Book Review: Vampire Hunter D Volume 05: The Stuff of Dreams by Hideyuki Kikuchi

Vampire Hunter D Volume 05: The Stuff of Dreams by Hideyuki Kikuchi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was some suprising read. I read it in one go, well in one morning. Thats highly unusual for me but I had to go to the medic and after five hours of it I finish the book. Living an hour away from the hospital sometimes got its perks.

After a year or something away from D I really wanted to get in the mood because I like the idea behind him but at some time I feel like some trepidation reading these novels.

Vampire Hunter D is a mighty god alike without flaws and that is my main problem with him. After reading the previous novels I felt that I really couldnt connect with him. But since I had enjoyed the scenarios Kikuchi portrays, the setting, the amazing vistas, the odd animals/beasts that roam the land that is a mix of post apocalyptic and western is great. Unfortunaly the characters has his flaws. I enjoy the "upgrade" we got on D and his Hand but at the same time they feel distant as previous books. It seem that after so many battles. no one can defeat him and he knows it. He is as I said a perfect dhampir god. This upsets me because I fail to "feel" the character battles because I already know the outcome.

In this novel D is summoned by a dream to a town where the nobility lives side by side with humankind or at least had and no harm befalls his inhabitants. The source of these dreams is a girl that has been asleep for 30years.

Interesting plot yet simple to understand and this novel reminds me of some noir/mystery from the 40's.

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Book Review: O Natal de Poirot by Agatha Christie

O Natal de Poirot by Agatha Christie
My rating: 8 of 10 stars

Another Poirot tale of mystery and gruesome killing. This one was like the previous where Poirot enters the fray at half the book to help the police.

It was a quick read that made me think hard on would be the killer. I figure it out that Pilar was not who we were told she was. But I never would figure it out who the killer was.

Poor characterization (comparing with Ten Little Niggers or Murder in the Orient Express) and it was hard to me to keep tracking who was who, or even trying to guessing who might be the killer because they were weak characters with the exception of Alfred, Harry, Stephen and Pilar.

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Book Review: Elfslayer by Nathan Long

Elfslayer by Nathan Long
My rating: 8 of 10 stars

A good addition to the Gotrek Series. No doubt about it. Nathan Long as a different way of writing G&F stories but they are great nevertheless. But unfortunally now he stopped writing and other books are being written that don't follow the straight line they were travelling so far.

In this book we start right after last one (Manslayer) with Gotrek morose because he couldn't arrive at the last battle in the Storm of Chaos Invasion. After meeting with some old friends (Max) they search for something that might destroy the Olde Worlde by a elven reliquary long thought to be lost.

In this book, Thanquol also appears and in this book they come face to face, which never happened before. Right until now, they had battle Skaven but never learn of the Grey Seer. This was done in such a way that I laugh. So much energy, years, power and Gotrek and Felix never even heard of Thanquol.

Here they battle dark elves, pirates, skaven and even sharks. I really enjoy the last battle as Gotrek battles a Great Daemon of Slaanesh and when he says that Gotrek is meant to someone higher than it. What are they talking about??? What is greater than a Daemon Prince? A God? Which God? It's unfortunate that Long stopped writing, and we bet we won't be seeing the end until the "cow" stop making money.

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Book Review: Um Corpo na Biblioteca by Agatha Christie

Um Corpo na Biblioteca by Agatha Christie
My rating: 6 of 10 stars

A new Miss Marple story. In this story she has a bigger role that her previous book and people recogonize her skills since Sir Henry (one of the protagonists from her previous stories) asks for her help, not knowing that she was already in the case.

This story begins with a body being found in a closed library of a noble house. After investigating several angles I think this was one of the most easy Christie's novels even If I didn't found out about the second murderer... yes there are two. I enjoyed the novel and I read it in a couple of days on my way to work and in bed.

Quite a new addition to Marple personality that we haven't seen so elaborate before because of the small parts she had. The story itself it's great because of Christie comparision of societies and the way she saw aristocracy, the new age rebelds. Quite good. It's even funny how a story begins to travel through the village that changes a little bit everytime it passes from people to people...

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Book Review: Deep Sky by Patrick Lee

Deep Sky by Patrick Lee
My rating: 8 of 10 stars

This book ended this trilogy. Don't know if there will be more but I don't think so. This book is quite good. If the first and second were thrillers with SF elements, this one is the reverse.

