Thirteenth Child – ANSQR + Rant!!

Posted on November 23, 2009 by ubalstecha

[ Sleepy Mood: Sleepy ]
[ Currently: Dealing with a son who doesn’t want to sleep in his bed ]
With her Enchanted Forest series, Patricia C. Wrede is already a children’s fantasy star, so any book of hers is eagerly anticipated by her fans. I, however had never heard of her. (Another party I was late to.) Instead it was the plot description that drew me to this book.

The Thirteenth Child tells the story of Eff Rothmerr, appropriately, a thirteenth child. According to superstition, she doomed to bring bad luck to all those around her. Added to her pain is the fact that her twin, Lan, is the seventh son of a seventh son. This means the same tradition and superstition that has handed Eff the place of pariah, has handed her brother a place of power and prestige.

EFF and Lan’s parents, aware of this contriversy, move their family to the frontier, just behind the great barrier. There Eff is away from the daily taunting of her cousins and the accusation of her aunts and uncles. But life on the frontier is not perfect and when Eff moves beyond the barrier to help investigate what a new type of magical creature is attacking settlements, she discovers how powerful her magic really is.

Excellent fantsy story that owes a great deal to Frank L. Baum and Laura Ingals Wilder. And like the works of Wilder, much of the story is focused on the mintia of Eff’s life growing up from 5 to 18. But don’t worry that the focus on chores and school will make this a boring read. In fact, good characters and pacing make this a joy to read. The author has also created a unique maguc system to go along with her fabulous storytelling.

My only criticism is that it wraps things up a little to quickly by using some Deus Ex Machina to deal with the human villain of the story, but hopefully Wrede will correct this in the other two volumes that are set to follow this one.

Rant time: This book has stirred up controversy because Wrede has deliberatly chosen not to have Native American characters. Her reasoning was that she wasn’t satisified with either of the two stereotypes that were emerging in her writing. So she chose neither.

She has been vilified for this choice by the blogosphere. And I wonder why. As I see it, this is a work of fiction. By definition that is made up. Plus it is fantasy, so expecting it to adhere to historical fact is a little ridiculous. I have seen historical fiction that has less historicity than this book. Why isn’t the blogosphere riled up about those?

Second, anyone with a passing knowledge of American History can tell you that even if there were Native Americans in Wrede’s Columbia, by the time of Eff’s family moving west (to what is essentially Missouri), many of those had either been massacred by the army, succumbed to disease or had been rounded up and shipped to reservations. A middle class girl like Eff would not have come into contact with them in any significant way. Look at the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, which take place at about the same time. Where are the natives?

Third, and final, this is Wrede’s book. She can do whatever she wants with the characters. If people object to that, they should write their own book.

My take on this, ignore the fuddy-duddies who are whining that are whining in this book. This was not done out of racism. One look at the respect author Wrede has for African (she spells it differently) magic and the Rationalists(who don’t want to use magic) makes it clear that Wrede is not a flaming bigot.

Go get this book. It is worth it. It will be in the next "What to Read After Harry", which is coming as a supersized holiday spectacular in early December.

1632 – A Not So Quick Review

Posted on November 22, 2009 by ubalstecha

[ Happy Mood: Happy ]
[ Currently: Watching My Son Sleep in My Lap ]
A lot of people want to live in the past, enchanted by the romance. A lot of them have written fanciful, romantic stories about travelling back in time. 1632 is not one of these.

The small town of Grantville, West Virginia has been transported back in time to 1632 (hence the title) due to a side effect of an alien tecnology. They are deposited into the middle of the Thirty Years War in the German province of Thuringia. (That’s in the middle part of Germany, in the mountain forrests)

Exploring their new environment, some of the townsfolk stumble across war attrocities in the making. Specifically the rape and torture of peasants. Rescuing some of the locals, the Americans quickly realize that they need to band together if they have a hope of survining. They also realize that their current level of technology is not sustainable, that they have to "gear down" as it were.

The residents of Grantville are also faced with the realization that, in order to survive, they need to get involved in what is going on around them. This means takinging in the refugees that are hiding in the forrest around the town, as well as showing the various military forces that the Americans are a force with which to be reconned.

Author Eric Flint has struck a perfect balance between historicity and fiction. There are overwrought moments of American patriotism and pride (I found myself mentally chanting USA! USA! a few times.), but there are also uniquely human moments that make this alternate past seem so real and engaging.

I must also stop and compliment Flint on his remarkably strong female characters. Of particular note is Gretchen, the printer’s-daughter-turned-unilling-camp-follower-turned-Grantville-citizen. Strong, practical, but completely human, Gretchen is compelling and real. You want to spend as much time with her as possible. This holds true for many of the women that Flint has created.

