Neil Gaiman's 'Neverwhere' is a ripping read for a modern reader. Richard Mayhew stops to help a strange girl whose bleeding on a London pavement. His life is changed ever after as he discovers a fantastic Subterranean World that exists just below London.
He finally tracks down the girl, aptly called Door, at a Floating Market. Along with the pirate like Marquis, the female Amazonian bodyguard Hunter, they try to discover the story behind the murder of Door's parents.
The beauty about Gaiman is that although it is dark, it is still fun. It is really like a great escape to a world where people still have daily adventures and meet the unexpected. Richard can be frustrating and lost at times but that just adds to the comical part of the story.
'Neverwhere' is full of adventure, colourful characters and mystery. It's also far better than the TV series it's based on.
Rating: 7.2/10
Friday, 20 April 2012
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Movie Review, The Hunger Games
We went to Glenelg on Saturday and had the usual icecream and stroll along the waterfront. Then we kept on driving and in the late afternoon my husband and daughter went fishing. Not my thing - which meant I read, read and read, while they were eaten by mozies and claimed they had a good catch - which meant a few scrawny fish.
On Sunday I took my daughter to (drum roll please) The Hunger Games.
So to the film. Lots of pimply kids gushing and gooing and screaming. Basically a post apocalyptic film where kids are chosen from poorer sectors at random by an elite ruling class to be put in the wilderness where only one can survive.
Katniss bravely goes in place of place of her younger sibling. She feigns falling in love with the baker boy Peeta that's also from her home sector and they form a formidable friendship, but her heart is still with an old flame and family friend back home.
Anyhow, it's about class distinction and friendship and politics. It' fun and pacy and has that whole Jacob -Edward- Twilight thing which girls just love and then there's some kickarse action too.
I thought it a bit slow at the start and a bit cheesy later on. My daughter gave it a ten and already wants to see it again. It hasn't made me want to read the books but I'm sure my daughter will and that can only be a good thing.
I think if I was in my teens or maybe even my twenties, I'd love it too.
Still, good flick. 7/10
On Sunday I took my daughter to (drum roll please) The Hunger Games.
So to the film. Lots of pimply kids gushing and gooing and screaming. Basically a post apocalyptic film where kids are chosen from poorer sectors at random by an elite ruling class to be put in the wilderness where only one can survive.
Katniss bravely goes in place of place of her younger sibling. She feigns falling in love with the baker boy Peeta that's also from her home sector and they form a formidable friendship, but her heart is still with an old flame and family friend back home.
Anyhow, it's about class distinction and friendship and politics. It' fun and pacy and has that whole Jacob -Edward- Twilight thing which girls just love and then there's some kickarse action too.
I thought it a bit slow at the start and a bit cheesy later on. My daughter gave it a ten and already wants to see it again. It hasn't made me want to read the books but I'm sure my daughter will and that can only be a good thing.
I think if I was in my teens or maybe even my twenties, I'd love it too.
Still, good flick. 7/10
Aurealis Fantasy Short Story Award 2011
It's been a fab year for Australian spec-fic writers - who are some of the best in the business. Just take a look at some of the names published this year in the Aurealis Fantasy Short Story category alone (sorry if I've missed any): Joanne Anderton (2), Peter M Ball (5), Lee Battersby, Lynn Battersby, Alan Baxter (3), Deborah Biancotti (5), Sara Douglas (2 - one with Angela Slatter), Felicity Dowker (2), Terry Dowling, Thoraia Dyer (2), Lisa L Hannett (12), Shona Husk (2), Patty Jansen, Margo Lanagan (2), Ian McHugh (2), Andrew J McKiernan, Nicole Murphy, Garth Nix (3), Tansy Rayner Roberts (4), Angela Slatter (3), Cat Sparks (2), Lucy Sussex (2), Kaaron Warren.
I'm sure you'll recognise more than a few (not all listed). Stories are apparently ranked out of ten and then averaged by three judges (may be wrong - read it off a blog) and the 4 finalist authors for the Aurealis Short Story Award 2011 are: Anthony Panegyres (or Panegyris?), Margo Lanagan (twice for our wonder girl), DC White and another fave of mine Thoraiya Dyer.
