Lorccan's Notebook

Fabulous new folk

2006-09-30T17:03:00.000Z

This Wednesday Rachael and I went to the Lincoln Drill Hall (a great little venue with a nice atmosphere and very friendly staff - exactly the sort of place I like to visit to see live music theses days!) to see the marvellous Jim Moray in concert.

Initially prompted by the fact that a colleague from work's band - No Funk No Soul - was one of the support acts, I was absolutely delighted with the quality of the music and we had a thoroughly entertaining evening. The first performer, Lincolnshire singer-songwriter Abi Moore, played a half-hour set of piano and guitar songs, and her strong, emotive voice was highly impressive. Reminiscent of Sarah McLachlan and Jann Arden, I can certainly see myself adding some of her music to my collection in the future.

No Junk No Soul followed up with a dramatic change of pace and volume. Comprised of drums, bass, and a keyboard-playing vocalist with an impressive voice, they have been gigging throughout Lincolnshire and the rest of the UK for some time now, and are regarded as one of the county's hottest new bands. For my tastes and , I suspect, most of the audience, half of their set - where they were at their more melodic - was impressive and original; whilst the remainder were somewhat chaotic and disjointed. Rach and I both also felt that, as is so often the case with young bands, they fell into the trap of trying to be too loud. Because when they weren't trying too hard to rock, they were very good indeed.

The main event proved to be every bit as good as expeted. Jim Moray has won numerous awards for his innovative, alternative take on traditional English folk music, and it's easy to see why. The music was a captivating blend of guitars, keyboards, fiddle and accordion, the arrangements were at times beautiful and at times interesting and challenging, and Moray's soaring vocals have a way of slicing right through the listener. Add to the musical talent a quiet charisma with which he links his songs, and you have a captivating show that was an absolute steal at only 6 quid a ticket! I'll definitely be investing in a Jim Moray CD in the future, and if you enjoy modern folk or folk-based alternative singer-songwriters, then I think you should too.

Life after...

2006-09-30T16:33:00.000Z

It's rare these days for me to become so engrossed in a TV series that I make a special effort to see it each week. For me, the golden age of TV was the early to mid nineties, when I wouldn't have dreamt of missing an episode of Friends, Frasier, Buffy or Angel, Star Trek DS9 or Quantum Leap, and was almost as likely to be found watching The X-Files or Hercules the Legendary Journeys! In recent years, few series have managed to hold my attention, and even when they do I find that US series have so many episodes and rely on you following an arc plotline throughout the season in order to make sense of them, that I end up buying the DVD instead so I can watch them in my own time (like the splendid new Battlestar Galactica, or 24, and potentially Lost when I get around to it!).

But ITV1 have just started showing season 2 of their brilliant supernatural drama afterlife on Saturday nights, and it'd take something pretty damn exciting to get me out of the house for the next few weeks (us Brits tend to go for a much shorter run, though, so at least I won't be spending half a year of Saturday nights glued to the TV!).

There is so much to commend in this show, from it's subtle and understated use of effects to it's surprising plot twists and excellent dialogue, but the highest praise must go to the performances of the two leads. Lesley Sharp as troubled medium Alison, and Andrew Lincoln as professionally sceptical psychology lecturer Robert, are both utterly convincing and compelling. Because of them, this is a great drama series that just happens of have a fantastical premise, and to anyone even remotely interested in ghost stories I can't recommend afterlife highly enough.

Recent reads

2006-09-30T15:42:00.000Z

Tokyo by Mo Hayder

I was intrigued by this book partly because it promised to paint an informative picture of a city that I'd love one day to visit, and also because of it's exploration of a major historic event that I have no real knowledge of. That event was the Japanese invasion of China in 1937, and the circumstances surrounding the massacre of Chinese civillians in the then capital city of Nanking. Aside from reading JG Ballard's brilliant semi-autobiographical account of the occupation of Shanghai whilst at school - Empire of the Sun - I know next to nothing about this area of history.

The book itself runs two stories in parallel - the first-hand account of a Chinese man who witnessed the events in the most personal way possible, and the modern-day adventures of a young woman obsessed with uncovering the truth about what really happened. She manages to make contact with the man, now a Professor in a Japanese university, and sets about persuading him to show her the film which she believes he possesses, and which allegedly shows in shocking detail the behaviour of Japanese officers during the invasion.

It is written in an engaging and highly readable style, and although I found the early section to be rather slow-paced, once I was about a third of the way through I was engrossed. It's an interesting and thought-provoking piece of historical fiction and speculation, and although I didn't come away from it feeling like I knew the city of Tokyo in any meaningful way (the US title The Devil of Nanking would seem more appropriate), I certainly felt that I'd been told a fascinating story, with enough of a twist at the end to make me gasp out loud!

Labyrinth by Kate Mosse

Don't be misled into thinking that this "grail gripper" bears any relation whatsoever to Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. Aside from it's basing it's plot around a theoretical explanation of the grail legend, there are no further similarities between Brown's basically-written cinematic pageturner and this long and complex tale which (much as Tokyo does) runs a modern and a historical plotline in tandem.

In the modern day we follow Alice, an enthusiastic amateur archaeologist who uncovers a hidden cave and is rapidly drawn into an intricate web of treacherous scheming, ancient legends and dangerous people. Simultaneously we hear the tale of Alaïs (the similarity of name is no coincidence!), a strong-willed young woman living in early thirteenth century Carcassonne in southern France.

Once again I found the regular switches between time periods to slow the pace early on, and the novel was difficult to get into. I also found the writing to be trying a little too hard at times, as if the author was determined to distance herself as much as possibly from Brown's ideal-for-the-train-or-the-plane potboiler, whilst at the same time clearly capitalising on it's thematic popularity. But again, having taken the time to get to know the characters and their respective stories, I found it to be an entertaining read, and an interesting spin on the history and legends of the grail, although it was a little lacking in drama and excitement for my tastes.

(for anyone interested in exploring further the history of the novel and the writer's research and process of writing it, the dedicated website is well wirth a look).

Time for a change

2006-08-10T19:51:00.000Z

I've been accessing my emails to my long-serving Wanadoo address via webmail since moving to Lincoln, and aside from the slightly cumbersome interface it's been fine. But a couple of weeks ago I found that my access had been inexplicably denied. Calling a friendly someone in Asia revealed that Orange don't offer technical help to webmail users, and so I emailed them instead. Having still not received a reply over a week later, I've decided to take the plunge and finally change my email address (after using the same one for pretty much all of my 12 or so years online!).

So, if you've sent me an email in the past 2 weeks I won't have got it. And if you want to you can forward anything you have sent or any new stuff to brentfalconer@yahoo.co.uk until I set up a new one on GMail.

And to everyone who's been spamming me on my old address, I can only raise my thumb to my nose, wiggle my fingers and say nanananana!

el Camino de Santiago

2006-08-10T19:35:00.000Z

Wulf and Magnus have recently returned from their walk along the pilgrim's trail in Spain, and have published some excellent photos of the trip. I particularly like Wulf's pictures of Magnus' shadow in the dusty track, the view through the spiderweb, and the newborn calf with it's mother, and Magnus' one of sunlight shining through the trees.

I'm looking forward to hearing all about the trip in the near future!

Babywatch update

2006-08-10T19:28:00.000Z

Last Friday Rachael and I went to the hospital for another scan on baby Arthur (though we have now pencilled in our favourite boy and girl names - Samuel Lucas or Ella Jean - we are still referring to the ever-growing bump as Arthur!).

Everything was absolutely fine, and the sonographer was excellent, explaining in great detail what we were seeing and answering all of our questions. We saw our baby grabbing hold of it's little feet, and even got to hear the heartbeat, strong and fast and one of those moments you know you'll never forget. There have already been so many of those along the road to parentlhood, and we're only on week 25!

We've also been decorating the nursery, and it's now painted white with a lovely white cot and curtains - we decided to go for a simple and elegant white look, with the colour and personality coming from the toys and pictures and things that we're already filling the room with (thanks to the generosity of our friends and family in the UK and the Netherlands!).

Loss of faith

2006-08-10T18:19:00.000Z

Faithless by Karin Slaughter

This is the fifth of the author's Grant County series of forensic crime novels, set in smalltown Georgia, though it's my first. Each of the books seems to bear a dramatic cover image depicting one or other type of distorted iconography (in this case a burning cross), whichI think is misleading as it gives the impression that what you'll find inside is a much darker and more horrific story than is actually there. The quite from the Daily Mirror - "Brutal and Chilling" - is similarly OTT.

What you will find if you read Faithless is a nicely written crime drama, with a focus more on the complex lives and relationships of the principle characters - the county Coroner, her Chief of Police ex-husband, and a troubled detective - than on the gruesome details of the central crime of the murderby burial of a young girl. It's a very easy read, well-plotted and with a satisfying denouement. And I didn't feel as if I needed to have read the earlier books in the series in order to enjoy it, though I would guess that a better understanding of previous events in their lives would enhance the reading of this book.

The "faithless" element comes from the pivotal role in the developing drama of a farm run by a devout religious group, the depiction of which relies a lot on the sort of fear, mistrust, and negative stereotyping that such institutions tend to be burdened with these days. To me it seemed somewhat of an obvious target.

Overall, I'd recommend Karin Slaughter to anyone who enjoys modern crime fiction but without the forensic detail you might find in Patricia Cornwell or Kathy Reichs. For my tastes, I still prefer the older style of crime fiction, where there is more emphasis on the puzzle element of the mystery.

Quality space adventure

2006-07-25T19:55:00.000Z

The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold

This is the first of the author's Miles Naismith Vorkosigan Saga books to feature her popular hero (though there are others in the series which are set earlier and feature his parents, as well as helping to flesh out the complex political and intergalactic backdrop against which the adventures of the irrepressible Miles are played out).

It's clear early on it this novel that Bujold is a gifted storyteller and accomplished writer. Her characters are quirky and compelling, and their adventures are skillfully told. And no-one is more intriguing than Miles himself. Left stunted and with brittle bones by a terrorist chemical attack on his pregnant mother, Miles has grown up with the sharpest of minds and and ability to wing it in the tightest of spots that at times defies belief. Yet despite us being witness to repeated examples of his outstanding abilities and almost equally outstanding good fortune, it's impossible not to like him.

