8.27.2010
Boneshaker
Series: Clockwork Century
Overall Grade: B+
Set in a steampunk Seattle which has been ravaged by a scientist's tunneling machine, the titular boneshaker. This accident has also released from the ground a mysterious yellow smog that turns people into zombies, but can also be solidified into a lucrative illicit drug. Sixteen year later, the scientist's widow, now going by the name Briar Wilkes, must venture into the walled-off zone of the downtown in search of her runaway son and face her past.
Labels: genre: fiction, genre: historical, genre: steampunk, media: book, series: Clockwork Century
Darwinia
Overall Grade: B
On an Earth where in the early 1900's, a strange event takes place that sudden alters the flora and fauna of Europe. Now populated by strange and dangerous lifeforms. But this change in genetics might be part of a bigger picture.
Labels: genre: fiction, genre: scifi, media: book
1776
by David McCullough, 294 pgs, paperback
Overall Grade: B+
McCullough follows essentially one year of the American Revolution. 1776 is, of course, the famous year in which the Declaration of Independence was signed. But as you'll read, a lot more happened in 1776 that just that. The fighting moved from Boston to New York to New Jersey, ending with Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware River shortly before the year was out. And there's tons of details about what the Continental Congress and other groups were doing at the same time.
Labels: genre: historical, genre: non-fiction, media: book
The Folding Knife
by K.J. Parker, 442 pgs, paperback
Overall Grade: A-
Like Parker's other books, 'The Folding Knife' is hard to describe. It takes place in a quasi-historical setting (roughly late Roman republic would be my guess), but there are some innovations that aren't period. Anyway, the story takes place in a made-up Vesani Republic. Basically following the life of Basso from his childhood, and the major events that shape his personality, business, and political career. I think it would sound boring if I described it as a tale of his machinations, but that's really what it is, closely following Basso. As boring as that sounds, it's really good.
Labels: genre: fiction, media: book
Up
PG, 96minutes
IMDB page
Official website
Overall Grade: A
So I finally got around to watching this while I was back home, and it blew my lukewarm opinion out of the water. The film is super adorable. The flashbacks in the beginning and later on in the movie even got me all teary-eyed. Basic plot: a man meets his soulmate and fellow exploration fanatic as a young boy. As they live out their lives together, they promise to eventually visit the exotic locale that inspired them as youth. But life happens, and they never go, and she eventually dies. Fed up with encroaching construction, the man finally takes matters into his own hands, and takes his house aloft with thousands of balloons. Story begins.
Labels: genre: animated, genre: fantasy, media: movie
