Now Very Bad…

Tag: 2015

  • Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons

    Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons

    Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons
    Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons by Michael Witwer
    My rating: 4 of 5 stars

    Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons is a fantastic biography of Dungeons & Dragons creator Gary Gygax. Written by author Michael Witwer as part of a masters’ thesis it nevertheless does not read at all like an academic work.

    Empire of Imagination is written in some ways more like an adventure story than a biography. This suits me fine, as biography is not my favorite genre. More importantly, Witwer has found the perfect tone and setting for a tale of a man who spent his life telling stories.

    Witwer very wisely chose to structure Empire of Imagination in short chapters somewhat like anecdotes. These short recollections of events lend themselves very well to the adventure style presentation. It’s an inspired touch, with the author structuring the entire work as a series of levels (broken up into +1 chapters) united into a loose narrative with vignettes of a Dungeon Master leading a player through a far-reaching quest. The result is a tale told much as though a group of friends was gathered around a game table sharing stories. Which is of course the point…

    Empire of Imagination is neither a particularly quick or long read but I found myself reading it in spurts. Partially this is due to the aforementioned breaking up of the tale into serialized pieces that you can jump in and out of. But I think largely it is because the tale is bittersweet. As much as I was enjoying the book I found myself putting it down and not returning for a bit because I didn’t want to have tales of the creation of the beloved game and all of the wonderful memories it reanimated to stop or to be sullied by the inevitable fall from grace that always accompanies these stories. While it makes for good drama it is more than a little sad to see everything that Gary Gygax created come apart in predictable fashion. It is at this time that the book falls into a bit of the typical biography mold. But then, so too did Gygax’s story…

    The book is clearly written with the input and/or approval of the Gygax estate, so I’m sure Gary gets the benefit of the doubt in all of the discussions of legal squabbles and the provenance of his works. But to this admittedly non-expert reader it comes off even-handed. No efforts are taken to whitewash the story or cover up Gygax’s foibles and failings. Others more familiar with all the details may well take exception to the handling of collaborators like Dave Arneson. The detailing of Arneson’s input and lack of involvement seems a bit one-sided, but I really have no first-hand knowledge to suggest this is not a fair telling. It’s quite possible we will never really know how accurate any accounting is regarding the creation of such a detailed game system especially considering the success that followed.

    One of the most enjoyable parts about reading the book was that I was frequently reminded of products, games, books and stories that were so integral to my childhood and teen years. There were a host of stories that I had entirely forgotten about such as the Choose Your Own Adventure-style Endless Quest book series. I’m going to have to hunt in the attic to see if I can find any of my old copies!

    I really loved reading Empire of Imagination, although to be fair I mostly listened to it. I purchased the ebook and audiobook at the same time, frequently listening and reading simultaneously. The narration for the audiobook is performed by the author’s brother, actor Sam Witwer and a better choice could not possibly have been found. His voice is deep and expressive and an excellent fit. I sincerely hope to hear more audio performances by Sam, and for that matter more stories told by Michael. The author notes in the acknowledgments that brother Sam was the Dungeon Master in their group. Hearing his narration as Empire of Imagination’s Dungeon Master in the interludes makes me wish I could sit down at the table with the brothers. Because the greatest takeaway from the book is a reminder of the spirit and desire that drove Gary Gygax; to get together with companions and play…

