David M. Brown's Blog, page 76
December 20, 2012
Guest Post: The Ongoing Debate over Female Characters – Nancy Madore
We are delighted to welcome Nancy Madore, author of The Hidden Ones. Nancy looks at the debate on what makes a great female character in a book.
The Ongoing Debate over Female Characters
What makes a great female character? This question was particularly important to me when writing The Hidden Ones, because the story revolves around three very different women whose lives converge. The first of these women is a successful business owner, the second is trapped in a loveless marriage, and the third is the legendary demoness, Lilith.
Since my characters are predominantly women, they needed to be able to carry the story. This is where the challenge comes in. Opinions vary dramatically on what makes a strong female character.
I recently went on a blog search to learn more about what readers look for in their female characters. Here are some of the issues that were raised.
SHOULD SHE BE REAL OR OVER THE TOP?
When the main character is being chased by an entire army and he or she manages to shoot every last one of them while not being so much as grazed by a bullet, I feel insulted. But I know people who will argue that they enjoy the escapism that comes with these unrealistic characters. Yet even they will agree that some authors go too far. But where do we draw the line?
The consensus seems to be that characters should be realistic to the story being told. If the character is a superhero, we feel perfectly comfortable with having them use their super abilities to get out of a scrape. We can even appreciate them stretching those abilities a bit. Everyone should challenge themselves. But when it stops making sense, people lose interest.
If the main character isn’t believable, why should the audience care about what happens to him or her? This is particularly true of female characters, and the tendency many writers have to make their main character ‘perfect.’
Art should imitate life. The character doesn’t have to be over the top to be great.
I like how Erin says it in her blog called Gagging on Sexism:
“She plays an important role in the story (whether she’s the main character or not) and is not limited to love interest.” (see article here http://gaggingonsexism.wordpress.com/2011/06/26/the-big-question-what-makes-a-good-female-character/)
I agree Erin.
LET’S TALK STEREOTYPES
I personally dislike stereotypes of all kinds but I particularly hate those applied to women. You rarely see the positive stereotype—at least not where women are concerned. We have the mother (chaste, all knowing, boring), the wife (bitchy), the sex kitten (sexy, always willing), the warrior (pouty, scantily clad, fearless), the professional (cold, out of touch with her feelings)—all one dimensional, dull characters. It’s like they take that one aspect of a woman and ‘insert character here.’
I couldn’t help thinking of the traditional romance novels when I read Kitty’s opinion of authors who create one dimensional characters in her blog on Impishidea:
“Lazy: making the “evil” female character hideously ugly while the “good” female characters are pretty.” (see article here: http://impishidea.com/writing/how-not-to-write-female-characters)
And Rachael makes a good point in her article on Hubpage:
“Even female superheroes (superheroines?) seem to be little more than sex objects despite their fantastic powers, and often they are written with little thought to characterization and their personal feelings because they exist in a universe filled with truck explosions and crazed murderers in which their place is clearly just to be eye candy.” (see article here: http://rachaellefler.hubpages.com/hub/Writing-Good-Female-Characters-From-A-Feminist-Perspective)
I think most readers agree that stereotypes are out-dated, clichéd and boring. Some go a step further and say they are demoralizing to women. Readers are calling for stronger, more empowering female characters to set the example to young women. On this I am conflicted…
DOES SHE HAVE TO BE EMPOWERING?
Do authors have a responsibility to our culture, or are we just telling a story? Really, is it up to us to promote self-esteem in the next generation of women? On the other hand, should we just let the media get so out of hand that young girls are starving themselves, doing destructive things for attention and struggling with low self esteem?
There is no denying that we are all influenced by the media. I become uncomfortable at movies when the scene blatantly panders to men and their preferences, while completely ignoring my preferences as a woman. As an adult, I can be selective about what influences me (to some degree). But I do feel bad for the younger generation.
