The Tourist 2010 4*

Teaser. "The Tourist" is a scruffy Wisconsin US math teacher Frank (Johnny Depp 5'10") on holiday in Venice (nowhere else would do), picked up on the train from France by sultry Brit Elise (Angelina Jolie 5'8") as instructed by her ex (two years gone) amour Alexandar Pearce, who stole $2.3B from a gangster Shaw. I'd watch Jolie and Captain Jack Sparrow ad nauseum, but deduct 1* for lack of chemistry here with meek scraggy haired wimp Yank. His slapstick bumbling amiability does make believable that she completes him. A small running gag is his attempts at conversational Spanish in Italy, even in the french dubbed version (better for merde (English bloody) the only appropriate curse).


I'd take one of the continental supporting Males (my capitalization) and watch for the pretty packaging (the director's stated intention): the beauty of Venice and Jolie, and major actors (in minor roles) of supreme excellence and fascinatingly charismatic faces, who convey more meaning in a glance than wooden incompetent Hollywood clones in a lifetime.


Another reason for filming in Europe, the cigarette is a pivotal hinge for innumerable plot points, a novelty for a resident of *too politically correct Canada. I once visited inside a Venetian home, theirs for centuries, and knew we colonials could never understand that bone-deep difference they take for granted. The orchestration is the perfect accompaniment to the atmosphere and action, as is Katie Melua.


Russian thugs (Steven Berkoff) shoot to kill Elise; French and British Interpol (Paul Bettany, boss - Timothy Dalton) just watch. Funny scenes such as synchronated stepping behind pillars and motorboat towing are broken by the scary murderous villain, even with a grabed tape measure. How does she switch outfits from cream sweater and pants to clingy grey dress complete with yet another pair of gloves, while holding onto the steering wheel, or why stop to change? Where she steers to is an even bigger surprise. Nothing like the book at all. More of a showcase (in the extras, the director agrees - sophistication, glamor, luxury, beauty) for elegant outfits, and the perennial question of love at first sight and forever. I kinda guessed the ending then, caught up in the action and Angelina's smile, forgot.


Rufus Sewell 6' ("tourist" stand-in caught by Interpol, formerly BBC's Venetian detective Aurelio Zen) and Timothy Dalton 6'2" (former 007) are terrific mysteriously glimpsed elusive phantom and top police chief, respectively. Suddenly seeing Pirate Captain Jack in a facial twitch added extra layers to disguise. Paul Bettany 6'3" as crisp Inspector Acheson is very different than the last time I saw him as shaggy Dustfinger in Inkheart. The film cast consummate experts for even small roles, a joy to watch. Alessio Boni, the So Attractive Italian Interpol police captain was once a real Italian cop, now gorgeous onscreen. Steven Berkoff 5'9" couldn't be anything but a villain to me. Even funny gets creepy. I looked up the celebrity heights, because that tiny detail contributes to the overall feel of their characters and relationships.


Director commentary:

Von Donnersmarck says minor role surnames are from favored crew, but skips the fake mystery book "A Berlin Vendetta" supposedly by real-life Charles Torbett, props master, 35+ films: Star Wars, Indiana Jones. The real "swordsman" Count Filippo Gaggia has a gorgeous wife, and let his name be used because Raoul Bova would portray the part. The grand ballroom upper floor was used for basketball. Katie Melua, first heard as a teenager, live, was first to see edited film, to allow her song.)
http://www.katiemelua.com/video.html


Spoiler

.
.
(sort of, I don't tell you the plot context)
.
.
Final lines:
.
.
.Twenty million dollars worth of plastic surgery and that's the face you choose?
.Don't you like it?
.It'll do.

MegaMind 5* 2010

"Destiny is not the path given to us, but the path we choose for ourselves"
"No matter how much you screw up ... it's never too late to do the right thing."

MegaMind is a big bald head blue alien (the only Will Ferrell act I like) who grows up fighting superhero MetroMan (Brad Pitt, plot pitched as "Alice Cooper vs. Elvis"). The super-villain "super-power is that he never gives up"; his right-hand is fish-bear Minion (David Cross). When our scavenging inventor falls for bantering sassy ace reporter Roxanne (Tina Fey) and realizes having it all has brought nothing, steampunkish Metrocity ("sister city of Toronto") is the biggest winner of all.
Happy, scrappy, scary, zappy cartoon with a zippy soundtrack. Dialogue like "fackled fish crackers" demonstrates ingenuity. Lots of surprise twists. DreamWorks world of Kungfu Panda, Madagascar Penguins, Shrek, and How to Train your Dragon is always 5*, and the extras feature my favorite songs/ clips from each. We don't have to live up to others' expectations; inspiration from imagination helps. I was surprised the lonely walk in the rain didn't remind anyone else of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, or the rolling giant ball of Indiana Jones.

dvd Inkheart

4* "Inkheart" (dvd 2008) makes more sense than some of Cornelia Funke's book and smashing special effects. Bookbinder Mo (Brendan Fraser) accidentally read his wife Resa (Sienna Guillory) into the Inkheart book, others out, such as villain Capricorn (Andy Serkis). Flame-thrower Dustfinger (Paul Bettany) wants back in, back to his family (made more of in book #2, #1 puzzling, has him wishing for mischevious fairies, the film finishes his story better without a sequel). Helen Mirren is slender, elegant unlike dumpy dowdy Elinor, same cranky bibliophile, more comic relief and brave savior.
Just as many foolish mistakes, like the author Fenoglio (Jim Broadbent) who gets caught and reveals Mo's daughter Meggie (Eliza Bennett) has the Silvertongue ability. Just as unlikely that Meg can read in public as write under pressure. Unlike the babysitting grandpa in the book, here Fenoglio is lonely, and pines for his creation, so his end is fitting too. The finale is altogether more complete, satisfying that the book as start of a series.
The only extra is Eliza reading concluding paragraphs

"Writing is a kind of magic too".

Stars: Brendan Fraser,Paul Bettany,Eliza Bennett,Helen Mirren

5* Galaxy Quest 1999

The Galaxy Quest crew (Photo 1) are begged by short frozen-smiling alien Thermians (Photo 2) led by Malthesar (Enrico Colentoni) to save surviving refugees from savage attackers who destroyed their world, now bound for Earth. What if intelligent life out there thought our fantasies were real? What if actors had to save the universe? What if aliens landed at the next nerd Convention? And you were there? How could you help? Preview.

Laughs every single viewing, one of my few purchases, and favorite of Star Trek 2009 creators (from DVD extras Commentary). When Checkov beams Kirk and Sulu off giant drill is homage by Abrams et al to when Captain Jason Nasmith "Commander Peter Quincy" (Tim Allen) beamed away from rock monster by engineer Fred Kwan "Tech Sgt Chen" (Tony Shalhoub).

Tommy Webber "Lt Laredo" (Daryl Mitchell) is the nine-year old boy wonder all grown up (think Wesley Crusher (Will Wheaton), pubescent from ST New Generation on TV "The Big Bang Theory" Highlights, who becomes the nemesis of Sheldon Cooper (bowling, cards), and provokes Sheldon to shout "Wheaton!" like when Kirk yells "Khan!"

Gwen DeMarco "Lt Tawny Madison" (Sigourney Weaver), buxom blonde in low-zip front echoes computer voice "I've only got one job on this ship and I'm going to do it", seductively swooshing when she and Jason climb through the ubiquitous air vents to the obligatory dangers. Alexander Dane (corrugated head Mak'Tar)"Lazarus" (Alan Rickman) is cast beneath his ability, wants only to find a pub. Guy (Sam Rickwell) fears he is the classic red shirt doomed to die .. or is he comic relief? Even Laliani (Missi Pyle), a tentacled Thermian (Guy doesn't want to watch when Fred and Laliani kiss) adds romance and tempts Fred away from Earth.

