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HAZED'S 1999 RECOMMENDATIONS |
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HAZED'S 1999 RECOMMENDATIONS |
Book: The Secret Texts Book 1 - Diplomacy of Wolves Holly Lisle Quite some time ago, I got fed up with fantasy novels. The genre got terribly boring and formulaic. There seemed to be an endless stream of books set in the same pseudo-medieval world, with stories that sounded like bad AD&D scenarios. But just occasionally, someone comes along and writes a different kind of fantasy novel. Holly Lisle's new series, "The Secret Texts", is set in a very differently world from the usual middle-earth quest epic. The technology is more advanced, with machinery such as airships. There is magic but it's forbidden and conducted in secret, with terrible side-effects from spell backlash. Best of all, there's malevolent politics and deadly family rivalries, which always make a plot interesting. The story centers around Kait, a trainee diplomat. After her clan is all but wiped out by treachery and assassination, she takes ship in search of an ancient artifact that she believes will bring her dead family back to life. But the spirit-voice which guides her on this quest turns out to have its own agenda, and the object she seeks has quite a different function. What starts out as a personal quest becomes something that will affect the whole world. There's an additional twist in that Kait has a secret - she is a shapeshifter but must keep her abilities hidden, or face death if she is exposed. And she's being pursued by another young male shapeshifter who has the hots for her; he too his own reasons for wanting the magical artifact. I found the book completely gripping and stayed up very late in order to finish reading it. Kait is a well-drawn character and I really did care about her and want to know what was going to happen to her, as well as being caught up in the fate of the world. Bad news, though: the book ends on a whopping great cliffhanger. Having said that, "Vengeance of Dragons", the second book in the series, has just been published and is equally as good even though it, too, ends with everything in ruins and our heroine in despair. I can't wait for the next installment! The Secret Texts Book 1 - Diplomacy of Wolves The Secret Texts Book 2 - Vengeance of Dragons
I know, this is an unashamedly populist choice, but I really do think it's an amazing film. It's certainly one of the best action films I have ever seen, surpassing such classics as "The Terminator". I probably don't need to tell you what it's about, because you must have been aware of the hype surrounding the film when it was released in cinemas during the summer. But just in case you have had your head in a bucket, here's a brief synopsis of the plot. Keanu Reeves plays Neo, a software techie-come-hacker in the not-too-distant future, living a fairly boring life in a characterless city... or is he? Nothing is what it seems, as he discovers when into his life comes a mysterious woman called Trinity. She introduces him to a kind of messiah, Morpheus. Neo learns from him that his whole life is a dream, a computer-generated fantasy hiding the harsh reality of a world taken over by machines. Believed by Morpheus and his followers to be some kind of chosen one who can save the world, Neo embarks on a quest to break through to reality and defeat the computers which have enslaved mankind. The look of the film is stunning, a real visual treat with exhilarating action sequences based on kung fu style movies and out of this world effects. But what makes "The Matrix" special is that the script is thought-provoking, delving into such issues as the nature of reality. Much more than just an action movie. "The Matrix" is released on VHS and DVD on December 7, but you can place an order now through Amazon.
I like rock and blues music and normally I don't stray far from that genre. In the early eighties I did used to go clubbing and I was rather partial to hi-energy dance music, great for a frantic dance workout. Still, I find the dance music of today's clubs pretty repetitious and boring. Maybe I'm getting old. The Pet Shop Boys, however, blend dance music with pop and their style works for me because as well as a great sound, their lyrics are intelligent and tell stories I can relate to. "Nightlife" is their best album for a long time. Possibly their best ever. The tracks vary from techno-style dance, to soft, sad ballads. Special mention must go to the outrageous Village People pastiche, "New York City Boy", with its thumping deep-voiced chorus that threatens to break into YMCA at any moment; and the wistful ballad "You Only Say You Love Me When You're Drunk". A classic album that I can heartily recommend.
