With the relative success of the most recent film coming from Studio Ghibli to hit the States, The Secret World of Arriety, I was looking back at the releases over the last few years. Among them is the film considered to be the worst thing ever done by the studio, Tales From Earthsea. Released in Japan in 2006 and brought Stateside by Disney in 2010, the reviews were mixed at best. To read up more, I'd recommend checking out the Wikipedia link here.
Long story short, I decided it was high time I actually read the books the film was adapted from, The Earthsea Cycle. The film was from the first four books, but my library only had three in stock. This review is going to focus on the first book in the series, A Wizard of Earthsea by Usula K. Le Guin.
The series is set in an alternate world, a world bounded east and west by vast oceans, and in between lies the Archipelago. Well, there's a lot more than that, but again, I'd recommend exploring Wikipedia if you're all that curious. What it boils down to is that you can expect a lot of sailing and seafaring adventures. And in this world, magic is common. Magic is both knowledge and power together: a non-adept with the right knowledge still cannot work magic. An adept without knowledge is equally unable. The knowledge needed for working magic is the Old Tongue, the language of the Making when Sepoy raised the islands of the world. If you've read Eragon, you already know how this works. Since this was published in 1968, it's safe to say this is where Paolini got the idea.
Our story follows a boy called Sparrowhawk, whose true name is Ged. This boy goes from goatherd to sailor-wizard, trained by the elite school on Roke Island and blessed with the greatest talent of any known mage. With his talents, he uses the necromantic Lore of Paln to raise the spirit of a departed lady of myth, similar to Faust raising Helen of Troy. But when Ged uses his power thus for his own glory, a shadow emerges and attacks. This begins his journey around the world to stop his shadow from consuming himself.
Modern writing theory dictates "Show, don't tell." Le Guin said "screw that" and proceeded to use a minimum of dialogue to write an epic fantasy in a detailed world that breaks away from the white European Middle Ages model. And while the story is somewhat predictable, the interest in this world draws the reader on and on. The actions of the characters fill in what their words often do not. While more dialogue comes into the later books of the series, this one's almost indifference encourages the feel of something born from myth-time. Give it a read. It's likely in your library's young adult or juvenile fiction section.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Review: Lisa Scottoline's Novels
Recently, I had a Polish-American roommate. Her parents were over so much that I started calling them the in-laws. The mom, Cheryl, decided that because I'm Italian-American, I must automatically fulfill certain stereotypes. After discussing pizza, crusty bread, and the true identity of oregano (it's Greek, actually), she told me about this mystery series written by Lisa Scottoline. Like always, I was somewhat dubious to read something written by a woman. Not that women can't write, mind you -- it just has an unfortunate tendency to descend into romance. Well, one day my roommate returned from the in-laws, and sure enough, Cheryl had sent along four of these books: Mistaken Identity, Moment of Truth, the Vendetta Defense, and...I forgot already. It's the only one I haven't read yet.
The premise of these books is that they follow the murder cases taken on by the all-female firm of Rosato & Associates. Run by Benedetta "Bennie" Rosato, backed up by senior associates Judy Carrier and Mary DiNunzio, the Philadelphia-based firm gets into one ugly mess after another. If all criminal defense lawyers got into as many gunfights and bombing incidents as these girls, they might actually deserve their pay for risking their lives. Also: Italian-American culture is everywhere. It's one of the things that links the characters, even the ones outside it.
The books are written pretty well. Scottoline knows her law, having been a lawyer herself. And I have no complaints concerning her ability to portray both men and women realistically. Vulgarities appear irregularly, which makes me question their inclusion, however, since there is a significant audience that avoids profanity in print. And the cases are always obvious before the big ta-dah, the reveal at the end. Agatha Christie, she ain't. And, of course, three books in, I've been introduced to what, six different relationships, past and current, of the main three characters. DEAR SWEET GOD, WHY MUST THEY INSIST ON ROMANCE?!
But they are entertaining. I don't think I'll ever go seeking out more, myself. As much as I enjoy being reminded of my grandparents and the way I grew up when I still lived up in Rhode Island, there's a little too much female appeal going on. The female characters are being marketed to female readers. I'd be happier with a more neutral approach.
The premise of these books is that they follow the murder cases taken on by the all-female firm of Rosato & Associates. Run by Benedetta "Bennie" Rosato, backed up by senior associates Judy Carrier and Mary DiNunzio, the Philadelphia-based firm gets into one ugly mess after another. If all criminal defense lawyers got into as many gunfights and bombing incidents as these girls, they might actually deserve their pay for risking their lives. Also: Italian-American culture is everywhere. It's one of the things that links the characters, even the ones outside it.
The books are written pretty well. Scottoline knows her law, having been a lawyer herself. And I have no complaints concerning her ability to portray both men and women realistically. Vulgarities appear irregularly, which makes me question their inclusion, however, since there is a significant audience that avoids profanity in print. And the cases are always obvious before the big ta-dah, the reveal at the end. Agatha Christie, she ain't. And, of course, three books in, I've been introduced to what, six different relationships, past and current, of the main three characters. DEAR SWEET GOD, WHY MUST THEY INSIST ON ROMANCE?!
