Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 411

August 20, 2014: Updates on that new SF show!

We released our official writer’s drafts of episodes 1 and 2 today.  Paul and I co-wrote #1 (the pilot), but I did the solo honours on #2.  After some discussion, we’ve decided to start writing separately.  In truth, we’ve been writing separately for years now, but this is the first time we won’t be sharing the onscreen writing credit.  Or Exec Producer credits as we’ll be both be prepping the show through the start of principal photography, but only I will travel to Toronto to oversee production.  That’s the plan for season one anyway.  Who knows how things will shake out if and when we get that season 2 pick-up.

Delivered notes on episode #3 and hope to have a revised draft by Monday.  I’ll jump on it and then send it Paul’s way.  He’s going to do a pass on my first draft of episode #4 tomorrow and Friday and then, by end of next week, we should (hopefully) be able to release official writer’s drafts of both of those scripts as well.

Paul has a busy September ahead of him writing episodes #5 and #6.  I’ve already sent Robert Cooper the first two scripts as well as a link to the series overview.  I’ll be sending him outlines – including the outline to his story, episode #7 – by this weekend.  Trevor has already started thinking about episode #8.

I’ve almost 40 pages into the script for episode 9 and I hope to have that done by this weekend as well.  A real character-driven story this one, quite dark at times but darkly humorous too.

We’re deep into discussion on directors.  There are a few I’ve worked with in the past that I’d REALLY like to work with again.  The fact that we’ll be shooting the show in Toronto somewhat complicates matters in that respect – and as far as casting goes as well – but I’m sure we’ll see some familiar faces both in front of and behind the cameras all the same.

Speaking of which – I offered my thoughts on the casting breakdown for our seven roles.  We are wide open in terms of age, ethnicity and, in the case of one character, gender.

Next week, we’re going to get on a Skype conference with our production designer in an attempt to hammer out the ship and space station designs.  As I mentioned in a previous post, details like the locations of the airlock and the shuttle shell needed to be decided.  As far as the look of the space station goes, we’ve seen some incredibly inventive concepts, but we still need to address issues of scale and those all important docking procedures.

I spoke to Vanessa today about the official announcement.  Apparently, we’re almost there.  Hopefully sometime in September – before I leave for Japan.

Finally, in addition to working on the new show, I took the time to reading a truly awesome book, This Is Where I Leave You by Jonahthan Tropper – highly recommended, and watching a truly awesome series, Fargo created by Noah Hawley who wrote all ten episodes of the show’s self-contained first season – also highly recommended.  Hannibal is up next!

August 19, 2014: My Vegetarian Line-up!

Vegetarian Week was a resounding success – insofar as I went seven full days (plus one for good luck!) without eating either meat or seafood.  And, surprisingly, it wasn’t that hard.  I didn’t miss it my old eating habits nor was I tempted to fall off the wagon at any point.  So, after a week+ of vegetarianism, what’s the upshot? Do I feel any better?  Did I lose any weight?

Nope.  I feel exactly the same.  Absolutely no different.

While I’m pleased with my herculean achievement, I’m not so sure I could have lasted much longer.  As I said, I was never jonesing for a hit of ribeye or looking score a kilo of pork, but I attribute much of that to the fact that I kept my meals varied and interesting.    But there’s not doubt that, sooner or later, I would have exhausted my bag of culinary tricks.

Still, it was a nice run.  Some of the highlights…

Akemi’s cream of mushroom soup topped with roasted oyster mushrooms and truffle oil.

Garlic-roasted oyster mushrooms.

Crispy oven-roasted artichokes.

Akemi’s button mushroom risotto.

And Akemi’s curry cauliflower risotto.

Carrots tossed in olive oil and thyme, roasted and honey-glazed.

Roasted (notice a theme here?) blow-your-lungs-out hot peppers tossed in olive oil and minced garlic.

Fried garlic scapes.

Crispy ceci (chickpeas).  I served them with conchiglie (shell pasta).

Akemi’s vegetarian Thai-inspired soup with tofu.

