Anubis Gates, for the very simple reason that the story is consistent, and that no matter how people think they are changing history they end up following the script.
Night Watch takes the attitude that history can be deformed but will flex back into shape (with the help of the Monks of Time), this is far less satisfying as it seems to smack of lazy writing and in any event does not explain some of the events of the Night Watch, for example:
Vetinari asks Sam if he ever wondered why he wore a lilac, and Sam says that it was any man’s right, but appears not to know why Vetinari wore one. This makes no sense, the younger Sam would have known that Vetinari joined the fight after the ‘death’ of John Keel and so would have known why Vetinari wore the lilac; similarly Vetinari would have known that as well.
Finally Weapons of Choice just decides that history braches from the instant the battle group goes back in time. This is just a variant on the alternative history novel, which I have never really been that interested in. (I prefer my “what ifs” to focus on the future).
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Amusing
Can I get off please?
Golfing etiquette
I am not one to complain about golfers and their actions, as a golfer myself I understand the frustrations caused by that small ball’s refusal to do what it should. One of the keys of golf however, is to master the frustration and play in an inner shell embracing all the chaos that surrounds you.
Well on Saturday I was playing with a mate on a very casual public course (Lake Claremont) and we had no sooner started to play than the group behind (Members of the WA Golf Assoc. I believe!) were demanding that we play faster. Make no mistake, we were not just walking up the ball and hitting it, but nor were we in danger of losing contact with the group in front. Furthermore, it was the first hole, and any golfer worth their salt knows that you need to wait for at least two holes before you can complain about slow play, as a single hole may not be representative.
Well, we never heard from them again, (I made some ‘calm down’ motions to them, and they did not seem to be able to keep up with us in any case). After we had completed our round, we were discussing the game and life in general at the clubhouse and the three golfers wandered in, I kept an eye on them as I considered them rude and was prepared for a silly action from them, but after a glance from each of them they did not meet my gaze.
Apparently acting like a boor is acceptable on the fairways but not in the rest of the world. Poor form, I say.
Well on Saturday I was playing with a mate on a very casual public course (Lake Claremont) and we had no sooner started to play than the group behind (Members of the WA Golf Assoc. I believe!) were demanding that we play faster. Make no mistake, we were not just walking up the ball and hitting it, but nor were we in danger of losing contact with the group in front. Furthermore, it was the first hole, and any golfer worth their salt knows that you need to wait for at least two holes before you can complain about slow play, as a single hole may not be representative.
Well, we never heard from them again, (I made some ‘calm down’ motions to them, and they did not seem to be able to keep up with us in any case). After we had completed our round, we were discussing the game and life in general at the clubhouse and the three golfers wandered in, I kept an eye on them as I considered them rude and was prepared for a silly action from them, but after a glance from each of them they did not meet my gaze.
Apparently acting like a boor is acceptable on the fairways but not in the rest of the world. Poor form, I say.
The carnivale has closed.
Everything television is supposed to be, moving, gorgeous, compelling and mighty. Brother Justin finally meets Ben Hawkins and in the end we are not quite sure what the result is. The final scenes represent the result of two seasons worth of foreshadowing and for those who have seen all the episodes, this was a marvelous payoff to all the waiting.
The twists were well planned and the fact that everything is not wrapped up at the end with a perfect little bow should not offend, it is not that kind of show.
It was just so nice to watch a show that challenged the mind, and where the characters took their time to fully develop… A revelation, and those who have not seen it should go and by Series 1 on DVD.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Thud! (9/10)
Terry Pratchett
Comedy / Fantasy
Discworld novels are in danger of being taken for granted. It is only when you read the book after a discworld novel that you realize how damm god they are. Thud is a Night Watch / Sam Vimes novel and continues in the fine traditions of these novels with the Watch expanding to accept even more types of coppers. The back of the Hardcover is an advertisement for the children’s novel that Sam Vimes reads to his son (“Where’s my cow?”) and I can see that coming out as well.
The story deals with relations between dwarves and trolls and is all good fun, my only concern is that discworld technology will overtake our technology very soon. The ‘Gooseberry’ PDA that Sam uses has ‘Bluenose™’ Integrated Messenger Service to interface with the clacks towers, which is a little twee.
Terry Pratchett books are like chocolate, you always consume them too fast and then desperately want more.
Readability (4.5/5)
Quality (4.5/5)
Comedy / Fantasy
Discworld novels are in danger of being taken for granted. It is only when you read the book after a discworld novel that you realize how damm god they are. Thud is a Night Watch / Sam Vimes novel and continues in the fine traditions of these novels with the Watch expanding to accept even more types of coppers. The back of the Hardcover is an advertisement for the children’s novel that Sam Vimes reads to his son (“Where’s my cow?”) and I can see that coming out as well.
The story deals with relations between dwarves and trolls and is all good fun, my only concern is that discworld technology will overtake our technology very soon. The ‘Gooseberry’ PDA that Sam uses has ‘Bluenose™’ Integrated Messenger Service to interface with the clacks towers, which is a little twee.
Terry Pratchett books are like chocolate, you always consume them too fast and then desperately want more.