The writing style is smooth and fluent, the dialogue snappy and at times witty, and the tale manages to encompass action, adventure, comedy, political intrigue, and tragedy, with the result that the book rattles along at a good pace without ever seeming hurried. It was over before I knew it and I found myself looking through my collection for the couple of others in the series that I knew I had but hadn't yet read. And it's not too sciencey, and so would be a suitable read for fans of intelligent adventure stories but who generally avoid sf that is overly technical. Highly recommended.

At the sign of the Cross Keys

2006-07-25T19:42:00.000Z

Since moving to Lincoln, Rachael and I have been steadily trying out the local restaurants, both in Lincoln itself and in the surrounding villages. Of those that we've sampled, the two that have stood out from the crowd so far are a splendid though daft-named Thai restaurant at the Brayford in Lincoln - called Thai One On! - and the excellent Cross Keys Inn at Stow (just a mile up the road from us in Sturton by Stow).

The Cross Keys menu is rather more than typical pub food, and although the range of goodies on offer is reflected in the prices (main courses will set you back between £12-£18), the quality and size of the portions produced by the friendly and efficient staff make that more than worthwhile. As well as eating there a few times ourselves, we've also taken a few friends there as well and as yet no-one has gone home unhappy (or hungry!). And the desserts are so good that I haven't yet dared sample a starter for fear of running out of room.

They also have some interesting beers on tap, incluing Old Speckled Hen, Theakstons Old Peculiar, and Sunburst.

Aside from it's impressive Saxon church, there really is nothing else in Stow itself. But if you're visiting the Lincoln area and looking for good food in a relaxed pub setting, you could do a lot worse than the Cross Keys Inn.

Historical Lincoln

2006-07-17T19:15:00.000Z

This weekend Rich came to visit us in Lincoln, and on Saturday we took a walk up Steep Hill and spent some time at the Cathedral and Castle.

We walked around the spectacular Cathedral, which included admiring the statue of Alfred Lord Tennyson and complaining at the 1970s tenement-style Lincoln Hotel which looks so out of place in this most pisturesque part of the city. Inside, we only spent time at the front, not being prepared to fork out the £4 full admission price (but I'll definitely be doing the full tour soon, not because the Cathedral was used in the Da Vinci Code movie but because it houses a school book from 1410 that includes the first recorded rhyme about Robin Hood!). And it was enough time in which to be awed by the beauty and scale of the building, and wonder at the skills of it's medieval construction workers! (most of it was constructed in the 13th century - astonishing!).

On the opposite side of the market square we did, however, pay to enter the Castle. Built by William the Conqueror a couple of years after the Battle of Hastings, it's a wonderful place and looked absolutely stunning in the bright July sun. I've uploaded some photos from the day to my Flickr account, including the one you can see here.

To anyone visiting the city I'd say the Castle is a must-see. It's the home of one of only 4 remaining original Magna Carta documents, which is a beautiful and hugely impressive artefact. And the view from the Observatory Tower has to be the best in the whole of Lincolnshire.

Babywatch update

2006-07-12T19:54:00.000Z

Arthur is now kicking regularly, and continuing to move around like a wriggly little bugger!

And we've started collecting baby gear, wherever there are special offers! Soon it'll be time to get to work on the spare room, and make it into a nursery.

X3

2006-07-12T19:06:00.000Z

X-Men - The Last Stand

We were a bit late in getting to see the third X-Men movie, but it was well worth the wait. Feeling very much like the third part of a mini-series rather than a separate movie in it's own right, as it continues to have at it's heart the struggle for mutant rights as fought from different perspectives by Professor Xavier's X-Men and Xavier's old friend Magneto. I have the feeling that, seen on it's own without the benefit of the earlier episodes, some of it might not make much sense.

But then again, I often wonder how much sense superhero movies make to those who don't have at least a passing familiarity with the original comics. But as with any literary adaptation, not being a hardcore fan is usually an advantage. Never having been a massive comic fan myself - though I enjoy graphic novels immensely, and have read comics sporadically for years, much of my knowledge of Marvel's cast of characters comes from owning and playing superhero roleplaying games as a teenager - I'm not particularly precious about the characters or the stories that inspired this story. I gather that if I were, then I'd not be too impressed with the liberties that have been taken with the Phoenix saga, one of the best-loved tales in the X-Men history.

That quibble aside, it's a terrific all-action movie that looks and sounds fantastic. The principle characters behave much more like their comic-book counterparts - Storm is much more formidable, and Wolverine is genuinely ferocious in combat - the new characters add something interesting to the mix (especially Angel and Vinny Jones' turn as Juggernaut) it builds to a massive set-piece finale, and there's even a bit of a twist at the end (two twists, if you stay until after the credits have rolled!) that just about leaves the door open for a fourth movie, should the producers perceive the demand to still be there.

They're not as good as the Spiderman movies, to my mind. But I'd certainly go and see another if they do make it, though I'd like to see them try an entirely different storyline if they do.

Useful advice

2006-07-12T18:54:00.000Z

As anyone who's been to any of my homes in the past few years will have noticed, I like to keep an interesting book in the "smallest room" - to keep myself and guests amused during any extended stays! (like, err, when having a bath!)

Most recently, the bathroom book has been Guy Browning's Never Hit a Jellyfish With a Spade, which anyone who's been in a bookshop in the run-up to Christmas will have seen amongst the piles of humour titles publishers try to flog us at our most vulnerable time of the year. It's a collection of his "How to..." column from the weekend Guardian (there's also a sequel - Never Push When it Says Pull - which has now taken it's place!), and it's a bounty of absolutely hilarious observations on everything from love and marriage to how to have a shed.

A strong breeze

2006-07-12T18:23:00.000Z

When the Wind Blows by James Patterson

The second book of his that I've read, although rather than being an Alex Cross story like Roses are Red this one is a stand-alone with somewhat of an sf leaning (thus nudging it right into my territory!).

Written in Patterson's trademark short, sharp chapters and effortlessly pacy style, this is a thoroughly engrossing story that gets it's hooks into you right from the start (again, a typical Patterson characterisitc - if you like an author who gets straight into the nitty gritty of the story and doesn't keep you hanging on for hundreds of pages while they set the scene and build the characters, then look no further).

The story itself concerns a rogue FBI agent and a Colorado vet who find themselves drawn into a conspiracy surrounding secret biological experiements that could mean the next step in human evolution has arrived (which is the sf bit, and Patterson manages to convey the science with great conviction and credibility). The basic premise is an intriguing one (not entirely dissimilar to some of the ideas explored by John Wyndham in The Chrysalids and The Midwich Cuckoos, though the style is very different!), the characters are nicely drawn, and the story moves on at such a cracking page-turning rate that I found myself reluctant to put it down and when I did I looked forward to picking it up again.

If you're looking for a highly readable thriller with a bit of a difference, then this is highly recommended. And in the meantime, I'll be looking out for the sequel - The Lake House.

The Not So Beautiful Game

2006-07-11T20:15:00.000Z

And so at long last the World Cup is over, and those of us who found ourselves watching far more of it than we originally intended are faced with the thorny question - what did we do with our time before it started?!

All in all it was a very disappointing tournament, characterised by indiferent performances from most of the star players, negative play from pretty much all of the teams (with the surprising exception of the Germans) - the popularity of the one-striker formation and overriding fear of being beaten taking precedence over the primary aim of the game, to score goals! With most games from the Quarter Finals onwards decided by penalties.

And the most disappointing aspect of the tournament by far? The lack of sportsmanship exhibited by highly-paid, supposedly professional footballers, as they writhe in feigned agony having sustained imaginary injuries, or do their best to try and persuade the officials to punish their opponents and brandish phantom red cards. Epitomised by England's nemesis, Portugal, both in their match and in the previous round against the Dutch.

It's an unfortunate situation, and it's getting worse. The solution, however, is deceptively simple. The governing body have the power to penalise these millionnaire players after the games have finished, but they don't do it and so the play-acting and poor sportsmanship continues. And the knock-on effect is that impressionable young players grow up following the example of their idols.....

Almost 25cms!

2006-07-03T21:55:00.000Z

Today is officially the halfway point in Rachael's pregnancy! We have our 20-week scan on Wednesday, and like most people I know who've had children we don't want to know the sex of the bump we've come to know as Arthur (after the Dudley Moore character in Rach's favourite film!). Actual choices of baby name have yet to be made (or even come close to being made!).

I'm so excited I can't even find the words!!!!!

Book Report - Ghost From the Grand Banks

2006-07-03T21:44:00.000Z

Ghost From the Grand Banks by Arthur C Clarke

A short, not-too-sciencey novel from the master sf storyteller, a later work (1989) that still has his trademark readability and is bursting with fascinating detail and scientific tidbits, but which is somewhat lacking in it's plotting.

It's the story of a 100th anniversary attempt to raise the Titanic, and the backstories of the principal characters are nicely drawn and engaging. But the disappointing thing about this novel is the way the story just peters out to nothing at the end, leaving a rather empty feeling and a sense of "is that it?"

What makes it a worthwhile book, though is the information on one of Clarke's favourite topics, the Mandelbrot Set. A truly remarkable mathematical phenomenon, it's definitely worth checking out and isn't too difficult to grasp even for those without a great deal of mathematical training.

Costolette di Maiale con Salvia

2006-07-03T21:35:00.000Z

That's the delicious pork chops with sage recipe that Wulf made when Rachael and I visited him and Jane a couple of weeks ago, and which he kindly posted on his website so that we could have a bash at it ourselves without buying Jamie's Italy!

We used dried rather than fresh sage, and had no prosciutto or pancetta, but the end result was still lovely - in particular the fruitiness of the apricot gives it a really interesting tang which we loved - and the flavour of the potatoes cooked under the meat was fabulous. Definitely a few tips that can be adapted to other dishes in the way this recipe works.

And while I'm on the subject of cooking - how weird is it that saturday morning TV, for so long the province of kids shows (I was more of a Going Live and Saturday Superstore guy, too young for Swap Shop and too sensible for Tiswas!) is now dominated by cookery progs?! Both of the main terrestrial channels now show live cookery magazine shows on Saturday mornings, which means Rachael and I are finding it increasingly difficult to get up at the start of the weekend and do anything other than gather recipe ideas!

