Biblioadonis

Monday, February 14, 2011

Book Reveiw: The Accidental Time Machine

I'm a nut for time travel fiction.

Yes, I do watch Dr. Who and Torchwood.

When The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman came in, I was excited and apprehensive. I had selected it for my library (I am trying to boost the sci-fi collection), so I knew it would have received a good review. At my other blog, I am always updating and reviewing Disney-related books (thanks to my lovely wife for scoring so many of them for me!), so there isn't much time for fiction. I have about 25 Disney books I need to get through.

One of my few reading times is during my lunch break. I usually have a bowl of soup or a sandwich of some sort. I always round out my lunch with a good book. I knew that I could use my lunch hour for reading a Disney book, but this one was way too tempting. So I picked it up and was hooked right from the begining.

A bored M.I.T. doctoral student accidentally creates a time machine while working on another project for a Professor. The catch is that the time machine can only move forward. It moves forward based on a certain mathematical formula; each time going further and further into the future. The story plays out very well, with some very unexpected situations.

Joe Haldeman crafts a very believable story and he writes hi-tech science for the lay-person. I would plant Haldeman squarely between Orson Scott Card and Michael Crichton. He magaes to write a technological page-turner like Crichton, but he also writes very believable and likeable characters like Card.

It isn't your traditional time travel narrative, but it is a lot of fun

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Book Review: Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman

Cover of Soon I Will Be Invincible: A NovelSoon I Will be Invincible by Austin Grossman.

I loved this book. If you've ever spent time reading comic books, pretending you were Superman (or Lex Luthor) or watching the Justice League and The Incredibles--you will love this book.

You follow the adventures of Dr. Impossible and Fatale: a maniacal evil genius and a female cyborg superhero. Both of the characters tell their stories (and their origins) through alternating chapters. Grossman takes you behind the mask and you get to experience what it might be like to be a misunderstood megalomaniac and a rookie superhero.

It is a riveting tale with a secret island base, a world renowned super team and, ultimately, love lost. You also get to see that being a super or a villain may not be all it is cracked up to be.

Soon I Will Be Invincible is a great weekend/beach read. It is a quick and fun read to occupy your time.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

DVD Snapshot: Prince Sign O The Times

Prince Sign O' the Times(DVD) 1987

Originally released in November 1987, Prince's 85 minute concert film is an energetic romp through the album of the same name. In my neck of North Carolina, the film only played for a few weekends in a midnight-only showing. Obviously, the film did not find a wide audience. I was a senior in high school and went to see it twice with another friend from school.

Both of us were Prince fans. As for me, I was a true fanatic. I had all of his albums, 45s and 12-inch singles. I had seen him live on the Purple Rain Tour in 1984 and was hungry to see him live again. Since the release of the concert film, I have seen Prince live many times: the LoveSexy tour, Emancipation tour and the Hit N Run tour of the early 2000s. Besides the live performances in Purple Rain, this is one of the rare times you will see Prince command a large stage in front of thousands of fans.

The sound quality is fantastic, yet, sadly, the video quality is not quite up to today's high-definition standard. I watched the disc on a SONY 3D blu-ray player and a 42" 1080P and it still seemed to lack a lot of the sharpness. Also, there are no bonus features included.

Color Me Peach and Black...

The performances are stellar. This is Prince at the top of his game with a well-rehearsed and well-disciplined band of musicians. Cat Glover is an admirable and exciting dancer/partner for Prince. In 1987, she was very ebullient. Watching her performance almost 25 years later and she seems juvenile and unstudied compared to modern performers like Beyonce, Rihanna and early Britney. Seeing Sheila E. drum for Prince is still mind-blowing; she offers an energy that is palpable and a levity through her facial expressions. Eric Leeds and Atlanta Bliss round out the sound with their impressive horn work. I remember Prince stating once that Eric Leeds played saxophone exactly the way he would. (Prince has stated that wind instruments might damage his voice.) Miko Weaver and Levi Seacer Jr are standout musicians and provide a heavy and talented rhythm section for Prince. With a guitarist and bassist that can play anything and are able to follow anything, Prince is able to highlight himself through his vocal and guitar performances. He never has to worry about these guys faltering. Wally and Gregory are poor replacements for Morris Day and Jerome Benton and do little to keep the minimal storyline flowing.

Featured songs:

1. "Sign o' the Times"
2. "Play In the Sunshine"
3. "Little Red Corvette"/"Housequake"
4. "Slow Love"
5. "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man"
6. "Hot Thing"
7. "Now's the Time" (Charlie Parker cover by the band excluding Prince)
8. Drum solo by Sheila E.
9. "U Got the Look"
10. "If I Was Your Girlfriend"
11. "Forever in My Life"/"It"
12. "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night"
13. "The Cross"

This is a great DVD to add to your collection if you are a Prince fan. I was reminded how powerful and amazing Prince was--as a songwriter and performer.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Comic Snapshot: Dr. Horrible Graphic Novel

Dr. Horrible and Other Horrible Stories by Zach Whedon.