In this novel we've got Travis and Paige (now it's girlfriend) as they watch the president of USA being killed. The only lead is Scalar that leads to the beginning of Tangent. In this novel we've got all threads resolved, including why Travis Chase actions will kill millions of people and why Paige as to kill him.

This third book is full of twists but with a bittersweet ending fulffils my expectations. Patrick Lee is one heck of a writer and one of those that I will buy what he publish. I read that he is publishing a new trilogy of thrillers but I will wait to read them all from the beginning to the end. I think that's the way to read a trilogy. Not waiting for a year. Excelent! Advisable to people who enjoy thrillers, Sci-fi, X-Files and conspiracies theories.

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Book Review: What Price Victory by Anthology

What Price Victory by Marc Gascoigne
My rating: 8 of 10 stars

This was an interesting anthology with one of my favourite tales of all times set in the warhammer 40k.

"Elucidium" by Simon Spurrier is a masterpiece. This tale made me swear in the end. It's that good. Twist upon twist that make you think what a heck just happenend. A inquisitor that really puts a question in our mouth. What a heck would you sacrifice to achieve victory in the end? What are willing to sacrifice? Surely Simon Spurrier is one of the best authors to write for BL. Unfortunally he left. Just one correction. Istaavanias were named after the Battle of Istvaan and not a inquisitor called Istvaar. Jaw Dropping. Expect a genestealer point of view.

"Thorn Wishes Talon" by Dan Abnett written is a prequel of Ravenor. I didn't read it because I am waiting for reading Eisenhorn first.

Mitchel Scanlon's "Forever Loyal" is a story about a PDF unit (but with guardsmen elements) try to uncover the mysteries of a long forgotten city. Their they find that it's not that deserted as it seems.

"Calculus Logi" by Hinks is a nice story with an interesting twist. Mechanicum versus human. Which is more pure? Which are the true son of the God-Emperor or are both? Indeed, at what price victory?"

"Crimson Night" by James Swallow is a story with two of my favourite chapters. Doom Eagles and Flesh Tearers. Unfortunally in my humble opinion Simon Spurrier tale of Doom Ealges in another anthology is way better than this one. The Doom Eagles on this book feel like other chapter without anything particular. The Flesh Tearers in the other hand are well portrayed with their arrogance and faults. Good story."

"Hunter/Prey" by Andy Hoare is a good tale about IG against Chaos Marine as they get help from nowhere. Satisfying.

Sandy Mitchell's "The Beguiling" is a Ciaphas Cain story. As other tales by him he gets himself into trouble even if he doesn't want it. In the end as other novels he is hailed as a hero. (A bit repetitive at times).


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Book Review: Crime no Vicariato by Agatha Christie

Crime no Vicariato by Agatha Christie
My rating: 6 of 10 stars

This was the first novel I read with Miss Marple but as I am getting to know the main protagonist are always other people. This book is told in the first perspective of the Vicar of Saint Mary Mead. He is married with Griselda which was an interesting character and a bit different from other previous books I read of Agatha Christie. Probably too un-wife I came to read in Christie's novels. Knowing that this book is from the 30's it seems that Christie puts forward a different type of woman we didn't believe to exist on that time. Most of all, an un-vicar wife if you like. But nevertheless they love each other.

Besides the short-story novel this is the first appearance of Miss Marple. A victorian point of view (I think it is said in the second book "Body in The Library") and always thinking the worst of people (and everytime correct) and giving parallels with other situations that she experience in her life.

Other interesting and what it seems recurring characters are Dr Haydock, Colonel Melchett (who gives a lot of credit to Miss Marple) and the arrogant Inspector Slack. Leonard and Griselda Clement are also present in Body of Library and other tales. I think other habbitants of Saint Mary Mead are present here as well.

With the dead of a husband both his wife and lover say they are the killers and Miss Marple must find the killer before everyone gets free.

I think another Christie's book happens the same thing. It will never be my favourite story but I think Miss Marple is an interesting character even if she is almost a minor character.

Funny that both Poirot and Marple are without partner. Funny that they work in two different ways but get the same results (resolving crimes). One is an arrogant and believes in love and people and only trust his brain cells (logic) and other is a victorian personallity that always thing the worst of people and uses her life (ProblamyInductive reasoning y) to solve her crimes.


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Book Review: Ghost Country by Patrick Lee

Ghost Country by Patrick Lee
My rating: 6 of 10 stars

Usually with every trilogies or sagas there is also the possibility that the second book will drag on and give nothing and you will feel empty and without patience to start the third book. That's the evil in the second book - or to be more precise the Middle book Syndrome. It's a real thing... read this article "http://www.bookbrats.com/middle-book-..."