Jules Rimet still gleaming

2006-06-28T22:45:00.000Z

It may have escaped the notice of three hermits on tiny Hebridean islands, but the world's greatest football tournament has been taking place in Germany. Though it would seem that more people are interested in peripheral details - Wayne Rooney's foot, wha the footballers' wives are wearing, how much beer England fans are drinking, the new ball, or FIFA directives to referees - than on the actual football.

Thus far it's been an okay tournament, though with few truly memorable games or goals. Maxi Rodrigues' extra-time winner for Argentina against the unlucky Mexicans will be hard to beat in the goal of the tournament competition, and the best game (at least in terms of pure TV entertainment) has to be the Netherlands v Portugal 2nd Round match last weekend.

Now, I'm not normally one to condone foul play, and we were cheering on the Dutch, but the sheer reckless lunacy of both teams, their repeated impetuosity and ill-discipline, and the referee's adherence to the laws of the game, meant that he had no choice but to penalise a player every few minutes. And aside from a couple of decisions, I think the ref was largely right. And the blame for what happened lies squarely with the players and coaches, and not with the ref or the governing body. Yet no-one seems to want to condemn these over-paid primadonnas, and instead they lambast the officials.

But enough of that. I'm still sticking to my belief that I've held since before the kick-off - that England will win the World Cup. It's well past time that football came home!!!

Book Report - The Ladykiller

2006-06-28T22:32:00.000Z

The Ladykiller by Martina Cole

I mentioned a few posts ago that I'd been reading a Martina Cole, and this was it. Not the sort of book I'd usually choose to read, but I'm glad to have read it. At the very least, it's good to sample some of the work of as many best-selling authors as possible, so as to satisfy my curiosity as to what they're like.

What makes this book unusual is the amount of time the reader spends in the company of the villain, and vicious, sadistic rapist with a troubled past and a very disturbed childhood. It's crime fiction, but the emphasis is not so much on the detection of the crime as on the psychology of the criminal, and the relationships of the other characters - police and relatives of victims - whose lives are affected by the killing spree.

The action is at times extremely graphic, and the author isn't afraid to show the violence in full, shocking detail. Though I was a little surprised, pleasantly so, that the language was rather restrained. Like a movie-length episode of Eastenders directed by Guy Ritchie. The writing is unchallenging, the story reads easily and the pages turn rapidly. Though I did feel at times that it was over-long, dwelling a bit more than was necessary on the main Detective Inspector's growing personal relationship with a local villain.

Overall, I found it a worthwhile read, without feeling any strong urge to read another just yet.

Bourne to be wild?

2006-06-28T22:20:00.000Z

Rachael and I recently re-watched the two Jason Bourne films - Identity and Supremacy - based on the books by Robert Ludlum and starring Matt Damon.

I think both of these movies are first class examples of the modern action thriller. The pace is relentless, the action sequences have a faster-than-the-eye quality that effectively emphasises Bourne's almost superhuman prowess, and the stories are complex without dissolving into the sort of baffling nonsense that can sometimes happen with the "espionage" genre. And Matt Damon manages to convey Bourne's dangerous, menacing quality, whilst retaining a hint of frailty that makes you root for him as a hero in spite of his dubious, lost-memory past.

Though they lack the tongue-in-cheekedness of the Bond series, I think I enjoyed them more than any recent 007s (where the Connery/Moore humour has all but departed in favour of a harder, more "realistic" approach). And in addition to looking forward to the next in the series - Ultimatum? Perhaps they should call it Bourne Three!!! - I think I'll check out some of Ludlum's writing as well.

Essential bookshelf

2006-06-14T14:10:00.000Z

I've been expanding my typical reading material recently (I'm currently enjoying a Martina Cole - review to follow once I've finished the remaining 200 pages), beyond the realms of my favoured sf and fantasy stories. I find the recommendations of friends to be invaluable in searching out new authors to try, not least because it's more likely to result in a good read than my own method of "ooh, that's a nice cover!"

In the interests of returning the favour, here are my personal recommendations for anyone who wishes to try out the very best that the sf and fantasy genres have to offer. I've deliberately chosen works which I believe are not only outstanding examples of quality writing, with wonderful stories, but also accessible to the reader relatively new to the genre (which is why some of the books are the first of a series). I've tried to mix the familiar with the more esoteric, restricted myself to one title only by an author, by means of an introduction to that author's work, and avoided the most obvious - The Lord of the Rings - on the grounds that, as Britain's most popular book, everyone who might want to read it has aready done so! As always, any opinions on my selections would be most welcome.

So, in no particular order, here they are:

Science fiction essentials:
1. The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
2. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
3. Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C Clarke
4. Foundation by Isaac Asimov
5. Neuromancer by William Gibson
6. Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A Heinlein
7. Dune by Frank Herbert
8. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K Dick
9. The Dispossessed by Ursula K LeGuin
10. The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
11. Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
12. 1984 by George Orwell

Fantasy Essentials:
1. Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
2. Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny (available in the omnibus edition The Chronicles of Amber)
3. The Jewel in the Skull by Michael Moorcock (available in the omnibus edition Hawkmoon)
4. Daggerspell by Katharine Kerr
5. Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
6. Swords and Deviltry by Fritz Leiber (available in the omnibus edition The First Book of Lankhmar)
7. Mort by Terry Pratchett
8. Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock
9. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
10. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
11. The Diamond Throne by David Eddings
12. Legend by David Gemmell

More cooking

2006-06-14T13:36:00.000Z

The New Years' resolution is still going strong, and Rachael and I are experimenting with new recipes and ideas almost every day.

Most recently we've enjoyed a variety of Chinese dishes - I was especially pleased with the chow mein! - and some Indonesian Nasi Goreng (a delicious rice dish) with satay chicken, and a very successful bit of bread making (thanks to the simple recipe in Jamie Oliver's first Naked Chef book. The end result can be seen in the accompanying picture, complete with sunflower and sesame seed topping.

My attempts to make a cheesecake didn't come out quite as I would have liked, but was still edible. And Delia's paella came out rather more saffrony (kind of soapy tasting) than intended, and not nearly yellow enough.

But that's all part of the learning process, and the important thing is that it's still lots of fun. And even the regular mountains of washing up aren't getting me down (though maybe that will change once I start work at the Magistrates Court next week!).

Revisiting Carrey

2006-06-14T13:06:00.000Z

Recently, though for no particular reason other than coincidence, I've found myself watching a few Jim Carrey movies either on TV or DVD. Early in his career (especially the Ace Ventura - Pet Detective movies) I found Carrey's rubber-faced over-acting difficult to stomach. He really irritated me, and I rarely enjoyed anything he starred in.

However, since his outstanding straight acting performance in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind I've had a greater respect for his talents as an actor, and these days I even find his comedic antics much more enjoyable to watch.

In the past coupld of weeks I've watched the excellent Truman Show - the first movie to showcase his genuine acting ability (and which prompts the observation that comedians often make first rate actors - I personally prefer Robin Williams as an actor than as a comedian, and my stand-up hero Billy Connolly is also a fine actor), the very amusing Liar Liar, and the Farrelly Brothers' occasionally gross but nonetheless entertaining Me Myself and Irene.

Am I getting more tolerant, or easy to please, as I get older? Possibly. Movies are still very much about entertainment for me, whether it be to generate some laughs, to be drawn into gripping storylines, or to be transported to other worlds. I still don't think I'll be going out of my way to watch Ace Ventura, though.

Online photos

2006-05-31T17:36:00.000Z

Having recently upgraded my phone to one with a much better camera, I've been taking a lot more photos on recent trips out & about. Like this one of a spectacular sunset whilst playing golf with Steve at Birchwood Park.

And what's more, I've actually gotten round to updating the best of them onto my Flickr account, so anyone can have a look. SO far I have some images from the recent trip to South Yorkshire, and Skegness Natureland, as well as some from last year's holiday in Vienna, a few of Stonehenge, and all sorts from my time living in North London.

Wulf posts new photos regularly, and his brother Magnus also has an account. If anyone else has their photos online, do let me know. It's a great way to share your photos, though unlike Wulf I don't have the skill to tinker with my photos, so what you see is the way they came out (which is occasionally a bit iffy in colour!). I find taking photos really enjoyable these days, and regret not taking more in the past. It's wonderful to have such an accessible visual record of where you've been and what you've done, keeping the memories alive as well as sharing the memories of those experiences with friends.

Book Reports - The Winter King and Children of Men

2006-05-26T11:14:00.000Z

The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell

I got the full set of Cornwell's Arthurian trilogy - The Warlord Chronicles - from Dave for Christmas a few years ago. At the first attempt I found it difficult to get into, and gave up on this, the first volume, after about 70 pages or so.

Recently, feeling in the mood for some down to earth fantasy writing, I picked it up again and have to say that I found it absolutely rivetting! The writing is first class, with Cornwell's evocation of the Dark Ages with all of it's superstitions and politics and brutality brought so vividly to life, and his memorable characterisation taking these legendary figures and bringing them to life in a new and unique way that has you believing that this is how England's mythical hero would have actually lived, acted, and spoken.

Arthur is a great and flawed man, his world a harsh one. There is no round table, and there are no knights. And Lancelot and Guinevere are here, but not as you know them. Arthur's armour is shiny, when it's not covered in blood and dirt, but this is a long way from the romanticised vision of Arthur and the Holy Grail popularised by Thomas Malory and which predominates today.

I for one would much rather immerse myself in this sort of high quality historical fiction, with hints of fantasy and myth. And I can't wait to get stuck into the second in the series, to see how the story develops.

The Children of Men by P.D. James

This is a book that I've wanted to read for some time now, being a one-off sf tale of the near future by a predominantly crime fiction writer who has achieved a rare distinction in that she is generally regarded as a writer of serious, high quality fiction (the sort of praise that ignorant critics who neither know nor understand genre fiction don't normally bestow on the writers of crime, romance, comedy, fantasy, sf, or horror). So when Rachael suggested I read her copy, I jumped at the chance.