I was blown away by the Doctor Horrible web series that debuted in 2008. My whole family loves it. We sing the soundtrack (Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog)all the time. My wife picked up the Dr. Horrible graphic novel for me for Christmas, knowing that I love comics and anything by the Whedons. My major complaints are that it wasn't long enough and there is no accompanying soundtrack!

The stories were penned by Zach Whedon and focus on the major characters, as expected. Each one is an origins story, for lack of a better term and really gives a lot of insight into the characters. There several telling panels where you see the delusions that Doctor Horrible and Captain hammer actually suffer through. Penny's tale was particularly satisfying because you get a glimpse of what might have happened if Doctor Horrible had just been himself.

This is a great read and adds to the Dr. Horrible universe. The graphic novel had me jonesin' for more!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Book Snapshot: Doctor Who, The Glamour Chase

Doctor Who: The Glamour Chase by Gary Russell

I have been a big fan of the Good Doctor since being introduced to the series on PBS through my dad in the mid-1980s. Yet, being a public librarian and science-fiction enthusiast, I never approached a Doctor Who book. When I ran across a relatively inexpensive set featuring Matt Smith's Doctor, I ordered one as a test to my library. One of the perks of ordering the item is getting to read it first, as long as a patron isn't waiting on it!

Image via Wikipedia I was really worried that the quirkiness of the television series might be lost when translated into the print medium. Fortunately, Gary Russell was the editor of Doctor Who Magazine and works on the Doctor Who and Torchwood television series, so he knows the characters very well!

What was important to me was that the characters from the show shine through and that their personalities are expanded through the narrative. Rory, Amy and the Doctor are each featured and you gain insight into their perspective through their internal monologues and thought processes.

Per the BBC, this book is part of the Doctor Who quickreads series, but that shouldn't dissuade you from enjoying it by any means. It is geared towards a young adult reading level and will enchant fans of the series. the book series will also give you something to do while waiting for the shows to reach BBC America!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

The Library as Film

Thanks to Stephen Abram for the link to this video. It felt like a take on Blade Runner for libraries--sort of. A society where you library card carries your entire existence and how you would be lost without it. And what the library can mean to one person.

The Library from openiris on Vimeo.

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Libraries Matter

Kudos to the Columbus Metropolitan Library for promoting a fantastic fan-made promotional video for their recent library levy, which passed by a 2 to 1 margin!

Hat tip to the M Word Blog.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Mini-Review: Artemis Fowl and The Lost Colony

I just finished the The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, Book 5). This is the 5th book in the series and each one has been more enjoyable than the last. It is a perfect series for tween and teen boys, many who will connect with Master Fowl; he is one-of-a-kind, a loner and relates directly to a fringe society. We see Artemis grow and develop into a brighter and increasingly moral person. We experience his moral dilemmas and we see how we works through them. What I loved about this book is seeing Artemis finally start to notice the opposite sex. Colfer introduces a new female antagonist that seems to have captured Artemis' heart. She also appears to be young Master Fowl's match in many areas. There are a few surprised tucked into this book and I am very interested to see how Colfer will resolve them!

Once again, Colfer has created a breathing and very realistic world in the Artemis Fowl series.Many fantasy authors have problems weaving their worlds into present day, whereas Colfer presents the technology, magic and characters as if they are and have always been a part of our world. It does make me wonder if this series does paint a specific picture about brains and money; either they go hand-in-hand or you could never live up to what Artemis has been able to achieve. But, is this any different from playing certain video games or watching some cartoon shows?

I place this series in the younger Young Adult category, mainly because of Artemis' age. Only recently has he started to come to grips with the early onset of puberty and the growing pains of defining his own actions. He has a strong support group of humans and faeries, which lends to a warm and caring extended family. Something that many can identify with and hope to emulate.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Here’s Some Advice. Stay Alive.

The Hunger Games (Audiobook) by Suzanne Collins

Set in a future America, The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, is a stunning novel about a post-apocalyptic society where the divide between the haves and have-nots has created a truly tieredsociety. Interweaving themes of survival, fantasy, big government, family and competition fill this tense and emotional work. The main character of the story, Katniss Everdeen, is a heroic young lady who is just starting to understand herself and the larger world around her. I forsee Katniss as a heroic, Harry Potter-esque young lady who is desperate to do the right thing and try to make the world a better place
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When I was listening to the book, I was stunned at the realism of the characters and the society. As much as I believed in the characters, I was torn by the world that was presented. It was a truly frightening world in so many ways. Poverty and depravity mixed with adults and children trying their best to survive. Add a dystopian and technologically advanced society that exists on the backs of the poorer and destitute areas of the country. It is a frightening and all too real vision of the future. As I listened to the tale, I couldn't imagine a society becoming that depraved--could we ever to to the point described in the book? The gladiatorial combat of the Colosseum was one of the first incidents to come to mind. Then you throw in society's addiction to reality-based competition shows and it doesn't seem to far-fetched.

