Author: Rinn
Sci-fi and fantasy obsessive, relentless reader, avid gamer.
Prose & Pixels #17: The Journey Begins
Prose & Pixels is a feature that combines two of my loves: books and video games. Here I’ll discuss all sorts of things to do with the two, whether it’s recommendations, influences or just a good old chat.
A few months ago, I discussed the idea of blogging about my journey through Middle-earth on Lord of the Rings Online. And, well, here we are!
I have been playing LOTRO for almost seven years now, on and off. I started playing again this February after a break, but decided to start all over again from scratch on a different server (and also so I could join my friend). I have the following characters:
- Isolt, Hobbit Hunter
- Innarrah, Hobbit Minstrel
- Eilidh, Hobbit Burglar
- Amildeth, Elf Lore-master
- Lunathien, Elf Rune-keeper
- Isibeal, Human Captain
- Sabbatha, Beorning
However the ones I am really focused on at the moment are Isolt (who is at the cap level) and Innarrah (currently levelling), so most of my adventures will be told through them. And it’s a shame that Hobbits can’t be every class, or I’d have my own Hobbit army 😉
I’ve managed to build up quite a few screenshots since I decided to start blogging about this, so for now I will just share some particularly interesting places that might be of interest to LotR fans, rather than a focus on a specific area.
This is how the Paths of the Dead looks in the game. Spirits fly around you, and there’s definitely a creepy atmosphere.
Grond, Hammer of the Underworld! This is the battering ram that was used to break down the doors of Minas Tirith during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
Whilst exploring Minas Tirith (that place is HUGE), I found this pub – ‘The Laughing Halfling’. Definitely wins an award for best name 😀
In another Minas Tirith pub (there are many), I found two NPCs taking shots at a Mumakil made of barrels, cloth and what looks like pumpkins as eyes…
Minas Tirith is basically a heaven for roleplayers. Amongst the many pubs, courtyards and gardens, there is also the Blue Theatre, a full size theatre that can be completely explored by players (even back stage, including the costume and prop rooms, and dressing rooms!)
Not a sight, but just something that demonstrates how much effort and detail is put into this game. When you reach level 111 (eleventy-one!), you get a deed that grants you the title ‘Well-preserved’, and lots of bread with a small amount of butter. A reference to Bilbo saying he feels like ‘butter scraped over too much bread’ to Gandalf. So clever and cute 🙂
Are there any particular areas of Middle-earth you’d like to see? Any particular book references you’d like me to hunt down?
Dragons & Jetpacks: Books of the Month, October 2017
Dragons & Jetpacks is a science fiction and fantasy bookgroup, based on Goodreads. The group is open to all, all that is required is a Goodreads account. We read two books a month, one fantasy and one sci-fi – the second week of each month is when members make suggestions, and the third is used for voting. We’re always happy to meet fellow fans of the genres, so you’re more than welcome to join the group!
Goodreads
At first, only a few things are known about the celestial object that astronomers dub Rama. It is huge, weighing more than ten trillion tons. And it is hurtling through the solar system at an inconceivable speed. Then a space probe confirms the unthinkable: Rama is no natural object. It is, incredibly, an interstellar spacecraft. Space explorers and planet-bound scientists alike prepare for mankind’s first encounter with alien intelligence. It will kindle their wildest dreams… and fan their darkest fears. For no one knows who the Ramans are or why they have come. And now the moment of rendezvous awaits — just behind a Raman airlock door.
Goodreads
For a thousand years, the people of Alera have united against the aggressive races that inhabit the world, using their unique bond with the furies – elementals of earth, air, fire, water and metal. But now, Gaius Sextus, First Lord of Alera, grows old and lacks an heir. Ambitious Lords manoeuvre to place their Houses in positions of power, and a war of succession looms on the horizon. Far from city politics in the Calderon Valley, young Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting. At fifteen, he has no wind fury to help him fly, no fire fury to light his lamps. Yet as the Alerans’ most savage enemy – the Marat – return to the Valley, his world will change. Caught in a storm of deadly wind furies, Tavi saves the life of a runaway slave. But Amara is actually a spy, seeking intelligence on possible Marat traitors to the Crown. And when the Valley erupts into chaos – when rebels war with loyalists and furies clash with furies – Amara will find Tavi invaluable. His talents will outweigh any fury-born power – and could even turn the tides of war.
