Review Category: Books

THE CRAWLING TERROR (DOCTOR WHO)

BOOK REVIEW: THE CRAWLING TERROR (DOCTOR WHO) / AUTHOR: MIKE TUCKER / PUBLISHER: BBC BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

Mike Tucker has written numerous books and audios for Doctor Who and is one of the first to write for the twelfth Doctor. The Crawling Terror contains many familiar ingredients such as stone circles, GM crops, mad scientists and an essentially English village. It is what Mike does with them that makes this book a pleasure to read.

The story is set in and around the village of Ringstone, whose inhabitants find themselves suddenly assaulted by a range of giant insects. Matters worsen as the Doctor and Clara arrive to find that sinister alien forces (aren’t they always!) are at work trying to repeating certain events from World War II.

The village of Ringstone gets its name from the local standing stone circle once bombed by the Nazis and now close to the new science laboratories on the edge of town. The Doctor has to identify just what is happening while Clara gets imprisoned and used as a pawn in a stand-off between a deranged scientist and the Doctor. If that wasn’t enough, the military are waiting nearby to resolve matters in the way they know best. There are several characters in the story, from the local vet, the village bobby, and the inquisitive schoolboy. These are not just there for the ride but also move the story along; they give the reader something familiar to hold on to as the giant insects wreak terror, and Mike Tucker does well not to dip too far into the horrific elements of this tale, but far enough to be unsettling.

The Crawling Terror packs in the action and enough elements for several stories, yet does this without becoming ridiculous. We also very much recognise the new, twelfth Doctor from the writing and his updated relationship with Clara. Overall this is an enjoyable book and is recommended.

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SCI-FI CHRONICLES: A VISUAL HISTORY OF THE GALAXY’S GREATEST SCIENCE FICTION

BOOK REVIEW: SCI-FI CHRONICLES: A VISUAL HISTORY OF THE GALAXY’S GREATEST SCIENCE FICTION / AUTHOR: GUY HALEY / PUBLISHER: AURUM PRESS / RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 2ND

The sci-fi genre has always fascinated, and for well over a hundred years has provided an artistic outlet for many, utilising almost every available medium. This weighty tome attempts to give an overview of the progression of the various different properties that have emerged over that time.

Laid out in chronological order, what we have is a potted – but incredibly detailed – history of science fiction, from the publication of Frankenstein in 1818 right up to Avatar (2009). Nothing particularly ground-breaking, then? Well, actually, yes. Rather than follow the standard for a chronology – which would involve a lot of two-and-throwing should one wish to look up, say, Doctor Who. Instead, each entry follows the timeline of a particular story, film, writer, etc. in one entry. So, for example, H.G. Wells’ section contains an overview of his work, then various adaptations, in the various mediums. Entries that have a rich legacy of reinterpretation and adaptation also have a timeline graphic at the bottom of the page, which is great for at-a-glance reference. There’s also pages dedicated to specific ‘universe’ items. For instance, there’s a Dune entry that attempts to summarise the epic saga within a few hundred words, but this, along with a timeline of important events in the story may well be enough for someone to bluff their way through a conversation on Frank Herbert’s work.

There’s so much crammed into this book, it becomes a joy to just flick to a random page and learn something new. It’s not going to go in-depth on the intricacies of plots, or provide everything you always wanted to know about Seaquest DSV, but there’s more than enough here to keep one entertained, fascinated and educated for hours.

It’s something one can keep coming back to, just like any good reference book should be. Beautifully illustrated and written in a comfortable style that is neither condescending nor dumbed-down, it’s an impressive read.

THE ABYSS BEYOND DREAMS

BOOK REVIEW: THE ABYSS BEYOND DREAMS / AUTHOR: PETER F HAMILTON / PUBLISHER: DEL REY / RELEASE DATE 21^st OCTOBER

Peter F Hamilton has a bit of a reputation for producing books that are so lengthy and dense that if one were to fall on your head, you’d be lucky to get away with a severe concussion. The Abyss Beyond Dreams certainly lives up to this reputation and if you’re a fan of his previous works then you should be very careful; this is a long, but also addictive, work. Make sure you have a weekend free and plenty of food in the fridge.