Mom’s savory navy bean and garlic recipe.  I served this with piccolini (mini wheel pasta).

Eggplant parm sandwich.

Garlic-fried eggplant.

Lentils with carrots, onions, garlic, and bay leaf.

***

And then, today for lunch, I ate about a half pound of deli beef tongue.

Tagged: vegetarian, vegetarian dishes, vegetarianism

August 18, 2014: A Walk in the (Dog) Park!

Like me, my dogs are homebodies.  Jelly is dog bed-ridden while Bubba and Lulu…don’t play well with others.  Oh, sure, Jelly enjoys her daily half-block walks.  Bubba loves his trips to the farmer’s market.  And Lulu may be ambivalent to other dogs, she likes nothing better than to meet people.  And so, when I heard that the local French Bulldog Meet-Up group was having a birthday part for one of their own, I thought it might be a great opportunity for Lulu to get out and socialize.

A rundown of the festivities…

Her M.O. is so predictable.  The first thing she does when she gets through the park gate is to hop onto the nearest bench and crawl onto someone’s lap.

Partygoer at the refreshment stand.

The hostess brought refreshment for the adults – and loot bags for the kids!

And, of course, cake.

This handsome fellow wanted to make sure I got a shot of him for the society page.

Vino, the birthday boy.

Lulu does the weird sloppy-slidey-shuffle whenever she’s on gravel.

Laid back reveller.

Sniffing out trouble.  And cake!

Lulu making the rounds.  She’s always go that “Yo, lookit me, bitches!” expression.

Party patrol.

Oh, yeah.  Who’s gettin’ some?

Always on her best behavior when treats are involved.

Handsome boy.

I would have put Lulu’s hat on, but she’s got such a small noggin’ I was afraid she’d paper cut her eyeballs.

The birthday boy and mom pose for the pre-cake cutting ceremony.

Akemi makes a new friend.

After some hard partying, Lulu and friend seek the comfort of the shade.

Lulu subtly hints she’s done.

Tagged: french bulldogs

August 17, 2014: My Top 10 Most Disliked Fruit!

This list requires some explanation…

#10. Candied Fruit

Okay, not really a fruit per se, but I include it at number 10 to round out the list – and because my grandmother would always serve us these when we were kids and I always hated them.  Tooth-achingly cloying with a weirdly textured “rind” possessed of an almost inorganic quality.

#9 Cantaloupe

I actually like the taste, but I it makes the list because I always experience a weird reaction whenever I eat one.  It always feels as tough a thousand tiny scalpels have been taken to the roof of my mouth.  Guess I’m mildly allergic.  Not that big a deal as it’s not a flavor I crave.  At least it’s better than being (in the words of many of today’s youth) “lack toast intolerant”.

#8. Honey Dew Melon

Elicits the same physical reaction as cantaloupe, but minus the deliciousness.  A mainstay of every fruit platter ever served, it’s always just-not-quite-ripe.

#7. Currants

They’re always adorning otherwise tasty desserts, like needy wingmen accompanying handsome friends.

#6. Blackberries

Blackberries will find their way off this list and onto my Top 10 Favorites the day someone finds a way to produce a blackberry free of those annoying little seeds that get stuck between your teeth that you keep spitting out for hours after.

#5. Passion Fruit

The inedible seed to edible fruit ratio is way off.

#4. Pomegranate

It too suffers from a terrible inedible see to edible fruit ratio, with the added bonus of being difficult to eat.  It also stains your hands.

#3. Durian

Sure, it could’ve been lower but for the fact that the initial flavor is actually quite nice: custardy sweet.  The aftertaste, on the other hand, is like a gas leak in your chest.

#2. Cranberries

Apparently, they’re good for urinary tract infections.  And not much else.

#1. Kiwi

People insist they’re sweet but every single one I’ve tasted has been tart.  Also, this one is like The Guardians of the Galaxy of fruit.  It’s okay, but nowhere near as fantastic as fanatics make it out to be.  And, for that reason, it gets the #1 slot.