    [schema type=”book” url=”http://www.empireofimagination.com/” name=”Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons” description=”The life story of Gary Gygax, godfather of all fantasy adventure games, has been told only in bits and pieces. Michael Witwer has written a dynamic, dramatized biography of Gygax from his childhood in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin to his untimely death in 2008. Gygax’s magnum opus, Dungeons & Dragons, would explode in popularity throughout the 1970s and ’80s and irreversibly alter the world of gaming. D&D is the best-known, best-selling role-playing game of all time, and it boasts an elite class of alumni–Stephen Colbert, Robin Williams, and Junot Diaz all have spoken openly about their experience with the game as teenagers, and some credit it as the workshop where their nascent imaginations were fostered. Gygax’s involvement in the industry lasted long after his dramatic and involuntary departure from D&D’s parent company, TSR, and his footprint can be seen in the genre he is largely responsible for creating. But as Witwer shows, perhaps the most compelling facet of his life and work was his unwavering commitment to the power of creativity in the face of myriad sources of adversity, whether cultural, economic, or personal. Through his creation of the role-playing genre, Gygax gave two generations of gamers the tools to invent characters and entire worlds in their minds. Told in narrative-driven and dramatic fashion, Witwer has written an engaging chronicle of the life and legacy of this emperor of the imagination.” author=”Michael Witwer” publisher=”Bloomsbury USA” pubdate=”2015-10-06″ isbn=”1632862794″ ebook=”yes” paperback=”yes” hardcover=”yes” ]

  • Walt Before Mickey (2015)

    Walt Before Mickey (2015)

    140 Character Movie Review – #140RVW

    There’s a good movie to be made about the early years of Walt Disney; sadly, this workmanlike outing isn’t it. Still worthy of your time…

    Walt Before Mickey

    Spoiler-free Movie Review of Walt Before Mickey:

    Despite whatever impressions you get from the name of this site, I really try to keep these reviews positive. I take absolutely no pleasure in trashing a film or novel (with a few exceptions, like Zack Snyder, whose films I love to hate). Although I am obnoxiously over-opinionated in real life, I pause before writing a negative review. I simply don’t think it adds anything to the already over-populated web to write a hatchet job. There’s too much of that already. Surprisingly to those who have known me a long time, I generally do follow the advice of not saying anything if you have nothing nice to say.

    This is doubly true because this site has developed a bit of an independent focus. I’m really finding it much more rewarding to feature lesser known films and novels. I hope in my own small way that I’m amplifying the signal and helping artists find their audience. So the last thing I want to do is trash someone who isn’t buffeted by dozens of complimentary reviews.

    Walt Before Mickey

    So it kills me when I come across a mixed bag like Walt Before Mickey. I eagerly looked forward to the release of this picture, and I already said I was going to review it, so I don’t want to skip it simply because it was a fairly complete letdown. But I feel badly for saying that…

    As movies go, this was probably a great book. “Based on” the Timothy Susanin book of the same name, this is one of those pictures that is more like a dramatization of the source material; it feels like someone mapped out each page of the text and presented it verbatim. When something is that closely linked to the source, I often wonder why they bothered. (Yes, Zack Snyder, I’m talking directly to you…)

    The story is fantastic, of course. The tale of Walt’s early years is a great one, and it hasn’t really been told on screen before. So they had to make this picture. But it could have used a bit more creative license. At 110 minutes, it’s a long yarn, particularly because it feels somewhat repetitive. Walt was a man who failed twice in spectacular fashion in two different cities with the same staff. I know that’s what really happened, but it does feel somewhat redundant in the way it’s presented. Too many of the same beats are repeated.

    Walt Before Mickey

    It’s all just very workman-like. There’s a low-budget veneer to everything that makes it feel more like a TV movie than a feature. It’s also somewhat clunky – the dialogue is stilted and the actors aren’t agile enough to make anything more of it. But that’s not meant to be an insult to the actors or the filmmakers; there are some fine performances in here and the production design is good. The period authenticity is excellent and there are a few interesting visual shots and motifs (like Walt befriending a mouse) that hint at a more subtle, nuanced picture that this could have become and would have better suited the story.

    In the end, the failing of the film, if such it be, is that it is sort of an inverse example of the little things that come together to make a good picture. Instead of a bunch of serendipitous little moments coming together to make something work, Walt Before Mickey has a combination of weaker factors that just make it less than the sum of its parts. It doesn’t look very good – the camera work is too static and there’s too much color timing; there’s no pacing – it’s just one thing happening after another without connective tissue or a broader tone; a few of the leads, most notably the Disney brothers are miscast – it’s not bad acting, there’s just something a little off. I know what it is – Nichols is all tell and not show; he keeps telling you how badly he wants to succeed, but you don’t really see it. The concept of Walt as a dreamer is lost once the character grows up and Nichols takes over; he just doesn’t believably convey the drive and ambition that made his eventual success nearly inevitable.