If there was any fantasy book that should be optioned for a TV series, this in one. Showtime, HBO listen up. A rich series, full of lots of interesting characters, thrilling battle scenes and love, lots of sweet love. Think of it as Jericho meets the Tudors. AWESOME!

City of Ashes – A Quick Review

Posted on November 5, 2009 by ubalstecha

[ Sick Mood: Sick ]
[ Currently: Drinking my Baked Apple Black Tea ]
The Mortal Instruments trilogy tells the tale of Clary, a young woman whose world is turned upside down when her mother suddenly disappears. She discovers that she and her mother are Shadowhunters, descendants of Angels who fight demons.

City of Ashes, the second instalment in the series, finds Clary struggling with her emotions for Jace, given the revelation that he is her brother. Add to that the arrival of an Iquisitor who is convinced that Jace is guilty of working with their father, who is trying to bring down the clave, and you have an excting story.

Author Cassandra Clarke continues her creative world building with reinvisioning of the vampire, wereworlf, fairy and warlock mythos stirred in for levening. There is also an exploration of the real meaning of parenthood, as seen through Jace’s relationship with the Lightwoods who raised him and Clary’s relationship with the Shadowhunter turned wereworlf Luke. Worth the time.

Finger Lickin’ Fifteen – A Not So Quick Review

Posted on October 31, 2009 by ubalstecha

[ Sleepy Mood: Sleepy ]
[ Currently: Listening to CBC Radio ]
Janet Evanovich has been at the Stephanie Plum series for awhile. This installment finds Stephanie split three ways. She is helping Ranger hunt down the person (or persons) who have been burgling clents of his security business. Lulu has also witnessed a murder and needs Stephanie’s help hiding from the perpetrators. Meanwhile, Stephnaie still works for her cousin Vinnie’s bond business and she has skips to catch or he will replace with her arch-nemesis, Joyce Barnhardt.

As the title says, this is installment fifteen of the series, and while Stephanie is still fresh, some of the secondary characters are getting past there best before date. Lulu is especially getting dated. A charactature to begin with, she has devolved into stereotype, and not a flattering one at that. It is really time for Evanovich to retire Lulu for a few books, or maybe have her evolve and grow a bit. Ethier that or kill her, cause she is beginning to rub the wrong way.

And that is what makes this novel less entertaining than it should be. By giving Lulu such a parominent role in the plot, Evanovich has really shoved her in our face. She is always there and we get sick of her. Given that these books are supposed to be comedic mysteries, having a character that gets on your nerves takes way from the laughter.

Soapbox – Roman Polanski

Posted on October 13, 2009 by ubalstecha

[ Shocked Mood: Shocked ]
[ Currently: Getting ready for bed. ]
So I feel the need today to drag out my little soapbox and take a little stand.

I really don’t care who you are or how creatively brilliant you are, drugging and raping a 13 year-old girl is not excuseable.

And you think that this would be something that we as a society would be clear on, but I am shocked to see the literati of US, French and Swiss society defending Roman Polanski.

Whoopi Goldberg says it isn’t "rape-rape". Good to know that there are some types of rape that are less traumatic than others, Guinan. I’ll make sure to get that list so I know when I have a right to be outraged when I hear someone is violated.

And Deborah Winger says "[The arrest] is based on an…old case that is all but dead but for minor technicalities," Really? I look forwad to seeing Ms. Winger making similar pleas for other confessed child molestors.

Woody Allen has spoken out in favour of Polanski. Now there’s someone you want in your court when you are accused of child rape. A man who married and had a child with his step-daughter. He’s someone we all should choose as our moral compass.

The facts are Polanski ran away from a plea bargan deal that would have seen him spend 48 days in jail for drugging, raping and sodimizing a 13 year-old girl. He later agreed to pay the victim (cause that’s what she is) $500,000. He may, in fact, never have paid it. And yes the victim has forgiven him and moved on, but that is not the point. He agreed to serve the time (a very small amount given what he did) but then like a coward, he bolted.

If Polanski is not brought to justice for this crime it will be OJ all over again, where if you are wealthy and famous you can pay your way out of jail.

And is that a justice system we really want to have?

Getting down off my soapbox and going to bed.

Library Loot – Week of October 6

Posted on October 10, 2009 by ubalstecha

[ Mood: Distorted ]
[ Currently: Watching Flash Forward ]
I am trying something new, the Library Loot post. Invented by Eva and Marg, this is a way to let people know what you brought home from the library that week.

My Loot:

Yup – another in the Open Court Philosophy and Pop Culture series. Bathroom reading!

I have taken to taking cookbooks out of the library to preview them before I buy them in order to determine if I should buy them.

The third book in a series that I am enamoured of. I have been waiting for this for a while.

Met the author at Polaris and am excited to read the book as it sounded cool.