Thoughts. Well I just love Margo Lanagan. 'Tender Morsels' was incredible and Thoraia Dyer (whose won it before) is also a great story teller. DC White I can't comment on as I haven't read him but I'm sure it's a great story if Ticonderoga published it.
But my pick is 'Reading Coffee' - I fell in love with this mix of history and folklore and it's so beautifully written. It's at a good pace but not overly racey and the language is divine. It may be because I have a daughter but I just loved this one.
I think that Margo Lanagan will eventually win over a newbie. And I don't mind if she does. So Anthony Panegyres for me but I won't be surprised if Margo Lanagan pips him.
I think our fantasy writers - all of them- are winners in the end. And thanks to the Aurealis Awards for giving Australian speculative fiction readers a guide.
I'm sure you'll recognise more than a few (not all listed). Stories are apparently ranked out of ten and then averaged by three judges (may be wrong - read it off a blog) and the 4 finalist authors for the Aurealis Short Story Award 2011 are: Anthony Panegyres (or Panegyris?), Margo Lanagan (twice for our wonder girl), DC White and another fave of mine Thoraiya Dyer.
Thoughts. Well I just love Margo Lanagan. 'Tender Morsels' was incredible and Thoraia Dyer (whose won it before) is also a great story teller. DC White I can't comment on as I haven't read him but I'm sure it's a great story if Ticonderoga published it.
But my pick is 'Reading Coffee' - I fell in love with this mix of history and folklore and it's so beautifully written. It's at a good pace but not overly racey and the language is divine. It may be because I have a daughter but I just loved this one.
I think that Margo Lanagan will eventually win over a newbie. And I don't mind if she does. So Anthony Panegyres for me but I won't be surprised if Margo Lanagan pips him.
I think our fantasy writers - all of them- are winners in the end. And thanks to the Aurealis Awards for giving Australian speculative fiction readers a guide.
Monday, 9 April 2012
About Me and First Review
I'm a lawyer, married to B and I have a ten year old daughter, P. I love French pastries and have a weakness for croissants. I leave the sport to B and prefer to read and watch science fiction and fantasy but I'm also a literature fan so you'll get a little of everything.
Why reviews? Because I work with dry papers all day (law is duller than you think) and my escape afterwards is the rainbow world of fantasy reading and cinema so I thought I'd keep track of them all here and guide a few readers on the way. So keep watching this space.
My reviews will be quick and sharp - with a rating out of 10.
Book Review #1
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Told in letters and journal entries (epistolary) This is a great and easy read. Victorian gothic horror at it's best. There's romance, horror, action and mystery all in the one book. Basically, it's like Francis Ford Coppola's film but unfortunately there's no smouldering Gary Oldman romance, which was disappointing but I could live with it.
8/10
Why reviews? Because I work with dry papers all day (law is duller than you think) and my escape afterwards is the rainbow world of fantasy reading and cinema so I thought I'd keep track of them all here and guide a few readers on the way. So keep watching this space.
My reviews will be quick and sharp - with a rating out of 10.
Book Review #1
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Told in letters and journal entries (epistolary) This is a great and easy read. Victorian gothic horror at it's best. There's romance, horror, action and mystery all in the one book. Basically, it's like Francis Ford Coppola's film but unfortunately there's no smouldering Gary Oldman romance, which was disappointing but I could live with it.
