Ross Lawhead's Blog, page 4

Dickens Hack

OH! It is ON!

Colin thinks that Dickens is overly wordy, needlessly verbose, and hyper-vocabulised. Often to a detrimental, deterring, and deleterious extent.

Which is true, obviously, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t read him, right? Right? I mean, right?

Ross’ Show Notes

Dicken’s work is in the public domain (natch). Download any or all of his books at Project Gutenberg. They are downloadable in multiple formats for all of your ereaders, tablets, phones, watches, whatever.
Please consider donating to Project Gutenberg. I do, because these bastions of free information are facing more and more challenges as laws change.
What I didn’t tell Colin was that there are also free, unabridged, audiobooks of Dickens available at librivox.org. A surprising number of them are available in Dutch, so there you go. You can pick from several different readers, but I found that Mil Nicholson is the best, hands down.
If you like what I was saying about Dombey and Son, and want to know how that all pans out, then download the Mil Nicholson reading here. Make sure you have some hankies ready (Chapters 14 – onwards).
A Tale of Two Cities takes place 1775-1792. Barnaby Rudge in and around 1780. Little Dorrit begins in 1826, but as it was written in 1855 I don’t think that counts as Historical Fiction.
I found Barnaby Rudge probably the hardest to get through. The description of the riots was well worth the trudge through the first have of the book, though.
If “Barnaby Rudge” isn’t cockney rhyming slang for “trudge”, then it should be.
I just looked it up and “Barnaby Rudge” is cockney rhyming slang for “judge”. That’s kind of cool.
This website further informs me that “Oliver Twist” is “fist”.
@rosslawhead me on Twitter for questions, comments, or arguments.

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Clearing Out You Bookcase – Top Tips

Five Easy Steps to Clearing Out Your Bookcase

Wait… clearing out your bookcase?
I don’t understand. Clearing it “out”?
You mean, like, getting rid of all the books?
Oh, just some of the books. But getting rid of them? Like, making them not be there anymore?
No, just run it all by me from the beginning. Clearing out your bookcase?

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That Was Quick – Fiction Hack is Jumping The Shark

Yep, that’s it, we’re wilfully jumping the shark. It’s all down hill from here. To listen to this witty jape, and other general discourses on the subject, listen below.

Also, this will be the last time that I mention Star Wars. Honest.

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The Answer Is Love

The Answer Is Love

The answer is love.

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The Answer Is Love. The Answer Is Love. The Answer Is Love.

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The Answer Is Love.

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The Answer Is Love. The Answer Is Love. The Answer Is Love. The Answer Is Love.

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The Answer Is Love. The Answer Is Love.

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The answer is love. The answer is love. The answer is love. The answer is love. The answer is love.

The answer is love.

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Weekly Podcast Launch: Fiction Hack!

I’m now appearing on a weekly podcast called Fiction Hack: Unlocking a Deeper Experience in Modern Story. In it, Colin Munro and I talk about all things to do with writing–past, present, and future! Episode 1 will be of most interest to future historians, I recommend you all start with Episode 2.

And I swear, this is all I’ve got left to say about Star Wars.

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The Reasons Why I’m Turning My Back On Star Wars

I was actually going to give all my reasons, but what’s the fucking point any more?

It’s exhausting and you don’t want to hear me gripe anyway. Long/short: It used to be special and fun and now it’s not.

Whatever.

It’s yours, now.

Enjoy.

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Texas Tea

Barrista: Welcome to *********, do you know what you’d like?

Me: Just a tea, please.

Barrista: What kind of tea? We have all these options here.

Me: (Squinting) Uh… English Breakfast tea. Grandé.

Barrista: (Entering into a terminal) One grandé breakfast tea. Do you want that sweet or unsweet?

Me: Uh… unsweet?

Barrista: Unsweet.

Me: …wait…

Barrista: Yes?

Me: This is hot tea, right? Like not ice tea?

Barrista: Oh, you want hot tea?

Me: Yes, please.

Barrista: (Taping furiously on the terminal) Not a problem. Do you want anything in it?

Me: “in it”?

