Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 41
March 3, 2024
Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes
Just finished watching "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes" released by MVD Visual.
Now I'm probably one of the few people who can honestly say that they saw "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes" when it was first released back in theaters back in 1978.
What set "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes" apart from other independently produced and released movies back in 1978, is that it benefited from a national widespread release following the success of Star Wars and theaters wanting to bring in money to cash in the science-fiction craze. It was also the first movie to successfully mix horror and comedy. And Jeff H. and Zack probably should be thanking me that I didn't make them watch this movie with me, because it has, and I'm not joking, three musical numbers in it, making it essentially the first horror musical comedy to hit the silver screen. I had forgotten about this.
Dad took me to see "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes" when it played at the New River Shopping Center Theater - back in the dark ages where most theaters had only one or two theaters - cue Zack screaming in horror. Now-a-days the New River Shopping Center Theater is off limits - at least it was the last time I visited Camp Lejeune.
Of particular note is the helicopter crash scene early in the movie. It was an unplanned crash and it cost the producers $60,000 out of their $100,000 budget. Ouch - thankfully nobody was killed in the crash.
Yes, we do even have to include a Trigger Warning - some people are going to get offended by the off color, though dated jokes poking fun at stereotypes.
Essentially, the movie is about tomatoes who begin attacking and eating humans. Don't expect Shakespeare here.
Has it aged well? Surprisingly yes, if you look at it as a movie of its time. It did spawn three big budget sequels and a cartoon series. Hollywood takes notice when an independently produced and independently distributed movies rakes in the big books and "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes" did ultimately make $25 million during it's original release. I think it was a success because it was something new and unique and unique it is.
A fun and nostalgic movie.
Recommended!
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...
Now I'm probably one of the few people who can honestly say that they saw "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes" when it was first released back in theaters back in 1978.
What set "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes" apart from other independently produced and released movies back in 1978, is that it benefited from a national widespread release following the success of Star Wars and theaters wanting to bring in money to cash in the science-fiction craze. It was also the first movie to successfully mix horror and comedy. And Jeff H. and Zack probably should be thanking me that I didn't make them watch this movie with me, because it has, and I'm not joking, three musical numbers in it, making it essentially the first horror musical comedy to hit the silver screen. I had forgotten about this.
Dad took me to see "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes" when it played at the New River Shopping Center Theater - back in the dark ages where most theaters had only one or two theaters - cue Zack screaming in horror. Now-a-days the New River Shopping Center Theater is off limits - at least it was the last time I visited Camp Lejeune.
Of particular note is the helicopter crash scene early in the movie. It was an unplanned crash and it cost the producers $60,000 out of their $100,000 budget. Ouch - thankfully nobody was killed in the crash.
Yes, we do even have to include a Trigger Warning - some people are going to get offended by the off color, though dated jokes poking fun at stereotypes.
Essentially, the movie is about tomatoes who begin attacking and eating humans. Don't expect Shakespeare here.
Has it aged well? Surprisingly yes, if you look at it as a movie of its time. It did spawn three big budget sequels and a cartoon series. Hollywood takes notice when an independently produced and independently distributed movies rakes in the big books and "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes" did ultimately make $25 million during it's original release. I think it was a success because it was something new and unique and unique it is.
A fun and nostalgic movie.
Recommended!
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...
"The Spider #95 - The Spider and the Scarlet Surgeon"
Just finished listening to "The Spider #95 - The Spider and the Scarlet Surgeon" by Norvell W. Page writing as Grant Stockbridge.
A little known fact about The Spider's prolific and chief chronicler is that Page worked for the U.S. government in a variety of positions and posts, including the Atomic Energy Commission and the President's Scientific Research Board. I would be curious to read the FBI's background checks and files that they probably kept on him.
