Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 68
February 12, 2023
"Endless Forms - The Secret World of Wasps"
Just finished reading "Endless Forms - The Secret World of Wasps" by Seirian Summer, released by HarperCollins.
Summer, who is a biologist and professor of behavioral ecology at University College of London, who specializes in the study of the multitudinous species of wasps, shares her enthusiasm with her readers. Wasps are as important to a healthy ecosystem as are our friends and allies the honeybees. The author provides a lot of fascinating information about wasp behavior and evolution - that is often overlooked because wasps are often feared insects.
An intriguing and fascinating look at one of natures most feared and overlooked insects.
Highly Recommended!
Ten Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0063029928?...
Summer, who is a biologist and professor of behavioral ecology at University College of London, who specializes in the study of the multitudinous species of wasps, shares her enthusiasm with her readers. Wasps are as important to a healthy ecosystem as are our friends and allies the honeybees. The author provides a lot of fascinating information about wasp behavior and evolution - that is often overlooked because wasps are often feared insects.
An intriguing and fascinating look at one of natures most feared and overlooked insects.
Highly Recommended!
Ten Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0063029928?...
February 10, 2023
Salvage
Just finished reading "Salvage" by Eric Brown, published by Infinity Plus Books.
"Salvage" is best known as a "put together book." Brown has linked his Salvageman Ed stories together that have previously appeared in in various magazine and anthologies, along with several previously unpublished short stories.
"Salvage" pays homage to classic golden age science fiction stories and feature an every-man Ed who has a heart-of-gold and earns his living by salvaging wrecked spaceships. When on a break in a bar, he spots a young girl, Ella Rodriguez, and buys her a drink. It turns out that she's on the run from her creators. She is actually an A.I.
"Salvage" is great adventure science fiction in the classic tradition.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Salvage-Eric-B...
"Salvage" is best known as a "put together book." Brown has linked his Salvageman Ed stories together that have previously appeared in in various magazine and anthologies, along with several previously unpublished short stories.
"Salvage" pays homage to classic golden age science fiction stories and feature an every-man Ed who has a heart-of-gold and earns his living by salvaging wrecked spaceships. When on a break in a bar, he spots a young girl, Ella Rodriguez, and buys her a drink. It turns out that she's on the run from her creators. She is actually an A.I.
"Salvage" is great adventure science fiction in the classic tradition.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Salvage-Eric-B...
"The Last Sharknado: It's About Time!"
Just finished watching "The Last Sharknado: It's About Time!" released by The Asylum.
The sixth and final movie in the SyFy Channel's popular cult hit sensation of Sharknado movies is a hoot-hoot nanny of an epic conclusion that wraps all the series with a bang.
Picking right up from the end of the fifth Sharknado movie, Finn finds himself on a mission to stop all the Sharknados from occurring throughout history in order to stop the Sharknados from every happening. He ends up in prehistoric times and receives some unexpected help from his late wife April and other friends who Gil managed to rescue before they were killed in various Sharknados.
Now Fin and company must travel across time and prevent themselves from meeting Gil in order to prevent a time paradox.
"The Last Sharknado: It's About Time!" is an open love letter to fans of the series that wraps up all loose ends rather neatly, and gives watchers a satisfying conclusion where Fin and April manage to save everyone through the power of their love by sacrificing themselves to reset time.
GREAT FUN!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/LAST-SHARKNADO...
The sixth and final movie in the SyFy Channel's popular cult hit sensation of Sharknado movies is a hoot-hoot nanny of an epic conclusion that wraps all the series with a bang.
Picking right up from the end of the fifth Sharknado movie, Finn finds himself on a mission to stop all the Sharknados from occurring throughout history in order to stop the Sharknados from every happening. He ends up in prehistoric times and receives some unexpected help from his late wife April and other friends who Gil managed to rescue before they were killed in various Sharknados.
Now Fin and company must travel across time and prevent themselves from meeting Gil in order to prevent a time paradox.
