“Summer is the time when one sheds one’s tensions with one’s clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all’s right with the world.”Β
~Ada Louise Huxtable
And so we bid a fond, but sad, farewell to the Once Upon a Time Challenge. As it ends, thus ends Spring. Summer is upon us.
I have declared before that I am very much a whim reader. I tend to follow my fancies in reading, wherever they may lead. Hosting/participating in challenges causes me to try to reign in those whims and eventhough I thoroughly enjoy participating in challenges, it seems that books outside the challenge genre are never more attractive than when you’ve committed yourself to a specific reading regime! π
As a testament to all the urges that coursed through my veins during the fantasy challenge, I declare this
The Summer Of:
—Shakespeare…
…Much ado About Nothing is calling my name.
…I picked this up at a used bookstore because it sounds amusingly decadent.
—Peanuts and Calvin and Hobbes…
…I have several of the nice collector’s volumes to enjoy.
I declare it The Summer Of:
—Pride and Prejudice…
…I need to finally finish this. I have read some of it and really am enjoying it. It is those whims that take me away!
—James Bond…
…one of my Uberlist goals was to read all of Fleming’s Bond books this year.
—Robert E. Howard’s Conan…
…I have the final volume of collected stories tempting me.
I declare it The Summer Of:
—J.R.R. Tolkien…
…the recent Lord of the Rings talk for the fantasy challenge has stirred up my usual November craving for the master, and I have been in full on Tolkien mode for several days now.
…if you haven’t read and/or weighed in on the LOTR films vs. books discussion going on in the comments of The Children of Hurin post, you are missing out!
I declare it The Summer Of:
—Time Travel…
…books like The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger and Jack Finney’s classic, Time and Again, simply must be re-read.
…I also owe you a review on the enjoyable short story collection Time Pieces.
I declare this The Summer Of:
—Science Fiction…
…I have unread Robert Heinlein that must be read.
…I want to finally read Frank Herbert’s Dune.
…I long to return to the Jack Vance Treasury
…I have a pile of classic pulp sci-fi loaned to me by a good friend that I want to read soon.
I declare this The Summer Of:
—Visiting Old Friends…
…the works of Harry Harrison
…the Anne books of Lucy Maud Montgomery
…A World Out of Time by Larry Niven
I also want to declare this The Summer of The Library!
I want to visit the library more this year and find some new or long forgotten treasures there.
Summer is short, and this is, of course, a ridiculous amount of niche reading to actually accomplish in one summer. The point is, I am going to follow my reading whims with reckless abandon! Who’s with me?!?!
So what about you? Where will your whims take you this summer? On what journeys do you plan to embark?
βThe greatest gift is a passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.”
~Elizabeth Hardwick
Ah, the summer of vampires (reading Sunshine by Robin McKinley now, and waiting oh-so-patiently for Eclipse. Might even give Colleen Gleason’s books a try). And the summer of Harry Potter (of course, can’t wait). I also want to branch out and read something by non-white authors.
I enjoyed the first Dune book. Some of the sequels.. not so much.
well now.. you saw the newest 4 books I received and I still have 5 others waiting in the wings.. Then July comes and I have the last Harry Potter ordered along with the newest Margaret Weis on order… that’s more then I can read in 2 months!
I’ve heard that, Angela. I don’t really have any desire to read the whole series, but I do want to read the first one.
This will definitely be the summer of Harry Potter, Melissa!!
I couldn’t even get into the first Dune book. Just didn’t grab me. Ah well, can’t please everyone. But that’s one hell of a list Carl! I have to read The Stainless Steel Rat! Simply have to…I owe it to you π I have a Heinlein sitting on my shelf along with The Time Traveler’s Wife…may dig into those. Definite plans for the summer are Harry Potter of course, Neil’s 3 Short Story collections and Interworld which I’m jumping into now (yay!), I have about 6 or 7 Orson Scott Card books left before I’ve completed his entire collection (so far), so I’d like to do that….we’ll see where else my reading takes me! I’m doing a classics challenge and Newbery challenge too, so there’s plenty more! Never a shortage of books here π
I LOVE Peanuts and Calvin and Hobbes. I need to revisit them one of these days.