Mom, Dad, and I always listened to each new release of The Spider's adventures when Radio Archives released them on CD - sadly Radio Archives does not release CDs any more in boxed sets, though I believe that they do released CDs of books in envelopes. The problem with streaming services is that when the power goes out, good luck watching a movie or listening to a CD if the streaming services server is hacked and/or goes down. Also keep in mind that streaming services modify and censor content or tries to prevent people from watching it by slapping it with warnings and or ratings that suggest it's unsuitable for children and adults Think the "U" rating recently given to Walt Disney's Mary Poppins and Snow White because the Prince did not have Snow White's consent to kiss her, though she seemed to be grateful enough when she woke up from the spell of sleeping death and reached for him with her arms, and for a Military General mentioning the word "Hottentots."
Richard Wentworth, a.k.a. The Spider, is perhaps the best example of an American anti-hero serial killer who murders criminals for the good of humanity. While his identity as The Spider is rather a well-known open secret in law enforcement and the criminal underworld
"The Spider and the Scarlet Surgeon" marks the return of Lorna Demming, Police Commissioner Stanley Kirkpatrick's lost love. Lorna disappeared and promised only to return after she has redeemed herself for her previous criminal activity. Spoiler Alert - Lorna has taken on the dual identity of "The Face" to fight crime in her own way.
What makes the Scarlet Surgeon an intriguing villain is that he makes use of a technique reserved for Doc Savage's Crime College - a hospital where criminals captured by Doc Savage and his crew are sent to undergo brain surgery to remove their criminal tendencies.
Only the Scarlet Surgeon has figured out a way to change personalities and make people do what he wants them to.
And in the interest of full disclosure, I did write some liner notes for collections released by Radio Archives and while I am friends with Nick Santa Maria here on Facebook, we have never met in person, but have exchanged a few text messages over the years.
Nick brings this adventure to vibrant life.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.radioarchives.com/The_Spi...
A little known fact about The Spider's prolific and chief chronicler is that Page worked for the U.S. government in a variety of positions and posts, including the Atomic Energy Commission and the President's Scientific Research Board. I would be curious to read the FBI's background checks and files that they probably kept on him.
Mom, Dad, and I always listened to each new release of The Spider's adventures when Radio Archives released them on CD - sadly Radio Archives does not release CDs any more in boxed sets, though I believe that they do released CDs of books in envelopes. The problem with streaming services is that when the power goes out, good luck watching a movie or listening to a CD if the streaming services server is hacked and/or goes down. Also keep in mind that streaming services modify and censor content or tries to prevent people from watching it by slapping it with warnings and or ratings that suggest it's unsuitable for children and adults Think the "U" rating recently given to Walt Disney's Mary Poppins and Snow White because the Prince did not have Snow White's consent to kiss her, though she seemed to be grateful enough when she woke up from the spell of sleeping death and reached for him with her arms, and for a Military General mentioning the word "Hottentots."
Richard Wentworth, a.k.a. The Spider, is perhaps the best example of an American anti-hero serial killer who murders criminals for the good of humanity. While his identity as The Spider is rather a well-known open secret in law enforcement and the criminal underworld
"The Spider and the Scarlet Surgeon" marks the return of Lorna Demming, Police Commissioner Stanley Kirkpatrick's lost love. Lorna disappeared and promised only to return after she has redeemed herself for her previous criminal activity. Spoiler Alert - Lorna has taken on the dual identity of "The Face" to fight crime in her own way.
What makes the Scarlet Surgeon an intriguing villain is that he makes use of a technique reserved for Doc Savage's Crime College - a hospital where criminals captured by Doc Savage and his crew are sent to undergo brain surgery to remove their criminal tendencies.
Only the Scarlet Surgeon has figured out a way to change personalities and make people do what he wants them to.
And in the interest of full disclosure, I did write some liner notes for collections released by Radio Archives and while I am friends with Nick Santa Maria here on Facebook, we have never met in person, but have exchanged a few text messages over the years.
Nick brings this adventure to vibrant life.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.radioarchives.com/The_Spi...
Strange Way Of Life
Just finished watching "Strange Way Of Life" released by Sony Pictures Classics.
