Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Not to sound obsessed, but...
The fifth Harry Potter movie producer was coming very close to eliminating a certain... Kreacher... from the film. J.K. Rowling made sure he understood the house-elf was necessary for the plot of Deathly Hallows.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Book News
A few book releases in the not-too-distant future...
Enoch's Ghost: The second in the Oracles of Fire series by Bryan Davis. Comes out July 1.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: It's official! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final book in J.K. Rowling's magical Harry Potter series, will be released on July 21, 2007. In the February 1 announcement from the book's publisher, Lisa Holton, President of Scholastic Children's Books, said, "We are thrilled to announce the publication date of the seventh installment in this remarkable series. We join J.K. Rowling's millions of readers--young and old, veterans and newcomers--in anticipating what lies ahead."
First Among Sequels: It’s been fourteen years since Thursday Next pegged out at the 1988 SuperHoop, and Friday is now a difficult sixteen year old. However, Thursday’s got bigger problems. Sherlock Holmes is killed at the Rheinback Falls and his series is stopped in its tracks. And before this can be corrected, Miss Marple dies suddenly in a car accident, bringing her series to a close as well. When Thursday receives a death threat clearly intended for her written self, she realizes what’s going on—there is a serial killer on the loose in the Bookworld. And that’s not all—The Goliath Corporation is trying to deregulate book travel. Naturally, Thursday must travel to the outer limits of acceptable narrative possibilities to triumph against increasing odds. Released July 24.
Night of the Soul-Stealer: Third in the Last Apprentice series by Joseph Delaney. Thomas Ward is the apprentice for the local Spook, who captures witches and drives away ghosts. As the weather gets colder and the nights draw in, the Spook receives an unexpected visitor. Tom doesn't know who the stranger is or what he wants, but the Spook suddenly decides it's time to travel to his winter house, Anglezarke. Tom has heard it will be a bleak, forbidding place, and that menacing creatures are starting to stir somewhere on the moors nearby. Can anything prepare Tom for what he finds there? What if the rumors about the evil beast called the Golgoth are true? And how much danger will Tom be in if the secrets the Spook has been trying to hide from the world are revealed? Released September 1.
Isle of Swords: Wayne Thomas Batson's newest book. 'Nuff said.
Leven Thumps and the Eyes of the Want: Foo--the place between the possible and the impossible--is a realm inside the minds of each of us that allows mankind the power to hope and imagine and dream. The powerfully gifted Leven Thumps, once an ordinary fourteen-year-old boy from Oklahoma, has been retrieved from Reality and sent to stop those in Foo who are nurturing dark dreams and plan to invade and rule Reality. Hold on to your popcorn! In book three, the war to unite Foo and Reality has begun. Not only must Leven race across Foo to stop the Secret before the deadly truth is revealed, he must travel to the island of Lith, the home of the Want--the manic dreammaster who can give Leven the gifts he needs against a foreboding army of rants and other Foo beings. If you are willing and have the courage, you're invited for the next adventure in book three, Leven Thumps and the Eyes of the Want. Travel to Sycophant Run, survive the Lime Sea, and discover a new gateway to Foo and a threat beneath the soil. The fooseeable adventure will keep Foo fans captivated and wanting more! Released September 25.
Empire of Ivory: Fourth in the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. Released September 25.
Snakehead: What goes up must come down, and when we last saw Alex Rider, he was as up as can be—in outer space. When he crash lands off the coast of Australia, the Australian Secret Service recruits him to infiltrate one of the ruthless gangs operating across South East Asia. Known as snakeheads, the gangs smuggle drugs, weapons, and worst of all, people. Alex accepts the assignment, in part for the chance to work with his godfather and learn more about his parents. What he uncovers, however, is a secret that will make this his darkest and most dangerous mission yet . . . and that his old nemesis, Scorpia, is anything but out of his life. From the slums of Bangkok to the Australian Outback to the middle of the Timor Sea, Snakehead is Alex Rider’s most action-packed adventure yet. Released November 13.
The Search for the Red Dragon: The second in James A. Owen's Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica series. Some inspired plot elements and character elements. Should be a good read. Arrives January 1, 2008.
Attack of the Fiend: Fourth in the Last Apprentice series. Released March 1, 2008.