What a fine list you have! I was thinking of reading some more Shakespeare this summer as well – I feel “The Tempest” calling my name.
I really should read Pride and Prejudice too, and other classics I have been missing out on, but it probably won’t happen this summer yet.
I’m definitely going to read Interworld this summer, and the new Harry Potter (and re-read Half Blood-Prince if I have the time), and hopefully half of my Book Awards challenge list.
I have never read Anne of Green Gables, so I was thinking of having a “Children’s Classics Weekend” to read that one and whatever others I can squeeze in (Charlotte’s Web, for example).
Ah, Summer… my last exam is on Friday, and then… compulsive reading, here I come! π
You got some great new stuff Deslily.
Chris, I really like the Dune mythology as put forth in the films and I’m looking forward to the book.
If you haven’t read TT Wife, I recommend it highly.
And you know very well that half of these on my list I won’t actually get to this year and they’ll be on my ‘Summer of’ list next year. π
Nymeth, I love the Anne books, especially the later ones when she grows up and gets married. One of the relationships I love in the early books is that between her and a student of hers named Paul, I believe, who has the same kind of wonderful imagination that Anne does.
Best of luck with exams!
My whims are taking me, as mentioned in my last post, to the world of science fiction.
I am also, as a result of our various discussions about/references to Anne of Green Gables, considering picking up new copies of the books to revisit…
And, after reading A Midsummer Night’s Dream, I’m craving more Shakespeare…it has been so long…King Lear is calling.
Oh and as mentioned in my post about The Hobbit – I’ll be meandering through Middle Earth.
Then it’s a case of whatever else takes my fancy!
If I can manage it with dialup, I will try and post a couple of bookporn pics when I get to the house in Wales – there are unopened packages awaiting me with Subterranean Press treats inside! I might manage it, as I have chocolate and coffee to see me through…*grin*
ahhh, Harry Potter…I both anticipate and dread the book! LOL I like the sunglasses on that poppet π
I hope you survive the dial up days, Quix!
You and Jean Pierre are to blame (thank you) for getting me back into Tolkien so early in the year. I am making my way throught the difficult but highly enjoyable The Road to Middle-earth by Tom Shippey right now. It is really hitting the spot.
I preordered that Dream-Eaters book from Sub. Press the other day…I could resist no longer!
Yay for The Tempest, Nymeth! And I second Carl’s good luck on your exams!
Carl, I hope Dune goes better for you than it did for me. I had to read it for a class I took in college..it was a Sci-Fi Lit class and was taught by a horrible professor. Maybe I just associate it with him…One of these days I may revisit it..it’s been a few years.
Everything isn’t for everyone, Chris. I may end up disliking it as well. I plan to find out soon.
I need to read some of the other Shakespeare plays (besides the comedies) someday. Other than Macbeth, I have only read the comical ones.
You’ll enjoy it, Janet, and also, I imagine, will feel a great deal of melancholy that the series is over regardless of whether the death, or deaths, affect you.
Carl, I hope so too. Still, it is possible to manage with dialup, just requires a bit more patience…although I do anticipate a lot of swearing in the near future! I will have to make it work so I can keep up with you folks!
I also have the Subterranean Press edition of Dream-Eaters on order. Just could not resist…! If I can remember which box my normal edition is in, I may read that very soon.
I haven’t read The Road to Middle-Earth, have added that to my list now!
Quix, I sat down the other day and watched the first documentary, the one on J.R.R. Tolkien, on each of the three extended edition LOTR films this weekend and wrote down the names of all of the people featured on the documentaries and then checked to see if they had written any Tolkien books. I had previously done this with Tom Shippey because I like him on the docs so much. I now have several Tolkien/LOTR books on my Amazon wishlist.
Shippey also wrote: Author of the Century which I have on my to-read pile.
