Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 59
July 16, 2023
Dark Adventure Radio Theatre presents H.P. Lovecraft's 'The Shunned House
Just finished listening to "'" released by The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society.
"The Shunned House" is another classic horror story by H.P. Lovecraft that combines the childhood horror of the abandoned and haunted house in the neighborhood with a hefty mixture of mental illness and Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos of elder gods seeking to reach out and spread their perversions and corruptions here on Earth from the unspeakable elsewheres of otherwhens. And there is always the classic riddle, is the murder suspect insane, or is he telling the truth about the demise of his uncle in that forsaken haunted house?
The Dark Adventure Radio Theatre has produced another brilliant audio adaptation of Lovecraft's work, and of course, you do get the extra props, along with the CD, which helps to provide an authentic feel to the story.
I look forward to the next release in the series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
"The Shunned House" is another classic horror story by H.P. Lovecraft that combines the childhood horror of the abandoned and haunted house in the neighborhood with a hefty mixture of mental illness and Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos of elder gods seeking to reach out and spread their perversions and corruptions here on Earth from the unspeakable elsewheres of otherwhens. And there is always the classic riddle, is the murder suspect insane, or is he telling the truth about the demise of his uncle in that forsaken haunted house?
The Dark Adventure Radio Theatre has produced another brilliant audio adaptation of Lovecraft's work, and of course, you do get the extra props, along with the CD, which helps to provide an authentic feel to the story.
I look forward to the next release in the series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
Sequencer Drift
Just finished listening to "Sequencer Drift" by Divine Matrix, released by A.D. Music.
Divine Matrix is a UK synthesist has has definitely created his own unique brand of space-themed music. Divine Matrix is actually the performance name of musician Steve Barnes.
All the tracks on "Sequencer Drift" contain rich textures of melodies that take the listener on journeys into deep space.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Starfields," "Snow On Mars," "Magellanic Clouds, "Light Sail," "Moon Freighter," and "Dyson Sphere."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
Divine Matrix is a UK synthesist has has definitely created his own unique brand of space-themed music. Divine Matrix is actually the performance name of musician Steve Barnes.
All the tracks on "Sequencer Drift" contain rich textures of melodies that take the listener on journeys into deep space.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Starfields," "Snow On Mars," "Magellanic Clouds, "Light Sail," "Moon Freighter," and "Dyson Sphere."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
July 13, 2023
"The Liars of Nature and the Nature of Liars - Cheating and Deception In The Living World"
Just finished reading "The Liars of Nature and the Nature of Liars - Cheating and Deception In The Living World" by Lixing Sun, published by the Princeton University Press.
Sun, who is a Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Central Washington University, has written an interesting book where the first half is brilliant, and the second half is mundane, "Republicans' bad.
Professor Sun does show how cheating in nature relies on two basic rules. One is lying, by which cheaters exploit honest messages in communication signals and use them to serve their own interests. The other is deceiving, by which cheaters exploit the biases and loopholes in the sensory systems of other creatures. Sun demonstrates that cheating serves as a potent catalyst in the evolutionary arms race between the cheating and the cheated, resulting in a biological world teeming with complexity and beauty.
Sun derails himself when he goes into the human realm of lying.
The first half of the book is Strongly Recommended.
Two Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lixing-...
Sun, who is a Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Central Washington University, has written an interesting book where the first half is brilliant, and the second half is mundane, "Republicans' bad.
Professor Sun does show how cheating in nature relies on two basic rules. One is lying, by which cheaters exploit honest messages in communication signals and use them to serve their own interests. The other is deceiving, by which cheaters exploit the biases and loopholes in the sensory systems of other creatures. Sun demonstrates that cheating serves as a potent catalyst in the evolutionary arms race between the cheating and the cheated, resulting in a biological world teeming with complexity and beauty.
Sun derails himself when he goes into the human realm of lying.
The first half of the book is Strongly Recommended.
Two Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lixing-...
Assault On Mummy Mountain
Just finished reading "DC Jones - Assault On Mummy Mountain" by Jim Beard, published by Becky Books.
"DC Jones - Assault On Mummy Mountain" is the third book in Beck's Adventure Command International series that is an open love letter to the original G.I. Joe Action Figures of the late 1960s and 1970s.