    Walt Before Mickey

    I thought a few of the performances were quite good; Armando Gutierrez (who also co-wrote and co-produced) is solid as visionary Ub Iwerks, and fellow animators Rudy Ising (played by David Henrie) and Taylor Gray as Friz Freleng hint at a more interesting workplace comedy. But the antagonists are all such mustache-twirling caricatures that it’s hard to be invested in the picture.

    Side note: the amount of smoking in this film is more than anything I’ve seen outside of a gangster picture. Not a criticism, just an observation…Oh, and Bucky “F’n” Dent has a cameo in this movie!

    I wanted to like Walt Before Mickey, and I certainly didn’t hate it. It merely represents a missed opportunity. I’d still recommend it as an illustration of an interesting chapter in the life of an icon and a story that’s probably less well known than it should be. There are the bones here for a better film, and though Walt Before Mickey underwhelms, it does tell the tale of Disney’s beginnings and is worth a watch.

    Poster:

    Trailer:

    Bechdel Test:

    Fail

    The Representation Test Score: C (6 pts)

    (http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)

    Walt Before Mickey Representation Test
    [schema type=”movie” url=”www.waltbeforemickey.com” name=”Walt Before Mickey” description=”Walt Before Mickey is an independent 2015 biographical drama film about the early years of Walt Disney and the book Walt Before Mickey: Disney’s Early Years, 1919–1928 by Timothy S. Susanin. The film stars Thomas Ian Nicholas as Walt Disney, Armando Gutierrez as Ub Iwerks, and Jon Heder as Roy Disney. The film is based on the book of the same title by Timothy Susanin, with a foreword by Diane Disney Miller published by the University Press of Mississippi.

    The film covers Walt Disney’s early years in business, during which he started various businesses including Laugh-O-Gram Studio and The Walt Disney Company with fellow animator Ub Iwerks and Roy Disney.” director=”Khoa Le” actor_1=”Thomas Ian Nichols” ]

    Main Cast Jodie Sweetin Charlotte Disney
    Jon Heder Roy Disney
    David Henrie Rudy Ising
    Jeremy Palko Older Walt Pfeiffer
    Rating PG
    Release Date Fri 14 Aug 2015 UTC
    Director Khoa Le
    Genres Biography, Drama
    Plot Based on the book “Walt Before Mickey” covers the early years of Walt Disney’s career.
    Poster Walt Before Mickey
    Runtime 120
    Tagline
    Writers Arthur L. Bernstein (written by) &, Armando Gutierrez (written by) …
    Year 2015
  • The Authorities™ (2015)

    The Authorities™ (2015)

    The Authorities™
    The Authorities™ by Scott Meyer
    My rating: 4 of 5 stars

    The first non-SF book from Scott Meyer solidifies my belief that he’s an author to watch. While my favorite genre always has been and likely always will be science fiction, it’s nice to see him step outside of that comfort zone and try on a story in the “real” world. (Of course, his long running comic series Basic Instructions lives in this same space.)

    The Authorities follows protagonist Sinclair Rutherford, a meticulous and sturdy police officer who succeeds at cracking a case despite the subtle indifference and outright hostility of his “superior” detectives. While the collar is a credit to his methodical mind and good instincts, the details of the case are embarrassing and the arrest he makes unfolds publicly and draws the type of attention he’d rather avoid.

    His awkward public splash, however, is what draws the attention of an eccentric billionaire (are there any other kinds?) whose latest lark is creating a team of private Authorities (trademark pending) that will assist the police with high-profile crimes where they can generate publicity for the group. The team members have been selected for their marketability as much as their skill set, and Rutherford finds that in order to get the chance he’s always wanted, he’ll need to act the role of a loose cannon…

    The premise is entirely believable, even probable. The idea of privatized police forces is the province of many stories and in point of fact, some reality. And of course they would be reality TV fodder.