In addition I have added books by Brian Sibley, Patrick Curry, and Colin Duriez.
Hmmm….Summer of all things Paranormal?? I have books on Vamps, Zombies, and creepy crawlies here….maybe I should be saving them for the RIP! I have books by Colleen Gleason, David Wellington, Mareo Acevado, M.R. Sellers and Stephen King.
Summer of old friends….I’m going to be re-reading To Kill a Mockinbird.
Summer of Non-fiction. A Big step for me. I’m just finishing up The Tender Bar by JR Moehringer. Fantastic and I want to read Obama’s books too. And some Bill Bryson.
Summer of Suggestions. I’m always willing to try something new!
BTW, I’ll have a review up on Warren Ellis’ Crooked Little Vein tomorrow. If anyone is interested, leave me a comment and I’ll draw for my ARC of the book!! Figured someone out there will want to read it before it’s out!
Carl – earlier I packed my LoTR dvd boxsets in a bag, so I can watch them in the next few weeks, including all the commentaries etc. Really looking forward to that!
I declare this the summer of reading whatever takes my fancy at the moment π But our weather is distinctly un-summerlike and I can’t decide…
I have declared this the summer of no rules. No challenges, no committments, just me and my books! Although, there are a few on your list that I really would like to read… because like you, I haven’t. Like Dune, that’s been there forever! But, I am not making myself read anything. I hope to kick off my offical summer reading on the 2nd when the new James Rollins comes out. π And, I am one of the few that do not really like Harry Potter, so this will not be the summer of Harry for me. Well, I won’t be reading it, but between a book and a movie, I am sure I will hear all about it.
I haven’t read any Harry Potter books either, Kailana and have only seen one of the films. Doesn’t mean I don’t like them, I simply don’t (and can’t) have an opinion about them.
And your Summer of No Rules is exactly my point! Time to live free, and read hard…
Okay, that was lame. π
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That is great, Elaine! I’ve been watching snatches here and there of the movies and extras for the past week. It was all I could do today to not pick up a copy of The Unfinished Tales (didn’t actually realize that was another LOTR related book) and now I am dying to read it. I’m going to finish Road to Middle-earth first, though, and be good. (We’ll see how long that lasts). π
And did you get that email I sent you the other day?
Thank you for the good luck wishes, Chris and Carl.
All your talk is making me want to revisit Middle Earth too this summer!
Reading by whim is the ONLY way I can read. That’s why I can never take part in any reader’s challenges. I never stick to it. :>
I so wish I’d had the foresight to leave myself “challenge-free” for the summer…but I went a bit overboard on that front, I’m afraid.
But I am really looking forward to diving into Inkspell (which I didn’t get to from Once Upon a Time). I’d love to re-read The Stand this summer…just sounds like a good one to enjoy out under the big old pine tree in back.
And I really need to come up with some books for Annie and I to read for homeschooling next year. Any suggestions for me? I was actually considering Dune, but I’ve never read it myself. Same with Something Wicked This Way Comes. Any thoughts? Pretty sure we’re going to do To Kill A Mockingbird, Animal Farm, Homecoming, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but beyond that I’m just not sure. I think you’ve got a pretty good feel for Annie’s abilities and interests, so any suggestions would be mighty appreciated!
Anyway, I hope all your summer reading dreams come true!
I will do some thinking on that, Debi, and get back to you asap!
The top of my list is Harry Potter…I already have my Snape sticker to wear. In the meantime, I’m reading The Snake Agent by Liz Williams and have The Red Thread: A Novel in Three Incarnations by Roderick Townley on order. I NEED The Children of Turin, of course, and Notes For A Memoir by Janet Asimov. Carl, I love the way you posed the Poppets in front of the Heinlein book.
With all this Middle Earth talk going on I think that I’ll be delving into those again in the coming weeks. I have a good reason to! π What is it about Tolkien that can bring up the warm and fuzzies in people. What a remarkable man who did magical things with a pen.