Now because Dad held on the strong belief that "Action Figures" were dolls, I didn't get a G.I. Joe right away. I think Dad overhead me tell Grandfather what I wanted for my birthday one year and he did a preemptive strike and got me a talking G.I. Joe - not exactly an easy thing to do for a U.S.M.C. officer at the time. Though I do collect Classic G.I. Joes now, I really think I can say that having an "action figure" had absolutely no impact on me since I was already planning to take over the world by the age of four and it helped that most people around me couldn't speak French. [English is my second language.]
Bwahahahaha... votre condamnée Birke Duncan.... Bombé... Bwahahahaha.....
Sorry, got carried away....this is a book review with plotting against Birke Duncan on the side, I can multi-task after all.
Beard reveals more of D.C. Jones' past and their is the introduction of a wealthy benefactor who has a past romantic relationship with Jones. No, there is no gay romance subplot, the benefactor is a woman who may be the mother of D.C. Jones son.
And the Adventure Command International team is zeroing in on the Snake Cult that has the power to reshape reality, but not all will survive.
Great, hokey homage to the G.I. Joe adventures of yesteryear.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/D-C-Jones-Adve...
"DC Jones - Assault On Mummy Mountain" is the third book in Beck's Adventure Command International series that is an open love letter to the original G.I. Joe Action Figures of the late 1960s and 1970s.
Now because Dad held on the strong belief that "Action Figures" were dolls, I didn't get a G.I. Joe right away. I think Dad overhead me tell Grandfather what I wanted for my birthday one year and he did a preemptive strike and got me a talking G.I. Joe - not exactly an easy thing to do for a U.S.M.C. officer at the time. Though I do collect Classic G.I. Joes now, I really think I can say that having an "action figure" had absolutely no impact on me since I was already planning to take over the world by the age of four and it helped that most people around me couldn't speak French. [English is my second language.]
Bwahahahaha... votre condamnée Birke Duncan.... Bombé... Bwahahahaha.....
Sorry, got carried away....this is a book review with plotting against Birke Duncan on the side, I can multi-task after all.
Beard reveals more of D.C. Jones' past and their is the introduction of a wealthy benefactor who has a past romantic relationship with Jones. No, there is no gay romance subplot, the benefactor is a woman who may be the mother of D.C. Jones son.
And the Adventure Command International team is zeroing in on the Snake Cult that has the power to reshape reality, but not all will survive.
Great, hokey homage to the G.I. Joe adventures of yesteryear.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/D-C-Jones-Adve...
Finding Paradise
Just finished listening to "Finding Paradise" by David Lanz, released by Decca Records back in David Lanz back in 2006.
Another of my recent purchases from Monster Music near where my sister lives in Charleston, South Carolina, I do have a couple of David Lanz's CDs in my music collection.
A mixture of original and Lanz's take on the work of other artists, "Finding Paradise," is a solid example of Lanz's music.
My favorite tracks on this CD ae: "Walk On Water," "Dorado," "Romantica," "Luna," and "The Sound of Wings."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Paradi...
Another of my recent purchases from Monster Music near where my sister lives in Charleston, South Carolina, I do have a couple of David Lanz's CDs in my music collection.
A mixture of original and Lanz's take on the work of other artists, "Finding Paradise," is a solid example of Lanz's music.
My favorite tracks on this CD ae: "Walk On Water," "Dorado," "Romantica," "Luna," and "The Sound of Wings."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Paradi...
Island of Bows
Just finished listening to "Island of Bows" by R. Carlos Nakai, with Wind Travelin' Band, Shonosuke Ohkuro, and Oki Kano, released b y Canyon Records.
While I was familiar with R. Carlos Nakai as a Native American New Age musician from years ago, I really hadn't listened to any of his music. So when I looked through the New Age section of Monster Music near where my sister lives in Charleston, South Carolina, I was intrigued by "Island of Bows" since it combined Native American and Japanese music - and at the price of only $3, how could I possibly resist?
(I did go back to Monster Music the next day and picked up all the R. Carlos Nakai's cds that they had in stock. That's how much I enjoyed this CD.)