The story itself is set in 2021, and mankind has been struck by an epidemic that has made it impossible for anyone to reproduce for 25 years. The world is a very different one from that which we've grown used to, as people adjust to their lives without any influx of youth and with a dwindling population that has a very short-term future.

In terms of it's subject matter, Children of Men explores similar ground to the likes of Orwell's 1984, Huxley's Brave New World, and George R. Stewart's Earth Abides, all of which are exceptionable examples of serious, thought-provoking sf by non-genre writers (and, as such, often categorised as anything but sf by those literati who fear uncomfortable associations with anoraks, Daleks, and cries of "Beam me up, Scotty"!). But this is sf as so many of the genre's ardent fans enjoy it, with important ideas addressed through the medium of a fascinating story and seen through the eyes of carefully drawn, intriguing characters. It tends to focus more on the characters and their relationships, rather than the social and scientific implications and explanations behind the "plague", but is nonetheless impressive, gripping, and a quality piece of science fictional speculation.

Making bread

2006-05-26T11:08:00.000Z

Inspired by Wulf's regular postings on his bread-making exploits, I finally had a go at making some myself for the first time since home ec class at school!

After looking up the instructions to our dutch bread machine online, I did the necessary and after a couple of hours out popped a respectably bread-like thing. Not the greatest loaf ever made, certainly, but it was definitely edible.

Today I'm having a go with some cheese & onion bread mix, done by hand, to see how that compares (it should be ready in about twenty minutes!). Next time I'll have a go at doing all the work myself.

Having the waft of fresh baking bread drifting through the house in the morning is a glorious thing, but it doesn't half stir up a yearning for some lunch!

Culinary delights

2006-05-22T20:57:00.000Z

Rachael and I have had some wonderful successes in the kitchen lately, but none more so than tonight's Caribbean-inspired chicken & potato curry with green beans in aloo puree (potato roti) - recipe ideas courtesy of "The Multi-Cultural Cuisine of Trinidad & Tobago & the Caribbean - Naparima Girls' High School Cookbook"!.

Rach deserves most of the credit, not only for the idea of making the meal in the forst place (she's sampled plenty of roti variations, in the Caribbean and also in the Netherlands, where the colony of Surinam provides a strong West Indian influence and rotis are as common a snack as kebabs are here) but also for making the scrummy curry and helping me attempting not to mess up the rotis.

The end result was a fabulous meal, nice & spicy and a joy to eat - I love fun food, the sort you can get stuck into and that's just busrting with flavour. Plus I learnt how to cook something entirely new and great fun to make (this year's resolution to improve my cooking skills is still going strong), and to enjoy a marvellous type of food I'd not experienced before. We're both looking forward to trying out other variations in the very near future.

Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs

2006-05-22T20:03:00.000Z

This past weekend, Rach and I took a drive north across the Humber Bridge (a a cost of a whopping £2.70! Quite a shock to a southern lad used to paying a quid to cross a bridge, and thinking that's a rip-off! Though the bridge is a mightily impressive construct, I have to admit).

But the main purpose of our trip was to visit the South Yorkshire coast, which we'd seen recently on a re-run of the BBC's excellent Coast series, and also where Rachael's family used to have their family holidays when she was little.

So we headed for the wind-swept promontory of Flamborough Head, with it's new and also it's old lighthouses, where we went for a breezy stroll, took some nice photos (which will find their way onto my Flickr account some time soon), and had a nice cup of tea at the Headland cafe.

Then it was up the coast a few miles to the RSPB nature reserve at Bempton Cliffs, which brought back more wonderful childhood memories for Rach, and her obvious joy at being back there was great to see! We saw huge swarms of seabirds - mostly gulls and gannets, we think - and got some more great pics, and the highlight was a single lone puffin perched nonchalantly halfway up a cliff unperturbed by the fierce howling gale!

And to finish off the day we had a nice meal in Bridlington, and drove back to Hull to spend the night in a hotel by the marina. Monaco it may not be, but it was certainly a fine place to have a big breakfast on sunday morning, and the staff at the Holiday Inn that morning were extremely helpful and friendly (rather more so than the robotic girl on reception when we'd arrived, who we fully expected to reply to our inquiries with the immortal words, "computer says no"!)

DVD Report - Battlestar Galactica Season 1

2006-05-22T19:22:00.000Z

Like most thirtysomething geeks, I have fond memories of the original series of Galactica, shown in the UK at the start of the 80s and which seemed to run for years and years but only when the box set of DVDs was released (and I met Dirk "Starbuck" Benedict and got him to sign mine!) did I realise that it lasted just the one season before being cancelled. And after watching it I learned that only the firts two thirds of that season were particularly memorable. Which all makes the lasting impressions so many of us have of this series even more remarkable.

But what Galactica had in it's favour, aside from excellent special effects for a TV series of it's day, was a brilliant underlying story concept - the distant relatives of man in a deadly battle against ruthless machines - the Cylons - on the far side of the galaxy, and their hopeful search for Earth.

So I was predictably sceptical about the Sci-Fi Channel's new "re-imagining" of this childhood favourite (especially given the cinematic re-workings of the likes of Planet of the Apes and Dukes of Hazzard!).

What a pleasant surprise, then, to discover a marvellous example of modern-day SF, quite possibly the best example of the genre on TV since Deep Space 9. It has the same basic plot, but much embellished with fantastic effects that create a gritty, realistic feel, and peopled with believable characters. The dialogue is sharp and witty, there are twists and suprises aplenty, and I really can't recommend it highly enough to anyone who's been disappointed by the dearth of quality SF on TV these past few years. And I also can't wait for season 2 (to come out on DVD).

It's been a while!

2006-05-22T19:13:00.000Z

I've been rather busy in the past few weeks, and so haven't been able to post at all in ages.

Now that I'm nicely settled in with Rachael in the cosy little village of Sturton by Stow a few miles west of Lincoln, I'll have more time to blog regularly. And so much has been happening that I'll be spending the next few days catching up with a month or more's news and views.

And by then the World Cup will have started!

Book Reports - Witch World and Wine of Angels

2006-04-12T18:47:00.000Z

Witch World by Andre Norton

I'd been looking for this supposed sf "classic" for some time, and was delighted to pick up a mint copy with a great cover (I'm a sucker for a good fantasy or sf painting on the cover, and have discovered more than one excellent book that way!) on eBay.

But I couldn't have been more disappointed with rest of the book, the important bit, the words. It was a real struggle of a read, the narrative trudging along without ever really gripping, and the dialogue over-burdened by a clumsy and awkward attempt at the sort of overly formalised language that has so often dogged imaginative fiction and helped make many works inaccessible to the reader.

Definitely one to avoid.

Wine of Angels by Phil Rickman

I received this, the first Merrily Watkins mystery, from Wulf and Jane for Christmas. I love it when friends recommend a books that I wouldn't otherwise choose for myself, and I'm getting increasingly interested in crime fiction.

This is a big book (over 600 pages), and the writing from the outset is of a very high standard. The characters are fascinatingly drawn and the depiction of a small rural community (in this case the Herefordshire village of Ledwardine) is wonderful. My only issue with the first two thirds of the book is that pretty much nothing of note actually happened (Rachael refused to let me talk to her about it as she said it sent her to sleep!). It wasn't until after 400 pages of scene setting and characterisation had been laid before us that the first hint of a criminal act since the Prologue (the disappearance of a teenage girl) occurred.

But then the book really got going, and the final third was a riveting rollercoaster ride as plots twisted back and forth and shocking secrets and surprises and revelations tumbled out on page after page. And it was only then that I fully appreciated the work that had been put in through the bulk of the book, the conclusion worked because of the ground-work that had been laid, and the pay-off was well worth it.

Perhaps there's somewhat of a lesson in there, that patience is, perhaps, a bit of a virtue. I for one am frequently an impatient reader if a book doesn't grip me early on. But I persevered because of the quality of the writing, and because it was a gift. And I'm glad I did.

And there was enough in the way the book ended to make me want to seek out later books in the series, where I gather the suggested supernatural elements which occasionally appeared in this tale(as the Reverend Merrily becomes the "exorcist" of the county!) become more prominent.

Feng Shui dilemma?

2006-04-04T19:11:00.000Z

I've just read Wulf's comments about the BBC's marvellous Planet Earth series. He mentions something which those of us who've known him a long time have been aware of for years, that he and Jane don't actually own a TV.

To most of us, such a situation is almost unimaginable, and for me brings to mind the immortal words of Mr Joey Tribbiani - "But what does all your furniture point at?!"

Must See TV

2006-03-31T18:02:00.000Z

The 90s was really a golden age of TV, at least as far as the sort of programmes I want to watch is concerned. But ever since Buffy/Angel, Friends, Frasier, X-Files, Quantum Leap, and Star Trek: DS9 have finished, there's been very little to hold my attention throughout a series.

I started to watch 24, and Lost, and enjoy CSI and NCIS, but although they are all interesting and well-made, I find it all too easy to miss an episode through some distraction or other, or plain old forgetfulness (that seems to be happening more and more as I get older, but that's another blog entirely!). More often these days I find I'll wait for the series DVD to go into a sale (as I did with the new Battlestar Galactica), or borrow them from friends.

And now I find two rather unexpected series have grabbed my attention and compelled me to tune in every week. The first is the BBCs brilliant Planet Earth, narrated by the peerless Sir David Attenborough - is there a more respected, revered even, broadcaster around these days? I often seem to forget how much I enjoy a good nature documentary (if that doesn't sound like too daft a thing to say?!), but this one is something special. The series matches stunning cinematography with beautiful music, and Sir David's usual compelling commentary. The footage of the Snow Leopard is surely one of the greatest pieces of wildlife filming ever made, simply too stunning for words (so visit the website and check out the clips!).

And the website is great too. I now have the screensaver, and Emperor Penguin wallpaper! (I love penguins)

The other must-see for me would certainly surprise some people, because it's American Idol. Never having been a fan of TV talent shows, or any kind of "reality TV" (hate that phrase), I would normally have avoided this programme with my usual sarcastic disdain (as I did the previous 4 seasons!). But after Rachael and I saw one of the early audition shows, the mix of the hilariously bad, the staggeringly arrogant (and also very very bad, they just refuse to believe it), and the really good, naturally talented singers, got me hooked (Rach was already a fan, whilst the only previous winner I'd even heard of was Kelly Clarkson).