The Abyss Beyond Dreams fits into Hamilton’s Commonwealth setting quite neatly. For those unfamiliar with it, this is a world where mankind has pretty much conquered the galaxy and travel between stars has become reasonably trivial thanks to a system of wormholes and a train-like transit system. Set in 3326, it follows the further exploits of long-lived ‘adventure’ capitalist Nigel Sheldon. Following an encounter with the wise and pragmatic alien race , the Raiel, Sheldon embarks on a mission to discover more about the strange part of space known as The Void . Being Nigel, things do not go entirely to plan, but he comes across a colony of humans who have somehow survived in this most hostile part of space.

Hamilton’s work frequently dances across the line between far-future fantasy and hard science, and it’s no different here. The Void turns out to be a place where a kind of magic is possible and the humans that already dwell here have combined their diminishing technology with the amazing powers that are freely available. This is vital because they’re beset by an alien menace known as the Fallers; an insidious and violent breed that could easy destroy mankind if they ever got out of The Void. These villains do feel awfully familiar in places to monsters in some of Hamilton’s earlier work, and it’s tempting to suggest the Commonwealth series has an overwhelming theme of xenophobic paranoia at its heart.

Hamilton’s writing style is certainly not to everybody’s taste. The prose is thick, the concepts are expounded upon at length and some of the characterisation is cartoonish at best. However, it does have the power to hold you hostage and when you think the story isn’t going anywhere fast it hits you with another idea or plot point and suddenly you’re hooked again.

The Abyss Beyond Dreams is not for everyone; it’s weird, lengthy, filled with overly macho characters and feels terribly English in places, and yet it is also a thoroughly enjoyable and unstoppable work that will leave you craving more. Fans will adore it and whilst it is also quite friendly to new readers, those new to his work should start at the beginning of the Commonwealth series with Misspent Youth and enjoy the entire wild ride.

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INTERVIEWS TOO SHOCKING TO PRINT

BOOK REVIEW: INTERVIEWS TOO SHOCKING TO PRINT / AUTHOR: JUSTIN HUMPHREYS / PUBLISHER: BEAR MANOR MEDIA / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

The title might be a little misleading – there’s little in the way of shocking in the interviews contained in this book – but this is a great book of interviews, articles and essays nonetheless. Humphreys has collected together these interviews with often obscure directors, writers, visual f/x artists, and production designers over a period of years, and the result is an affectionate glimpse into the fringes of Hollywood, and some of the lesser-known, often forgotten and/or overlooked talent residing there.

In his eloquent introduction, Humphreys explains the reasons for his eclectic choice of interviewees: “their work always connected deeply with me, and a filmmaker’s popularity seldom had anything to do with whether or not I interviewed them. I have never felt, for example, that Chuck Griffith ever got his due.” Griffith was the writer, director and actor best known for his work with Roger Corman (amongst other things he wrote Death Race 2000), but was involved in many more. Likewise, the directors Herbert L. Strock and Gene Fowler Jr. are rarely – if ever – interviewed, but directed the B movie classics I Was a Teenage Werewolf and Blood of Dracula, and their insights into the making of these films are fascinating. Humphreys intersperses transcribed interviews with interview-based articles, and he is erudite interviewer and journalist; the interviews and articles are witty, fun and often quite poignant. In writing about the late actor William Finley (Sisters, Phantom of the Paradise, The Funhouse), Humphreys describes writing a eulogy for Finley’s funeral in 2012: “Bill was like a ten-year-old kid who loved celebrating Halloween 365 days a year.” For Finley and the other interviewees in the book who have since sadly passed on in the intervening years – including the make-up artist William Tuttle – there could scarcely be a better tribute to them than this book.

Not all the interviewees in the book are as obscure as Finley, Strock and Fowler; within its pages there are the likes of director Robert Wise, production designer Jack Fisk, and writer Alan Ball. All give interesting and revealing anecdotes to Humphreys, and the book is generously illustrated with scores of rare photographs, many supplied by the interviewees themselves.

Belying its title, Interviews Too Shocking To Print is a charming love letter to monster movies of old, and an essential collection for cult film fans. Highly recommended.

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DANGEROUS WOMEN PART ONE

BOOK REVIEW: DANGEROUS WOMEN PART ONE / EDITORS: GEORGE R.R. MARTIN, GARDNER DOZOIS / PUBLISHED: TOR BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 30TH

Dangerous Women Part One is the initial instalment of the paperback version of a hardback book called Dangerous Women, which came out last year. Parts two and three are on the way, all in that handy little format that slips easily into a jacket pocket and can be read on the train.