And I’m glad you mentioned The Stand, Debi. It seems like everyone’s read that book but me and everyone’s loved it! Onto the wishlist it goes! I’m a big fan of King, yet I’ve never read this one…it’s rather an intimidating looking book :/
Never read the Harry Potter books, eh Carl? That’s kinda cool! If you ever decide to read them you’ll have the whole series sitting there for you with no waiting and whining for the next book…I envy you…but alas, the wait is almost over!!
And I am envious of anyone who is reading The Time Traveler’s Wife for the first time. I loved that book so much that I have bought about three of them since to give as presents.
Its not so much cool, Chris, as just something that goes to show that despite my knowledge of pop culture, I’m not always in there with the cool kids. π
Thanks Pat. Since it was a racy book cover anyway, I thought I would have fun with it.
I’m declaring my summer the summer of miscellany.
Harry Potter is a must read, but I have an eclectic pile of other books that I think I’ll just pick up as they strike my fancy. Throne of Jade, Reading Lolita in Tehran, Snow Crash, Before & After, Lady of Mazes, and The Virgin Suicides are some of the ones that look enticing today.
But who knows what tomorrow will bring, perhaps a shift towards Neuromancer, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, or some of the other tomes that could call my name from the shelf.
Good luck to everyone else with their summer reading. There’s some awesome titles that have been mentioned (The Time Traveler’s Wife is an especial favorite of mine).
Chris and Debi – I have only read three Stephen King books and one of them was The Stand. I loved it. What was especially creepy for me at the time was that I read it exactly two weeks before the actual date of the big trigger event that happens in the beginning of the novel. I remember feeling a little anixious when that day finally came along hopeing that nothing was going on down in Texas. I know that sounds weird but it’s a good book that creeped me out. π
I’m a big fan of Pride and Prejudice. It was one book I was made to read in high school that I actually loved along with The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas.
Chris and Carl – I read the first six Dune books 20 years ago and enjoyed the first one the most. I remember enjoying them all but, I also hadn’t read as many books at the time to compare them too. I don’t feel that as a series they hold up as well now against other books I’ve now read. I still think the first one is worth the time though I just don’t think I’d go past that one now.
I echo Pat’s and Carl’s praise for The Time Traveler’s Wife. I’m a naturally slow reader but this one sucked me in and I speed through it. The way the author structures the chapters I believe helps make for quicker reading. Plus I’m just a romantic at heart.
Stephanie – I’m also a big fan of to Kill a Mockingbird. For those who drive a lot like me I highly recommend the audiobook version of it, too.
What I’m looking forward to reading this summer – Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny, The Book Of Lost Things by John Connelly, Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason, Star Trek: The Good that Men Do ( I think I’m the only Star Trek book reader on this blog except maybe Angela? I think I just lost all of any book cred I had on this blog π ), Interworld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reeves, Harry Potter Book 7 and I’d love to fit in Children of Hurin by JRR Tolkien and finish The Kinght by Gene Wolfe. Oh Yeah and more Ian Fleming Bond books too!
Ah, Jeff you just reminded me that I have Children of Hurin still sitting on my shelf unread! I have Lord of Light on my shelf too..interested to see what you think of it!
I guess I’m moving The Time Traveler’s Wife up to the top of the stack! Apparently I’m really missing something here!
You know I’ve never read any Jane Austen before. Maybe I should fix that one of these days. Too much on my plate for this next classics challenge, but if another comes up maybe I can make it a Jane Austen challenge. I’ve loved every Jane Austen BBC production/Masterpiece Theatre I’ve seen…I’m sure I’d enjoy the source too. Has anyone seen the preview for Becoming Jane? It looks great. It’s a movie based on Jane Austen coming out in the fall I believe. There’s another great period piece/thriller movie coming out called Perfume….looks amazing. Sorry for totally changing the topic here :p
I like Star Trek books as well, Jeff, it has just been forever since I’ve read any. I pulled out a bunch of my old ST paperbacks awhile back in the hopes of re-reading them sometime…maybe in my second or third lifetime! π
Chris – I’m about a third of the way into Lord of Light. It’s a little hard to follow ( I’ve had to reread some pages sometimes – the names aren’t easy ) but it seems to be picking up now. I’ll let you what I think when I’m done with it hopefully next week. I’m afraid Stardust and maybe Interworld is going to throw me off track tommarrow.
