• 5.0 Stars

    Movie Review: Rise of the Planet of the Apes 

    Published on 09-23-2011 07:01 AM  Number of Views: 17 
    Categories:
    1. Movies/TV
    2. 5.0 Stars
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    Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) Rated PG-13
    Starring James Franco, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow
    Directed by Rupert Wyatt
    Reviewed by Joshua Palmatier
    Rating: (5/5)

    I have just returned from the movie Rise of the Planet of the Apes. . . and I have to say I really enjoyed it! It was smart, it was thoughtful, and it presented a believable reason for how the apes ended up gaining intelligence and, more importantly, how they managed to take over the earth. The actual "taking over the earth" doesn't happen in the movie, but it does cover exactly how that takeover began AND gave you all of the necessary seeds for how the apes ended up on top, over humans. In fact, it set up the entire Planet of the Apes movie concept as well. ...
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    Book Review: The Tears of Ishtar, by Michael Ehart 

    Published on 05-27-2010 11:24 AM  Number of Views: 1073 
    Categories:
    1. Fantasy
    2. Sword & Sorcery
    3. 5.0 Stars
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    The Tears of Ishtar, by Michael Ehart
    Reviewed by Mary Rosenblum

    Publisher:Ancient Tomes Press
    Year Published: 2010

    I am a long time fan of classic sword and sorcery fantasy, having first met it by way of Robert Howard and Conan, then moved on to Marion Zimmer Bradley?s sorcerer-warriors and Fritz Leiber?s Lankhmar tales of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser. All too often, however, I find the plots predictable, and the characters no more than cardboard puppets dancing to the tune of that pretentious plot. ...
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    Book Review: Jack of all Trades, by K. C. Shaw 

    Published on 05-27-2010 09:27 AM  Number of Views: 800 
    Categories:
    1. Fantasy
    2. 5.0 Stars
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    Jack of all Trades, by K. C. Shaw
    Reviewed by Mary Rosenblum

    Publisher:Ancient Tomes Press
    Year Published: 2009

    I am not a fan of ?cute?. Sorry. Pictures of kittens and puppies being adorable make me roll my eyes and books that depend on that ?cute puppy? factor usually end up in the ?Friends of the Library? donation box. So when I received K.C. Shaw?s ?Jack of All Trades? with its cute picture of a couple chatting over a white picket fence while a plump (and cute) red dragon chased a butterfly, I did the eye-roll and glanced longingly at the ?Friends of the Library? box. But I did say I?d read it, so I sat down to sample the first chapter and see if this was something that I could finish or if I was right and the library needed to benefit. ...
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    Review: Bigfoot War, by Eric S. Brown 

    Published on 05-24-2010 11:29 PM  Number of Views: 803 
    Categories:
    1. Horror
    2. Dark Fantasy
    3. 5.0 Stars
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    Bigfoot War, by Eric S. Brown
    Reviewed by G. A. Bixler

    Publisher:Coscom Entertainment
    Year Published: 2010

    Eric S. Brown, according to his bio, has been called "The King of the Zombies;" however, since I had never read any of his work before, I would have to think that he might also now become King of the BigFoot!

    Bigfoot War is not for those who cannot appreciate a great slasher or splatter book or movie. Soooo, you are now warned... ...
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    Review: Red Seas Under Red Skies, by Scott Lynch 

    Published on 05-16-2010 07:40 PM  Number of Views: 547 
    Categories:
    1. Historical Fantasy
    2. 5.0 Stars
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    Red Seas Under Red Skies, by Scott Lynch
    Reviewed by Paul Weiss

    Publisher:Spectra
    Year Published: 2008

    The swashbuckling con games and escapades continue!

    Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen, the two badly beaten and shocked, weary remnants of The Gentlemen Bastards, continue their picaresque fantastical escapades in fine form! ...
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    Review: Last Argument of Kings, by Joe Abercrombie 

    Published on 05-06-2010 11:38 AM  Number of Views: 1059 
    Categories:
    1. Fantasy
    2. 5.0 Stars
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    Last Argument of Kings, by Joe Abercrombie
    Reviewed by S. J. Higbee

    Publisher:Gollancz
    Year Published: 2009

    The golden rule in any character-led story is to make said characters sympathetic so that the reader cares what will happen to them and thus engage fully with the book. Well, Joe Abercrombie trashed that one. His main protagonists are an amoral, power-mad Mage... a hard-bitten warrior whose berserker rages cause him to commit unspeakable acts of barbarity... a drunken, embittered woman who has a love affair because she can?t think of anything better to do... the cowardly, arrogant fool she slept with... Oh -- did I mention the scheming cripple who tortures innocent people for a living? ...
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    Book Review: Naked Lunch, by William S. Burroughs 

    Published on 05-29-2002 07:02 AM  Number of Views: 7 
    Categories:
    1. Fantasy
    2. 5.0 Stars
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    Naked Lunch, by William S. Burroughs
    Reviewed by Paul Kane
    Year First Published: 1959
    Rating: (5/5)

    It’s a well-known fact that William S. Burroughs wrote Naked Lunch (the title refers to a frozen moment when everyone sees what’s on the end of every fork) whilst he was still under the influence of what he termed 'the sickness'. In other words he was completely whacked out on drugs (you name it, he was on it) and couldn't even remember writing most of it when he'd finished. Apparently it was Ginsberg and Kerouac who persuaded him to publish the 'novel' without any major rewriting or alterations. But whether you agree with this decision or not (and by the end of the book you will have an opinion either way) there can be no getting around the actuality that in the 40 odd years since its release, Naked Lunch has developed into a virtual phenomenon, changing the face of American literature forever and prompting a major film adaptation from off-kilter cult director David Cronenberg. ...
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    Book Review: Grendal, by John Gardner 

    Published on 02-02-2002 10:07 AM  Number of Views: 9 
    Categories:
    1. Fantasy
    2. 5.0 Stars
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    Grendel, by John Gardner
    Reviewed by Jonathan M. Sullivan
    Year Published: 1971
    Rating: (5/5)

    John Gardner was a scholar of Anglo Saxon literature-not to mention one of the finest American novelists of the late twentieth century. His widely acclaimed novel, Grendel, first released in the early 70's (this re-issue was published in 1989), is still available-a handsome volume that wisely incorporates the original line drawings by Emil Antonucci. Go get it. ...
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