"The Last Sharknado: It's About Time!" is an open love letter to fans of the series that wraps up all loose ends rather neatly, and gives watchers a satisfying conclusion where Fin and April manage to save everyone through the power of their love by sacrificing themselves to reset time.
GREAT FUN!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/LAST-SHARKNADO...
February 8, 2023
Where No Stars Guide
Just finished reading "Where No Stars Guide" by Jon Kippax, released by Pan Books.
"Where No Stars Guide" is the fourth and sadly final book in the Venturer Twelve series. Co-writers Dan Morgan's and John Kippax's original plan after writing the first three novels in their space opera was to alternate writing solo novels and resume co-writing duties after the fifth novel in the series was written. Sadly, this plan never materialized due to the tragic death of John Kippax prior to the publication of his last novel. In the epilogue, Morgan does state that he planned to write the next novel in the series, and he did write additional novels, only no more novels in the Venturer Twelve series. I think Morgan simply didn't have the heart to continue the series after the death of his friend and co-writer.
Now there are two interesting things about "Where No Stars Guide." First, it never was published in the United States, and while it was available for sale in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia, it could not be sold in Canada due to copy-write laws.
While I had previously obtained the first three novels in the Venturer Twelve series at Chamblin's Bookmine here in Jacksonville, I had to turn to eBay to obtain my copy of "Where Nor Stars Guide."
Some light is shed on the nature of the aliens who are exterminating human colonies and they are it appears telepathic to an extend and are marsupials. As to why they are waging a war against humanity, nobody knows, except that they don't seem to know the location of Earth, though the Space Corps fear that an invasion of Earth is imminent. Oh and there was one of the Kilroy's captured and it's being studied on the Vernturer Twelve.
Now there is always one thing that struck me odd about the Venturer Twelve series. While lesbians exist in the Venturer Twelve universe, gay men do not. Kind of a reverse Queen Victoria here - she stated that women do not have intimate sexual relationships with other women. It's also odd that while the captive alien did help Helen Lindstrom recover after she had been critically injured in it's capture, she returns to her duties as second-in-command despite being possibly compromised by a telepathic alien. It would have been curious to see if this would have been a plot line in the novels that were never written, because she states at least to herself, that something is not right with how she feels.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Where-Stars-Gu...
"Where No Stars Guide" is the fourth and sadly final book in the Venturer Twelve series. Co-writers Dan Morgan's and John Kippax's original plan after writing the first three novels in their space opera was to alternate writing solo novels and resume co-writing duties after the fifth novel in the series was written. Sadly, this plan never materialized due to the tragic death of John Kippax prior to the publication of his last novel. In the epilogue, Morgan does state that he planned to write the next novel in the series, and he did write additional novels, only no more novels in the Venturer Twelve series. I think Morgan simply didn't have the heart to continue the series after the death of his friend and co-writer.
Now there are two interesting things about "Where No Stars Guide." First, it never was published in the United States, and while it was available for sale in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia, it could not be sold in Canada due to copy-write laws.
While I had previously obtained the first three novels in the Venturer Twelve series at Chamblin's Bookmine here in Jacksonville, I had to turn to eBay to obtain my copy of "Where Nor Stars Guide."
Some light is shed on the nature of the aliens who are exterminating human colonies and they are it appears telepathic to an extend and are marsupials. As to why they are waging a war against humanity, nobody knows, except that they don't seem to know the location of Earth, though the Space Corps fear that an invasion of Earth is imminent. Oh and there was one of the Kilroy's captured and it's being studied on the Vernturer Twelve.
Now there is always one thing that struck me odd about the Venturer Twelve series. While lesbians exist in the Venturer Twelve universe, gay men do not. Kind of a reverse Queen Victoria here - she stated that women do not have intimate sexual relationships with other women. It's also odd that while the captive alien did help Helen Lindstrom recover after she had been critically injured in it's capture, she returns to her duties as second-in-command despite being possibly compromised by a telepathic alien. It would have been curious to see if this would have been a plot line in the novels that were never written, because she states at least to herself, that something is not right with how she feels.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Where-Stars-Gu...