I listened to the audiobook that I downloaded from my local library's Overdrive account. Carolyn McCormick does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life and breathing their thoughts and emotions. She made an enthralling and addictive story even more enchanting! The pain and emotion that she lent to Katniss is palpable; her stumbling, her indecision and her growth are all charted through the words, written and spoken.
The book is a very current mix of reality television, video games and action movies. It has the beginnings of a coming-of-age tale, but I need to experience the other two titles in the series to see where it ends. I was reminded of the 1987 film, The Running Man and the similar (but not seminal) video game, Super Smash TV. I would imagine that there are many similarities to Survivor, but I have never watched that television series.

This book is aimed at young adults (teens) and anyone interested in alternative/fantasy fiction. There is a lot of violence sewn into the book, but it is a necessary part of the tale. I would caution anyone under 12 from reading it.

As most anyone who has read the book will testify, it is very hard to put down, The storyline is engaging and well-paced. Even the moments of exposition were tantalizing enough to keep me wanting to learn more about Panem and what happened to society.

Suzanne Collins has woven a rich tapestry. I can't wait to start listening to the next book!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Step Out of Time...READ!

I love this image of the Good Doctor displaying an identification card with an image of the first Doctor Who, William Hartnell. Many sites are referring to it as a library card. Who am I to disagree!

It is a great image and a fantastic reminder of the Doctor's history. I would love to see the American Library Association run with this campaign. "Step Out of Time...READ!"

Monday, November 08, 2010

So, You Want to Be a Librarian?

People always ask me about getting a job in the library. They gush about how amazing it must be to get to read all day. I gently remind them that I am not reading right now; I am helping them. Then they talk about how nice it is to be surrounded by books all day. I agree with them.

I love being a public librarian. Not just for the books, but because I am able to directly serve the people in my community. If you are thinking about entering the profession, I urge you to take a look at the following slides. Thanks to Stephen Abram for the initial link.

If you want to work in libraries

View more presentations from Ned Potter.

Sunday, November 07, 2010

Who is Artemis Fowl and Why Should You Care?

I was a little reticent to start the Artemis Fowl series. While managing a public library branch, I have seen the Fowl books check out over and over, without really getting any feedback from the kids. Also, the Fowl books never seemed to be picked up by the adults like the Harry Potter series and some of the other fantasy and YA titles.

I purchased a copy of the graphic novel for my library and decided to give it a go. I enjoyed it, but it never sunk its teeth into me. It wasn't until I downloaded the audio version of the book (from my library's Overdrive service) that I was able to enjoy it fully.

Before I listened to the audiobook, I would peruse my shelves for something to read during lunch. I would often skip the Fowl book due to my lack of knowledge of the character. What I had skimmed from the cover made me think that this was a book about a spoiled and brilliant rich kid that had an evil side to him. For some reason, I aligned it with the Series of Unfortunate Events, which I could never get into.

After listening to the first book, I devoured the next three in the series and I am happily making my way through the next few. Eoin Colfer has created a truly believable world where the Faerie realm does exist. And it exists in a plausible nature through the use of extremely advanced technology and magic. The Faerie magic is grounded in nature and never moves past a utilitarian Swiss Army Knife-type of use. There aren't complex spells and nothing to scare away the parents who are frightened of Harry Potter.

The more of the Fowl books that I read, the more that Artemis' world view and family change. We first meet Artemis at age 12 and we learn that his missing father is the last in the line of the Fowl Family Criminal Syndicate. And Artemis must do everything that he can to keep his family coffers intact and constantly replenished. He hatches an overtly evil scheme that starts his ascent to a more natural moral code.

Through the Fowl series, we meet an intriguing and well-developed cadre of characters. Butler is Artemis' protector, bodyguard and moral ambassador. He reminds me of a very dangerous Jiminy Cricket. There is a regular cast of Faerie characters that become part of Artemis' family and we become as attached as he does. I won't go into detail here, because the Faerie characters are an amazing creation and need to be discovered for yourself.

I like to recommend the Fowl books to tweens and teens that are a little hesitant to jump into fantasy and scifi. Artemis is a good role model for tweens--which might sound funny after reading the first book--but you see his growth and his desire to make the world a better place. Plus, he has really cool techie toys!

Saturday, November 06, 2010

Maingate Ads

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Disney Gift Card
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