But this particular book that doesn't happen. I will not dwelt on the synopsis (read the review of the first book). This book starts two years after the incidents on the first book and Travis Chase (our main character) was sent to alaska to keep low profile. Why? (again check the first review but I will summarize here) Travis in the end of the first book got the information that he was the creator of the "The Whisper" and because of that Paige (the girl she loves) will kill him because his creation will result on the killing of a lot of people. But a new entity as come from The Breach and Travis must united with Paige. This book deals with the future world of what if. Imagine an X-Files episode mix with the Fringe and then add some more conspiracy theory and you've got it. Action scenes are there and inbetween we've got development of the characters, descrition of technology and the Entity.

I don't think this book is better than the first nor the third but it's a good book that will make you wonder what happens in the third.

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TV Series Review: Doctor Who (Season 10) 1973

Well... The tenth series of Doctor Who (1973) was quite sad... well at least the last season it was... But let us start....

The Three Doctors was an interesting tale with 4 episodes where we got to see the first three doctors. It was interesting to return to see William Hartnell & Patrick Troughton. Interesting little tale about how the Time Lords needed help. As a reward they made the Third Doctor realeased the Doctor form Time Travelling. Finally!

The Departure of Jo Grant... :(

The Second story was Carnival of Monsters. Good episodes about SS Bernice last voyage. Interesting tale of monsters and reality. I really enjoy Jo & Doctor connection.. I believe they both love one another.

Frontier in Space is a tale that puts the Doctor between a coming war between a future Earth & Draconian Empires. Really interesting tale that makes the last appearance of the Master (Roger Delgado) and the return of The Daleks

Planet of the Daleks another good story about the Daleks and their master-plan to conquer the galaxy. 

The last story was The Green Death that makes the last appearence of Jo Grant. What a bogus. I really enjoy Jo and I know that for once The Doctor loved her as well... it was to forced.. She meets a guy and decides to marry her (they even haven't kiss yet..) Weak weak weak resolution.. We see the doctor leaving the party sad...

Book Review: A Land of Ash by David Dalglish

A Land of Ash by David Dalglish
My rating: 8 of 10 stars

Wanting to know how good was David Daglish and seeing this anthology for free in his website I start reading it. A quick reading.

This is a anthology of several interconnected stories about the apocalyptic scenario of Yellowstone eruption. Long has been debated about what would happenend to North America and the World if that supervolcano erupted. The estimatives would be that North America would vanish beneath a mantle of ash and the rest of the world would suffer a nuclear winter.

Would it be a end-of-life scenario? I don't think so.
1815 eruption of Mount Tambora led to know "Year Without a Summer" but in no way a end-of-the-world scenarion. Maybe an USA end scenario. The USA would cease to exist as we know.

Now the stories:

-One Last Dinner Party by David Dalglish was the first story of this anthology and what a beginning. One of the questions of apocalpytic fiction is, when it comes how will you going to face it? It's inevitable, so face it proud or try in vain to hide? Daglish is a good writer.

-Alone on the Mountain by David McAfee - Second story set in the same world as the first. Here we are presented with a survivalist and the first look upon the End of the World as Yellowstone explodes. It is said that if he did probably it would mean a Nuclear Winter worldwide.

-Beach Puppies by Daniel Arenson. In this tale is another tale like the first. How will we face the inevitable? Here we learn about "lottery" tickets some people were awarded to escape the deathly cloud of ash."

-Shelter by David Dalglish. In this tale we follow a child and a father trying to survive the initial impact of the cloud of ash. The first thing that will kill you after the initial blast is ash. It will kill from the inside out. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (the largest word in english dictionary) will occur.

-Beach Puppies By Daniel Arenson. In this tale is another tale like the first. How will we face the inevitable? Here we learn about "lottery" tickets some people were awarded to escape the deathly cloud of ash.

-Toward the storm by David Dalgish is a tale of survive after the storm by Gertrude and Alice, the cat until they met Samuel a wanderer. What do you believe after a cataclysmic event? God? Or is everything a ilusion.

-Last words, uninteresting story. Weak and doesn't fit in this anthology. A few keywords like ASH but that doesn't mean that belongs here. Be careful what you wish for...

-Refugees - is there any hope remaining? The story was an interesting view of the aftermath of the Event and what must a human do to be alive.

-A Harmless American - for decades mexicans violate the border of the USA but now it's the other way around. What would you do if you saw another human being suffering?