February 5, 2023
"The World Before Us - The New Science Behind Our Human Origins" by Tom Higham
Just finished reading "The World Before Us - The New Science Behind Our Human Origins" by Tom Higham, released by Yale Books.
Once in the not too distant past, modern day humanity, Homo Sapiens, shared our world with our nearest cousins: Homo Neanderthals, Homo Floresiensis, Homo Denisovans, Homo Luzonensis, and quite possibly Homo Erectus too. All branches of humanity interacted with each other, and even mated and had children. And while a majority of our knowledge about our human ancestors comes from what they left behind - remains and artwork - biology in the form of DNA has provided key insights into how humans interacted with each other in prehistory.
Professor Higham has written a concise and fascinating account how the study of human evolution has progressed in the mid-20th Century and beyond as revolutions in biological sciences with DNA sequencing has given us even more clues as to how humans and our cultures have evolved.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/World-Before-U...
Once in the not too distant past, modern day humanity, Homo Sapiens, shared our world with our nearest cousins: Homo Neanderthals, Homo Floresiensis, Homo Denisovans, Homo Luzonensis, and quite possibly Homo Erectus too. All branches of humanity interacted with each other, and even mated and had children. And while a majority of our knowledge about our human ancestors comes from what they left behind - remains and artwork - biology in the form of DNA has provided key insights into how humans interacted with each other in prehistory.
Professor Higham has written a concise and fascinating account how the study of human evolution has progressed in the mid-20th Century and beyond as revolutions in biological sciences with DNA sequencing has given us even more clues as to how humans and our cultures have evolved.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/World-Before-U...
February 4, 2023
P.D. James - BBC Radio 4 Collection
Just finished listening to "P.D. James - BBC Radio 4 Collection" released by the BBC.
This collection contains seven full cast dramatizations of the late P.D. James' most popular novels featuring Detective Commander Adam Dalgliesh and Private Investigator Cordelia Gray.
One of the reasons why P.D. James still remains a popular mystery writer is that not all the murders are brought to justice because even though Dalgliesh and Gray solve their crimes, they don't necessarily have the hard evidence to garner a conviction in court.
The seven dramatizations are:"Cover Her Face," "A Taste for Death," "Devices and Desires," "A Certain Justice," "The Private Patient," "An Unsuitable Job For A Woman," and "The Skull Beneath the Skin;" and these are rather faithful adaptations of her novels and aired over BBC Radio 4 during several decades - hence different actors play James' detectives.
What makes P.D. James a compelling mystery writer is that the motives behind the murders she wrote about conveyed perhaps a deeper probe into the lives of the people who were impacted by the crime and the lives of her detectives.
I hope BBC Radio 4 will do further adaptations of P.D. James' engrossing mysteries.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/P-D-James-Ra...
This collection contains seven full cast dramatizations of the late P.D. James' most popular novels featuring Detective Commander Adam Dalgliesh and Private Investigator Cordelia Gray.
One of the reasons why P.D. James still remains a popular mystery writer is that not all the murders are brought to justice because even though Dalgliesh and Gray solve their crimes, they don't necessarily have the hard evidence to garner a conviction in court.
The seven dramatizations are:"Cover Her Face," "A Taste for Death," "Devices and Desires," "A Certain Justice," "The Private Patient," "An Unsuitable Job For A Woman," and "The Skull Beneath the Skin;" and these are rather faithful adaptations of her novels and aired over BBC Radio 4 during several decades - hence different actors play James' detectives.
What makes P.D. James a compelling mystery writer is that the motives behind the murders she wrote about conveyed perhaps a deeper probe into the lives of the people who were impacted by the crime and the lives of her detectives.
I hope BBC Radio 4 will do further adaptations of P.D. James' engrossing mysteries.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/P-D-James-Ra...