Tagged: fruit, Top 10 Most disliked fruit

August 16, 2014: Top 10 Greatest Fruit!

In order of awesomeness…

#10. Coconut

#9. Pear

#8. Papaya

#7. Miracle fruit

#6. Yuzu

#5. Cherry

#4. Watermelon

#3. Blueberry

#2. Avocado

#1. Banana

August 15, 2014: All Hail the Conquering (Vegetarian) Hero!

5 days into my 7 day Vegetarian Week, I’ve far surpassed expectations.  And, by “far surpassed”, I mean actually doing it.  Unlike Pescaterian Week that saw me fall off the wagon four times, I’ve yet to have any meat or meat-derived products (ie. stocks, animals fats, or delicious bacon bit toppings).  To be perfectly honest, it hasn’t been as difficult as I thought it would be.  I attribute my ongoing success to: 1 part inner strength and personal determination, 12 parts varied recipes from mom’s home kitchen, and fifty-two parts having a massive fruit and oatmeal peanut butter after my morning workout so that I don’t have to worry about lunch.

Last night, Akemi and I took a break from our vegetarian home cooking to check out one of Vancouver’s most lauded vegetarian restaurants: The Acorn Restaurant & Bar that boasts “vegetarian, vegan, & gluten-free dining”!

Okay, come on.  Let’s not go crazy here.

So, here’s how it went…

Akemi, rarin’ to go.  They have zoodles on the menu!

We decided to forego the appetizers in favor of three main courses.  We placed our orders and waited for the feast to begin!

But first, this amazingly delicious non-alcoholic cocktail!  Sur Une Plage (On a Beach): Coconut + Chardonnay Reduction Syrup, Vanilla, Fresh Lemon Juice, and Sparkling Water.  You know how certain restaurants have that stand-out item you go there to order?  Well, in the case of The Acorn, this drink is it.  The Chardonnay reduction syrup imparts a delightfully unique flavor.  It made me wonder if I could pull off something similar with a bourbon reduction.

Main dish #1: Beer battered halloumi, zucchini and potato pancake, smashed peas, mint yogurt, and lemon balm.  I was very pleasantly surprised by this dish – crisp and crunchy with a lovely balance of fresh flavors highlighted by the mint and lemon.  Akemi accused me of cheating by ordering something deep-fried.

Main dish #2 (Akemi’s zoodles): Raw zucchini linguini with mint and walnut pesto, arugula, grape tomatoes, lemon zest, and pine nuts.  It was advertised as vegan, raw, and gluten-free – and, I thought,  pretty much tasted like it.  Akemi enjoyed the dish.  I enjoyed that mint and walnut pesto that accompanied the “zoodles”.

Main dish #3: Papardelle pasta with chanterelle mushrooms, sweet corn garlic, and basil.  This was a good dish that could have been great had they swapped out the papardelle with a more texturally interesting alternative like, say, rigati, ruote, or even  conchiglie.

And then, it was on to desserts.  We had a a choice of three and decided to try all of them.  How’d I like them?  Well, here’s a video of me trying all three in succession: first the raw cashew lemon cheesecake, then chocolate-quinoa zucchini cake, and finally the roasted plums with thai basil panna cotta…

I mean, honestly.  There’s no excuse for screwing up dessert.  It’s not as if you’re hamstrung by all those classic meat-dessert recipes.  How bad were they?  Well, let’s just say they were so bad I regretted the fact my buddy Carl wasn’t in attendance so I could have had the pleasure of watching him try them.

Two more days of vegetarians and then I’m going to try the paleo diet wit the help of my dietician (and former Stargate Special Features Producer) Ivon Bartok.

Pray for JoJo.

August 14, 2014: Doggy updates and a mini mailbag!

First off, I’d like to direct your attention to a GoFundMe campaign organized by blog reader Lorinda.  Her daughter’s service dog, a 12 month old Rottie, requires surgery to repair ligament damage in both knees and it’s a pricey procedure.  If you’d like to donate, head on over here: http://www.gofundme.com/roxysknees.   And if you’re unable to donate (many may not be in a position to do so), then you can certainly help out by spreading the word and sharing on twitter and Facebook. Thanks! [P.S. - Lorinda, PBMom has offered a lot of great suggestions in this blog's comments section].