Now it's down to the final 10, and I'm totally engrossed. Because some of these people are incredibly good, and the quality of performance goes way beyond anything I would have expected from this kind of show. The judges I could manage without (especially Cowell, who I loathe - the man just doesn't ever show any signs of actually enjoying what he's doing!), but the rest of the show is great.

We were both extremely disappointed to see geeky Kevin "Chicken Little" Covais get the boot last week, but as long as the brilliantly soulful and unconventional Taylor Hicks and the rock guy Chris Daughtry are still in it there's certain to be some excellent entertainment. My head tells me Chris will win (he's such a polished performer), but my heart wants the utterly non-popstar Taylor, who is such a great character and who stood out from his very first audition with a goosebump-inducing rendition of Sam Cooke's "Change is Gonna Come", to go all the way.

(you can also read the views on Idol of one of my favourite authors, Orson Scott Card, who writes a regular weekly '...Reviews Everything' column which is published on his website).

Book Report - Roses are Red

2006-03-29T21:05:00.000Z

Roses are Red by James Patterson

This was the first novel I'd read by Patterson, and Rachael suggested I start with an Alex Cross book (I've seen the movie of Kiss the Girls, so Cross looks just like Morgan Freeman in my mind's eye).

The first thing to say is that it's easy to see why his books are so popular amongst commuters and holidaymakers. It's a relentless page-turner, with the shortest chapters I've ever seen in a novel (many of them barely covering two pages! Which is a bit too short, I reckon), and his style is utterly unobtrusive. With Patterson it's all about telling the story, maintaining the pace, keeping the reader interested. Though that doesn't mean he neglects his characters. Cross in particlular is an intriguing man, with more than his share of domestic strife (this is the 6th in the series, and his personal life is constantly evolving through the series).

As for the story itself, the hunt for the mastermind responsible for co-ordinating a series of brutal robbery-murders who calls himself 'The Mastermind', there was enough in it to make me want to read more (there is a sequel, entitled Violets are Blue - the Cross books tend to take their titles from lines in nursery rhymes), without totally winning me over. But Rach tells me that this isn't the best in the series, so I'll be trying out some others in the near future.

Book Report - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2006-03-29T19:32:00.000Z

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling (great official website, by the way)

I always get around to reading the latest Potter book, though I remain largely unconvinced and more than a little baffled by their immense, world-spanning popularity.

No plot spoilers here (though I doubt whether anyone who might want to read this book hasn't read it yet!), but I will say that it is another easy read, chock full (though thankfully not as weighty a tome as Order of the Phoenix) of the usual inventiveness and character development as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Co get another year older and wiser. And their adventures get ever more dangerous.

Because what started out as a series for teens has certainly grown up with it's readership, and some of the content of this book would certainly not be suitable for the younger readers of Philosopher's Stone. And after the largely stand-alone stories in the first three books, what we have here is a continuation of the underlying story that began in earnest towards the end of Goblet of Fire and will reach it's blockbusting conclusion when Ms Rowling completes volume 7. So at the end of this book the reader is once again left dangling, waiting for the author to tell us what will happen next.

The books are always very readable, and the fact that they have encouraged so many young people not only to read but to read fantasy adventure stories is something I heartily welcome. But I do still wish that other authors of great merit could achieve just some of the fame and popularity that this decidedly average series has done, so that then perhaps a great deal of people (in particular adult readers, as so many Potter fans seem to be) would realise that JK Rowling is not the only author in the world who writes these types of stories, and there are plenty of others who do it a damn sight better! (at this point I could run off a list of names, but I'll make do with just a few of my personal favourites in the fantasy genre - Katharine Kerr, Guy Gavriel Kay, Charles DeLint, Neil Gaiman, Roger Zelazny, Michael Moorcock, Ursula LeGuin, Fritz Leiber, and David Eddings - check em out!).

Just Desserts

2006-03-29T19:17:00.000Z

Natural yoghurt with fresh blueberries and a drizzle of clear honey - bloody fantastic!

My education in the kitchen continues, and my thirst for knowledge about food and desire to learn is undiminished. What's more, I've found that it's a great interest to share with my friends, as so many of them are as enthusiastic about culinary experiementation as I am.

And lately I've found the free magazines that the major supermarket chains give out to be a great source of interesting recipe ideas. The Asda one is particularly good (though I usually shop at Tesco, but I do pop into my local Asda at least once a month to get the magazine!). It's "Flavour of the Month" section has encouraged me to try a soup and a risotto with butternut squash, both of which came out really well, and a key lime pie which was delicious.

Whilst I find that I do lament the demise of local stores that has resulted from the growth of the supermarkets, I am nevertheless occasionally impressed by some of the extra services like these magazines that they provide.

Will anything stop their relentless rise? I doubt it. From where I'm sitting, the cyberpunk vision of a future dominated by a small number of ultra-powerful megacorporations seems all too likely, and lies not so very far into our future at all.

Reading & Writing

2006-03-13T17:56:00.000Z

Last week it was announced that, in the largest publishing deal ever offered to a sportsman, wingnutted Manchester United and England thuggish footballing genius Wayne Rooney is to be paid £5million to write no less than 5 books in 11 years.

And I thought - surely they mean READ 5 books in 11 years!

Which is challenge enough in itself, given that someone will presumably have to actually teach the boy wonder how to read first.

No, I'm being unfair. After all, the Football Association has just released the results of it's survey to find out the favourite reads of some of the game's biggest names, in order to encourage young football fans to read more. A laudable aim indeed, and one which I'm fully supportive of. And if anyone's interested, Mr Rooney selected "Harry Potter". Did anyone think to tell him that "Harry Potter" is the name of a character in a series of books, and not the name of a book? Or maybe he's only seen the films.

Or maybe that is just another example of ruthlessly cynical marketing. Rooney's deal is really no surprise, in a world where Page 3 model and professional celebrity Jordan has just published her second best-selling volume of biographical titbits, Kylie has written a childrens book about a princess called, erm, Kylie, and William "The Shat" Shatner can go on "writing" novels about the adventures of Captain James T Kirk without ever touching a keyboard.

But what bothers me is not that they do it, it's that they can be so successful at it because so many people are just so stupid that they'll buy anything if it has the name of a famous person on the cover. The publishers know this, so they capitalise on it.

I know it shouldn't bother me. But it does.

And, to anyone who suggests that my irritation has something to do with my own frustrating inability to finish and publish any of my many writing projects over the years - you may just have a point.

It's not all spaceships and aliens you know

2006-03-07T18:18:00.000Z

One of my biggest pet peeves is how often those whose job it is to publicise and sell works of fiction - whether they be books, films, or TV series - make a concerted effort to ensure everyone knows that the book/film/TV series they are promoting is most definitely not, and should not be confused by the regular, non-geek, reading/watching public, science fiction.

I'm a massive fan of sf and fantasy, and have been since first reading 'The Hobbit' at school when I was 11 years old. I've done all the geeky things, including playing Dungeons & Dragons for many years (I'd still play if modern, grown-up life wasn't so damn busy that it's impossible to find time for it, and I love the 'Baldurs Gate' D&D computer games), and there was a time when I wouldn't have missed an episode of Star Trek (well, Deep Space 9 anyway). But nevertheless (!) I still consider myself to be a well-rounded and fairly normal person and not someone to be avoided like a social disease. But, of course, that is often how sf "fans", Trekkies, or however the popular media would like to term anyone who enjoys fantastic literature, are portrayed.

This stereotyping irritates me for many reasons, not the least of which being that many of the most popular books, films, and TV series of all time have been sf or fantasy. Its just that you're considered alright if you like Star Wars, or The Matrix, or Lord of the Rings. Are you a geek if you enjoyed War of the Worlds? Or Spiderman? Or Shrek? No. Because they are considered mainstream blockbusters, not science fiction or fantasy per se. Similarly, Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels' can be considered a classic and not a fantasy. Will the same honour one day be afforded Neil Gaiman's 'American Gods' or China Mieville's 'Perdido Street Station'?

But what really annoys me, and is becoming increasingly common is the habit of denying that a work which is patently sf is what it is, and it can only be presumed that this is done to avoid that work being associated with geeky sf people.

Recent examples I've come across include director Alfonso Cuaron claiming that his adaptation of PD James' near-future novel 'Children of Men' is not sf, and that it "takes place in the future just because of the conventions of the story"; the stars of the new Battlestar Galactica TV series saying it isn't sf because it's a real human drama with fully realised characters(!); and just about everyone claiming that Kazuo Ishiguro's recent Booker-nominated novel about cloning - 'Never Let Me Go - isn't sf; and reviewers who not only believe that JK Rowling personally invented magic and dragons but also that her books aren't actually fantasy and that she doesn't even like Lord of the Rings and hasn't even read it anyway. And "literary" writers like Margaret Attwood and Kurt Vonnegut Jr have always been determined to not be classed as sf writers despite all the published evidence to the contrary.

(see Dave Langford's monthly Ansible newsletter, the As Others See Us section, for regular examples of such laughable nonsense).

Here's a newsflash - not everyone who enjoys watching Star Trek can speak Klingon. Not everyone who loves Star Wars has seen it 300 times. Science fiction doesn't have to have aliens in it, or spaceships, or cosmic death rays! And not all Dr Who fans..... Well okay, all Dr Who fans are weird. And it's always been rubbish. But the point is that the ignorant morons responsible for these statements are making sweeping generalisations about a massive and diverse group of people and about a subject they know absolutely nothing about, apparently in the belief that if their book/film/TV series is classified as sf then only "smelly flotsam fantasists" (AA Gill) will read or watch it. And it annoys me.

Muppets.

Happy World Book Day!

2006-03-02T17:13:00.000Z

Of course, these days there's a special day for just about everything, but as I've had such an affection for books for as long as I can remember, I thought this particular special day was worth mentioning.