Hilarity blasts "to infinity and beyond" (astronaut Buzz, Toy Story) lead hilarity skyward. Even convention-bound nerds contribute their technical know-how to the cause, for a twist on the ending. Now I keep an eye everywhere, on 60s repeats and spinoffs for ubiquitous expendable red-shirt crew and duct-crawls. Even found in Doctor Who #9, my intro to an addiction, s1 e2 "End of the World".

dvd Father Brown V1

3* dvd "Father Brown" V1 1974 ( Kenneth More) is based on G.K. Chesterton stories. I recalled a big red book I liked, and didn't like short Incredulity or find any similarities, so more research needed to compare screenplays. Like Holmes' Watson, Brown has pal Flambeau.

The film age shows. DVD lacks extras, sub-titles, or translations. Color and sound vary from indoor, outside, and studio. The setting time shows. Costumes have male knicker pant lengths, long lady dresses for dinner, hats, clerical collars. Classes are distinct: aristocrat vs. servant.

Low-key, serious, solid country priest solves murder in run-down theatre, village hotel getaway, and visiting parish. The first is best, when we can choose the villain. The second also gives us many clues toward a final exposé, but hides the particular link. The third bogs down in the similarity of bees to wasps, and murder motivations. I think the cause is greed for wealth and status, not being misunderstood by parents and society.

The Actor and the Alibi depends on trapdoors in old pantomime stages, and the rehearsal being in plain-clothes for a (School for Scandal - hohum hokey melodrama) scene where an actress is behind a screen. The retired actor-owner, given a licentious reputation by gossip, is knifed in a locked room. His aging lead actress wife is wooed by a much younger rising star, and given sidelong snide sneers by her long-time dresser.

The Quick One was a fast drink served while the bar was closed, by whoever spiked the cherry brandy with poison. The victim fought for honesty, making too many enemies.

The Man with Two Beards starts with one inexplicable shooting of an unwary bee-keeper, then skips to a second by a jewel thief, where our hero tracks over the evidence trail, and finds duplicate disguises for the suspected retired slain thief. In a twist, we know the perpetrator; he unnecessarily admits his guilt by running away. I would delete the whole last scene of blather tea talk, the drawing room gathering explanation is traditional and sufficient.

Clash of the Titans 2010 3*

Preview. More * if angry, grim, god-hating Perseus (Sam Worthington - Avatar) had more viv, or hair? I adore brave men against special effects - ocean storms, desert scorpions, mountain strongholds, depth of the underwold, Medusa's lair, giant Kraken monster - in standard quest against the evil Hades (Ralph Fiennes - Voldemort and Merlin?).

Argos soldiers dying alongside are real tragedy. Lovely immortal Io (Gemma Atterton) leads, most of way. Cannot lose with Zeus' (Liam Neeson) gifts - Olympian sword and flying horse Pegasus.

dvd Time Bandits

4* "Time Bandits" (1981 onto DVD 1999) starts with boy Kevin (Craig Warnock), surprised in his bedroom by six (hard to count because they hardly stand still) dwarves, starting careers as international thieves (Photo 1) with a stolen map of time portals for a multi-period film. Impeccable fitting fitted small costumes, steampunk-scrap style headgear. Hodge-podge vignettes start with historical figures, then descend into nonsense cartoon fairytale. Silly with intense menace, slapstick without cute conde,scension.

Minimal special effects with cuts, angles, black, sounds, models, smoke, giant Lego (I missed that), reverse shots, have great effect, above earliest Star Trek styrofoam alien rocks. The evil lair was a 12'x 25' plastic mini-model. The great escape was immensely clever teamwork. Lots of flashy explosions for the predictable end of pompous villain. Back in the present, the resolution did not resolve for me.

Spoilers:

The Supreme Being (Ralph Richardson) chases them through drunken Napoleon (Ian Holm), reminds me of the lemur king in Madagascar Penguins, Robin Hood (John Cleese) "crikey, rather, jolly good, cheerio". A hesitant suitor's proposal to Pansy (Shelley Duvall) is interrupted here; reincarnations of the couple recur. But the Evil Genius (David Warner) watches, wants the map, to get silicon technology, and diverts them to where (Morocco) Greek King Agamemnon (Sean Connery - Photo 2) cuts off the minotaur's (costume) head. Flash to a fancy ship, where else would they be but the Titanic (1958 real colorized slowed docudrama "Night to Remember" footage). Kevin loses his Polaroid camera here, but photos survive to save them at the end. A Ogre schooner captain and loving wife "rescue" them and they "escape" as a Giant's hat.

Strangely, the treasure chamber looks like the quiz show (host ubiquitous Jim Broadbent) the parents watch the first night. Lures of advertising? The final hollow-eyed scythe-hand monsters chasing look like the Lord of the Rings Dark Riders; does that mean the small heroes are like hobbits? Most improbable and distressing is the destruction of the resources gathered from all times "ultimate boy's bedroom" - cowboys, archers, knights, tank, rocket-flyer - to merry-go-round melodies. If the present-day fireman who winks is Agamemnon, why doesn't he adopt the boy again? The human asks "why do we have evil", but "something about free will" is no real answer.

Commentary Extra:

I never even noticed the camera often shot from below, "kid" point of view.I saw the plastic covers on the furniture of the materialistic TV-techno-obsesssed parents and on the villain minions, but I didn't link them as "all that is wrong with the modern world". Some symbolism went right over my head. The engaged couple with a unspecified "problem" was supposed to be what adults always say in front of children.

Amazing effects for little money $5M. Midget Kenny Baker was Star Wars R2D2, others Ewoks. Huh. Lead Randall's (David Rappaport) suicide and bearded partner Jack Purvis's paraplegic-accident main reason for cancelling sequel. Mini-models 6" did some stunts. So cutouts and small sets and Welsh castle looked large. The giant was not large, slow film speed and sound effects, miniatures, did the job.

Who takes care of Kevin when his parents die is a girl reaction, apparently. Boys know. When parents don't listen to kids, they die. After surviving danger, we've grown up and can survive. Especially if 007 Connery is guardian angel in background.

Stars: Craig Warnock, Sean Connery, Ralph Richardson, John Cleese, Kenny Bakery, David Rappaport, Jim Broadbent, Shelley Duval

dvd Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

dvd 3* "The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes" 2004 stars Jeremy Brett. The commentary sheds light on the star having only a cameo in The Mazarin Diamond story, bloated from depression meds and heart deterioration, slimming black outfits, and trouble with lines in the Three Gables, where a young diplomat expires of injuries from his lover's bullies; his gran asks why now the household is under attack.
The Dying Detective simulates a tropical fever draws a greedy cousin to confess. The Golden Pince-Nez are left behind, and last words are "she" for likeable secretary to heavy smoking invalid in closed corridors with no escape. "Red Circle" chases a desperate Italian couple, and Watson leads the Black G to cut another throat. Here, the Three Garridebs are involved with the Mazarin Stone, so I'm unsure how they and Three Gables can be separate in Doyle's 1920-7 Casebook. The Cardboard Box is under the Xmas tree of a quarrelsome spinster. So many Sherlock tales have different titles, I remembered this "eary" one An extra is an interview with a Doyle descendant, held in a Foundation in Switzerland, in a room full of real artifacts from the time. Like the film version, but more crowded.

"The law is what we live with. Justice is sometimes harder to achieve."
"What is the object of this circle of misery, violence and fear? ... humanity's great problem for which reason so far has no answer."

Stars: Jeremy Brett

dvd Unknown

dvd 3* "Unknown" 2011 stars Liam Neeson as an American professor Martin Harris who leaves his cool blonde wife Elizabeth (January Jones) at the conference hotel, to fetch briefcase left at airport. But, rescued from a cab accident by driver Gina (Diane Kruger) puts him in the hospital, unconscious for three days. When he returns to the hotel, he finds his wife has a different husband (Aidan Quinn), who shows up later at another meeting, with exactly the same knowledge as our protagonist.
In dvd Taken 2008, the former CIA agent uses skills and contacts to rescue his teenage daughter, kidnapped by international prostitute traffickers from her first overseas trip. Terrifying. If I had seen this before my first trip to Europe, I might never have gone. Again, we root for him, now seemingly without those resources.
But he has flashbacks to his wife with dark hair, and I guessed the surprise, including predictable romance. Still a fast action thriller with quick deaths, long fights, and big explosions.