-Secret Mission - forgetful story.

-The One that Matters - After the cataclystic event what does it matter? Help is on the way and the only thing that matters are children. Here we see the wide scope of humankind. Some will try to do the right thing while others will be ruled by animalistic side. This is the best part of all apocalpytic fiction.

- Let It continue - A light in the dark. This story is in the same tone of the "The One That Matters" but in a different way. Quite good story. Is life prioritary in this darkness and death?

Overall, good interconnected stories with a post-apocalpytic event. David Daglish is quite good writer and even if he was leaving is confort area and wrote as he wrote then he is an excelent writer.


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Movie Review: The Sea of Trees (2015) & The Monster (2016)

I have not much time to make lengthily review about the last movies I've watch so this are going to be rather small....

The Sea of Trees was one movie I start watching  in October but only finish in November. I started because it was a japanese/american movie and I thought it was horror but after watching 30m I understood it was not so I stop watching because it wouldn't count to the October Horror Fest.

The Sea of Trees is a story that is set mainly in Japan and deals with Loss and suicide. There is a place in japan, a forest to be precise with a history of suicides and death. So much people suicide there every year that they've got leaflets, signs and such to dissuade people of commit suicide. When I went to Scotland one of their bridges also famous for suicide also had some signs and telephone posts and a net so people won't commit suicide.

It's nice story with some interesting flashbacks that make us think and ponder our own life decisions. The main question is... Is suicide always wrong? 

Matthew McConaughey, Ken Watanabe, Naomi Watts all do a great job (basically this are the only characters in the all movie).



The Monster (2016)
This movie was a very good and strange. It's two movies in one. The "present" is about a woman and her daughter travelling to meet her father so she can live with him. Meanwhile the car breaks down and a monster makes siege. The other part of the movie the "past" deals with this woman and child trying to live with one another. The problem is that this mother is a "monster" per se because of drinking and drugs. I understand the allegory between the monster and mother and that made me be on the edge throughout the movie. The ending was very nice as we see her mother, who scream at her, who neglected her, who didn't give a crap, sacrificing for her child... I think out of guilt... like an Iron Maiden song... "It's funny how it is... you'll never miss it until it's gone away..."

Both the mother and daughter really stand out..

Movie Review: Hundra (1983)

I will make some small reviews about some movies I've watch this couple of months. 
I have watched Hundra or as someone would say... She-Conan. This movie went far beyond the concept of Red Sonja. Basically there was a tribe of woman living by themselves. Some were warriors and others were child-bearers. They only need man to procreate...  Imagine amazons.

So, one day when Hundra and her faithful cowardly dog went to hunt some men from a tribe basically killed everyone. Hundra as she returns confronts a dozen of those men and escapes but in the mountains she kills every one of them bar one.  She then went to ancient one and ask what she must do. Of course the woman said go Procreate to start anew. Where she ask? To the south. The bull clan? But they were the ones who kill my family... Yeah go there and procreate... WTF?

She went and found a man who she was interest to be her father's child.  But he didn't want her because she had no manners and was a barbarian. So she threat to kill him and said she would rape him. He said it doesn't work that way... She then went to the palace who basically enslaves woman and ask for tips from a slave girl.

The men there try to bow her down but couldn't do it... Then finally she learn, fvck the man and bear his child. Then the prince of the town who had a mission to break her down, kidnap her child and made her be on their knees. The slave girl with the help of the man release the baby and Hundra killed them all. 

She then leaves with the baby and the dog to go to the ancient one and start anew... the ancient one says in a narrator voice that part of Hundra lives in every woman.

I don't know what to think of this movie... It's a exploitation movie? It's a fantasy movie for women? I really can't understand. She is powerful as Red Sonja but it's different ways of seeing the world. Is this a movie to women? I don't know... It's in the borderline...

Monthly Update -November 2016 - Movies, Series and Animes

Here we go again to our monthly review... 

Stan Against Evil

Last month was focus on movies, this one I try to catch up with series and anime...