I hadn’t heard of Becoming Jane or Perfume. I’ll have to search out some info. on the net about them. Thanks.
That’s cool Carl. I know we’ve talked about watching ST but I didn’t remember you having read any of the books.
I saw the trailer for Becoming Jane and it looks like it could be good. I have heard some so-so reviews, though. I remember seeing a trailer somewhere for Perfume…isn’t that the one where the perfume maker is essentially killing women for their scent?
I have read several original series ST novels and a couple Voyager novels, Jeff.
That’s the one Carl…not the most moral of themes, but it looks oh so good π
Chris – The Stand is a favourite book of mine, both out of King’s work and overall. It’s great.
Carl- I did get your email, thanks! Just haven’t had chance to reply really! Off to pack the car up now, with boxes and bags and dogs, and then off to the land of dial up!
oh, i wish i could join you in your summer of abandon!! i envy you.
sadly i have to work on my pile of books… i’ve been going through a period where the stack simply isn’t getting any smaller since books have been trickling in since my birthday for a while and i’m getting them as fast as i read them…
you have sooo many fun things to read! isn’t it great?! some days you just sit up and realise there are soo many cool books out there to read!
i’m glad you’re enjoying pride and prejudice! that is such a fun book to read!
lysistrata is great. its funny and insightful. you’re definitely going to like it!
and dune! DUNE!!! carl, have you got a treat waiting for you…!!
and i’ve gotta get around to reading this stainless steel rat…!
Jeff: well I no longer read Trek books BUT, I am glad you do! Your credibility hasn’t changed a bit! lol..
Long ago DeForest Kelley wrote 3 Star Trek Poems that he always read at conventions… (they are posted here if you never read them: (http://herethereandeverywhere2ndedition.blogspot.com/2006/06/7-years-ago-today.html ) The final line in one of them goes like this: “Star Trek Lives, it will not die.. and you, the Fans, are the reason why”
I know most all the trek books now are of the “other generations”.. but once you latch on to characters that you like.. it’s hard to let go!
I hope you continue to post reviews because I’ve had The Knight (and it’s sequal) on my list to maybe get one day.. haven’t seen a review from anyone on it yet, so I’m curious!
Deslily: Ask and ye shall receive! Here is a link to my review of both books, The Knight and The Wizard. I LOVED them, tremendously. They are near the top of my re-read pile.
Once I finish watching all the seasons of Deep Space Nine, I suspect I’ll want to read some of those novels.
JP: You can still have a bit of abandon with your pile in the sense that you can pick and choose at a whim out of the pile.
Glad to hear you liked Dune. Lysistrata will be a quick read, I may knock that one out soon. Of course I just realized at the bookstore yesterday that I have to pick up Tolkien’s Unfinished Tales soon. I walked out without it, but I’m not sure how long my resolve will last.
Chris: I thought the movie looked kind of interesting too!
Quix: I don’t envy you your upcoming exercise in patience. Glad you got the email, no worries about responding in a hurry.
Like many others have already mentioned here, my summer reading will be all over the place, but first to respond to other comments here…. The Dune series is an ATF for me, and for some reason that reminded me of Asimov’s Foundation series — another sci-fi classic that deserves revisiting from time to time. LOTR is also calling me. I saw the London stage show last week, and, from an LOTR fan perspective, I loved it. Galadriel and Gollum were both amazing, and the stage production itself was WOW WOW WOW! Carl, I just completed Vance’s Demon Princes series. An amazingly creative writer indeed. Are there others by him you would recommend?