Stars: Liam Neeson, January Jones, Diane Kruger, Aidan Quin

Dictionary "The White Company" Arthur Conan Doyle

"The White Company" by Arthur Conan Doyle has many medieval, French, foreign and obscure terms. Reading again, I find terms earlier than at first, so I may do an alphabetic list later.

Reminds me of Georgette Heyer's romances. Even French translater could not decode exclamations of surprise, affection, curses, such as zounds - God's wounds, struth - God's truth, and others too obscure. I hope posting the list on my blog will allow others to find, use, add.
http://www.hotfreebooks.com uses
http://www.dictionaryone.com/define/
included because right definition oft buried deep and I read paper edition
. = not in dictionaryone
such as ouche = ear p312 encyclopaedic dictionary
Her. = heraldry
Chapter 1 beau lieu - fine place Fr.
angelus - 6am, noon, 6pm bells
vesper sunset (compline after vespers)
.bouvary or ox-farm beevary beef-farm
marl lime
saltern salt-works
mattock - long-handle pick-ax chops, digs
.spicarium - shipbuilding yard
lector lecturer
.cantle hide
.prie-dieu foot-rest Fr.
orison prayer
none 3pm
.piscatorium or fishpond
verderer forester
c2 hide hyde ~100 acres
franklin landholder, not noble
citole cittern - stringed pear-shape instrument
rebeck 3-stringed pear-shape instrument
.socman landlord
refectory dining-hall
simnel - crisp bread
rammel discard
c3 fuller fabric-washer (wool thickens full)
.gallybagger scarecrow

c4 guerdon gift
cittern citole
paynim heathen
regarderer verderer forester
.mercery cloth
sendal - fine thin silk
c5 chevron invert-V Her.
bend diagonal Her
saltire X Her.
scrivener copyist
collops portions
truss beam
limner artist, illuminator
gleeman musician
chapman peddlar
bearward bear-keeper
swink toil
toper drunkard
.dresser butcher
webster weaver
tow - coarse fiber before spinning
distaff - winds yarn with spindle before spinning

c6
ell length 45" Eng.
.bottrine - small bottle
.jack 2 1/2oz. before CharlesI gill=5oz
cope cloak
miniver - light fur trim
.naping linen - neck collars
mortress stew
brawn boar
stoup cup
brigandine - cloth covered armor
.tee-hole tree-hole
.tardvenus latecomers
.onfall attack
bushment ambush
.escalado struggle Span.
.peste plague Fr.
paltock jacket
bobance boast
.pasques dieu - curse, not of god = godless
.lurden lout
.foi faith Fr.
.gar boy Fr. garcon

c7
leveret - yearling hare
.mechante wicked Fr.
.livre franc 20 sous Obs.
.yeoman prickers - armed guards
ruffle - kerfuffle, noisy fight
stave music, staff
martlets - martin bird less beak, feet stylized Her.
solleret foot-armor
greave leg-armor
hackle feather
matins, lauds - dawn 6am
oriflamme - red-orange royal flag
.fire-krake, bombard - cannon

c4
guerdon gift
reeking sweaty
paynim heathen

c8
wapentake - div. of shire, county 1/100
rede advice
.arbelestier - wielder of arbalest
arbalest - steel crossbow for stone, ball
scath harm
.bassinet basinet - steel helmet
heath scrub-land
verjuice - from green sour fruit
gall - bitter bile
.hobeler - light cavalry on Irish hobby pony
beeves beef
bill - bill-hook, pole-arm weapon

c9
galligaskins - wide trousers

ch10
gules red
tippet - scarf, stole
.drageoir sweet-box
banneret - company leader
pennon - pennant, flag
caitiff cowardly
devoir duty
.bejaped teased
brace two

c11
embrasure firing-hole
.clout - hanky archery-target
fortalice fort-outwork
plastron breast-plate
ouche brooch
murrain - animal plague
.dagsman daggerman
blazonry coat-of-arms Her.
bancal bench(cover)
fess - band Her.
.lozenge - narrow diamond Her.
mullets fish Her.
jambe greaves (below-knee armor)
.venerie venery hunt

c12
thorpe hamlet (dorp)
.bachelle - land area ten farms
brassart armguard
jupon - long vest over armor
bourne - destination, boundary
almagest - Ptolemy's complete ancient astronomy & like works
.hendy hende - dextrous, kind
oriel - bay window
lambrequin - token helmet scarf

c13
precept command
.pensil pencel - spear streamer flag
chamfron - horse-head armor
guidon - guiding, officer's flag
sumpter pack
napery - table linens
kilderkin 16gal
leer empty
wivern dragon(-head spurless cock) Her.
cyclas - long surcoat-gown, short front
.malvoisie - malmsey sweet madiera Port. wine
vernage - sweet It. wine
gage favor
palfrey - light ladies' horse

c14
.allurion - alerion eagle less beak & talon Her.
roan - speckled brown horse
quarterings - coat of arms may show intermarriages Her.
.Benedictus dominus meus qui docet manus meas ad proleum
- Blessed be the Lord my God, who teaches my hands to fight, and my fingers to war.
ruth sympathy
levin lightning
.beard on his shoulder - agrin, grinning
.pessoner fisherman-monger-seller
.creyer - or brig - square-rig 2-mast
cog - small fishing boat (ironic)
Levant - now Lebanon, Syria, Israel
shallop boat
.nief naive, innocent
.galleasse - ship large & swift
houseled - given eucharist, housel
shriven absolved
larboard left
mantlet - portable bulletproof shelter
pavis shield
.trabuch - mangonel catapult

c16 none

c17
wrack seaweed
whinyard sword
cartel challenge
.dimidation - impalement piercing
.kermess - kirmess outdoor fair
.cherk jerk
camail - mail hood past neck

c18
herbergage harborage, lodging
pourpont, courtpoint, doublet - jacket
Her. Heraldry:
bend (dexter) - line from lower left to upper right
.cotises dancette - outlined by jagged lines
.barry - horiz. bars
moline cross - forked tips
annulet ring
.epreuve trial, proving

c19
banderole - little banner

c20,21 none

c22
fenny swamp

c23 none

c24
vambrace - forearm armor
crapper - saddle strap under horse tail

c25
lurcher - lurker, silent hunter

c26
wanion plague

c27
fustian - strong cotton-linen w. slight nap
falding - rough napped cloth
sompnour summoner

c28 none

c29
ortolan songbird
.beccafico songbird Ital.
canaille rabble Fr., canaglia dog pack Ital.

c30
pyx - receptacle for Eucharist waters

c31
fardel bundle

c32
.hufken - archer's light head armor
.lammastide - 29 June St Peter's day

c33
.gaves or valleys
izard chamois antelope
.parement or long linen gown
cinquefoil - five petal flower Her. Fr.
pinion wing Her.

c34
gambeson - gambison, protective quilted cloth
moulinet - part of arbalest, short crossbow Fr. vs. Eng. longbow
.cornelwood cherry
.saddleback vs swineback - shaft construction, latter resists air more so steadier in wind
.rover - casual target while moving
.longbutt - over 100 yard? (paste-board target on) earth base htxlgxwd base-top = 7x9x 4-1'4"
.hoyles - hill-like casual target
(.flight farthest distance competition)
cantle saddle-back
.jacks - assorted small tools, doodads?

c35
barranca ravine
.sewer steward, attendant

c36
culpon kindling
imposthume pustule abcess
mort death Fr.
harrow row, obstruction
curvet - horse leaps hind legs first
gambade frisk Fr.
slinger - sling user
torse wreath Her.

c37,c38 none

Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars 2007 4*

Two members of Sherlock Holmes' (Jonathan Pryce) street urchin gang (Ben Smith, Mia Fernandez) are kidnapped by a vicious murdering Irene (Anna Chancellor). The audience can identify with the apprentices, absorbing forensic techniques pushed forward by Doyle, leading international true crime consultant.