This short 31-minute movie was written and directed by Pedro Almodovar, and gained a lot of critical attention as being the successor to "Brokeback Mountain" for it's supposedly unflinching look at gay cowboys in the Old West. It garnered critical acclaim at the Caines Film Festival and even was "Certified Fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes.
Now a word about Rotten Tomatoes. It used to be a pretty good website for rating movies until it was bought out by Hollywood and the rules for reviews changed. So you have to take a Certified Fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes with a very large grain of salt.
The lynch pin of "Strange Way Of Life" is the romance between Sheriff Jake and rancher Silva. Its a rather curious gay romance, because in order for these to men, who have previously been in heterosexual relationships with women, to have sex with each other, them must be drunk - despite the previous indication that Sheriff Jake lusts after/has a relationship with a young Mexican cowboy singing a song of lost love.
Silva has ridden into town after staying away from Jake for 25-years on the pretense of seeing the doctor. In reality, Silva is trying to persuade Jake not to bring in his son for the murder of Jake's sister-in-law, a woman both men had slept with.
In a tense shoot out, Silva deliberately shoots Jake in order to give his son an opportunity to escape to a new life, and while nursing Jake back to health, he tells Jake that two men living on a ranch caring for each other is a life both of them still can have, even though it was Jake who walked away from the idea 25 years ago.
The end.
A well filmed movie, but it doesn't break any new ground or tell any new compelling stories. Here's what Woke Hollywood is overlooking, gay life may have been hidden in the real past of the Old West, but it was present. Men who were partners in real life in the Old West are often buried together in shared graves clearly marked on the tombstones. And in the 1940s -1960s during the Golden Age of Hollywood and Radio, there were plenty of open LGBTQ references. Perhaps the best example is The Lone Ranger radio program where The Longer Ranger and Tonto are referred to as each other's Pards, and it's often commented by men a majority of the time, and a few women too, on how finely dressed Tonto is and how both are fine physical and muscular examples of manhood.
So the idea of gay western is as old as the Old West its self and is nothing new. But I noticed that there has been no complaints about two straight men, at least I think Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal are heterosexual men, taking on roles that should have been given to at least bisexual if not gay actors, at least according to the Woke guidelines of Hollywood.
"Strange Way Of Life" is not ground breaking, nor does it give a particularly new twist on a father torn between the love for his son and his lover.
Watch it if you must, but "Strange Way Of Life" would have benefited for a longer, more fleshed out story.
Two Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Way-Li...
This short 31-minute movie was written and directed by Pedro Almodovar, and gained a lot of critical attention as being the successor to "Brokeback Mountain" for it's supposedly unflinching look at gay cowboys in the Old West. It garnered critical acclaim at the Caines Film Festival and even was "Certified Fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes.
Now a word about Rotten Tomatoes. It used to be a pretty good website for rating movies until it was bought out by Hollywood and the rules for reviews changed. So you have to take a Certified Fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes with a very large grain of salt.
The lynch pin of "Strange Way Of Life" is the romance between Sheriff Jake and rancher Silva. Its a rather curious gay romance, because in order for these to men, who have previously been in heterosexual relationships with women, to have sex with each other, them must be drunk - despite the previous indication that Sheriff Jake lusts after/has a relationship with a young Mexican cowboy singing a song of lost love.
Silva has ridden into town after staying away from Jake for 25-years on the pretense of seeing the doctor. In reality, Silva is trying to persuade Jake not to bring in his son for the murder of Jake's sister-in-law, a woman both men had slept with.
In a tense shoot out, Silva deliberately shoots Jake in order to give his son an opportunity to escape to a new life, and while nursing Jake back to health, he tells Jake that two men living on a ranch caring for each other is a life both of them still can have, even though it was Jake who walked away from the idea 25 years ago.
The end.