Enoch's Ghost: The second in the Oracles of Fire series by Bryan Davis. Comes out July 1.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: It's official! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final book in J.K. Rowling's magical Harry Potter series, will be released on July 21, 2007. In the February 1 announcement from the book's publisher, Lisa Holton, President of Scholastic Children's Books, said, "We are thrilled to announce the publication date of the seventh installment in this remarkable series. We join J.K. Rowling's millions of readers--young and old, veterans and newcomers--in anticipating what lies ahead."
First Among Sequels: It’s been fourteen years since Thursday Next pegged out at the 1988 SuperHoop, and Friday is now a difficult sixteen year old. However, Thursday’s got bigger problems. Sherlock Holmes is killed at the Rheinback Falls and his series is stopped in its tracks. And before this can be corrected, Miss Marple dies suddenly in a car accident, bringing her series to a close as well. When Thursday receives a death threat clearly intended for her written self, she realizes what’s going on—there is a serial killer on the loose in the Bookworld. And that’s not all—The Goliath Corporation is trying to deregulate book travel. Naturally, Thursday must travel to the outer limits of acceptable narrative possibilities to triumph against increasing odds. Released July 24.
Night of the Soul-Stealer: Third in the Last Apprentice series by Joseph Delaney. Thomas Ward is the apprentice for the local Spook, who captures witches and drives away ghosts. As the weather gets colder and the nights draw in, the Spook receives an unexpected visitor. Tom doesn't know who the stranger is or what he wants, but the Spook suddenly decides it's time to travel to his winter house, Anglezarke. Tom has heard it will be a bleak, forbidding place, and that menacing creatures are starting to stir somewhere on the moors nearby. Can anything prepare Tom for what he finds there? What if the rumors about the evil beast called the Golgoth are true? And how much danger will Tom be in if the secrets the Spook has been trying to hide from the world are revealed? Released September 1.
Isle of Swords: Wayne Thomas Batson's newest book. 'Nuff said.
Leven Thumps and the Eyes of the Want: Foo--the place between the possible and the impossible--is a realm inside the minds of each of us that allows mankind the power to hope and imagine and dream. The powerfully gifted Leven Thumps, once an ordinary fourteen-year-old boy from Oklahoma, has been retrieved from Reality and sent to stop those in Foo who are nurturing dark dreams and plan to invade and rule Reality. Hold on to your popcorn! In book three, the war to unite Foo and Reality has begun. Not only must Leven race across Foo to stop the Secret before the deadly truth is revealed, he must travel to the island of Lith, the home of the Want--the manic dreammaster who can give Leven the gifts he needs against a foreboding army of rants and other Foo beings. If you are willing and have the courage, you're invited for the next adventure in book three, Leven Thumps and the Eyes of the Want. Travel to Sycophant Run, survive the Lime Sea, and discover a new gateway to Foo and a threat beneath the soil. The fooseeable adventure will keep Foo fans captivated and wanting more! Released September 25.
Empire of Ivory: Fourth in the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. Released September 25.
Snakehead: What goes up must come down, and when we last saw Alex Rider, he was as up as can be—in outer space. When he crash lands off the coast of Australia, the Australian Secret Service recruits him to infiltrate one of the ruthless gangs operating across South East Asia. Known as snakeheads, the gangs smuggle drugs, weapons, and worst of all, people. Alex accepts the assignment, in part for the chance to work with his godfather and learn more about his parents. What he uncovers, however, is a secret that will make this his darkest and most dangerous mission yet . . . and that his old nemesis, Scorpia, is anything but out of his life. From the slums of Bangkok to the Australian Outback to the middle of the Timor Sea, Snakehead is Alex Rider’s most action-packed adventure yet. Released November 13.
The Search for the Red Dragon: The second in James A. Owen's Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica series. Some inspired plot elements and character elements. Should be a good read. Arrives January 1, 2008.
Attack of the Fiend: Fourth in the Last Apprentice series. Released March 1, 2008.
Let the Madness Begin...
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is coming in less than a month. The madness surrounding the series seems greater than ever before, and excitement is at its greatest ever for a 784-page novel. The book comes out July 21. Note: The picture to the right is the front US cover. The one top and center is the entire US cover. The one on the top left is for the US Deluxe Edition.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Movie News
On the coming soon lists:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: The fifth movie installment in the Harry Potter series will be packed with action, suspense, and humor in its 138 minutes. The film is rated PG-13 and is to be released in the US on July 11, just 10 days before the seventh book arrives in stores.