In book, Adler is deviously clever, hotly passionate. Here, why does she learn embalming from scratch, execute perfectly first and only time, so glass eye rolls across hotel room rug? A simple head silhouette would do.

I like this more understated realistic presentation than longtime actor Brett's swoopy tadara extravagance. Downey-Law 2009 explodes with cartoon action, more humor. Cumberbatch TV series updates Doyle. (Also stars Bill Paterson).

Sherlock Holmes 1 2009 5* - Downey, Law, McAdams

In honor of the 2011 Downey/Law sequel Game of Shadows, I'm catching up on Holmsian books and films. Fast, furious, fun, frenetic, and authentic, including the soundtrack. Doyle's scholastic, almost pompous, duo are here mischievous rambunctious boys. The method, buildings matched to symbolic animals, is unnecessarily tangled, best reduced to Holmes deductions from Lord Coward's clothing ruffles for the climax confrontation site and solving the ginger midget's conjuring tricks.

Open scene is hot double-barrelled chase and fight to capture Lord Blackwood mid-murder in a Gothic romance sacrifice ceremony. I've seen the whole before, but only recall fights, chases, and explosions, and enjoy enough for more - costumes, architecture, nuances. Clever film effects and sound show the detective's intense focus on detail, and the worst flame-bath effectively pierces and dulls our hearing too. Holmes reasons away devil magic and resurrection with science. Although the final fate of the villain in a storm does suggest divine retribution. I could do without the recurring Poe raven. After repeated watching, I guess it to be the called-for devil demanding his due.

The dim soft gray-brown palette evokes early photographs, suits smoky Victorian London, a character herself; the conversational style is reminiscent of the books. "Give me problems. Give me work." "food for thought" Dialogue and decoding scratches on a watch are straight from "The Sign of Four". Details, such as boxing, martial arts, inventions, untidy flat, VR initials gunshot into the wallpaper, attention to detail, conceit, and wit "fast women and slow horses" are true to Doyle. Various cases lend quotes, some in different context. The greatest adaptation differences are to do with the women. In Sign of Four, the men meet Mary together without conflict or jealousy. Irene Adler, bright in crimson satin and lush lips, is tempting competitive love interest.


Spoiler:

The doomed multiple murderer warns Holmes of a larger web, is hanged, and appears to rise from the grave, replaced with a body sought by the fascinating Irene Adler, employed unwillingly by the arch-villain Moriarty, a hint for the sequel.

Sherlock TV S1 2010 5* - Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman

The humorous, dangerous, very British BBC UK 2010 version updated Doyle with internet and mobile phones, revived my interest in Doyle's classic Victorian murder mysteries promoting early forensics and deductive solutions. Surprisingly, old and new Watson (Freeman) are both injured veterans of Kandahar, Afghanistan. The city of London is still an old character.

Cumberbatch has a lighter, less melodramatic interpretation than Jeremy Brett and not caught in explosions like Downey. Study in Pink is loosely based on Study in Scarlet, (Spoiler? having a choice of pills, placebo or poison, and a hack-cab driver hiding in plain sight). I was glad to see PBS and BBC-America bring my favorites over the pond.

Free books - updated Nov 2013

* on newest entries. In alphabetical order, not preference.
Kobo and Kindle now have free programs to read their books on your PC or phone, without buying ereader. Adobe reads epub files has color illustrations, used by Libraries and Kobo. (Bug: Windows Vista has to use old 1.7 version.)
Free OpenOffice.org reads .doc on PC without MS Word. Libraries have ebooks, paper, audio. Categories overlap. Comments welcome to keep current - winners, washouts, warnings.

BEST free eBooks with most: choice, formats (even audio), images
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/ Classics - Austen, Dickens, Doyle, Nesbit, Twain, Verne, fairy tales

Features / Limitations:
http://www.archive.org/ obscure
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/free paper too, ship free, vast choice
*** updated to here Apr 2017 http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/ ePub, Kobo, Kindle, online
http://www.e-reading.org.ua/ Russian
http://www.freebooks2u.org/ bios, online only, Novik, Tolkein
FreeSF sci-fi
http://www.goodreads.com/ebooks free ebooks
http://www.hotfreebooks.com/ defines words, finds books with words
http://www.kobobooks.com/free_ebooks many formats, free previews, unwieldy free catalog - no search by author or genre
books.google collect own shelf, read/ search sample inside pages
http://www.readeasily.com/ online only
http://readfreeonline.net/index.html current best-sellers
http://wikilivres.ca online, Canada copyright law, <=3K+ from 750 authors not WikiSource or Wiki-owned online, U.S. copyright law, <=280K+ Covers, audios, redirects.
http://www.costfreebooks.com/ redirect, Cory Doctorow
http://dvd-copy.com/ refers to google books
http://www.e-book.com.au/freebooks.htm
http://www.epubbooks.com/ illustrated, search author
http://www.feedbooks.com/
http://www.fictionfactor.com/
http://www.fictionwise.com/ Barnes & Noble
* http://www.freebookbooks.com/
http://www.freefictionbooks.org/
http://freeereaderbooks.org/ many formats
http://www.inkmesh.com/ audio Christianna Brand Nurse Matilda (Nanny McPhee)
http://www.manybooks.net/ also audio
http://readassist.org/read/ e, audio, paper

Specialized writer group sites. Previews, contests, free. Some works in progress.
baenebooks.com fantasy
belgravehouse romance
bygosh.com short stories
http://ebooksgo.org obscure html
http://figment.com register, works in progress
hathitrust.org read online, sign in to make collections: Margery Allingham - Albert Campion mysteries, H.E. Bates A House of Women, Arthur Conan Doyle - Sherlock Holmes, Allan Pinkerton detective, P.G. Wodehouse
http://www.lulu.com register, know title
netgalley.com/ register, search author, title
mindspring.com mostly short stories
publicbookshelf.com/ romance, 4 font sizes
pulseit.com/ register, full books, contests
Robert J. Sawyer short stories and excerpts
http://www.sherlockian.net/canon Sherlock Holmes
http://www.wattpad.com/ register, writers before famous
writerspace.com romance

Contests:
http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway contests
http://www.mysterybooks.ca/features/contests/index.html
http://www.randomhouse.ca/features/contests/

Excerpts:
http://us.penguingroup.com/static/packages/us/yreaders/savvy/excerpts.php
http://www.powells.com/
Regency
http://books.simonandschuster.com/Most-Of-PG-Wodehouse/PG-Wodehouse/9780743203586/excerpt_with_id/4741

Publishers - excerpts, or if author offers free title
http://www.abebooks.com/
http://www.albris.com/
http://www.amazon.ca/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
http://www.biblio.com/
http://www.bookdepository.com/ free ship
http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk/
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/
http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/
* http://browseinside.harpercollinschildrens.com/ 3 Free change, others excerpts
http://www.smashwords.com/ Adult filter
http://www.ulverscroft.com/
http://www.workman.com/

Single author websites. Search internet for your own favorites by author name.
http://azuredwarf.blogspot.ca/ William Bentrim, trustworthy, amazing illustrated "childrens" for all ages
http://authormichaelhicks.com/free-novel/ untested
http://craphound.com/down/download.php Cory Doctorow modern fantasy, web activist
http://www.george-orwell.org/1984
http://www.terryfallis.com/ Canadian funny politics ("You know why zombies won't attack Parliament? They want to eat brains" Ajay, Innerspace)
fablefaerie.blogspot YA romance contests
http://www.trit.org/shcanon Sherlock Holmes canon
juliejames.com
victoriaalexander

Kobo flexible eReader also accepts ePub, Adobe files from many sources (baen, gutenberg, others). Kobo has free programs to read ebooks on your PC or cell without their ereader. Free OpenOffice reads .doc Word files on my PC.

