tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40008952806559072412024-03-09T21:47:15.202-05:00The World According to QuinnInternet home of Matthew W. Quinn, author of Lovecraftian novel THE THING IN THE WOODS and upcoming novella LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG GUNS. Regular on podcast MYOPIA: DEFEND YOUR CHILDHOOD and occasional contributor to THE GEEKLY ODDCAST. Member of the Horror Writers Association.Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.comBlogger1022125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-21104882676078379832022-12-26T10:58:00.000-05:002022-12-26T10:58:01.650-05:00Check Out My Substack!<p>After over a decade of operating on Blogger, I am now officially transferring this operation to <a href="https://matthewwquin.substack.com/">my new Substack account.</a> This combines functionality with my MailChimp newsletter and has a generally more updated look.</p><p>So if you want to keep on getting new content, go over to <a href="https://matthewwquin.substack.com/">the Substack page</a> and subscribe!</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-8255915272239504102022-12-16T15:35:00.004-05:002022-12-16T15:35:44.605-05:00A 1750s SCOTTISH Karate Kid?<p>I just watched <a href="https://amzn.to/3hABHur">the original Karate Kid film</a> for <a href="https://myopia.podbean.com/">Myopia Movies</a> and coincidentally found this Tumblr post that Canadian author <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bruno-Lombardi/author/B00BFU69D6?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true">Bruno Lombardi</a>, whom I know from <a href="https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/">the alternate history forum</a>, posted on Facebook.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSFqBcEg18PDOfrZ9jODHub0zmfFsErMyojkmHCT8gP3vraUnMNapYVZ0uGMNTam1sdZarYSDH85NiuyB3nQyPkS_EQUe3m7Cjca1PemqazV9wmBZGF6hZRmOdCgCrUg186Ac1fJrV8edEw_P_ZTbGFHpHDXnz4K8sQiy0TDMeq6p2xdDcdH8C0nw/s960/Scottish%20Karate%20Kid.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="960" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSFqBcEg18PDOfrZ9jODHub0zmfFsErMyojkmHCT8gP3vraUnMNapYVZ0uGMNTam1sdZarYSDH85NiuyB3nQyPkS_EQUe3m7Cjca1PemqazV9wmBZGF6hZRmOdCgCrUg186Ac1fJrV8edEw_P_ZTbGFHpHDXnz4K8sQiy0TDMeq6p2xdDcdH8C0nw/s320/Scottish%20Karate%20Kid.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I thought that would actually be pretty fun to watch and joined in the brainstorming. For the Scottish scenario, I suggested the equivalent to the Japanese Internment would be <a href="http://hillheadprimaryglasgow.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/P7WW2ReadingComprehensionTheBlitzinScotland.pdf">German bombing of Scottish cities</a> and <a href="https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/remember-wartime-scottish-children-were-150828261.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANDz7_LvhlTKeGHQOUmQoTeWlLM7-bVzs8csRYaPOm0ogk4y4y4x9AsJZSdNNWpM3rIyPOhNsCQIUY7p_gJA9ezgYmbvW7C7NcNh7MEDrBYVz6RMA0U05bBZczeJgSwPOM3gymQEgdXggVL3eIpeKaKmfW_2WiOif0is-jRC8fVS">evacuation of Scots to Canada</a>, with "Mr. MacMiyagi" as the sole survivor of a U-Boat attack on the ship evacuating his clan. Bruno's friend, fellow writer <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3AJonathan+Edelstein&s=relevancerank&fbclid=IwAR2zsfH5BOODbQ06gaEnGyToDAYu8QVbYGSsQniInpmM1FXK7NyTfhhxJhA&text=Jonathan+Edelstein&ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1">Jonathan Edelstein</a>, suggested instead it could actually take place in the early modern period, with "Mr. MacMiyagi's" personal tragedy being <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances">the Highland Clearances</a>.<p></p><p>So here's the scenario we hashed out:</p><p>*Daniel is from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeoman">the yeoman class</a>, while Ali is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landed_gentry">gentry</a>. There's a clear class difference, but they're both landowners. Mr. and Mrs. Mills aren't going to be exactly impressed, but the class difference isn't such a problem for them that they're going to have Daniel kidnapped and shipped to the Colonies as an indentured servant or quietly murdered. Perhaps Daniel's father was killed in one of Britain's wars during this period rather than dying of cancer and so the Mills, however skeptical they are of this poor(er) man, at least have that respect for Daniel. If he's an officer rather than "the scum of the earth" who formed the enlisted ranks in this period, even better. Edelstein suggested the LaRussos might own enough land to be able to vote, albeit at the lowest possible level (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty-shilling_freeholders">a "forty shilling freehold"</a>).</p><p>*Our elderly friend "Mr. MacMiyagi" is a Scot who fought for the British government against <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobite_rising_of_1745">the 1745 Jacobite insurrection</a>, but was driven off his land during the clearances. During the disaster his wife died in childbirth and his son died with her and with his home gone, he drifted southward and became a groundskeeper or gardener on the Mills' family estate. Traumatized by his various mishaps, he keeps to himself and engages in stereotypically Scottish hobbies like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinty">shinty </a>(the Scottish equivalent of Irish <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurling">hurling</a>) or (if he's literate), writing Scottish poetry?</p><p>*The equivalent of Johnny and his Cobra Kai gang are "young gents" who dislike someone they view as little better than a peasant wooing a girl of their class, with Johnny in particular being a spurned suitor of Ali. Given how much more power parents' had over their children's, particularly daughters', romantic choices in this period, perhaps Mr. Mills is somewhat less oblivious than his movie equivalent and recognizes Johnny for the incipient wife-beater he is, or perhaps he also looks down on Johnny on class grounds. After all, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3iZMwGE">Cobra Kai</a></i> gets more into Johnny's backstory and "the money" he comes from his from his stepfather who barely tolerates him, not his birth family. Perhaps his mother is an actress or from a similarly low-class background who "married up" and the illegitimate Johnny was part of the package? Not only is Johnny a hormonal and jealous a-hole, but he's also classist and nasty toward Daniel because he's overcompensating for his own impoverished background.</p><p>*Bobby, one of the Cobra Kais in the original film who tries to restrain Johnny from his grotesque behavior toward Daniel, is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesleyan_theology">an early Wesleyan</a>. In the<i> Cobra Kai</i> series, we later see that he's become a preacher, so he sticks with it.</p><p>*"MacKreese" is another veteran of Culloden, only he fought for the Jacobites. He has a beef with "MacMiyagi" for that reason, plus the fact his side lost. He runs his <a href="https://www.vanguardcentre.com/activities/scottish-martial-arts/">quarterstaff </a>club (I doubt they'd have martial-arts dojos in England at this time) like a particularly abusive military unit, spinning it to his charges' parents that he's teaching them discipline so they don't end up dissolute libertines. Thing is, instead they're a bunch of angry young men abusing peasants (think Chozen from <a href="https://amzn.to/3FyUlL6">the second film</a> cheating people at the grocery store) or peers they dislike (i.e. Daniel).</p><p>So we have something roughly similar to the canonical film in which Johnny and his gang bully Daniel for courting Ali, but an attempt to jump him and murder him is interrupted by "Mr. MacMiyagi" totally wrecking them <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1DmdgOdHgw">the way Mr. Miyagi wiped out five Cobra Kai students in seconds in the canonical film</a>. Given the legal hell to pay a poor Scot is going to get for beating up some English gentlemen even in defense of an English yeoman (especially if their parents are important local nobles), perhaps "MacKreese" and "Mr. MacMiyagi" agree to allow Daniel to fight some kind of duel with Johnny rather than getting the law involved? "MacKreese" could spin this as some kind of test for his students (or put on a show of not wanting "Sassenach" laws judging another Scot), but it's really part of some kind of elaborate revenge on "Mr. MacMiyagi" for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Culloden">Battle of Culloden</a>?</p><p>Things start to get a little tricky when we tried to come up with a Scottish equivalent of Mr. Miyagi's traditional Okinawan/Japanese wisdom (be it authentic or something underinformed Americans would *think* was traditional Okinawan/Japanese wisdom). Edelstein said setting it in the 1750s would be too early for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Burns">Robert Burns</a>, but "MacMiyagi" could tell embellished stories of the founding of various Scottish clans or the great William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. And instead of Daniel's crane kick, there's a finishing move called "the Kelpie."</p><p>I personally am rather disinclined to join with woketarians in attacking <i>The Karate Kid</i> (see <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/karate-kids-ralph-macchio-responds-to-criticism-over-the-movie-being-too-white-explains-how-it-was-ahead-of-its-time">Ralph Macchio's defense of the original film when it's criticized for being "too white"</a>), but I also recognize the concept of "turnabout is fair play." So if someone actually wanted to make a parody of TKK that riffs on the <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MagicalAsian">Magical Asian Mentor</a> and <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MightyWhitey">Mighty Whitey</a> tropes, I'd be all for it.</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-7021568407134264042022-12-01T11:17:00.000-05:002022-12-01T11:17:00.072-05:00Book Review: WILLOW Novelization (1988)Since Disney+ is putting out a next-generation sequel to the 1988 fantasy classic <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3RusNKM">Willow</a></i>, the film podcast <a href="https://myopia.podbean.com/">Myopia Movies</a> recorded <a href="https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ag8v3-1329e7c">an episode</a> that came out alongside it. I enjoyed the movie, but there were a number of flaws, most notably the lack of explanation and worldbuilding. Given how the movie was intended for children and as-is the host's kindergartner was losing interest toward the end, I figured the novelization would be a big improvement. Fortunately <a href="https://amzn.to/3C4m8Bm">it is available for purchase on Amazon</a>, so I decided to give it a spin.<div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLH1mGOZokt1ZBCbNoKdGN5Q9zUN-45dhK02oMJaZhw_pubRqrMhhq-aAqaDBtMaHlGAZCRd5ufnJP6WWmfUbRAuR3fkcsX4ZEFq0MB4iksfTRx9WH1gtxzisFFApxSmHhXQTtUlS5LVs0G7b7PZDH1vNj6bNp__1GHVDwLcVQDq88sXLaq87SXMkh/s337/Willow%20Novelization.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="199" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLH1mGOZokt1ZBCbNoKdGN5Q9zUN-45dhK02oMJaZhw_pubRqrMhhq-aAqaDBtMaHlGAZCRd5ufnJP6WWmfUbRAuR3fkcsX4ZEFq0MB4iksfTRx9WH1gtxzisFFApxSmHhXQTtUlS5LVs0G7b7PZDH1vNj6bNp__1GHVDwLcVQDq88sXLaq87SXMkh/s320/Willow%20Novelization.webp" width="189" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><u>The Plot</u></div><div><br /></div><div>In a faraway land, a prophecy predicts that a child will be born who will overthrow the evil Queen Bavmorda. To that end, Bavmorda, imprisons all late-stage pregnant women and has their child inspected after birth to see if they bear the prophesied mark--and one day the newborn Elora Danan does. A sympathetic midwife smuggles the child out and Bavmorda dispatches her grim General Kael and warlike daughter Sorsha to pursue the child.</div><div><p>But the child falls into the hands of gnomish farmer and family man Willow Ulfgood, who aspires to do magic. Assigned by the gnome village elders to find a human to look after said child, Willow soon encounters the rogue Madmartigan and the transformed sorceress Fin Raziel. Soon they're all allies on a quest to overthrow Bavmorda, with some surprising twists and turns along the way.</p><p>(The novelization appears to be based on an earlier draft of the screenplay and includes content cut from the actual film.)</p></div><div><u>The Good</u></div><div><br /></div><div>*The novel beefs up the characterization of Willow himself and emphasizes the danger his quest to protect baby Elora puts him in besides the obvious problem of Bavmorda's murderous soldiers. Basically he's been pursuing his dreams of becoming a wizard to the detriment of working on his farm and owes the bullying village prefect Burglekutt money. Friendly neighbors have had to give him seed for this year's crop and he's apparently one payment away from foreclosure. Although the situation is largely his own fault, if his children had never found the baby he could have easily turned his situation around--he gets a lot of plowing done in a single day.</div><div><br /></div><div>*Bavmorda, Fin Raziel, and their Fae mentor Charlindea get a lot more back-story and characterization than in the film. In the movie, Bavmorda is basically a live-action version of Snow White's Evil Queen, Fin is a rival she's transformed, and it's not even clear what exactly Charlindea even *is*--on the podcast, I refer to her at one point as the "non-union Mexican equivalent" of Galadriel.</div><div><br /></div><div>*A monster cut from the film and a monster that appears later in the film have reasons for being there that further build Bavmorda's character. Not only is she a powerful sorceress, but she's also a <i>planner </i>who has fail-safes for her various schemes.</div><div><br /></div><div>*Burglekutt isn't just an obnoxious small-town moneylender...he's also a prefect in the local government and owns the town's sole seed shop. Willow is not the only person he antagonizes either. If it weren't for his physical cowardice and being completely out of shape physically, he could have been a PG version of small-town gangster Wesley from the Patrick Swayze movie <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3RtG9H7">Road House</a></i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>*The novel explains some stuff that, in the film alone, don't make a whole lot of sense. For example, the midwife escapes the sinister Nockmaar Castle with the infant Elora by hiding out in some secret passages she knew about (and apparently the guards didn't) until Bavmorda's pursuers are far away before setting off into the wilderness. And once away, she's assisted by people opposed to Bavmorda's regime and even <i>friendly animals</i>. This explains why Elora is a newborn at the beginning of the film but looks significantly older by the time the midwife sets her adrift on the river to save her from the Death Dogs...they've actually been on the run for <i>months</i>. A character who gets captured by the heroes in the film because they insist on being the first one to search a room displays a bit more common sense and sends minions in first.</div><div><br /></div><div>*The war depicted in the film is also explained in more detail. Bavmorda, having usurped her late husband, rules all the territories he did, and has been making war on the nearby kingdom of <a href="https://willowufgood.fandom.com/wiki/Galladoorn">Galladoorn</a>. The various rebels, armies, etc. we see in the film are survivors of Galladoorn's army, people within Nockmaar opposed to Bavmorda's rule, etc. The film doesn't really explain the politics of the situation very much or very well.</div><div><br /></div><div>*There's a scene where we see Nockmaar's army in battle in large numbers (as opposed to Kael and Sorsha's death squad that numbers about fifty people at most) that's pretty cool.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>The Bad</u></div><div><br /></div><div>*The prose is not very descriptive and doesn't move very quickly until about halfway through the book. There's a lot of telling rather than showing.</div><div><br /></div><div>*Some of the worldbuilding and back-story is rather silly. Before Bavmorda, apparently all living things in the world lived in harmony and several times characters are assisted by friendly animals. Yes, I know this is a novelization of a children's film and friendly animals are a fairy-tale staple, but <i>still</i>. Although I criticized the movie for oversimplifying matters, the more complex attempts at worldbuilding and back-story raise more questions than they answer. The <i>Willow </i>Blu-Ray has an interview with Ron Howard in which he explains how a whole subplot involving Sorsha's father--the previous king at Tir Asleen and Bavmorda's husband--was ordered cut by the studio and frankly the movie version is better than what's in the novelization. </div><div><br /></div><div>(<a href="https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7151744/1/Love-and-Admiration">This fan-fic</a> keeps Sorsha's dad dead like the movie at least strongly implies and explains the whole situation better than either the novelization or the film, but beware spoilers.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Elora's role in the novel is also needlessly complex--some commenter on TVTropes states that she causes Bavmorda's downfall in the film, not by anything she does, but the actions she inspires others to undertake. There's also a lot of Chekov's Guns that aren't fired--worldbuilding that doesn't really tie in with the immediate plot but mostly serves to add pages.</div><div><br /></div><div>*The way Bavmorda's and Madmartigan's back-stories are explained feature gigantic info-dumps that are basically characters telling stories around the campfire. This is especially the case with Madmartigan. Yes, the back-stories are interesting, but they go on for far too long and are kind of clunky.</div><div><br /></div><div>*Some stuff from the movie gets left out, like scenes in Nockmaar Castle where Bavmorda interacts with Sorsha and Kael. This would explain the unhealthy family dynamic between Sorsha and her belittling, affection-withholding mother (and why a character's romantic speech, drug-induced though it may be, has such an effect on her) and show the evil kingdom's political dysfunction. Sorsha's first film meeting with the heroes that sets up a lot of stuff that happens later is also left out. Although Willow and Madmartigan benefit from the expanded characterization in the novel, Sorsha (to a point) and especially Kael lose out.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>The Verdict</u></div><div><br /></div><div>A library read, unless you can get it super-cheap somewhere. Only worth reading once. 6.0 out of 10.</div></div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-54991349479566922682022-12-01T08:25:00.004-05:002022-12-01T08:25:31.475-05:00Movie Review: WILLOW (1988)<p>On <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/blasters-and/episode-100-matthew-quinn-uRYOMGNwrJS/">the 100th episode of the Blasters and Blades podcast</a>, I briefly discussed the movie <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3RusNKM">Willow </a></i>with the hosts. I referred to the movie as being "before my time" (it turns out I was actually around four years old, but at that point I was mostly interested in cartoons), much to the slightly-older host's annoyance. At the time I had not seen it, but lo and behold some time later, the film podcast Myopia Movies added it to the Season Nine lineup. So not long after DragonCon 2022, I watched it for the podcast...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDIp8489bpM5YMwkxcMwhThxd2LGx0G-kcbtQxUY4Vhvrh2J0oXUbhBd4Gkm1Kqt0rM4YjTv1KixM7O7G0ban_H3Sv5rcreWTQ09VV5YpoEv1ZDkRsSxFsyzdF5Az4g6Gm_DVPEThCDMjs0iO1lke6c2Vz2k3yF11x9JKlhkC0Kp7_pOEUEzB_FAl/s384/Willow%20(Film).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDIp8489bpM5YMwkxcMwhThxd2LGx0G-kcbtQxUY4Vhvrh2J0oXUbhBd4Gkm1Kqt0rM4YjTv1KixM7O7G0ban_H3Sv5rcreWTQ09VV5YpoEv1ZDkRsSxFsyzdF5Az4g6Gm_DVPEThCDMjs0iO1lke6c2Vz2k3yF11x9JKlhkC0Kp7_pOEUEzB_FAl/s320/Willow%20(Film).jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><p>Here's <a href="https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ag8v3-1329e7c">the link to the podcast</a>. And now for the review...