My bathroom reading right now. It is the last of the current FoxTrot omnibuses, so I don’t know what to read after that is done.

That’s not all of the books as I have a shoking 92 out right now. Yup. That’s right. 92.

Did Anyone Know There Were Two of These Series?

Posted on September 30, 2009 by ubalstecha

[ Amused Mood: Amused ]
While looking for the next in the series, I realized that two seperate companies are publishing Philosophy books centered around pop culture.

Wiley does the The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series and Open Court does a Popular Culture and Philosophy.

Who would think there would be enough demand for one, let alone two series?

Daily Show and Philsophy – A Quick Review

Posted on September 30, 2009 by ubalstecha

[ Sleepy Mood: Sleepy ]
[ Currently: Holding my sleeping son ]

While I enjoyed this book, it was far from a perfect read.

One of ongoing series of pop culture philosophy books, suffers from the same problem as its bretheren, While it is an engaging read at times, some of the contributors make but the barest of links between the subject and the philosophy they are linking to it. For laywomen like me (and laymen too) this means that they are too many articles that are a slog to read rather enlightening,

Some of the authors have also made the mistake of not altering their writing style to fit a mass audience, making this work, at times, seem like a scholarly journal. Finally, the editor has forgotten that while academic journals and essay collections frequently have more than one article avout a specific subject, those written for the rest of us avoid it like the plague. Doing it means that the reader gets bogged down in repetition, which leads to boredome and disengagement.

Emmys – Part 2

Posted on September 21, 2009 by ubalstecha

[ Happy Mood: Happy ]
[ Currently: Watching Colbert Report ]
A reminder, this is from a piece I wrote for teh website, but for a bunch of complicated reasons will not appear there. I have not followed the results from the Creative Arts Emmies, nor am I following the big show tonight.

Outstanding Makeup For A Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic)

As much as I want Emmy to rain its golden goodness on Pushing Daisies, Mad Men’s getting this one. Full red lips from the fifties have capture the academy’s heart.

Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score)

Legend of the Seeker got a nod? Really? Oh, it’s Jo DoLuca. You remember him. Yeah, he did Xena. He’s not going to win though. Neither are Jennifer Love Hewitt’s breasts. It should go to Castle, but that’s not going to happen either. Nope – this one will go to No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. Why? Cause Emmy doesn’t really care about this category, but they do recognize the name HBO.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

OK, the nerd fave here is Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper. The reality is it’s going to Alec Baldwin, the poor man’s William Shatner.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

My first reaction to this category was “What the hell is Simon Baker doing getting a nod?” Cause I love the man’s hair as much as the next girl, but this was not a dramatic tour de force. The Emmy should go to Michael C. Hall, but there are some Emmy heavyweights in this category. Hugh Laurie is a pernnial fave because his American accent is better than most of the Academy members. And then there is the Mad Men candidate who will win.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

As much as I would love Michael Emerson to win this, but its either going to the Shat or the guy from Mad Men, trust me.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie

Geeks actually have a chance with this category, if you consider the Librarian genre. And how could you not give an Emmy to Bob Newhart? That’s like not leaving cookies for Santa Claus. Of course, the Emmys are also in love with PBS and anyone who plays a president.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

Please, please, please, please, please Academy, given Kristin Chenoweth the Emmy. Please!!!! Don’t do the obvious and give it to Jane Krakowski for her work in 30 Rock. Be brave Emmy, give it to Kristin and I’ll be your best friend, I promise.

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series

Ed Asner and Ted Danson both have lots of Emmys, so they don’t need this one. And as much as I would love to see Jimmy Smits in a tux accepting this award, it’s going to Michael J. Fox as an appology for Rush Limbagh claiming that he “exagerated” how bad Parkinson’s was when Fox testified in front of Congress. Although, it is time for the Emmys to recognize Borgnine’s work in Airwolf.

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series

We all know that the lefties in Hollywood are giving this award to Tina Fey in her role as Sarah Palin. So save your prayers and wishes for Big Bang Theory for another category.

Outstanding Drama Series

Breaking Bad, Dexter and Lost!!! Which to choose? None, it’s going to Mad Men. Trust me.

Outstanding Special Class – Short-format Animated Programs

Do I care? No. Let’s go SpongeBob.

Outstanding Special Class – Short-format Live-Action Entertainment Programs

How dare they pit Dr. Horrible vs BSG? Dr. Horrible should get it, but it may go to Bruce.

Outstanding Children’s Program

Again, do I care? No. Not even enough to give you my guess on the results.

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series

Holy crap! Hit the sound editing category and suddenly Emmy cares about us. We have a 60% chance at the award, but there are still going to find a way to give it to 24 – mark my words.