Kindle now has programs to read on PC, phone
Amazon Top 100 free
http://www.freebooksy.com/
http://www.pixelofink.com/category/free-kindle-books/ misleads, no Nooks

Pay, not free, need proprietary eReader. Kobo reads .epub .pdf ; Barnes & Noble says Nook reads .doc .epub .pdf (Adobe) after installing Adobe Digital Editions, but I cannot test; Kindle now has program like Adobe Digital Editions to read Kindle books on PC
http://www.amazon.com/kindle-ebooks pay, Kindle
http://www.ebooks.com/ pay
http://www.ereader.com/ pay, Nook
iTunes maybe free but register needs credit card
Texts include others - buy, sell, rent.
http://www.bookbyte.com/
http://dailycheapreads.com/ not free, cheap
http://www.ecampus.com/
http://www.textbookx.com/
http://www.valorebooks.com/

No. Not advised. May be legitimate, most not. Site-title gone, ask register sign in confidential data, redirect to sites where pay, trial cost, buy device. Bait-switch scam.
http://www.4shared.com register
http://aiourdubooks.com/ pdf files removed, pakistani
http://ebookbrowse.com German
http://ebookee.org/
http://ereadernewstoday.com/category/free-kindle-books/ Buy books get free bonus
http://www.ebookoutpost.com/ strange download
http://ebooksfreedownload.org odd download
http://www.epubbud.com unreadable epub on Kobo Desktop
http://www.free-ebooks.net/ register
http://www.freeebooksfinder.com strange download, ordinary google-type search
http://www.freebookspot.es/Default.aspx iLivid download, why?
http://www.librivox.com audio
http://www.mobile-reads.com
http://www.openlibrary.com sponsored links
http://www.openlibrary.org restricted
http://www.readingfanatic.com strange install
http://www.scifimatter.com
http://www.scribd.com signin, pay
http://www.specficworld.com
http://www.thereadingroom.com
http://world-load.com

ShiftControl+ enlarges online font display; ShCtrl- shrinks.
CtrlSh may also switch French and English keyboards.

Check restrictions, fine print, currency exchange, tax, customs, shipping costs.
(UPS does not deliver to PO Box, my address.) US to Canada calculator.

add-on ePub reader for Firefox/Mozilla browser Untested
Converter .doc .epub .pdf - Have not found good one. Wise spaces too far and stamps name.
Paper books. Incomplete online, use telephone yellow pages.
- libraries: private, public, travel (condo, cruise ship, hostel
http://www.worldcat.org/ USA
- used book stores and sites
http://www.bookcrossing.com/ fun in person, free
http://bookmooch.com/ happy user, international mail more points
http://www.paperbackswap.com/ praise in Comments below

Copyrights run out different years (50-100) after December of author's death. Protection ends according to originating country if they adhere to Berne shorter term convention: Canada 50; EU (most) 70; Mexico 100; Japan, Russia. No shorter term: Brazil, China; Colombia 80; US 75 (after 1923).

In essence, a designated heir, family or not, owns works created by their ancestor (aka bequeather-legator-testator). As Canada-based editor for US-based Wiki and Gutenberg, responsible internet users of text and images, I tried to summarize international laws here. For laws, see current local websites.

Review: The Lens and the Looker

The Lens and the Looker by Lory S. Kaufman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



"The Lens and the Looker" (History Camp 1) by Lory Kaufman could be x-rated for chopped-off finger and sword-slain soldiers. I like the premise, rebellious adolescents find out how good present lives are compared to a dirty smelly dangerous past. But they never learn self-reliance, how to reason and decide individually, discover and act on strengths, find and bolster friend's frailties in teamwork, expose and exploit enemy weakness. They always follow rules and their AI tutor. Research details and awkward translations are mostly parroted from AI, better when incorporated seamlessly.
Excerpts from #2 are highlights, more intriguing than straight first chapter, but personally I almost identify more with the confused yearning ugly Ugi. I know their future is safe. Perhaps if backstory shows that characteristics scamps may get in trouble for, say taking apart machinery, overhearing and copying secrets, or interpreting adult double-talk, lead to current triumphs?
Teen trio in 2437 are sentenced to reform at hard-time History camp as 1347 Verona orphan apprentices to a refugee lensmaker and family, but sneak in Pan, a genii, hologram AI created by hackers with propensity to provoke trouble, their deus ex machina. Hansum 17 exchanges long kisses with the daughter of the house and talks up technical plans drawn by portrait sketcher Shamira 15 who cooks and cleans superbly, while Lincoln 14 cleans and organizes the workroom, says more "zippy" than "Jesus/God", after clouts from their new Master. Their first stunt, laxative dose the noble, is not funny, if you've been around or performed stinky air cleanup from explosive bouts of the real thing: body, clothes, floor, walls, crevices, furniture. Their next feat risks their own existence and the fate of the world, inventing the telescope and weapons ahead of time. After initial mouthiness, they show no evidence of criminality, follow directions fully from their new AI and comply all-round. They are sappy naive from the start, on their own no match for opposing nasty murdering prince and conniving nobles. Chase and combat are lively, but feel more prerequisite than spontaneous.

(Spoiler:
When they are sure rescuers will not save them, from changing time, they continue inventing. Illogical.)

Trivia:
Regarding the 1347 Verona telescope (looker) cardboard parts - corrugated paper was invented in 1800s England, cardstock heavyweight paper I couldn't find an origin, and parchment in Italy was probably costly goatskin.




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Review: The Truth About Love

The Truth About Love by Stephanie Laurens

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



"The Truth About Love" (Cynsters, Barnaby 1) by Stephanie Laurens. "In the heat of the night, they'd burned. Soared. Shattered." Lots of exposure before the murderer's identity.
Deeply serious artists with seriously deep pockets, Lord Gerrard (landscapes) must paint Lady Jacqueline (embroidery) to prove true innocence in her mother's fatal fall into the sinister Gothic Garden of Night. Mutually entranced by deep eyes-endowments-charms-neckline, breath-stops betray their first-glance L-word. I languish in lush multi-syllable language depicting rich old aristocratic Britain. Bon mots may not be original "What will be will be" p375, are catchy, "such as I don't follow fashion ... We set it" p67. Pal Barnaby, curious about crimes, convinces me to stay the distance, despite others' sardonic "indeed" that incongruously reminds me of Stargate's sober Tealc. Strong brave men are comfort, protect passive women vessels. (I rate tough funny females higher; sadly identify more with weaklings. For the younger naive girl to not think of marriage first seems foolish, not forceful.) The disclosure hostage rescue finale reveals warped crazy deviant villains.
(Questions:
Huntress Greek Artemis is Roman Diana, Athena is also a virgin (protector), so three separate gardens seem redundant. If Gerrard's ominous dream is ignored anyway p11, couldn't an editor have cut the portent?)




















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Review: I Shall Wear Midnight

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



In "I Shall Wear Midnight" by (Sir!2009) Terry Pratchett, witch Tiffany, at 16, wants to don black only when old. Yet, for her home Chalk, she already decides life or death, such as when a drunk villager attempts suicide after beating his pregnant daughter to birth. She's wise beyond years, even advising on "passionate parts" as fun fact rather than salacious description, so the rating is not x, restricted.
An evil witch-hunter spectre infects and inhabits the most susceptible. (I miss any menace in name "the Cunning Man", but stink worse than pigsty is some smell - cleared my fellow schoolbus riders away from the farmkids next-door.) Even her vaunted wee kilted Feegle protectors cannot fight vicious rumors. They can repair (maybe front to back) what they destroy in jubilant rowdiness. I'm happy to see them again.
I missed or don't remember her off-again rescue and romance with the Baron's heir (now stuffy stick) Roland, so his wedding to a (tearful) blonde in white ("Letitia! What a name. Halfway between a salad and a sneeze."), and attentive erudite Guard Preston ("I was unfortunately born clever, miss, and I've learned that sometimes it's not such a good idea to be all that clever") have not so much emotional impact. The lad who can banter p204 about conundrum, shibboleth and her favorite, susurruation, holds promise in her destiny, despite swearing "I will marry you" p260 to the other.
Omens grow tedious; oracles seem like a poor substitute for convincing believability. Cameos are a bit much when I've been away from Discworld awhile.
"Learning ia about finding out who you are, what you are, where you are and what's over the horizon, and, well, everything. It's about finding the place where you fit." p329