Another blog reader, (you may remember) Bethany – and her own service dog, Madoka – have some events upcoming including a silent auction at the end of August.  Bethany’s mom, Jennifer, asked me if I could donate something and I suggested a signed script…

Since I’m not in regular contact with the actors and, sadly, can’t just pop by set and get everyone to sign it, I offer my modest signature…BUT, in addition, the script is annotated.  Each page of the writer’s draft includes my notes on everything from script changes and trivia to personal anecdotes and insight into “What the hell I was thinking?”.

My pug Jelly, meanwhile, is a service dog only insofar as she requires constant service from me in the form of lifts in and out of the house, up and down the stairs, off of and onto the bed, hip massages, distribution of daily meds, and general cuddles and attention.

She’s doing okay but her hip is clearly giving her problems.  Still, she insists on going out for her daily walks, barking at me until I take her out front for her 20 foot/minute (treat-studded) stroll.  Yesterday, she was full of beans, getting all the way to the corner before I had to pick her up and carry her back!  Today, she barely made it to that little tree in front of my neighbor’s house.  :(

A rare photo of the elusive pugnicorn.

Also, today was her first acupuncture treatment.

It’s supposed to relax her and increase blood flow to the problem areas.

Next up: Hot Stone Massage and a Pedicure!

Mini mailbag:

Mike A. writes: “You know, Joe, with all this talk of scripts, ships, exteriors, space stations, and people we’ll recognize and “know and love”…..if it ain’t Dark Matter, I’m going to be pissed!  And if it’s not some of the “old guard” from SG working on it and directing it, I’ll be even more pissed!  Let me tell you what I want to see with your new series:

I want to see Mike Dopud in a lead role.

I want to see Amanda Tapping, Andy Mikita, Martin Wood, and Peter DeLuise all directing an episode each. I’ll also accept WIll Waring. ;)

I want to see Brad Wright and Rob Cooper either write an episode together or one each.”

Answer: Well, I’m trying my darndest.  Casting is still a couple of months away, but I do have some “familiar faces” in mind.  I’ve reached out to a few Stargate script veterans, but much will depend on their respective schedules.  As for directors – we’ve generated a preliminary list and, yes, you may recognize a few names.

susiekew writes: “hi joe – one question about your super-secret project … can you at least tell us if it being made for USA or Canada tv? and, maybe, what network?”

Answer: When the series premieres in 2015, it will in the U.S., Canada, Europe and…elsewhere.  Unfortunately, I can’t tell you which networks yet.

Purple-Ultra SG Fan writes: “What is the subject of the new SF show coming in 2015?”

Answer: Oh, the usual (for me): Rogues, renegades, redemption, and the value of friendship.

marcstynen writes: “Hi, do you know if Brad Wright or Rober C Cooper has anything in development?”

Answer: Yep, both Brad and Robert have multiple projects in various stages of development.  I expect they’ll be making their own grand announcements before year’s end.

Stargate writes: “Re: The Stargate movie reboot. If the new movie(s) does at least okay is there a chance of either a new show in the TV canon or a reboot of the TV show(s)?”

Answer: Unfortunately, I suspect it will be a lose-lose scenario for fans of the television series.  If the big screen feature does well, then there’s a possibility they may produce a television series based on the reboot.  If it doesn’t, then I suspect the studio will shelf the franchise for a while with an eye to yet another big screen reboot down the line.

August 13, 2014: Pre-Production update! And a mailbag!