</p><p><u>The Plot</u></p><p>In a faraway land, a prophecy predicts that a child will be born who will overthrow the evil Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsha). To that end, Bavmorda, imprisons all late-stage pregnant women and has their child inspected after birth to see if they bear the prophesied mark--and one day the newborn Elora Danan (twins Kate and Ruth Greenfield) does. A sympathetic midwife smuggles the child out and Bavmorda dispatches her grim General Kael (Pat Roach) and warlike daughter Sorsha (Joanne Whalley) to pursue the child.</p><p>But the child falls into the hands of the farmer and family man Willow Ulfgood (Warwick Davis), who aspires to do magic. Assigned by the village elders to find a human to look after said child, Willow soon encounters the rogue Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) and the transformed sorceress Fin Raziel (Patricia Hayes). Soon they're all allies on a quest to overthrow Bavmorda, with some surprising twists and turns along the way.</p><p><u>The Good</u></p><p>*For starters, Willow and his kindred are a very specific fantasy race--they're <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnome">gnomes</a>. This is the first and so far only time I've seen gnomes in an actual film. For the scenes in the gnome village it looks like Lucasfilm hired every dwarf actor in Hollywood--every adult seems to have some form of dwarfism and there are a lot of them who can play musical instruments, fight with weapons, etc. The only ordinary-sized people seem to be the children. This is a good thing on multiple levels--it's more authentic and real-looking and it <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/problems-little-people-have-to-deal-with/anna-lindwasser">provides employment for people who often live rather difficult lives</a>. And their characterizations are varied--the gnome village has an obnoxious moneylender who covets Willow's land, there are full-time soldiers (who are actually fairly skilled--on Twitter I called them "the littlest pikemen"), and even a wizard. We even see their form of government--they seem to have a town council and direct democracy on certain major issues. These aren't a bunch of circus performers, but an actual complex society.</p><p>*Also, this is a world where there are non-human fantasy races in addition to ordinary people. In a world of only <i>Homo sapiens sapiens</i> who often look different, practice different religions, etc. we're often bigoted enough toward each other. Willow and the other gnomes get repeatedly referred to as "pecks" (a reference to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/peck">a unit of measurement</a>, approximately 12-14 pounds) even by people who are supposed to be heroic. It's a major sign of a character's moral growth that this person starts referring to them by how they call themselves (Nalwyn) rather than "peck."</p><p>*The film also has a good cast. I liked all three of the main trio--Davis, Kilmer, and Whalley.</p><p>*The movie is fast-moving and entertaining, albeit a bit on the cheesy side.</p><p><u>The Bad</u></p><p>*Unfortunately, I can kind of tell where the filmmakers are getting a lot of their inspiration from. Willow and his friend Meegosh, after being captured by the brownies, are sent on a quest to protect Elora by some kind of forest sorceress whom I refer to on Twitter as Galadriel's "non-union Mexican equivalent." Apparently the novelization explains more--including her relationship to Fin Raziel and Bavmorda--but I shouldn't have to refer to the novelization, deleted scenes, etc. for a movie to make sense. According to the novelization she was a senior sorceress (and also a forest fairy of some kind) mentoring Raziel and Bavmorda, the latter of whom went bad. In the film it's not even clear if she's human or some kind of elf, fairy, etc. Hence "Galaldriel's non-union Mexican equivalent." Making her human--and perhaps involved in the military resistance against Bavmorda we see elsewhere in the film--would be more original, but again, it's not in the film.</p><p>*Per the above, there's a lot of missing material that's included in the novelization, earlier drafts of the script, comic books, etc. that would have helped the movie make a lot more sense. For example, Bavmorda believes that even if she killed baby Elora, she'd be reborn in a new body and the prophecy would kick back in. Hence the elaborate ritual to banish Elora's soul to another dimension and/or destroy it completely so that never happens rather than simply murdering her at first chance. There's also a character's defection that has a lot more back-story in the extended universe, but in the actual movie it seems like they're mostly doing it out of love (or at least lust) for one of the good guys.</p><p>(I suggested in the podcast the movie could be a bit longer to fix these issues, but Nic cited the example of his own child getting bored later in the movie to point out this risks losing the attention of the primary audience. The deleted scenes pertaining to the defector character--beware spoilers--don't add many minutes to the film, although the last bit involving a character conscious while imprisoned in a crystal is so ridiculous and cheap-looking. A few bits of dialogue here and there would be fine, but lots and lots of new scenes, not so much. I still think it'd be doable, although we're about 34 years too late. If you want an alternative take that's not overly elaborate, <a href="https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7151744/1/Love-and-Admiration">check out this fan-fic here</a>. Spoilers beware.)</p><p><u>The Verdict</u></p><p>Not perfect, but a fun and entertaining fantasy film. Also a means of teaching good values to the target audience (kids) without being preachy and annoying to adults. 8.5 out of 10.</p><p>And while you're at it, check out my novella <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3EuoR9R">Little People, Big Guns</a></i>. Although it on the surface it looks rather tacky and exploitative, my intention was to get into the real life issues little people face--people ignoring them because they can't see them, problems functioning in a world designed for people much larger than themselves, health difficulties, bullying by bigger people, and even weird fetishization. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warwick_Davis#Other_projects">Davis actually runs an acting agency that started out representing his coworkers with dwarfism and later included those who were unusually tall.</a></p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-46830800241153863692022-11-20T22:25:00.003-05:002022-11-20T22:31:50.581-05:00Oda Nobunaga Finishes Unifying Japan, A More Plausible Draka Timeline, and an Uglier Tanker War<p>It's been awhile since I've posted about alternate history. Here are some scenarios from the public sections of the forum I used to be a regular member of that you might find interesting.</p><p><a href="https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/nobunaga%E2%80%99s-ambition-realized-the-dawn-of-a-new-rising-sun.532793/">Nobunaga's Ambition Realized: The Dawn of a New Rising Sun</a>-In real life, warlord Oda Nobunaga was betrayed by one of his own commanders and committed suicide to avoid captured and execution. His efforts to reunite feudal Japan were continued by others, including Tokugawa Ieyasu. The latter brought peace to Japan, but at the price of isolating the country from the world, the functional extermination of Christianity, and establishment of what sounds like an early modern police state. In this timeline, Nobunaga avoids the coup attempt and continues his historical course. He ultimately reunites Japan as the new shogun (a military dictator who rules in the emperor's name), but his government pursues very different policies. Although his successor Hideyoshi's war with Korea is avoided, he and his successors do successfully colonize Taiwan, and Christianity remains a tolerated faith even if some of the excesses that provoked the Tokugawa crackdown (slave-trading by foreign priests, Catholic lords forcing peasants to convert) are firmly dealt with. It looks like Japan is on the way to becoming a major power in Asia rather than turning inward. And this is already having some effects, most notably on China...</p><p><a href="https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/snakedance-a-plausible-draka-tliam.535276/">Snakedance: A Plausible Draka TLIAM</a>-The author wants to have this whole timeline completed in a month (hence the title) and she seems to be making good progress so far. For those not familiar, <a href="http://www.changingthetimes.net/draka/app01.html">here is the canonical Draka timeline through the 1950s</a>. Although it's not particularly plausible, the fiction is entertaining and it's one of the founding texts of modern-day alternate history. The author is focused on the early Draka expansion in southern Africa and depicts the natives putting up a more realistic and much better fight that they did in canon and avoids the Draka's too-fast early industrialization. She also emphasizes sports, the arts, and culture among the Draka, something that is often overlooked in alternate history, and seems like she's planning on emphasizing class conflict among the Draka elite more than canon does.</p><p>(The first book <i>Marching Through Georgia</i> has female lead Sofie Nixon pondering the social gap between herself, the daughter of a dock foreman and granddaughter of a Scottish mercenary, and her commanding officer and love interest Eric von Shrakenberg, but I don't recall very much from the later books. The Citizen caste seems rather united on most issues of importance and the points of disunity are limited to grousing, like the urbanite-dominated Security Directorate sneering at the planter-dominated military as living in the past.)</p><p><a href="https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/crushed-in-infancy-an-account-of-the-1980s-onwards.535510/">Crushed In Infancy</a>-In this timeline, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanker_War">the "Tanker War" phase of the Iran-Iraq War</a> escalates into a series of direct battles between the United States and the new Islamic Republic of Iran. The Islamic Republic soon goes into a different, more US-friendly direction, after some events I'm not going to give away for spoiler reasons. This in turn leads to some very different politics in the United States, the declining Soviet Union, and a China that is just starting to liberalize after the death of Mao. We're looking at a very interesting late 1980s and early 1990s here.</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-16067101069774216512022-11-12T09:21:00.006-05:002022-11-13T12:42:38.026-05:00THE HOWLING, The Heroes Of Other Stories, and Fan Fiction Ideas<p>In the 1981 film <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3WVwvRw">The Howling</a></i>, TV news anchor Karen White (Dee Wallace) discovers a rural California community run by her station's psychiatrist has a dark secret. A very hairy dark secret...although the cover pretty obviously gives away the fact it's a werewolf movie, this isn't confirmed until about an hour into the film.</p><p>Although the film is kind of dull (<a href="https://accordingtoquinn.blogspot.com/2022/10/blast-from-past-movie-review-howling.html">I gave it a grade of C on my blog</a>), the characterization is interesting. Several supporting cast members seem like they could potentially be the heroes of their own stories. Anybody who's a fanfic enthusiast (<a href="https://archiveofourown.org/tags/The%20Howling%20(1981)/works">Archive of Our Own has a lot of <i>Howling </i>fanfic stories</a>) is welcome to give these a spin. <a href="https://twitter.com/MatthewWQuinn/status/1591385696086159364">I posted about this on Twitter earlier this morning</a>; here is my rambling in more coherent form, with some fact-checking.</p><p>Spoilers for a 30-odd year old movie below. I'll post the YouTube clip of the relevant scene that reveals a lot about the lesser characters to further block it off.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8QPUNrEkRvY" width="320" youtube-src-id="8QPUNrEkRvY"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><b>Dr. George Waggner</b> (Patrick McNee)-The station psychiatrist and basically the cult guru in charge of "The Colony." He tries to get the werewolves to control their animal nature and live peacefully, but he cannot control the violent Quist siblings--serial killer Eddie, homewrecker Marcia, and creepy little brother T.C. Under California law, <a href="https://www.keglawyers.com/accessory-after-fact-penal-code-32#:~:text=California%20Penal%20Code%2032%20PC,have%20committed%20a%20felony%20crime.">he's an accessory after the fact</a> to several murders (possibly with rape to boot), since he knows about Eddie's crimes and seems to have done nothing but try to conceal them by luring the only surviving witness to his commune. If the cops (other than the local sheriff who's a werewolf himself) get involved, he's going to be doing some pretty serious time.</p><p>(You don't get the misdemeanor accessory charge for covering for a serial killer and Eddie has committed <i>multiple serious crimes</i>. That jail time piles up real quick, and him trying to plead coercion would involve revealing that he's the guru of a colony of werewolves.)</p><p>However, his options to deal with the Quists are rather limited. At the climax of the film, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082533/characters/nm0001495">Marcia and one of her friends <i>openly assault him</i> when he tells them he won't let them kill Karen</a> and it seemed to me his bad deeds (largely of omission rather than commission) are basically for damage control purposes. If not for him, many if not most of the werewolves in the community would start hunting and killing people before the government comes in and gives them the Waco treatment. He can't exactly go to the police for help--they wouldn't believe him if he said they were all werewolves and if they did believe it (say if he transformed in front of them), he and his would be hunted down and killed as monsters.</p><p>You could depict him as this morally gray version of Charles Xavier making harder and harder "lesser of two evils" choices to the point it's a relief when Karen's colleague Chris Halloran shoots him with a silver bullet. Hell, you could make him a full-on tragic hero. If Macbeth (traitor and murderer of families), Othello (domestic violence), and Hamlet (causes several deaths and the foreign invasion of his kingdom through sheer bumbling) can be tragic heroes, well, Waggner's crimes are much less extreme.</p><p><b>Jerry and Donna Warren</b> (James Murtaugh and Margie Impert)-<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QPUNrEkRvY">In this scene here</a>, the werewolves detain Karen after Eddie kills her colleague Terri and she realizes just what's going on. The Warrens seem intent on recruiting Karen for the cult. Although I'd initially thought they'd found The Colony's secret on their own, had been given the choice between accepting "the gift" and being killed, and were desperately hoping Karen would be shown the same mercy, that doesn't seem to be what happened. It sounds like they'd be been bitten earlier and tried to resist the effects rather unsuccessfully, but then found Waggner on their own and Waggner taught them how to deal with it effectively. Just how that played out could be an interesting story, especially if the werewolf who infected them was unaffiliated with Waggner and The Colony. Who else is out there?</p><p><b>Erle Kenton</b> (John Carradine)-He's the one who looks like Willie Nelson and attempts to kill himself when we first meet him. One could write him as someone who wants to follow Dr. Waggner's teachings but finds his struggle against his own nature so difficult that he becomes outright suicidal. When Eddie killing Terri causes a crisis at The Colony, he just says "screw it" and gives in to his animal side. This could be the story of someone with a mental illness suffering a breakdown or someone who's really repressed finally, to quote Elsa from <i>Frozen</i>, "Let[ting] it go." Only he's a bigoted murderous a-hole.</p><p><b>Bill Neil</b> (Christopher Stone)-We see his whole arc on-screen so he's not really the hero of another story, but showing the whole situation from his POV could be interesting. He goes from being a vegetarian and a faithful husband to Karen (he even gets violent with Marcia when she puts the moves on him) to killing and eating animals, cheating on Karen with Marcia, and assaulting Karen when she calls him out on it. And some viewers think he's the one who infected Karen in the climax of the film. What is it like to have your worldview shift so much in less than a week?</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-33825883042303299972022-10-27T06:54:00.004-04:002022-11-12T08:57:00.727-05:00Blast from the Past Movie Review: THE HOWLING (1981)<p>Back in the days of Blockbuster Video, I got my own membership later in high school and could rent any movie I wanted. One film I rented was <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3c5hcDz">The Howling</a></i>, a well-regarded werewolf movie from the early 1980s. October 2022 is werewolf month on the film podcast <a href="https://myopia.podbean.com/">Myopia Movies</a> and this was one of the films I really wanted to do.</p><p>Here's <a href="https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-xephx-12e74d8">the episode</a>. And now for the review...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NSyBNoRHJD2gml1Po822IO3oAL7Ef9icjyJd3yQbCrGa6TZgIwHCsRTFwlCo4E9nZZUWfW7mcyy1jUx0uTZI-NYk00Q2Dya1OOygl_H2ueAe1ofgJcZ6CO1owY-3pASA3_2a0vsD2NfmH6_0V5QbwIiuxXOiHF5Y8ifr4jz7dYkLJaL_qsBSGB-T/s379/The_Howling_(1981_film)_poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="262" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NSyBNoRHJD2gml1Po822IO3oAL7Ef9icjyJd3yQbCrGa6TZgIwHCsRTFwlCo4E9nZZUWfW7mcyy1jUx0uTZI-NYk00Q2Dya1OOygl_H2ueAe1ofgJcZ6CO1owY-3pASA3_2a0vsD2NfmH6_0V5QbwIiuxXOiHF5Y8ifr4jz7dYkLJaL_qsBSGB-T/s320/The_Howling_(1981_film)_poster.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><p><u>The Plot</u></p><p>In 1980s Los Angeles, television anchor Karen White (Dee Wallace) has been getting phone calls from serial killer Eddie Quist (Robert Picardo). In order to catch him, she agrees to meet up with him--with the police close by. As one might expect, this turns violent very quickly and the traumatized Karen can't remember precisely what happened. Dr. George Waggner, (Patrick Macnee), a local psychologist, invites her and her husband Bill Neil (Christopher Stone) to a rural commune called "The Colony" so she can rest and undergo group therapy. They arrive and meet various colorful characters living there, including Marcia Quist (Elisabeth Brooks), who is a little <i>too </i>interested in Bill.</p><p>And did I mention that Eddie's corpse has disappeared from the morgue? Karen's colleagues Chris Halloran (Dennis Dugan) and Terri Fisher (Belinda Belaski) investigate that as things get progressively weirder and more dangerous at The Colony.</p><p><u>The Good</u></p><p>*There is some good foreshadowing, like a character early on who specifically wants to commit suicide by fire.</p><p>*There're some moments of humor, like when a snoopy character is caught going through a filing cabinet.</p><p>*There is also some good development for the supporting cast, like how Karen's boss at the station is depicted as a jackass. He signs off on the scheme to bait serial-killer Eddie never mind that it's putting one of his employees at great risk and a good number of people openly object to it, and when she's clearly upset by the experience, says it's just as likely she could be pregnant (sexism) and casually and profanely butchers the name of an Asian anchor the station could use if she can't handle being on-air (racism). The guy is a real tool, and we get that mostly in one scene almost as an aside.</p><p>*I can't go into too much detail for reasons of spoilers, but they do develop the villains as people. Some are content with living in isolation and hunting animals and even peacefully coexisting with ordinary people, but others are more overtly predatory and violent and the former have to resort to increasing concessions to the latter in order to (barely) keep them under control. The politics of it could have been developed more, but they are interesting.