Book Review: Blood Oath

I am reviewing yet another vampire book. Yeah, don't act so surprised. But Christopher Farnsworth's Blood Oath is one of the most satisfying books of any genre I've read in a while.

In a unique set-up inspired by an actual historical event, the reader is introduced to Nathaniel Cade, a vampire who has spent nearly his entire second life in the service of the highest office of the United States, through several different administrations since the 19th century. Why he does so is something to be discovered by the reader, but Cade is officially "The President's Vampire", and it's his job to deal with the supernatural threats that crop up against the free world.

Blood Oath centers around a new emerging terrorist threat just as Cade is breaking in a new human partner, Zach Barrows, a young up-and-coming White House staffer who, of course, has no idea what he's in for and sees this assignment as something of a punishment.

I loved the set-up, which kind of fits along the same lines as Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, mixing up real world politics with supernatural elements. The characters were intriguing, complex and never boring. Cade could carry a whole series of books, as Farnsworth has already discussed writing. Plus there was a lot of action, cool gadgets both magical and technological, truly scary villains (ranging from megalomaniacs to the purely psychopathic) and adult language. Plus it touches on themes of religion, addiction and the fear of the unknown, so it's a little deep on top of everything else.

My Verdict: Gripping and high octane, everything you could ask for in a grown-up supernatural novel. No Twihards need apply (yeah, I know, I'm ragging on Twilight again, but come on!).

Book Review: Little Vampire Women

So onto phase two of my mash-up fiction experience; Little Vampire Women, author Lynn Messina's attempt to add blood-suckers to Lousia May Alcott's beloved tale. I haven't read Alcott's original book, but I am familiar with the story, thanks to the 1994 film version starring Winona Ryder and the book adaptation, which I must have read a hundred times (and yet never the original). So how could I pass up the chance to see the March sisters as vampires?

Turns out, I probably could've done without it. You see, all the March sisters, their parents and even Aunt March are all vampires. In this Concord, Mass. vampires live out in the open with their human neighbors. The March's are strict humanitarians, in that they don't eat people, so neighbors Laurie and his grandfather are free to form a friendship with them.

So this probably sounds not too unreasonable right? But you see, here's my problem; there just didn't seem to be any point to the changes. The plot stays just about the same as the original text, but certain factors had been tweaked or edited so it makes sense in this new world of vampires, with mixed results. Was the story still enjoyable? Sure it was...but it was when they were human too. It seems the only reason they were made vampires was to cash in on this fad.

I liked Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter so much because it had something interesting to say and the supernatural elements worked within the realm of American history. The changes in Little Vampire Women were not necessary, and sometimes seemed kind of ridiculous. The book's ending, though nice, was too tidy and had one glaring plot problem that was not resolved to my satisfaction. I hate when that happens.

My Verdict: A fine read, but don't go into it expecting too much.

You too can be Pilgrimized!

See that picture to the right? See my new profile picture? Pretty cool right? Now where would I, and perhaps you, get something like that? I'll tell you, dear reader. On the official website for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, users can create an avatar based on the drawings of Brian Lee O'Malley. You can choose gender, skin, hair, eyes, clothes, accesories, etc. to make it just your own. It'll even give you a rating to tell you how epic your avatar is. How awesome is that?

Give it a try. The site is listed on the bottom of this picture, along with the release date for the movie. Mark your calendars, it's going to be AWESOME!

Book Review: Scott Pilgrim Volumes 1-5

Thanks to the power of a good movie trailer, I have borrowed and read all five volumes of Bryan Lee O'Malley's indie comic series Scott Pilgrim. I can now see why there's so much popularity and why a movie was made. The whole thing was highly addictive, fresh, hilarious, action packed and surprisingly deep. How many comic books can boast all of that?