    The characters are intentionally diverse and interesting and the protagonist is very likable. There’s a slight over-emphasis on the characters – how they are all “characters” – and the story itself doesn’t quite distinguish itself as much as a result. I choose to believe this is because Meyer is setting the table for a series, and a certain amount of foundation work is needed.

    I very much hope the author does develop The Authorities into a series. The whole thing feels like a TV series in many ways. (Not cinematic, but “tv-matic”? I know, you thought I’d say telematic, which sounds much better, but that’s an actual thing.)

    If that’s how this plays out, then this first novel is really just a pilot, and virtually every TV pilot I’ve ever seen has the same characteristic as this book; great character introduction leading to little time for storyline. You have to wait until the show gets picked up for the good stories. I’m happy to wait…

    The Authorities

    [schema type=”book” url=”basicinstructions.net” name=”The Authorities™” description=”Sinclair Rutherford is a young Seattle cop with a taste for the finer things. Doing menial tasks and getting hassled by superiors he doesn’t respect are definitely not “finer things.” Good police work and bad luck lead him to crack a case that changes quickly from a career-making break into a high-profile humiliation when footage of his pursuit of the suspect—wildly inappropriate murder weapon in hand—becomes an Internet sensation. But the very publicity that has made Rutherford a laughing stock in the department lands him what could be the job opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to work with a team of eccentric experts, at the direction of a demanding but distracted billionaire. Together, they must solve the murder of a psychologist who specialized in the treatment of patients who give people “the creeps.” There is no shortage of suspects.” author=”Scott Meyer” publisher=”Rocket Hat Industries” pubdate=”2015-10-01″ isbn=”B015Q9EKA0″ ebook=”yes” paperback=”yes” ]

  • Where the Hell is Tesla? (2015)

    Where the Hell is Tesla? (2015)

    Where the Hell is Tesla?
    Where the Hell is Tesla? by Rob Dircks
    My rating: 4 of 5 stars

    Now this book was an awful lot of fun.

    As with the stories of the authors Rob Dircks is obviously influenced by (Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Kurt Vonnegut), the story is rather less important than the dialogue and outrageous ideas. Also as with those writers, the story is actually pretty good.

    An underachieving young man (is there any other kind in science fiction?) named Chip stumbles upon what appears to be a journal belonging to Nikola Tesla, describing a device of his own design for interdimensional travel. (Sorry, an “INTERDIMENSIONAL TRANSFER APPARATUS” – Tesla is rather particular about the proper terms for things.)

    Accompanied somewhat reluctantly by his slightly more responsible friend Pete, Chip manages to expose them both to a series of increasingly improbable and dangerous situations as they move throughout dimensions the only way Chip knows how to do things – in over his head.

    Where the Hell is Tesla? isn’t exactly a character study, but the characters are well thought out and expressed. Chip & Pete are familiar archetypes – the lovable idiot and his suffering friend – and these are well-worn types for a reason. These two idiots are just a hell of a lot of fun.

    Where the Hell is Tesla? is just so enjoyable. After reading the story, I received a recommendation for Teleport This by Christopher M. Daniels. I’m not reviewing that one yet, as it’s a trilogy and I only took in the first book so far, but it has a very similar feel; and that’s a great thing. I can’t get enough of somewhat silly SF. As long as the characters have enough meat on the bone to stick with and the writing is solid, I’m up for a good time. Where the Hell is Tesla? delivers that and more. Highly recommended.