A well filmed movie, but it doesn't break any new ground or tell any new compelling stories. Here's what Woke Hollywood is overlooking, gay life may have been hidden in the real past of the Old West, but it was present. Men who were partners in real life in the Old West are often buried together in shared graves clearly marked on the tombstones. And in the 1940s -1960s during the Golden Age of Hollywood and Radio, there were plenty of open LGBTQ references. Perhaps the best example is The Lone Ranger radio program where The Longer Ranger and Tonto are referred to as each other's Pards, and it's often commented by men a majority of the time, and a few women too, on how finely dressed Tonto is and how both are fine physical and muscular examples of manhood.
So the idea of gay western is as old as the Old West its self and is nothing new. But I noticed that there has been no complaints about two straight men, at least I think Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal are heterosexual men, taking on roles that should have been given to at least bisexual if not gay actors, at least according to the Woke guidelines of Hollywood.
"Strange Way Of Life" is not ground breaking, nor does it give a particularly new twist on a father torn between the love for his son and his lover.
Watch it if you must, but "Strange Way Of Life" would have benefited for a longer, more fleshed out story.
Two Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Way-Li...
March 2, 2024
Lie With Me
Just finished watching "Lie With Me" released by Cinephobia Releasing.
Yes, this was the movie that caused me to have a migraine last week when I was watching it because I was translating the spoken French dialogue in English. While French is my native tongue in a manner of speaking - my Mother and I lived with my Grandparents Baneth for the first five years of my life because my parents were separated and French was spoken and I really didn't learn English until I was six after my parents had reconciled - the lingering after effects of my second stroke is that I get violently ill if I listen to and/or speak in any language other than English.
"Lie With Me" is based on the novel by Philippe Besson, which I have not read, is supposed to be an auto-biographical novelization of a romance he had in real life with a fellow male classmate in school during his senior year, and this screen adaptation is a near autobiographical movie, with Besson fictional counterpart being now called Stephane Belcourt - remember this is the English version of French so no anti-gay slurs are meant by the name. [It's kind of sad that I have to point that out because someone will take offense at how a name is spelled out and spoken in another.] language.
Now some people will be turned off by the constant merging of Belcourt's past and present as he returns to his home town to promote a short novel that he wrote, when he runs into a young man who bears a strong resemblance to the boy he loved all those years ago and the past and present collide as both the past and present seek answers and some form of resolution.
Again, this is a French movie, so prudes and the easily offended should not watch this movie. Though I will make this observation, it seems that director Oliver Peyon deliberately choose actors who bore a strong resemblance to the real life counter parts of the people they were portraying.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C...
Yes, this was the movie that caused me to have a migraine last week when I was watching it because I was translating the spoken French dialogue in English. While French is my native tongue in a manner of speaking - my Mother and I lived with my Grandparents Baneth for the first five years of my life because my parents were separated and French was spoken and I really didn't learn English until I was six after my parents had reconciled - the lingering after effects of my second stroke is that I get violently ill if I listen to and/or speak in any language other than English.
"Lie With Me" is based on the novel by Philippe Besson, which I have not read, is supposed to be an auto-biographical novelization of a romance he had in real life with a fellow male classmate in school during his senior year, and this screen adaptation is a near autobiographical movie, with Besson fictional counterpart being now called Stephane Belcourt - remember this is the English version of French so no anti-gay slurs are meant by the name. [It's kind of sad that I have to point that out because someone will take offense at how a name is spelled out and spoken in another.] language.
Now some people will be turned off by the constant merging of Belcourt's past and present as he returns to his home town to promote a short novel that he wrote, when he runs into a young man who bears a strong resemblance to the boy he loved all those years ago and the past and present collide as both the past and present seek answers and some form of resolution.
Again, this is a French movie, so prudes and the easily offended should not watch this movie. Though I will make this observation, it seems that director Oliver Peyon deliberately choose actors who bore a strong resemblance to the real life counter parts of the people they were portraying.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C...
February 26, 2024
"The Hunger Games - The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes'
Just finished watching "The Hunger Games - The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes' released by Lionsgate.