You see, Scott Pilgrim, our main protagonist, is a 23 year old slacker with only a band, a teenage girlfriend and a staggering number of video game hours logged to his name. Things change when he meets Ramona Flowers, a hip ninja delivery girl for Amazon.ca. There's a slight catch to dating Ramona, however...she has 7 Evil Ex's that Scott must defeat. Over the next few volumes he tackles an assortment of villains in video-game style showdowns, as well as his own relationship history and coming to terms with being a grown-up.

What's truly surprising about all of this is how well the fantasy element works with the heavier stuff. Yes, it's real life set in a video game, but boy do you buy into it. Basically the evil ex's are metaphors for the emotional baggage so many people bring into a relationship, and the interplay between the characters can suck you in just as much as the awesome action.

Plus, everything is set in Toronto! I got so excited as I read through the books and recognized landmarks like Casa Loma and Dundas Square. And there's a bit of a professional connection. O'Malley cut his comic book teeth by working at The Beguiling, the Toronto based comic distributor that my library gets all their comic books from.

So, that just leaves Volume 6, the final chapter in Scott's quest where he will face off against Ex #7, the mysterious Gideon Graves. That's out on the 20th, and I'll have to read it quickly so I'll be ready for the August 13th release of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, the hopefully epic film adaptation. Keep your eyes peeled for my takes on both.

The only Doctor I trust

There's a t-shirt on ThinkGeek.com that I have been sorely tempted to buy. On it is a 1950's style London police call box. Underneath that are the words "You never forget your first Doctor."

To the uninitiated into the pantheon of Sci Fi, that t-shirt probably wouldn't make a lick of sense. What, some would ask, does a police call box have to do with a doctor? And what the heck is a police call box, anyway? (There's a Wikipedia article on them here.) Shall I fill you in? The shirt is in reference to Doctor Who, a British Sci Fi series that first aired all the way back in 1963. I actually just finished reading the graphic novel Doctor Who: The Forgotten, which was excellent by the way, so it's been on my mind lately. Why should anyone care? Because Doctor Who has the distinction of being the longest running Sci Fi series ever. Ever! And not just in England, or in North America, but in the entire world! Check the Guinness Book of World Records, it's in there. 31 seasons (or series, as they call them across the pond), and as of June 12, 2010, 767 episodes! Considering how some shows barely last a season, that's an amazing feat.

And that's also a surprising feat, considering that the premise for the show is a little out there. It would be almost impossible to summarize the entire show here, but in a nutshell the main character is an eccentric, mysterious, 900-and-something-year-old humanoid alien known only as The Doctor. From the planet Gallifrey, the Doctor is a Time Lord, which is an extraterrestrial race that has mastered time travel through advanced technology. The Doctor achieves this through a device called the TARDIS (and to really earn my geek stripes: that stands for Time And Relative Dimensions In Space). The TARDIS is a vast, complicated space ship capable of going to any point in time or any planet in the galaxy, but from the outside looks like a standard police call box (aahhh, now the t-shirt makes sense). With this ship the Doctor goes on many adventures to face foes and right wrongs, often bringing along at least one companion on his journeys (a companion is a general term for whomever the Doctor travels with, often human and often female, who acts as a stand-in for the audience).

So how can the series have lasted this long, you may ask? I mean, surely one actor hasn't played the Doctor since the 1960s, right? You'd be right, and actually the show's creators found a way around this, and rather brilliantly I think. You see, Time Lords are able to do something called Regeneration. What that means is when they've been critically injured and/or about to die, they're able to regenerate into a new body. Same character, different appearance. So whenever an actor is tired of the role, a 'death' scene is filmed, and a new actor steps into the part. As of right now, eleven different actors have played the Doctor over the years, starting with William Hartnell in 1963, all the way up to Matt Smith, who took over the role in January of this year. Likewise there has also been a stream of companions and villains, many of which are unique to one Doctor, others of which have transcended several regenerations.

