Last month, I joined the rest of the world who have seen The Matrix – sci-fi staple and movie icon.
While I have my disagreements with the minds behind it, there’s no denying the lasting entertainment of this piece. Continue reading
Review
“Grim Fandango: Remastered”
Image from Wikipedia
There’s something rotten in the Land of the Dead. Manny Calavera, travel agent to the recently deceased, is desperate for a big commission so he can pay off his dues to the “powers that be” and start his own “four year journey of the soul.”
When he tampers with the system to steal a client from his rival, he falls into an adventure that will have him pointing-and-clicking all over this hilarious Mexican-inspired landscape. Continue reading
“The Mysterious Affair at Styles”
The very first of Agatha Christie’s detective stories, Mysterious Affair at Styles was a breath of fresh air – air scented with ancient country mansions, rich but foolish old ladies, a rogues gallery of extended family, poison, wills, minute yet vital clues, and, of course, an intelligent detective to bring it all together. Continue reading
“Rumpled” by J. Grace Pennington
Image from Pixabay
Rumplestiltskin meets a steam-punk-esque post-apocalyptic world and an everyman girl in this fairytale-retelling novella.
The story is a competent recast of the classic, and Ms. Pennington has once again crafted a work with deeper philosophical themes. Continue reading
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
It might seem that to pen a review of literary titaness Jane Austen’s best-known (and possibly best-loved) novel would be presumptuous.
Nevertheless, I shall proceed to gild the lily and explain why, when I finally crossed its threshold several years ago, I found it worthy of every adulation ever laid at its door. Continue reading
“She But Sleepeth” by Rachel Heffington
Peles Castle, Romania — courtesy of Gabi Jguma/Wikipedia
Sleeping Beauty is a set designer working for Hollywood. A Romanian gypsy casts spells of time-travel and death. An estranged royal couple mourn the loss of their only child. And the hunky love interest exhibits self-sacrificial love.
Yet, for whatever confluence of cosmic misdemeanors, all the raging richness of this story potential totally fizzled when it hit the dour surface of my consciousness. Continue reading
“Death Be Not Proud” by Suzannah Rowntree
Ruby Black is a cabaret singer with a lifestyle of cigarettes, hard applejack, and jazz, who pinches pennies from her day job as maid while dreaming of the big time in the opera.
When she’s confronted with a two-year old murder mystery in the person of the victim’s determined fiancé, she gets involved in the dark tale against her better judgement.
This fairytale retelling is perfect for mystery lovers, as chilling suspense combines with a rich writing style. Continue reading
“Superheroes Aliens Robots Zombies” by Mark Boss
Junk Food for Zombie Lovers
This book is like mind candy for the science fiction apocalypse lover. Zombies – quick, coordinated, and flesh-eating – mixed with aliens – small, big-eyed and green – and robots for a wild, active romp thru cliché and disaster-tales.
If only the violence weren’t so medically accurate…and if only the author had learned that “series” is not code for “serial”. Continue reading
“Primordia”
Snarky and Bittersweet – Two Great Emotions…
On a sand-swept wasteland, Horatio Nullbuilt, version 5, and his floating companion Crispin Horatiobuilt, v. 1, live in their broken rocket-ship of a home – until the day a big robot with laser-shooting claws steals their power core, leaving them with days or weeks to find a replacement before they and their home are left helpless and drained.
It’s MacGyver in the post-robot revolution-apocalypse, or Pajama Sam‘s more intellectual older brother, and a slow start didn’t prevent this point-and-click puzzle game from having a profound, slam-bang ending.
Plus, I and my “gameplay associate” completed it without consulting a walkthrough (ahem – personal achievement right there)! Continue reading
“Necromancer Awakening” by Nat Russo
I’ll admit Necromancer Awakening has one of the most gripping opening chapters I’ve seen. Nicholas Murray, archeology student, is getting ready for his adoptive father’s funeral – a man who took him on as a teenager and got him where he is now – when supernatural visions cloud his sight and he’s sucked into another world before his girlfriend’s eyes.
I’m afraid the first third of the book was a struggle to get through. While I acknowledge that being yanked away from everything you’ve ever known would be stressful and disorienting, the cliché of whiny, clueless protagonists and grumpy, impatient mentor-figures gets old fast. Continue reading