8/10
Saturday, 31 March 2012
The Best Fantasy Books and Movies
MY TOP 20 FANTASY NOVELS (not including YA and younger)
1. Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
2. The Song of Ice and Fire Series by Gerorge RR Martin
3. The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien
4. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
5. The Life of Pi by Yan Martel
6. Where the Dead Live by Will Self
7. The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan
8. The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake
9. The Bear Went Over the Mountain by William Kotzwinkle
10. Mordant's Need by Stephen Donaldson
11. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
12. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
13. Dracula by Bram Stoker
14. The First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson
15. The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson
16. The Song of Kali by Dan Simmons
17. The Landover Series by Terry Brooks
18. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks (yes it's a LOTR rip-off)
19. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks
20. Fevre Dream by George RR Martin
MY TOP 10 FANTASY MOVIES
1. The Two Towers
2. The Fellowship of the Ring
3. The Return of the King
4. The Princess Bride
4. Dragon Heart
5. Pan's Labyrinth
6. Willow
7. Dracula (Coppola)
8. King Kong (Peter Jackson)
9. The Dark Crystal
10. Labyrinth
MY TOP 5 FANTASY SHORT STORIES
(have many more to read - only read a handful as I'm more of a novel girl)
1. Reading Coffee Anthony Panegyres or Panegyris?? (just read as I subscribe to Overland. It's Australian, so I'm biased)
2. The Dog Said Bow Wow Michael Swanwick
3. Ice Dragon George RR Martin
4. The Monkey Treatment George RR Martin
5. The Way of the Cross and Dragon George RR Martin
1. Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
2. The Song of Ice and Fire Series by Gerorge RR Martin
3. The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien
4. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
5. The Life of Pi by Yan Martel
6. Where the Dead Live by Will Self
7. The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan
8. The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake
9. The Bear Went Over the Mountain by William Kotzwinkle
10. Mordant's Need by Stephen Donaldson
11. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
12. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
13. Dracula by Bram Stoker
14. The First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson
15. The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson
16. The Song of Kali by Dan Simmons
17. The Landover Series by Terry Brooks
18. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks (yes it's a LOTR rip-off)
19. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks
20. Fevre Dream by George RR Martin
MY TOP 10 FANTASY MOVIES
1. The Two Towers
2. The Fellowship of the Ring
3. The Return of the King
4. The Princess Bride
4. Dragon Heart
5. Pan's Labyrinth
6. Willow
7. Dracula (Coppola)
8. King Kong (Peter Jackson)
9. The Dark Crystal
10. Labyrinth
MY TOP 5 FANTASY SHORT STORIES
(have many more to read - only read a handful as I'm more of a novel girl)
1. Reading Coffee Anthony Panegyres or Panegyris?? (just read as I subscribe to Overland. It's Australian, so I'm biased)
2. The Dog Said Bow Wow Michael Swanwick
3. Ice Dragon George RR Martin
4. The Monkey Treatment George RR Martin
5. The Way of the Cross and Dragon George RR Martin
SCIENCE FICTION
Well, my first blog. I'm what you might call a 'cultish' culture buff. So I thought I'd become a mini-rating machine with the lists that matter.
So it's SCIENCE FICTION to begin with.
Top 10 Science Fiction Novels (I love the classics):
1. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
2. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
3. A Man in the High Castle by PK Dick
4. Planet of the Apes by Boulle?
5. The Island of Dr Moreau by HG Wells
6. Time Machine by HG Wells
7. Ubik by PK Dick
8. The Martian Time Slip by PK Dick
9. Macroscope by Piers Anthony
10. Slaughter House 5 by Kurt Vonnegut Jr
Top 10 Science Fiction Films
1. Star Wars Series
2. Gattaca
3. Bladerunner
4. X-Men Series
5. District 9
6. I, Robot
7. The Fifth Element
8. 12 Monkeys
9. Minority Report
10. Star Trek (latest remake)
Some Great Science Fiction Short Stories (haven't read a stack so add up for suggestions.)
So it's SCIENCE FICTION to begin with.
Top 10 Science Fiction Novels (I love the classics):
1. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
2. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
3. A Man in the High Castle by PK Dick
4. Planet of the Apes by Boulle?
5. The Island of Dr Moreau by HG Wells
6. Time Machine by HG Wells
7. Ubik by PK Dick
8. The Martian Time Slip by PK Dick
9. Macroscope by Piers Anthony
10. Slaughter House 5 by Kurt Vonnegut Jr
Top 10 Science Fiction Films
1. Star Wars Series
2. Gattaca
3. Bladerunner
4. X-Men Series
5. District 9
6. I, Robot
7. The Fifth Element
8. 12 Monkeys
9. Minority Report
10. Star Trek (latest remake)
Some Great Science Fiction Short Stories (haven't read a stack so add up for suggestions.)
'Jefty is Five' by Harlan Ellison
'Welcome to the Monkey House' by Kurt Vonnegut
'Bloodchild' by Octavia Butler
'Iron Dragon' by Michael Swanwick
'Harrison Bergeron' by Vonnegut
'A Habit of Waste' Nalo Hopkinson
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