Barrista: Syrup, flavouring, whipped cream, an extra shot…?

Me: No. God, no. Just… a little milk if you have it.

Barrista: Milk? Like, do you want a tea latte?

Me: No, no tea latte. Just a hot tea with a little splash of milk. I’ll add the milk, just leave room.

Barrista: Hot tea with room. $2.49.

Me: (Counting out change) Okay.

Barrista: (Turning, over their shoulder) Do you want one tea bag or two?

Me: Just one. Please, just one. I only–what is that thing? What are you doing?

Barrista: This is the steamer.

Me: The steamer? You don’t–I said DO YOU HAVE TO USE THE STEAMER?

Barrista: (Thinks: jerk) This is where we get the hot water, sir.

Me: Okay… fine…

Barrista: Here you go.

Me: (Thinks: I’m so sad right now.) Thank you.

Barrista: (Thinks: “die, please”) Have a nice day.

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Five Awesome Train Movies

L’Arrivée d’un tren en gare de La Ciotat (1895)

Murder on the Orient express, directed by and starring Kenneth Brannagh, is about to hit the cinemas and it looks set to be pretty great. Trains have a long history with movies–in fact, one of the first movies to be widely screened was of a train pulling into a station. L’Arrivée d’un train en gare de La Ciotat was filmed by the Lumiere Brothers in 1895 and the reports, perhaps exaggerated, were that people fled the theatre in terror, thinking that the train was about to crash into them. (A more plausible account is that the Lumiere Brothers also developed a rudimentary but very effective form of 3D which made people think that they were watching a scene happening outside of the building.)

And so, in celebration of, what, 122 years of trains in movies, here are my top five favourite train movies:

1. The Lady Vanishes (1938)

The Lady Vanishes (1938)

Alfred Hitchcock was evidently fond of trains since he set so many of dramatic turns on them. North By Northwest, Shadow of a Doubt, and, or course, Strangers on a Train, all have pivotal scenes set on trains. However, The Lady Vanishes makes the list because the bulk of the action takes place on the train itself.

It’s a great set-up–a woman goes to sleep on a train and then wakes up to find that the person she has been sharing a carriage with is gone, and not only that, but no one else on the train remembers ever having seen her at all. It’s a plot that was cribbed for Flightplan (2005) starring Jodie Foster. And as with most Hitchcock movies, it is not long before spies and intrigue abound. To say any more would be to spoil it, but if you have not seen it I recommend that you do

2. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

The Darjeeling Limited is often placed at the bottom of people’s favourite Wes Anderson films (if they even have a favourite). It’s nearly at the top of my list, after Rushmore (1998). After the first couple through I realised that I was watching it wrong. I had thought, as others insisted, that it was a movie about brothers and family dysfunction.

It’s not.

At least, not for me. Because, those elements are certainly there, but none of what the brothers went through, or how they interact with each other, are anything that resonates with me and my fraternal relations. But what I can relate to, and this is where all of the movie’s conflict stems from, is when life gets derailed and you’re left searching for some meaning or purpose when you’ve been thrown completely off course. The three Whitman brothers are, at one point, thrown off the titular train and they never get back on again. It is then revealed that the brothers never attended their father’s funeral, and the reason that one of them has for dragging them to India is to find their mother who abandoned them–and she abandons them again. It’s about dealing with the fact in life that sometimes there just isn’t any meaning or resolution to tragic events, but that life continues on anyway. It’s only when the brothers attend an Indian funeral that they are given the tools necessary to mourn and let go of the past. But even then, as is said, there is still a lot of healing to do.

3. Busanhaeng/Train to Busan (2016)

Busanhaeng/Train to Busan (2016)

Showing on Netflix right now, this is a real gem of a film. Made in South Korea last year, this is not only a good train movie, but one of the best zombie movies as well, and I defy you to disagree with me. As with all of the best zombie movies, this story is all about the characters, with some astute social commentary thrown in. Previously annoying characters are shown to have worth and integrity, and the survival of all is compromised by the entitled few. With just a few deft strokes of the scriptwriter’s pen, you are never in doubt to a character’s motivations, and everyone is sympathetic, even when they are deliberately sabotaging others.

