TITAN’S GOING TREKKING! Revealing The Art Of STAR TREK® For The First Time!
Titan Books is thrilled to announce a new deal with CBS Consumer Products to bring fans an amazing, official, behind-the-scenes compendium to one of 2009’s hottest movies – STAR TREK: THE ART OF THE FILM!
Director J.J. Abrams was characteristically tight-lipped pre-release, keeping all the details of the fantastic film closely under wraps. Now, Abrams has given Titan his seal of approval to reveal all on the incredible production, unveiling for the first time all the behind-the-scenes workings of the film, from start to finish.
Written by New York Times-bestselling author Mark Cotta Vaz, in close co-operation with the film’s production team, Star Trek: The Art of the Film is a lavishly illustrated hardcover celebration of that new vision, tracing the evolution of the movie’s look. Encompassing a stunning and totally unseen array of pre-production paintings, concept sketches, costume and set designs, unit photography and final frames, the coffee-table tome also includes an exclusive foreword from J.J. Abrams himself.
Starring Chris Pine as Captain Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock, Karl Urban as Bones and Zoe Saldana as Uhura, with Eric Bana, Winona Ryder, Leonard Nimoy, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin and John Cho, Star Trek has been a critical and commercial smash hit worldwide. Hardened Trekkies and newcomers alike were thrilled by Abrams’ state-of-the-art action epic, which both respected the legacy of Gene Roddenberry’s archetypal modern myth and forged ahead into an exciting future of its own.
Priced at $29.95 / £24.99, this collectible volume is set for release on alongside the DVD and Blu-Ray releases on November 17th 2009. The movie is essential viewing a and this is the essential companion.
This is the third instalment in the series of Joe Pitt books by Charlie Huston. Joe is a vampire, but don’t expect anything similar to Laurell K Hamilton’s porn filled romps or Stephanie Meyers heartbroken, misunderstood vamps here. This is hardcore, violent and unrelenting, filled with politics, intrigue and twists. This is a rollercoaster of a journey and you are dragged helplessly along for the ride. Read the rest of this entry »
This is the fourth instalment of Carey’s Felix Castor novels, and I can’t give you a non bias review of this book as I am a massive fan of the rest of the series. Carey presents intelligently written urban fantasy with a dark humour and a plot meaty enough to keep you hooked and on edge waiting for the next instalment.
At this point in the series we see an established cast of characters headed up by freelance exorcist Felix Castor, backed ably by fellow exorcist and succubus on the wagon Juliet and zombie and techhead Nicky. My least favourite character in the series is Felix’s landlady Penny, who manages to be less annoying then usual in this novel – which is nice!
The story blazes to life with the elaborate kidnapping of Fix’s friend from the mental institution he is incarcerated in. And as the police knock on his door he thinks he has been caught but in fact the shit is only just about to hit the fan! He is taken to a crime scene where the words “F Castor” have been written by the victim in blood. The victim turns out to be a guy that Fix grew up with in Liverpool who had once tried to kill him. So with the finger pointed well and truly at Fix he begins to investigate.
He begins his investigation in a run down council estate in London, with disturbing results, the entire populace of the estate is being affected by something, but he doesn’t know what. As Fix investigates the phenomena it leads him almost to his death and on a trip to his childhood in Liverpool. Fix has to rely in this book on almost all of his contacts and the results are not all good and are incredibly shocking towards the end.
This book is a breathless rollercoaster of the sort of gritty realism many so called Urban Fantasy novels are completely missing. The section of the story dealing with growing up in Liverpool is particularly evocative, and makes you both long for your own childhood and be eternally glad it’s over. This book raises as many questions as it answers of its own mythology which is both satisfying and gripping and the only criticism I can level at it is that it is not a suitable starting off point for any new readers. In fact new readers would probably be completely baffled, but then book four isn’t a good joining in point in any series so it isn’t much of a criticism. I would give this book (and whole series) 5/5 and urge anyone to pick up a copy and fall as madly in love with Fix as I have.
The Raven have fought together for years, six men carving out a living as swords for hire in the war that has torn Balaia apart, loyal only to themselves and their code.
But when they agree to escort a Xesteskian mage on a secret mission they are pulled into a world of politics and ancients secrets. For the first time The Raven cannot trust even their own strength and prowess, for the first time their code is in doubt. How is it that they are fighting for one of the most evil colleges of magic known? Searching for the secret location of Dawnthief; a spell that could end the world? Aiming not to destroy it but to cast it . . .
The Rondos, an award that recognizes achievements in the Horror and Fantasy community. They not only hand out these awards to best movie, book, TV show, etc., but they also recognize the achievements in dvd restoration and archiving of the history of the fantastic.
The award and it’s likeness is named after Rondo Hatton. He was a handsome actor who was struck with Acromegaly, an illness that distorts limbs and facial features. He later did roles in horror films and serials.
The Rondos is an open ballot award. Anyone can vote. Just hit their website at http://www.rondoaward.com/ , copy the ballot to an email, fill it out and send it to taraco@aol.com .
I was really excited to finally read the first book that the excellent Showtime series is based on, especially after having just finished season 3. But I have to say that I was more than a little disappointed in this book. Where most of the characters in the TV series are well developed and likable, their counterparts in this book seemed to be bumbling underdeveloped characters. There was no logical evidence or clues to follow in solving the mystery in the book, yet characters made leaps of logic that conveniently panned out for them.