My TBR stack is shrinking (it’s a good thing…I live in a very small place *grin*), but here’s what’s coming up for me: Flaubert’s Parrot, by Julian Barnes; Vernon God Little, by DBC Pierre; Norwegian Wood, by Haruki Murakami; The Way the Crow Flies, by Ann-Marie MacDonald; What I Loved, by Siri Hustvedt; To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee; and last but not least, The Time Traveller’s Wife, a first-time read for me too.
Yup….all over the map I am. I guess for me it’s the summer of “anything goes.” I’m working on an Amazon order for next week, so who knows what else might be added? π
The Foundation series is another that I feel like I should have already read to be able to call myself a science fiction fan! π
Glad you like the LOTR musical. I’ve read mostly bad reviews of it, which is disappointing. Don’t want things tarnishing the legacy of the books and the more recent legacy of the films.
Thanks Carl.. well you sold me! lol.. they will stay on that wish list until I can afford them… things will be super tight this summer thanks to an airplane ticket to fla to see my son and all the other books I purchased already! (not to mention the preorders due out this summer!)
Oh before I forget.. about Dune. Both my brother and David LOVED Dune when they read it years ago.. but neither were inthralled with the follow up 2 books.. but then they loved the “House of….” group of books that followed ..what can I say?
I tried it and couldn’t get into it…sci fi is not my thing… to read. I love sci fi movies! And maybe because I didn’t read it I loved every version of Dune that came out as a movie/ tv mini series.
I’m one of the few people I know who really likes the David Lynch version of Dune. It is weird/bizarre, but I really enjoy it. In fact I recently bought a special edition of it so I could have it on DVD. I love all the characters and the depth of story that it hints at, eventhough it couldn’t all be done in that short of a movie. I like the TV miniseries as well, although I wasn’t fond of the way the lead played Paul Atreides. I thought he was a bit too whiny.
the david lynch version is badass, carl! i love it. i also have the special edition and have watched it inside out. i just wish there was a little more about herbert… the interview is almost painfully short. he’s such an enigmatic man.
of course it isn’t 100% faithful to the book but who cares? its such a spectacle. and so rich in imagery.
i think lynch certainly captured the operatic, dramatic and esoteric qualities of the book…!
All the poppets staring at the Heinlein cover is just too funny. *LOL*
Confession: I really like the David Lynch version of “Dune” – I have the DVD too! Okay, my favourite scene has to be when Sting just emerges in those tiny briefs – and then he flexes his body. That scene is erotic in a very wrong way. ;p
Never finished reading “Dune” though. The prose was desert dry.
Have fun with the Summer of Shakespeare. I’ll be reading King Lear – because Magneto is coming to town with the Royal Shakespeare Company and I have tickets! Yay!
And I will be reading the 7th Potter. Oh, the month of July.
Lucky you, Dark O! You need to wait for him backstage and get Gandalf’s autograph for me. π yea, sure.
dark orpheus, that is a very cool scene indeed. i saw it when i was very young indeed, broadcast in all its glory across the big screen and i don’t think i’ve ever found that little boy in me since…
Oh man.. Ian is such a supurb actor!.. I lucked in when a friend caught him at a signing and got his autograph on a photo and in the movie/photo book… but I’d kill to see him on stage!!!
Chris and Carl: I haven’t watched or read “Perfume”, but I agree that it looks interesting. Athena posted a review of it just the other day: here.
Since Star Trek was mentioned, are any of you Babylon 5 fans? And if so, have you read any of the novels?
I declare this summer…um…
…
…
Ah! I know! The Summer Of Nostalgia and Revisitations!
(Ok, so what that really means is “I have no money for books” but…)
It was fun times, Carl! Lookin’ forward to the next challenge. π
Well, that list will get you started. π
Your mention of Calvin and Hobbs reminds me that I have a healthy stack of graphic novels that I need to work my way through. I tend to let them pile up, I admit.
Happy reading, Carl!
Nymeth – I’m a Babylon 5 fan. I’ve seen all 5 seasons, the tv movies and The Crusade series. I haven’t tried the books though. Since J. Michael S. didn’t write I haven’t given them a try. Have you? Should I pick them up?