Every ounce of tension is squeezed out of the premise as the movie rockets to its conclusion as fast as the bullet train it centres around. The set pieces are stunning and suspenseful. Even if you feel that you have burned out on zombies, I encourage you to pull together enough stamina to see this one. It doesn’t disappoint.

4. Snowpiercer (2013)

Snowpiercer (2013)

There was a lot of controversy around when it was released. For a start, it didn’t get a very wide release, even considering that it starred the current Captain America, Chris Evans. Then when people saw that its overt themes were about workers overthrowing lazy oppressors who did nothing but live the high life on the backs of the servant class, accusations were made that “The Rich” buried this movie deliberately in order to keep it away from the 99%.

Obviously the rich have a better way of not letting us see movies and that is to not make them in the first place. But for all of this, it is true that this movie should be more in the public consciousness than it is. It wears its class-struggle metaphor right there on its sleeve, definitely leaning in on its fantastical premise: a train carrying the last survivors of earth rides an endless circuit through the frozen world, and after decades of exploitation, the people who shed sweat, blood, and tears, aren’t going to stand by and have their children stolen. Amid rumours that there are no more bullets left in the guards guns, the engine workers attempt a coup d’etat.

Beautifully directed, superbly acted, and with several genuinely shocking revelations, this is definitely one to track down.

5. The General (1926)

The General (1928)

I’m a huge fan of silent movies and so my list can’t be complete without The General on it. In a large part conceived by Buster Keaton, it is also inspired by true events. It’s the story of a man who steals a train during the American Civil War in order to get back to his sweetheart. This film was rather large budget for its time (most say $750,000) and it only did middling well ($500,000 domestic). However, Keaton was always innovative, not just in his own stunts, but also in what he committed to film. This picture has the honour of containing the most expensive shot in the silent movie era: they actually drove an actual train off of an actual bridge and into an actual riverbed for the movie’s climax.

This, however, is probably not the most famous scene. The scene where Keaton removes railway ties from the train tracks while the train is in motion, in one continuous shot is in just about all of the top 100 greatest scenes clip shows. But the whole movie is a corker, if you go in for that sort of thing. I understand that not everyone can kick back and enjoy a silent movie, but if you were to try one, this wouldn’t be the worst to begin with.

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The Enchantress and The Beast

In a distant land, and another time…

“RRRRAAAaaargh! What has happened to me?”

“It is I, proud prince, who have transformed your body into that of a vile beast–so that you now appear on the outside as you always were on the inside.”

“But… why?!”

“To teach you that appearances do not always describe one’s worth.”

“And my courtiers, my servants, what have you done to them?!”

“I have transformed them into furniture, common everyday furniture.”

“Murderess! To visit your vengeance on my own head may be considered just, but to slaughter dozens, nay, nearly a hundred–”

“They are not dead, prince. They still live in mind and soul, but in the form of furniture.”

“But… yet, still, is not an eternity trapped, unfeeling, unmoving–”

“Oh, they can still move, my presumptuous prince.”

“Oh. Uh… they what?”

“It is true, my lord. We are still here and able to talk and move… to varying degrees. It’s not ideal, but…”

“You see I do not lie, prince. They will live as they are, immortal, unaging.”

“That’s… that’s… alright, I admit that I don’t know what to think of that. But to stay in that form forever? Even once I am dead and turned to dust–”

“You shall not age either.”

“Oh. Okay…”

“Not until the last petal falls from this rose–and then you shall die!”

“Is that the rose you tried to sell me just now?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, mortality! To live the span of a plucked rose… just a few short days–”

“Years.”

“Pardon?”

“A few short… well, it will be ten years. Ten years exactly. And in that time, if you have not learned to love, and to be loved in return, then surely you shall die.”

“I– hold up. Are you saying there’s a way to break the curse?”

“I am.”

“Oh. Oh! Good then. So I must learn to love. Very well. But, hang on. Did you say that someone else also has to fall in love with me?”

“Yes. Correct.”