"Island of Bows" effortlessly combines Native American flute with Japanese shakuhachi, shamizen and koto.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Night Forest," "Cloud Temple," "KAMUI," "Red Wind," and "Sunrise II."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Island-Bows-R-...
While I was familiar with R. Carlos Nakai as a Native American New Age musician from years ago, I really hadn't listened to any of his music. So when I looked through the New Age section of Monster Music near where my sister lives in Charleston, South Carolina, I was intrigued by "Island of Bows" since it combined Native American and Japanese music - and at the price of only $3, how could I possibly resist?
(I did go back to Monster Music the next day and picked up all the R. Carlos Nakai's cds that they had in stock. That's how much I enjoyed this CD.)
"Island of Bows" effortlessly combines Native American flute with Japanese shakuhachi, shamizen and koto.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Night Forest," "Cloud Temple," "KAMUI," "Red Wind," and "Sunrise II."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Island-Bows-R-...
Silver Cloud
Just finished listening to "Silver Cloud" by Kitaro, released by Geffen.
Initially released in 1985, "Silver Cloud" is an excellent introduction to Kitaro's music - several of his CDs are in my music collection. So when I discovered "Silver Cloud" in the New Age section of Monster Music near where my sister lives in Charleston, South Carolina, I decided to take a change and pick up this CD - hey, for $4 how could I go wrong with a musician whose work I have previously enjoyed.
Despite the Oriental themes of all of Kitaro's music, it's interesting t note that no traditional instruments were used in any of the tracks on his "Silver Cloud" album.
My favorite tracks are: "Stairway to Orion," "Noah's Ark," "Dreams Like Yesterday," and "Flying Cloud."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Cloud-K...
Initially released in 1985, "Silver Cloud" is an excellent introduction to Kitaro's music - several of his CDs are in my music collection. So when I discovered "Silver Cloud" in the New Age section of Monster Music near where my sister lives in Charleston, South Carolina, I decided to take a change and pick up this CD - hey, for $4 how could I go wrong with a musician whose work I have previously enjoyed.
Despite the Oriental themes of all of Kitaro's music, it's interesting t note that no traditional instruments were used in any of the tracks on his "Silver Cloud" album.
My favorite tracks are: "Stairway to Orion," "Noah's Ark," "Dreams Like Yesterday," and "Flying Cloud."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Cloud-K...
"UFO - Breaking Point"
Just finished listening to "UFO - Breaking Point," released by Big Finish Productions.
I remember when he series first aired on syndication in the late 1970s here in the United States. It was Gerry Anderson's first attempt at a fully live action series, but sadly it only lasted one season - a planned second season morphed into Space: 1999.
[And yes, Zack, I do have the complete series on DVD.]
"UFO' is often referenced as a precursor of "The X-Files." SHADO Commander Ed Stryker certainly was an intense overly paranoid individual - an perhaps rightly so because he was ultimately responsible for protecting the life of every human being on planet Earth from being fodder for Alien organ harvesters.
Now, three years have passed since the events portrayed in the first box set released by Big Finish Productions - "UFO - Destructive Positive" last year. As moonbase is about to go -live, the aliens are targeting Ed Stryker for execution since he is the only one who defeat their plans for Earth and is considered to be the only glue holding SHADO Earth's Defenses intact.
Now one of the problems I have with Big Finish Productions "UFO" series is that they are "re-imagining" the popular original episodes from the series - as in the episodes in this set, "Breaking Point" and "Assassination Time." Big Finish Productions also takes this approach with their "Space: 1999" audio drama series.
Spoiler Alert - "UFO - Breaking Point" suggests that there are two factions of aliens - one who is trying to help SHADO and the other using any means necessary to break Stryker and/or kill him.
"UFO - Breaking Point" is perhaps more paranoid then the original series and the tragedy of Stryker's life is brought to life in vivid detail.
Hopefully, Big Finish Productions will start producing original episodes.
Strongly Recommended!
Four Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/UFO-Vol-2-Brea...
I remember when he series first aired on syndication in the late 1970s here in the United States. It was Gerry Anderson's first attempt at a fully live action series, but sadly it only lasted one season - a planned second season morphed into Space: 1999.