The Bourne Ultimatum: The third Bourne movie will surely have the mental/physical flavor of the past two films. It will probably be rated PG-13, and the release date is August 3.
The Golden Compass: The star-studded film adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series is billing itself as the next Narnia movie. The release date is December 7.
National Treasure: Book of Secrets: The sequel to the 2004 blockbuster revolves around the Lincoln assassination. It is due to be released on December 21.
Inkheart: The first novel in the Inkheart trilogy is coming to cinemas soon! The release date is March 19, 2008.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian: The second Narnia movie revolves around a usurped prince. The release date is May 16, 2008.
Indiana Jones and the City of Gods (working title): This movie is filming right now, and it stars Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchette, and John Hurt. It will probably be rated PG-13 and has a release date of May 22, 2008.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: It's coooooming... November 21, 2008.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: Yes, it's been announced. The third Narnia movie is due to be released on May 1, 2009.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: The fifth movie installment in the Harry Potter series will be packed with action, suspense, and humor in its 138 minutes. The film is rated PG-13 and is to be released in the US on July 11, just 10 days before the seventh book arrives in stores.
The Bourne Ultimatum: The third Bourne movie will surely have the mental/physical flavor of the past two films. It will probably be rated PG-13, and the release date is August 3.
The Golden Compass: The star-studded film adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series is billing itself as the next Narnia movie. The release date is December 7.
National Treasure: Book of Secrets: The sequel to the 2004 blockbuster revolves around the Lincoln assassination. It is due to be released on December 21.
Inkheart: The first novel in the Inkheart trilogy is coming to cinemas soon! The release date is March 19, 2008.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian: The second Narnia movie revolves around a usurped prince. The release date is May 16, 2008.
Indiana Jones and the City of Gods (working title): This movie is filming right now, and it stars Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchette, and John Hurt. It will probably be rated PG-13 and has a release date of May 22, 2008.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: It's coooooming... November 21, 2008.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: Yes, it's been announced. The third Narnia movie is due to be released on May 1, 2009.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Writing and Reading
My writing has been a mess of ideas lately, but without too much actual writing. I'm some ten pages into a second draft of one of my books, but I had to stop when I got an idea for something that would happen in another. It's maddening, but it's me. And I'm special just the way I am! Whoa, that sounds creepy.
By the way, I read the third Maximum Ride book: Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports, and it's great fun, action, adventure, suspense, humor... even a little romance, but not too much. Definately James Patterson's magnum opus, and I'm glad there'll be a fourth.
By the way, I read the third Maximum Ride book: Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports, and it's great fun, action, adventure, suspense, humor... even a little romance, but not too much. Definately James Patterson's magnum opus, and I'm glad there'll be a fourth.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Belated May 2007 Book Reviews (with some June on the side)
The Door Within: The start of a great trilogy. However, this one is the worst of the three, and it gets better throughout the series.
The Rise of the Wyrm Lord: The middle volume of the Door Within Trilogy. While it is much better than the first, it still is not quite to the level of
The Final Storm: The conclusion of the trilogy.The best writing, the best story, and it may even have you crying a bit at the end.
Nightrise: The third book in Anthony Horowitz's Gatekeepers series is better than the others, building up to two climaxes, one in the far distant past. I'm ready for the fourth volume, City of the Dead.
The Pilgrims of Rayne: The eighth PENDRAGON book is the best of the lot (and the longest), but start at the beginning if you want to know what's actually going on.
Gregor and the Code of Claw: Starting where Marks of Secret left off, the fifth Underland Chronicles novel is the greatest of them all.
More Horowitz Horror: Yet another new book by Anthony Horowitz. The companion book to his Horowitz Horror, this is better in many ways. And the ending is pure Horowitz.
Charlie Bone and the Beast: Charlie Bone is back in his sixth novel by Jenny Nimmo, and it's one of the best, leaving readers right where they want to be-- waiting for the inevitable sequel.
Skulduggery Pleasant: This may turn out to be the next big fantasy-- you know, Harry Potter and all that. It deserves to.
The Secret Life of Bees: I was told to read this book. In the back of my head, there was some measure of enjoyment I had throughout, but I just wasn't satisfied.
The Historian: This novel didn't fully realize its own potential, a sad, yet common, problem nowadays. Still... it was worth it.
The Gunslinger: The first in the Dark Tower series. The shortest, too. And, you know what? I'm hooked.