One discussion topic which I heard this morning on Radio 5 Live as I was (very slowly!) getting ready for work, concerned whether or not we, as the great book-reading public, prefer our books to have "happy endings". Apparently a recent survery concluded that Austen's Pride & Prejudice had the best happy ending in literature, whilst Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles was the book whose endings most people would have changed (and made "happier"!). I also noticed that readers were undecided as to whether or not Louis de Bernieres' Captain Corelli's Mandolin had a happy or an unhappy ending!

My own views are somewhat different, in that I prefer a book to have an ending that is appropriate to the story I've been reading. Some of my favourite books - I can think of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game, and George R Stewart's Earth Abides as two outstanding examples - have great endings that don't attempt to wrap up the story in a "happy" way. But what they do achieve so marvellously are endings that leave the reader immensely satisfied that they've just read a great story.

(btw, of the three books mentioned above the only one I've actually read is Tess, and I loved it!).

Ipswich Town v Leicester City

2006-02-26T20:47:00.000Z

Yesterday morning, still suffering the after effects of a very late night on friday (cheers Rich!), I went with Gav up to Ipswich to watch the Division 2 (you can call it the Coca-Cola Championship if you like, but it'll always be the 2nd Division to an old fart like me!) match at Portman Road between Ipswich and Leicester.

It's a really nice little ground, with a friendly if rather subdued atmosphere - one of those home crowds where the few hundred away fans make considerably more noise than the twenty thousand home fans, and we could regulary hear the chants of "Shall we sing a song for you".

And, true to my other experiences of second division football, the quality in the first half was patchy at best. But, thankfully, Town manager Joe Royle appeared to have fire up his team over the half-time oranges because the second haldf started really well and could easily have resulted in more than the 1-0 lead Ipswich managed courtesy of a corner, near-post flick-on and tidy finish. The rest of the half was well-contested, with Ipswich generally having the better of things, before Ricardo Fuller heded home a debut goal from another corner to make it 2-0 shortly before the end.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. A few questions though - why do people who call themselves "fans" abandon their team minutes before the end of the game (and thereby inconvenience everyone still trying to watch the end of the game)? How would they feel if the players did the same?

Why does it have to cost so damn much to watch a game of footie these days?

And how is it that it can take 45 minutes to get out of the sodding car park?!

Odd-shaped balls

2006-02-05T20:03:00.000Z

I blogged about the start of the 6 Nations rugby yesterday, just before the Ireland v Italy match kicked off at Lansdowne Road. Unfortunately, a ghost in the Blogger machine appears to have erased my first weekend predictions so it would be easy for me to forget that I stated with utter confidence how Brian O'Driscoll and Co would comfortably beat Italy (once again the valiant Argentine/New Zealander/Italians were somewhat unlucky losers), and that the Scots would do well to stay within 20 points of Championship favourites France. What an amazing game that was, and the best Scots performance in a decade!

Ahem. Oh well, at least I was a bit nearer the mark when I said that Wales, without so many excellent players including the influential and under-rated Tom Shanklin, would find an England side growing in confidence and stature to be too strong. I stick by my remark that this will be Charlie Hodgson's tournament, though the real dominance yesterday came from England's awsome pack. And when they can afford to have someone of Dallaglio's stature coming off the bench, the opposition should really be getting scared. What's more, the unfortunate injury to Josh Lewsey could see a debut in Rome next week for Leicester's Tom Varndell on the wing (most likely from the bench) - now there's someone who is about to make a big name for himself.

Of course I could rattle on for hours about the rugby. For me, when it's played well the blend of poetry and brutality make it easily the most invigorating of all team sports to watch. And this weekend's opening round of fixtures did prove me right in at least one aspect - that this will be a well-contested and exciting competition with a high standard of play. I fully expect a few more surprises before the title is settled, and England's game in Paris has all the makings of a modern classic.

Going Underground

2006-02-05T20:01:00.000Z

If you're a music fan, take a look at this very clever attempt to interpret musical styles and visualise music history via the unlikely medium of Harry Beck's famous London Underground map.

Worrying trends

2006-02-05T13:15:00.000Z

A recent article in the Independent discussed the changing face of British bookselling, as the specialist high street bookstores have come under increasing commercial pressure from the success of supermarkets and internet retailers selling books at knock-down prices. It's an interesting issue, as I think it reflects a trend in far more aspects of modern, 21st century life than just the declining life expectancy of the humble bookshop.

The very real danger is that, by offering to us eager consumers increasingly better deals - on books, CDs, DVDs - these companies are simultaneously saving us money and reducing our options. As more and more of us are tempted by the "Offer of the Week" or the personalised recommendations from our favourite online store, we are losing the possibility of discovering something unexpected, the sort of delight that can only occur when we spend some time browsing.

But we don't have the time to browse that we used to, as our lives move so quickly. And we want to spend our leisure time and money on other tempting deals such as holidays or cars or redecorating our homes. So a quick purchase of a less than half price best-seller seems an ideal solution, and everyone is happy. Until, that is, it dawns on the world that the inevitable end result of this trend is that publishers and record companies and movie producers will stop signing new writers and artists or creating new stories, and all we will have left to chose from when we want entertainment is what the biggest companies want us to chose, generally re-hashes of previous successes, because it's far more cost-effective and less risky for them if we are all buying the same things. Guaranteed profit.

You can see the start of it already - in the over-abundance of reality TV shows and daily soaps on TV, in the inability of Hollywood to come up with a major movie that isn't based on an existing franchise (be it a TV series, comic, book, or simply a remake of a previous movie), and in the changes that have taken place in specialist book and music stores as they reduce their ranges and focus on trying to compete with the generalists on price. It seems to me highly unlikely that this trend will do anything other than continue inexorably.

As someone whose tastes - in books, movies, TV, music - tend to be a little way outside the mainstream, and who is already discovering that it is becoming harder and harder to buy the sort of material that entertains me, I find that an extremely worrying prospect.

Stuff about books

2006-02-02T22:06:00.000Z

I just love books. And not just the reading part, though I do get a great deal of pleasure out of reading and can't imagine or remember a time when I wasn't in the middle of at least one, but usually more than one book.

I love the books themselves, the very idea of them. The ideas and thoughts and stories and characters they contain, the thrill of turning each page to reveal the next. And I love to collect them, to have them at my disposal, so much so that (as anyone who's visited one of my many homes over the past few years will testify) I have as many books in my collection that I've yet to read as I do that I have. But that still doesn't stop me hunting down great second hand and out of print fantasy and sf classics wherever I can find them.

The reason I'm writing about this now is that I've just discovered the blog of a Canadian sf writer, Robert J Sawyer, in which he answers a few questions about books that I found interesting and which I found myself wanting to replicate here. I enjoy sharing this information, because it gets me to stop and think for a moment about what I've enjoyed and what has been important to me, and also because I hope it will provoke a similar reaction in some of my friends and I'll learn something new about them as well. So if you're reading this and feel like adding your own answers, please write a comment!

Total number of books I've owned
There was a time when I kept a database of all my books (and CDs and videos as well!), but I stopped doing that a long time ago so it has to be pure guesswork now. I think it'd have to be around 1200, a good percentage being speculative fiction of one kind or another. And having lugged boxes of them up and down many flights of stairs in recent years, I can confirm that they are bloody heavy!

The last book I bought
I received in the post today my most recent eBay purchase, a copy of Mary Gentle's Golden Witchbreed. Having found her novel Grunts hugely enjoyable, I'm very much looking forward to discovering what she can do with a more complex, epic tale.

The last book I read
Would be Nightchild by James Barclay, which I've already commented upon here. I didn't think it was very good.

Five books that mean a lot to me
So very hard to do, but here goes. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien, for introducing me to fantasy fiction, and starting my imagination off on so many fabulous journeys. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, The Forever War by Joe Haldeman, and The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester, for representing the very best in literary speculative fiction, something for the rest of us wannabe writers to aspire to. And Mort by Terry Pratchett, because the 'Discworld' series has brought me so much pleasure for so many years and it was the first one I read.

The books in my collection where the physical object means a lot to me
I'm not big on collectibles as such, so I don't have things like signed first editions and stuff like that. It's the qualities of a book that are important to me, rather than the physical object itself. But if I could take just one book with me to a hypothetical desert island, I think it would be Roger Zelazny's Great Book of Amber, simply because is contains so much quality storytelling in one volume.

You can't take the skies from me

2006-02-02T21:45:00.000Z

Which is a line from the title music of the tragically short-lived TV series Firefly. Prompted by Wulf's posting yesterday, I have to agree with everything he said about this superb series and his comparison between it's lack of commercial success (and cancellation), and the rather baffling amount of critical and commercial success that the revived Dr Who series has enjoyed.

For me, Firefly had the perfect blend of strong, character-driven stories, intelligent and thoughtful and witty scripts, a fascinating and well thought-out backstory, and outstanding production values, that make for compulsive viewing. Traits that I personally find it hard to find in TV at the moment. Dr Who, meanwhile, felt to me cheap and rushed, and everything from the performances and the dialogue to the special effects was second rate at best. Yet one is a runaway success story and the other, despite gaining an unexpected reprieve in the form of the outstanding movie of last year - Serenity - failed to last a whole season and has most likely reached the end of it's road.

In these days when our popular entertainment is increasingly dominated by "reality" TV, "talent" shows, and soaps that are on every day of the week, I find it incredibly sad and disappointing not only that work of such high quality goes unrecognised by the world at large, but also that the world at large wouldn't appreciate or understand it even if it was aware of its existence.

Breaking some eggs

2006-01-28T21:15:00.000Z

You can't make an omelette without doing that. And I think that the omelette is perhaps the finest one-person meal there is. It's so simple to make, doesnt take long, and there are so many possible taste variations, it's almost impossible to go wrong (even if it collapses when you try to fold it, as mine have been known to do, it doesn't matter if you're only serving it to yourself, and it still tastes wonderful even if it looks like culinary roadkill). Plus it's a bugger to make for more than one, unless you can keep multiple pans on the go at once. And anyone who's witnessed the barely controlled chaos that is me in the kitchen will know that I shouldn't even attempt such a feat!

I've just enjoyed a fantastic combination - mushrooms (lightly fried with garlic and parsley, salt & black pepper), bacon (grilled), and green peppers (added to the mushrooms), which I cooked first then added to the pan once the eggs (whisked up with a splash of milk, a sliver of butter, salt & black pepper, and some fresh basil) were cooking nice and slowly and just starting to brown on the bottom. Then covered with grated mature cheddar and folded. Marvellous!

