Rambles on a Number of Things
The new issue of Entertainment Weekly (4/26) has their somewhat-randomly-appearing comics review column (it's a new addition, I know, but does anyone know how often it's in there? It's not weekly, I've noticed that much), and in it they give Marvel's new Rawhide Kid an A. Wow, seriously? Most of the reviews I've read, which I agree with, run along the lines of "It's not a terrible as I'd feared, but it's not exactly good either." The EW reviewer does mention the pencils by John Severin, which IMO are by far the best thing about the book, but he (the reviewer) is most enthusiastic about Ron Zimmerman's writing, which makes him pretty much unique among critics I've read. Personally, I think Zimmerman's a hack at best, and his campy jokes about the Kid's fashion awareness and crush on the Lone Ranger wouldn't be even funny enough to get on the toothless, gayless Will and Grace. Ooh, you rebel, Zimmerman, the Kid like clothes because he's like that. Grow up.
A different EW reviewer gave Hawaiian Dick a B+. Rawhide Kid rates higher that Hawaiian Dick? Now that's just silly. His comments were all positive, though, and with luck the review will increase the sales of Hawaiian Dick, and Image will invest in some more stories (or maybe a monthly book, though I still think an Oni-style series of mini-series would work better), and I'll be happy! Fingers crossed.
~*~*~*~*
Hugo nominees are up, and "Serenity" is among them, in "Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form". Yay! If it doesn't win, there is no God, or there is and s/he has lousy taste in science fiction. Seriously, the category is like "episodes that Joan hated" (except for "Serenity", natch). Well, I didn't hate "Carbon Creek," I was just thoroughly indifferent to it. "A Night in Sickbay" I really hated, and it made me hate Archer for ages. If not for the non-idiot, non-incompetent, non-embarrassing Archer in fic, I might never have gotten the taste of that ep out of my mouth. Blech.
Most of the rest of the categories I have no strong opinion on. I want Coraline to win "Best Novella" (read it! Read it, everyone!), The Years of Rice and Salt to win "Best Novel", Ellen Datlow to win "Best Professional Editor", and The Two Towers to win "Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form" (of course, although I loved Spirited Away as well). The rest, well, good luck everyone!
~*~*~*~*
Last night I dreamed that I was walking out behind the barn, and a bolt of lightning came down and zapped me. When I woke up, one of the cats had arranged matters so that he had three-quarters of the bed, and I was a couple of inches from landing on the floor.
~*~*~*~*
I'm currently really enjoying Ian Frazier's Great Plains. It's an account of his fairly aimless travels around the Great Plains (um, obviously. heh) in the 80's. He sees the sights, visits with the locals and goes off on long historical tangents- it's really a fun read. Anyway, among the people he meets is the four-year-old daughter of some Wyoming ranchers. Her name is Anduin Kirkbride. Now, I know of several Arwens and Galadriels, and one of my dearest friends had a horse named Ro (from Roheryn), but Anduin is a new one on me. Kind of neat, if unusual.
It looks like the next chapter of Great Plains is about Nicodemus, KS. It used to be that the first thing that popped into my mind at a mention of Nicodemus was the often overlooked stories of black homesteaders, or maybe the really good recipe for peach pie, courtesy of the Nicodemus Historical Society, that I had and then lost. Now the first things I think of are inhibition-dissolving Triffids, Lana's body double and Lex in peril again. Thank you so much, Smallville. You broke my brain!
~*~*~*~*
I've finally caught up with all my Yahoo groups, and among the new goodies posted to EBoS was a story from Rose Ferguson, a new Mag7 author. Her first Mag7 story, Transit, is one of the better Ezra/Chris stories I've read in a while. The characterization is good (no wee girly Ezra or psycho violent Chris to be seen, and what a relief that is), there's a fun lady rancher OC (I can't help but picture her as Tyne Daly, which is a problem since Tyne did a guest shot as a baddie in the series. Oh well), and the romance is both sweet and stressful (it's always stressful with these two). It was a strong debut, and I've been keeping an eye out for anything new. Well, her new one, Decline and Fall, is both good and unusual, since it's a Mag7/Tombstone crossover. The pairing is Ezra/Johnny Ringo, who was of course played by Michael Biehn in the film (as was Chris in Mag7). You know it can't really end "and they lived happily ever after", since Ringo still has to go off and fight with Wyatt Earp and co., and Ezra has too many ties to Four Corners. But even so, you can't help half wishing it would.