The Rise of the Wyrm Lord: The middle volume of the Door Within Trilogy. While it is much better than the first, it still is not quite to the level of
The Final Storm: The conclusion of the trilogy.The best writing, the best story, and it may even have you crying a bit at the end.
Nightrise: The third book in Anthony Horowitz's Gatekeepers series is better than the others, building up to two climaxes, one in the far distant past. I'm ready for the fourth volume, City of the Dead.
The Pilgrims of Rayne: The eighth PENDRAGON book is the best of the lot (and the longest), but start at the beginning if you want to know what's actually going on.
Gregor and the Code of Claw: Starting where Marks of Secret left off, the fifth Underland Chronicles novel is the greatest of them all.
More Horowitz Horror: Yet another new book by Anthony Horowitz. The companion book to his Horowitz Horror, this is better in many ways. And the ending is pure Horowitz.
Charlie Bone and the Beast: Charlie Bone is back in his sixth novel by Jenny Nimmo, and it's one of the best, leaving readers right where they want to be-- waiting for the inevitable sequel.
Skulduggery Pleasant: This may turn out to be the next big fantasy-- you know, Harry Potter and all that. It deserves to.
The Secret Life of Bees: I was told to read this book. In the back of my head, there was some measure of enjoyment I had throughout, but I just wasn't satisfied.
The Historian: This novel didn't fully realize its own potential, a sad, yet common, problem nowadays. Still... it was worth it.
The Gunslinger: The first in the Dark Tower series. The shortest, too. And, you know what? I'm hooked.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
There's probably not much I can say here about this movie that hasn't been said at least a dozen times, but I'll say it anyway. This movie, clocking in at just under 3 hours in length, is a thrill ride (pardon the pun) from beginning to end. It shows some interesting new aspects of the characters, gives some great eye candy, and all the plot threads from the previous movies are resolved. That's right. All of them. We now know who Calypso is, how to free her, and how she played an important roll in the transformation of Davy Jones. We see all the troubles Will and Elizabeth are facing and how they try to solve them, testing their own love, even through tragedy.
Jack is in a strange predicament, sentenced to an eternity in Davy Jones's locker, where he becomes delusional, thinking up multiple Jacks to crew the Black Pearl (also in the locker). There is sand all around and no way to move the ship. Now, Jack is one of the nine Pirate Lords, the holder of oneof the nine Pieces of Eight needed to free Calypso. The Brethrem Court (of Pirate Lords) is about to meet, and they need to go get Jack. So Barbossa (yes, he's back), along with Tia Dalma, Will, and Elizabeth journey to Singapore to enlist the help of Pirate Lord Sao Feng (played by Chow Yun Fat). Sao Feng has the navigational charts necessary to get to World's End, the way to Davy Jones's locker. Also, Will is still trying to save his father and Lord Cutler Beckett is trying to get rid of every last pirate who sails the ocean blue. Savvy? And that's just the first ten minutes. Yes, it's complicated, but the action is inspired and the characters still aren't boring. Just go see it already.
Drink up me hearties...
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/pirates/atworldsend/
Jack is in a strange predicament, sentenced to an eternity in Davy Jones's locker, where he becomes delusional, thinking up multiple Jacks to crew the Black Pearl (also in the locker). There is sand all around and no way to move the ship. Now, Jack is one of the nine Pirate Lords, the holder of oneof the nine Pieces of Eight needed to free Calypso. The Brethrem Court (of Pirate Lords) is about to meet, and they need to go get Jack. So Barbossa (yes, he's back), along with Tia Dalma, Will, and Elizabeth journey to Singapore to enlist the help of Pirate Lord Sao Feng (played by Chow Yun Fat). Sao Feng has the navigational charts necessary to get to World's End, the way to Davy Jones's locker. Also, Will is still trying to save his father and Lord Cutler Beckett is trying to get rid of every last pirate who sails the ocean blue. Savvy? And that's just the first ten minutes. Yes, it's complicated, but the action is inspired and the characters still aren't boring. Just go see it already.
Drink up me hearties...
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/pirates/atworldsend/
The Beginning
Yesiree, this is where the fun begins. I'm a writer (and reader) of fantasy, and I'm currently in the middle of far too many projects. This will be a (fairly) frequently updated blog containing news of progress, other interesting literary and film news, and some jokes. Enjoy!
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