And a special Horror pick for October…
Goodreads
Frankenstein tells the story of committed science student Victor Frankenstein. Obsessed with discovering the cause of generation and life and bestowing animation upon lifeless matter, Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts but; upon bringing it to life, he recoils in horror at the creature’s hideousness. Tormented by isolation and loneliness, the once-innocent creature turns to evil and unleashes a campaign of murderous revenge against his creator, Frankenstein.
Have you read any of this month’s picks? What did you think?
Fantasy Friday #29: Books Inspired by Eastern European Culture
Fantasy Friday is my own feature, posted every other Friday. It’s pretty self-explanatory: I do a feature on something to do with the genre. Sometimes it will be a book recommendation, sometimes showcasing a book or series I’ve loved and other times it might be a discussion post. You’re more than welcome to join in with this feature, let me know if you make your own Fantasy Friday post!
Today I want to share some books inspired by Eastern European culture.
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.
Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.
The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.
But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.
- Inspired by Polish and Slavic cultures
- References many fairy tales, including the Baba Yaga. The Baba Yaga is normally represented as a hideous old woman who lives in the woods, in a hut that normally stands on chicken legs. She is not always a villain, but can also help people.
The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha… and the secrets of her heart.
- Inspired by Russia, more specifically Tsarist Russia of the early 1800s
- The influence is obvious from the very beginning – from the names of the characters and places, to the imposing building on the cover
The Witcher Series by Andrzej Sapkowski
Geralt of Rivia is a witcher. A cunning sorcerer. A merciless assassin.
And a cold-blooded killer.
His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world.
But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good… and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.
- Inspired by many different tales of Eastern European folklore
- There is a very successful video game series based on the books, and here is an interesting article discussing the different monsters that appear, and the folklore they are based on
Do you have any other suggestions to add to this list?
Review: The Dark Net by Benjamin Percy
3 out of 5 stars | Goodreads
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I am totally obsessed with the TV series Mr. Robot. Not only is it sleek and mysterious, with incredible characters, but there’s something about it that always leaves me totally hooked (also yeah maybe Rami Malek is kinda of cute ahem). From that I ended up playing a couple of hacking-based video games, and then I was offered this book, which felt kind of like perfect timing.
I have read and reviewed work by Benjamin Percy before (Red Moon), and I wasn’t the biggest fan of it, so I didn’t go in with super high expectations. However, to begin with I was quite surprised and was pretty intrigued and drawn into the story. Sadly this did not last very long.
When I picked up this book, I was expecting a high-paced hacker story, full of cool technology. What I actually got was more of a paranormal novel that happened to involve technology. I wasn’t really sure what to make of the supernatural element when it was introduced – basically a virus is being spread via any sort of screen that turns people hostile and incredibly violent, and pushes them to attack and kill anyone around them. There were times where I felt like the hacking and supernatural were completely unconnected plot devices. At this point, my interest in the book started to drop.
Whilst the blurb mentions four main characters, most of the book follows only two. Lela is definitely the main character of the bunch, and she was pretty unlikeable – bossy and selfish. I didn’t care what happened to her, which immediately removed any sense of peril from the book. I also had a bit of an issue with how many times the word ‘rape’ was used out of context. Not cool.
Whilst I may not have enjoyed The Dark Net as much as I’d hoped, it was definitely an easy read. Like Red Moon, Percy writes very well – it was just the story that fell apart for me, with a confused mix of technology and the supernatural.
Dragons & Jetpacks: Books of the Month, September 2017
Dragons & Jetpacks is a science fiction and fantasy bookgroup, based on Goodreads. The group is open to all, all that is required is a Goodreads account. We read two books a month, one fantasy and one sci-fi – the second week of each month is when members make suggestions, and the third is used for voting. We’re always happy to meet fellow fans of the genres, so you’re more than welcome to join the group!
Goodreads
Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It’s a prestige posting, and Andrew is thrilled all the more to be assigned to the ship’s Xenobiology laboratory.
