2011 Highlights

As 2012 approaches at lightspeed, it is time for me to reveal my highlights from 2011. So without further ado...

Favourite Book of 2011: Divergent by Veronica Roth

If you like dystopian YA but haven't read this book, I urge you to go read it now. It is often compared to The Hunger Games, but I enjoyed it much more. Tris is a tough, likeable character with enough spunk to defy everyone she knows and loves for the right reasons. There is plenty of action in the story to keep me happy, plus some good twists and turns in the plot. I am also impressed that the author was only 22 when she wrote this. I look forward to the next in the series.

Favourite Video Game of 2011: Portal 2

I cannot say enough good things about this game. It is just so darn fun. Portal is puzzle solving at its finest. If you've never played either of the Portal games, the gist is you have to use a device called a "portal gun" to teleport yourself around and get through the many levels. There are also additional elements in Portal 2 to make things more interesting--these include tractor beams, laser redirection, bridges made of light, and coloured goo that can make you bounce or slip and slide. I found the single player to be a lot more challenging than in the first game, which pleases me because it's so satisfying getting through the difficult levels. The co-op is also incredibly fun!

Favourite Movie of 2011: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Yeah... I'm a Harry Potter fan. Enough said. Well, okay, I'll say a little bit more. I liked this half of The Deathly Hallows a lot more than the first one, as I found Part 1 a little slow. I think this was a bang-up job for the ending of a wonderful, much-loved series. Though I also take this opportunity to complain about the death of a certain beloved, red-haired character.

Favourite TV Series of 2011: Doctor Who Series 6

Wow. That was a crazy ride. Want to know how show writers can kill off the main character and get away with it? While normally this wouldn't work, Doctor Who does it again and again. This time was a little different, with the Doctor dying at the beginning of the show, unable to regenerate. I loved the suspense built up throughout the season, the hints throughout the show, the revelation of who River Song is, and the clever twist at the end to bring it all together.

Favourite Trailer of 2011: The Hobbit

I'm not sure if I chose this as my top trailer because it is a really good trailer, or because I am just so excited to see this movie. I guess the two go together.

Top 10 TV Countdown - #3: STARGATE SG-1

"Undomesticated equines could not drag me away." -- Teal'c

If a show lasts for ten seasons, it must be doing something right. (Now go ahead, refute this, and complain in the comments about all the long-lasting shows that were terrible. haha.). But I adamantly say that SG-1 does a lot of things right, and I am ecstatic that it got a whopping ten season run that I will re-watch and re-watch because it is so entertaining.

The premise of the show is that people from Earth can travel to thousands of other worlds in the galaxy through a device called a stargate. The Americans have a secret facility where they send teams of explorers through the gate to different worlds, and the show focuses on the primary team, SG-1. On their first outing, SG-1 encounters an evil, parasitic race called the Goa'uld and inadvertently riles them up. Stargate Command finds themselves in a full out war with these creatures who want to take over Earth and the rest of the galaxy.

By now you may have noticed that it's great characters that make me love a show, and SG-1 is no exception. Jack O'Neill, the leader of SG-1, is my favourite--possibly my favourite sci-fi character of all time. Richard Dean Anderson somehow manages to act simple-minded and smart at the same time. He is sarcastic, quick-witted, and funny.

The other three main characters are also enjoyable. Teal'c is SG-1's alien team member, and it is great fun watching him adjust to the customs of Earth and seeing how different his reserved personality is from the others'. Daniel Jackson is the heart and moral voice of the team, and Samantha Carter is the brains and beauty. The characters also grow and change throughout the run of the show, and I love watching this happen. The writing never gets stale or old, as new characters are added and different events unfold.

The only negative thing I can say about this show is that there are holes in the logic at times. When I'm watching, sometimes I will say "Why wouldn't they just do this instead?" or "Well, that was pretty coincidental." Occasionally the science just doesn't add up, and occasionally they will solve a problem by having a computer genius talk techno-babble and hammer out the solution on a keyboard. But whatever, it's sci-fi, after all.

Do check out this show if you haven't already, especially if you love space-exploration sci-fi but something like Battlestar Galactica is just too dark for you. SG-1 is quite a bit lighter, though it still has serious undertones. I watched this show the first time with my parents and brother and we all enjoyed SG-1's adventures on earth, on other worlds, in space, (and sometimes even in time!) immensely.