You know how the shirt says you never forget your first Doctor? For me, that would be Paul McGann, the eighth incarnation. My first exposure to the world of Who came in May of 1996 (I would've been 14 at the time). Fox had created a TV movie with the BBC, starring McGann, as a continuation of the Who franchise. The show had been off the air since 1989, and this movie was intended to be a back-door pilot for an American produced Doctor Who series, which would've also starred McGann. Alas, it was no meant to be, as the film did not do well on American televisions and the show was not picked up. Though McGann only appeared on the screen once as the Doctor, he continued to play him in radio serials and the Eighth Doctor appeared in other media. I remember when the movie aired, but as I had school the next day I was only able to watch the first half. Looking back on it now, I realize it was a pretty bad movie. Still, in spite of that, it managed to capture my imagination, and I never forgot about it.

Then in 2005, I got my second taste of Who when the BBC decided to relaunch the series as an hour long, modern, action-packed Sci Fi drama. Bring in Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston (btw, the Doctor's change from his eighth to his ninth incarnations is the only regeneration that has not been shown on screen). After one season, Eccleston dropped out and then David Tennant stepped in as the Tenth Doctor (pictured above with companion Martha), who is probably my favorite incarnation thus far, and also a huge fan favorite in general. Though I haven't seen all the episodes of the revamped series, every single one I have seen has been tense, funny, deep, filled with action, sometimes dark and often resonant. It's really breathed new life into the series as a whole and created a whole new fanbase. While I haven't seen Matt Smith's work on the role yet, the general buzz has been good. Things are going well.

So there's Doctor Who in a fairly large nutshell. It has a cult following, critical acclaim and awards, longevity, instantly recognizable theme music and a fair share of spin-offs, including other British Sci Fi cult series Torchwood. It's influence in the Sci Fi world as well as in pop culture, particularly British culture, is beyond measure. Call me crazy, but I think it's here to stay, at least for a while longer.

If you're curious, check out this YouTube clip to see the different regenerations over the years in order. Now, I should probably just order that t-shirt. Fan Expo's coming, and I'll need things to wear.

Book Review: Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter

You know, some people are already yakking about how 'mash up' fiction is just a passing fad and already on it's way out the door. For those of you unfamiliar with that type of fiction...where have you been the last year? Basically, it's when authors take an established work of fiction and turn it into a new genre. And it may very well be on it's way out, but personally, I'm going to enjoy it as long as it's here.

I have not yet read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, the bestseller that started this whole 'fad' (my cousin informs me that I have to read the original first, and no offence to Austen fans out there, but that's just not going to happen). But one of the many titles that have since come out of the woodwork caught my attention; Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Me being as big a vampire fan as I am, it was perhaps inevitable that this would cross my path. Written by Seth Grahame-Smith, who also wrote Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, the concept of the story, which tells the 'real' history of Lincoln's life and presidency, really hooked me. Apparently, as if the 16th President of the United States hadn't accomplished enough with ending slavery and the Civil War, he was also hunting vampires on the side. 'Cause you know, those overachievers have to be involved with everything.

Before you go thinking what a silly gimmick that is, let me assure you that it works surprisingly well here. Written in the epistolary-style, the reader does get the sense that this is an autobiography, pieced together by documents both historically verified and 'lost'. From the first chapter, in which the author describes how he came to be in possession of the 'secret diaries' and letters of Lincoln, you are treated to an alternate history, in which so many facets of both Lincoln's life and American history are given a new spin. And in the context of vampire fiction, it all comes together nicely. Grahame-Smith obviously researched Lincoln in quite a bit of detail, and paints a very vivid picture of a brilliant yet haunted man who grows and learns through life experiences and, to paraphrase Shakespeare, is born great, achieves greatness, and most assuredly has greatness thrust upon him. And as you're reading you can buy into every word.

From Lincoln's earliest days, to his first steps into hunting, to his unlikely yet pivotal life-long alliance with a man named Henry Sturges, to his days as a lawyer, a politician and a president, right up to his assassination, the plot that unfolds is informative, dramatic, gory, funny, heartbreaking and surprisingly resonant. This was no small feat that Grahame-Smith has pulled off, making all these disparate pieces fit together, but by gosh, I'm liking it. A lot.