Yashaaa! * (*Made-up exclamation of satisfaction with a recent accomplishment. Yoshay! is an accepted variation).  Just finished a first draft of episode #4! Initially, I thought it was going to be long but, in the end, it actually turned out a little long. I had WAAAAY too much fun with this one.   I’m going to go over it tomorrow and Friday, then send it Paul’s way – so that he can have something to look forward to this weekend.  Not that he hasn’t been keeping busy as well.  He finished his pass on the pilot and is now doing a pass on my script for episode #2.  Meanwhile, we received a first draft of episode #3 from “mystery writer” and it’s great.  Mainly page notes, reminders to include a couple of beats that payoff what has come before or set up beat that will payoff later down the line, and suggested alternate attacks on two scenes – but otherwise, it’s pretty damn tight.  And fun! That’s the operative word through these first four scripts – and something viewers can look forward to over the course of the series’ run.  It’s going to be a hell of a fun twisty-turny-gripping-exciting FUN ride.

Seriously.  Where’s an official announcement when you need one?

Anyway, once Paul has completed his passes on my scripts, he’ll switch gears and actually start on his own scripts – episodes #5 and #6 – which he’ll be writing through September – while I’m in Tokyo/Osaka, presumably enjoying a much-needed break after finishing my next script.  Which is what I wanted to talk to Paul about today.  I needed to know if he had his heart set on any particular script (besides #5 and #6).  Also, wanted to get his opinion on which scripts we should be freelancing out.  It’s a tough call.  Because the show is so serialized, none of the scripts make good one-off opportunities.  In the end, I suggested episodes #8 would be a particularly difficult one to write for someone who wasn’t familiar with the “unique technology” of this world.  I expressed an interest in jumping on the script for episode #9 next and Paul was fine with that (he assumed I had a better handle on this story anyway).  Although I didn’t mention it, I’d also like to write the second half of the late-season two-parter (episode #11).  But I did mention that, since we co-wrote the pilot (episode #1), it’s only fair we co-write the season finale (episode #13).  He agreed.

The plan is to polish those first four scripts and get them out there before month’s end so that the rest of the production team knows what we’re working toward.  It will also give our prospective freelancers a sense of the show, tone, and characters.

Earlier today, we received some more concept art for the spaceship and space station.  Some very cool, very imaginative work.  I love the ship and think it’s almost there.  Paul and I feel it needs a little more exterior texture, a launch shell for our shuttle, and at least one specifically-positioned airlock.  As for armaments, I love the retrofitted look.  As tricked-out as possible.  We aren’t quite as close on the space station as we’re going to require some fairly specific interiors (that will, of course, need to match our station exteriors in those establishers).  But we’re getting there.  Paul and I fly to Toronto in the first week of September to discuss and, hopefully, nail down looks for everything (including the bridge and the two other ships that will be making an appearance in the opening two-parter).

But enough of me.  What of you?  Let’s open the mailbag and see what’s on your mind(s)…

Airelle writes: “Thanks Joe for doing all the leg work in reading these books, have to check some of them out. I just finished The 400 lb gorilla, and still trying to remember all I read.”

Answer: Ah, I remember that one being on my “possible pick-up” list.  How was it?

Purple – ultra Stargate Fan writes: “I was there at your first Comic and was happy to meet you.”

Answer: Well, hope to see you at next year’s Comic Con!”

gforce writes: “I also find myself quite interesting in the Afterlife with Archie series. I might actually pick that up.”

Answer: Far surpassed my expectations.  Looking forward to the volume 2.

Mike from Canada writes: “Where do you get your smoked bones from?  I’m always afraid to give my dog bones, I’ve heard so many stories about dogs dying or getting surgery to fix a perforated colon.”

Answer: I picked them up at my local butcher shop (Market Meats on West 4th Ave.).  Jelly and Bubba have maybe six teeth between them so I’m not too worried about them doing much damage.  It’s tough little Lulu we have to keep an eye on.

dasndanger writes: “I think I recommended that you read The Passage like…10 years ago.”

Answer: My to-read pile is actually three piles, 25 books deep.  Every time I pick a book (at random), it is replaced by a title from my recent-purchase pile – which is usually about 12 deep.  My home library holds several hundred books, half of which I have to get around to reading.  I’ve read 114 books so far this year.  I’m surprised I got around to it that quickly!

dasndanger also writes: “So, Joe…now it’s time for you to recommend – or not – a book to me. The Last Policeman sounds interesting, but right now I can’t take anything that’s too depressing.”