Top 10 TV Countdown - #4: WAREHOUSE 13

"That's a nice speech. It sounds even better with the fancy accent. But it still doesn't cover the fact that you are out of your gourd, McNutty-Pants! You put a bomb in a man's mouth. Not really a great recruiting tool." -- Pete Lattimer

You want great sci-fi that you can watch with the family? Try Warehouse 13. (Though by "family," I don't mean very young kids. This is still an adult show, though I think teens will enjoy it.)

Myka Bering and Pete Lattimer are government agents recruited by Warehouse 13 to track down dangerous artifacts with magical properties. These include Beatrix Potter's tea set, which enhances the imagination of the drinker but also results in delusions; Cinderella's knife, which turns people to glass when they are stabbed with it; Rheticus's compass, which can trap people in space and time; H.G. Wells's time machine, which, incidentally, allows people to travel in time; and many more.

I love episodes that stand by themselves but are also part of a larger plot arc, and Warehouse 13 does a great job of this. Each episode focuses on the hunt of a specific artifact, but along the way we learn more about Warehouse 13 and the pasts of the eclectic set of characters. And there are, of course, some terrible love-to-hate villains that need taking care of along the way.

Myka and Pete are the perfect balance for two main characters, in my opinion. Pete is hilarious and boyish, while Myka is serious and detail-oriented. Along with Artie, the special agent in charge of Warehouse 13 who has an extensive knowledge of artifacts and is persnickity and loveable, as well as Claudia, a young woman who is sarcastic and tech-savvy, they make a highly entertaining cast.

This is another one of those shows that even people who don't like "heavy" sci fi may enjoy. It's done quite well on the SyFy channel and has been renewed for a fourth season.

Deja Vu Blog Fest: My To-Read Pile

For some crazy reason, I decided to join the Deja Vu blog fest, where hundreds of bloggers are reposting their favourite post of all time. Now, my blog has only been alive for a couple months, so I don't have much to choose from. I'm sorry I don't have some incredibly moving words of wisdom to share. But as this is a blog about geeky things like sci-fi movies or novels, I am going to re-post the books that are on my to-read pile. I always enjoy getting book suggestions from other people's blogs, so I hope you will too.

P.S. Check out the list here for the other bloggers participating in Deja Vu, and for some truly awesome blog posts.

I have ten books on my to-read pile at the moment. What are they and why do I want to read them? Well, here's the rundown, in no particular order:

1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Why do I want to read this book? Because it's the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, of course! A classic, sci-fi must read. I got five books of the trilogy for my birthday, so they are just sitting on my shelf waiting for me to discover what happened to all the ballpoint pens, where we are born, why we die, and why we spend so much time wearing digital watches.

2. Legend by Marie Lu

This book just came out a month ago, and it's already got some rave reviews. I realize the market is becoming saturated with dystopian novels, but there is a reason for it, cause some of them are just really good. (And if you haven't read the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or Divergent by Veronica Roth, go and do it NOW.) What I like about dystopian novels is the combination of action, mystery, suspense and romance, and this book promises all that.

 

3. Grimspace by Ann Aguirre

A heroine whose talent is jumping ships across the universe, you say? A horrible crash-landing? A prison break and a rogue operation set against the galactic government? Yes, please.

4. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

I've heard the world-building in this book is incredibly good, rich, and well-imagined. The main character, a princess who marries a king at 16, transforms from an uncertain girl (also an unlikely heroine who likes to stay home and eat pastries) to a confident woman. I like a heroine with obvious flaws. Not that liking pastries is a flaw, mind you.

5. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

I loved this movie as a child, and I would like to read the book that inspired it. It's about a boy who's taken into the book he's reading (and who hasn't wished that could happen?). The movie is imaginative, with fun creatures like luck dragons and talking turtles as well as an inspiring adventure, and I've been told the book is even more so.

6. Fox and Phoenix by Beth Bernobich

A YA that is not based in America? Bring it! This story is apparently inspired by a Chinese myth, and with the Asian sounding names Kai and Yun, that sounds about right. Blending magic and technology, the story tells of Kai and Yun's adventure in helping a princess travel across the country. And there are "ghost dragons." How can I resist ghost dragons?

7. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

I read the first book in this series, The Maze Runner, and really enjoyed it. I loved how the author didn't explain what was going on, and you just had to keep reading and reading to have your questions answered. I also liked how this book was obviously directed at boys (though girls will enjoy it too), as a lot of dystopian fiction focuses on a female protagonist.

8. Partials by Dan Wells

I'm a sucker for science fiction where the human race is at stake. And the classic robots-that-look-like-humans are always a good time. This book looks interesting, where the main character is a medic rather than some kick-ass heroine (not that I have anything against those, either). And mandatory pregnancy laws? Plot twists, here I come.

9. The Rook by Daniel O'Malley

"The body you are wearing used to be mine." Okay, that got me. Myfanwy Thomas must discover who she is and follow instructions from her former self. Secret organizations, supernatural forces, a deadly special ability... I'm hooked.

10. Cold Magic by Kate Elliott

This book was up against Song of Scarabaeus by Sara Creasy in some online voting tournament, and Song is a book I really enjoyed. Cold Magic won though, so I really ought to read it. I love a good mixture of science, magic, and epic fantasy, so it's a good bet I'll enjoy it. And okay, the cover is really attractive! Not that I picked it up for its cover. Nope, I would never do such a thing.

January is Vintage SF Month

The Little Red Reviewer is hosting a not-a-challenge event during January, where readers are encouraged to dive into some vintage sci-fi. I am eager to participate, as I have been meaning to read some older novels and just have not gotten to it, so this is the perfect excuse! She's defining vintage as anything published before 1979. Hence, here is my reading plan for the month of January:

1. Watership Down by Richard Adams
2. Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny
3. I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
4. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (which just makes it past the guidelines as it was published in 1979)

Care to join us for this event? Please do! You can read one book, you can read twenty--it's really up to you. Let's have some good old fashioned fun this January.

Author Spotlight: Terry Brooks

Today I am shining the spotlight on one of my favourite authors.

When I was eleven or twelve, my dad brought some used books home from a garage sale. Among them were The Sword of Shannara trilogy and Magic Kingdom for Sale--Sold! An avid fan of fantasy already, I eagerly picked them up because of the fantastic looking covers, and because my dad assured me they were wonderful fantasy stories. I was not disappointed. At all. I was the furthest thing from disappointed, in fact.

The Sword of Shannara is Terry Brooks' first book, published in 1977. He wrote it after reading and being captivated by The Lord of the Rings, and you can certainly tell that Tolkien was his inspiration. Sword has a similar grand fantasy feel to it, with a group of travelers on a quest to save the land from an ancient evil. The main character, a half-elf named Shea Ohmsford, is the last heir of Shannara and therefore their only hope because he has the ability to wield the Sword of Shannara. He and his cousin Flick are reminiscent of Frodo and Sam, and the druid Allanon, of course, has a role much like Gandalf's.  

Sword is a classic story and should be read as such--meaning, don't expect a lot of unique plot twists, but be prepared for a solid adventure story. I re-read this book recently, and sadly did not enjoy it as much as when I was a kid, but I still admire it for promoting grand fantasy like Tolkien's. Sword is followed by The Elfstones of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara, and together the three make the original Shannara Trilogy.

There are many more series that take place in the Shannara world, following the later generations of Ohmsfords. The Shannara series I like best is actually not the original, but the later Voyage of Jerle Shannara trilogy, which starts with Ilse Witch. Brooks starts using more of his own ideas and less of Tolkien's here. The adventure is wonderful and the plot twists sublime. And there are airships. Airships! Who can say no to airships?

And now we come to my absolute favourite series by Brooks: The Magic Kingdom of Landover. Beginning with Magic Kingdom for Sale--Sold!, the Landover books are light-hearted fantasy that follow the story of Ben Holiday, a lawyer who is distraught from the loss of his wife and answers an ad in a magazine to buy a magic kingdom for a million dollars. Interested yet?

To Ben's surprise, the kingdom turns out to be real, but not quite the fairy-tale land the man who sold it to him led him to believe. Citizens refuse to recognize him as king, taxes haven't been collected for years, an evil dragon is on the loose and a witch is plotting to reek havoc and destruction on the land.