Tombstone is one of my favorite modern Westerns (and the only time I've ever found Val Kilmer attractive. Go figure), and now I'm idly curious as to why there isn't more Tombstone slash out there. It seems like a natural fit for Mag7 fans, and though it's not as blatantly slashable as, say, LotR, there is some nice subtext to be found. Poor Big Nose Kate- not only is her man germy and consumptive, he's in love with his best friend.
A different EW reviewer gave Hawaiian Dick a B+. Rawhide Kid rates higher that Hawaiian Dick? Now that's just silly. His comments were all positive, though, and with luck the review will increase the sales of Hawaiian Dick, and Image will invest in some more stories (or maybe a monthly book, though I still think an Oni-style series of mini-series would work better), and I'll be happy! Fingers crossed.
~*~*~*~*
Hugo nominees are up, and "Serenity" is among them, in "Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form". Yay! If it doesn't win, there is no God, or there is and s/he has lousy taste in science fiction. Seriously, the category is like "episodes that Joan hated" (except for "Serenity", natch). Well, I didn't hate "Carbon Creek," I was just thoroughly indifferent to it. "A Night in Sickbay" I really hated, and it made me hate Archer for ages. If not for the non-idiot, non-incompetent, non-embarrassing Archer in fic, I might never have gotten the taste of that ep out of my mouth. Blech.
Most of the rest of the categories I have no strong opinion on. I want Coraline to win "Best Novella" (read it! Read it, everyone!), The Years of Rice and Salt to win "Best Novel", Ellen Datlow to win "Best Professional Editor", and The Two Towers to win "Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form" (of course, although I loved Spirited Away as well). The rest, well, good luck everyone!
~*~*~*~*
Last night I dreamed that I was walking out behind the barn, and a bolt of lightning came down and zapped me. When I woke up, one of the cats had arranged matters so that he had three-quarters of the bed, and I was a couple of inches from landing on the floor.
~*~*~*~*
I'm currently really enjoying Ian Frazier's Great Plains. It's an account of his fairly aimless travels around the Great Plains (um, obviously. heh) in the 80's. He sees the sights, visits with the locals and goes off on long historical tangents- it's really a fun read. Anyway, among the people he meets is the four-year-old daughter of some Wyoming ranchers. Her name is Anduin Kirkbride. Now, I know of several Arwens and Galadriels, and one of my dearest friends had a horse named Ro (from Roheryn), but Anduin is a new one on me. Kind of neat, if unusual.
It looks like the next chapter of Great Plains is about Nicodemus, KS. It used to be that the first thing that popped into my mind at a mention of Nicodemus was the often overlooked stories of black homesteaders, or maybe the really good recipe for peach pie, courtesy of the Nicodemus Historical Society, that I had and then lost. Now the first things I think of are inhibition-dissolving Triffids, Lana's body double and Lex in peril again. Thank you so much, Smallville. You broke my brain!
~*~*~*~*
I've finally caught up with all my Yahoo groups, and among the new goodies posted to EBoS was a story from Rose Ferguson, a new Mag7 author. Her first Mag7 story, Transit, is one of the better Ezra/Chris stories I've read in a while. The characterization is good (no wee girly Ezra or psycho violent Chris to be seen, and what a relief that is), there's a fun lady rancher OC (I can't help but picture her as Tyne Daly, which is a problem since Tyne did a guest shot as a baddie in the series. Oh well), and the romance is both sweet and stressful (it's always stressful with these two). It was a strong debut, and I've been keeping an eye out for anything new. Well, her new one, Decline and Fall, is both good and unusual, since it's a Mag7/Tombstone crossover. The pairing is Ezra/Johnny Ringo, who was of course played by Michael Biehn in the film (as was Chris in Mag7). You know it can't really end "and they lived happily ever after", since Ringo still has to go off and fight with Wyatt Earp and co., and Ezra has too many ties to Four Corners. But even so, you can't help half wishing it would.
Tombstone is one of my favorite modern Westerns (and the only time I've ever found Val Kilmer attractive. Go figure), and now I'm idly curious as to why there isn't more Tombstone slash out there. It seems like a natural fit for Mag7 fans, and though it's not as blatantly slashable as, say, LotR, there is some nice subtext to be found. Poor Big Nose Kate- not only is her man germy and consumptive, he's in love with his best friend.
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