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Welcome 2016

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grantholiday
(From one of my favorite classic films, Holiday)

“Dear old world’, she murmured, ‘you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

On one level I recognize that today is Friday. It is just like any other Friday, with the same potential for uses wise or wasteful, the same potential for good or ill. Perhaps the only exception to most Fridays in a 365 day period is that, for some, this is a paid holiday.

On another level this is a particularly auspicious Friday, for it is Friday, January 1st, 2016. The start of a new year.

For all of you being born this day, welcome! It truly is the first day of the rest of your life. For the rest of us, it is a day to mark a new beginning, even if it seems like that is only true in the sense that we will be writing a new number whenever we place a date on something.

I have always liked to look at the new year as a time to start fresh. It is, admittedly, an artificial, calendar-prompted time to take stock and think about goals for the next 365 days. I have had years in which I have laid out many “resolutions” that I would like to accomplish, and others where those were very few in number. This year I’m leaning much more towards the “few” end of the spectrum, as I truly want to dedicate time to those things that matter to me.

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book news

My Favorite Books of 2015

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teagirlreading
(Chamomille 2, by artist Brian Kesinger)

While sitting in my recliner in our little library oasis, I can turn my head to the left and see the framed print of the above image, one of Brian Kesinger’s fabulous Tea Girls illustrations. I am drawn to any artwork that depicts characters reading as it combines two of my passions. Looking at this picture fills me with all kinds of warm thoughts about the adventures I have had between the pages of good books.

It is these warm thoughts that I revisit today with a look back at the books that have left their mark upon me in 2015.

Twenty-fifteen saw me completing fewer books than I have in the nearly 11 years that I have been writing here at Stainless Steel Droppings. Fortunately the decrease in reading was not due to negative circumstances, but was in fact the result of a number of satisfying experiences that I would not trade: Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 4, increased time spent with friends and family, increased involvement in my local church, training for a few important-to-me trail runs, and more board gaming and video gaming.

2015 has been a year of growth and change. It hasn’t always been easy, and there were certainly personal and work challenges, but the decline in number of books completed did not have an impact on the quality of the books I experienced.

One of the joys of this time of year is finding out what books you most enjoyed. You can discuss these in the comments, of course, but I have also put a Mr. Linky wizard at the end of this post for you to link any post(s) you may have done discussing your favorite books of the year.

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Art/Photography, book news

My Favorite Genre Covers of 2015

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LunaNewMoon-thumb
(Art by Victor Mosquera)

As the year comes to a close I like to embark upon one of my favorite annual traditions: a review of the genre book and magazine covers that caught my eye and that I consider favorites for the year. I would not be able to successfully complete this venture without the hard work done over at SF Signal. Every month SF Signal compiles and posts an art-heavy post featuring the various science fiction, fantasy and horror stories slated to be released that month. Even in weaker months it provides a visual feast of genre art.

It is never easy choosing favorites, and even with efforts to pare down the list, this has proven to be a long post, albeit one filled with gorgeous cover art.

My standard disclaimer is that I am not an art critic, an artist, or one who has artistic talent. I simply know what I like, and can occasionally craft a statement explaining why I believe I connected to that piece of work. There are constants who tend to show up every year on my list. It makes me happy to know that art attributed to artists I admire are prolific, resulting in new pieces to consider each year.

I am always interested in your opinions on the covers I have chosen, as well as any nominations for ones you feel should be on the list.

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Film

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Spoiler Conversation)

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forceawakensfullcastposter

For those of you who have yet to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens, fear not.

Spoilers in the intro, find you will not.

After the jump, however, I will be freely expressing my delights and disappointments with The Force Awakens(TFA). I watched the first two trailers a handful of times when they were first released, and after made a conscious effort to stay away from anything related to this film. My goal was to manage my anticipation, as much as was humanly possible, and to be able to go into the film armed with as little knowledge as possible regarding the events that were to unfold.

I succeeded to a partial degree. I was very aware of how my anticipation had been subconsciously building as it was something I felt myself struggling against during parts of the film.

In the event that you did not read the subtext of my previous non-spoiler post, I am very fond of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I have issues with it, that may or may not pass with subsequent viewings, but it is important for me to establish the fact that I’m pleased with the film. Please keep that in mind when ascribing weight to any criticisms I may level at writers J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan.

I do not promise a fully articulated, coherent review, hence my parenthetical reference to this being a “conversation”. I do hope that those of you who have seen it will converse freely. You may agree, or disagree, with anything I have to say and will have a free space in which to do so. I will not find your lack of agreeing with me disturbing.

And readers, please assume that EVERY comment in the comments section contains spoilers. Read at your own peril.

With that preamble out of the way, here is my side of the conversation.

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Eclectic Musings of a Renaissance Geek