David Burrows's Blog, page 75

Reviews, where have all the reviews gone!!

Quiet week on the reviews front. Quiet week generally. Mind, the weather doesn't help. The last review for Prophecy of the Kings was Risingshadow.net web site. If you haven't had a look at the review or the site before, check it out. It's s goldmine of information for fantasy and the chap who runs it, Sami, is really nice. He's sent me photos from Finland which is really cool. It looks as wet as the UK judging by the high water mark of the  river.

http://en.risingshadow.net/articles/168-a-review-of-david-burrows-prophecy-of-the-kings-trilogy-omnibus

American Pie Reunion

Like the other films in this series, this is a very entertaining film. Lots of embarrassing moments which is the films' trademark. I still prefer the second film which remains my favourite, but this is still very good. There's lots of nostalgia and in some ways I feel I've grown up with some of these characters. Stifler is my favourite. By far the funniest character and you also feel sorry for him whilst also rooting for his latest escapade. Great stuff.

Cruise food - and lots of it

Read an article recently saying to expect to put on 1 lb for every day on a cruise. I can believe it. Food is very plentiful and some restaurants 24 hours! Food is also very good. I must have been good though - lost 2 lbs, went to the gym frequently!!

Sphinx and Pyramids

I really enjoyed seeing the Sphinx and Pyramids. At the base of the Spinx where the stones were buried, there are in an amazing condition. It shows how good the Egyptian stone masonry was. Not a view folk often get, of the Sphinx's bot!

Running in Mote Park

Decided I need to lose weight. Ran 5 miles in the park today. It's like winter. Horrible. Ran 5 miles last Saturday and aim to do an additional 3 miles in the week. The only question is how long will this last? The park has been renovated and there is a new path which is good, and a nice waterfall into the lake. Marvellous. Just have to dodge the dogs that sometimes like the look of my ankles! :)

First Time on a Cruise - Egypt

Back from my cruise around the Red Sea. Saw all the sites and sounds of Egypt, and the smells! Saw the pyramids and was hassled by the local sellers. They were dreadful. Fortunately the guide warned us of their tricks. They would offer you a free gift and then pursue you relentlessly for a "gift" back. The trick is not to accept the gift in the first place or to place it on the ground and walk away. Some of them got very angry though! They targeted the older tourists, obviously hoping they were a soft touch. One chap was threatened when he went to rescue his mother!

Pyramids were amazing. Loads of ruined buildings around them and I hadn't appreciated how close the Sphinx was. A tour guide was still trying to convince us the Egyptians couldn't have built the pyramids. According to him 2 million people built it, so how could they be fed? Also it's impossible to float 30 tons rocks on the Nile. Eric Van Daniken has a lot to answer for!! Egyptology has come a long way over the years so it's a great shame to hear this nonsense spouted.

Petra was very interesting. You follow a chasm in the ground surrounded by rock. That in itself is inspiring. A water channel cut into the rock takes water from reservoirs down to the city. I hadn't realised that Petra was mainly tombs. It's an amazing place.

The Valley of the Kings, Hatsheput's tomb (first female Pharaoh) and Karnak were the best though. Karnak itself is amazing with some hieroglyphs looking as clear as the day they were carved. My wife was brilliant for letting me go. :)

Migraine cure please

Migraine and tinnitus bad today. If I was a horse I'd have been put down by now. Anyone know of a good migraine cure, other than a brain transplant?

Brilliant reviews, thanks. Keep them coming.

Many thanks for two brilliant reviews for Prophecy of the Kings. These made me very proud,

The first is from risingshadow.net:

I can recommend this book to readers who enjoy reading traditional epic fantasy stories, because it's among the best new traditional fantasy books published during the recent years. http://en.risingshadow.net/articles/168-a-review-of-david-burrows-prophecy-of-the-kings-trilogy-omnibus

The second was:

This is the most captivating fantasy work that I have read in the last 10 years. The tale starts as a simple adventure but soon runs into magic, parallel worlds, dragons and souls connected through time and space. The story unfolds in 3-D technicolour in your mind as you read with each character coming to life as they arrive in the storyline. If you like your fantasy with twists and turns written with a refreshing originality, then this is the book for you. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prophecy-Kings-Omnibus-David-Burrows/dp/0955676088/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1331468278&sr=8-5

I know my books will not please everyone - but these are very good and genuine reviews so my books may be worth a punt. I have made them cheaper by having an omnibus edition of all three books in the trilogy.

My books are discounted at the moment. Check them out at http://davidburrows.org.uk/ukbooks.html

Anyone read my books - let me know what you think.

David :)

Great fantasy reviews

Many thanks for two excellent reviews for Prophecy of the Kings recently,

The first is from risingshadow.net:

I can recommend this book to readers who enjoy reading traditional epic fantasy stories, because it's among the best new traditional fantasy books published during the recent years. http://en.risingshadow.net/articles/168-a-review-of-david-burrows-prophecy-of-the-kings-trilogy-omnibus

The second was:

This is the most captivating fantasy work that I have read in the last 10 years. The tale starts as a simple adventure but soon runs into magic, parallel worlds, dragons and souls connected through time and space. The story unfolds in 3-D technicolour in your mind as you read with each character coming to life as they arrive in the storyline. If you like your fantasy with twists and turns written with a refreshing originality, then this is the book for you. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prophecy-Kings-Omnibus-David-Burrows/dp/0955676088/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1331468278&sr=8-5

I know my books will not please everyone - but these are very good and genuine reviews so my books may be worth a punt. I have made them cheaper by having an omnibus edition of all three books in the trilogy.

My books are discounted at the moment. Check them out at http://davidburrows.org.uk/ukbooks.html

Anyone read my books - let me know what you think.

David :)

John Carter of Mars

John Carter of Mars is based on the book - a Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It's a very enjoyable film and in some respects improves on the original tale. The film's beginning roughly follows that of the book. There are discrepancies, but I think they make for a better film, and lead nicely into the next installment, Gods of Mars. The book is a remarkable tale, given that it was written so long ago (early 1900s). Edgar Rice Burroughs also wrote Tarzan and given how many films that generated it shows that Burroughs' plots have an enduring quality.

I would recommend the film to all fantasy fans. It is visually stunning. The story is good and the interaction between Dejah Thoris and John Carter is handled well, but not as the love at first sight, as in the book. The CGI is terrific and the creatures are a faithful rendition of those in the book. The tharks and white apes are great. Captain Carter's ability to leap great distance, and strength, due to the lesser gravity of Mars, is explained in the film - but I'm not sure how well this will be picked up by those that haven't read the book. His strength is handled with some humour, especially having to learn to walk in the lower gravity.

I only hope they make Gods of Mars, which in my opinion was the better book. Please support this film as otherwise other films in the series will not follow. Well done to Disney for making this film. It was great fun!