Mom and Dad were huge fans of "The Hunger Games" movies when they came out, and I got Dad the original box set of the hard cover novels, which he read. I enjoyed the original movies too, so when "The Hunger Games - The Ballad of Songbird & Snakes" originally was published in hardcover, I did get it and enjoyed reading the prequel novel. I should point out that it was published back in 2019.
"The Hunger Games - The Ballad of Songbird & Snakes" follows the descent of Coriolonus Snow from a somewhat decent person trying his best to help the remains of his family survive, to his descent into becoming the ruthless individual he was in the original series.
The movie adaptation is pretty much faithful to the book, but it's filmed in odd Stanley Kubrick style, that makes it rather weird as if you're watching a documentary.
It also failed at the box office and DVD and blu-ray sales didn't exactly reach high numbers.
It's not a bad movie, and it might have actually done well, if released after the last movie. It just lacks the vibrant intensity of the original movies.
Recommended for fans of "The Hunger Games" series, but if you don't see it, you won't miss much.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C...
Mom and Dad were huge fans of "The Hunger Games" movies when they came out, and I got Dad the original box set of the hard cover novels, which he read. I enjoyed the original movies too, so when "The Hunger Games - The Ballad of Songbird & Snakes" originally was published in hardcover, I did get it and enjoyed reading the prequel novel. I should point out that it was published back in 2019.
"The Hunger Games - The Ballad of Songbird & Snakes" follows the descent of Coriolonus Snow from a somewhat decent person trying his best to help the remains of his family survive, to his descent into becoming the ruthless individual he was in the original series.
The movie adaptation is pretty much faithful to the book, but it's filmed in odd Stanley Kubrick style, that makes it rather weird as if you're watching a documentary.
It also failed at the box office and DVD and blu-ray sales didn't exactly reach high numbers.
It's not a bad movie, and it might have actually done well, if released after the last movie. It just lacks the vibrant intensity of the original movies.
Recommended for fans of "The Hunger Games" series, but if you don't see it, you won't miss much.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C...
The Day After Tomorrow - Into Infinity
Just finished watching "The Day After Tomorrow - Into Infinity" released by Anderson Entertainment.
Originally created as a TV pilot, this 47-minute feature is a rare gem in the universe of creator Gerry Anderson. Produced in 1975 between the two series of Space: 1999, it marks a high point in live action sci-fi and is a showcase of the incredible models, special effects, music and renowned cast that characterize Anderson’s work. It aired a back in 1976 as a special episode in NBC's afternoon series of specials aimed for young viewers and I do remember watching it when it first aired and being more than a bit disappointed that there was only one episode ever produced, though Gregory L Norris did write a novelization a few years of of the show and wrote an original sequel. Sadly there has been no additional books in the series.
At Space Station Delta, the light ship Altares readies to launch for mankind's first intergalactic mission to the stars. Neighbouring Alpha Centauri is the destination for the crew of five, But almost from the moment the launch, the crew finds itself in mortal jeopardy.
"The Day After Tomorrow - Into Infinity" was based on the hard science known at the time, and children were part of the crew since parents could not go on a mission traveling at relativistic speeds and leave their children behind to grow old and possibly die while they were away. And their destination was the Alpha Centauri star system, where they launched probes, but never went to any of the planets in the system. Choosing to go on after their primary mission is complete, they manage to outrun a supernova, but ultimately get trapped by a rotating black hole with only one possible means of escape.
Of note to Space: 1999 fans, Nick Take, who played Alan Carter in Space: 1999, and Brian Blessed and Joanna who appeared in episodes of season one and two of Space: 1999 have the lead roles. Ed Bishop, of Anderson's first live action television series, UFO, was the narrator.
A Science Fiction Classic Gem!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://shop.gerryanderson.com/en-us/...
