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jazzfishGene Wolfe, The Sword of the Lictor
Well. Well, well, well. Lots going on here, as usual: conversations with Hierodules, wrap-up of some plot threads that have been dangling since book 1, a glimpse at life in a city outside Nessus. There's also a lengthy digression from the plot [I know, I know: how could I tell?] involving a child named Severian and a giant named Typhon. An interesting digression, yeah, but I got through it and realised "Nothing just happened here." Still and all, I'm really enjoying these. They're making me think.
Gene Wolfe, The Citadel of the Autarch
Um. What the hell just happened? I swear, if I hadn't read that couple of sentences out of Castle of the Otter I would be so lost. As it is I'm only sort of lost. I think I understand what happened, but the time-travel stuff has me really weirded out. I think I'll need to reread these in a year or so. [Though on reflection, some of it makes a bit more sense. Only a bit.]
The Ascians are really neat. They're sort of the end result of Confucianism crossed with totalitarianism; they can only say pre-approved phrases, and it's not clear whether or not they have names. ["I am Loyal to the Group of Seventeen."] Dorcas is dealt with appropriately, and the apparent contradictions in her revivification aren't dealt with, but are pointed out, just like it's pointed out that Severian managed to bring his dog Triskele back to life years before he ever got ahold of the Claw. And the multiple-personality Autarch is fun as well. It was a fun trip, but I'm not too sure where it's brought me.
Scott Adams, Don't Stand Where the Comet Is Assumed to Strike Oil
Dilbert number twenty-three. The strips in this volume range from fairly funny to "ehh." Maybe it's that my snark quotient is being filled by Pearls, and I thus have less need for Dilbert's corporate-type snark.
Grant Morrison, Chris Weston, and Gary Erskine, The Filth
Interesting comic book about a secret government agency that cleans up various Illuminati-like messes. There's a lot of neat ideas in here [like the bottled secret agents], but I kept thinking that Warren 'Transmetropolitan' Ellis could have done it all so much better. Probably just a matter of taste. Doubt I'll be reading the rest of The Invisibles, though.
The intro, though, is pure gold. "WARNING: The Filth contains the active ingredient metaphor. If you are allergic to metaphor, please consult a doctor before consuming The Filth." Et cetera.
Well. Well, well, well. Lots going on here, as usual: conversations with Hierodules, wrap-up of some plot threads that have been dangling since book 1, a glimpse at life in a city outside Nessus. There's also a lengthy digression from the plot [I know, I know: how could I tell?] involving a child named Severian and a giant named Typhon. An interesting digression, yeah, but I got through it and realised "Nothing just happened here." Still and all, I'm really enjoying these. They're making me think.
Gene Wolfe, The Citadel of the Autarch
Um. What the hell just happened? I swear, if I hadn't read that couple of sentences out of Castle of the Otter I would be so lost. As it is I'm only sort of lost. I think I understand what happened, but the time-travel stuff has me really weirded out. I think I'll need to reread these in a year or so. [Though on reflection, some of it makes a bit more sense. Only a bit.]
The Ascians are really neat. They're sort of the end result of Confucianism crossed with totalitarianism; they can only say pre-approved phrases, and it's not clear whether or not they have names. ["I am Loyal to the Group of Seventeen."] Dorcas is dealt with appropriately, and the apparent contradictions in her revivification aren't dealt with, but are pointed out, just like it's pointed out that Severian managed to bring his dog Triskele back to life years before he ever got ahold of the Claw. And the multiple-personality Autarch is fun as well. It was a fun trip, but I'm not too sure where it's brought me.
Scott Adams, Don't Stand Where the Comet Is Assumed to Strike Oil
Dilbert number twenty-three. The strips in this volume range from fairly funny to "ehh." Maybe it's that my snark quotient is being filled by Pearls, and I thus have less need for Dilbert's corporate-type snark.
Grant Morrison, Chris Weston, and Gary Erskine, The Filth
Interesting comic book about a secret government agency that cleans up various Illuminati-like messes. There's a lot of neat ideas in here [like the bottled secret agents], but I kept thinking that Warren 'Transmetropolitan' Ellis could have done it all so much better. Probably just a matter of taste. Doubt I'll be reading the rest of The Invisibles, though.
The intro, though, is pure gold. "WARNING: The Filth contains the active ingredient metaphor. If you are allergic to metaphor, please consult a doctor before consuming The Filth." Et cetera.