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Review: King John of Canada

King John of Canada by Scott Gardiner

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



"King John of Canada" by Scott Gardiner is a 1-2* tragedy: heroic buildup (3* I like), wasteful end (0* I hate). The narrator, self-imposed suffering in dangerous icy isolation, lends gravitas to a cockamamee crash of federal Canada political rut, then suicidal guilt. Et tu, Blue? Suspense weighs down into painful doom. Our hero rises slowly, in glimpses. I do not like the second-last chapter, his unnecessary end in a twisted Camelot knock-down by jealous deliberation, amid blurry Red Yank rambles. I liked the beginning, cleverness saves Canada, not the end, bad wins. The author's philosophy is: "sex and conflict" p204 are news; "politicians create problems" p205; "bad news sells" p206.
A crown lottery-winner meets the Toronto mayor declaring secession. The couple have brilliance, brains, courage, charisma, daring, passion, compassion, luck. They spark off each other to scorch away the sluff of centuries. Real present issues are solved ("mirror diplomacy" (give us what you get) for Quebec partisans p147, geese droppings p163, conservative conservationists p169, control of guns that kill men, not animals p180, "applauding our troops" p287).
"All history is accident" p38 is disproved by the smallest gesture (twitch, opened button, daily vitamin) that direct the plot. Famous politician quotes p70, I disagree, associate Trudeau with "fuddle duddle".
Like comedy "The High Road" by Terry Fallis, this governs Canada starting with a naked woman in a boathouse upstairs bedroom, but takes a winding low dark descent. It dares: Now you know where I was going, read me again. I prefer heaven to hell, yet wish we could have authors' solutions.



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Review: The High Road

The High Road by Terry Fallis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



#2 High Road excerpt
"The High Road" (Angus 2) by Terry Fallis is the campaign direction whereby the Angus effect, candidate integrity, tops important voter issues, defeats muckrakers. Like Gardiner's tragedy "King John of Canada", both narrated by second-in-command, this comedy starts with a naked woman in a boathouse bedroom window. Unlike apparent ramble-cum-portent influence on which to blame his doom and betrayal for downfall of all good, she is part of a team. Brave, capable, caring ladies and male equals better the world. The author keeps me on my toes with correct usage - taciturn p157, irrespective p210 at this point OR at this time, seldom both p224 - made-up announcible p156 - split infinitives (to boldly go from Best Laid Plans #1).
Angus ("looks like Charles Darwin in a force nine gale" p90) stands for federal Liberal candidate willingly this time, supported by "clean-cut Joe" p90 narrator Dan. Many chapters wake to the young aide happily entwined with lovely Lindsay, and close with journal entries from the 61-year old still grieving widowed curmudgeon. Serious balances sweet and slapstick silly. The chain-punk Petes now coordinate volunteers p53. Author blog says third book written. If the new PM is coming around, I expect his "operative ... with the apt initials B.S." p202 to fulfill threat "powerful enemy" with intense "hate on" p318.

Vivid vignettes:
Interview-tamed hair accelerated-time explodes to Tchaikovsky 1812 p87
Coal-miner cursing p206 Muriel, 81, and GOUT (Geriatrics Out to Undermine Tories) squad p99 barrage a dirtbag speaker appropriately and with cookies p150, then barricade and beribbon Tory loudspeaker Hummer p166.
Bottomless round man pops from square air vent p153.
Bearded snowsuit "geriatric sasquatch" p204 hoists unseen up onto bridge joists, drops back "direct hit on my dreams of future fatherhood" p193
Angus drags behind the hovercraft p57, then emerges with drunk frosted frantic First Lady heads-first p280

Quotes:
"short trip from 'do it yourself to 'blew it yourself'" p21
"waffling so much I could almost smell maple syrup" p27
"we have buttered our bread and must now lie in it" p210
"if I'd had more time I would have written less - Mark Twain" p237



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Review: Inkdeath

Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



"Inkdeath" (Inkheart3) by Cornelia Funke wallows in negatives - pain, agony, grief, resentment, jealousy, revenge, uncertainty. Bookbinder Mo has taken on the outlaw Bluejay identity, and protects wife Resa and daughter Meggie living on the run with the Black Prince, robbers, refugees and Motley Players. Each wants the others to return to the mundane world, while they sneak off alone on an ill-planned mission/ rescue in the fictional Inkworld. Aunt Elinor is "wallowing in misery" p113 "stuffing herself with the words on the age like an unhappy child stuffing itself with chocolate." p114 until she convinces Darius to read them inside the book too.
The plot feels like a tangled skein dropped into mud. Carefully colored individual strands snarl and tug. Orpheus uses his powerful read-to-life ability for evil against Dustfinger. Once we know the White Ladies of Death will bargain, death loses sting. So many quick cameos. Old author Finaglio writes up a couple of quick saves. Magpie poisons bodies and minds. Resa learns more than herbs from her. The final savior is unexpected.
Feelings overflow, almost poetry. I'd like to see more Chris Riddell-like illustrations. "The words danced with the pictures and the pictures sang for the words, singing their colorful songs." p109
How does Farid write his name on p119 if he doesn't know his letter AI on p120?



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Review: Changes

Changes by Mercedes Lackey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



"Changes" (Collegium 3) by Mercedes Lackey. Mags' retained rube accent, his Mind-speak to better-than-horse, interfering reminiscences, and nasty fathers of healer Bear and Bard Lena, are less annoying than before, especially when a more pro batch of assassins are back after him and his crush, crippled Amily. Sample p51 "Be careful what ye ast fer, yer like t'get it, an' in the wust possible way."
Classic morals sneak in, to appreciate your lot, "even he, miserable creature that he had been, was able to see the breathtaking beauty in a summer morning. Now he was well-fed, healthy,, and - yes- happy."p53
Being a sometimes night-owl, I like "if people who lie abed late have any idea what they are missing ... they'd jest say 'tis same as sunset. On'y i' th' East." p53-4 "Hope for the best, expect nothing." p83 "'Tis all askin' th' right questions. Then makin' sure when ye ask 'em, there's plenty of people ... used to thinking." p113 "Change is painful." p265 "Who am I? ... Who do you want to be?" p267
Typo "You did will tonight." p185 should by "well".



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Review: Nowhere Near Respectable

Nowhere Near Respectable by Mary Jo Putney

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



"Nowhere Near Respectable" (5* Lost Lords 3) by Mary Jo Putney. Rakish club-owner Damien helps half-Hindoo (sic) Lady Kiri escape smugglers, then they foil a French plot to kidnap Princess Charlotte and assassinate all the Regency royals. Historical detail about the overprotected British-beloved teen is seamlessly woven into the tale of escalating explicit passion and danger. Plucky independent females ahead of their time who banter with male equals in courage is trademark Putney.



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Review: Thank You, Jeeves

Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



"Thank you, Jeeves" by PG Wodehouse, is flash aristo Wooster's reply when his fish-fed-brained valet returns to the fold after they happily engage his land-rich pal to American heiress. The un-neighborly reception for his banjolele enthusiasm instigates another 30s silly country rustication escapade with crisp spot-on repartee.
Scamp Seabury imitates gangster movies, and extorts shillings for protection. Brinkley, drunk agency replacement valet, burns down cottages. Dogged country policemen roust Bertie out of his makeshift dosses when lovesick ex Pauline swims for her new crush Chuffy from her pop's big yacht.
Blackening faces in imitation of jazz minstrels was not then so politically incorrect. Mastery of flapper-era slang, proper high English, literary quotations, all so correct. Moral is the original French usage now spelled morale p241. (Library Binding ISBN 3 2441 15948028 2, Hardcover 312p, Pub McLelland & Stewart, Toronto 1934)



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Review: Dealing with Dragons

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



"Dealing with Dragons" (Enchanted Forest Chronicles 1) by Patricia Wrede begins a sweet 5* series; I already smiled my way through the rest. This gem may be my favorite, a cherry among bittersweetest chocolates, because the silliness never falls overboard, just tickles my funnybone. Along the lines of Mercedes Lackey's Five Hundred Kingdoms, Princess Cimorene rebels against Tradition. Her parents stopped her beloved lessons: fencing, cooking, Classics, any intellectual or physically improving learning. So she ran away.
(Spoilers:
TO the dragons. Luckily, she knew just enough for Kazul; to sort and catalog her Latin scrolls, library and treasures; to supplement a guest banquet from the borrowed Horn of Plenty with Cherries Jubilee.
Fatalities are simple, quick - wizard eaten, dragon King poisoned - without superfluous violence or gore. Dragons are human-ish (good may succumb to temptation), wizards bad, and royals can be more than decoration. Alternative use for lemony washwater: Banzai! She makes friends: another princess and witch Morwen with many cats. She cleverly outwits a jinn, and conspiring enemies. Her happy ending is better than marriage, for her.)