[And yes, Zack, I do have the complete series on DVD.]
"UFO' is often referenced as a precursor of "The X-Files." SHADO Commander Ed Stryker certainly was an intense overly paranoid individual - an perhaps rightly so because he was ultimately responsible for protecting the life of every human being on planet Earth from being fodder for Alien organ harvesters.
Now, three years have passed since the events portrayed in the first box set released by Big Finish Productions - "UFO - Destructive Positive" last year. As moonbase is about to go -live, the aliens are targeting Ed Stryker for execution since he is the only one who defeat their plans for Earth and is considered to be the only glue holding SHADO Earth's Defenses intact.
Now one of the problems I have with Big Finish Productions "UFO" series is that they are "re-imagining" the popular original episodes from the series - as in the episodes in this set, "Breaking Point" and "Assassination Time." Big Finish Productions also takes this approach with their "Space: 1999" audio drama series.
Spoiler Alert - "UFO - Breaking Point" suggests that there are two factions of aliens - one who is trying to help SHADO and the other using any means necessary to break Stryker and/or kill him.
"UFO - Breaking Point" is perhaps more paranoid then the original series and the tragedy of Stryker's life is brought to life in vivid detail.
Hopefully, Big Finish Productions will start producing original episodes.
Strongly Recommended!
Four Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/UFO-Vol-2-Brea...
July 4, 2023
Princess Mononoke
Just finished watching "Princess Mononoke" released by Studio Ghibli.
Now for an admission that will shock Zack Newsome and probably a few others as well: this was my first time watching "Princess Mononoke." While I do recall when it was first released back in the 1990s in American movie theaters, I did not see it when it was initially released, although I did, and still do, enjoy watching anime. I do remember how quickly Walt Disney established a short-lived relationship with Studio Ghibli. Keep in mind that while past Studio Ghibli releases return to theaters every year, Walt Disney does not re-release any of it's animated classics anymore for the silver screen.
Princess Mononoke came from the period when Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli started making socially conscious films. This one plays upon a familiar theme that the studio dealt with several times which was humans have to be in harmony with the environment. That balance was upset when a woman warrior Lady Eboshi created a camp to mine iron to build guns which destroyed the surrounding area. It drove the local animals insane and they organized to get rid of the settlement. San/Princess Mononoke who was raised by wolves was part of this effort. The main character Ashitaka attempts to reconcile the sides. He’s also noteworthy because he is an Ainu character the original people of Japan who were supposedly wiped out by the order of the Japanese emperor 500 years ago. The Ainu survived by retreating deeper into their world and are shown to be at one with nature. Ashitaka kills a giant boar who was turned into a demon due to a bullet from Iron Town. Afterward the Ainu pray for its soul.
There are other issues at work in Princess Mononoke as well. The reason Iron Town was built was so that the local peasants could defend themselves from samurai who were massacring them. Lady Eboshi empowers the women who she freed from brothels, uses lepers to build her weapons, and protects the poor. Ashitaka also talks about how hate has created a demon within both Eboshi and San/Mononoke which will destroy them both if they don’t overcome it and make peace.
There is no strong resolution at the end of "Princess Mononoke." San and Ashitaka part with the understanding that while bound together by love, they must walk separate paths for most of their lives and the forest is changed by human intervention.
"Princess Mononoke" shows that hate on all sides of the equation is not an answer and that those who willing embrace hate for a cause - wrong or right - can be consumed by hate and become unwilling to see why they are wrong.
The animation is lush and brilliant - just what you come to expect from a Studio Ghibli movie. (Take not Disney!)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Princess-Monon...
Now for an admission that will shock Zack Newsome and probably a few others as well: this was my first time watching "Princess Mononoke." While I do recall when it was first released back in the 1990s in American movie theaters, I did not see it when it was initially released, although I did, and still do, enjoy watching anime. I do remember how quickly Walt Disney established a short-lived relationship with Studio Ghibli. Keep in mind that while past Studio Ghibli releases return to theaters every year, Walt Disney does not re-release any of it's animated classics anymore for the silver screen.
