Book Review: R.A. Salvatore’s The Orc King

I’ll not shy in sayng this, but I was disappointed.

After all the hustle and bustle and the rave reviews of both friends and critics alike – I was expecting a lot more.  Being one of the books in the ‘transition’ series, I was expecting more scenes on Drizzt’s loneliness, and the future where his friends are no longer there. I was expecting a more solitary adventure, akin to Drizzt’s journey of self-discovery in Salvatore’s classic: The Dark Elf Trilogy.

Even the excerpts hinted that the book was about that.  But what’s inside is entirely different.

Inaccuracy: Historical Drama’s Incureable Tumor (A Nonsensical Rant)

I’ve just finished watching a marathon run on historical dramas, mostly because I’m doing research on the Elizabethan and Carolean eras…  I watched absurdly inaccurate tv series (The Tudors), to award-winning movies (Elizabeth, HBO’s Elizabeth I), and films that got a critic-bashing (The Other Boleyn Girl, To Kill a King)

And what I hated most is this:  Literary License and Bloody inaccuracy.  And worse, people love it!

By just reading the comments and blogs about historical dramas, is its really clear that people take what they see as the truth.  Very few question its veracity, so I would have hoped that the screenwriters would at least put decent effort to putting things as accurately possible.

Book Review: Tales of the Otori

When I first bought these series, I had expected it to be a “japanese” novel – and while it was not set in actual Japan, its fictitious setting resembles it enough to satisfy my needs. I originally read it to fuel an rpg campaign I was preparing (L5R) and it really did help me out big time.

This book series by Lian Hearn is an epic journey through prophecy, forbidden love, politics, and betrayal. Oh, and did I mention there were ninjas?

The series is basically about Takeo, an adopted son of the Lord Shigeru – a highly respected and honorable lord of the Otori. In addition to this Takeo realizes his hidden talents (ninja talents mostly, but Hearn makes it sound more epic than I) However, due to tragedy, Shigeru was betrayed and killed by an evil man named Iida Sadamu. What follows is his journey, alongside his love Kaede, to avenge his adoptive father and escape his dark destiny.

Top 5 Fantasy/ Sci-fi Writers

Published by the SFX Magazine a few months ago… I might as well post it ehre as well :3 The top 5 Science Fiction and Fantasy authors, are undoubtably the top 5 bestsellers as well. Also, Im glad to say that I actually agree with most of the awards given here with possibly one exception… but that aside, here goes!