It didn't last long once it hit the plate!

eBay addiction!

2006-01-25T20:39:00.000Z

For the most part I've dodged the eBay craze over the past few years (though I was an avid car boot sale shopper in the 90s!). I'm far too much of a hoarder to get rid of stuff, however redundant it might appear to be in my my life these days (my collection of White Dwarf magazines from the 80s are going nowhere!). But recently I decided to have a look and see if a book I've been trying to find in second hand bookshops for a while was up for sale (The Harlequin's Dance by Tom Arden, in case anyone's interested).

Lo and behold, it was. And I got it for the princely sum of 99p. And so it began. In the past two weeks I've lost track of how many "bargain" old sci-fi and fantasy books, and cult TV DVDs (I was especially pleased to get the first volume of Space 1999!!!) I've acquired, and my wish list (yes, I really am that sad - I keep an Excel spreadsheet of wanted books and DVDs!). It's just so addictive, though I'm always careful not to over-reach my budget - I tend in the main to bid once at the starting price, and if it goes up more than a few coins I give it up and wait for someone else to sell a copy (which invariably happens within a day or so, even with the harder to find items).

It really is a useful resource for the collector, and has no doubt played a massive part in the Post Office's increased profits in the last couple of years. But of course it's huge success has also hit the charity shops hard. And I'd hate to think that it would take the place of the traditional second hand bookshop, all crammed to overflowing with musty and dusty tomes and such a pleasure to browse in on a quiet afternoon. That really would be a shame.

Well fed in Chinatown

2006-01-23T17:36:00.000Z

On Saturday Rachael took me out for some Dim Sum in one of the many restaurants in London's Chinatown, the Golden Dragon in Gerrard Street.

It certainly looks like one of the more appealling establishments in the area, and first impressions upon entering were of a busy restaurant with a good atmosphere. The staff were friendly and helpful - out waiter was particularly impressed by Rachael's ability to order in Cantonese! The whole dining expereince was extremely pleasant.

The food was delicious - especially the array of dumplings which have always been a favourite of mine, and which were definitely better than the sort you get in your local takeaway. Dim sum can be translated as "order to your heart's content", and we certainly did that! My skills with chopsticks are even improving. And all washed down with some lovely, fragrant tea. We'll definitely be going back for an evening meal again soon.

Spreadable little acts of kindness

2006-01-20T20:11:00.000Z

Have you ever noticed how often it happens that, if you smile at someone they smile back? Whether you know the person or not doesn't seem to matter, though of course there are some places and circumstances when it wouldn't be appropriate or wise (some parts of London, for example!), but in general if you smile at someone as you pass them you'll get a smile in return. Try it when you're at work, or out shopping. And if you're out for a walk in the countryside, you can even get away with saying "hello" as you pass by some locals and chances are they'll respond in kind.

Much the same would appear to apply to that often fraught experience of driving on today's busy roads. It's this phenomenon that has come to my attention recently, and prompted this comment, though it's certainly not a new thing. And it's as simple as this - if you act courteously and flash out another driver at a busy junction, then watch that driver, and you'll see that very often they'll let out another driver at the next busy junction. Your little act of kindness has spread! Give at go and you'll see that it's true.

Spread a little bit of niceness as you go about your day, whether it be a smile, road courtesy, or a properly vocalised "thank you" to a helpful assistant (instead of the muffled mumble we so often use!). It's as infectious as a cold, but with a lot less phlegm.

This week I ar been mostly listening to.....

2006-01-19T19:24:00.000Z

I thought it would be a nice idea to record, every so often, the music that I've been enjoying lately. Both as a recommendation list to anyone who happens to read this, and as a regular reminder to myself to dip into the more dusty areas of my CD collection a bit more often (I have a tendency to play the same few albums over and over again, and neglect others to such an extent that I almost forget that I have them, or how much I like them).

So far in January I've been enjoying Say Hello to Soft Cell, which I promised myself I'd seek out (and managed to find, for a bargain price), and which is full of wonderful early 80s songs and some really good lyrics that completely passed me by in my youth, when all I really knew by them was 'Tainted Love'.

Other regulars in the player this month have been Gordon, the first Barenaked Ladies album. I'm a massve fan of the Ladies, for their ability to write intelligent and funny songs ('If I Had $1 000 000') as well those that are beautifully crafted and moving ('What a Good Boy'); Smile, which I think is the best Jayhawks album; Patty Griffin's breathtaking 1000 Kisses, which represents the very best in country singer-songwriting, and is consequently utterly unknown in the UK!; and The Big Session Volume 1 which is a live CD of incredible modern folk from a tour by the Oyster Band, Eliza Carthy, June Tabor, Show of Hands, The Handsome Family, Jim Moray, and others, and which I was lucky enough to experience at The Forum Kentish Town in 2004. Probably the best gig I've ever been to.

Take the weather with you

2006-01-16T19:00:00.000Z

It seems that, whenever it's been a bit rainy or cold or blustery, those utterly pointless individuals the great British weather forecasters pull a face and whinge on about what a "miserable day" it's been. Their whole demeanour is downbeat and dreary, as they repeatedly apologise for passing on further news of "horrible weather". It really irritates me. What do they expect - it's Winter you morons!

For what it's worth, I've had a pretty good day. My forensic work helped to identify a street robber, ITV3 have just started showing Due South (a brilliant, under-rated show), and my gorgeous girlfriend is driving down from Doncaster this evening to spend the week. It may have been grey and overcast in South London today, but I feel great.

It's no wonder so many people are affected to a greater of lesser extent by a form of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), when the regular purveyors of this crystal ball pseudo-science come across with so much negativity in every TV and radion bulletin. But there's no need to be like that. It's all just a matter of attitude, especially as there are more than enough real reasons to feel low in the span of a lifetime. Personally, I prefer to think like one of my heroes, Billy Connolly, and maintain that there's no such thing as "bad" weather, there's just different kinds of weather. So pull on a raincoat, wrap up warm, and enjoy yourself!

Delighted of Tunbridge Wells

2006-01-15T19:39:00.000Z

This afternoon, Wulf, Jane, John and I took a trip down to Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent with a view to having a wander around the outskirts of town (I personally, and I know I'm not alone, feeling all too keenly the need for more regular fresh air and exercise in the wake of recent indulgence!). It's not a town I've ever spent any time in, only really driving through it occasionally, but I'll certainly be going back (quite possibly to the book fair at the Corn Exchange this coming Saturday 21st, and Halls Bookshop which was recommended in the online Guardian).

It's a lovely town, with a very pleasant and old-fashioned charm. There are countless beautiful buildings, many of them Georgian (being keen amateur historians, Wulf and I immediately noticed (!) the absence of any medieval buildings in the town, which John's guidebook informed us was due to the area being nothing but fields prior to the early 17th century, when Chalybeate spring was discovered in 1606 by a young nobleman), the area west of town through which our route took us had some very nice countryside, and having scaled the heights of Mount Ephraim we were treated to some delightful views back across the town.

But the highlight had to be scrambling around like the thirtysomething children we really are on the High Rocks near the famous Toad Rock. And then finishing the afternoon perfectly with coffees all round - for me, a tasty mocha with whipped cream - from Mr Starbuck, followed by a leisurely drive home listening to Eliza Carthy and the Oyster Band. What better way could there be to spend a Sunday afternoon?

DVD Report - Office Space

2006-01-15T12:46:00.000Z

Office Space
Despite all my years at MVC, I'd never even heard of this 1998 movie, and neither had John until in one of those odd little coincidences that life is littered with he found it for a couple of quid in a Sale just a few days after someone at work had recommended it.

Essentially covering the same sort of ground as Scott Adams' wonderful Dilbert cartoon strip, and Douglas Coupland's brilliant Microserfs, this is a sharply observed and very amusing little movie about the mindless, life-sucking tedium that is life in an office cubicle when you work for an IT company. But there's enough in there, right from the opening scene of toe-curling frustration negotiating the rush-hour commuter traffic, for anyone who has ever worked in an office, or indeed any job that bores you to tears and where your boss regularly assails you with fake platitudes, snide comments, and smarminess, to produce a knowing laugh and a nod of the head from most of us.

It was written and directed by Mike Judge, the "brains" behind Beavis and Butthead. But don't hold that against it. The performanes are all good, especially Gary Cole (Midnight Caller) as Bill, the boss you want to punch.

And it was an ideal way to round off a Saturday late one, after an evening of trying to get a little hatchback around a race track as fast as possible in Gran Turismo.

Ask Elvis

2006-01-13T17:54:00.000Z

Another nod to the Steve Wright show on BBC Radio 2, because the friday afternoon Ask Elvis slot which goes out between 16:30 and 17:00 never fails to crack me up and certainly makes the drive home through slow-moving traffic a pleasure rather than a chore.

The concept of having the King of Rock n Roll answer questions on any topic imaginable, including today's gem in which the Pelvis explained just why hedgehogs lick creosote from garden fences (something to do with their extremely salivatory tongues and their irrepressible desire to explore every new scent with it!), is pure, insane genius, and I just love it. And his live acoustic cover of Dead or Alive's No.1 hit 'You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)' was marvellous!

Plus, you get to hear a couple of Elvis tunes every week as well, which can never be a bad thing. Check out the web page for more classis Ask Elvis moments. For me, Radio 2 remains my favourite station, with a great mix of music new and old, and excellent blues and country and rock n roll shows every week.

A little bit of politics

2006-01-12T22:59:00.000Z

I'm not an overly political person. Sure, I'm interested in what is happening in this country and around the world, so of course I'm interested in political issues, but I've never had any strong affiliation with a particular political movement or party. I guess my natural inclinations make me something of a liberal (though some of my views on law and order are a tad more draconian!), a little left of centre, though where that leaves me with regard to the current crop of British political parties is anyone's guess.