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Review: Searching for Dragons

Searching for Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



"Searching for Dragons" (5* Enchanted Forest 2) by Patricia Wrede begins when the 20-year old King wants to heal scorched ruins drained of magic energy by wicked wizards to provoke suspicion and war against dragons. My only difficulty to criticize is long names, never abbreviated even in affection, so I attempt none.
A lovely princess, smart and brave, not the usual other simpering woe-is-me sillies seeking marriage, helps to find and free her friend, the female King of Dragons. They give and get aid along the way via a manner-proper squirrel, a pretty witch with cats, a sneezing giant with a faulty riding carpet, a renamed Rumpelstiltskin baby-sitter, a pontificating curious brilliant young wizard, and more funny imaginative flights. They temporarily melt nasty wizards, using lemony soapy water, handy to clean resulting goo or dirty dishes.
Unlike many current series, I am wholly satisfied by the self-contained volume, that neither depends on a prequel, which is not in my library, nor requires a sequel.
Appropriate to a juvenile audience, morality is straightforward. Pretty may be silly, help may be unreliable, but scraggly beards are always bad, especially accompanied by rich robes and polished wood staffs. So what if the raiment was dusty and tattered, or short and childish, or the rod was missing, hidden, changed or disguised? I'd like to read a similar adult-oriented style.
(Spoiler:
Happy ending wedding).



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Review: Calling on Dragons

Calling on Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



*** (docked for the exasperating donkey) "Calling on Dragons" (5* Enchanted Forest 3) by Patricia Wrede follows the search for the source of the Forest's power, the King's magic sword, stolen by evil wizards. As usual, the names are too long and strange for me. Young (20ish) friends from the series team up: the newly pregnant Queen, the lecturing magician, the pretty witch, her talking cats, the female King of Dragons, plus new members, irritable fire-witch brother to Rachel (aka Rapunzel), and a too-annoying whiny giant winged blue donkey (formerly white rabbit), whom I dislike. Hints of familiar fairy tales reincarnate amusingly, but the true ending is in the next book I luckily already read.



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Review: Talking to Dragons

Talking to Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



"Talking to Dragons" (EF 4) by Patricia Wrede is the first-person tale of 16-year old fatherless Daystar's quest. Mother melts a threatening wizard, hands her puzzled son a magic sword, and sends him off through the forest. A pretty fire-witch learning manners and a sneezing baby dragon join him in funny escapades with a whiny princess, awkward knight, lizard, elfs, dwarfs, caves, and more, until a final major battle to save the king in the castle.



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Review: Mairelon the Magician

Mairelon the Magician by Patricia C. Wrede

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



"Mairelon the Magician" (1), by Patricia Wrede (already 5* for Dragon series), is a warm witty clever wizard masquerading as a caravan amateur, who plays sculptor Pygmalion to train 17ish boyish pauper Kim. To clear the toff's name, they seek a set of enspelled silver dishes and original London thieves from five years ago. I got a tad annoyed, tangled in names and relationships, shifty and silly shenanigans, lost track who said who did what where. How could interfering Lady Granleigh decide "quickly", without talent, that her platter was fake p265 ? A train of wannabe light-fingers troop through dark library "better than a Drury Lane" comic farce, as is the hostage shoot-out finale where all converge, disguises fall, mystery solved.
Elegant deceptive French Renee recognizes Kim is a girl immediately. I look forward to her chaperone role to come, her oolala influence on Kim's cant. (Typo p153 "more that a little bit on the go" should be "than".)
Accents and phrasing amuse. I like the conclusion "After this, anything might happen. Anything at all."




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Review: The Lost Hero

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



"The Lost Hero" appears to be another Rick Riordan Greek gods of Olympus book, good even out of order, really ****, if I did not feel angry, set up, forced to buy in more. But previous hero Percy vanishes, and we only find out where he went on the very last line. Jason appears, with memory missing except for things Roman. He is recognized as son of mighty king Zeus, and leads another satyr guardian, annoying enough I would sacrifice, and his new best friends, pretty Piper, daughter of lovely Aphrodite, and inventive Leo, son of Hephaestus. Again, the quest has two goals, outwardly to rescue Queen Hera, secretly for Piper's dad. Humor, adventure, and history triumph so I checked out the author's adult fiction, and moved on. His first Percy series is 5* fun, but he's pushed his luck.



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Review: Warehouse 13: A Touch of Fever

Warehouse 13: A Touch of Fever by Greg Cox

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Like me, author Greg Cox fell in love with bantering Pete, conscientious Myka, cocky Claudia, bushy-browed professorial Artie, (serene Leena ...), nails their unique voices, spider-webs opening TV shot of main Warehouse 13 spooky shelves deep into mountain warrens. Special effect lightning explosions, even supernatural scents of fudge, then pineapple, push print maybe ahead of screen for vivid sense stimulation.
After a fear and fun piratical chantey opener, agents cross country chasing carnie healer and typhoid. Vengeful totem escapes Dark Vault. Artifacts bring historical trivia to life, terrify and creatively save when our team plays. Red Baron plane brings the final battle to Manhattan Park. Sparks escalate to thunderstorms and earthquake from dying Pete.
At first, annoying references to other cases sounded like Arthur Conan Doyle inventions, then tweak memories of past shows. Star Trek notes echo both author experience and suit series fantasy flavor. I hope to see more on screen and in print.
Typical banter p248 "Remember that time a job went easier than we expected? ... me neither."
Early questionable typos. Is Myka's hair brunette p10, auburn p11, or black (TV,dye?)? Does a security lock sound "chip" p19 open or cheep? "Starting" p32 should be "started". Ubiquitous smalltown elms p123 & earlier were decimated in 1967, started comeback 2007 to replace infected ash replacements. Protected by proximity to protective influence?
news




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Review: A Conspiracy of Kings

A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



"A Conspiracy of Kings" (Thief 4) by Megan Whelan Turner is how this book ends, but results more from long-range planning by their god(esse)s. I like the basic plot best of the series - reluctant poetry reader kidnapped, chooses to grow up and accept responsibility. "Sounis knew that sometimes his mind worked like a pig stuck in mud, but at other times, conclusions seemed to strike like lightning, one bolt after another." Despite shifting point of view, action, fights, escapes, propel the reader along.
At first unclear who is narrating, to whom addressing. Speaker Sophos reminisces, distractingly, about book 1 quest, as Sounis mage apprentice, befriending thief-now-king Gen. The Sounisians agree Gen was hiding his true self beneath whining complaints. Since Gen narrated, I am skeptical and do not want to have to re-read to verify. When the next section shifts perspective to third person, we realize to whom the first part is reporting. Less confusing to read than explain, so I won't count the hint as spoiler.



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Review: The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



"The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents" by Terry Pratchett is a fun take on the pied piper tale, fast and clever, as long as he's not philosophizing about the meaning of life and such. Talking con-man cat convinces enchanted Changelings, thinking rat tribe, and "looks-stupid" boy piper Keith to take on one last Uberwald village. Mayor's daughter Malicia looks at life as if everything fits in a familiar story-line. Whereas in "real life ... when someone small and righteous takes on someone big and nasty, he is grilled bread product very quickly". At least she can pick the lock into the Rat-catcher guild headquarters and disclose the evil. Co-operation (and benevolent diety) make the whole stronger than individuals, such as Keith, who claims "I'm the kind of person heroes aren't. I get by and I get along. I do my best."
Spoiler:
"You pretend that rats can think, and I promise to pretend that humans can think too." The rat leader convinces the mayor to compromise.