“That seems… I understand why I would need to learn to love, but why is the spell contingent on someone else also learning to love?”

“Because… it… is!”

“Can it be anyone?”

“Anyone. Almost anyone.”

“Can it be one of my servants?”

“No.”

“Huh. Very well. Ten years is a goodly time. I shall dispense messengers to every corner of my kingdom, and…”

“You shall not. I am placing an enchantment on this castle so that all outside of it will forget that it has ever existed!”

“That… strikes me as particularly unfair. But still, I am man enough for the challenge. In that time there is bound to be many a visiting wanderer who will take word of my circumstance to others.”

“Ha ha! Scornful princeling! Not as many as you may think, for I shall also disguise the road and thwart any that may come upon the castle perchance.”

“That’s–whooh. That’s particularly spiteful. Truly, you are as cruel as you are vindictive, vile witch.One might even say vindictive to an unwarranted extent, considering the circumstances.”

“Perhaps. And then again perhaps not, for I shall leave you some items to aid you in your plight.”

“By my plight you mean this curse you placed on me to teach me a lesson, one that will potentially, almost certainly it sounds, kill me–me and the eighty some people in this castle–due to the additional codicils you seem to have added. This is the ‘plight’ you mentioned.”

“Yes. As I said, I am leaving you two enchanted items to aid you in your plight.”

“Just so I’m absolutely clear: you have cursed me and placed impossible obstacles in front of me to make sure that I’m completely doomed, but you are also leaving me some objects to help me break the curse.”

“I am.”

“A part of me is rather grateful that you have stayed here to explain this to me, else I never would have figured all this out. But say on, you were about to explain about these items.”

“Items of rare, and powerful enchantment, such as this land has rare seen.”

“…Go on.”

“This here is a magic mirror. Merely by holding it in your hand and speaking to it what you wish to see, you shall instantly view what your heart desires.”

“…Okay. Um, thank you. That’s really incredible. You’re going to leave that here? For me?”

“I shall. And the other object is a book. An enchanted book, that shall allow you to visit any place in the world that you wish to go to. Merely open this book, think of that place, and you shall be transported there.”

“…Really? That’s…. that’s beyond incredible. I almost don’t need the mirror if I have that. And I can go anywhere I want?”

“Yes.”

“Then why bother to… nevermind. Okay, a book and a mirror. Anything else?”

“The rose. Don’t forget the rose. You’ll want to keep that safe. Here, I’ll leave a glass jar for it as well. If you wouldn’t mind–no, I’ll just put it on this table over here.”

“The table that used to be, a courtier, or lowly butler, mayhap?”

“No, the tables are all just tables.”

“Ooh! It’s floating. Did you do that? That’s clever. Anything else?”

“Is this all not enough?”

“Damned if I know. I’ll admit to you, witch, even just living my remaining days as a beast would have seemed punishment enough. I’m not quite sure I deserve death, but you have shown yourself powerful and bitter so… so be it. The rest of it seems needlessly complicated. Especially the part with my servants. And also the part with… I mean are you sure you want to leave me the mirror and the book? Not that I’m not grateful…”

“I have gifted and shall not ungift.”

“Right-ho. So… are you going to stay now? Shall I have one of my… furnitures prepare you a room?”

“I must depart hence on the hour.”

“I see. It’s just… well, you started all this by wanting a place to stay in exchange for a flower, but, okay. You know your business best.”

“I shall return again this night, ten years from now.”

“…Of course you will.”

“Farewell… Beast!”

“Cheerio.”

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Are You A Fundamentalist or A Firmamentalist?

Hey people, have you heard about this new website called FIRMAMENTALIST? It’s full of all great stuff that I know you’ll like, because it’s written and curated by me and my friends.

I’ve been wanting to do this for some time–to stretch my wings in an area that’s less me-centric, and to invite more people into an open community, and discuss ideas rather than push product (which I will still merrily do on this website, of course)!

The title is taken from a G K Chesterton poem, which is explained in the first post, and throughout I’ll be pursuing a very chestertonian spirit, the idea of turning the world rightside up…

Click to visit!

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