I'm motivated to comment now because of the recent game of Runaround (G-G-Go-o-o!) amongst the two opposition party leaderships, and the continued speculation as to when Tony Blair will make way for Gordon Brown. Firstly, I'm wondering what it would be like if the oddly pronounced Sir Menzies ("Ming") Campbell became Lib Dem leader and subsequently swept to power, and we had a Prime Minister named Sir Ming! The tabloids would have a field day. One might even suggest they would be merciless. If one had a penchant for bad jokes.

As for David Cameron, who I heard talking on the Steve Wright show on my drive home from work this afternoon, I must confess I think he's the most impressive political figure to enter the scene in recent years. Quite apart from being an excellent speaker, extremely controlled and clear yet at times obviously passionate about what he's saying, he also appears to possess an impressive degree of common sense. It's very easy to be cynical and dismissive about politicians, and it's no doubt true that there is so much of marketing in what they say and do, but in the case of Cameron I think the Tories have found someone who markets himself extremely well, and at the same time manages to come across as a rational and open-minded man who is prepared to listen to and even to support his political opponents if he agrees with what they are doing. It's a far cry from the combative "I disagree with whatever he said" approach of more traditional politics, indeed it would appear to be driven by the desire to see the country prosper rather than the individual politician (whatever will they think of next?!), and if this start to his leadership is a reflection of how he means to go on, then I wish him luck with it.

It will take more than just over-arching comments on chat shows to win my vote and that of many others, and I look forward to learning more about Opposition policies in the coming months, but already I'm considerably impressed by a party leader who is making all the right noises, seems to be a modern 21st century man, and who knows his Radiohead.

Movie Report - The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

2006-01-10T18:50:00.000Z

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
I saw this on sunday afternoon, having been looking forward to it for some time. I recall reading this and a few of the other Narnia books whilst at school, but not since. I always preferred his friend Tolkien. And now, having had a day to reflect on the movie of what practically everyone describes as "a much-loved childrens classic", I find that I'm of the same opinion as when I left the cinema.

Which is, that I think it's a nicely made film, with strong performances from youngsters and veterans alike (Ray Winstone and Dawn French steal the show as the Beavers, but also impressive are Rupert Everett as the Fox and Liam Neeson's Aslan - the latest in a series of Sean Connery-esque wise mentor roles in recent years, from Qui-Gon in Star Wars The Phantom Menace, through Decard in Batman Begins, and Sir Godfrey in Kingdom of Heaven). The music and special effects are also extremely good, as you would expect. Visually it is a stunning spectacle. So what's wrong with it?

I have to say that for me the only real problem with the movie lies with the story itself. It being so long since I read the book, I only remembered the most basic elements of the plot. Watching it unfold now, I found it almost laughably bad at times, even given that it is intended as a childrens tale. The jumbled mis-mash of concepts and incongruous references, such as the bizarre Santa Claus scene and Edmund's obsession with Turkish delight (which the White Witch is strangely familiar with!), the inexplicable rise of our heroes from hide-and-seek playing school children to brave warrior Kings and Queens, and many more incidents of clumsy plotting besides, all made it feel horribly contrived and impossible for me to sustain any sense of wonder.

It was my intention to read the original book having seen the movie, but now I think I'll read a Merrily Watkins mystery instead!

Book Report - The Da Vinci Code, and Nightchild

2006-01-07T17:06:00.000Z

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
If you haven't heard of this book you either don't go into bookshops except maybe at Christmas, or you're dead. And after spending so much time on tube trains in London where every other commuter was ploughing through this or one of Brown's 3 other bestsellers I thought it was about time I found out what all the fuss was about (the author's website proclaims it one of the most widely read books of all time!).

And by the end I have to admit that I'm really none the wiser. I can understand how the blend of pseudo history and conspiracy theories would be interesting to a great many people. And by choosing the Holy Grail as his subject matter the author was making use of a legendary artifact that pretty much everyone has heard of but few of us know anything about (beyond perhaps the Indiana Jones movie, or the recent Tony Robinson documentary rubbishing many of the novel's claims to factual accuracy, which I confess clouded my view of the book before I started). There is also plenty of fascinating detail (I was particularly intrigued by references to the Divine Proportion), and clever use of cryptography throughout.

But what I can't get away from is that the quality of the writing is so absolutely dire. The dialogue is so wooden you could get a splinter, and the narrative unfolds not at the fast pace it is advertised as but with a pedestrian dreariness. And the less said about the (I suppose inevitable) damp squib of an ending the better. Quite how so many people found this an easy and pleasurable read baffles me. I found it painful at times.

It may make for a decent enough movie. But in future if I want to read a blockbuster thriller with a strong factual content, I think I'll read Michael Crichton instead.

Nightchild by James Barclay
This is the third of Barclay's "Chronicles of the Raven" heroic fantasy novels, though each is a stand-alone tale so aside from a lack of familiarity with the characters and setting I wasn't at too much of a disadvantage in starting with this one.

Once again I found myself deeply disappointed by the quality of the writing. Though several of the characters and concepts are interesting (in particular the stoic warrior slaves the Protectors, with their linked minds and frightening skill), they are brought to life in a rather characterless and uninspiring fashion. The dialogue is dreadful, some of the characters' names are laughable (a mage named "Denser", and a warrior who calls himself "The Unknown Warrior" and whose friends call him simply "Unknown" - I mean really!), the central plot is excessively contrived, and although i got the strong impression the author cared a great deal about his characters and their world of Balaia, I never really did. This doesn't feel like epic, heroic fantasy. It feels like someone's Dungeons & Dragons adventure written up and embellished into a novel. Though I would like to mention the boldness of the finale. Resisting the temptation to wrap up all loose ends in a happy bundle, Barclay instead chose a less predictable conclusion that made sense and appealed to my storytelling bones.

But despite that, the whole was rather unsatisfying. For quality action fantasy I'd recommend instead classics such as Michael Moorcock's Elric or Hawkmoon series, and Robert E Howard's Conan, or more recently David Eddings' first Sparhawk trilogy The Elenium (the second trilogy lost it a bit!), or Stan Nicholls' excellent Orcs: First Blood series.

MVC RIP

2006-01-07T16:43:00.000Z

Despite the inevitability, it still made me sad this week when Dave told me that MVC, the music shop chain that I spent a decade working at, will cease to exist at the end of February 2006. I made some amazing friends during that time, and although there were many stresses and frustrations at times, my overriding memories of my time as a sales assistant, assistant manager, and store manager in Orpington, Bexleyheath, Bromley, London Bridge, and Chiswick (some more than once) will always be happy ones. It really was a great job at times, especially as a vastly under-paid sales assistant.

Hopefully we can arrange some sort of reunion in the near future. It would be great to catch up with what everyone's doing now.

To (almost) everyone I've worked with at MVC, I'd like to say what a pleasure it was. And to the friends whose futures are now uncertain, I wish you all the best of luck in whichever direction your careers take you. It was good while it lasted, and I feel lucky to have been a part of what was a brave idea in a harsh commercial world, and to have gotten to know and to spend time with some wonderful people.

Adventures in my kitchen

2006-01-07T16:27:00.000Z

I've been have enormous fun this week in pursuing one of my resolutions for 2006 - to become a more accomplished cook. Already my fridge and cupboards look a whole lot more interesting, bursting with herbs and spices and assorted condiments (big thanks to Wulf and Jane and John and Rachael for their help in that department!), and I find myself looking forward to getting home from work so I can try out another recipe (the Nigel Slater book, Real Cooking - a present form Wulf and Jane - I can't recommend too highly. It is easy to follow, full of appealing ideas, and most importantly of all his passion for food is there on every page). And fortunately there seem to be plenty of willing victims prepared to come round and try the end results, which is great. I'm still a bit of a stress-machine when I'm cooking, and the kitchen does tend to look like a war zone by the time I'm done, but I think I'm getting better.

I've also learnt a couple of more intangible things this week. First is that most of my friends are also really interested in cooking, much more so in some cases than I'd realised (maybe, as Gav said, it's our thirtysomethingness!), and they would also love to improve their skills, and it's been wonderful to talk about recipes and ideas. The second is that if you invite your friends and family to pop round any time they like, the frantic pace of modern life means they rarely do. But if you invite them round for dinner on a specific day, you'll find yourself entertaining as often as you want to. And it's something I plan to do a whole lot more of.

Happy Hootenanny

2006-01-03T17:41:00.000Z

What a terrific start to the New Year (though you'll have to take my word for it, as there won't be any details posted here!), and what an incredible vocal performance by Marc Almond on Jools Holland's annual extravaganza. His 'Say Hello, Wave Goodbye' provided a welcome reminder of just how good a performer he is, and has prompted me to go in search of Soft Cell and later solo albums.

There was so much good music on the show that night. The sort of music Holland's Big Band plays may not be what I typically go out of my way to listen to, or to buy, but when it's on and it's the right time, it really is marvellously full of life and energy, and foot-tapping is compulsory.

Super Shopper and Other Stories

2005-12-30T16:52:00.000Z

I took the unusual step of walking into town today. It was extraordinarily cold, with a bracing fine drizzle, and I enjoyed it immensely.

And on the way, I came across a face from the distant past. I was instantly reminded of my years as a teenage milk-rounder, and how on seemingly every day of the week the same woman (mother of a kid in our school) could be seen trudging into town pulling one of those little wheeled shopping bags, and who our milkman Bob christened Super Shopper (which he said in a mock heroic voice). And there she was, over 20 years later, heading back home from the shops with the same unerring dedication that had amused us so much back then. I couldn't help but smile broadly.

I mention it now because that chance encounter provoked a sequence of reminiscences that kept me pleasantly occupied on my walk - of early mornings delivering milk (and all the jokes and sandwiches that went with it); of Bob the milkman who became a good friend, introduced me to Pak Mei Kung Fu, and was a challenging opponent in regular games of badminton and squash for many years; and of being very small and messing about in the old Leydenhatch manor house where Super Shopper and her son had lived for a few years (in some bizarre piece of council housing department allocation madness!). Memory is a marvellous thing.

I know it's the time of year to be making resolutions, and I will no doubt be conceiving of a great many as usual (get fitter, write more, learn to be a better cook, etc.), but one simple resolution I know I can keep is to walk more often. To move a bit slower through the world from time to time. Because it's good light exercise, and also it affords the opportunity of noticing things, and of being surprised. That has to be a good thing.