</p><p>*I liked the side story with Chris and Terri investigating the aftermath of Eddie's attack on Karen and how it ultimately links back up with Karen's stay at the Colony.</p><p><u>The Bad</u></p><p>*After the initial confrontation with Eddie, the movie slows down considerably. Not much happens of note until Karen and Bill arrive at the Colony and Karen starts hearing wolves howling outside. This section of the movie functions more like a mystery than a straight-up horror movie in the vein of <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3AeD5rM">Silver Bullet</a></i> or <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3AA4VAm">An American Werewolf in London</a></i>. If that's what you're into that's fine, but be aware.</p><p>*Per the above, the internal politics of the Colony could have come up earlier--perhaps when Terri comes to see Karen, the residents could argue among themselves about this new development.</p><p><u>The Verdict</u></p><p>A bit dull if you go in expecting a full-on monster movie, but if you go in expecting a mystery, it's better. 7.5 out of 10.</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-91113046231615982042022-10-26T20:42:00.001-04:002022-10-26T20:42:21.884-04:00Films I Bought Because of Myopia Movies<p>As my readers know, I'm a regular participant in the film podcast <a href="https://myopia.podbean.com/">Myopia Movies</a>, organized by one of my friends from the Boy Scouts. To that end, I've probably watched dozens if not hundreds of movies I haven't seen in forever (or never saw at all) over the last eight-odd years we've been recording. Some of these I liked so much I actually purchased them on physical media so I'll have them forever and not lose them to the whims of the streaming company or IP holder. <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/whyd-that-movie-disappear-welcome-to-streamings-memory-hole-era-1235197486/">Seriously, the streaming services giveth and the streaming services taketh away. </a> Netflix in particular <a href="https://www.fullstackeconomics.com/p/why-streaming-content-keeps-vanishing-and-how-to-stop-it">has shed a lot of films over the years.</a> And per <i>The New York Times</i>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/you-dont-own-your-digital-movies/">you don't actually own your digital movies</a>.</p><p>And so here are the DVDs or Blu-Rays that I've bought...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aCcDLujQC6WXvKuyBVfRcKPIkl0Vq1rFu4GdWO3RdrINZo0CpnJA96o8Ib2Rab17AwAPyOmfaVnT7zLCEazGniUbZtKEcHDdBok1acyVMAYkrQrugOr6v_Rpo6tEI3CnsYXCdcSxC5IPJ-7fStJWWm11d0BR5hnwLOh7_s2GkBwj66-F7JuBn91Z/s1200/Blu-Ray%20Disc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="1200" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aCcDLujQC6WXvKuyBVfRcKPIkl0Vq1rFu4GdWO3RdrINZo0CpnJA96o8Ib2Rab17AwAPyOmfaVnT7zLCEazGniUbZtKEcHDdBok1acyVMAYkrQrugOr6v_Rpo6tEI3CnsYXCdcSxC5IPJ-7fStJWWm11d0BR5hnwLOh7_s2GkBwj66-F7JuBn91Z/s320/Blu-Ray%20Disc.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3U0uJfA"><i>How The Grinch Stole Christmas</i></a>-This is the Jim Carrey <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NightmareFuel">Nightmare Fuel</a> edition that my colleagues didn't like but I thought was hilarious. Those damn materialistic Whos needed a wakeup call. The movie even opens with a Black Friday commercialistic nightmare. The episode is slated to premiere December 15 to coincide with <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20853816/">the Grinch parody film <i>The Mean One</i></a>, so I'll update this page when it is.</p><p><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3szK6jH">The Abyss</a></i>-This underwater science fiction extravaganza was something I first saw in elementary school, but didn't see again until we recorded a podcast on it. <a href="https://accordingtoquinn.blogspot.com/2021/07/blast-from-past-movie-review-abyss-1989.html">Here's my review</a> and <a href="https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-2iih8-1097377">here is the episode</a>. It's a blast. Also check out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGHcltjrXaA">my YouTube video</a>.</p><p><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3DyRrGn">The Rocketeer</a></i>-This and <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3W65Lxi">Shipwrecked </a></i>were the first movies I saw with my mother when I first moved from Kennesaw-ish to East Cobb as a child. The episode was originally recorded for the show's defunct Patreon and won't be out until <a href="https://deadline.com/2021/08/the-rocketeer-movie-disneydavid-oyelowo-1234824453/">the planned sequel</a>, but re-watching the movie again was a blast. I even got my college-student younger cousin watching it.</p><p><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3gJenK8">Labyrinth</a></i>-For years I avoided this film due to seeing some creepy-looking production stills, but I'm glad I finally saw it. Here's <a href="https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-gpau7-a257dc">the episode</a> and here's <a href="https://accordingtoquinn.blogspot.com/2018/12/movie-review-labyrinth-1986.html">the review</a>. I also came up with some other posts based on and even <a href="https://accordingtoquinn.blogspot.com/2019/01/a-not-quite-serious-labyrinth-fan.html">created my first meme</a>. I'm going to be on <a href="https://accordingtoquinn.blogspot.com/2022/09/conjuration-2022-panel-schedule.html">a panel about the film at the Atlanta fantasy festival CONjuration in early November</a>, where some material from "<i>Labyrinth </i>is <i>Hellraiser </i>for Kids" (here <a href="https://accordingtoquinn.blogspot.com/2021/12/labyrinth-is-hellraiser-for-kids.html">in blog form</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh6QKVpzRLw">here on YouTube</a>) will make an appearance.</p><p><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3zjKw1b">Howard The Duck</a></i>-This was a movie I'd wanted to do <a href="https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-r86v9-10e985a">an episode on</a> for years and it was a blast. <a href="https://accordingtoquinn.blogspot.com/2021/09/movie-review-howard-duck-1986.html">Here's my review</a>. I think I'm one of the few people in the world who non-ironically loves this one. Here's to hoping they let the original Beverly Lea Thompson direct an official MCU version, with one of her daughters playing the new Beverly. <a href="https://screenrant.com/howard-duck-lea-thompson-wants-direct-mcu-movie/">As of October 2022, Thompson is still campaigning for job.</a></p><p><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3D9xXH3">Gremlins</a></i>-This one came out the year I was born and I saw it for the first time at <a href="https://www.plazaatlanta.com/page/now-showing">The Plaza Theater</a> in Atlanta. <a href="https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-y86k9-8026bb">Here's the podcast</a> and <a href="https://accordingtoquinn.blogspot.com/2014/12/blast-from-past-movie-review-gremlins.html">here's my review</a>. This one is definitely a hoot.</p><p><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3sF4WxT">Highlander</a></i>-I first saw this one as one of Joe Bob Briggs' late-night movie shows and was a big fan of <a href="https://amzn.to/3SHzB8m">the spinoff TV series</a> that featured a younger relative of Connor MacLeod, with Connor dropping in now and then. <a href="https://accordingtoquinn.blogspot.com/2018/04/blast-from-past-movie-review-highlander.html">Here's my review </a>and <a href="https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-4big6-8f173b">here's the episode</a>. The appearance of the villain Grendel from my steampunk series <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3TFWavL">Battle for the Wastelands</a></i> was inspired by the evil Kurgan's medieval war-gear, especially the helmet.</p><p><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3zkBgKq">Willow</a></i>-This movie came out when I was in pre-school, but I don't remember being interested. Cheesy and fun. The episode won't come out until December 22 to coincide with the Disney+ spinoff series featuring an older Willow training a new generation of heroes. Watching the film inspired me to purchase <a href="https://amzn.to/3NhLP6H">an ancient copy of the novelization</a> and gave me more fodder for the 1980s fantasy film panel I'll be on at CONjuration.</p><p><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3szA6Xv">Secret of NIMH</a></i>-The movie that scared me to death in kindergarten. <a href="https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-rdksj-90ec36">Here's the episode</a> and <a href="https://accordingtoquinn.blogspot.com/2018/05/blast-from-past-movie-review-secret-of.html">here's the review</a>. It's a beautiful film with excellent voice-work and animation.</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-63205216324656824752022-10-13T06:06:00.001-04:002022-10-13T06:06:07.506-04:00Blast from the Past Movie Review: AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (1981)<p>Back when I was in high school, one of the first movies I rented when I got my own Blockbuster card (remember those?) was <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3QXPGq1">An American Werewolf in London</a></i>. For <a href="https://myopia.podbean.com/">Myopia Movies</a>' October werewolf month, a movie pretty much everybody wanted to do was this one, so away we went. Here is <a href="https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-irh3c-12de67b">the podcast episode</a>. And now for the review...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0WZNCJXKnbShU4R9rjyIjUUchP3xoM0MxAb0Mll9blX2oBQvzLANNjpFAq9M93YmsQZ1UQxEAkVO30KXn52P_el2jzWCqpKJcJ612Y8htin3Z-6q0hLyr6w8LlaNvfyunf_xJbkclYvBruShEVJ_7F7CtOB3kDeUnsK3gv3YrEOZF_GqCUpeyCXt/s402/An_American_Werewolf_in_London_poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0WZNCJXKnbShU4R9rjyIjUUchP3xoM0MxAb0Mll9blX2oBQvzLANNjpFAq9M93YmsQZ1UQxEAkVO30KXn52P_el2jzWCqpKJcJ612Y8htin3Z-6q0hLyr6w8LlaNvfyunf_xJbkclYvBruShEVJ_7F7CtOB3kDeUnsK3gv3YrEOZF_GqCUpeyCXt/s320/An_American_Werewolf_in_London_poster.jpg" width="203" /></a></div><br /><p><u>The Plot</u></p><p>David Kessler (David Noughton) and Jack Goodman (Griffin Dunne) are backpacking through Europe and detour (for some reason) into rural northern England on their way to meet up with friends in Italy. After an awkward encounter with some villagers, they're warned to stay on the roads and stay off the moors--and they don't. Something big and vicious attacks them, killing Jack and chewing up David before the villagers arrive to kill it.</p><p>David awakens weeks later in a London hospital under the care of nurse Alex Price (Jenny Agutter) with a bunch of new scars--and the unwelcome presence of the ghostly, decaying Jack, who warns him that he's now a werewolf. To allow Jack to move on into the afterlife and not take any more lives, David needs to <i>commit suicide</i> pronto.</p><p>What happens next? Well, watch the movie to find out...</p><p><u>The Good</u></p><p>*The performances and characterizations are very good. Noughton does a good job playing David as he goes through all the mental and physical changes his condition imposes on him. Dunne does well as Jack, and keeps it up well even though he begins to increasingly resemble <a href="https://jeffdunham.fandom.com/wiki/Achmed#:~:text=Achmed%20is%20the%20skeletal%20corpse,known%20for%20yelling%2C%20%22Silence!">Achmed the Dead Terrorist</a>. And Agutter's Alex is good as well--although she doesn't exactly display a lot of common sense (more on that later), she is well-developed as a compassionate nurse who cares about David and the children in her ward.</p><p>*Although the comedy is quite dark, it's pretty funny. The hijinks of the undead Jack are a big part of it, but there's plenty more.</p><p>*The transformation sequences are very well-done, especially since we're using 1981 technology. All practical effects, including<i> effects that are actually attached to the human body.</i></p><p>*The movie gets a lot of British cultural details right, like how British police typically don't carry guns and have to call in special units with rifles when things get out of hand.</p><p>*David is Jewish and it's implied Jack is too. That's not something one typically sees in horror films--most characters don't seem religious at all, and those that are are at least nominally Christian.</p><p><u>The Bad</u></p><p>*There are a couple scenes, like one where David is pacing around Alex's apartment, reading her books, and generally moping, that don't seem to serve much of a purpose. That scene, for example, would have made more sense if Jack had put in another appearance warning him about what's coming <i>that very night</i>. The opening at least has the point of establishing the desolation of rural northern England--setting the scene--even if it goes on for too long.</p><p>*One scene kind of defies common sense--the famous transformation scene takes place in Alex's apartment. Do the neighbors not hear the screaming? There's a missed opportunity for comedy--since Alex is a nurse, a neighbor could comment that she must be bringing her work home with her. Or, since Alex is fairly open about her promiscuity, perhaps the neighbor is smirking and says something like, "I wonder who it is this time?" There's a joke about people mistaking a werewolf killing someone for "hooligans in the park," so this type of humor would fit nicely.</p><p>*London is a pretty distinctive city and probably a better draw for viewers, but if David and Jack are attacked somewhere in the northern part of England, it would make more sense to set the movie in a big city like Manchester. More creative too, since London is in movies a lot but the North of England, not so much.</p><p>*David is unconscious for three weeks? He was conscious when the villagers rescued him and his injuries were largely superficial. Not only does that not make a lot of sense, but as we briefly discussed on the podcast, being immobile for that long should lead to him losing a lot of strength. He should have trouble <i>walking</i>. I would keep the coma a bit shorter and then depict him doing physical therapy with Alex for the rest of the time it takes to get to the next full moon. To avoid taking up too much time, this could be a montage, possibly even set to an appropriate song. That would explain how they bond so quickly and <a href="https://tinybeans.com/the-it-still-works-announcement-couple-has-an-awesome-update/">a patient and the person assisting them becoming involved romantically is something that does happen</a>. Alex having worked with David regularly for weeks is a much better basis for a relationship that "I've been taking care of you while you were unconscious for three weeks and a couple days after you woke up." </p><p>Also, even if Alex is promiscuous, inviting someone you've known for maybe two days to crash with you is <b>dangerous</b>, especially given that Alex is aware David was involved in some kind of violent mishap (why he's hospitalized in the first place). Even if Alex does not object to premarital sex on moral grounds, one would hope a nurse (i.e. an educated professional) has the intelligence and common sense to not invite essentially a potentially-violent stranger to live with her.</p><p>A prolonged courtship between Alex and David could also be played for laughs--Jack's increasingly decayed ghost is hanging around David's physical therapy routines, commenting on his relationship with Alex and urging David to kill himself while David keeps coming up with elaborate excuses as to why he's talking to somebody nobody else can see. Alex and/or the doctors could just write it off as symptoms of PTSD or head trauma, much to Jack's increasing frustration.</p><p>*David being Jewish could be built up a bit more--although this is supposed to be a horror-comedy, perhaps that's one reason he won't commit suicide. "There aren't enough of us left in the world." David at one point has a nightmare about Nazis and assuming he was born in the late 1950s or early 1960s, the Holocaust is something that would weigh heavily on him. Given how Alex clearly isn't Jewish, Zombie Jack can also make some <a href="https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=shiksa">shiksa jokes</a>.</p><p><u>The Verdict</u></p><p>Definitely worth watching again. 9.0/10</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-3135997209958904122022-09-25T15:34:00.003-04:002022-09-25T15:42:53.487-04:00CONjuration 2022 Panel Schedule<p>On November 4-6, the Hilton Atlanta Airport in Atlanta, GA will be hosting <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.conjurationcon.com/" href="https://www.conjurationcon.com/" target="_blank">CONjuration</a>, a convention dedicated to magical fantasy like <em>Harry Potter</em>, <em>Lord of the Rings</em>, <em>The Chronicles of Narnia</em>, etc. The panels are already being assembled and here are the ones I'm slated to participate at present. More than three panels means I don't have to pay for a table, so I anticipate this one being profitable. :)<br /><br /><strong>"The Problem of Fenrir Greyback"</strong>-This one is led by <a data-cke-saved-href="https://marlenafrank.com/" href="https://marlenafrank.com/" target="_blank">Marlena Frank</a> and <a data-cke-saved-href="https://morbidsmile.com/" href="https://morbidsmile.com/" target="_blank">Kelley Frank</a> from the Atlanta Horror Writers Association chapter. I applied on the strength of my long-ago Harry Potter fanfic <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4764695/1/Lord-of-the-Werewolves" href="https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4764695/1/Lord-of-the-Werewolves" target="_blank">"Lord of the Werewolves,"</a> in which <a data-cke-saved-href="https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Fenrir_Greyback" href="https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Fenrir_Greyback" target="_blank">the werewolf terrorist Greyback</a> plays a prominent role. Although he's still canon's "big bad wolf," I depicted him as someone who'd realistically serve as the war chief of Britain's werewolves--intelligent, strategy-minded, more knowledgeable about Muggle politics and warfare than most of Britain's wizards, and all-too-aware that once his ally of convenience Voldemort has triumphed, he and his aren't long for the world. Since Greyback doesn't appear very often in the actual books, one could imagine his more intelligent actions take place off-screen...not every mastermind type is as dignified and classy as Vito Corleone and someone could be a brute in public and much cleverer in private. <strong>12 PM on Saturday 11/5, Rabun Room.</strong><br /><br />(And definitely check out <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4764695/1/Lord-of-the-Werewolves" href="https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4764695/1/Lord-of-the-Werewolves" target="_blank">"Lord of the Werewolves"</a>--before I started putting out my own books, it was probably the best thing I ever wrote.)<br /><br /><strong>"Unleash the Kraken"</strong>-This one is about editing your work, including avoiding being too precious about your own words to judge them objectively. I'm going to talk about my experience with writing groups and professional editors. <strong>4 PM on Saturday 11/5, Ogeechee Room.</strong><br /><br /><strong>"Sorting B-Movie Monsters"</strong>-Which Hogwarts house would the giant ants from <a data-cke-saved-href="https://amzn.to/3Slizxb" href="https://amzn.to/3Slizxb" target="_blank"><em>Them!</em></a> belong to? I'm thinking Hufflepuff, since ants are hardworking and group-oriented. It'd be easy to shove movie monsters into Slytherin ("any means to achieve their ends"), but I imagine many are more complicated than that. The Predators could be suited to Gryffindor--physical bravery and martial honor. If the selfish and cowardly Peter Pettigrew can end up in Gryffindor because he <em>wished </em>he were as brave as James Potter and Sirius Black, then the Predators who actually <em>do </em>demonstrate at least some of these qualities would fit in. Various mad-scientist types would fit in Ravenclaw, especially the more well-intentioned or tragic ones. Hive-monster types like the Xenomorph or the vampires in <em><a data-cke-saved-href="https://amzn.to/3DCMtJj" href="https://amzn.to/3DCMtJj" target="_blank">Priest </a></em>would fit in Hufflepuff; the latter's villainous Black Hat might straddle the line between Gryffindor (courageous, daring, proud) and Slytherin (ambitious, cunning, treacherous). <strong>Lanier, 7 PM on Friday 11/4.