Book Reviews, Nonfiction, Science Fiction

Just a Geek ~Wil Wheaton

54 Comments


Just a Geek ~Wil Wheaton

–published 2004
–O-Reilly Media
–269 pages
–8/10

“…the plain truth is that this book is really for any kind of nerd or geek out there and as such is one I can recommend without reservation. It is a quick, entertaining and satisfying read that has me looking to track down the rest of Wil Wheaton’s books…this was a real treat.”

~Me!, from This Very Review


Before getting into the meat of this review please allow me a moment of self-disclosure.

Confession:   I hated Wesley Crusher.

Realization:   I am not sure I ever really had the right to.

Let me explain. By my own personal definition I am not a “fan” of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The show began in 1987, the year I graduated from high school. I had been a fan of the original series since early childhood and I remember being vaguely annoyed that “they” were going to tread on my memories by bringing Star Trek back without James Tiberius Kirk at the helm of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Beyond that original annoyance I did not give it much thought. I was finishing up one chapter of my life and opening the book on the next. I was moving to another state to go to college. And the majority of the last half of 1987 I was homesick, pretty overwhelmed with my first year of college, and busy. In 1988 I began dating the girl who would a year later become my wife. Again, I was very busy and television was not a priority.

Wil Wheaton was a cast member from its inception through its first 4 seasons. I didn’t get around to finally watching The Next Generation in earnest until its final 3 seasons, by which point Wesley Crusher was gone. Yes, I saw him on the occasional syndicated episode or one I may have caught now and again on its original run. And yes I did not like what I saw of the character. But I am not a fan of The Next Generation and one of many realizations I came to when reading this solid and entertaining book was while my opinion may be legitimate, the grounds for my hatred of Wesley Crusher quite possibly were not.

More important, Wil Wheaton is not Wesley Crusher.

Continue reading Just a Geek ~Wil Wheaton →

Personal Essay

Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory

23 Comments


(Photo Credit: Jennifer Tomaloff)

“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

John Adams wrote those words to his wife, Abigail. He was referring to July 2nd, 1776, the date that the colonies legally separated from Great Britain. While he may have been wrong about the date–the celebrations took place on July 4th, the (debated) date that the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence–he was right about the pomp and the circumstance. July 4th is the day set aside to commemorate the start of the bold, brash experiment that was American Democracy. The celebrations began that very next year on July 4th, 1777 and the festivities did include fireworks.

More than 200 years have passed and it can be successfully argued that for many the fourth of July is not a date on which we spend much time reflecting on the courage and sacrifice of our revolutionary brethren. Don’t get me wrong, some do indeed honor the sacrifices of those who bought our freedoms as well as those who have died over the ensuing centuries to protect them. We all should remember that. Though our commitment to remembrance may sometimes waiver, we remain consistent in our innate desire to affirm the words of the man who would become the second President of these United States.

As John Adams predicted, on July 4th we like to blow sh*# up.

Continue reading Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory →

Film

The Return of the King

43 Comments



“Well, I’m back…”

The final Tuesday night showing of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King, has ended. Added to the usual bittersweet melancholy I feel as the final credits roll is the bittersweet feeling of this three week event coming to an end. It has been more than I expected it to be. It was a scheduled date night. It spawned a new friendship. And it was something I never thought I would ever experience–the extended versions of Peter Jackson’s films on the big screen.

I realize on some level that it makes no sense to be sad that the trilogy has ended. I could sit down at home and immediately watch them again right now. But I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to taint this experience. Any time I partake of the film trilogy I then like to take a break from it for awhile, despite the strong feeling that I am leaving behind close friends. I never want to inundate myself so much with either the films or the books that they lose their power to move me. And move me they do.

If you dear folk will indulge me one more time, I would like to discuss some things that stood out in this viewing of The Return of the King.

Be forewarned, spoilers follow after the jump.

Continue reading The Return of the King →

Home

Add a Little Spice to Your Summer?

83 Comments

Frank Herbert’s novel Dune is a classic by many standards. Despite enjoying the various screen adaptations of the work I have yet to actually sit down to read the original text. Summer seems like the most likely time to read Dune–desert planet, endless stretches of sand–and every summer I add it to my list only to see the heat dissipate on autumn winds without my having cracked open the cover of my 40th Anniversary edition.

Well my friends, this summer is going to be different. This summer I am going to follow the adventures of Paul Atreides on the spice world, thanks entirely to the encouragement of friends.

No more excuses, no more getting distracted by other books jealous to be read and read NOW.

Summer of 2011 will equal success!

We are doing a July group read of Dune, and I would love it if you would join us.

Continue reading Add a Little Spice to Your Summer? →

Film

The Two Towers

56 Comments

The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition theatrical release hosted by Fathom Events continued this past Tuesday night with the second film of the trilogy, The Two Towers. In a repeat of last week’s performance I found myself at the theater long before anyone else, laying hold of the crown and proclaiming myself Lord of the Geeks. When a teenage worker with little imagination offered an unsatisfactory solution to the darkened theater–“they” would turn on the lights “soon”–I took matters into my own hands and found the switch, illuminating what was to be my own personal reading room for the next hour and a half. I was magnanimous and shut them off again when the pre-show entertainment started.

Even though I have seen this film, in its extended version, countless times I couldn’t hold back the thrill that rose within me the moment the screen darkened and “The Lord of the Rings” logo appeared.

I would venture a guess that most of you have seen these films. If you have not, please consider this your warning that spoilers will be present following the jump. This will not be a formal review of the film but will instead be a loosely constructed report on the things that stood out to me in particular in this viewing.

Continue reading The Two Towers →

Eclectic Musings of a Renaissance Geek