But they are entertaining. I don't think I'll ever go seeking out more, myself. As much as I enjoy being reminded of my grandparents and the way I grew up when I still lived up in Rhode Island, there's a little too much female appeal going on. The female characters are being marketed to female readers. I'd be happier with a more neutral approach.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Zelda Fest 2012: The Legend of Zelda GBA port
So recently I was able to convince my parents to give me the old Gamecube once and for all. I brought it over to my place, found a television, and broke out all my old games. Since all my schemes to play the latest and greatest Zelda game, Skyward Sword, have failed, I've been replaying all the ones I have at my disposal. While doing so, to whatever end, I've made extensive notes on the mythology of the Zelda universe.
First game I want to talk about is the original Legend of Zelda. I borrowed this title off a friend back in 2010 in exchange for a fighting game I had. We never traded back. This is the Gameboy Advance port, an ordinary gray cartridge with a label. It always disappointed me a bit that they never made the Gameboy games with gold cartridges.
As far as the game itself is concerned, nothing has changed from the original Nintendo Entertainment System version. Graphics, sound, controls are all the same as they were on the NES. The only difference is the addition of the ability to put the game into sleep mode by pressing L and R at the same time. I've played both, to be clear.
The original Zelda game is basically a dungeon crawler. There are very few stated objectives; one can only save after dying. There's a number next to the file indicating the number of continues used (saves don't count). The gameplay switches between wandering the vast (by 8 bit standards) realm of Hyrule and clearing dungeons to recover the lost pieces of the Triforce. Most dungeons can be cleared out of order, and it is possible to discover dungeons prematurely. This game already has the basic Zelda formula of enter dungeon, find map and compass, collect new tool, use new tool to kill boss. After fumbling through all the other dungeons, head on up to Death Mountain and defeat Ganon to rescue the princess. Roll credits. Unlock hard mode, in which the enemies are tougher and the dungeons rearranged, both internally and in the overworld.
The game is still fun. Old, frustratingly open-ended, and even not all that satisfying in the end if you know what you're doing. But there is something first about retro gaming, that makes the player go back beyond the advances of the years to challenge the simple charms of simple games as they stand, on their own merit. There's not much framework for the game, but it doesn't need it. The appeal of solving the puzzles and navigating the labyrinths is enough.
If you've never played the original game, but consider yourself a fan of the Legend of Zelda series, go check this out. There's just a certain pleasure in exploring the beginning.
First game I want to talk about is the original Legend of Zelda. I borrowed this title off a friend back in 2010 in exchange for a fighting game I had. We never traded back. This is the Gameboy Advance port, an ordinary gray cartridge with a label. It always disappointed me a bit that they never made the Gameboy games with gold cartridges.
As far as the game itself is concerned, nothing has changed from the original Nintendo Entertainment System version. Graphics, sound, controls are all the same as they were on the NES. The only difference is the addition of the ability to put the game into sleep mode by pressing L and R at the same time. I've played both, to be clear.
The original Zelda game is basically a dungeon crawler. There are very few stated objectives; one can only save after dying. There's a number next to the file indicating the number of continues used (saves don't count). The gameplay switches between wandering the vast (by 8 bit standards) realm of Hyrule and clearing dungeons to recover the lost pieces of the Triforce. Most dungeons can be cleared out of order, and it is possible to discover dungeons prematurely. This game already has the basic Zelda formula of enter dungeon, find map and compass, collect new tool, use new tool to kill boss. After fumbling through all the other dungeons, head on up to Death Mountain and defeat Ganon to rescue the princess. Roll credits. Unlock hard mode, in which the enemies are tougher and the dungeons rearranged, both internally and in the overworld.
The game is still fun. Old, frustratingly open-ended, and even not all that satisfying in the end if you know what you're doing. But there is something first about retro gaming, that makes the player go back beyond the advances of the years to challenge the simple charms of simple games as they stand, on their own merit. There's not much framework for the game, but it doesn't need it. The appeal of solving the puzzles and navigating the labyrinths is enough.
If you've never played the original game, but consider yourself a fan of the Legend of Zelda series, go check this out. There's just a certain pleasure in exploring the beginning.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Reboot: A New Wind
So after not blogging for, well, an obnoxiously long amount of time, I've decided it's high time I started this blog up again. Having my computer break last summer was really the worst thing that could happen to this fledgling blog, since I didn't buy a new one until September.
Following the Wind is a lifestyle of going with the opportunities as they come, entering the flow and rushing to the head of it. This blog is supposed to be no different, spontaneous, lively, and honest. I think maybe I'll just start doing different reviews. Not just reviews, but doing them as a starting point. I need to add content somehow, after all, of this is just a waste of a good URL. So please follow this fresh breeze with me, as I try to get this on its way.
Following the Wind is a lifestyle of going with the opportunities as they come, entering the flow and rushing to the head of it. This blog is supposed to be no different, spontaneous, lively, and honest. I think maybe I'll just start doing different reviews. Not just reviews, but doing them as a starting point. I need to add content somehow, after all, of this is just a waste of a good URL. So please follow this fresh breeze with me, as I try to get this on its way.
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