</strong><br /><br /><strong>"Ladyhawkes, Beastmasters, Legends and More: Fantasy Films of the 1980's"</strong>-I just saw <a data-cke-saved-href="https://amzn.to/3R4TmGe" href="https://amzn.to/3R4TmGe" target="_blank"><em>Willow </em></a>for a <a data-cke-saved-href="https://myopiapodcast.com/" href="https://myopiapodcast.com/" target="_blank">Myopia Movies</a> episode slated for a premiere in November and even went so far as to order the novelization to go deeper into the story. I've also seen many 1980s fantasy movies for Myopia, and plenty on my own. <strong>Ogeechee, 4 PM, on Sunday 11/6.</strong><br /><br /><strong>"The Light to Dark Duality of Labyrinth"</strong>-Although many people who saw <a data-cke-saved-href="https://amzn.to/3BZydZN" href="https://amzn.to/3BZydZN" target="_blank"><em>Labyrinth </em></a>as children will remember the Jim Henson creatures, there's some surprisingly adult content in here. And David Bowie as a threatening yet strangely alluring older man is just part of it. Check out my blog post <a data-cke-saved-href="https://accordingtoquinn.blogspot.com/2021/12/labyrinth-is-hellraiser-for-kids.html" href="https://accordingtoquinn.blogspot.com/2021/12/labyrinth-is-hellraiser-for-kids.html" target="_blank">"<em>Labyrinth </em>is <em>Hellraiser </em>for Kids"</a> if you'd like more. <strong>7 PM on Saturday 11/5, Ogeechee Room.</strong><br /><br /><strong>"Southern Fried Fantasy"</strong>-What extra flavor does Southern culture bring to fantasy? I applied for this one because my "Long War" novels (<em>The Thing In The Woods</em> and <em>The Atlanta Incursion</em>) have some distinctly Southern tics even if they're more horror and science fiction. I've also read the sleazier <em>Bringing Home The Rain</em> by Bob McGough, whose protagonist is a meth-addicted small-town wizard. Incidentally, McGough himself will be on the panel. <strong>6 PM on Saturday 11/5, Rabun Room.</strong><br /><br /><strong>"How To Get Your Book Published"</strong>-This is about the state of the publishing industry and the ways to get one's books published. I have a good bit of experience with small-press and independent publishing, so this is where I can make myself useful. <strong>3 PM on Sunday 11/6, Harding Room.</strong><br /><br /><a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.conjurationcon.com/memberships/" href="https://www.conjurationcon.com/memberships/" target="_blank">Here are the convention membership prices</a>. If you'd like to come see me present and check out a bunch of other cool panels, come on down!<br /></p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-83677543939296550482022-09-15T13:23:00.001-04:002022-09-16T19:10:30.612-04:00Movie Review: SOYLENT GREEN (1973)<p>Once upon a time, there was a Charlton Heston film called <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3zSHfGY">Soylent Green</a></i>, set in the far-off year of 2022 in which Earth has become massively overpopulated and...desperate measures...are required to keep everybody fed. Since we have finally reached that year and <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/health-53409521">the human population has actually started to decline</a>, the film podcast <a href="https://myopia.podbean.com/">Myopia Movies</a> is doing a very special episode on the film. Here is <a href="https://myopia.podbean.com/e/soylent-green/">the podcast episode</a>. And now for my review...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlgDdx8ObFDKZF5RwDgeak33soRfbqhMsdM8FXBos5SaUQgs9rTE83DAgp56dumgknb-1BotB7b3d1aU7nnTkE7LqMerJVe1a8_VWjKfUzqKcgmqqHGHDjQdOdtZ72w1R-XHvJQMuk0o7xx8Er0sub1t1Db8REXjygi7EjOOPAB1kZozhEMoESqp_/s396/Soylent%20Green.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="251" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlgDdx8ObFDKZF5RwDgeak33soRfbqhMsdM8FXBos5SaUQgs9rTE83DAgp56dumgknb-1BotB7b3d1aU7nnTkE7LqMerJVe1a8_VWjKfUzqKcgmqqHGHDjQdOdtZ72w1R-XHvJQMuk0o7xx8Er0sub1t1Db8REXjygi7EjOOPAB1kZozhEMoESqp_/s320/Soylent%20Green.jpg" width="203" /></a></div><u>The Plot</u><p></p><p>New York City Police Department officer Robert Thorn (Charlton Heston) and analyst Sal Roth (Edward G. Robinson) live in an NYC where there are 40 million people, at least half of whom are unemployed. Real food is rare and ludicrously expensive, with most people living on different varieties of "Soylent" made--supposedly--from processed vegetable matter.</p><p>When the wealthy William Simonson (Joseph Cotten) is murdered, Thorn investigates and soon finds himself unraveling a conspiracy with the help of Shirl (Leigh Taylor-Young), Simonson's former concubine (more on that later).</p><p><u>The Good</u></p><p>*The film touches on a lot of issues that are still timely. Although the movie is clearly a product of a time where overpopulation was the major ecological fear, the movie also mentions the greenhouse effect and other types of air, water, and soil pollution. Those are still problems, especially the former. It also touches on wealth inequality--New York City in 2022 has a population of 40M people, at least 20M of whom are unemployed. Thorn and Roth are police officers living in a tiny apartment with unreliable power, while most people live in even more wretched conditions. (I'm assuming) due to the massive unemployment and poverty, many women are willing to serve as concubines <i>so degraded they're referred to as "furniture"</i> and can serve particular individuals or <i>whomever happens to be resident in a particular apartment.</i> That's some Epstein-level stuff there. Homeless people literally fill the streets and fire exits. Food prices are rapidly skyrocketing--at one point Roth mentions $150 for a jar of strawberries, and the rarity of real beef reminds me of the early days of COVID when many meatpacking workers were sick. Crime is so severe than the superintendents of ordinary apartment complexes <i>carry assault rifles--</i>although urban crime is nowhere near the levels of the late 1960s to early 1990s, it has been rising in recent years. Meanwhile, there is a ludicrously wealthy elite living in extreme luxury and fenced off from everybody else like something in Latin America or Africa.</p><p>(<a href="https://twitter.com/hugo_book_club/status/1428729860676067328">Someone on Twitter claimed dystopia is when privileged people are subject to the same horrors as the poor and marginalized</a>--a lot of the stuff I've mentioned exists in real life, but for the most part not in the United States. <b>Yet</b>...the film mentions <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021%E2%80%932022_global_supply_chain_crisis">supply chain problems</a> affecting day-to-day living in New York City, even for the wealthiest people, and even <a href="https://www.thebookseller.com/news/supply-chain-be-slow-and-expensive-delays-continue-1287079">causing the decline of the book-publishing industry</a>. Sound familiar?)</p><p>The film even touches on the alienation of people from each other...Simonson, who is wealthy enough to afford personal servants and even a concubine, has no next of kin to receive his death benefits. The "furniture" girls, exploited by their employers and on at least one occasion bullied by senior employees, seem to have only each other to rely on.</p><p>*Even though the film was made in 1973, there doesn't seem to be any overt racism. The (I assume) WASP Thorn banters with his black boss and Jewish roommate without any hint of snobbery or friction and he treats Martha (Paula Kelly), not only a black woman but the "furniture" of a suspected criminal, politely rather than lording it over her as a police officer and as a man. Although there are obviously still problems that need fixing, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169721811024087">the negative of impact of discrimination has been in decline for some time.</a></p><p>*The acting is good. Heston is good as Thorn and Robinson is good as Roth, while Leonard Stone is appropriately reprehensible as the abusive butler Charlie. </p><p>*Rather than a talkie-talk explanation of how just everything went bad, the dystopian aspects of the world are depicted initially by an opening-credit montage depicting population growth and pollution and then by details on-screen...heaps of homeless people, food lines, old people reminiscing about the days when the planet was more habitable, casual discussion of ludicrously-inflated food prices. No infodumping.</p><p>*The more you think about it, the more morally gray the situation becomes. Is the conspiracy investigated in the film the lesser evil, in order to reduce human pressure on the already collapsing environment?</p><p>*Finally, although this is pedantic, there's no TVTropes <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BottomlessMagazines">Bottomless Magazines</a> here. In one fight sequence, the fact Thorn has to stop and reload his gun is important.</p><p>*When we see the cover's "riot control bulldozers" unleashed, the shots are so well-timed that they're actually a bit intimidating. It reminded me of the scene in <a data-cke-saved-href="https://amzn.to/3xzbwJh" href="https://amzn.to/3xzbwJh" target="_blank"><em>The Wolfman</em></a> where a man beats the wolfman to death with his silver-headed cane, but all the audience sees is the rising and fall of the cane over the fog.</p><p><u>The Bad</u></p><p>*The opening montage could have been tightened up a bit. The point could have been made a lot faster.</p><p>*The movie overall is rather slow-moving. There's a lot of "this is what dystopia looks like" where not a lot actually actually happens. Things do pick up later in the film though.</p><p>*Given the importance of the Catholic Church to the events in the film, there's a missed opportunity to depict the Catholic hierarchy conniving with the villains. Given how we see ordinary Catholic priests and nuns caring for the poor and providing spiritual solace, it wouldn't make the film anti-Catholic. All you'd really need to make the point is to depict a bishop or archbishop involved, which would make the ending more impactful and less vague.</p><p><u>The Verdict</u></p><p>Worth seeing once, but not the classic I expected. 8.0 out of 10.</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-40815709081260409152022-09-11T21:07:00.003-04:002022-09-11T21:14:22.183-04:00Donald Trump and the American Principate<p>Back when I was in college and soon afterward, <a href="https://accordingtoquinn.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-american-principate-or-right-wing.html">I plotted out a dystopian novel called <i>The American Principate</i>, named after a period in early Roman history in which the emperors reigned but the Republic continued to theoretically function.</a> The gist of it was that the abuse of federal war powers in the name of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_on_terror">"War on Terror"</a> would lead to civil war and a presidential military dictatorship in the U.S. initially established by Not George W. Bush and solidified by Not Dick Cheney. It was <i>heavily </i>tapped into 2001-2007 anxieties about the Patriot Act, Guantanamo, etc. and its time came and went, so don't expect me to finish writing it.</p><p>(I suppose I could go full alternate-history like Lindsay Ellis did with <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3RCZ5Ea">Axiom's End</a></i>, but this really isn't something I'm interested in doing anymore.)</p><p>However, in a discussion with a friend about dystopias in fiction and what in particular I might find dystopic, I sent him the blog post. He said it seemed like a more subtle dystopia that many Americans would tolerate and could lead to a true dystopia later on. I'm inclined to view it as a dystopia already, but I remember that long-ago World Book encyclopedia set that differentiated between "authoritarian" and "totalitarian." An authoritarian state regulates its subjects' political participation but doesn't meddle overmuch in other aspects of their lives. A totalitarian state will try to control everything. The American Principate, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2005/jul/14/farout">with a few exceptions</a>, is the former rather than the latter...it's much more like the <i>very </i>early Soviet Union (in which the Communists, Left Socialist Revolutionaries, and Mensheviks were legal parties and the CP was more democratic internally) than the reign of Stalin in which the whole society was reorganized in a bloodthirsty revolution from above.</p><p>And the above brings us to Donald Trump. The American Principate allows the two major parties to operate (the Greens and Libertarians are straight-up outlawed on the grounds they undermine the war effort, which given how Twitter partisans of the two major parties are all convinced they're evil spoilers controlled by their rivals or foreign powers would probably be <i>popular</i>), but the range of acceptable political opinion is narrow. The neoconservative/unitary executive crowd is in ascendance and political positions outside that window are only somewhat less verboten than being a Kadet, Right Socialist Revolutionary, Octobrists, etc. were in the early Soviet Union. Democrats like Joe Lieberman, possibly Joe Biden (who supported the 2003 Iraq War), etc. may operate and at least sometimes win (the election system is federalized), but the ones who opposed the Iraq War, especially the more militant ones, not so much. The paleocon wing of the GOP is probably gone too, especially since I had Not Ron Paul as a prominent opposition leader executed by military elements loyal to the president as the civil war drew to a close. Donald Trump, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/29/politics/fact-check-trump-false-claim-opposed-iraq-invasion">who was advocating against the Iraq War as early as 2004</a>, would probably be staying very carefully out of politics or else some politically-motivated investigations into his finances and other possible crimes would shut him up real quick.</p><p>However, should the American Principate suffer a significant reverse, things might change very quickly. Even with a military version of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracero_program">the bracero program</a> allowing large numbers of Mexicans and other Latin Americans to earn U.S. citizenship for themselves and their families, I imagine the occupation of Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Syria, and Afghanistan and consequent counterinsurgency operations have stretched the military <i>very </i>thinly and cause the U.S. significant financial problems. If something like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Spring#:~:text=The%20Arab%20Spring%20(Arabic%3A%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B9,was%20first%20started%20in%20Tunisia.">our world's Arab Spring breaks out</a>, the US might be put in the position of either having to openly, violently crush a non-violent democratic movement in front of the entire world or abandon the post-invasion governments they set up. The latter might end up being inevitable because of fiscal factors alone, especially if China isn't willing to loan the U.S. money anymore. That's going to generate a massive backlash that even the Principate's more authoritarian system might not be able to contain.</p><p>And then is where Trump, assuming he hasn't been conveniently jailed already (and possibly even if he has, if he can spin himself as some kind of antiwar martyr jailed by the Deep State--<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Orb%C3%A1n#Early_career_(1988%E2%80%931998)">after all, Hungary's semi-dictator Orban was an anti-Soviet political dissident as a young man</a>), might come in. Despite getting only 50% of the vote in the Republican primary, he was able to bend virtually all of the GOP to his will very quickly, and all this despite having personal issues (multiple divorces, avoiding the Vietnam draft, outright contempt for soldiers) that by the standards of 1990s anti-Clinton Republicans would totally disqualify him and one might think would vex the Principate's more militarized society even more. Right now <a href="https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/costs/human/veterans">there are 1.9 to 3 million "War on Terror" veterans</a>--more than the two million who served in Vietnam--and in this timeline there are a hell of a lot more due to the occupation of Iran, Egypt, and possibly other countries. Trump calling soldiers "losers" is going to piss off even more people--including party elites who have even more power in this scenario as well as ordinary veterans--than they would have in our history. Although <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/10/26/poll-trump-backed-by-majority-of-veterans-but-not-younger-ones/">a majority of veterans supported Trump</a>, younger ones didn't, and there are a <i>lot </i>more of them this time. Although this would represent a potential anti-Trump bloc, if he's able to play on their resentment of the system that sent them to a war they couldn't win without indulging in <a href="https://www.deseret.com/1989/2/4/18800994/vietnam-vets-recall-their-homecomings-often-painfully">the excesses of the Vietnam-era antiwar movement (yes, they did happen)</a>, he might be able to bring them on board or neutralize them politically.</p><p>Given the much more aggressive "War on Terror" in this timeline and likely radicalization of U.S.-born Muslims (see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_San_Bernardino_attack">the San Bernardino shooting</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_nightclub_shooting">the Pulse nightclub shooting</a>), I imagine the primary targets for a much more empowered Trump would be Muslims. <a href="https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/the-enduring-harms-of-trumps-muslim-ban">Trump pushed for a ban on immigration from Muslim countries and although existing US laws limited what could ultimately be implemented significantly</a>, those legal checks are going to be much weaker or nonexistent and terrorism-related precedents could be used to override whatever precedents remain. I would imagine Muslim immigration and/or asylum claims would be sharply limited if not barred completely in this scenario, and American-born Muslims <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/post-9-11-surveillance-has-left-a-generation-of-muslim-americans-in-a-shadow-of-distrust-and-fear">would be subject to much greater surveillance and harassment by state authorities or hyped-up Trump supporters</a>. The Principate would likely play up <a href="https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010917-11.html">Bush's post-9/11 "Islam is a religion of peace" rhetoric</a> (especially when they need Muslim cooperation for the expanded "War on Terror"), but under Trump the radicalized base would be in the driver's seat.</p><p>Another target for a much more powerful Trump would be Hispanics. Although Hispanic support for the Republican Party grew during his administration, he was very zealous about border enforcement even if it led to human-rights violations. In this world, Hispanic immigration to the US was much, much higher due to the "service for citizenship" program and rather than working and going home, they and their families are staying permanently. I imagine the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Replacement">replacement theory enthusiasts</a> will be losing their minds even more so than in our history. <a href="https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2022/01/03/jan-6-rioters-white-older">Many, many of the January 6 rioters came from areas where the Hispanic population was rising and the white population was declining</a>. Although the Principate would come down hard on anything resembling January 6 (if Not Bush jailed antiwar protesters using anti-terrorism laws and Not Cheney fought a civil war to crush congressional opposition to what was essentially a presidential military dictatorship, I imagine anything resembling J6 in this timeline would be dealt with much more aggressively), this world's Trump and his allies might be able to channel the same sentiment into support for a more aggressive program against further Hispanic immigration. Given how climate change is still going to be a problem in this world, <a href="https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-01-16/fleeing-the-pandemic-and-two-hurricanes-thousands-of-migrants-walk-toward-the-united-states">at least some asylum-seekers in recent years were fleeing natural disasters like hurricanes</a>, and <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-climate-crisis-migration-and-refugees/">this is projected to get worse</a>, I could imagine a much, much uglier migrant crisis. And there would almost certainly be crackdowns on the enlarged U.S. Hispanic population, especially if they object to the stricter border enforcement regime or some other pretext for jailing or deportation could be found.