Originally created as a TV pilot, this 47-minute feature is a rare gem in the universe of creator Gerry Anderson. Produced in 1975 between the two series of Space: 1999, it marks a high point in live action sci-fi and is a showcase of the incredible models, special effects, music and renowned cast that characterize Anderson’s work. It aired a back in 1976 as a special episode in NBC's afternoon series of specials aimed for young viewers and I do remember watching it when it first aired and being more than a bit disappointed that there was only one episode ever produced, though Gregory L Norris did write a novelization a few years of of the show and wrote an original sequel. Sadly there has been no additional books in the series.
At Space Station Delta, the light ship Altares readies to launch for mankind's first intergalactic mission to the stars. Neighbouring Alpha Centauri is the destination for the crew of five, But almost from the moment the launch, the crew finds itself in mortal jeopardy.
"The Day After Tomorrow - Into Infinity" was based on the hard science known at the time, and children were part of the crew since parents could not go on a mission traveling at relativistic speeds and leave their children behind to grow old and possibly die while they were away. And their destination was the Alpha Centauri star system, where they launched probes, but never went to any of the planets in the system. Choosing to go on after their primary mission is complete, they manage to outrun a supernova, but ultimately get trapped by a rotating black hole with only one possible means of escape.
Of note to Space: 1999 fans, Nick Take, who played Alan Carter in Space: 1999, and Brian Blessed and Joanna who appeared in episodes of season one and two of Space: 1999 have the lead roles. Ed Bishop, of Anderson's first live action television series, UFO, was the narrator.
A Science Fiction Classic Gem!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://shop.gerryanderson.com/en-us/...
February 18, 2024
Zagor - In The Jaws of Madness
Just finished reading "Zagor - In The Jaws of Madness" by Tiziano Sclavi and Gallieno Ferri, published by Epicenter Comics.
"In The Jaws of Madness" is the longest Zagor story act to date, and it's certainly one of the most controversial of the Zagor stories published to date.
"In The Jaws of Madness" is Zagor's descent into madness brought upon the unexpected return from the dead of Hellingen - perhaps one of Zagor's most deadliest of enemies. Hellingen's plan for revenge against Zagor is simple: he'll drive Zagor insane by transporting him to parallel universes where his darkest fears concerning the peace and fate of Darkwood have been realized and all his friends have been killed.
One of the reasons Zagor is popular is that it goes into various genres.
Zagor's descent into madness is both haunting and terrifying to watch and if Zagor is to survive he must find the truth inside of himself and realize that the hardest thing he can to is to led an enemy to his rest.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/163977861994
"In The Jaws of Madness" is the longest Zagor story act to date, and it's certainly one of the most controversial of the Zagor stories published to date.
"In The Jaws of Madness" is Zagor's descent into madness brought upon the unexpected return from the dead of Hellingen - perhaps one of Zagor's most deadliest of enemies. Hellingen's plan for revenge against Zagor is simple: he'll drive Zagor insane by transporting him to parallel universes where his darkest fears concerning the peace and fate of Darkwood have been realized and all his friends have been killed.
One of the reasons Zagor is popular is that it goes into various genres.
Zagor's descent into madness is both haunting and terrifying to watch and if Zagor is to survive he must find the truth inside of himself and realize that the hardest thing he can to is to led an enemy to his rest.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/163977861994
A Talent For The Invisible
Just finished reading "A Talent For The Invisible" by Ron Goulart, published by DAW Books in 1973.
I believe I probably saw "A Talent For The Invisible" when it was first published on the shelves of the new arrivals section in the Science Fiction section at Michele's Bookstore in the Bryn Marr Shopping Center in Jacksonville, North Carolina when it was first released all those decades ago.
I rediscovered "A Talent For The Invisible" on the shelves of Chamblin's Uptown, and I decided to get and read because I do enjoy Goulart's humorous science fiction novels. On a side note, this novel also includes interior illustrations by legendary science fiction artist Jack Gaughan.