Sharknado - The 4th Awakens
Just finished watching "Sharknado - The 4th Awakens" released by The Asylum.
Yes, the Sharknodos movies do make great use of puns and parody other great movies while blatantly ripping them off to incorporate them in the glorious whimsical and nonsensical Sharknado universe.
While it's been five years since the last Sharknado attack thanks to the climate control technology developed by Astro X, the Sharknados have evolved to use other mediums besides water and now the entire fate of the United States hangs in the balance as Fin must reluctantly join the fight once more as it becomes more and more apparent that the Sharnados are still after him and his family. He must also deal with the sudden return of his wife, who he thought was killed by a falling piece of space shuttle debris in the last movie.
GREAT SILLY FUN!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Sharknado-Awak...
Yes, the Sharknodos movies do make great use of puns and parody other great movies while blatantly ripping them off to incorporate them in the glorious whimsical and nonsensical Sharknado universe.
While it's been five years since the last Sharknado attack thanks to the climate control technology developed by Astro X, the Sharknados have evolved to use other mediums besides water and now the entire fate of the United States hangs in the balance as Fin must reluctantly join the fight once more as it becomes more and more apparent that the Sharnados are still after him and his family. He must also deal with the sudden return of his wife, who he thought was killed by a falling piece of space shuttle debris in the last movie.
GREAT SILLY FUN!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Sharknado-Awak...
Sharknado 3 - Oh Hell No!
Just finished watching "Sharknado 3 - Oh Hell No!" released by The Asylum."
The "Sharknado" movies are just gold old fashioned schlocky, nonsensical fun that are way, way over the top, with a surprisingly well thought out story line that extends throughout the remainder of the movie franchise. After the original Sharknado movie aired on the SYFY Channel, it took off and spawned five sequels.
Fin Shepard is running for his life in Washington, D.C. as he's intercepted by the a bevy of Secret Service men who bundle him into a black SUV because he's running late for his meeting with the President. Fin needs to arrive on time to the White House because he's being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for saving New York City from being destroyed in the second Sharknado movie. Only now after Fin has received his award, Washington, D.C. suddenly is destroyed by a Sharknado that suddenly appears. It's hinted for the first time that the Sharknados are caused by Fin's existence.
Que to Fin's family who is taking a much need vacation to the Universal Studio's theme park in Orlando, Florida. No paid product placement here people - riiiiiiiiiggggggghhhhhhtttttttt.
See a Sharknado descend on the happy theme park goers.
To save the United States, Fin must hitch a ride on America's secret military space shuttle, The Independence, only it seems that now the sharks intent on killing Fin and his family are capable of surviving outer space and can reenter Earth's atmosphere.
GREAT NONSENSICAL FUN!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Sharknado-Hell...
The "Sharknado" movies are just gold old fashioned schlocky, nonsensical fun that are way, way over the top, with a surprisingly well thought out story line that extends throughout the remainder of the movie franchise. After the original Sharknado movie aired on the SYFY Channel, it took off and spawned five sequels.
Fin Shepard is running for his life in Washington, D.C. as he's intercepted by the a bevy of Secret Service men who bundle him into a black SUV because he's running late for his meeting with the President. Fin needs to arrive on time to the White House because he's being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for saving New York City from being destroyed in the second Sharknado movie. Only now after Fin has received his award, Washington, D.C. suddenly is destroyed by a Sharknado that suddenly appears. It's hinted for the first time that the Sharknados are caused by Fin's existence.
Que to Fin's family who is taking a much need vacation to the Universal Studio's theme park in Orlando, Florida. No paid product placement here people - riiiiiiiiiggggggghhhhhhtttttttt.
See a Sharknado descend on the happy theme park goers.
To save the United States, Fin must hitch a ride on America's secret military space shuttle, The Independence, only it seems that now the sharks intent on killing Fin and his family are capable of surviving outer space and can reenter Earth's atmosphere.
GREAT NONSENSICAL FUN!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Sharknado-Hell...