Princess Mononoke came from the period when Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli started making socially conscious films. This one plays upon a familiar theme that the studio dealt with several times which was humans have to be in harmony with the environment. That balance was upset when a woman warrior Lady Eboshi created a camp to mine iron to build guns which destroyed the surrounding area. It drove the local animals insane and they organized to get rid of the settlement. San/Princess Mononoke who was raised by wolves was part of this effort. The main character Ashitaka attempts to reconcile the sides. He’s also noteworthy because he is an Ainu character the original people of Japan who were supposedly wiped out by the order of the Japanese emperor 500 years ago. The Ainu survived by retreating deeper into their world and are shown to be at one with nature. Ashitaka kills a giant boar who was turned into a demon due to a bullet from Iron Town. Afterward the Ainu pray for its soul.
There are other issues at work in Princess Mononoke as well. The reason Iron Town was built was so that the local peasants could defend themselves from samurai who were massacring them. Lady Eboshi empowers the women who she freed from brothels, uses lepers to build her weapons, and protects the poor. Ashitaka also talks about how hate has created a demon within both Eboshi and San/Mononoke which will destroy them both if they don’t overcome it and make peace.
There is no strong resolution at the end of "Princess Mononoke." San and Ashitaka part with the understanding that while bound together by love, they must walk separate paths for most of their lives and the forest is changed by human intervention.
"Princess Mononoke" shows that hate on all sides of the equation is not an answer and that those who willing embrace hate for a cause - wrong or right - can be consumed by hate and become unwilling to see why they are wrong.
The animation is lush and brilliant - just what you come to expect from a Studio Ghibli movie. (Take not Disney!)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Princess-Monon...
July 1, 2023
"Imagination Theatre - Weird And Strange Fantasy"
Just finished listening to "Imagination Theatre - Weird And Strange Fantasy" by Jim French Productions, released by Radio Spirits.
As frequent readers of my reviews here on Facebook, Goodreads, and other social media websites know, I always reveal when a have a connection with a book, music, audio drama, and movie that I am reviewing. Although we have never met, I am friends with Larry Albert here on Facebook, and we have chatted a couple of times through Facebook Messenger.
One of my frequent complaints with the Jim French Productions collections released is that unlike their other collections, Radio Spirits does not include a booklet which details the history of each radio show.
Yes, while the history of Jim French Productions is available on the Internet - like a lot information on shows from the Golden Age of Radio, it makes no sense for a booklet not to be included - unless the contract they have with Jim French Productions. Still it would be intriguing to have interviews with the actors about their participation in the radio shows in a booklet.
The audio dramas in this collection of "Imagination Theatre - Weird And Strange Fantasy" are reminiscent of the Twilight Zone and of radio shows like X Minus One from Radio's Golden Age.
My favorite episodes in this collection are: "Time Zone," "The Hole In The Sky," "The Tide Pool," "The Genetic Lottery," "Sky Speak," "Cargo On The Run," The Projectionist," and "The Glory Hole."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://store.radiospirits.com/imagin...
As frequent readers of my reviews here on Facebook, Goodreads, and other social media websites know, I always reveal when a have a connection with a book, music, audio drama, and movie that I am reviewing. Although we have never met, I am friends with Larry Albert here on Facebook, and we have chatted a couple of times through Facebook Messenger.
One of my frequent complaints with the Jim French Productions collections released is that unlike their other collections, Radio Spirits does not include a booklet which details the history of each radio show.
Yes, while the history of Jim French Productions is available on the Internet - like a lot information on shows from the Golden Age of Radio, it makes no sense for a booklet not to be included - unless the contract they have with Jim French Productions. Still it would be intriguing to have interviews with the actors about their participation in the radio shows in a booklet.
The audio dramas in this collection of "Imagination Theatre - Weird And Strange Fantasy" are reminiscent of the Twilight Zone and of radio shows like X Minus One from Radio's Golden Age.
My favorite episodes in this collection are: "Time Zone," "The Hole In The Sky," "The Tide Pool," "The Genetic Lottery," "Sky Speak," "Cargo On The Run," The Projectionist," and "The Glory Hole."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://store.radiospirits.com/imagin...