Along with P&P&Z, Vampire Hunter is in talks to be adapted to the big screen. Tim Burton is looking to direct. I wonder who could star as Lincoln? Not many actors could play him, the man was so distinctive looking. Still, I'm excited. I'm thinking Johnny Depp could be Henry Sturges.

My Verdict: Despite some initial scepticism, I think most readers will be pleasantly surprised by how this 'real' history is brought to light. I know I was.

Getting my Muggle on at the Harry Potter Exhibition

What is the technical term for a Harry Potter fan? Pottermaniac? Muggle? Wanna-be-Wizard? Personally, I like Potterphile. It has a literary feel to it.

Such was one of the many questions that came up as I, my mother and my brother's girlfriend made our way to the Ontario Science Centre to check out Harry Potter: The Exhibition. This limited engagement special exhibit boasts props, sets and costumes from the movies for all fans. No way I was passing this up. I even wore my blazer with the ironed-on Hogwarts crest on the back I made for a HP program at work.

My mother is another fan. My brother's girlfriend had seen a couple of the movies, but that was the extent of her interactions with Harry. I was determined to convert her, but whether I succeeded or not has yet to be seen.

The centre itself is an amazing building. Several different levels with lots of different exhibits to challenge the mind and educate the masses. It also has an interactive quality to it, which really engages kids. Through the afternoon we checked out a rain forest, did a water test, saw a tornado machine and everything you could want to know about the human body. But who wants to hear about that? Lets get to Harry!

There was quite a lot more to the Exhibition than just some displays. Some lovely English-accented employees brought a group of us to the first part, a room with a sorting hat. After our guide asked for volunteers and nobody rushed up both of my companions started pushing me towards the stage. So I sat, in front of everybody with the lights bearing down on me, and was asked which house I like best. Griffindor, natch. The guide placed the hat just above my head and the hats voice spoke out over the speakers. Guess which house I was sorted into? Griffindor! Clearly I'm a natural fit for that house, and the guide definetly did not have a switch or something under her robe. I mean, the other two people who went after me and were sorted into their houses of choice did not mean there was any trickery involved. Right? Lets say it was just magic and leave it at that.

Then we were ushered into a circular room with a bunch of screens, which then played clips from the movies. Then, one of the coolest parts: a side door opened, revealing a lifesize steaming Hogwarts express, and a wizard with a lantern to usher us in. So cool! Just like arriving a the platform to Hogwarts.

The displays themselves were divided into different aspects of the Potter universe. The first part was the student dormitories and classrooms. The attention to detail with each prop and costume was a sight to behold. And we got to pull Mandrake's out of their pots and hear their screeching sounds.

Next we went on to every wizard's favorite sport. These displays included player uniforms for the Irish and Bulgarian teams, as well as for the school houses. I got to explain the finer points of Quidditch to my brother's girlfriend and throw quaffle's at rings. Also we got to look through Hagrid's hut and sit in his big chair. And see a hippogriff up close.

There was also a section for dark magic, with props like that giant freaky skeleton grave stone from The Goblet of Fire and Voldemort's robes which were fluttering in a breeze. "Have You Seen This Wizard" posters hung all over, featuring the worst of the worst in the wizarding world. Also hanging along with them were citations from the Ministry of Magic reminding all about constant vigilance in the fight against dark forces. It's that attention to detail that really made the exhibit so memeorable.

We then saw delectable treats and beautiful gowns in the Great Hall (complete with floating candles). A set of portraits applauded us as we finished the tour.

And of course, there was a gift shop as we left. It had some wonderful things to buy, including some collectable items that were way out of my price range. In the end I bought a necklace with the Hogwarts crest as a souvenir, which I think suits me just fine.