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special

Forget your dreams of seeing “Emmy Award Winning” on the DVD box of the Librarian, this one is going to Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler. Cause Hallmark Hall of Fame = Emmy nod.

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour)

We can’t have a category for Comedies and another one for Drama? We have to share? Stingy Emmys. Most likely to go to BSG, although House might steal this.

Outstanding Special Visual Effects For A Series

Yeah! A category where the award has to go to a genre show, unless Emmy figures out a way to give this one to Mad Men too.

Outstanding Stunt Coordination

My heart wants this to go to Chuck, but I know that Emmys will give this to 24. Cause they know things blow up in that show.

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

Hmmmmmmmmm. Who thinks Lost is going to win in this category? Hands up! You are fools. It is going to Mad Men. That has already been determined. The Lost nomination is to throw off the conspiracy theorists.

My Emmy Predictions – Part 1

Posted on September 20, 2009 by ubalstecha

[ Happy Mood: Happy ]
[ Currently: Watching The Colbert Report ]
This was originally supposed to be an article for the main site, but for a variety of reasons it will not be appearing there, so I thought I would share it here.

*****

So the Emmy Nominations came out a while back, and we here at RevolutionSF wanted to see how the genre shows did. Yeah we know it was a while ago, but have you seen the number of nominations per category? It tooks us this long to read through the 69 pages of nominations. And yeah, we know that the Creative Arts Emmys (the boring ones we don’t want to see on TV) have already been given out, but we haven’t looked at the results those. We promise.

Outstanding Voice-Over Performance

Five nods in this category. Strangely enough two are for guys named Seth and three for the Simpsons, but the official RevolutionSF prediction is that it’s going to Ron Rifkin, cause Emmy loves PBS.

Outstanding Animated Program (for programming less than one hour)

Apparently the Emmys could only find four animated series out of the billions to nominate in this category. Take that Bakura! Should win: Robot Chicken, but the academy has never heard of them. Will Win: Simpsons. They have presented, so the academy knows who they are.

Outstanding Animated Program (for programming one hour or more)

There are two animated shows in this category. RevSF predicts one of them will win.

Outstanding Art Direction For A Multi-Camera Series

Art Directiors are in charge of how a show looks. So this Emmy is about how pretty the show looks. Geekdom’s only hope in this category is the Big Bang Theory. Unfortunately, How I Met Your Mother is going to win. Of course it would be awesome if Hell’s Kitchen won just so Ramsay could swear on stage.

Outstanding Art Direction For A Single-Camera Series

Broad spectrum of nerd shows here. If there is any justice in the world, Pushing Daisies will win. It was a beautiful show. Nothing else on TV ooked like it. As a bonus, they could print “Emmy Award Winning Series” on the DVD box. But I know that my nerdly hopes and aspirations will be shattered by Mad Men. This show takes place in the 1950s, the beginning of the golden age of TV, a time that many Emmy voters wish we were in now.

Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series

We can pray all we want for True Blood to win this in honour of letting us see Anna Paquin do naughty things, but once again, this is going to Mad Men.

Outstanding Cinematography For A One Hour Series

Two nerd possibilities here in Breaking Bad and Life on Mars, but you see the Mad Men in there. Yup. You guessed it.

Outstanding Costumes For A Series

It will not sruprise you that I want Pushing Daisies to win this. The costumes were amazing, and there was nothing else like it on TV. But what will surprise you is my prediction that the Tudors will win. This costume drama will probably win in the costume category, especially for the ensembles that King Henry rips off his wide assortment of paramours. They look very pretty on the floor.

Outstanding Costumes For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special

There is a slim chance that the Emmies will recognize the Indiana Jones rip-off starring Noah Wilie. A slim chance, but a chance none-the-less.

Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series

Finally, a stunningly worthy geek candidate for the Emmy, BSG. Too bad it’s up against the last seasons of both Boston Legal and ER. Not to mention those pesky Mad Men. Not going to happen, BSG.

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series

Whoooohooooooo, three chances, four if you count 24. This might be the one category in which BSG gets an Emmy. Think of it as a pity Emmy.

Outstanding Hairstyling For A Single-Camera Series

I wonder who watches TV and thinks to themselves, “Man, that’s good hair!” Apparently the Emmys, cause they have a category dedicated to hair. Our one hope is Pushings Daisies, but I think the bored Emmy voter (who cares about this category as much as I do) is just going to check off the beloved Mad Men and move on.

Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media – Fiction

This Emmy might actually go to one of us. That’s right, I am calling it for Dharma and Lost. Write it down!

Outstanding Main Title Design

What an interesting category. The main title sequence is a dying breed. Pared down to its barest bones in the interest of cramming in as much story as possible. Of course that’s because more time has been given over to ads, but shhh. The naked vampire show has a hope here, it does have cool titles.

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