Readability (4.5/5)
Quality (4.5/5)
PBwiki makes creating a wiki as easy as making a peanut butter sandwich
OK, I am doing this to get more space, but respect to Peanut butter Wiki, they are the bomb.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Judas Unchained (7.5/10)
Peter Hamilton
Science Fiction
After the excitement and scope of Pandora’s Star this was a little bit of a let down. The book was not too bad, but did little to expand upon the wondrous scope exposed in the first novel. Ozzie’s journey to the Silfen is almost completely pointless and rather unjustifiable. The major characters engage in a huge battle with the Primes, killing millions and in the end little is resolved. All good Space Operey stuff, but perhaps could have used some tighter editing.
Upon reflection this is much tighter that his last series (“Night’s Dawn”) and so I suppose we can view that as progress.
Readability (4/5)
Quality (3.5/5)
Science Fiction
After the excitement and scope of Pandora’s Star this was a little bit of a let down. The book was not too bad, but did little to expand upon the wondrous scope exposed in the first novel. Ozzie’s journey to the Silfen is almost completely pointless and rather unjustifiable. The major characters engage in a huge battle with the Primes, killing millions and in the end little is resolved. All good Space Operey stuff, but perhaps could have used some tighter editing.
Upon reflection this is much tighter that his last series (“Night’s Dawn”) and so I suppose we can view that as progress.
Readability (4/5)
Quality (3.5/5)
Schild's Ladder (4.5/10)
Greg Egan
Science Fiction
Greg Egan's novels always have a great idea, which is inadequately supported by the plot; his latest effort is no exception. The idea is again wonderful, with a universe being consumed by another universe (growing at half the speed of light). The people in this far future novel have almost evolved beyond our ability to empathize with them, they interact using 'mediators' to translate and agree on interface parameters and cultural norms. There are worlds whose entire populations go into 'slow time' so that a single person can travel the universe and return without apparent time-debt.
These are wonderful ideas but they are not supported by the writing, and ultimately the story gets a little bit silly.
A worthy vision of the future, but I just didn't care...
Readibility (1/5)
Quality (3.5/5)
Science Fiction
Greg Egan's novels always have a great idea, which is inadequately supported by the plot; his latest effort is no exception. The idea is again wonderful, with a universe being consumed by another universe (growing at half the speed of light). The people in this far future novel have almost evolved beyond our ability to empathize with them, they interact using 'mediators' to translate and agree on interface parameters and cultural norms. There are worlds whose entire populations go into 'slow time' so that a single person can travel the universe and return without apparent time-debt.
These are wonderful ideas but they are not supported by the writing, and ultimately the story gets a little bit silly.
A worthy vision of the future, but I just didn't care...
Readibility (1/5)
Quality (3.5/5)
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
A Feast for Crows (8/10)
George R.R.Martin
Fantasy
You need to have read the previous books to even bother with this one. Despite that, the author seems to spend far too long summarizing past events, possibly due to the hideous number of characters in this story.
George R.R. Martin does his best to kill off more this time around, and one is left certain that getting attached to characters in this book is a good way to get depressed. Thankfully the resurrection theme does not get too much of a mention in this book, as I felt this was the weakest part of the previous novel (along with the obsessive references to heraldry).
The lack of the story arcs to the North and the East are a pity, but overall this is still a good read, with characters that are far too realistic and nasty. They are people who do not follow blindly and the fact that they are all too human makes this story a compelling read.
Readibility (4/5)
Quality (4/5)
Fantasy
You need to have read the previous books to even bother with this one. Despite that, the author seems to spend far too long summarizing past events, possibly due to the hideous number of characters in this story.
George R.R. Martin does his best to kill off more this time around, and one is left certain that getting attached to characters in this book is a good way to get depressed. Thankfully the resurrection theme does not get too much of a mention in this book, as I felt this was the weakest part of the previous novel (along with the obsessive references to heraldry).
The lack of the story arcs to the North and the East are a pity, but overall this is still a good read, with characters that are far too realistic and nasty. They are people who do not follow blindly and the fact that they are all too human makes this story a compelling read.
Readibility (4/5)
Quality (4/5)
A Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah (4/10)
Harry Harrison
Science Fiction / Alternate History
This was not that good. The premise was that America was still a English colony and that they were building a transatlantic tunnel (Hurrah?). The story has some nice technologies (It does have Babbage engines, mobile phones and mag lev trains which were all rather cool) but was written in a “heroic fantasy” kind of style. The heroes are larger than life and their exploits are just a bit too wonderful. Took me a while to get around to reading this one and I will now sell it off.
Readibility (2/5)
Quality (2/5)
Science Fiction / Alternate History
This was not that good. The premise was that America was still a English colony and that they were building a transatlantic tunnel (Hurrah?). The story has some nice technologies (It does have Babbage engines, mobile phones and mag lev trains which were all rather cool) but was written in a “heroic fantasy” kind of style. The heroes are larger than life and their exploits are just a bit too wonderful. Took me a while to get around to reading this one and I will now sell it off.
Readibility (2/5)
Quality (2/5)
Back Again
OK, so that was a busy 12 months.
I got a bit depressed that no-one looked at the blog, and then took a look 12 months later to discover that at least two people had looked it over.
I really did want to have a review repositorty and so I shall try again....
I got a bit depressed that no-one looked at the blog, and then took a look 12 months later to discover that at least two people had looked it over.
I really did want to have a review repositorty and so I shall try again....
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