The Sandman is creating chaos by reviving people who have been assassinated by various governments. Discovering who the Sandman is and bringing him in for questioning is the main priority of the Wild Talents Division of the U.S. Remedial Functions Agency. To this end, they have assigned Jack Conger who has the unique ability to make himself virtually invisible by blending into any environment that he is in. Yet as Conger gets nearer to his target, he's finding that the Sandman may not exactly be the evil person that the government thinks he is.
Great Fun!
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Talent-Invisib...
I believe I probably saw "A Talent For The Invisible" when it was first published on the shelves of the new arrivals section in the Science Fiction section at Michele's Bookstore in the Bryn Marr Shopping Center in Jacksonville, North Carolina when it was first released all those decades ago.
I rediscovered "A Talent For The Invisible" on the shelves of Chamblin's Uptown, and I decided to get and read because I do enjoy Goulart's humorous science fiction novels. On a side note, this novel also includes interior illustrations by legendary science fiction artist Jack Gaughan.
The Sandman is creating chaos by reviving people who have been assassinated by various governments. Discovering who the Sandman is and bringing him in for questioning is the main priority of the Wild Talents Division of the U.S. Remedial Functions Agency. To this end, they have assigned Jack Conger who has the unique ability to make himself virtually invisible by blending into any environment that he is in. Yet as Conger gets nearer to his target, he's finding that the Sandman may not exactly be the evil person that the government thinks he is.
Great Fun!
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Talent-Invisib...
Did Jesus Exist? - The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth
Just finished reading "Did Jesus Exist? - The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth" by Bart D. Ehram, published by HarperOne back in 2012.
Yes, "Did Jesus Exist?" has been in my tsundoku, my antilibrary for over a decade now.
Confession time: I'm always leery about reading books discussing Christianity because people always make the wrong assumption that I'm about to announce the I seen the light and accept Jesus as "THE MESSIAH." Oh the joys of being a Conservative Jew who is probably going to offend some people with what I'm about to say next.
Jesus is not the messiah. What Jesus was a rabbi, of sorts, who was crucified by the Romans for civil disobedience. His followers who created a cult around his life and death and even to this day try to shoehorn him into the Jewish concept of a messiah.
What most Christians fail to realize and really don't comprehend because they don't attempt to learn about other religions is that in Judaism that a messiah is not divine and that he or she - which surprisingly really infuriates a majority of Christian women when they learn that a messiah can be a woman - administers G_D's laws/will here on Earth. Notice that I said "a messiah." In Judaism, the messiah is an ordinary mortal man or woman who will eventually die and salvation in the Christian sense of the word is not worshiping the messiah, but following G_D's laws. Technically, there is no limit to the number of messiahs that can exist in Judaism, though it's usually meant to reference one messiah at a given point in time. Also keep in mind that the history of Judaism is littered with false messiahs throughout the centuries - including Jesus. Also keep in mind that Jesus wasn't Christian. He was Jewish.
Yet the question that has haunted Christianity for centuries is was Jesus actually a real life historical person or a myth created by a Jewish cult?
Ehrman looks at both sides of the argument. He is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also has his fair share of haters in and out of the academic and religious communities for tackling the hard questions about Jesus mainly due to his free and open acknowledgement that he is an agnostic.
SPOILER ALERT - Ehrman explores both the historical and mythicist camps and comes to the decision that Jesus existed as a historical person - though not as the blond hair/blue-eyed Jesus that most Christians envision him to be - Jesus was a first century Jew.
I'll probably get in trouble for saying this, but Ehrman follows Jewish tradition in presenting the case for Jesus existing as a historical person - in other words he uses sound reasoning.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Did-Jesus-Exis...
Yes, "Did Jesus Exist?" has been in my tsundoku, my antilibrary for over a decade now.
Confession time: I'm always leery about reading books discussing Christianity because people always make the wrong assumption that I'm about to announce the I seen the light and accept Jesus as "THE MESSIAH." Oh the joys of being a Conservative Jew who is probably going to offend some people with what I'm about to say next.