Life couldn’t be better…until Andrew begins to pick up on the fact that:
(1) every Away Mission involves some kind of lethal confrontation with alien forces
(2) the ship’s captain, its chief science officer, and the handsome Lieutenant Kerensky always survive these confrontations
(3) at least one low-ranked crew member is, sadly, always killed.Not surprisingly, a great deal of energy below decks is expended on avoiding, at all costs, being assigned to an Away Mission. Then Andrew stumbles on information that completely transforms his and his colleagues’ understanding of what the starship Intrepid really is…and offers them a crazy, high-risk chance to save their own lives.
Goodreads
Insurrection is in the air in Ankh-Morpork. The Haves and Have-Nots are about to fall out all over again. Captain Sam Vimes of the city’s ramshackle Night Watch is used to this. It’s enough to drive a man to drink. Well, to drink more. But this time, something is different – the Have-Nots have found the key to a dormant, lethal weapon that even they don’t fully understand, and they’re about to unleash a campaign of terror on the city. Time for Captain Vimes to sober up.
And the Mod Special for September – October…
Goodreads
All paths lead to war…
Marcus’ hero days are behind him. He knows too well that even the smallest war still means somebody’s death. When his men are impressed into a doomed army, staying out of a battle he wants no part of requires some unorthodox steps.
Cithrin is an orphan, ward of a banking house. Her job is to smuggle a nation’s wealth across a war zone, hiding the gold from both sides. She knows the secret life of commerce like a second language, but the strategies of trade will not defend her from swords.
Geder, sole scion of a noble house, has more interest in philosophy than in swordplay. A poor excuse for a soldier, he is a pawn in these games. No one can predict what he will become.
Falling pebbles can start a landslide. A spat between the Free Cities and the Severed Throne is spiraling out of control. A new player rises from the depths of history, fanning the flames that will sweep the entire region onto The Dragon’s Path-the path to war.
Have you read any of this month’s picks? What did you think?
Thoughts #63: I Am A Bad Blogger!
I am officially a bad blogger.
Not only have I been really awful at keeping things updated and writing new posts, but I’ve also let my review copy pile get a little bit out of control. This has always been a problem – when I started blogging I went a bit crazy on Netgalley, and it was only at the end of last year (after four and a half years of blogging) that I reached the recommended 80% requested books reviewed.
Now it’s my physical review copy pile that’s the problem – I have about five books read and still waiting to be reviewed, and AT LEAST 20 other books waiting for me. I try to decline all review requests now because the guilt is really building up, but I still get a lot of unsolicited copies, and sometimes I just can’t pass up the chance when something amazing comes along, or I’m offered a book I’ve had my eye on for a while.
I think my main problem is that I am a mood reader. If I piled up the review copies and told myself that they were all I could read until I was done, I would either really start to resent those books and read veeeerrrry slowly, or do anything else but read. I need to pick and choose what I want to read in that moment. Maybe my best solution is to look at those books first, and if nothing takes my fancy at that point then choose from all the others.
How do you deal with a review copy backlog?
Announcement: Sci-Fi Month 2017
Yes, you read that right – Sci-Fi Month is happening again this year! I think people were a little uncertain because I’ve not been so active in the blogosphere, but I definitely want to continue with this tradition! 🙂 Once again, Lisa will be co-hosting with me for the third year running.
So here’s the important stuff…
What is Sci-Fi Month?
Sci-Fi Month is a month-long blog event during November, that I hosted for the first time in 2013, created to celebrate everything amazing about science fiction. From TV shows to movies, books to comics, and everything else in between, it was intended to help us share our love and passion for this genre and its many, many fandoms. It was such a success – and I honestly wasn’t expecting that many people to join in – that people were already asking in December whether it would be held again the next year! It happened again in 2014, co-hosted by Oh, the Books!, and again in 2015 & 2016, when Lisacame on board.
Sci-Fi Month has a schedule that all participants can add to, meaning everyone can clearly see what is being posted each day. This also encourages participants to comment on and visit other blogs. More information on adding to the schedule below.
When is Sci-Fi Month?
