Living Up to Its Bleak Title

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Bleak Seasons: Book One of Glittering Stone by Glen Cook is the sixth chronicle of the Black Company. I found it as I was combing the paperback section in my local library for a pulpy fantasy piece of fiction. This is something that I pursue with a certain amount of trepidation. Fantasy, in general, has fallen into the trap of the most popular authors regurgitating the same tropes that made them popular in the first place, just with only slight variations. In some cases it is so bad that I have had the memory blur, being positive that I have read the book I am currently holding. There are a few friends that I go to for fantasy picks, but other than them, I have had trouble in finding something that is fresh and original. Continue reading →

Someday We Should All Be This Reflective

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After being subjected to the sequel to Dracula, I took a moment to recall the good vampire stories I had read. The most recent was The Night Wanderer by Drew Hayden Taylor, one of Canada’s most prolific indigenous authors. A good book, enjoyable read and an interesting blend of First Nations (Anishinaabe) mythos and standard vampire fare. This was my first introduction to Taylor and made note to track down some of his other work.

Now that the connection and recommendation are out of the way, I made good on reading something else of his, an award winning 1993 play, Someday. Simply brilliant. Continue reading →

Dacre, You Suck… bah, another criticism that could be mistaken for a pun

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Dracula, Bram Stoker’s cornerstone of the Gothic genre was first published in 1897. While not the first vampire story, it certainly rose to be the pinnacle of this sub-genre, by which the dapper, Eastern European vampire count would come to represent all that is alluring and revolting about being and becoming an immortal blood-sucker. Continue reading →

The Apologist – I Prefer It This Way

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I just learnt that The Apologist was the English title for Eating Crow by Jay Rayner.  I wonder why the title was changed for the American audience; if they would help in understanding the satirical humour, or to cast light on the differences between the two countries.

The novel is a bemusing look at the side of our society that wants the dark ugly things found in history to be resolved easily and cheaply, with a pat on the head and a “there-there” to quell whatever ills were, and probably still are in some way, committed against a people/culture/denomination. Continue reading →

Eden Prompts Further Evaluations

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I got out today to follow up on a desire to see Beyond Eden, a play by Bruce Ruddell. The desire was spawned by a write up that hailed the play as a good play to see, perhaps the play to see this season. This review was also backed up by my mother-in-law, whose opinion on such matters I respect a great deal. Being a musical, I wondered about how it would deal with the presentation of such a weighty matter of the removal of the totems of Haida Gwaii.

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Proroguing Article

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The cynic in me has long prevented me from getting too emotional regarding anything much associated with politics.  That is not to say that I suffer from political apathy, I just funnel my energies into the smaller, more local advocacy and am trying to change the world with more subtle means than by loud, resounding gestures.

A couple of days ago The Tyee gave me an article that might start me thinking back the other way:

Dinosaurs Laughed at Facebook Revolt

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Medicine River; another reason to read Thomas King

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Medicine River is classic Thomas King. Set in Alberta, it focuses on the relationships established by the main character, Will. Will moves back to the community that lies just outside of the reserve, after education and working as a photographer in Toronto. As much as Will makes out to be stoic, not needing to involve himself in the relations of others, he pays attention his pal, Harlen, who is the centre of all the goings on and gossip on the reserve.

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