Filed under: general — celestialteapot @ 9:29 pm Tags: round up
I apologise for the lack of posts, I have been reading a lot of sci-fi lately but haven’t really been able to settle down and write a proper review of the books I have read. I feel that a few lines is hardly worth anything but just until I sort out the time to really give these books the dedication they deserve here is a breakdown of what I’ve been reading.
Card, Orson Scott ENDER’S GAME (pub. 1977) – 5/5
Dalhquist, G.W THE GLASS BOOKS OF THE DREAM EATERS (pub. 2007) – 5/5 Heinlin, Robert A. STARSHIP TROOPERS (pub. 1957) – 5/5 Moore, Alan & Gibbons, Dave WATCHMEN (pub. 1986) – 3.5/5 Pratchett, Terry MAKING MONEY (pub 2007) – 5/5
I’ve also got the first episode of ‘Fringe’ and ‘Sanctuary’ to tuck into, as well as moving onto series 2 of ‘Battlestar Galactica’.
This Hugo and Nebula Award winner tells the sweeping tale of a desert
planet called Arrakis, the focus of an intricate power struggle in a
byzantine interstellar empire. Arrakis is the sole source of Melange,
the “spice of spices”. Melange is necessary for interstellar travel and
also grants psychic powers and longevity, so whoever controls it wields
great influence.The troubles begin when stewardship of Arrakis is transferred by the Emperor from the Harkonnen Noble House to House Atreides. The Harkonnens don’t want to give up their privilege, though, and through sabotage and treachery they cast young Duke Paul Atreides out into the planet’s harsh environment to die.
There is a rather long synopsis for this book but all you really need to know is that it it’s ‘Jaws’ with a much bigger shark! In fact this stars a megalodon, and the LA Times sums the book up very well with it’s review “Two Words: Jurassic Shark.”
(I was going to do an awful pun involving that immortal line from ‘Jaws’ “we’re going to need a bigger boat” but putting ’shark’ instead of ‘boat’… you get the idea.)
I’m in the process of writing a review for ‘Dune’ by Frank Herbert, not a particularly easy task… how can you say “epic” in more than one word?? Anyway, in lieu of a review…
“When young oceanographer Laura Daughtery discovers a massive underwater creature, her obsession to uncover the origins of this dangerous ‘unidentified species’ will lead her and others on a mysterious adventure through the darkest, deepest parts of the sea and the most sinister and shady places on Earth. The fate of the world is in their hands – they just don’t know it.”
Tagline: There’s something in the water.
Staring: Lake Bell, Jay R Ferguson, Carter Jenkins and Ian Anthony Dale.
It’s 2 AM in St Louis when a routine scientific experiment goes terribly wrong and an explosion shakes the city. A scientific team investigates, clashing with an intergalactic, voltage-devouring creature that vaporises them.
By 7 AM a chain of earthquakes is tearing the city apart while a massive swirling black hole is consuming the remains. The alien is devouring every source of electricity it finds and destroying every human who blocks its way. Mass chaos rules at St. Louis is being evacuated. Only a few people, scientist Eric Bryce, his assistant Shannon and General Ryker comprehend the mortal danger.
By midnight, the Pentagon initiates a nuclear attack against the black hole. Bryce has only one hour to finda solution to obliterate the alien and the colossal black hole before mankind is annihilated.”
Directed by Tibor Takács and written by David Goodin.
Staring: Kristy Swanson, Judd Nelson and David Selby.
“Timely yet terrifying, FLOOD predicts the unthinkable. Could this be the capital’s last 24 hours?
When a raging storm coincides with high tide, it unleashes a colossal tidal surge which travels mercilessly down England’s East Coast and into the River Thames. Overwhelming the Barrier, torrents of water pour into London. The lives of millions of people are at stake. Top marine engineer, Rob Morrison and his feather Leonard rush to the aid of his ex-wife and Barrier expert, Sam to try to save a city on the brink of annihilation.”
Directed by Tony Mitchell, written by Justin Bodle and Matthew Cope.
Staring Robert Carlyle, Tom Courtenay, Jessalyn Gilsig and David Suchet.
Filed under: reviews — celestialteapot @ 2:55 pm Tags: films
“Who are the TIME BANDITS? Where do they come from and how much do they cost?
They are timeless yet always late; immortal; yet destructible; capable of intergalactic, inter-cosmic travel, yet unable to tie their own shoelaces.
Six cheeky dwarves steal a precious map showing a series of time holes scattered across the universe enabling them to travel back in time. Whilst visiting the past, they cause havoc and rob famous historical figures of their riches in the process.
Watching from afar is the Evil Genius, who will stop at nothing to get his hands on their map for his own evil purpose. With 11 year old Kevin in tow, a great time travelling adventure ensues, full of superb make believe characters and very famous faces!”
Directed by Terry Gilliam; written by Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam.
“Captain’s Log, Stardate 2410.500; the 23rd Century
From halfway across the galaxy, Captain James T. Kirk and the USS Enterprise are summoned by the ruling council of Commander Spock’s home planet – Vulcan.
At stake is the planet’s future as a key member of the Federation. At issue is Vulcan’s mysterious past and its historic struggle for the meaning of logic.
Torn between his duty to Starfleet and his unbreakable ties to Vulcan, Spock must find a way to reconcile his own inner conflict and the external threat his planet faces – or the Federation will rip itself apart.”
It's not possible to keep all reviews spoiler free, therefore take it that all reviews will contain spoilers. I'll try to keep any big spoilers to a minimum.
This Hugo and Nebula Award winner tells the sweeping tale of a desert
There is a rather long synopsis for this book but all you really need to know is that it it’s ‘Jaws’ with a much bigger shark! In fact this stars a megalodon, and the LA Times sums the book up very well with it’s review “Two Words: Jurassic Shark.”
“Who are the TIME BANDITS? Where do they come from and how much do they cost?
“Captain’s Log, Stardate 2410.500; the 23rd Century