I am looking forward to the new Babylon 5 movie that is coming out on DVD this July 21st or so. It’s sad a number of the orginal series actors have passed away since the series ended. They will be missed especially Andreas K.
Jeff: I love the series, but I never got around to seeing the movies or the Crusade series. I did read some books – the 3 in the “Legion of Fire” series, because it was KILLING me how Londo Mollari’s destiny was left hanging when the series ended. He was one of my favourite characters, and I had to know what else was going to happen to him.
The books were written by Peter David (Neil Gaiman recommends his book “Sir Arpopos of Nothing”), but the plotline was by Straczynski. They weren’t the most brilliant books I have ever read in my life, but they were very satisfying and tied in quite a few loose ends.
I wanted to ask you guys if any of the other novels were worth reading, but, well, I’ll just find out for myself one of these day!.
And that is sad indeed, about the actors passing away π
Jeff & Nymeth – I’m a fan of Babylon 5 too! I have the DVDs sitting on the honoured space next to my Battlestar Galactica (new series) and Buffy DVDs. I can’t say which is my favourite character though – but I really love the way the relationship and character of G’Kar and Londo developed over the arc. So sad the actor died.
I’ve only read the earlier B5 novels years ago. But they were good. There was one from Morden’s side of the tale. I wish I can be more help – but it’s been too long and I can’t remember the titles! Sorry!
I just wanted to pop in to say thank you, not just to Carl, but to everyone else for their kind words about Annie. I showed her the things you wrote, and you all made one little girl (who often feels a bit “out of place”) feel really good about herself.
I also wanted to apologize. Annie writes all her book reviews herself, but it was I who linked her reviews to the review blog. I always added that “age 10” to her name because I didn’t want anyone to be disappointed if they went over to read one and found out it was written by “a little kid”. I needn’t have worried…this is a truly classy bunch of people!
Nymeth – Thanks for the Babylon 5 books info. I’m a fan of Peter David’s Star Trek books and I will have to read them one day. I’m sure after the new Babylon 5 DVD movie comes out I’ll be in the mood to read something in that universe.
As for the 3 past movies and the Crusade series I liked them alright but they weren’t up to the series standards IMO. I have high hopes for the new DVD movie coming out in late July.
Dark Orpheus – The G’Kar / Londo relationship was always my favorite part of the series. I agree with you the way it developed over the 5 years was wonderful.
The new Battlestar Galatica series is also amazing. I’ve watched it since the beginning and I really need to pick up the DVD’s for some re-watching one day.
As for other Sci-Fi series I really enjoy I would add Farscape, Firefly, ST: Deep Space Nine, and both of the Stargate series to that list.
Annie – Thanks for the reviews and comments which goes ditto for you as well Debi. I look forward to a LOTR movie review maybe one day too. π
Dark Orpheus, Jeff: the Londo/G’Kar relationship was my favourite thing about the series too. It would have been so easy to just make a villain out of Londo, and yet… he was such an interesting character, complex and ambigous, and the way different sides of him were shown throughout the series was fascinating. (This reminds me, I should take a picture of my Londo action figure and post it later, shouldn’t I? :P)
I think you’d really enjoy the Legions of Fire books! There is more of Londo and G’Kar in them. There’s also a lot of Vitto – he was given the chance to grow in these books, more so than in the series, and he too became a truly memorable character.
PS: I am a Stargate fan too!
Nymeth: Nice to hear your a Stargate fan, too. I can’t remember if you’ve posted about Firefly or not but did you see that the actress who played Kaylee ( Jewel S. ) on Firefly is joining the Stargate – Atlantis cast. I just loved her character on Firefly so it will be great seeing her on another series I enjoy watching. Carl also introduced to me to a short lived quirky series called Wonderfalls we both fell in love with. She was in a few episodes of that show near the end of its 9 epidsode run.
Great talking Babylon 5 with you, too.