January 29, 2023
Sharknado 2
Just finished watching "Sharknado 2 - The Second One" released by The Asylum.
For those who came in late, the original "Sharknado" was a made for television/cable network movie that originally debuted on the SyFy network and somehow despite being a totally inane and low budget effort, became an instant hit and definitely a cult classic. Now as my dear sister Selma Franz, and my favorite minions/friends Zack Newsome and Jeff H. will attest to, I do love schlocky, cult classic movies - though I do draw the line on some particularly vulgar and gross cult movies like some of John Waters earlier movies.
The film opens strongly with Fin (Ian Ziering, looking as intense as ever) and April (Tara Reid) on a plane to New York being flown by Captain Bob Wilson (Robert Hays, of "Airplane!" fame.) This starts the intense bout of cameos and pop culture references that make the film so fun. Just about everyone is in.
It's a silly fun movie that doesn't take itself too seriously. And it's a chuckle fest to see how people get eaten by the sharks flying in a tornado in New York City.
And there are four more Sharknado movies to watch after this one.
GREAT CHEESY FUN!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
Sidenote: Say Zack, I think I'll have you and Jeff H. fight over these too after I'm gone. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
https://www.amazon.com/Sharknado-2-Se...
For those who came in late, the original "Sharknado" was a made for television/cable network movie that originally debuted on the SyFy network and somehow despite being a totally inane and low budget effort, became an instant hit and definitely a cult classic. Now as my dear sister Selma Franz, and my favorite minions/friends Zack Newsome and Jeff H. will attest to, I do love schlocky, cult classic movies - though I do draw the line on some particularly vulgar and gross cult movies like some of John Waters earlier movies.
The film opens strongly with Fin (Ian Ziering, looking as intense as ever) and April (Tara Reid) on a plane to New York being flown by Captain Bob Wilson (Robert Hays, of "Airplane!" fame.) This starts the intense bout of cameos and pop culture references that make the film so fun. Just about everyone is in.
It's a silly fun movie that doesn't take itself too seriously. And it's a chuckle fest to see how people get eaten by the sharks flying in a tornado in New York City.
And there are four more Sharknado movies to watch after this one.
GREAT CHEESY FUN!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
Sidenote: Say Zack, I think I'll have you and Jeff H. fight over these too after I'm gone. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
https://www.amazon.com/Sharknado-2-Se...
January 28, 2023
Doctor Who - The Monsters of Gokroth
Just finished listening to "Doctor Who #250 - The Monsters of Gokroth" released by Big Finish Productions.
An outing of the Seventh Doctor - portrayed by the original actor Sylvester McCoy - finds himself arriving on the planet Gokroth in an attempt to put closure to a bit of unfinished business with someone who he once helped during a visit with Ace to the Psychic Circus. Now Ace is undertaking a task back on Earth and the Seventh Doctor wants to try to put things right with Mags - a native of the planet Vulpana who is trying to find a solution to inability to control her transformation into her native wolf form.
Mags came to Gokroth because she heard rumors of a doctor trying to reverse the condition of the monsters who terrorize the human villagers. But looks are deceiving, and the real monsters are not who you think they are.
Mild Spoiler Alert - Mags does become a companion of the Seventh Doctor at then end of this outing.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Main-Ra...
An outing of the Seventh Doctor - portrayed by the original actor Sylvester McCoy - finds himself arriving on the planet Gokroth in an attempt to put closure to a bit of unfinished business with someone who he once helped during a visit with Ace to the Psychic Circus. Now Ace is undertaking a task back on Earth and the Seventh Doctor wants to try to put things right with Mags - a native of the planet Vulpana who is trying to find a solution to inability to control her transformation into her native wolf form.
Mags came to Gokroth because she heard rumors of a doctor trying to reverse the condition of the monsters who terrorize the human villagers. But looks are deceiving, and the real monsters are not who you think they are.
Mild Spoiler Alert - Mags does become a companion of the Seventh Doctor at then end of this outing.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Main-Ra...