Answer: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion.  Loved it.  Reminiscent of Elizabeth Moon’s The Speed of Dark.

Alfredo De La Fe:”Joe, I started reading your blog because of Stargate but I keep reading it because the way you treat your dogs won me over! (Not to mention that I am a bit of a foodie) You are a great example of a good pet owner.”

Answer: Very kind of you.  And I’ll be the first to admit: these dogs are spoiled!

dasndanger writes: “RIP sweet lady… http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/dasNdanger/laurenbacall_zpsff794c3c.jpg“

Answer: She was wonderful.  Loved her cameo on The Sopranos.

skua writes: “O Captain! My Captain!”

Answer: Very sad.  Whenever I’d hear stories from people who met Robin Williams, they would ALWAYS be extremely positive encounters.  He was, by all accounts, a genuinely nice guy.

Mike A. writes: “Haha! Changlorious Basterds. From Community, of course.”

Answer: You’re the second person to I.D. the t-shirts (the other person being the cashier at the Whole Foods checkout).

Tam Dixon writes: “Cool T’s! What’s the translation on that t with an apple?”

Answer: “Death” as in “Death Note”.  It’s an anime series.  Check it out.

Line Noise writes: “My old friend Boxy! I used to play with him when I was a kid! How did he end up in Vancouver?”

Answer: He was actually headed to Ibiza for a CD launch party but boarded the wrong flight.

Lorinda writes: “Roxie (the dog) is a service dog for my daughter and we wondered if anyone knows any organization who would help pay for the $5000 surgeries.”

Answer: Hmmm.  Have you considered doing a GoFundMe?  If you do, I’d be happy to put the word out for you.

Roger Reynolds writes: “Do what is right, only you know what that is. If she has more good than bad days, then you’re OK. If not, you’ve got tough decisions to make.”

Answer: Mobility issues aside, she’s in great spirits.  She’s very happy and her appetite remains strong.

tinamarlin writes: ” But for pain management and anti-inflammation issues, you might pick up some 100% moringa capsules.”

Answer: Thanks for the tip.  I’ll look into this.

Brandon Y. writes: “Obviously we all want the show to return, but the most likely scenario would be a movie.”

Answer: Alas, the fans of the three Stargate television shows are out of luck.  MGM has green lit a big screen reboot of the original Devlin and Emmerich movie.

Chapa Siriwardena writes: “also finally I would like to thank Joseph Mallozzi, Brad Wright, Robert C. Cooper, Carl Binder and all the team who involved in making SGU for giving us one of the Greatest Sci-Fi TV shows in the television history. Thanks Guys. :)”

Answer: You’re very welcome.  Keep your eye out for our new SF series – we can’t announce yet – which premieres in 2015!

Tagged: scripts, Writing

August 12, 2014: My June Reads!

These are outrageously overdue.  Capsule reviews of my June reads.  And there were a lot of ‘em…

LAGOON by Nnedi Okorafor

When a mysterious object crashes into the waters off the coast of Lagos, the lives of three strangers are forever changed as they become intermediaries between humanity and an alien race.  A mix of scifi, magic, superheroes and Nigerian folklore.  It’s certainly unique and an interesting study of Nigerian culture and society, but there’s little subtlety to the writing.  It’s all surface with no real depth to the individual scenes and characters.  At times, it feels like you’re reading an extremely long fable.

HOT HEAD by Simon Ings

A seemingly unstoppable hundred mile-wide A.I. mining probe is headed towards Earth and the planet’s salvation lies in Malise, a broken combat veteran addicted to military hardware.   Cyberpunk cool and incredibly confusing.  If you’re able to slog through the first half of the book, things will come together for you at the end.

THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY by Jack Trevor Story

Well, they certainly don’t make ‘em like they used to.  And, sometimes, with good reason.  Several people come across a body on the outskirts of a small English town and, as each assumes responsibility for the death, hilarity (?) ensues.  Mired in silly improbabilities.