</p><p>And Trump does not take criticism or insult well, much less so than Bush 2.0, Cheney, or Obama. <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-justice-department-prosecuction-political-enemies-1234588539/">According to the upcoming book <i>Holding The Line</i>, Trump sought to have the Justice Department investigate his critics, including former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.</a> In a world where criticism of the government is considered helping terrorists (look at some of the more obnoxious behavior by Republicans in the 2001-2005 period), wartime restrictions of civil liberties were much more severe, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_boomerang">an expanded overseas counterinsurgency to test out new repression techniques</a>, there's plenty of precedent for a President Trump to be much more destructively vindictive than real history. And <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempts_to_overturn_the_2020_United_States_presidential_election">then there's the prolonged attempt to overturn the 2020 election results</a>, only with a lot fewer if any guardrails against presidential overreach.</p><p>So to sum it up, in the world of the American Principate, Donald Trump is much less likely to become president, but if he does, he's going to be much more likely to become a tyrant <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Resistance_(American_political_movement)#:~:text=The%20Resistance%20(also%20known%20as,and%20Republicans%20who%20opposed%20Trump.">whose opponents are worthy of the title "the resistance"</a> than the Trump of real life. If Bush 2.0 is Julius Caesar, Dick Cheney is Augustus, and whomever is holding the bag when the Arab Spring breaks out is Tiberius or Claudius, Trump could be the American Caligula, Nero, or Domitian.</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-9119670796620620782022-08-25T21:39:00.003-04:002022-08-25T21:39:56.295-04:00Blast from the Past Movie Review: LADY IN THE WATER (2006)<p>Hey everybody, it's been awhile since I've actively posted, but I've been working a lot on <i>Serpent Sword</i>, the sequel to my novel <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3btMyDp">Battle for the Wastelands</a></i>. However, I've still been actively participating in <a href="https://myopia.podbean.com/">Myopia Movies</a> and we're doing a month on M. Night Shyamalan's films, ranging from his high point (at least among the movies were watched) with <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3cQbwwW">Signs </a></i>to his decline.</p><p>So here's my review of <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3zoXZUV">Lady in the Water</a></i>, the first film of his I actually skipped due to negative reviews. Here's <a href="https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-k8m3k-12aa609">the episode</a>. And let my commentary begin:</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRZ2ZOi1nX4mktxCX1rQT2mI4bTnM27SrcbxSZz3_G4EHuMfYf7uDTKZSI3q7jAMDCbJOFNNYG446puF4z5vhQ_jEek54xNMsNTw8jyJpSuiKQNsOTb_wS-VEyHY0OqBGjA6cnrd2zOKBIgCAnIy6yve0p0cvbLIbNVoQMRwojBHa3SdfrfCHchud/s383/Lady%20in%20the%20Water.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="260" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRZ2ZOi1nX4mktxCX1rQT2mI4bTnM27SrcbxSZz3_G4EHuMfYf7uDTKZSI3q7jAMDCbJOFNNYG446puF4z5vhQ_jEek54xNMsNTw8jyJpSuiKQNsOTb_wS-VEyHY0OqBGjA6cnrd2zOKBIgCAnIy6yve0p0cvbLIbNVoQMRwojBHa3SdfrfCHchud/s320/Lady%20in%20the%20Water.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br /> <u>The Plot</u><p></p><p>Long ago, humans were in contact with a civilization of mermaids known as Narfs, who provided spiritual guidance. But man grew greedy and moved inland, multiplying conflicts and wars without the mermaids' advice. As the world grew darker and more dangerous, the mermaids have taken the initiative to contact humans again, but the mermaids have their own supernatural foe, the lupine Scrunts. Into this conflict comes Cleveland Heep (Paul Giamatti), an apartment superintendent with a stutter and a tragic past who encounters a Narf named Story (Bryce Dallas Howard) in the complex pool one night.</p><p>But Story, and now him, are being hunted...</p><p><u>The Good</u></p><p>*I liked how Howard played Story...although she's a supernatural being, she is unfamiliar with our world and its social conventions. Hence the brutal honesty, which can be encouraging or discouraging depending on the situation, and misunderstandings like "I need to wear clothes" or "someone who looks and acts like a teen runaway strung out on drugs hanging out half-naked with a middle-aged (apparent) bachelor might give people <i>really </i>wrong ideas." She also helps other characters follow their dreams, but she's by no means anything remotely resembling a typical <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manic_Pixie_Dream_Girl">Manic Pixie Dream Girl</a>.</p><p>*I also liked Giamatti's Heep. When we first meet him, he's going out of his way to introduce a newcomer to the complex to the various eccentric characters that populate the place. It would have been nice if someone had done that for me when I moved to various complexes over the years. It's also a good foreshadowing of a later reveal--in order to make that work for a complex as large as the one he manages, Heep would have to have a very good memory. And that ends up playing a major role in the story.</p><p>*A young college student Young-Soon Choi (Cindy Cheung) and her mother (June Kyoto Lu) who cannot speak English play a major role in the storyline. I liked their dynamic--a strict Asian-born "tiger mother" and her more free-spirited Americanized daughter--and the fact Young-Soon has to be her mother's translator in her dealings with Heep is pretty funny.</p><p>*Sarita Choudhury is having a lot of fun as Anna Ran, part of the brother-sister duo with her writer brother Vick (Shyamalan himself). I liked her performance.</p><p>*One of the new residents of the complex is a movie critic who has some very...sharp...comments about the state of storytelling and the film industry. I thought that was pretty funny.</p><p>*In an age of remakes, legacy sequels, etc. a film with a completely original plot (it's based on a bedtime story Shyamalan told his children) is pretty refreshing.</p><p>*The difficulties the characters have with their roles in the story (not going into any more detail for spoiler reasons) are pretty clever, even if later on they do slow down the film.</p><p><u>The Bad</u></p><p>*One reason I recall for all the negative reviews when the movie came out was the bizarre names for the creatures. Seriously, Narfs and Scrunts? This sounds like Shyamalan was channeling Luna Lovegood from <i>Harry Potter</i> when he was writing this one. One review said it would be much simpler if Story were just a fairy (naiad?) or a mermaid being hunted by a werewolf. I know this whole thing is based on a bedtime story Shyamalan created for his own children, but the ridiculous species names were one of the major negatives from the reviews I can remember when the film came out. Listen to the podcast for all the times we mimicked Pinky, the deranged lab rat from <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3OP02Y5">The Animaniacs</a></i> whose trademark saying is "Narf!"</p><p>*In the podcast, Daniel described the movie as "surreal" and it really is. It's just plain weird.</p><p>*Someone pointed out on the podcast that given the Narfs' isolation from humans, why does Story know how to speak English? That might merit an explanation--maybe she learned English from watching human fishermen? Then you could have BDH using sailor lingo and that might actually be pretty funny.</p><p>*Shyamalan casts himself as a major character in the film rather than his typical cameo. He's fairly flat in contrast to his character's lively sister and he doesn't really stand out like his costars do. This wasn't a problem with his character in <i>Signs</i>, who probably had a lot of guilt and possibly PTSD from falling asleep at the wheel and killing Reverend Hess's wife and whose main interactions are with the man he (unintentionally) widowed, or the non-entity park ranger in <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3zQ2Vnc">The Village</a></i> who has only two lines. I can see why giving himself such a large part rubbed people the wrong way, especially given some revelations about his character's ultimate fate.</p><p>*The narfs and scrunts get introduced pretty early in the story, but there's another supernatural threat dropped in halfway through the film that seems a little abrupt.</p><p>*Like <i>The Village</i> but unlike <i>Signs</i>, it starts to drag in the middle.</p><p>*There's some additional information revealed about Story toward the end of the film that really needed to be foreshadowed better.</p><p><u>The Verdict</u></p><p>I don't think it really deserves the hate it got (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_in_the_Water#Critical_reaction">four Razzie nominations?</a>), but it's not a particularly good film, especially the more you think about it. At least it's short. 7.0/10.</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-39090193309883103302022-08-02T21:16:00.001-04:002022-08-02T21:16:50.322-04:00New Comics Purchase: FRANK FRAZETTA'S DEATH DEALER (2022)<p>Hey everybody, it's been awhile since I posted anything, but I've been working a lot on <i>Serpent Sword</i>, the sequel to my novel <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3btMyDp">Battle for the Wastelands</a></i>. However, I'm writing to let you all know that I've bought some comics from a comic shop for the first time in probably over a decade. Here goes...</p><p>A couple weeks ago a friend, his wife, and new(ish) baby were visiting from out of town and after lunch we went to a Marietta comic shop in the same shopping center where, many years ago, the son of our old Scoutmaster worked. One of the comics I saw--but ended up not buying at the time--was based on <a data-cke-saved-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Frazetta" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Frazetta" target="_blank">noted fantasy artist Frank Frazetta's</a> iconic fantasy character <a data-cke-saved-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Dealer_(painting)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Dealer_(painting)" target="_blank">The Death Dealer</a>. Given how I'd read the 1990s-era Death Dealer novels at the library when I was younger and own the Frazetta art book <a data-cke-saved-href="https://amzn.to/3zB9TMw" href="https://amzn.to/3zB9TMw" target="_blank"><em>Icon</em></a>, my curiosity was piqued. And when I found out <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.cbr.com/frank-frazetta-death-dealer-comic-series-art-first-look/" href="https://www.cbr.com/frank-frazetta-death-dealer-comic-series-art-first-look/" target="_blank">via CBR</a> that Frazetta's family intended the new Death Dealer comic to be the beginning of a "Frazettaverse" incorporating characters and creatures from his art, I decided to give it my financial support.</p>So I went to a comic shop closer to my home in Atlanta and purchased the <a data-cke-saved-href="https://amzn.to/3bofr3K" href="https://amzn.to/3bofr3K" target="_blank">first</a>, the <a data-cke-saved-href="https://amzn.to/3d0oyYS" href="https://amzn.to/3d0oyYS" target="_blank">second</a>, and the <a data-cke-saved-href="https://amzn.to/3OPcK9f" href="https://amzn.to/3OPcK9f" target="_blank">third </a>issues, which is all of what seemed to be available. <a data-cke-saved-href="https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/comics/series/156847/frank-frazettas-death-dealer" href="https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/comics/series/156847/frank-frazettas-death-dealer" target="_blank">According to this website</a>, the next issue is slated for August 24.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QcZfNw-WtMPU-_7spxr1FDujb12cs9wkP6CBZ4cuLfsNiJzkpdRDK14rltnPyue626225uxgKK4y6_U6lnxJixM9eC5SoTsnjQrqmVEe1a6ZktqlSnGkCBr0Gyizhl0pxxlOGCsURvy6wstYGWeFaRfF_NqpwLWkNsce9pEP2M05-wt-T-S85pVA/s741/Frazetta%20Death%20Dealer%202.0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="482" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QcZfNw-WtMPU-_7spxr1FDujb12cs9wkP6CBZ4cuLfsNiJzkpdRDK14rltnPyue626225uxgKK4y6_U6lnxJixM9eC5SoTsnjQrqmVEe1a6ZktqlSnGkCBr0Gyizhl0pxxlOGCsURvy6wstYGWeFaRfF_NqpwLWkNsce9pEP2M05-wt-T-S85pVA/s320/Frazetta%20Death%20Dealer%202.0.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><div><strong>The Plot</strong>: I would describe this as "<em>Conan the Barbarian</em> meets <em>Venom</em>." The protagonist Kur, once a warrior seeking power and glory, put on a supernatural horned helmet, which he cannot take off. The helmet has a mind of its own, generally egging him on to more violence and talking enormous amounts of smack. Kur lives alone and is contemplating suicide when he rescues the red-haired witch Admira and her young son Mesh from wolves. He takes them back to his underground lair, where Mesh takes a liking to him and Admira, tending to his wounds, quickly gets physical. Awakening the next morning, Kur finds both of them kidnapped by dark forces and, against his better judgement, sets off to rescue them. He encounters a sorceress--who seems to be an old flame who has a history with the damned soul dwelling in the helmet--and it turns out there are more supernatural doings afoot.<br /><br /><strong>The Good:</strong> Giving the Horned Helmet (in the novels it was capitalized) a mind of its own rather it just being a device that amped up the protagonist's physical prowess and aggression was interesting. This allows for Kur to have an Eddie Brock/Venom-type relationship with it. That was one thing I really liked about the first <i>Venom </i>film (I haven't seen the second), even though the movie was basically a buddy comedy and this...isn't. The Death Dealer is such a cipher character--in the painting he's just a big scary-looking dude--that one can do a lot with him. In the novels he was a noble savage trying to defend the valley that would someday become the Mediterranean by any means necessary, while in this one he's a much more tired and anti-heroic figure. Given how the Horned Helmet can go from person to person, it's possible the novels (and an earlier attempt at comics) take place in the same continuity, although the novels were explicitly set on prehistoric Earth and this comic seems to be in a totally different fantasy world.<br /><br />The art is also really good. It's very colorful and vivid. I also liked how they worked specific Frazetta concepts into the comics--not only is the titular character a direct draw from a Frazetta painting, but they also worked in<a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.wallpaperflare.com/frank-frazetta-fantasy-art-painting-artwork-warrior-crocodile-wallpaper-ympym" href="https://www.wallpaperflare.com/frank-frazetta-fantasy-art-painting-artwork-warrior-crocodile-wallpaper-ympym" target="_blank"> another one in which the Death Dealer confronts a gigantic crocodile</a>.<br /><br /><strong>The Bad: </strong>I must be a bit spoiled from graphic novels (which are typically collections of multiple issues that tell the complete story) because I thought the comics were a bit short. This is especially blatant with the third issue, in which two side quests (a unicorn and a wizard) that might merit expansion into an issue each are dealt with in a few pages. And since this is a monthly comic, it means a lot more waiting in between. If each comic were a bit longer, this wouldn't be a problem. Also, although I wouldn't expect a Frazetta adaptation to be particularly modest--Frazetta wasn't known for that <em>at all</em>, even if he wasn't nearly as raunchy as other fantasy artists--the way we first meet the sorceress is kind of dumb.<br /><br />I emailed the comic company to see about the possibility of subscribing (since unlike the 1990s X-Men comics there's nothing to mail in with a check) or whether the individual comics would be consolidated into larger graphic novels. At $5 per comic, a graphic novel consolidating all the individual comics into one larger issue covering an entire storyline would be the better buy. However, the comic is so new (and it's from a smaller company) that it might not get to that point unless it does well enough financially. And that requires people buy it <i>now</i>. The comic shop offered to set me up with a subscription (i.e. they let me know when it's in for me to pick up or they mail it to me), which I might well do if I don't hear back from the company.</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-88070661409838373052022-04-21T19:53:00.001-04:002022-05-12T14:08:14.934-04:00Book Review: Pteranodon Canyon (2022)<p>Do you like the Old West? Do you like dinosaurs? Or perhaps even both? If so, you'll love author Tim Meyer's new novel <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3Mly3ym">Pteranodon Canyon</a></i>.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cJEC55QbCYIIFxjbZG8Binl0BUq8AaT8S6pWEg8eVV92vpVueiUETMaAkaBSkCv-qbdfQ-Gmq3BEXQgtZqkEQX6DJnzAJQPrhXYFi-Y7h48IEdVGOojDHrOngIdUzzIaTRtOqgC1uetF2LprPduOqjkGt9Hp7PiqQfksPzSLnpc2v29d8elfT6eW/s2560/Pteranodon%20Canyon%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1647" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cJEC55QbCYIIFxjbZG8Binl0BUq8AaT8S6pWEg8eVV92vpVueiUETMaAkaBSkCv-qbdfQ-Gmq3BEXQgtZqkEQX6DJnzAJQPrhXYFi-Y7h48IEdVGOojDHrOngIdUzzIaTRtOqgC1uetF2LprPduOqjkGt9Hp7PiqQfksPzSLnpc2v29d8elfT6eW/s320/Pteranodon%20Canyon%202022.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><u>The Plot</u><p></p><p>In an Old West where dinosaurs survived west of the Mississippi and have made life...interesting...for the settlers, the conservationist-leaning federal government has just heavily restricted the hunting of pteranodons. To deal with illegal hunting, the feds hire bounty hunter Charlie Archer, who has a very personal grudge against the outlaw Francis Burner. Acquiring two companions along the way--the female gunslinger Elinor Watts and the mysterious Finn Hampton--Archer sets off on his mission, facing threats both reptilian and human along the way.</p><p><u>The Good</u></p><p>*The book is fast-moving and fun to read. I read a lot of it on the elliptical at the gym and it's a fast read. It's never boring.</p><p>*The timing for laws against dinosaur poaching does make sense historically. Yellowstone National Park was founded in 1872 and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_in_the_United_States#:~:text=Conservation%20in%20the%20United%20States%20can%20be%20traced%20back%20to,and%2For%20its%20natural%20resources.">the conservation movement was very active in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.</a> The possibility of dinosaurs--extinct in the Old World and in much of the New--being threatened in their last surviving redoubt could potentially galvanize the conservation movement even earlier than in our history.</p><p>*Meyer's use of Old West dialogue is clever and as far as I know, period-accurate.</p><p>*Meyer also clearly knows and loves dinosaurs. His descriptions of the animals and how they hunt is well-done.</p><p><u>The Bad</u></p><p>*There are some plot threads that could be developed more deeply. I'm not going to go too deeply for reasons of spoilers, but late in the book certain medicinal uses of pteranodon parts come up. I don't recall this being discussed earlier in the book.</p><p>*Also being vague here for reasons for spoilers, but one character has lost a body part to another character and bears a grudge over that. During their inevitable confrontation they rant in very specific detail about how this has hurt their life, but I don't recall those specifics coming up in earlier scenes featuring the character.