    [schema type=”book” url=”http://robdircks.com/where-the-hell-is-tesla-novel/” name=”Where the Hell is Tesla?” description=”SCI-FI ODYSSEY. COMEDY. LOVE STORY. AND OF COURSE… NIKOLA TESLA. I’ll let Chip, the main character tell you more: “I found the journal at work. Well, I don’t know if you’d call it work, but that’s where I found it. It’s the lost journal of Nikola Tesla, one of the greatest inventors and visionaries ever. Before he died in 1943, he kept a notebook filled with spectacular claims and outrageous plans. One of these plans was for an “Interdimensional Transfer Apparatus” – that allowed someone (in this case me and my friend Pete) to travel to other versions of the infinite possibilities around us. Crazy, right? But that’s just where the crazy starts.” CHIP’S OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction: the events depicted in the collection of emails did not happen. I have never been in contact with a covert government group attempting to suppress knowledge of the lost journal of Nikola Tesla. I have not been threatened with death if I divulge the secrets contained inside. They did not buy me this handsome jacket (oh crap, you’re reading this – trust me, it looks great on me). They did not come to my place, and liquor me up, and offer to publish this book as a sci-fi comedy novel to throw the public off the trail of the real truth. Or did they? I’m kidding. Of course they didn’t. Or did they? God, I can’t keep my big mouth shut. Where the Hell is Tesla? has been compared to Terry Pratchett (the Discworld Series), Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and even Kurt Vonnegut (I know, that last one is probably a stretch.)” author=”Rob Dircks” publisher=”Goldfinch Publishing” pubdate=”2015-01-16″ isbn=”0692370668″ ebook=”yes” paperback=”yes” ]

  • Master of Formalities (2015)

    Master of Formalities (2015)

    Master of Formalities
    Master of Formalities by Scott Meyer
    My rating: 3 of 5 stars

    I absolutely loved the Magic 2.0 series, so I was very eager to see what author Scott Meyer could do with a new narrative. I wasn’t disappointed.

    Master of Formalities is a semi-satirical send-up of SF and politics in which a state of near constant war is avoided by the efforts of the Masters of Formalities, who ensure that a bizarre Victorian era type of rules of etiquette are followed in all dealings.

    Wollard runs the household operations for the refined and proper House Jakabitus, sternly maintaining discipline and good manners with the staff. But the long-standing war with the improper Hahn Empire has gone on far too long, and Wollard finds he can influence his betters into pursuing détente, if only he can maintain proper form…

    The writing from Meyer is once again very fine and very funny. Master of Formalities isn’t the breezy read the Wizard books are, which is not to say it isn’t very enjoyable. Just not quite as effortlessly entertaining. The tale is really quite long, possibly too long. There was no point in which I wasn’t enjoying it, so I have no suggestions for reducing it, but it really was a considerable read. Just as a thought, I wonder if this might have worked well as a serialized tale. You can’t help but see similarities to programs like Downton Abbey and so I think it might be interesting if the tale was presented with a similar episodic approach.

    Meyer is fast becoming one of my favorite authors, and if Master of Formalities is a very different kind of read from him, that is in no way a bad thing. It’s clever and funny and while I may not be clamoring for a sequel, I absolutely enjoyed it. Recommended.

    [schema type=”book” url=”http://basicinstructions.net” name=”Master of Formalities” description=”Even when finding oneself engaged in interstellar war, good form must be observed. Our story is set thousands of years after the Terran Exodus, where two powerful, planet-dominating families—the elegant House Jakabitus and the less refined Hahn Empire—have reached a critical point in their generations-long war. Master Hennik, the Hahn ruler’s only son, has been captured, and the disposition of his internment may represent a last and welcome chance for peace. Enter Wollard, the impeccably distinguished and impossibly correct Master of Formalities for House Jakabitus. When he suggests that Master Hennik be taken in as a ward of the House, certain complications arise. Wollard believes utterly and devotedly in adhering to rules and good etiquette. But how does one inform the ruler of a planet that you are claiming his son as your own—and still create enough goodwill to deescalate an intergalactic war?” author=”Scott Meyer” publisher=”47North” pubdate=”2015-07-28″ isbn=”147783091X” ebook=”yes” paperback=”yes” ]