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Review: The Untamed Bride

The Untamed Bride by Stephanie Laurens

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



"The Untamed Bride" (Black Cobra 1/4) by Stephanie Laurens starts (March 1822) a new series about corrupt English aristocrats (funding Regency King George) who pillage villages in India. When the youngest of a group of elite Guard "soliders" (typo p11) is typically tortured and killed finding incriminating papers sealed with the villains' unique family ring, the remaining quartet split up with copies and head for home and Cynster support. A beguiling female entangles each in passion. First, Deliah sees the evil aide shoot at Del. Kisses ("Finding.") lead to "shattered" in flowing explicit detail. I'm sure Major Hamilton and Emily Ensworth will hit the heights equally in sequel. When I read summaries, I usually remember. In "Temptation and Surrender", manor Lord Jonas hires Emily (Beauregard), on obviously identically penned references, when he falls for her smile, to run the local inn, with her step-siblings in tow. Excellent 50ish page supplement universe includes more Barnaby Adair cases I couldn't find before.



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Review: Down These Strange Streets

Down These Strange Streets by George R.R. Martin

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



"Down These Strange Streets" is 16 supposedly detective short stories, mostly gruesome, spooky, scary, rather than puzzle-solvers. If you like Charlaine Harris, "Death by Dahlia" has a petite powerhouse vampire fond of naked romping and solving murder. "Beware the Snake" by John Maddox Roberts has Roman Decius Caecilius, brother-in-law of Emporer Cesar, solve a missing temple venomous reptile and poisoned priest. Lisa Tuttle starts with clever Victorians, Miss Lane and Mr. Jesperson, like Watson and Sherlock, then degenerates to possessed artifacts "The Curious Affair of the Deodand". Gabaldon's Lord John in Jamaica, and Denton's Papa Hemingway in a remote WW2 Inuit outpost are islands, not "urban" as the cover claims. Laurie King's salamander-humans and Igguldon's anti-Holocaust spirit promote tolerance better than same-sex lecture-layer from Patricia Briggs, nagging that has worn out my interest in Dozois (co-)edited books.



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Review: Killing Floor

Killing Floor by Lee Child

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



"Killing Floor" (Jack Reacher 1) by Lee Child has a couple meanings, one the prison level where our innocent hero faces a painful end. X-rated. A cop's smile leads to a bedroom invite. Foreign counterfeiters gruesomely obliterate leads, always one bloody grisly (and gristly) step ahead of our guy. Every loose end is tied off, including solution to decades-old needless murder that first intrigued Jack to stop in Margrave. Ten days to stop the villains, or die.
US Treasury chief Joe left close-in-childhood ex-Army brother Jack, clues, starting with a too-shiny Southern town, where a senile barber claims $1,000 week income from no customers. My first read, one of the traitors was such a shock, this time I recognized the double-dealer right away. I kept reading, maybe dreamt a warning, because Jack is a good guy. He knows it. We know it. Still surprises. I know the ending will be bittersweet, but I want that relief of beating the Sunday deadline, when the Coastguard cannot stop the smugglers. Even knowing part of the solution, recognizing clues sooner, I enjoy Child's writing.
How does Jack get around without income or owning a car in rural America? or take down superior forces? I'm never impatient with details or research, even technical money-printing, conveyed with action using all senses. Smell less, two points are exceptional for their rarity - meadow wildflower blossoms p492, used money stink p506. This series would be prime TV-film, possibly because Child wrote for British TV. He says he chose rural America setting for pioneer spirit possibilities.
Globe interview
Without belaboring guilty introspection, we share Jack's feelings. "I'd lost something I never knew I'd had." p381 "Waiting is a skill like anything else." p401 Even black humor - "a relentless downpour ... drier to stay in the pool". He admits not knowing how to do laundry p414.
We can count on Jack to do what is right. "Up on that plateau where you just did whatever needed doing. I knew that place. I lived there." p470.
Sequel "Die Trying" sounds like another fast hard read.
(Typo p533 Beretta gun "But he hadn't like it much" should be "liked". ISBN 9780515141429, so posted here, but differs. Jove 2008 Pb edition 536p. Cover red handprint on white, larger author name on top, bottom title, all caps.)




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Review: Silverwing

Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



"Silverwing" is a colony of small dark bats, migrating south, ahead of runt Shade. Swept out to sea by a storm, he meets older Marina, banished by Brightwings who thought her band was a poison curse. She asks to join Shade's colony, led by a banded elder. They believe bands are a sign of divine promise that bats will regain the day, against present owl law. Every stranger has beliefs that challenge and rock Shade's, reminding us to question everyone.
I don't like children who misbehave and endanger others, like Lion King. When Goth, huge vicious Vampire, escapes the same direction as the young, I'm caught up. He eats pigeons, who call the owls, who rule that all bats are to be killed, all hours. I didn't need an blind albino oracle, or villain's dream, to know vanished banded father Cassiel lives, and the journey will be hard.
The lesson is to value others and ourselves for what is inside, not outer trappings. "You're the only bat who's liked me because of who I am ... That makes you the best friend I've ever had."
(series 10+ awards: Canada, US, France, Spain, ...)



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Review: Starclimber

Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Starclimber is the first steampunk spaceship, from Lionsgate, an alternate Vancouver Canada. Narrator Matt Cruse (#3) fails to qualify as one of three astralnauts. His beloved suffragette Kate can board only after accepting another's proposal. She keeps calling her new fiance by the wrong name. "He looks like a George." (I've had the same trouble.)
Fellow-student Tobias guesses their attraction. "It's the way you look whenever she mentions her fiance. My cat looks like that before he hacks up a hairball." Tobias is "a wipeout ... sit on a girl ... She was really small - I didn't see her."
Babelites infiltrate in Paris. Lives are lost, and a decimal point in crucial calculations. Explosions and narrow escapes take precedence over stolen smooches; Kate acts super selfish. "I don't know what kind of life we'll have together, with me always flying off in one direction and you in the other."
Spoiler:
I smiled. "It's a good thing the world's round." - Matt

MC#1 Airborn awards: Red Maple, Schwartz, Gov.Gen.Children's Lit
#2 Skybreaker awards: London Times Children's Novel of the Year



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Review: The Fire Rose

The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



"Fire Rose" (Elemental Masters 1) by Mercedes Lackey, is 1905 newly orphaned and impoverished medieval scholar Rose, invited to San Francisco by an elusive rail baron Fire Master. Jason Cameron seeks to repair a wolf transformation spell stuck half-way. The spirited girl in spectacles has more innate talent than his current treacherous apprentice, secretly aiding an evil competitor. Despite Beauty-Beast base, the realistic pair reason out likely lonely endings. Even the Arabian stallion and Salamander servants are appealingly developed characters; bad guys are slimy sadists.
Historical facts such as grimy railcar floors and bloomers, geographical phenomena such her first sight of the Pacific Ocean and prairie thunderstorm vista come alive through her eyes. I couldn't find proof that Queen for nine days, Lady Jane Grey, was any more educated at nine years than other female nobles of the time, like her sisters Mary and Elizabeth I, certainly more than in other eras.
In Ch1 Rose feels "resignation ... stepping into the unknown". Instead of waking with "anticipation ... her only hope was that the new day would not be worse than the old ... she had an answer, in a small bottle" of poison. Jason's job revives her hope. "What you cannot anticipate, you cannot dread."
From his arrogance over superior intellect, talent, and resources, she learns daring. "A great deal could be gained simply by assuming that one would not be refused, and going ahead and pursuing what one wanted. Audacity often brought rewards; self-abasement seldom did."
(I have to create and move "Hot" to "x"-rated, because of cannibals, kiddie torture-murders, and throat-rip.)



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