</p><p>*Finally, the U.S. and Old West seem pretty much the same despite there being a surviving dinosaur population. Assuming there was no impact beyond the Americas (no pterosaurs making their way to Europe via Iceland and Greenland?), European colonization, the Native American cultures, etc. are going to be very different with dinosaurs being around. No attempts to weaponize the dinosaurs during the Mexican War or Civil War? No attempts at dinosaur domestication? What impact did mega-carnivores have on the bison? Meyer could have gone in a lot of different directions with this. Obviously he can't go too far and create a totally unrecognizable world if he wants a Western with dinosaurs, but there could've been Easter Eggs like references to Sherman setting loose raptors on his March to the Sea to further devastate whatever Confederate livestock he couldn't steal or Lewis and Clark bringing dinosaurs back to Washington D.C. to show Thomas Jefferson.</p><p><u>The Verdict</u></p><p>A fun read for the elliptical, although I'd recommend more for Kindle Unlimited borrowing than for buying. 8.0 out of 10.</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-62392471044477554712022-04-18T22:13:00.004-04:002022-04-18T22:42:02.845-04:00Movie Review: The Northman (2022)<p>Thanks to an online group I'm in getting perks, I was able to score early passes to see <i>The Northman</i>, much like I did <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3JQCRdt">Dune</a></i>. And <a href="https://accordingtoquinn.blogspot.com/2021/10/movie-review-dune-2021.html">just like I did with <i>Dune</i></a>, you're getting an early film review out of it. :)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiCF_rKGMJv8nNCEfDYHBlsIL_gLHMUhcWCZZkCQtsed5aJuruwUwgsRpFMId_I8iY7anr8bCYKd2sW2VVQgTN9YEIr9z9p5UqzAsHycbi0NFZXauC3joj64DNGZsWQm1doJilJoLDDq87qYgaX79wQUuQskbUxDw0jQ_5zMQBuTDdnEsO69AOwSB/s1080/The%20Northman%20(2022).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiCF_rKGMJv8nNCEfDYHBlsIL_gLHMUhcWCZZkCQtsed5aJuruwUwgsRpFMId_I8iY7anr8bCYKd2sW2VVQgTN9YEIr9z9p5UqzAsHycbi0NFZXauC3joj64DNGZsWQm1doJilJoLDDq87qYgaX79wQUuQskbUxDw0jQ_5zMQBuTDdnEsO69AOwSB/s320/The%20Northman%20(2022).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><u>The Plot</u></p><p>In ancient Norse Ireland, King Aurvandil War-Raven (Ethan Hawke) returns from raiding and slaving to his queen Gudrun (Nicole Kidman) and young son Amleth (Oscar Novak). Treachery arrives with his brother Fjolnir (Claes Bang), leaving his son to flee and vow revenge. Years later Amleth (now played by Alexander Skarsgård) is a Viking raider pillaging in modern Russia, but a religion vision reminds him of his vow of revenge. Allying with the Slavic sorceress Olga (Anya Taylor-Joy), he sets off for the end of the world -- Iceland -- and a final confrontation with his uncle.</p><p><u>The Good</u></p><p>*The cinematography in this movie is simply beautiful. Even though the film is rather ponderous (more on that later), the film simply looks so good that it doesn't matter.</p><p>*The soundtrack is also marvelous. I don't claim to be a great expert on authentically Norse music, but it stylistically sounds a lot like the Scandinavian-themed and actually Scandinavian music I've found on YouTube, like the Norwegian band Wardruna.</p><p>*The film does an excellent job captured just how alien the pagan Norse are to modern Westerners. Lots of strange (and often bloody) rituals, hallucinogenic sequences, unrepentant violence, and eschewing common sense in favor of belief in Fate. From what I know about Norse history and culture, they get it all correct. The fact that it was co-written by the Icelandic poet Sjón no doubt helps quite a bit.</p><p>*The acting is generally good, particularly Bang's Fjolnir.</p><p>*There are some unexpected and creative plot twists.</p><p><u>The Bad</u></p><p>*The movie is rather slow-moving at times. It's even divided up into sequences with title cards, something I found objectionable in <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3KY43rR">The Free State of Jones</a></i>.</p><p>*Per the above, Skarsgård stares at the camera a lot. Although he's by no means a bad actor, he's one of the least interesting performers in the bunch.</p><p><u>The Verdict</u></p><p>Definitely worth seeing once. 8.0 out of 10.</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-24710497463714816052022-01-22T11:17:00.000-05:002022-01-22T11:17:15.471-05:00Apex Publications Is Having Big-Time Sale<div>The other day, I spotted <a href="https://www.apexbookcompany.com/blogs/frontpage/apex-to-release-42-titles-at-the-end-of-january?fbclid=IwAR164lzA6HzUHzNhsgunkQeatEuqLQIMHZXAHPcR0P5P-yUhgPwzUpY-O7c">a blog post saying that speculative fiction stalwart Apex Publications is "retiring" 42 titles and was offering a substantial discount until the end of January</a> Given Apex's importance to the small-press scene and the business I've done with publisher Jason Sizemore, this was somewhat concerning, so I checked it out.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_Zf-XGYCDaOiK1ieoWkYd5UtXBpsibEnQS2a1_2SSTWSeO7YXfTvsPR1cKi6QCm2jS_lzrCBuzl9FDvJ_pXJqlsZO31Rg0N38FimrT6k2nj_NdznOiw5_dJb3NkE3Rxn6bHznYMMMlbogu6ZmbSR_hRvSkM5J-QnLM2V9o-_hQxwlUzkXo_p39a93=s450" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="450" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_Zf-XGYCDaOiK1ieoWkYd5UtXBpsibEnQS2a1_2SSTWSeO7YXfTvsPR1cKi6QCm2jS_lzrCBuzl9FDvJ_pXJqlsZO31Rg0N38FimrT6k2nj_NdznOiw5_dJb3NkE3Rxn6bHznYMMMlbogu6ZmbSR_hRvSkM5J-QnLM2V9o-_hQxwlUzkXo_p39a93=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>It turns out that Apex is reverting the rights to many of its older titles to their original authors, to "trunk" or republish as they see fit. Apparently they're not generating enough money to cover the administrative costs of maintaining them, paying the writers, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>From a business perspective, this makes sense. I've looked over the list (more on that below) and a lot of them seem to be short-story collections or shorter works. Collections are generally not strong sellers--on Amazon I've sold three copies of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KRG11SM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00KRG11SM&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=c5e515525394315caf33b9222551847d">Flashing Steel, Flashing Fire</a></i> in the last six-odd weeks in comparison to five sales of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087R33RCZ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B087R33RCZ&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=7cd4ef1628506050b970931b197e9934">The Thing in the Woods</a></i> and three sales of its sequel <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CCFT3V1/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B08CCFT3V1&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=f78a739cb57e3776d3d02c487fee4131">The Atlanta Incursion</a></i>. And that's fairly unusual--<i>Thing</i>, <i>TAI</i>, and <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0836D1M3S/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0836D1M3S&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=1b3f51a68df5392c4ff72c921254f6e7">Battle for the Wastelands</a></i> typically sell at least all right, while <i>FSFF </i>languishes. This is even more blatant at conventions, where I move lots of novel-length works but few copies of <i>FSFF</i>, my novella <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081TLNPX1/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B081TLNPX1&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=b8377e04655c4c489b16378c2ca18f71">Little People, Big Guns</a></i>, or, in recent years, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0796NYC82/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0796NYC82&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=835240b04ef3f4d11a6eebe301fd64a6">The Best of Heroic Fantasy Quarterly Vol. 2</a></i>. I put all of my shorter work (with the exception of <i>Battle </i>prequel <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0897FVPT8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0897FVPT8&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=37b00631ed7c65dd31da4d175c2c6506">"Son of Grendel"</a>) on Draft2Digital for wide release and only <a href="https://books2read.com/u/bpK57g">"Ten Davids Two Goliaths"</a> and <a href="https://books2read.com/u/bQ6M0Z">"Discovery and Flight"</a> (both set in Lindsay Buroker's <i>Fallen Empire</i> universe) seem to sell.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since I'm a one-man show without any authors to continue to pay or actual employees (the artists, designers, etc. are all contractors), keeping <i>FSFF </i>and the other shorter works available for purchase is no big deal. However, if for every sale I had to do the paperwork, royalty computation, etc. for multiple authors, that wouldn't be worth the minimal return I get. However, I do have to store my convention stock and the fewer boxes sitting around my apartment the better.</div><div><br /></div><div>I took a look at the books on the Apex list and here are some that interest me. <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E3FQ1OM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00E3FQ1OM&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=2a0415a7a9f0093a715aab4f9d1fd3ba">Appalachian Undead</a></i> is a collection of zombie stories set in, well Appalachia. It leads with a story entitled "When Granny Comes Marchin’ Home Again," which is certainly attention-grabbing, and even has another story alluding to a John Denver song. <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098215965X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=098215965X&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=d77b9353133ef3a11cd09ca9aba94940">Harlan County Horrors</a></i> operates in a similar vein, with lots of ugly doings in coal country. <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937009645/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1937009645&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=4683b6828bef76aa343d4f064c5cbae8">Breaking The World</a></i> is about what might happen if the apocalypse actually started during the siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco and certain sounds interesting. <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00347A5X8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00347A5X8&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=93509f1fc7b659ff30106b3aee79a2da">HebrewPunk </a></i>is a group of short stories or novellas featuring characters based in Jewish tradition, culminating in all of them joining forces for a heist. <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937009459/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1937009459&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=32a7ad293f59595461796d30f6160f4a">Kentucky Kaiju</a></i> is a Dungeons and Dragons-style monster manual for large creatures inhabiting Kentucky of all places. <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937009270/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1937009270&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=1ffc6a414bf6e42f1b9dfb226df76367">Severance </a></i>is about the mishaps that can befall a generation ship bound for another star system. <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937009432/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1937009432&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=31a3f9c41e916068d5571f7e338dcd0e">Stay Crazy</a></i> has a pretty interesting concept--is this woman insane, or is there a being from another dimension recruiting her to fight another extradimensional being? <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004XVZS36/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004XVZS36&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=e574683cf806bac6bbf465d0a157ab2b">Starve Better</a></i> by Nick Mamatas is about the writing life; I already own it, but it's been awhile since I've read it. <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0984553517/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0984553517&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=0c2fbb6538a39dcd35a6cf9bac412212">To Each Their Darkness</a></i> and <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937009475/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1937009475&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=900eee22cbf18502e331df3b62e9893b">Yours to Tell</a></i> also books about the craft of writing, and I'm seriously considering snagging that one while I still can.</div><div><br /></div><div>My to-be-read pile (including several library books that might lead to fines) is pretty substantial as is, so I'm not sure which of these I'll actually purchase when all is said and done, but those all sound cool. However, if you're interested in helping out someone who's helped me, Sizemore has done a lot for my independent novelist career, including editing <i>Battle </i>back when I was still pitching it to publishers, connecting me with cover designer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SilentQDesign/">Mikio Murikami</a> and laying out and assembling some very well-designed e-books.</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-33345519052633578112022-01-15T20:01:00.003-05:002022-01-15T20:06:33.661-05:00A (Somewhat) Realistic North Korean RED DAWN<p>The YouTuber <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/thealternatehistorian">The Alternate Historian</a>, whom I know from <a href="https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/#discussion.5">my former days at the Internet's premiere alternate history forum</a>, posted on Twitter recently about making a video discussing a realistic war between the U.S. and North Korea. In <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KO97D8Y/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00KO97D8Y&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=b70e0ca00248f54c8c88555c8baf769e">the <i>Homefront </i>video game</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BESC3XY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00BESC3XY&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=6610fa989166c463c684afd73e79358e">the 2012 <i>Red Dawn</i> remake</a> the North Koreans manage to land forces on the American mainland and<i> actually take control over much of the continental United States.</i></p><p>Sufficient to say, that isn't going to happen. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-korea-has-a-massive-air-force-heres-why-its-basically-a-joke-2018-6">North Korea's air force is obsolete and owing to lack of fuel, their pilots have little training time.</a> North Korea's navy is primarily focused on its own river and coasts. They're realistically not going transport a whole army to the American mainland and good luck keeping them supplied even if they could get here. <a href="https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/north-korea-nuclear-weapons-missile-tests-military-capabilities">Their army is large, but their equipment is obsolete. Their main strengths are masses of artillery threatening the South Korean capital, their nukes and ballistic missiles, and their cyberwarfare capability.</a></p><p>(North Korea's nuclear capabilities seem much more advanced than I'd earlier believed...I thought at best they could manage a "Super-9/11" on one or two cities on the West Coast and then they'd be annihilated, but what the Council on Foreign Relations describes is something more like what's depicted in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1328573915/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1328573915&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=39b2212ba65fa0503c8de30f7bba5300">this faux Congressional commission's report on a North Korean nuclear attack.</a> Yikes.)</p><p>So how could you have a realistic <i>Red Dawn</i> where it's the North Koreans of all people landing on the American mainland? Commandos. Before I left the alternate-history forum, I suggested the "more realistic Red Dawn" story would be a small North Korean force taking over an isolated small town in the rural West Coast. In my idea they'd be hidden aboard a civilian ship, while TAH suggested on Twitter they could use submarines. North Korean cyberwar techniques could be used to conceal their approach to the West Coast. The goal isn't to actually conquer the United States; the goal is to seize a town during an international crisis as a bargaining chip to get the U.S. to back off militarily, lift sanctions, etc. Northern California is rather isolated (a large land area with few roads) and if they take a large number of civilians hostage, that would complicate any response from the California National Guard or the regular U.S. military. That means the locals will have to liberate themselves, and so we enter <i>Red Dawn</i> territory.</p><p>And that's when things get tricky. There are lots of guns to be had in the rural U.S., even in Democratic states like California, but a force of North Korean regulars is going to have much heavier gear even if they're dramatically outnumbered. I'm imagining them herding captured civilians into camps beneath a battery of portable artillery and then defending said artillery with machine guns. A few dozen guys with rifles might be able to make life difficult for North Korean infantry patrols or do hit-and-run on isolated enemy positions, but good luck with successfully attacking <i>this</i>.</p><p>Fortunately, northern California is a major haven for illegally growing marijuana, and the local weed baron "just happens" to have some mortars. Think <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyRknVzkVcQ">how mobster Eddie Valentine flips on the evil actor (and Nazi spy) Neville Sinclair</a> in the climax of the film <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006S0800S/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B006S0800S&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=3bc196d3b702b2c01e4fcab74f53572d">The Rocketeer</a></i>--like Eddie, this man might not have a problem making money illegally, but collaborating with a totalitarian enemy is something else entirely. A bunch of irregular infantrymen bum-rushing machine guns isn't going to end well for them (and even a successful attack would give the North Koreans time to slaughter the hostages with artillery), but a surprise mortar bombardment could cripple the guns or kill their operators, wreck the machine gun positions, etc.</p><p>And that gave me the idea for an analogue for the traitor Daryl from the 1984 version. I'm imagining some <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/tankie-man-the-pro-democracy-hong-kongers-standing-up-to-western-communists/">young Twitter tankie</a> (an apologist for authoritarian anti-American regimes--think Western leftists defending China's repression of Hong Kong or Xinjiang or Russian bombing of Syrian rebels) initially collaborating with the North Koreans. He erroneously thinks they're "anti-imperialist" or believes the U.S. provoked the North Koreans into this crazed long-shot gamble with economic sanctions or military drills. </p><p>Sufficient to say, the scales fall from his eyes <i>real </i>fast. Although the guerrillas initially don't want his help, he's read the Anarchist's Cookbook and knows how <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/bleach-and-ammonia#can-it-kill-you">to combine chlorine and bleach</a> to make a crude chemical weapon or <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/10/14/world/middleeast/us-casualties-of-iraq-chemical-weapons.html?action=click&module=RelatedCoverage&pgtype=Article&region=Footer">can make other chemical concoctions ISIS-style</a>. Putting the trust the North Koreans gave him to good use, he sets off the chemical bomb in the North Korean headquarters at the same time the guerrillas use their new mortars to destroy the artillery the North Koreans are using to hold the townsfolk hostage. If the guerrillas or their weed-baron allies have got some decent machinists, they could make gas shells to make absolutely sure the gun crews are dead.</p><p>(Daryl could have some Redemption Equals Death for having been a collaborator initially, or more creatively, survive and everybody believes he was the Wolverines' inside man the entire time.)