Sci-Fi Month happens all November long, and takes place online – through each participant’s blog, Twitter feed, and other social media websites.
Who can participate?
Anyone! Bloggers, authors, readers, publishers – the first year saw over fifty bloggers, twenty-five authors and three publishers taking part regularly, as well as plenty more commenting, Tweeting, discussing and sharing the love for sci-fi, and this has only increased each year since. Even if you’re not a blogger, you’re taking part just by reading, commenting and Tweeting!
How can I sign up?
- Fill in the sign up form
- Follow the official Twitter account, @SciFiMonth, for regular updates
- Get to know your fellow sci-fi fans by viewing the participant list
- Start preparing for Sci-Fi Month 2017, and add your posts to the schedule. There are different tabs for each post tab, so please try to put your posts in the correct categories!
As with previous years, there is no deadline for signing up – if you only learn about the event halfway through November, you’re more than welcome to join!
What sorts of things should I post for the event?
Let your imagination run wild! If it involves science fiction, then post about it! In previous years, we’ve had all kinds of activity, including:
- reviews
- interviews
- discussions
- quizzes and puzzles
- bingo cards
- top ten/favorite lists
- giveaways
And it doesn’t have to be books. We had so many posts on TV shows, films, video games and all different kinds of things last year.
How do I add my posts to the schedule?
We are continuing to use the Google Docs spreadsheet. Everyone adds their own details, which makes it much easier. There are tabs for different post types, and details entered include post date, title, author, link to post etc – and these can be added at any time, even before the post has gone up, or several days after if you forget. Please try to add your posts to the appropriate category, although me and Lisa can move them if you’re unsure.
You can find the schedule spreadsheet here.
Is there a hashtag I can use to promote the event?
Yes! Please use the #RRSciFiMonth hashtag on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, and everywhere else! We also have an official twitter account: @SciFiMonth.
Are there any official Sci-Fi Month graphics I can use on my blog?
Yes, please feel free to use the ones I have created, graphics from previous years, or make your own.
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
You can email me at rinnreads(at)gmail.com, tweet me at @RinnReads or @SciFiMonth. You can also contact Lisa through Twitter at @EffingRainbow. Or alternatively, you can comment on this post.
Participants
The participant list can be viewed here.
I will be sharing more information in the run up to November, so stay tuned!
Prose & Pixels #16: A Journey Through Middle-earth
Prose & Pixels is a feature that combines two of my loves: books and video games. Here I’ll discuss all sorts of things to do with the two, whether it’s recommendations, influences or just a good old chat.
I have previously used this feature to talk about The Lord of the Rings Online, and used it to show how much dedication and love went into creating the game by comparing paragraphs from the book with screenshots taken by myself in-game.
I enjoyed this feature and how I was able to bring video games into the blog a bit more, and also write about Middle-earth. In February, I started playing again, and started all over on a new server. Instead of continuing what I was doing before – going through the books in order and comparing scenes with the game – I’d like to just share my progress, comment on the areas I visit as I play and any secrets I might find.
Now, what I want to know is this – is this something you would be interested in seeing on the blog?
Review: Notes from the Upside Down – Inside the World of Stranger Things by Guy Adams
2 out of 5 stars | Goodreads
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
As soon as Stranger Things was released on Netflix, I watched it all in two or three days. There’s just something about the show – the 80s setting, the dark science fiction theme, the soundtrack, the incredible cast… I love it so much and try and make EVERYONE watch it. Hence why I was interested in reading a book about the show.
Unfortunately, this book does not do the show any justice. It is fan written, and not at all linked to anyone who worked on the show. The formula of each chapter soon became very repetitive: a detailed recap of each episode (which felt so unnecessary, I don’t need each episode described frame by frame thanks), some bonus information such as inspirations, music etc, and then ‘homework’ questions (basically a small quiz about the episode, with things you’d only notice if you’d read the questions before watching).
I appreciate that the author is a big fan of the show, and he tried to inject some humour into the book as well, but it just completely missed and felt a little ‘try hard’. I don’t think I would recommend this book, even to the biggest Stranger Things fans.
Rinn Reads 