I just finished reading Empire by Orson Scott Card, a novel about a possible future for America.  Most a thriller type of novel, though a bit scifi as well.  It was....different.  Very well written (as I expected).  Very fast-paced, though the characters could have used a *bit* more depth here and there.  It actually felt a lot like a movie novelization.  Which makes sense because in the afterward, the author notes that it's based on a notes for a video game.

It takes a lot to surprise me in either books or movies or tv most days since I typically figure out the "big reveals" way before they're shown/told.  I surmise that it's too much reading (as if there could be such a thing!) and too much tendency to expect such things after years of television series writing from Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel, Firefly/Serenity), JMS (Babylon 5), and probably the Farscape writers as well.  (Not so much the Stargate writers, alas, since they pretty much never surprise me.  Or if they try, SciFi promos ruin it.  Such as the promo for SGA: "The Kindred", part 1.  ~rolls eyes~)  Of course at the same time, being used to that caliber of writing makes me compare everything I watch to be at that level.  Sadly, most times I'm greatly disappointed.

In any case..."big reveals" and being surprised.... 

It could be because I'm not into politics nor do I understand them, but I really can't see the plot of this novel happening in America like the author can.  Perhaps I'm just naive.  Or hopeful.

I finished reading the last Trek: TNG novel, Before Dishonor by Peter David, this afternoon.  A bit more technical than I like (which meant fast skimming reading), a lot less humorous than is typical for his writing, and just .... um ...  it ended in a very unexpected way.



I am assuming that whatever the next novel chronologically, perhaps Greater Than the Sum (next July) will continue the storyline.  The others coming out next year are Mirror Universe novels, the next Titan novel, the Terok Nor trilogy, and the *much much much* anticipated continuation of the DS9 relaunch in Fearful Symmetry.  And then in fall, there's a trilogy labeled Star Trek Destiny.  Not sure what those are supposed to be about yet, though they could very well be part of the storyline the Trek authors are setting up now.  I do so love this lovely shared universe they've created.

Heroes 2x07: Out of Time



Also, currently, I reading the latest Trek novel, Before Dishonor by Peter David.  The focus, unfortunately, is the Borg again, as it pertains to Janeway and Seven.  ~sigh~  Talk about beating a dead horse.  I'm *hoping* I'll enjoy it since it's Peter David.  Thus far the highlight has been the appearance of "Lady Q" (as Janeway names her) who was portrayed by Suzie Plakson in the series and is one of my very favorite actresses (she also was K'Ehleyr on TNG).  I'm about 3 or 4 chapters in and am a bit confused already which doesn't bode well. 

Related to that, I did have to cringe a bit and at the same time nod knowingly at some of Lady Q's comments to Janeway in the opening prologue.  Something about Janeway not even realizing it if she ever lost her soul.  Yowch.  But considering who she became by the end of the series...can't say I disagree.  And I did so like her for the first half of the series.  Until Borg-land and 38ofD took over and Janeway morphed into Rambette, and the lovely chemistry developing between her and Chakotay sorta fizzled and burned as did Chakotay's character.  Of course, as one would expect, I do lay most of the blame at Braga's feet since he's also the one who ruined Enterprise and got the series cancelled due to inept handling.

Me?  Have issues?  Nah.....

So I finished reading Royal Destiny and while it was a good tale and ended logically ....  the end was unsatisfying from a romantic perspective.  ~sigh~  I got to the final chapter and then the epilogue and felt like the author changed her mind at the last minute and did the "and then they were hit by a bus" thing (quote picked up from a Mercedes Lackey book intro years and years ago).   All that bulid-up and no happy ending.  Quite disgusting.  Hopefully Sharon Shinn's Dark Moon Defender will end better.  I'm over halfway through it and thus far, it's pretty good.  Justin in my type of hero character -- strong, silent type until pushed and then out come those swords.  Heh.  What is it with me and sword-wielding heroes....

I was hoping to get some inspiration to work on the next Oracle's Tears tale which involves the "sweet/easy" romance rather than any of the "angsty/hard" ones.  I've come to the conclusion that the "sweet" ones are harder to write and not as appealing to me either to write or to watch/read.

This is probably why I like Katara/Zuko on Avatar rather than Katara/Aang.  The latter is too easy.  Sadly, I won't be the least surprised if the series ends with Katang instead of Zutara.  I'm assuming season 3 (this year) is the final season.  Though with the "Day of the Black Sun" showing up in mid-season, one wonders what will happen the rest of the season.  Perhaps rebuilding? Treaties?  Chasing "those that got away"?  Hmm....  Whatever happens, I hope that Zuko grows a bit more of a spine and stops letting others tell him what he should be doing.  He needs to figure out what he wants.  Iroh tried last season and *almost* had him being his own man but then Azula the evil persuader came along and he folded under the pressure. 

In my latest B&N email newsletter, they advertised a new hardback by Ken Follett, a sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, called World Without End.  I've read Pillars twice (massive though it is) and very much enjoyed it, so I'll have to check this sequel out once it hits paperback.

I've just finished the latest SG: Atlantis novel, Casualties of War, and it was excellent.  Much more in character than most of the previous novels.  (I am so going to miss Elizabeth on the series.  I like Sam and all, but I liked Elizabeth more on SGA.)   I'm currently on book #3 of the Queen of the Orcs series, Royal Destiny, by Morgan Howell.  Fairly intriguing, with a strong (if struggling) heroine, prophecies, visions, court politics, cultural differences, and a dollop of angsty, starcrossed-type romance on the side.  Definitely my kind of tale.  I'm looking forward to seeing how everything ends.

I came across a blurb at Amazon the other day for an autobiography I might want to read: My Name Is Anne, She Said, Anne Frank by Jacqueline van Maarsen (Amazon link).

I've read The Diary of Anne Frank several times over the years and this book, written by a childhood friend, looks very interesting.  Though, per usual, I'll wait until it hits paperback since I'm picky about what hardbacks I get.

I thought perhaps I should actually start *using* this LJ rather than it just sitting here.  Not that I really feel like I know what I'm doing...or that I have any real thoughts about what I'm going to put here...

Perhaps I'll start with probably my favorite thing to do: reading.

I just finished (yesterday) rereading No Man's Land by Greg Rucka, the novelization of the No Man's Land comics series from some years back.  The first time I'd read it, I knew just the basics of the characters.  Reading it now after getting back into DC comics (starting somewhat with the Identity Crisis HC and then a bit later with the return of Kara Zor-El Supergirl...though I wish she was more like the DCAU Supergirl) again...  It was different, actually knowing more about who they all were, since prior to that, most of my knowledge about the DC universe came from the various animated series and not really from the comics themselves.

Of course, speaking of the animated series...  I can hardly wait for the new animated DC movies being released.  The trailer for Superman Doomsday looked great!  And the preview trailer for The New Frontier looked very intriguing.  I've read the novelization of the first, but nothing really for the second, so I don't know much about it beyond it being Golden Age.  When I saw that Lucy Lawless was doing Wondy's voice, I had to chuckle.  That oughtta be a kick.