WILDWOOD (WILDWOOD CHRONICLES #1) by Colin Melot and Carson Ellis

When her baby brother is spirited away by crows, 12 year old Pru and her nerdy sidekick, Curtis, embark on a grand adventure in The Impassible Wilderness (located somewhere in Portland).  Spirited and enjoyable but doesn’t quite attain the heights of Harry Potter or Series of Unfortunate Events.

THE SERPENT OF VENICE by Christopher Moore

The sequel to Moore’s Fool is a bit of Othello, a touch of The Merchant of Venice, a dash of Poe’s Cask of the Amontillado, and a hell of a lot of fun.  The rascal fool, Pocket, runs afoul of three dangerous enemies who drug, then entomb him alive. He makes good his escape and seeks revenge, but his plans are both helped and hindered by Othello the Moor of Venice, Shylock a Jewish money-lender, a mysterious sea serpent – and others.

THE TWELVE-FINGERED BOY by John Hornor Jacobs

A promising start is wasted in this tale about an introverted juvenile delinquent with special abilities who piques the interest of some very powerful, very dangerous people.  The opening section that centers on the juvenile detention center is terrific, but when the action shifts away from the facility, the narrative devolves into all-too familiar territory.

SPIRAL by Koji Suzuki

The sequel to Ringu (The Ring) offers an engaging development to the familiar mystery as well as an interesting exploration of the “science” behind the curse but, inevitably, it all gets bogged down in the technical details.

AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE (VOL. 1: ESCAPE FROM RIVERDALE) by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Francesco Francavilla

Archie Andrews and the gang from Riverdale face a zombie apocalypse when their high school dance is crashed by the undead, forcing them to take refuge at Lodge Manor.  Surprisingly dark, this grim take on the hitherto silly comic is shockingly effective.  Right up there with The Walking Dead and World War Z.

MR. VERTIGO by Paul Auster

A young, St. Louis orphan is taken under the wing of a charming old Svengali who promises to teach him how to fly.  Of course learning to fly is a long and laborious process and, in the four years under Yehudi’s tutelage, young Walt develops a familial bond with the old man and a couple of the other colorful characters who make up his entourage.  Eventually, Yehudi does teach Walt how to fly and they take their act on the road, wowing crowds across America and learning valuable, often difficult, life lessons along the way.  Auster does a marvelous job immersing the readers in this 1920’s setting, and his well-drawn characters are alternately amusing, frustrating, and touching.  At times, the story walks that fine line between fantasy and reality and it’s a tough balancing act to pull off.  By book’s end, I’m not wholly convinced Auster was wholly successful.

THE PASSAGE by Justin Cronin

One of the scariest “vampire” novels I’ve read, this book gets off to a resounding start, featuring some compelling characters and a horrifying contemporary scenario involving a viral outbreak and the government’s inability to contain it.  Then, we jump forward in time and the story becomes a cross between Attack on Titan and The Walking Dead, with less interesting characters and a not quite as compelling narrative.  It’s still post-apocalyptic fun with plenty of scares, but it pales in comparison to that riveting opening section.  It also goes on a little too long.

THE ADJACENT by Christopher Priest

Hmmm.  I loved Christopher Priest’s The Inverted World and liked his The Islanders that, while engaging in its “unconnected connectedness”, nevertheless felt just a little obtuse.  And while The Islanders may have been a little obtuse, I found The Adjacent downright unfathomable.  I enjoyed the sum of its parts but, as a whole, it lost me.

FORTUNE’S PAWN by Rachel Bach

Great adventure and fun characters in this high-flying actioner about a female mercenary who gets a job on a ship called The Glorious Fool crewed by some colorful characters possessed of secrets and hidden agendas.  It’s a fast read and I would have absolutely loved it if not for an obtrusive romantic subplot that, unfortunately, undermines our protagonist’s kick-ass personality.  And sense of logic.