The main attraction here is the George R.R. Martin novella ‘The Princess and the Queen’. Set in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, (the same place as A Game of Thrones), this is a lengthy account of war between warring Targaryen families. In short, this means solid dragon-on-dragon action. Set in the setting’s distant past, Martin’s narrative style is different to the mosaic format most of his fans are used to; it’s meant to be a historical account presented in a way that is entertaining. It moves along at a reasonably entertaining pace and you can almost imagine an excited academic expounding on all the gory details of the war.

The pace continues with Carrie Vaughn’s short tale, Raisa Stepanova. Set in Russia during World War II, it’s the tale of a young woman who has worked hard to become a fighter pilot. Tightly written and exciting, its tone fits the dragon-fire-led excitement of the previous story perfectly well. Next up is Nancy Kress’ Second Arabesque, Very Slowly. This post-apocalyptic drama is slow and, though extremely earnest, feels mechanical and soulless. Kress reduces her supporting cast to rabid and idiotic drones in order to make us care about the main characters, and it simply makes for a depressing tale that goes nowhere. Lawrence Block’s crime drama, I Know How to Pick ’Em is similarly lacklustre, feeling uneven and plodding in places. However, Megan Abbot’s crime drama, My Heart Is Either Broken, makes up for this disappointment by being both dark and engaging. Joe R. Lansdale is up next with a tale of two wrestlers which is, alas, instantly forgettable. The collection is finished off with a Brandon Sanderson tale of murder in the dark, Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell. It’s a fine story of motherhood, lost innocence, deceit, and hideous spectres that can wither you into dust.

Over all, Dangerous Women Part One is worth it for both Martin and Sanderson’s contributions. About half of the other stories stand their ground quite well, and it does feel like they’ve shuffled some of the less interesting stories into this collection, knowing that Martin’s name will sell the book regardless. If you’re a Song of Ice and Fire fan and you don’t already have this story, then now’s your chance.

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BATTLESTAR GALACTICA VAULT: THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE SERIES 1978 – 2012

BOOK REVIEW: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA VAULT: THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE SERIES, 1978-2012 / AUTHOR: PAUL RUDITIS / PUBLISHER: AURUM PRESS / RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 23RD

In this age of websites and e-books, it’s sometimes easy to forget that books themselves can be beautiful objects in their own right. Sometimes, you want a thing that is not only worth reading, but will also look very pretty on the shelf afterwards. Battlestar Galactica Vault: The Complete History of The Series, 1978-2012 is a fine example of a work that is not only designed to delight a certain sort of fan, but also meant to look lovely on a shelf filled with all things Battlestar Galactica.

The book is a dense hardback with a magnetic flap cover; pull back the cover and you get treated to two envelopes filled with goodies and 170 odd-pages of glossy images and easy flowing text. The author has done his best to be comprehensive here and the book does go into a lot of detail on the subject of both shows. Ruditis has tracked down interviews with people from across the history of the series, and it’s interesting to compare the radically different approaches between the old series and the reboot. The insights into the ending of each series are particularly interesting and useful, especially to those who may have been disappointed by the end of the rebooted series.

There is some nice commentary on the various spin-off shows, though not that much on the notorious Galactica 1980, which many fans may be thankful for. This is very much a friendly book written by fans for fans; don’t expect any down-and-dirty gossip, and certainly don’t expect any particular revelations. Instead, what we have is the sort of window into the series that most fans have not gotten before and a clearer understanding as to how much sci-fi TV shows have changed over the years. It’s a solid read, written in an easy going and friendly style, and is effortless to dip into and out of.

Production wise, it’s well presented, though those with clumsy fingers should be warned: this is a pretty coffee table book designed to be enjoyed at home and won’t stand up to unusual abuse. The envelopes in the front and back that contain the various memorabilia can be easily torn by the careless, and the glossy pages will bend if you’re too rough with them. Handsome this book may be, but it isn’t a field manual and shouldn’t be treated like one.

The memorabilia that comes with the book is a lot of fun. In addition to a vintage style poster, we get print outs from the Galactica and a copy of one of Starbuck’s maps, we also get film stills and scripts. These little details are a real treat and even though they’re all replicas, you really feel a connection to both versions of the show. Those still addicted Battlestar Galactica will be delighted by this addition to their horde of Galactica-related loot.