Series  (75 Eps)

• Doctor Who - I watch 37 Episodes. From Season 9 The Sea Devils (6); The Mutants (6) and the Time Monster (6). From Season 10 The Time Doctors (4) very interesting to see the first and second doctor again...; The Carnival of Monsters (4); Frontier in Space (6) And Planet of the Daleks (5 - missing one to finish it)
• Ash vs Evil Dead - Season 2 - I watched 8 Episodes.  A lot more darker than the first. Highly advisable...
• Z Nation - Season 3 - I watched 8 Episodes. Again, highly advisable to anyone who wants to watch some zombie fiction. A bit different from everything out there...
• Lucifer - Season 1 - I watch 3 Episodes with my wife. We are really enjoying them...
• Van Helsing - Season 1 - After a weak start I am enjoying a lot now... Everybody is dying. It seems they are trying to mix a bit and do a more dark series... Very nice. I watched 8 Episodes.
• Stan Against Evil - Season 1- I watched it all. 8 Episodes. Awesome comedy horror show. The main protagonist from Scrubs is excelent guy...
• Zapped Season 1 (?) I Watch the 3 episodes that come out.. Very interesting fantasy, comedy in the vein of Terry Pratchett.

Zapped

I also watch Modern Family & The Big Bang Theory with my wife but I am not counting in the grand total here...

I am going to start watching The Librarians S03. Probably going to finish Colony; The Expanse; Braindead; Slasher; Thunderbolth Fantasy; Aftermath and Dead Summer. 

Animes (70 Eps)

From Previous Seasons

•  Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School - Despair Arc - 8 Eps. Review Here
• Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School - Future Arc  6 Eps  Review Here
• Days 4 Eps - The Football series continue... Started Last season, continues. 4 Episodes to go...
• Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan (TV) - 4 Eps The comedy series continues... 5m episodes, each episode has 4 segment. Started Last season, continues. 4 Episodes to go...
• Hitori no Shita: The Outcast - 3 Eps Last season action, supernatural fightning anime...

Series that Started This fall...

• Bernard-jou Iwaku - 8 Eps - A nice series of 5m a piece about books...
• Kiitarou Shounen no Youkai Enikki  - 8 Eps - Another nice 5 minutes series about Yokai...
• Sengoku Choujuu Giga - 1 Eps
• All-Out  - 8 Eps -  A really interesting anime about a sport I never saw in anime.. Rugby
• My Wife is the Student Council President!+ - 9 Eps - The adventurous and misadventurous of a young couple (married because of their family) and their friends... A lot of fan-service. But too much funny to watch..
• Ao Oni: The Animation - 8 Eps A nice 5m series about a monster that is set to devour their house inhabitants... 
• www.working - 1 Eps - A reboot? Of some old series about a place and their emplyoees. Slice of Lifes meets comedy... So far so good.
• Nanbaka - 1 Eps - Can't really say I understood that comedy.. Basically a top prison facility and their prisoners... 
• Drifters  - 1 Eps - A Series about people being transported to another place... to do what? We don't know yet. We follow those three characters...

Drifters

Movies (7 Eps)

Actually it was 6 but one of them I included there because I couldn't put on anime series. It was a closure for Danganronpa

• The Sea of Tress - Excellent movie. IT features a forest in Japan famous for a suicide spot. Hundreds of people commit suicide there each year. Of course the movie is more than that. It's about a man, who is trying to commit suicide. It's full of flashbacks and it was very beautiful in the end. Advisable.
• As the Gods Will - Another Japanese movie I watched. This was awesome. A movie that mixes The Hunger games and Battle Royale and throws a bit of Japanese anime. Excellent movie. Why a second movie wasn't make?

AS the Gods Will It.

• Baskin - Who could have guess that from Turkey came a great horror movie. Very interesting. A group of policemen go to a place that is a doorway to hell... Not that frightening but very good movie neverthless.
• The monster - The monster is a strange movie. It's two movies in one. One part is a child and her mother trying to fight a monster in the dark. The other part of the movie, told in flashbacks, is the relation of the mother and girl. And in the end we ask... What is a monster?
• Automata - was a movie I watch but didn't expect much. It deliver a punch. Basically humanity was killed off. Only a small portion of humans survive in filthy cities. They built robots to try to claim the desert. When they failed they were turn into housekeeping guys and other stuff guys. Basically they have two rules.. what happens when one or both rules stop working? It's basically I Robot in another guise. More serious. More interesting but less action scenes. I love Antonio Banderas movies..
• Dracula Untold - Being a huge fan of Dracula I watch this movie in one day. Awesome fantasy movie. This is not the real story of Vlad Tepes but a fantasy Vlad Tepes. He existed correct. He impaled people correct. He was not a good man, correct. After that it's anybody guess. In here he had a wife and child and he rebelled against the turks after they try to take away his son... As I said. Good advisable fantasy movie.
•  Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School -Hope Arc - The culmination of Danganronpa. Good finale, didn't understood why the need for it. They could have made one extra episode in Future.