DOCTOR SLEEP by Stephen King

The sequel to The Shining is significantly different from its predecessor, abandoning the original’s isolated setting with its claustrophobic creepiness in favor of a more open travelogue-like tale pitting a grown-up Danny Torrance against a group of roving white trash vampire-like beings.  It’s a Stephen King novel so it’s chock full of great scares, but at times the open road narrative feels a little diffuse and, at the end of the day, less like a sequel and more like a whole other world with a couple of shared characters.

THE OPRHAN MASTER’S SON by Adam Johnson

Jun Do is a professional kidnapper in the service of the great People’s Democratic Republic of North Korean.  We trace his rise, from his humble beginnings in a work camp run by his father, up the ranks of the oft-bewildering paranoia-fueled system, to his position of power – and inevitable mental collapse.  It’s at this point that the novel veers into ridiculous territory as Jun Do assumes the identity of national hero “Commander Ga” to win the love and freedom of famed actress Sun Moon.  The only thing standing in his way: King Jun Il.   An absorbing and harrowing social satire, but the quirky characters, with their unbelievable motivations, defy credulity.

THE GIVER by Lois Lowry

A young adult coming-of-age tale set in a “perfect” future where equality and service to The Community trumps individuality.  Young Jonas comes of age but, unlike his fellow Twelves who are appointed fairly standard careers, he is proclaimed the new Receiver of Memory, the vessel for all the memories of past generations.  As he receives these exciting, bewildering, occasionally painful memories, he begins to question what is and begins a search for what could be.  A relatively quick read that, while appealing in its premise, ultimately feels like the opening chapter in a much larger story.   Soon to be a major motion picture!

THE LAST POLICEMAN by Ben H. Winters

Maia (Asteroid 2011GV1) is on a collision course with Earth.  The planet is doomed. Society is coming apart at the seams.  Many of its citizens “go bucket list”.  Others choose suicide.  But some persevere, maintaining their routines, going into work and doing their jobs.  And, in the case of Detective Hank Palace, investigating a murder whose victim was discovered in a fast food rest room.  A delightful pre-apocalyptic whodunit.

WE ARE THE GOLDENS by Dana Reinhardt

A story of two sisters and their incredible bond.  Nell and Layla are inseparable, the best of friends, drawn even closer by their parents’ divorce.  But Nell begins to notice a change in her sister.  Layla becomes withdrawn and secretive, and Nell suspects it may have something to do with a popular high school teacher. Restrained and real.  Wonderful but for the ending that leaves us hanging.

ATTACHMENTS by Rainbow Rowell

Lincoln O’Neill’s job is to read emails.  Other people’s emails.  As the newsroom’s Internet Security Officer, he keeps tabs on intra-company correspondence for possible red flag behavior.  What at first strikes him as a suspect, even creepy task, grows increasingly fascinating as he begins to monitor the exchanges of two positively delightful employees.  One, in particular, captures his interest – in more than a professional way.  The novel presents a wonderfully dicey moral dilemma – that it fails to fully explore, ultimately letting our conflicted, guilt-ridden protagonist off the hook.  Great, breezy, clever writing.  Darkly humorous.  Then, about halfway through, takes a turn for the implausibly cloying.

August 11, 2014: Dog bones! Awesome t-shirts! And Boxy!

Well, I got that second opinion on Jelly’s hip.  Apparently, she dislocated it a while ago.  It’s an old injury and that makes it even harder to treat.  Popping it back in will be a very painful procedure – and given the deterioration of her hip bones, it’s almost guaranteed to pop out again.  Our options are a major surgery to address the issue (and the potential dangers given her advanced age) or treating her with pain meds.  Well, the other day, we started her on Gaba-pentin and, so far, so good.  She a comfortable night’s sleep…

Then, today, as a special treat, we surprised the pack with smoked bones.  They were greatly appreciated…

 

Also today, I received a treat of my own in the form of a t-shirt delivery from TeeFury (http://www.teefury.com) who offer all sorts of interesting and original shirts for geeks, nerds, and sundry social rogues (I, of course, consider myself part of the latter group).  Guess the shows while I model ‘em for ya!

Finally, to show Akemi isn’t be left out of all the fun, here is a picture of her yesterday with her good friend Boxy…