The exhibit is on until August, so go check it out. There is so much more to see than I've written about here. I may have to see it all one more time before the summer's out. Here's a concept drawing below to give you an idea.

New Harry Potter site and, FINALLY, a date for the theme park

So two pieces of news for us muggles.

A) There is finally a set date for the opening of the new Harry Potter theme park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, at Universal Studios in Orlando. June 18th. A little later than the 'spring' opening we were originally promised, but not by much. Write it down people. A truly historic date. As soon as I'm able, you know I'll be there.

B) A new official Harry Potter site from Scholastic has just gone live. All 7 books, quizzes, lots of terminology. Oooohhh, geek overload.

Now if only the next movie was coming out before November, we'd truly be in business.

Twilight Hater...And Proud of It!

Firstly, December is here! Now everyone can go nuts with the Christmas season and I won't say a word. Heck, I'll even join you!

But back to my main point; I hate this whole Twilight fad. Hate it! Hate just about everything about it. Now as you may have noticed if you're a regular reader I love vampire fiction...but I hate this. Hate that it's so popular. Hate that it's giving vampires a bad name. Just...oooohhhh.

Some of you may be screaming 'NOOOOOOO! How can someone hate Twilight? It's so awesome, it's the best thing ever!' Or at the very least you might be thinking 'Hey it's not Keats but it's not that bad either; why the strong negative feelings?' And look there are some things I'm so crazy about that I can't understand why someone wouldn't like it, so I get where you're coming from. But, in a rare moment of zen, we have to realize that nobody can like everything (and if they say they do they're lying scum). And if you'd be so kind to indulge me, I'd like to take this oportunity to vent my frustration at this obnoxious fad (I can call it that, it's my blog).

So be more specific? Well, I hate Bella Swan. She's a whiny little wuss who lets her life and identity be consumed by a man. Even if he is a gorgeous, mystical, sparkly, slightly thrilling man, that don't make it right. There were a few recent articles at EW that make a great argument for Edward's stalkerish and potentially abusive behavior (see here and here).

And speaking of Edward, as the wise and vampire-savy authors at the discussion panel I attended at Fan Expo pointed out, why on earth would Stephanie Meyer make Edward a vampire if there's no bite to him, or at least not enough to make him truly dangerous. Sure, he might try to kill Bella...but chances are he probably won't. Boooooring!

Plus, real vampires DON'T SPARKLE! I understand taking liberties with vampire mythology, and Dracula was able to walk around in the daylight, so that's not the issue. But Dracula didn't sparkle. Know why? Because he was a REAL VAMPIRE! (And no I don't mean 'real' in the literal sense, I mean real in the established fiction and mythology sense)

Now I'm sure there are those out there who are saying, 'Well Al, how can you spew such venom at something you've never read or seen?' Fair point, but what you may not realize, gentle arguing reader, is that I did try reading it. At the coaxing of the teens I serve at my library I picked up the first volume and thought I'd give it a try. I made it to page 100, decided life was too short, and closed the book. My adorable, incredibly smart 18 year old cousin had assured me before hand that I'd feel like I was falling in love with Edward along with Bella. Maybe I'm looking at it from an almost 30 year old filter, but I have to disagree; I thought Edward was a jerk. And the constant back and forth dance he'd been doing with Bella up to that point was just annoying. Maybe I don't have the patience for that kind of thing at my age, though I know of many people older than me who like the series. Go figure.

Whether you agree with me or not, that is my point of view. Bring me True Blood or Buffy. That's what I'm looking for in my vampire fiction. Hell, I'll even take Van Helsing. At least their suped-up version of Dracula didn't sparkle. Feel free to cheer me on or condemn me in the comments section, your choice.

Book Review: Twenties Girl

What would you do if, in the middle of a whole bunch of other problems in your life, you started seeing the ghost of a deceased family member?

In the world of Sophie Kinsella, it's likely that situation would involve hilarious misadventures and a heavy dose of angst but, somehow, it would all work out in the end; and on that note Twenties Girl does not disappoint.