This is the book series that I recommend to everyone, even readers who don't normally like fantasy or sci-fi. Oh, and did I mention it is funny? Downright hilarious, at times. There's a sarcastic, talking dog named Abernathy who works as Ben's scribe, gnomes who get into mischief, a wizard who fumbles with magic, a sylph who can turn into a tree... And since I can't say enough good things about this series, I will leave it there.

I can't talk about Terry Brooks without mentioning his Word and Void series, which begins with Running with the Demon. This book is different and much darker than his other stories. It takes place in a small town called Hopewell in Illinois, where demonic creatures called feeders live, and only a few people can see them. Nest Freemark is one of those people. A fourteen-year-old girl, she has a power that no one understands, least of all her. Mysteries unfold as John Ross, a Knight of the Word, comes to Hopewell when he senses terrible evil growing there. This book has suspense, horror, and wonderfully strong characters.

Some people who liked Shannara and Magic Kingdom hated this series. Some people who didn't like Shannara or Magic Kingdom loved Word and Void. I happen to like all three. But whatever your tastes, I hope you are inspired to give Terry Brooks a try if you haven't read anything by him, or perhaps try a different series by him if you have.

The Insecure Writer's Support Group

I am joining Alex J. Cavanaugh's innovative blog hop, where writers can post their fears or offer encouragement to other writers. We post the first Wednesday of every month.

As I just finished my NaNoWriMo sci-fi novel, I have two worries looming over me.

1.That as I am taking a couple weeks break from the book to get some distance from it, that I will fall into the pit of procrastination and never come back to it. I keep telling myself that I love the story and characters too much to let it sit there forever. But still, I worry... Procrastination is so easy.

2. Once I do come back to it and start the re-write (which I will. I WILL, I tell you!), I will not be able to do the characters or the story justice. They are so perfectly formulated in my brain... but how to transfer that perfection onto the page? The tales spinning in my head always come out differently when I put the words down. Not worse, just different. I have to learn to live with that.

Do check out some of the other blogs linked below for some inspiration, encouragement, or writing rants.

Top 10 TV Countdown - #5: CHUCK

"Oh I see. You're going to shoot me to prevent me from blowing up. That's a great plan." 

-- Chuck Bartowski

Chuck's got it all: action, suspense, mystery, romance, comedy. That's why I love it so much. I know it's not technically sci-fi or fantasy, but it's got enough geek factor that I'm including it on my list anyway.

Chuck is a computer nerd who works at a Buy More, until he accidentally downloads government secrets into his brain (that's pretty much the only sci-fi element of the show). His life turns upside down as two government agents are assigned to protect him and use his knowledge for various missions.

Sarah is the sexy, mysterious agent sent by the CIA. Casey is the growling, fighting machine sent by the NSA. Together, the three have to hide Chuck's new spy status from his friends and family and complete dangerous missions for the government.

What's not to like, right?

It is Zachary Levi's stellar acting as Chuck and the phenomenal supporting cast that make this show great. Chuck's sister, Ellie, is sweet and loveable; her husband whom Chuck nicknames Captain Awesome is... well... awesome; Chuck's best friend Morgan is hilarious and geeky; the co-workers at the Buy More are appropriately annoying and bring a lot of humour to the show.

One of the other things I love most about Chuck is the bits of nerdy information dropped in everywhere. Almost anyone will like this show, but if you are a nerd familiar with Star Wars, Tron, Indiana Jones, and the like, you will enjoy it all the more.

I am sorry to say that the later seasons are not as good as the first two. I am still watching the last season, Season 5, as it airs now, but it is merely "pretty good" while the first two seasons were amazing. Go watch them if you haven't. Right now.

Top 10 TV Countdown - #6: FRINGE

"The only thing better than a cow is a human! Unless you need milk. Then you really need a cow." 

-- Walter Bishop

My first impression of this show: creepy with a boring main character. My second impression of this show: imaginative and captivating with a tough heroine who will stop at nothing to save the world.

Olivia Dunham is an FBI agent who is brought into a special division to investigate supernatural events. At first I thought she was boring, but as I continued watching and learned more about her past, I realized she was tough, driven, and pretty much awesome.