THE SIMPSONS FAMILY HISTORY

BOOK REVIEW: THE SIMPSONS FAMILY HISTORY / AUTHOR: MATT GROENING / PUBLISHER: HARRY N ABRAMS / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

Matt Groening has produced a hefty tome with The Simpsons Family History; a book destined to grace the coffee tables of many a fan of the show come Christmas morning. It’s a 300-page epic keen to tell you that the show is now 25 years old and that this is a celebration of television’s favourite family.

This book takes material from numerous episodes and re-orders them into a chronology; this of course does rather highlight the ‘Simpsons Dating Conundrum’ in that the show is always set in the present, yet has run for more than two decades. As the characters (poor Maggie included) don’t age beyond the odd birthday / Christmas (and rather a lot of Halloweens) the exact period in history of any event becomes rather haphazard.

The Simpsons Family History ignores all this and, instead, shows us the birth of Homer, his mother, meeting Marge (several times) and their courtship. The book then races through past Homer’s jobs, the births of Bart, Lisa and Maggie, and not a lot else. This is the weakness; there is no actual substance to this book, nothing added to your appreciation of the show.

Ultimately, any Simpsons fan will get some entertainment by dipping into this book and be reminded of many of the shows stories, but that will quickly wear thin. Given the level of re-runs available on the small screen it is not likely that many will read it cover to cover or return to it once the first wave of interest has washed over them.

This is destined to be opened on Christmas Day, browsed on Boxing Day, but by Twelfth Night put away on a shelf and forgotten until the space is needed for something else. This is really only for serious fans of the show with space on their shelves.

DISCOVERING SCARFOLK

BOOK REVIEW: DISCOVERING SCARFOLK / AUTHOR: RICHARD LITTLER / PUBLISHER: EBURY / RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 16TH

There was a time in British history in which the outside world seemed terribly sinister, everything was falling apart and people were frequently cold and hungry. Worse still, if you believe the photos of the time, everything had a washed out, sepia-like tinge to it that made it all the more depressing. This time was the 1970’s, and it provides a backdrop to the creepy yet hilarious world of Scarfolk, an English town that has been forsaken by all things, including reality itself.

The 192-page hardback novel Discovering Scarfolk started out as a satirical blog created by graphic designer Richard Littler. Cleverly twisted info-graphics evoked a forgotten little English town called Scarfolk, a sort of hideous cross between The Wicker Man’s Summerisle and The League of Gentleman’s Royston Vasey. Filled to the brim with old-fashioned style graphics, the website pokes fun at the creepy and hyperbolic public information posters from the ‘70s and ‘80s, adding a monstrous twist to the entire affair. Often what seems funny on the internet doesn’t quite work when it’s transferred into a paper and ink format, but Littler’s approach has been to wrap all of these splendidly produced pictures into a decidedly odd narrative, peppering the text with strange graphic, after even stranger graphic.

The result is a multi-layered narrative. On the face of it, Discovering Scarfolk is a hilarious novel filled with so-creepy-it’s funny illustrations and a relentlessly silly back story. The puns are thick and fast throughout and it’s also filled with pretty puerile humour. Scratch the surface a bit more and we get a much sharper parody of life in a British town. Satirical digs at local councils, media and religious groups form an essential part of the story. Dig even further, and you realise that the entire thing is a well-deserved and cunningly observed parody of modern Britain, reminiscent of Jonathan Swift at times. Those who are easily offended are firmly warned to stay away; the humour is quite dark and is not for the easily disturbed or for self-appointed moral guardians.

The text itself is a conspiracy story detailing the tale of missing children and the growing insanity of the book’s protagonist. Littler takes the time to put the boot into various conspiracy theories as well and the text itself becomes increasingly strange and paranoid. The images increase in their oddness and the result is a relentlessly funny yet rather disturbing experience. The discomfort simply makes the gags funnier and the result is a book that is genuinely laugh out loud funny but also makes you wonder what is wrong with you. The laughter will stay with you for some time, as will the commentary.

If you have a taste for the macabre and strange, or simply wish that there was a thoroughly English version of Welcome to Nightvale, then you should check out Discovering Scarfolk. Be warned however; you can check out Scarfolk any time you like, but you can never leave.