</p><p>I've got a lot going on, so I'm not going to try to pitch this to Hollywood (which wouldn't be interested, especially with the failure of the <i>Red Dawn</i> remake) or even write a book. Still, it might be interesting.</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-18189465625767378672022-01-02T08:36:00.002-05:002022-01-02T08:51:13.980-05:00Book Review: SWORD AND PLANET (2021)<p>"Sword and Planet" is a sub-genre mixing science fiction and fantasy tropes that, although one of the oldest in modern SF (think <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KD3EQI6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00KD3EQI6&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=8448dba253d258e286af6578ffec329d">the Edgar Rice Burroughs stories featuring heroic Earthman John Carter on a habitable Mars</a>) doesn't get the attention it merits. Fortunately Baen put out <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09M8ZCY2G/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B09M8ZCY2G&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=db61d90b82aefbfc02a90dbf2c19edad">Sword and Planet</a></i>, a collection of several such stories, which I got the pleasure of reviewing. Here goes...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw_bg8MATpvg6n7RnTTTCGBxWBxDwJvJQdWVAWjk9qUoCn_dCGiuviN_Hg55W34IqZbfagZIjxZE6kMXjduRw_NVHEA7huHlx5_ems3e4iev7zr9XIsJLuf08Fj3hGkSATBdD9MQ5q44870F4B40GZ9XCHOw0p4HEldTiwb_5x5OhJfwAKjI_4m17o=s680" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="447" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw_bg8MATpvg6n7RnTTTCGBxWBxDwJvJQdWVAWjk9qUoCn_dCGiuviN_Hg55W34IqZbfagZIjxZE6kMXjduRw_NVHEA7huHlx5_ems3e4iev7zr9XIsJLuf08Fj3hGkSATBdD9MQ5q44870F4B40GZ9XCHOw0p4HEldTiwb_5x5OhJfwAKjI_4m17o=s320" width="210" /></a></div><br /><p>The collection starts out with a bang with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tim-Akers/e/B003BWYXRK?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1641130000&sr=1-1">Tim Akers</a>' "A Murder of Knights." Basically a member of a high-tech knightly order has to investigate some sinister doings and finds himself facing off against something abominable, with a very bloody deadline. It seems like an origin story for a particular character and according to <a href="https://twitter.com/MatthewWQuinn/status/1472028760585248770">a conversation I had with the author</a>, there's more content out there set in this universe. The fact my first reaction to the story was to see if there was more of it reflects very well on this collection.</p><p>Another story I enjoyed was <a href="https://www.amazon.com/R-R-Virdi/e/B00J9PZ1YW?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1641130028&sr=1-1">R.R. Virdi</a>'s "A Knight Luminary" in which a trainee knight in a future war with a machine intelligence *still* hasn't manifested the psychic powers he needs. He and his fellows investigation an outpost that's gone silent and, as can be expected, things go very, very wrong.</p><p>"Bleeding From Cold Sleep" by longtime Warhammer 40K author <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Peter-Fehervari/e/B00MTOA7CQ%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share">Peter Fehervari</a> features a fugitive member of what are essentially humanity's Cossacks (the vanguard of human expansion against a myriad of alien races, the first of which are based in a more pulp-fiction version of our own solar system) and just why he's a fugitive. It turns out there's a threat much, much closer to home.</p><p>In <a href="https://www.amazon.com/T.C.-McCarthy/e/B004A2JC3U%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share">T. C. McCarthy</a>'s "The Test," a world that has regressed into a medieval state features a king, his son who reminds me a lot of Prince Hal from Shakespeare's HENRY IV, and another son who'd like to usurp him. And did I mention there are monsters and priests using advanced technology? This was fun too.</p><p>Rounding out my favorite stories is the novella "Queen Amid Ashes," set in author <a href="https://sollanempire.com/">Christopher Ruocchio</a>'s SUN EATER universe (which begins with the novel <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07693PKH7/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07693PKH7&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=85f7a176465801f12e9f63ee2aa04312">Empire of Silence</a></i>, the first of several). Our hero Imperial noble Hadrian Marlowe and his companion, the foreign cyborg doctor Valka, and their Imperial troops must liberate a world under attack by the predatory alien Cielcin, but there's much more going on than an alien invasion. There are some very vivid descriptions here.</p><p>Unfortunately, not every story in the collection is so grand. I loved <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DKTRDG9/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07DKTRDG9&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=ddaf13459ce1b66fb1bade030adfbb8b">the Deathstalker novels</a> when I was in middle school, but Simon R. Green's "Saving The Emperor," which describes the origin of the titular Deathstalker noble family, was disappointing. I had a hard time following Susan R. Matthews' "Operatix Triumphans."</p><p>Still, no collection is perfect and I would definitely recommend this one. 8.0 out of 10.</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-40475236922494801642022-01-01T10:38:00.005-05:002022-03-02T12:51:56.931-05:00New Year, New Cover for THE THING IN THE WOODS<p>The first cover for <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087R33RCZ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B087R33RCZ&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=710897b995ff89b5a770b7d7561c8c25">The Thing in the Woods</a></i>, originally published by Canadian small press Digital Fiction Publishing, was assembled from two pieces of Adobe stock art I found for the publisher. However, the cover for its independently-published sequel <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CCFT3V1/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B08CCFT3V1&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=60a4d0dd3af4e332ea52e63ce438dae4">The Atlanta Incursion</a></i> was illustrated by artist <a href="http://www.mattcowdery.com/">Matt Cowdery</a> and laid out by designer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SilentQDesign/">Mikio Murikami</a>. Although the fonts are the same, the illustrative style is very different and this is something that has been remarked upon.</p><p>Well, since Cowdery's art has been highly praised by pretty much everybody I run into at in-person events and he has done the cover for the planned third novel <i>The Walking Worm</i>, it's time to make the whole "Long War" series consistent. Furthermore, according to some writing podcasts I listen to, a new cover is a good way to spike sales for an older book.</p><p>So here's Cowdery's cover for <i>Thing</i>, featuring male lead James Daly and female lead Amber Webb (her first canonical image) confronting the titular horror.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjO7KOR0-SOQUQr33bfhAJEndjW473YNmpuNxOrW7nQBwydMRjnTbvwItD_-Vx1o6k7-7daV1XIjnGDwefxlagWiWmjeOaRDGyRjuV1wXm_-kuN9csIRIDp1Q5eK9LUUV6aquA2AvxM45cSi_HxSNbbu-HdopSvugEAHqq5XYvq5aRLdnuwlk3De_rp=s2560" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1660" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjO7KOR0-SOQUQr33bfhAJEndjW473YNmpuNxOrW7nQBwydMRjnTbvwItD_-Vx1o6k7-7daV1XIjnGDwefxlagWiWmjeOaRDGyRjuV1wXm_-kuN9csIRIDp1Q5eK9LUUV6aquA2AvxM45cSi_HxSNbbu-HdopSvugEAHqq5XYvq5aRLdnuwlk3De_rp=s320" width="208" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Both the e-book and print book are now live with the new cover. Enjoy!</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-66921046567873790492021-12-28T12:48:00.005-05:002021-12-29T09:36:33.798-05:00Making a HELLRAISER Musical?<p>I'm a regular participant in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/concellation">the Concellation Facebook group</a> created to provide people who would have attended conventions canceled due to COVID with a social outlet. In late December I adapted <a href="https://accordingtoquinn.blogspot.com/2021/12/labyrinth-is-hellraiser-for-kids.html">my blog post about how <i>Labyrinth </i>is <i>Hellraiser </i>for kids</a> into <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh6QKVpzRLw">a YouTube video</a> and posted it in the group. Someone asked if <i>Hellraiser </i>had a musical number, what would it look like? My response was that you could actually make a full-blown <i>Hellraiser </i>musical.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7BpWiaaCHwuqctDzBji69mUEkkoZMfaTFaucRYdmSJxPsKZRfkfIWyebh7Buo6dbBXboLpycSyEYFBk7dGkpjwAKffgl_tlVtZR4ZTjPk_VLtrsvG4DSBeJNAIFJURbilVMb7Yud9ExX68WrQxTv4qITx2_Sz_DwTRny30T-bKheY2tM1TcbkFxrZ=s756" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7BpWiaaCHwuqctDzBji69mUEkkoZMfaTFaucRYdmSJxPsKZRfkfIWyebh7Buo6dbBXboLpycSyEYFBk7dGkpjwAKffgl_tlVtZR4ZTjPk_VLtrsvG4DSBeJNAIFJURbilVMb7Yud9ExX68WrQxTv4qITx2_Sz_DwTRny30T-bKheY2tM1TcbkFxrZ=s320" width="212" /></a></div><br /><p>So here's where I plot out a <i>Hellraiser </i>musical. Some ideas for songs and sequences, complete with the relevant film clips.</p><p>*At the beginning, Frank Cotton has a musical number while he solves the Lament Configuration. He discusses how he's experienced every pleasure the world has to offer (with some pretty big hints that many of these pleasures are illegal and/or immoral) and now he's looking for pleasures <i>beyond </i>the world. As he solves the box and the boundaries between the worlds start to thin, an ominous chorus of the Cenobites join in. The song culminates in the solving of the box, the chain-attack on Frank, and the first appearance of Pinhead. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkx3pd5ULJs">Here's the relevant scene in the film.</a></p><p>*When Larry Cotton (Frank's brother) and his second wife Julia move into Frank's old house, we could have a three-person musical number featuring Larry, Julia, and Larry's daughter Kirsty from his first marriage. Larry is hoping moving back to Julia's hometown in Britain will help save their marriage, Julia is lamenting how boring it is to be married to Larry, and Kirsty (arriving later to help) sings about how she misses her biological mother and how much she dislikes Julia.</p><p>*<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erpHSw3x5cE">Frank's resurrection</a> from the floorboards of the room where he was taken to Hell, culminating in a terrible scream, might be an instrumental number. Alternatively, it could have Frank recounting in some kind of spoken-word fashion the horrible things the Cenobites did to him as his body reassembles itself from the floor.</p><p>*Bored at a party attended by Larry, some of his work friends, Kirsty, and Kirsty's new boyfriend Steve, Julia goes to investigate the strange noises in the attic, culminating in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knNMTyER2z8">the encounter with the skeletal resurrected Frank.</a> There's a duet between the two where Frank begs her to help him fully regain his body while Julia is torn between her disgust at this meatless bony monstrosity and her memories of Frank seducing her before her marriage to Larry. At the end of the song, she agrees to help Frank, provided no harm comes to Larry. Despite his obvious contempt for Larry, Frank agrees.</p><p>*We next have a musical montage number (possibly some kind of ballet?) of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1VqEGAuryw">Julia luring men back to the house and killing them for Frank to feed on</a>. Some near-misses where Larry nearly discovers what's going on and Julia has to come up with an increasingly bad series of excuses to conceal her and Frank's activities.</p><p>*Befuddled by his wife's odd behavior, Larry takes Kirsty out to lunch and they discuss the situation. This could be dialogue-only, or a sweet-natured duet between the two of them.</p><p>*Kirsty sees Julia bringing a man into the house and comes in, only to see Frank kill him and eat him. Frank then attacks her, either in a sexual fashion or to simply eat her too, but she's able to fight him off with the puzzle box and escape the house. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-468WgS9To">She's taken to the hospital with the box, which she refuses to give up, and locked into her room by the staff, plays with it and accidentally solves it. This calls forth the Cenobites and we have a whole musical number about how the Cenobites are "explorers of the furthest reaches of experience, demons to some [and] angels to others" and how, since she's solved the box, Kirsty must come with them and "taste their pleasures." The terrified Kirsty manages to bargain with them, offering them Frank in return for herself.</a></p><p>*As Kirsty rushes home to warn her father, Frank and Julia murder him and Frank skins him. This is something that wasn't in the movie, but should have been, so the confrontation between the brothers and Larry's murder should be a musical number culminating in Frank's horrific appearance and Larry's death. Kirsty arrives and, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvj0s9trMM0">momentarily deceived by Frank's disguise as her father, briefly encounters the Cenobites in the house as they brood over Larry's corpse</a>. Frank attacks Kirsty, accidentally killing Julia (whom he feeds on as she's dying) and pursues Kirsty into the attic room where Larry's body is. There Kirsty tricks Frank into confessing his true identity and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G5_edtkcN8">Cenobites arrive to claim him</a>.</p><p>*The Cenobites then try to abduct Kirsty anyway <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKfupO4ZzPs">("we have such sights to show you")</a>, but she uses the box to banish them. Steve arrives and the two attempt to destroy the box, only for a vagrant to appear, take the box, and transform into a dragon before flying away.</p><p>You guys like? There's a ballet based on <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08YQCPYY2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B08YQCPYY2&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=04eaf024d94c2fc3044311b6be070d48">Dracula </a></i>and a musical based on <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09FC9Z8FJ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B09FC9Z8FJ&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=d6c1564bc27b09f1bd67693cac82ad07">Evil Dead</a></i>, so as long as the musical retains the film's score (or at least a version of it) and the best lines, this could be better cool. Heck, some of the film's best lines like "we have such sights to show you" could be the titles of songs.</p><p>(Also, check out <a href="https://myopia.dudeletter.com/hellraiser/">the Myopia Movies episode on <i>Hellraiser</i>.</a>)</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-29154501061307358622021-12-21T08:57:00.002-05:002022-06-22T09:19:27.163-04:00The Origin of LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG GUNS, Or "A Lie Can Travel Around the World and Back Again While The Truth Is Putting On Its Shoes”<p>There's a supposed quote from American author Mark Twain about how, "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." Many times the first media report about something, regardless of its accuracy or whether the complete story is told, will travel far and people will ignore the follow-up. </p><p><a href="https://www.npr.org/2012/12/18/167466320/coverage-rapid-and-often-wrong-in-tragedys-early-hours">This article from NPR</a> discusses the early coverage of the Sandy Hook school shooting, including how somebody else was mistakenly identified as the shooter and how some early reports claimed school officials <i>actually let the shooter into the school</i>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_of_Sunil_Tripathi">Sunil Tripathi was initially identified as one of the Boston Marathon bombers</a>, only for it to come out later he'd committed suicide long before the bombing. More recently and speaking from my personal experience, I initially thought <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_2019_Lincoln_Memorial_confrontation">the episode with the students from Covington Catholic High School and Native American activist Nathan Phillips</a> just involved a confrontation between them--the involvement of a third party (a group of street preachers affiliated with the Black Hebrew Israelites) didn't appear in any of the news I'd read until some time later. <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/01/media-must-learn-covington-catholic-story/581035/">This article from <i>The Atlantic</i></a> breaks down how the major media failed to point out that the BHI preachers had initially confronted the Native Americans and then attempted to redirect the whole situation toward the Catholic students, instead focusing on student Nick Sandmann, who appeared to be smirking at Phillips while he plays the drums. <a href="https://denvergazette.com/news/nicholas-sandmann-reaches-settlement-with-nbc/article_2e1debf4-fe7e-5fc6-b146-064d8e9e2919.html">Several media outlets ended up settling lawsuits with Sandmann</a>, whom I remember being vilified online at the time (<a href="https://people.com/politics/covington-catholic-closes-threats-violence-protests/">to the point the school closed due to threats</a>) and even <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Kentucky/comments/rj1wb2/nicholas_sandmann_reaches_settlement_with_nbc/">now</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrrWmQwSC3nrDzi49Yx85jwtQ7P_1OLr9LKDj1LXedrvokrokCnN8ckngNyIZR0L_1VxeYHxckoS5iqjsn6YRJyV368iCGhj1J0ifmPBuoHJ_m1jFrxaNNRJBlXeZqsykAoemuZUN8yq9-HmTSM5Vms1x7FVeNm6R2hyO7ssp9UlOsszcQ4Mk_sCbg=s858" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="554" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrrWmQwSC3nrDzi49Yx85jwtQ7P_1OLr9LKDj1LXedrvokrokCnN8ckngNyIZR0L_1VxeYHxckoS5iqjsn6YRJyV368iCGhj1J0ifmPBuoHJ_m1jFrxaNNRJBlXeZqsykAoemuZUN8yq9-HmTSM5Vms1x7FVeNm6R2hyO7ssp9UlOsszcQ4Mk_sCbg=s320" width="207" /></a></div><br /><p>And this is something that applies to my own writing, in particularly my horror-comedy novella <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081TLNPX1/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B081TLNPX1&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=b8377e04655c4c489b16378c2ca18f71">Little People, Big Guns</a></i> from <a href="https://deaditepress.com/">Deadite Press</a>. I got the initial idea for <i>LPBG </i>from <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/gordon-ramsays-dwarf-porn-double-percy-foster-dies-in-badger-den/news-story/1bda2a264034dfa7905edfb8e095a05a">a news story that claimed TV chef Gordon Ramsay had a gay dwarf porn star lookalike named Percy Foster, who was found dead in a badger den</a>. However, <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/percy-foster-dead_n_962667">the <i>Huffington Post</i> did some digging</a> and found that not only had local police no idea what was going on, but nobody in the porn industry had <i>heard </i>of Mr. Foster, who should be more well-known given his stature and appearance. Furthermore, the initial reporting on the incident came from <i>The Sunday Sport</i>, a British tabloid that, among other things, has claimed a WWII bomber had been found on the Moon. However, before this had happened the initial reporting went viral. The story circulated online--here's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pleasekillmebook/posts/wtf-gordon-ramsay-look-alike-porn-star-dwarf-found-half-eaten-by-badgers/10152223191397889/">a Facebook post from 2014 about it</a> and here is a<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-5774233/Gordon-Ramsey-reveals-never-got-meet-porn-star-lookalike-Percy-Foster.html"> 2018 article from <i>The Daily Mail</i></a>. 2018--that's <i>seven years </i>after the incident was debunked. Lies can live forever on the Internet it seems.