Who’s it by: Sean Williams based on a story by Haden Blackman
What’s it about? The novel of the video game – this book adds some background depth to the characters and situations presented in the game. The blurb is long- here is the beginning of it:
“The overthrow of the Republic is complete. The Separatist forces have been smashed, the Jedi Council nearly decimated, and the rest of the Order all but destroyed. Now absolute power rests in the iron fists of Darth Sidious – the cunning Sith Lord better known as the former Senator, now Emperor, Palpatine. But more remains to be done. Pockets of resistance in the galaxy must still be defeated and missing Jedi accounted for … and dealt with. These crucial tasks fall to the Emperor’s ruthless Enforcer, Darth Vader. In turn, the Dark Lord has groomed a lethal apprentice entrusted with a top secret mission: to comb the galaxy and dispatch the last of his masters’ enemies, thereby punctuating the dark side’s victory with the Jedi’s doom.”
Review it:
By the way, all the bad grammar and so on in that blurb are actually in the printed version, they are not typos by me. I don’t know who wrote the blurb, but the editor should have picked up on that.
So – a novel of a Star Wars game. Looking at the precedence, we have Shadows of the Empire (a good read of an interesting game) and Galaxies: Ruins of Dantooine which is tripe. Where does Force Unleashed sit?
The overall story is quite strong and fits as a fairly neat bridge between episodes three and four of the Star Wars saga. Obviously, the game on which it is based is more action based than the novel, though the author has tried to suggest at the carnage that follows The Apprentice around, actual action is lacking throughout. Invariably we read “The Apprentice de-activated his lightsabre after doing some really cool force moves and lightsabre stuff” (I para-phrase) rather than seeing RA Salvatore style intricate combat scenes. Even the combat with other Jedi is lacklustre and brief. I like to feel energised or drained after a fight or dogfight and this was never the case here.
Characters are somewhat padded out from the game but motivations seem strained in places. I’d like to have seen more development of the relationships than was evident. The forced “oh, lets have a love interest because it’s a game and gamers like that” romance wasn’t really built up and just happened on the page. Enough for a game maybe but not engaging enough for a novel.
To be fair to the author, I don’t think that Force Unleashed could have been much other than it was, considering the source material. The game is basically a hack and slash with cut-scenes where the player is encouraged to massacre everything he sees. The novel also follows the game’s structure of fly here – fight these – have boss battle. I’d like to have seen more in-between level characterisation and development than was apparant here, but I guess that was a constraint placed from above.
I would also point out that while I appear to be negative here I still enjoyed the book and think it sits nicely with the other god knows how many Star Wars Novels I have. And it is certainly far superior to the Star Wars Galaxies tie in.
Best bit: For me the reveal on the final page. Loved that bit as it answered a question I’d had since playing X-Wing in 1993.
Rate it: 3 / 5 above average but don’t expect gripping action (which I was) or detailed character building (which I was)
Dry Slaps: 2. I was expecting gripping action and detailed character building.
What’s it about? Troy: Fall of Kings This was the last book in Gemmell’s historical fantasy trilogy surrounding the events that led to siege of Troy. Here’s the book blurb
“War has been declared by the Warlords of Greece with High King Agamemnon in control and the Ancient World is divided into fiercely opposing factions. On the killing fields outside the Golden City forces loyal to the Mykene king gather. Among them is Odysseus, ally to King Agamemnon, alongside him the mighty warrior Achilles and his Myrmidons stand ready to begin the slaughter of the Trojans and her Allies. Both know that Agamemnon will stop at nothing to secure the gold that lies within the city walls. Ailing and bitter, the Trojan king Priam waits, secure in the knowledge that his favourite son Hektor is riding to his aid. As darkness falls on the Great Green, and warriors who were once kinsmen are filled with bloodlust, this much is certain. This is a battle whose tragic consequences will echo down the centuries.”
Review it: There’s a handful of writers, out there today, that inspire me to become a better writer. However there’s only one writer who’s tales inspire me to not only become a better writer but also a better person and that’s David Gemmell.
Gemmell has a way of showing the reader that nothing is wholly good or evil and these states are in constant flux within his characters. He shows us that, in a heartbeat, a great hero can commit heinous acts of evil and the most hated character can become the most loved. His Troy trilogy is no exception.
The story of Troy has been told a thousand different ways over the years and yet Gemmell (both Gemmell’s) are able to weave a story that not only follows the legend closely but also puts a different spin on many of the major players and events. The result for me is that it felt like hearing the truth that eventually would become legend. In his past books Gemmell has walked this fine line of historical fact and fiction and it’s a line he treads well.
It was with sadness that I came to pick the Fall of Kings as David sadly passed away during it’s creation. I am however indebted to his wife Stella for deciding to finish her husband’s final work as it was a fantastic read. It’s a credit to her as couldn’t tell where David’s writing stopped and Stella’s started (and she wrote half of this story based on David’s chapter outlines). The entire trilogy is an epic tale of heroism, violence, betrayal, redemption, honour, loyalty, love and sacrifice.
If you’re interested check out the interview with David’s widow Stella on how she tackled this book that had been left half finished by her late husband.
If you’re a Gemmell fan then this review has told you nothing you don’t already know and if you have never picked up a David Gemmell book then this would be as good a place as any to start (though you should start with Legend). As for Gemmell himself I hope he is having a flagon of mead in the Hall of Heroes with his beloved character Druss the Legend.
The world of fantasy has lost one of it’s greats. Here was a writer to walk the mountains with.
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