YOU ARE THE HERO

BOOK REVIEW: YOU ARE THE HERO / AUTHOR: JONATHAN GREEN / PUBLISHER: SNOWBOOKS LTD / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks have been experiencing a renaissance recently. Partially, this is due to nostalgia; Warlock on Firetop Mountain came out 32 years ago after all. Mostly, however, it’s because the games themselves are still relevant to modern games design and gaming trends, and also due to a massive surge in interest in fantasy gaming. Fighting Fantasy is just as good as it ever was, but for many of us it has been a very long time since we visited the world of Titan, and a guide book is just what we need.

A solid reference work on Fighting Fantasy has been needed for quite some time, and who other than Fighting Fantasy author and living word cannon Jonathan Green to hunt down all the fine details of this world. You Are The Hero is a lovingly assembled and highly detailed labour of love. Green has produced a great many adventure game books himself and knows the industry inside and out; this makes him the ideal person to track down the big names in the genre, such as Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone. He has also filled the book with the iconic art that delighted the young and terrified the unimaginative back in the eighties. The artists are especially well treated here and there are some rare (and previously unseen) treasures in this book.

Each adventure gets a chance to shine and every aspect of this huge and popular series is discussed and investigated. You Are The Hero is filled with many tiny stories about inspiration and production. The books aren’t so much reviewed as examined; Green’s tone is one of reverence and respect, though from a perspective of thorough research. Not a single stone is left unturned; we get the story behind the telephone based game F.I.S.T., the story behind the weird plastic models that tied into Fighting Fantasy, a look into the Goldhawk series (aimed at younger readers), Battlecards, the Zagor books, Warlock magazine, everything. The whole Fighting Fantasy franchise is examined and put into context.

Green has produced a beautifully edited and firmly present account of a phenomenon that for some is as important as Transformers or Star Wars and yet has been pretty much overlooked by the mainstream. If you’ve recently become reacquainted with the idea of turning to page 400 and want to know more about this strangely British fandom, then this is the best place to start.

THE CURE FOR DREAMING

BOOK REVIEW: THE CURE FOR DREAMING / AUTHOR: CAT WINTERS / PUBLISHER: AMULET BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 1ST

Following the critical acclaim of her debut novel (In the Shadow of Blackbirds), Cat Winter’s second effort The Cure for Dreaming blends fiction and myth with historical fact. A complex and satirical novel that is as much in the gothic tradition as it is young adult fiction. It begins with a quote from Dracula, which drapes the story within the Count’s blackened cape.

Set in Winter’s native Portland, Oregon in 1900, the plot follows 17-year-old Olivia Mead, pro-suffrage, and striving for a career in journalism. Her father, as much a personification of male ignorance and entitlement, has other plans. After attending a hypnosis show on her Halloween birthday, Olivia is put under hypnotist Henri Reverie’s spell on stage. Her father decides to pay Henri to quell Olivia’s rebellious suffragist ideals, to see the world for what it truly is and be unable to vocalise her anger. Olivia soon begins to see a vampire in the place of her father and cages that swallow ghosts of women.

The hypnotism, which progresses to vomiting upon hearing phrases alluding to women’s lib, is not unlike the Ludovico Technique in A Clockwork Orange. The two stories curiously share a key theme, taking away choice (read: humanity). It’s a concept brilliantly suited in the written word, as it deals with women denied their right to language.

The prose is efficient and doesn’t compromise on bite, effortlessly evoking the period setting. That’s not to say it isn’t without flaws, it does suffer from repetition and some clunky metaphor, but consistently imbues the text at every turn with the plight of the suffragists, capturing the sea change at the turn of the century. It’s not a pious novel, by any means, though sometimes it does wallop you upside the head.

Olivia is a fully realised character who loves to cycle (the bike being a powerful symbol of women’s liberation) and reading novels, specifically horror. Typical of her age, she’s shy, awkward, and full of yearning. Perhaps Winter’s greatest feat is making Olivia so easily relatable to modern audiences of either gender.

Appendices are included with a recommended reading list as well as the sequential dates of when and where US women gained full suffrage. The Cure for Dreaming proves the potential, relevance, and importance of YA fiction. It’s entertaining, educational and mystical. YA naysayers may have just met their match.