</p><p>However, even though it turns out the whole incident with Mr. Foster didn't actually happen, that got my creative juices flowing. The initial story idea (which just focused on the little people and the killer badgers), after some suggestions from then-editor of Deadite <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Burk">Jeff Burk</a>, soon grew into a bizarre almost true-crime saga involving terrorists, car chases, and even an unnaturally large and dangerous animal. If you like your horror spiced with comedy or if your sense of humor trends very dark, I would recommend checking out <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081TLNPX1/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B081TLNPX1&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=b8377e04655c4c489b16378c2ca18f71">Little People, Big Guns</a></i>.</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-4758144450604603222021-12-05T15:01:00.003-05:002022-01-01T08:40:58.613-05:00My Late 2021 And Early 2022 Convention Schedule<p>Time to round out 2021 and ring in the first quarter of 2022 with the book signings and appearances I've scheduled so far. This blog post may change as I add events or if COVID leads to event cancellations again.</p><p>On Saturday, 12/18, I will be signing at <a href="https://www.poncecitymarket.com/directory-full-list/posman-books">Posman Books at Ponce City Market</a> from 1-3 PM. Back when I had just <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087R33RCZ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B087R33RCZ&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=3ba9d4a686cb39de6d47c445130da03d">The Thing in the Woods</a></i> in the fall of 2017, I had a pretty decent signing there and I'm hoping that lightning strikes twice. Especially since now I've got a bunch more books to sell. :) If you want to let me know you're coming, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1150932468770288">RSVP on the Facebook event here</a>. Bookstore signings tend to be pretty lucrative for me, since there isn't a table cost like there is for conventions.</p><p>As far as conventions are concerned, I will have a hall table at the <a href="https://www.atlantasteampunkexpo.com/">Atlanta Steampunk Exposition</a> February 11-13, 2022. I might also be speaking on writing-related panels, but that's still being worked out. Since AnachroCon has closed up shop, ASE is consolidating the Atlanta steampunk convention scene. :) And it's been two years since a big steampunk convention in Atlanta, so hopefully there'll be people eager to spend money. This will be the first time the Atlanta steampunk crowd will be seeing <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CCFT3V1/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B08CCFT3V1&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=ed188fca321434cde465a1ef2316e5ce">The Atlanta Incursion</a></i> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0897FVPT8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0897FVPT8&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=a0ea44f29f08931746f9d3661db0845d">"Son of Grendel,"</a> since those were published in 2020, months after AnachroCon. Hopefully they'll like the new additions.</p><p>The final convention I have scheduled so far is Toylanta 2022, slated for March 18-22. <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/toylanta-2022-tickets-166581536861">Here's where you can buy tickets online.</a> I made a decent amount last time I was there, and with COVID vaccinations being more available and COVID numbers in Georgia declining (fingers crossed that Omicron won't change that), hopefully there'll be more people there. I attended the 2021 Toylanta and haven't put out anything new since then (more on that later), so hopefully there'll be lots of new people.</p><p>Between my busy teaching schedule and the fact I've fallen dreadfully behind on producing new books (I wanted to have the sequel to <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0836D1M3S/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0836D1M3S&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=d7c346ae23007f912e97aeb7e85bd4c6">Battle for the Wastelands</a></i> out sometime this year, but I'm at most halfway through it), I think I'm going to try to limit appearances to one convention or so per month. Also, given how quickly $0.35 per mile adds up, I'm going to try to limit my appearances to metro Atlanta until I've got more books to sell.</p><p>If you don't anticipate making it to any of these events, email me at mquinn1984@gmail.com and we can discuss an individual order. I can mail signed books anywhere in the U.S. thanks to Media Mail. Non-US orders I can do, but I'll need to build in additional shipping costs.</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-72446165802831274982021-12-04T09:18:00.005-05:002022-09-21T06:30:13.417-04:00LABYRINTH Is HELLRAISER For Kids<p>The other day I watched <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008Y6ZK5C/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008Y6ZK5C&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=f3213c49c4aca6699d6aac9356d2000b">Labyrinth </a></i>on the elliptical at the gym and while ironing some clothes. The thought hit me that it has a lot in common with, surprisingly enough, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PPB2VMF/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07PPB2VMF&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=0736fbcefcfad3194d1035e06efac25a">Hellraiser </a></i>and its sequel <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005Z4O5K2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005Z4O5K2&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=9cfcd163e2ce591b66f1c265add2c7f9">Hellraiser 2: Hellbound</a></i>. Beware spoilers for all three films.</p><p>Firstly, both franchises have significant stepmother-stepdaughter drama. <i>Hellraiser </i>protagonist Kirsty Cotton and her stepmother Julia clearly don't get along at the beginning of the first film and once supernatural forces get involved, it escalates into outright violence. In the second film, once Julia has been thoroughly corrupted, she explicitly refers to herself as the wicked stepmother and the evil queen and mocks Kirsty as "Snow White." Meanwhile, protagonist Sarah Williams is openly disrespectful toward her stepmother Irene in <i>Labyrinth, </i>and Irene clearly does not know what to do with her. Knowing her stepdaughter's interest in fantasy, Irene complains that Sarah treats her as a "wicked stepmother."</p><p>Furthermore, at the beginning of the film when we first meet here, I get serious Julia vibes off Irene. They're both dressed formally (albeit for different reasons--Irene and Sarah's father are going on a date and Julia just seems like an ice-queen in general) and their hairstyles are somewhat alike. Although there's more open hostility between the two than between Kirsty Cotton and her stepmother Julia in the first <i>Hellraiser,</i> Sarah is several years younger than Kirsty and <i>significantly</i> less mature. Perhaps Julia and Kirsty were similarly hostile when Kirsty was a young teen, although if that were the case I doubt Kirsty's father Larry would have been so foolish as to assume a now-adult Kirsty would want to live with them in their new town or later ask her to help him figure out why Julia is acting so strangely.</p><p>Later, when Sarah becomes frustrated by baby Toby's crying, she wishes the Goblin King would take him "far away from me." The crying abruptly stops and when Sarah goes to investigate, we see goblins in the walls, moving under mattresses, etc. That gave me major <i>Hellraiser </i>vibes, especially given how Kirsty's sinister uncle Frank Cotton's personal hell in the second film involved sensual women under sheets (who disappeared when he removed them), how doorways to Hell formed in the walls, etc. You can see some of that in the clips below.</p><p>Also, Kirsty in the first <i>Hellraiser </i>solved the puzzle box and summoned the Cenobites completely ignorant of what the box actually did. She was curious about this device that her undead uncle was so protective of, started fiddling with it, and then this happened. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4rjDx2v12TA" width="320" youtube-src-id="4rjDx2v12TA"></iframe></div><br /><p>Like Kirsty, Sarah had no idea that her frustrated wish to be rid of her baby half-brother would actually summon a supernatural being. And although Jareth and his goblin cronies are significantly less rough than Pinhead and his crew are, there are definitely similarities. Here are two YouTube clips depicting Sarah summoning him and his arrival:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8bU41FrkLKM" width="320" youtube-src-id="8bU41FrkLKM"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yxWSHV3kyxU" width="320" youtube-src-id="yxWSHV3kyxU"></iframe></div><br /><p>The Goblin King is nowhere near as dangerous as Pinhead--the latter is a Dracula-like sadist who attempts to welch on his bargains, while Jareth is more whimsical and kid-friendly--but both are dangerous and sexual creatures with an unhealthy interest in the young, brunette female protagonist.</p><p>Oh, and there's <i>that</i>. Pinhead describes himself as his crew as "explorers of the furthest reaches of experience, demons to some and angels to others" and they subjected Frank to "pain and pleasure indivisible" when he was under their control. The almighty TVTropes describes the Cenobites as "the priests of an S&M religion." In the climax of <i>Hellraiser</i>, Pinhead attempts to abduct Kirsty, telling her that, "We have such sights to show you," while the in second film, he confidently allows Kirsty to freely wander his realm, informing her that, "We have eternity to know your flesh." </p><p>The sexuality in <i>Labyrinth </i>is a bit more subtle given how this is a children's movie, but Jareth's infamous bulging crotch has been discussed at length online, we see David Bowie as Sarah's mother's new boyfriend in a newspaper (a romantic rivalry with one's own mother?), and Jareth gets <i>very </i>testy at the notion of Sarah kissing Hoggle, a dwarfish creature whom she befriends in the Labyrinth. This culminates in Sarah essentially getting roofied and dancing with Jareth at a ball, a scene that is downright rapey. And Jareth later straight-up propositions Sarah, telling her, "I ask for so little. Just let me rule you, and you can have everything that you want. Just fear me, love me. Do as I say and I will be your slave."</p><p>Finally, both franchises have elaborate mazes. Sarah must solve the titular Labyrinth in thirteen hours to rescue her brother from Jareth, while Kirsty briefly ventures into the Cenobites' realm when she solves the box in the first Hellraiser film. The second film features a more extensive exploration of the Cenobites' maze-like realm.</p><p>So although rarely does one associate a children's fantasy film (albeit one with some significant adult subtext) like <i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4000895280655907241/7244616580283127498#">Labyrinth </a></i>with the sexual horror of <i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4000895280655907241/7244616580283127498#">Hellraiser</a></i>, there are an interesting number of similarities.</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-78832809951704008072021-11-25T11:28:00.003-05:002021-12-01T18:55:23.932-05:00Reflections on STRIKE TEAM ALPHA, 30-Odd Years Later<p>Staying over at my grandparents' house when I was a child in the early 1990s, I found my uncle's trove of 1970s and 1980s geekdom. We're talking Doctor Who novels (I specifically remember <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0426108744/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0426108744&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=bd06a77cd93cab549a33a068e46d354d">Doctor Who and the Dinosaur Invasion</a></i>), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_(magazine)">Dragon magazine</a>, etc. And in particular a lot of tabletop war games, including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strike_Team_Alpha">Strike Team Alpha</a> from 1978. That one was my personal favorite, largely because they had a dinosaur-like antagonist race called the T'Rana. Uncle John eventually let me take it home, but I misplaced it somewhere in my parents' house.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyD5qkQt4FcvrHjYdtUMz0-bnca4hOE3e4Hsz1DhkBMmWR0C0CNRxY27SgHF9x3KJvfduvBQPOxg9S5n0T0BZbqPqbvIoK-7V3mFbvL7XAtjqdG6E61X1t7hsQOU2wASGBguhTxbZG0IY/s630/Strike+Team+Alpha.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="479" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyD5qkQt4FcvrHjYdtUMz0-bnca4hOE3e4Hsz1DhkBMmWR0C0CNRxY27SgHF9x3KJvfduvBQPOxg9S5n0T0BZbqPqbvIoK-7V3mFbvL7XAtjqdG6E61X1t7hsQOU2wASGBguhTxbZG0IY/s320/Strike+Team+Alpha.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><br /><p>Well, after years of sporadically looking for a new copy (including finding and calling up the original creator, who sent me some pictures of game-manual artwork), I found one on eBay and ordered it (as part of a two-pack with <i>Full Thrust</i>, a British space-fleet tabletop game that's still in production today). Although I don't really like playing tabletop wargames, I do really enjoy the lore and I do remember liking Strike Team Alpha's storyline.</p><p>So on this merry Thanksgiving, I got the manual out of the plastic sleeve they sent it in and re-read it for the first time in close to 30 years. How did it hold up? Well here goes...</p><p>*The backstory predates <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08C93ZGKK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B08C93ZGKK&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=c4371071960f2aad8b798bab7282ab00">Warhammer 40,000</a>'s "every faction is evil" darkness by nine years. Earth demands a 95% tax rate from asteroid colonists due to the massive self-importance of the people, or at least their leadership ("Earth being the self-acknowledged center of the Universe decided that its asteroid colonies were not paying the proper respect to the birthplace of humanity"). Colonies that cannot or will not pay are wiped out, prompting the surviving colonists to convert their habitats into generation ships and bug out for another solar system. Earth's population, rather than realizing their own greed and tyranny provoked this and failing to acknowledge the sheer courage this took, call this "the Exodus of Cowards." And when the belters foolishly reveal where they've set up their new homes, the result is the founding of a united Earth government that launches an incredibly destructive war of conquest. Like seriously, three-quarters of the colonists on Tau Ceti are killed in the opening nuclear attack and the subsequent "War of Reclamation" is specifically described in the manual as "a war of terror." One gaming scenario involves miners being used for forced labor rebelling and offering the metals they'd mined to mercenaries to help them re-establish self-government. And that's <i>before </i>the wars with the cat-like Sha'anthra (who wage wars almost for fun with other species or with each other) and the T'Rana (who are genocidal <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ExplosiveBreeder">Explosive Breeders</a>) kick off. And the outlying colonists, though they're clearly higher on the moral food chain than the Terran Federation, will often fight each other.</p><p>(The more I think about it, the more this sounds like Joss Whedon's space Western <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07451532Z/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07451532Z&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=8a815b3fa7ba13eff2ab0ad30eb3c1cb">Firefly </a></i>and its film adaptation <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009CGDERO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B009CGDERO&linkCode=as2&tag=accotoquin-20&linkId=8cb606c29fd12090804bba73dec53f7a">Serenity</a></i>.)</p><p>*Per the above, although the back-story isn't preachy and annoying, you can tell the politics involved. Not only is the initial exodus from Sol driven by a greedy centralized government that taxes people literally to death, but the Terran colonial occupation regime explicitly forbids ownership of energy weapons by private citizens or even local governments. As a result, colonial militias are equipped with broadly late 20th or early 21st Century assault rifles, machine guns, etc. despite the presence of literally predatory alien races, human pirates, etc. And many of the scenarios the game-book provides include colonial rebels and their hired mercenaries fighting collaborators and the Terran Federation <i>years </i>afterward. Live free or die, indeed. The game came out not long before Ronald Reagan became the U.S. President and reflects some of the zeitgeist of that era.</p><p>*There's an apocryphal quote out there that says amateurs talk about tactics and dilettantes talk about strategy, but professionals talk about logistics. And the logistics make sense. The game emphasizes small-unit combat because supporting a large army across interstellar space would be a nightmare. The frontier colonies are underdeveloped (likely intentionally, to keep them from rebelling) and the core industrial worlds are so far away. The supplies and gear for super-advanced weaponry used by the Terran Federation's Marines would have be carried across light-years. So campaigns would need to be short and sharp.</p><p>*Speaking as someone who is now vastly more knowledgeable about history than when he was eight, the war with the T'Rana looks a lot like WWII, particularly the last madness of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. We're talking an overly-aggressive enemy that fights to the death, <a href="https://allthatsinteresting.com/japanese-cannibalism-ww2">literally eats their enemies</a>, picks unnecessary fights that ultimately doom them, <a href="https://avalon.law.yale.edu/imt/judseyss.asp">will destroy conquered territory rather than allow it to be liberated</a>, etc. The end of the war looks like what would have happened if the U.S. had rejected both the atomic bomb and invading the Home Islands and decided to continue the conventional bombing/blockade...something that wouldn't work against something as large and self-sufficient as an entire star system. The T'Rana are (mostly) contained, but there are still raids.</p><p>*The game features <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactical_nuclear_weapon">tactical nuclear weapons</a>, not just small nukes delivered by missile or aircraft that one might expect, but nuclear weapons deployed by individual soldiers. We're not just talking something like the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Crockett_(nuclear_device)">infantry-operated Davy Crockett recoilless rifle</a> that seems like something that would actually be useable (albeit unbelievably risky to due the fact a single infantryman or combat team could start a nuclear war), but <a href="https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-tactical/nuclear-hand-grenades-wont-happen/">nuclear hand grenades</a>. The game was clearly devised in a time before precision-guided weapons that would allow more-accurate conventional weapons to be used in place of battlefield nukes. There are also fusion-beam weapons called "sunguns" that are sort of like flamethrowers, except one needs to wear anti-radiation protective gear.</p><p>*However, the game does feature something called a "battlerob," which is essentially a semiautonomous robotic light tank. Groups like Amnesty International <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/11/global-a-critical-opportunity-to-ban-killer-robots-while-we-still-can/">have already spoken out against "killer robots,"</a> so this is something that's going to be a political issue in the future.</p><p>*The game also features rocket-propelled explosive ammunition, much like Warhammer 40,000's <a href="https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Bolter">bolters</a>.</p><p>*One of the play-testers was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Alec_Effinger">George Alec Effinger</a>, a noted science fiction writer and winner of both Hugo and Nebula Awards.</p><p>*There are quite a number of typos in the manual.</p><p>Verdict: Still a fun world to blow things up in (and it was interesting that many concepts were used in later, more successful games), but finding a copy (and especially finding the Ral Partha figures designed for the game) is going to be a real pain. It'd be nice if there was licensed fiction set in this world (that's one reason I reached out to the original creator), but that seems a bit...unlikely at this point.</p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.com0