Another populist choice, but again a film that I consider to be something special. Judging by the fistful of awards the film received, I am not alone in thinking that! Gwyneth Paltrow stars as the love interest Viola, once again proving she's pretty convincing when it comes to talking with an English accent. She plays opposite Joseph Fiennes as a young Will Shakespeare, who is battling with writer's block in his efforts to write his latest comedy, Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter. Enter Viola, who disguises herself as a man in order to appear in the play, and embarks on a steamy affair with Will, thus unblocking his writing ability. It's a film which manages to be lots of things... a touching love story, a comedy, a period drama, and a witty commentary on current media. The script was by the acclaimed English playwright Tom Stoppard who infuses every line of dialog with sparkling wit. You don't have to know anything about Shakespeare to enjoy this film, but if do then there's an extra layer of in-jokes you will appreciate. Special mention must go to the Oscar-winning Dame Judy Dench, as Queen Elizabeth I, who only appears for about 8 minutes but steals every single one of them. "Shakespeare in Love" is released on VHS and DVD on December 7, but you can place an order now through Amazon.
An older film, this, but if you haven't seen it, it's well worth searching out. It's a high-tech crime caper starring Robert Redford. He plays a computer expert leading a team of renegade hackers, played by Dan Ackroyd and River Phoenix amongst others, who are routinely contracted to test security systems. But Redford's character has a past which comes back to haunt him when government agents blackmail him into carrying out a covert operation, tracking down an elusive black box which turns out to be something very valuable. With factions from all sides willing to kill for possession of the gizmo, the team find themselves on their most dangerous assignment ever. You need to suspend your disbelief a little over the abilities of the gadget at the center of all the fuss, but if you can manage that, it's an enjoyable and intriguing 2 hours.
The Eagles split up many years ago, and claimed they would only get back together "when hell freezes over". Surprise, surprise, the band reformed in the mid-nineties to cash in on the lucrative comeback market, hence the title of this album. The album starts with four new studio tracks. The best of the new material is "Get Over It", a fast, rocky number that takes a pop at today's victim culture which has everyone reaching for a lawyer and looking for someone to blame for every misfortune. Where the album really scores is with the live set of old favorites such "Hotel California", "Tequila Sunrise," "Take It Easy," "Desperado," and "Life in the Fast Lane". All are excellent versions. If you don't already have those tracks on other Eagles albums then this is a good one to fill the gap in your collection.
I was looking through my book collection for new books I had enjoyed recently, and an obvious choice was the latest by one of my favorite authors, Lois McMaster Bujold. But that book is part of a long series, so it's probably best if you go back to the beginning of the series. The first two books in the series are called "Shards of Honor" and "Barrayar", and they are now published together in one volume under the title "Cordelia's Honor". The books are science fiction adventures, the main character being Cordelia Naismith, In "Shards of Honor" she is Captain of a survey team exploring a new planet when is suddenly plunged into the midst of a conflict over who gets to claim the planet - her people, the Betans, or the brutal militaristic Barrayarans. Suddenly finding herself in space navy and taking part in a war her people did not want, she is captured by the enemy. Unexpectedly, she finds herself making an alliance with a Barrayan officer, as the only way out of a treacherous and dangerous situation. The book explores her divided loyalties and shows how she is finally forced to choose between the two planets. "Barrayar" continues Cordelia's story and is set on the world of that name. The stories are exciting adventures leavened with some very sharp observations and a fair bit of wit. These books are not your average space opera action fiction. Bujold paints sympathetic characters; Cordelia is a wonderful and realistic heroine. She also builds realistic and intriguing societies. The contrast between the sophisticated, decadent world of Beta and the primitive, feudal, Barrayan society - the planet was settled by Russians and then cut off from the rest of the Galaxy for a long time - makes for a fascinating examination of the different directions human societies can go. The political machinations are fascinating and somewhat horrifying, showing the lengths rulers will go to ensure the safety of their people. There are many more books in the series; after these two, we move on a generation and the rest of the stories center around Cordelia's child, Miles. They are all worth reading. Bujold is one of those authors whose abilities seem to improve with every novel; a series that started out as superior and sophisticated adventure stories has developed into something rather special. The books "Mirror Dance" and "Memory", in particular, are rather dark and concern the inner torments of various characters - but still peppered with the most astonishing humorous remarks which serve to break up the tension. The latest book, "A Civil Campaign", is lighter in tone being involved with personal and social issues rather than world-shattering events. But the protagonist still suffers an inordinate amount of angst, as he has the most amazing propensity for putting himself into the worst possible situations. Highlights from the book are a disastrous dinner party that the hero arranges to try and impress the woman he loves, where absolutely everything that could possibly go wrong does; and a hilarious sub-plot involving the lengths a woman goes to, to ensure that she can inherit her late husband's estate. I really do recommend this series. Start with the first books and then read your way through them all. |
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