2312

2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book was torture. Certain parts of it were great, but the rest of it falls flat, especially when you compare it to the good parts. I didn't really see any growth in the characters. The story is basically a mystery but it is very linear with no twists or false hunches. I kept expecting a surprise and got nothing. Maybe there was one in the epilogue, which I didn't even bother to read.

The book was a good world building exercise, but that was really all he did. He throws in some futuristic philosophies and technologies, but I found some of these a bit far fetched or not far fetched enough. The main plot point is said to be impossible in the text and it is never explained in the text how it isn't. It was infuriating.

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Chernobyl Diaries (2012)

I have been aware of this movie for some time but haven't got around to seeing it until now.  Part of that is because the previews made it look like a found footage type movie, and I am really tired of those.  Good news; it isn't a found footage movie.  Bad news; It might as well be as it is a single camera that bounces around all the time and you don't get a clear shot of the monster until the end. 

The plot is about some extreme tourists that take a tour of Pripyat, Ukraine, the site of the Chernobyl reactor meltdown in 1986.  Of course things go wrong and our tourists are stranded there. 

The acting isn't all that great, the Australian guy was probably the best out of the bunch. I don't think the writing was all that great either, though.  The dialogue between the brothers didn't feel natural.  The characters continually make the most idiotic mistakes.  There didn't seem to be a payoff of character development, revelation, or redemption.

Take this one or leave it.  It isn't very scary and is horribly shot, directed, written, and acted.  You can watch it, just don't pay money to do so.   

Defiance

Is anyone else watching this?  I think it is okay.  Sometimes it looks like it has potential to be great, other times it fails miserably in a way that makes me think they making it up from episode to episode.  My other beef is the brothel scenes.  Makes it very awkward to watch the show with the kids. 

I haven't given up on it yet, but it is no Farscape or Babylon 5. 

X Game (2010)

No it isn't a movie about fliping motorcycles or spinning on skateboards.  X Game is a story of bullying and revenge.  The movie has some okay Gore, it isn't quite over the top like Tokyo Gore Police or Machine Girl.  It wasn't a bad movie and it kept my attention, but it is hardly a memorable movie.  Psychological horror fans should enjoy this. 

It's a nice day for a Red Wedding

Red Wedding (to the tune of White Wedding, Billy Idol

Hey King Robb, what have you done?
Hey King Robb, who’s the only one?
Hey King Robb, who’s your banner man?
Hey King Robb, who’s the one you want?
Hey King Robb, Crossbow!

It’s a nice day to start again
It’s a nice day for a red wedding
It’s a nice day to start again

Hey King Robb, Who is it you are with?
Hey King Robb, I will do what you wish
Hey King Robb, Crossbow, oh yeah
Hey King Robb, who’s your banner man?
Hey King Robb, Crossbow!

It’s a nice day to start again
It’s a nice day for a red wedding
It’s a nice day to start again

Hey King Robb, what have you done?
Hey King Robb, who’s the only one?
You’ve been away for so long
You’ve been away for so long
I let you go for so long

It’s a nice day to start again
It’s a nice day for a red wedding
It’s a nice day to start again

There is nothing fair in this world, baby
There is nothing safe in this world
And there's nothing sure in this world
And there's nothing pure in this world
Look for something left in this world

We're Alive: A Story of Survival

Do you long for the days of old when families would sit around the radio and listen.  Not to music, but well produced audio dramas.  Dramas with a full cast of characters, music, and amazing sound effects.  I am talking well produced with top notch writing.  Maybe you are one of these people and don't even know it yet.  Well if you are, you need to be listening to We're Alive. 

We're Alive is a available for free from the website Zombiepodcast.com or from any podcatcher/iTunes, and it follows a ragtag group of survivors of the Zombie Apocolypse as they learn to cope with their new and dangerous new world.  It isn't just the zombies that they have to protect themselves from, as they quickly find out. 

If you like zombies and/or like Walking Dead, you are going to love We're Alive.  The zombies are a bit different and the characters are trying to figure it out.  If you don't think you are a zombie fan, I say give this one a shot as it is well written and well produced.  I would rate it at 13+ due to fantasy violence, language, and non graphic sexual situations. 

I really don't understand how someone hasn't picked this up as a TV series to cash in on the success of Walking Dead.  It is certainly good enough.  Highly recommended

Book of the month

 
The book of the month is Battle Royale for our online book group.  We also have a poll up to pick the August book.  The theme is Hugo nominees.  You have to be a member of the group to vote, but it is free and you will usually only get one email a month.  Next month's book is Ender's game. 

Feel free to spread the word.  The more people in the group the better the discussion should be. 

Good Reading!