I had only ever read one of Ms. Kinsella's books, Confessions of a Shopaholic; and while I liked it I did not feel compelled to read any further. That series' heroine, Becky Bloomwood, was charming and relatable, but I found her staggering irresponsibility a bit of a turnoff (Of course you're in financial trouble, you just spent $400 you don't have on a scarf!)

But in Twenties Girl, Lara Lington (who's my age, by the way) is also charming and relatable, but also a hard worker trying to do the right thing and make her way in the world. That's something I can get on board with.

And Sadie, Lara's 105 year old great-aunt who's lingering on after death in the guise of a 23 year old 1920s flapper girl, is just a gem of a character; bold, brassy, take-no-prisoners and fun. She and Lara prove to be quite the team as Lara searches for Sadie's beloved dragonfly necklace and Sadie dips her fingers into Lara's personal and professional lives...whether Lara wants her to or not. What emerges is an adventure in life, love, history, secrets and the importance of family. Some might say this next statement is sacrilege, but I liked it much better than Shopaholic.

My verdict: Funny, touching and with ghosts. What's not to like?

Marvel and Disney: Strange Bedfellows

A big announcement was made today; Marvel Entertainment is set to be purchased by the Walt Disney Company for a reported 4 billion dollars, stock and the rights to about 5 000 characters (insert low impressed whistle here). The full details have yet to be revealed but the entertainment world is abuzz. Many of Marvel's characters are currently owned by other movie companies, like Spider-Man at Sony, Iron Man at Paramount or the X-Men at Fox. How will that be addressed? Hopefully all will be revealed when and if the deal goes through.

As someone who grew up with both Disney and Marvel comics I find myself scratching my head at this turn of events. Disney and Marvel...business partners? The company that gave us so many princess movies and the family friendly faces of Hannah Montana and Suite Life is going to own a comic book legacy that for the past seventy odd years has given us scantily clad superheroes, sometimes in very adult situations? This doesn't add up for me.

Some reporters watching this, like Marc Bernardin at EW.com, are hopeful that this deal will help Marvel branch out a bit from superheroes and try other forms of comics and graphic novels. Perhaps I'm being pessimistic but I worry that the opposite could happen; that Disney may end up being more restrictive of what Marvel can do. The Mouse House, in all it's power and glory, sometimes has a tendency to make everything family friendly. But occasionally I like my comics gritty; DC's Vertigo line is one of my favorites (and it's definitely not for kids).

It's still really early, so we'll have to see how this progresses. Just yesterday though I was at the Marvel booth at Fan Expo. Now Marvel might go through a pretty drastic change. For good or ill? Time will tell.

Book Review: The Graveyard Book

Recently (after having to return it to the library part way through and because it takes me so long to read a novel) I finally finished Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book. I am a huge Neil Gaiman fan. Huge! I have read the entire Sandman chronicles, Coraline, Marvel 1602, A Study in Emerald (a great short story with a twist, which you can find here), as well as various picture books and short stories. And Graveyard does not disappoint, though admittedly the premise sounds a little macabre.

The story centers around a boy called Nobody Owens, who, believe it or not, is raised in a graveyard by the ghosts and other creatures of the night who inhabit it. The reader follows Bod on several instances throughout his unusual life leading up to a very dramatic climax.

Now for someone like me, who doesn't mind stepping into the slightly darker side of fantasy (see my recent posts on vampires), I found this premise very intriguing and I felt that Gaiman pulled it off well, keeping everything in that fantasy world but still believable. For those who may balk, I think that you'll find the characters endearing enough and the plot interesting enough to look past the setting. Plus, as Mr. Gaiman said in a recent interview, the whole point of the book is that life is worth living, and I got that sense as I was reading through it. And I had to keep myself from crying at the end.

My verdict: An excellent read, but it'll depend on what your tastes are