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.

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.

Weekend Nonsense: Something to read, Something to watch

Its finally the weekend, so before we reach a saturday, I might as well suggest a little something for everyones reading and viewing pleasure.

SOMETHING TO READ: Fables by Bill Willingham (Vertigo)

Fairy Tales just learned how to kick ass.

Yes, you heard it right. Watch Snow White gun down a bengal tiger in this contemporary epic, and I have to say its an incredibly amazing read.

Previously, I had thought that Neil Gaiman’s “Morpheus” and “Death” of Sandman fame was the penultimate example of mainstream and maturity in the comics industry. Continuously, Gaiman has wowed me with his flair for words and his clever manipulation of plots, and introduction of mind numbing humanity in his work.Who better to talk about life, after all, than Death herself? Sheer genius!

So, I clearly had not expected something so mainstream and mature to surpass him. Oh, I was so wrong. I was in the middle of reading and collecting the entire Sandman graphic collection when a friend suggested these series to me. Fables.

The plot was incredibly unique that I immediately dipped into it. ‘Fables and Fairy tales are real, and now, they are living in New York.’ While I had been expecting another deep Gaimanish story about dreams and fairy tales – I had once again been pleasantly surprised. The conceptualization of Fables is one of a kind, and even though almost everyone could have thought of Fairy Tales in New York (after all, there had been movies previously showing such) – none had done it with such excellence than Fables did. Indeed, who in their sane mind would even think of pairing off Snow White with the Big Bad Wolf? Or the Prince Charming was the very same womanizing Prince Charming in Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty? Who would imagine the Frog Prince as the Janitor? And while it would have guaranteed success with such ideas alone, It did not stop there… It introduced very human emotions among these fairy tales from jealousy to depression. From true love to selfish avarice into selflessness.

Willingham must have been visited by the Blue Fairy herself, to make so many stock fairy tale characters and free them from the puppet strings of the traditional Aesop – transforming them into true breathing human beings.

Highly Recommended!

SOMETHING TO WATCH: Sword of the Stranger

Just at the moment I am usually ready to condemn anime, and am just about to pack my bags and quit it altogether – there are always those anime juggernauts that come along that pull me back in.

This time, it was Sword of the Stranger.

While I was getting tired watching hotblooded hero anime cliches from titles like Naruto and Bleach – this title came along and woke me to the very real possibility of non-mainstream yet EPIC anime around. The story of Sword of the Stranger is simple and robust, there is no pretentions for being something else and it doesnt even try. It knows what it is – a Chambara samurai action film that delivers from beginning til end. From the burning temple at the beginning of the movie, into the awesome mass-number swordsfight just after it, and later on as it reaches the pinnacle of its tower gleaning ascent to the climax… Sword just is such an awesome thing to watch.

While Anime may not be anyone’s soup and few ever cross that border, Sword cuts that border shamelessly, showing itself off with its pure magnificence to anyone willing. It isnt only great as an anime, why it is great in itself as an action film – and it holds on its own.

Definitely worth the watch ten times over.

Book Review: Legend

As of today, I’ve just finished the book “Legend” by the late David Gemmell. Its an old book from the 80’s – but one I found almost impossible to find in the bookstores. Two days ago, I found it – finally, and breathed a sigh of relief. And all I have to say is… its a BLOODY AWESOME book, in every sense of that phrase.

Bloody full of combat and gruesome war scenes, and awesome heroes, legends, and heroines. So, what else is there to say?

To make it plain. Legend is… as the reviewers and critics aptly said “a damn good book.”

Review: Little Women

Oftentimes, I would catch myself smiling each time I see a little girl walking alongside her family. I would watch them eat ice cream perhaps from afar, watch them smile and laugh and joke and giggle. Perhaps I would be sitting in a bench in the park, reading a book – but always, a scene of such humanity and innocence like those can always pull me away from my fictitious world and into the present.

Innocence. It was one of those things that truly enraptures me. One day, perhaps I will have a son and daughter of my own – and only then could I truly view my life as complete.

Perhaps this is why the novel, ‘Little Women’ captured me so.

There is something so absolutely pure about Louisa Alcott’s writing, that it just reaches out to the soul. Not with force, but by a gentle tug – perhaps like a caring mother, urging you to take your first steps with her. I was tantalized ever since I read that first page, that first chapter… all the way til the end.