She brings Walter Bishop onto her team, a scientist that used to work in an area called "Fringe" science, though Walter has been institutionalized for the past 17 years and is quite the eccentric. Walter is the gem of this show, and John Noble does such a fantastic job playing him it is no wonder he won an award for it. His quips, jibes, and quirks bring the element of humour a serious show like this needs to succeed. He'll call for licorice or a strawberry milkshake at random moments, and has no qualms about dissecting a dead body.

Peter Bishop, Walter's son, is also brought onto the team. He is introduced as sarcastic and moody, and I wish the writers had drawn that out a bit longer so I could easier believe his transformation into a character who cares about what will happen to the world if the team doesn't stop horrible events from happening. However, he is almost as smart as his father and not as insane, so he makes a valuable team member.

Do not watch this show if you are looking for something relaxing to kick off the day with and lull you to sleep. It can be downright creepy at times, and J.J. Abrams has outdone himself with the suspense, action, and plot twists it has taken. There are people with special powers, viruses, strange deaths, advanced technologies, an alternate universe, and much, much more involved. You will also find yourself falling in love with the supporting cast as well as the three main characters, which is a good indication of a great show.

My greatest worry is that this show will get outrageous like Alias did, or that it will become packed with so many plot twists and ideas that it will become too complicated, like Lost did. But so far, so good.

What's On My To-Read Pile?

I have ten books on my to-read pile at the moment. What are they and why do I want to read them? Well, here's the rundown, in no particular order:

1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Why do I want to read this book? Because it's the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, of course! A classic, sci-fi must read. I got five books of the trilogy for my birthday, so they are just sitting on my shelf waiting for me to discover what happened to all the ballpoint pens, where we are born, why we die, and why we spend so much time wearing digital watches.

2. Legend by Marie Lu

This book just came out a month ago, and it's already got some rave reviews. I realize the market is becoming saturated with dystopian novels, but there is a reason for it, cause some of them are just really good. (And if you haven't read the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or Divergent by Veronica Roth, go and do it NOW.) What I like about dystopian novels is the combination of action, mystery, suspense and romance, and this book promises all that.

 

3. Grimspace by Ann Aguirre

A heroine whose talent is jumping ships across the universe, you say? A horrible crash-landing? A prison break and a rogue operation set against the galactic government? Yes, please.

4. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

I've heard the world-building in this book is incredibly good, rich, and well-imagined. The main character, a princess who marries a king at 16, transforms from an uncertain girl (also an unlikely heroine who likes to stay home and eat pastries) to a confident woman. I like a heroine with obvious flaws. Not that liking pastries is a flaw, mind you.

5. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

I loved this movie as a child, and I would like to read the book that inspired it. It's about a boy who's taken into the book he's reading (and who hasn't wished that could happen?). The movie is imaginative, with fun creatures like luck dragons and talking turtles as well as an inspiring adventure, and I've been told the book is even more so.

6. Fox and Phoenix by Beth Bernobich

A YA that is not based in America? Bring it! This story is apparently inspired by a Chinese myth, and with the Asian sounding names Kai and Yun, that sounds about right. Blending magic and technology, the story tells of Kai and Yun's adventure in helping a princess travel across the country. And there are "ghost dragons." How can I resist ghost dragons?

7. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

I read the first book in this series, The Maze Runner, and really enjoyed it. I loved how the author didn't explain what was going on, and you just had to keep reading and reading to have your questions answered. I also liked how this book was obviously directed at boys (though girls will enjoy it too), as a lot of dystopian fiction focuses on a female protagonist.

8. Partials by Dan Wells

I'm a sucker for science fiction where the human race is at stake. And the classic robots-that-look-like-humans are always a good time. This book looks interesting, where the main character is a medic rather than some kick-ass heroine (not that I have anything against those, either). And mandatory pregnancy laws? Plot twists, here I come.

9. The Rook by Daniel O'Malley

"The body you are wearing used to be mine." Okay, that got me. Myfanwy Thomas must discover who she is and follow instructions from her former self. Secret organizations, supernatural forces, a deadly special ability... I'm hooked.

10. Cold Magic by Kate Elliott

This book was up against Song of Scarabaeus by Sara Creasy in some online voting tournament, and Song is a book I really enjoyed. Cold Magic won though, so I really ought to read it. I love a good mixture of science, magic, and epic fantasy, so it's a good bet I'll enjoy it. And okay, the cover is really attractive! Not that I picked it up for its cover. Nope, I would never do such a thing.