Jesus is not the messiah. What Jesus was a rabbi, of sorts, who was crucified by the Romans for civil disobedience. His followers who created a cult around his life and death and even to this day try to shoehorn him into the Jewish concept of a messiah.
What most Christians fail to realize and really don't comprehend because they don't attempt to learn about other religions is that in Judaism that a messiah is not divine and that he or she - which surprisingly really infuriates a majority of Christian women when they learn that a messiah can be a woman - administers G_D's laws/will here on Earth. Notice that I said "a messiah." In Judaism, the messiah is an ordinary mortal man or woman who will eventually die and salvation in the Christian sense of the word is not worshiping the messiah, but following G_D's laws. Technically, there is no limit to the number of messiahs that can exist in Judaism, though it's usually meant to reference one messiah at a given point in time. Also keep in mind that the history of Judaism is littered with false messiahs throughout the centuries - including Jesus. Also keep in mind that Jesus wasn't Christian. He was Jewish.
Yet the question that has haunted Christianity for centuries is was Jesus actually a real life historical person or a myth created by a Jewish cult?
Ehrman looks at both sides of the argument. He is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also has his fair share of haters in and out of the academic and religious communities for tackling the hard questions about Jesus mainly due to his free and open acknowledgement that he is an agnostic.
SPOILER ALERT - Ehrman explores both the historical and mythicist camps and comes to the decision that Jesus existed as a historical person - though not as the blond hair/blue-eyed Jesus that most Christians envision him to be - Jesus was a first century Jew.
I'll probably get in trouble for saying this, but Ehrman follows Jewish tradition in presenting the case for Jesus existing as a historical person - in other words he uses sound reasoning.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Did-Jesus-Exis...
February 11, 2024
Mislaid In Parts Half-Known
Just finished reading "Mislaid In Parts Half-Known" by Seanan McGuire, published by TOR Books.
McGuire's "Mislaid In Parts Half-Known" is the ninth entry in her Wayward Children portal fantasy series.
Antoinette "Antsy" Ricci, the protagonist of "Lost in the Moment and Found," has found her way to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children. Ms West, concluding for some reason that the Land Where the Lost Things Go is a Nonsense world, gives her to Cora - the girl who has been a mermaid in the Trenches - as a roommate. What Antsy has brought back to this realm with her is an ability to find anything lost.
When Seraphina learns this, she uses her special ability to try and force Antsy to find her Door. With the help of several other students, Antsy escapes, then opens Doors that bring them, first, to a fairyland -- which turns out to be quite dangerous, especially to the one who has been here before; and from there to the Shop of Lost Things. Here, she learns that Vineta has not learned her lesson, but has taken on a new child, whose youth she is stealing to open Doors, without explaining the cost to her -- and done some other pretty bad things as well. Antsy decides to set things to rights, and the quest - strictly against the school rules is on.
Another great entry in this series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Mislaid-Parts-...
McGuire's "Mislaid In Parts Half-Known" is the ninth entry in her Wayward Children portal fantasy series.
Antoinette "Antsy" Ricci, the protagonist of "Lost in the Moment and Found," has found her way to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children. Ms West, concluding for some reason that the Land Where the Lost Things Go is a Nonsense world, gives her to Cora - the girl who has been a mermaid in the Trenches - as a roommate. What Antsy has brought back to this realm with her is an ability to find anything lost.
When Seraphina learns this, she uses her special ability to try and force Antsy to find her Door. With the help of several other students, Antsy escapes, then opens Doors that bring them, first, to a fairyland -- which turns out to be quite dangerous, especially to the one who has been here before; and from there to the Shop of Lost Things. Here, she learns that Vineta has not learned her lesson, but has taken on a new child, whose youth she is stealing to open Doors, without explaining the cost to her -- and done some other pretty bad things as well. Antsy decides to set things to rights, and the quest - strictly against the school rules is on.
Another great entry in this series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Mislaid-Parts-...