But how far do we take this? This comment from Amy, on Fantasy Faction, was thought provoking:
“Warrior characters are necessary and empowering, but my concern is that we’re creating a whole new level of one-dimensional female characters that really aren’t any better than the one-dimensional virginal doormats of old fantasy. I see the same problem with another female character—the woman who has to be promiscuous to be strong. I’m not objecting to the promiscuity in itself, but rather the one-dimensional treatment of it…The problem isn’t the warrior or promiscuous personality in itself; rather, it’s the idea that to be a strong character, a woman must act like a man or shun feminine things or use her body to manipulate people or some other misconception.” (see article here: http://fantasy-faction.com/2012/feminism)
I agree! But then again, some of the items on Rachael’s list of what makes a good female character on Hubpages, made me think we might be taking this too far:
“ Not depend on men. Not slutty. She should have a strong moral compass and stick to it, but not be puritanical or preachy. She should make her own choices and stick to them, trusting herself. She should have a social justice cause that she passionately fights about.” (see article here: http://rachaellefler.hubpages.com/hub/Writing-Good-Female-Characters-From-A-Feminist-Perspective)
While I agree that this character sounds like a good role model, Rachael’s formula sounds way too structured to create an unique and interesting main character. And is this character realistic? Could we, in fact, be creating a new stereotype that is just as hard to live up to?
As with most things, I think balance is key. And ultimately, this issue really comes down to you, the readers. Now, more than ever, the consumer is calling the shots. The days of Hollywood, music studios and publishers deciding who to ‘make’ into the next icon, are long gone. In this exciting new world, you are forging the path. You’re the ones who will dictate who the next great female character will be!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.
In closing, I’ll leave you with this link to a very funny article about the worst female characters out there. (see article here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/08/pathetic-female-film-characters)
About The Hidden Ones (2012)
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LEGACY OF THE WATCHERS (the series)
Thousands of years ago, something came out of the sky that changed the course of human history. Testimonies abound of these ‘angels’ and their hybrid offspring, the ‘Nephilim’ giants. These mighty ‘gods’ quickly rose to power, and the ancient world came alive with industry and culture. Many consider this period in history to be the ‘dawn’ of our civilization. People who lived as hunters and gatherers for hundreds of thousands of years suddenly began settling in one place, cultivating the land and even governing themselves. They invented irrigation, the wheel, protective armor and algebra. They somehow acquired knowledge of our solar system that even modern technology wasn’t able to confirm until the 1970s. Most importantly, they began to read and write. Yet an undercurrent of terror was spreading like wildfire, carrying whispers of ‘djinn,’ ‘daeva’ and ‘demons.’
The Watchers were supposed to do just that: watch. But humankind proved far too tempting and they ‘fell’ to earth, taking wives for themselves and even having children. But their children grew into unruly giants whose souls didn’t ascend like human souls, but remained here, on this earth. These errant Nephilim souls haunt the earth to this day. They are the ‘djinn,’ the ‘hidden ones,’ also known as ‘daeva’ and ‘demon.’ They have one purpose—to live. But to live they need bodies.
This chain of events has now reached the point where the djinn need more than just our bodies to survive. They must take back control of the earth, just as in the days when they ruled as gods.
THE HIDDEN ONES, Vol. 1
As CEO of her own thriving company, Nadia Adeire is flush with success, but a secret society dating back to the Essenes believes her to be one of the ancient djinn—the notorious demoness of Hebrew legend, Lilith. What’s more, they have reason to believe that she’s plotting a catastrophic attack on the world.
Nadia is snatched from her ‘perfect’ life and trapped in a maze between a present day disaster and the ancient legends of the djinn. The only way out is to retrace the steps of her deceased grandmother, Helene. The deeper Nadia goes into the past, the harder it will be for her return unscathed. But it is the only way to stop the impending disaster that was set in motion five thousand years ago.
AN EXTRA NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
Though THE HIDDEN ONES is a work of fiction, the historical content within the book is accurate. It is especially interesting to note how what happened so long ago in Mesopotamia still affects us today. Our religions, our wars, even our worst fears are irrevocably tied to that period in history. Perhaps the past hold keys to the present, buried among the many artifacts and writings like hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered.
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About Nancy Madore
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Nancy Madore achieved enormous critical acclaim writing ‘female friendly’ erotica in her Enchanted series. Now, following her life-long interest in history and mythology, Nancy Madore is making her debut into the historical and science fiction genres with her new series, Legacy of the Watchers, beginning with The Hidden Ones.
Guest Post: The Ongoing Debate over Female Characters – Nancy Madore | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
December 19, 2012
Book Review: Surviving Emily – Laurie Bellesheim
[image error] Abigail Hooper and Stephen Sparks had never heard of Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy until one fatal morning in November when it crushed their hopes and dreams. Twelve years after the devastating loss of their dearest friend Emily, they find themselves still affected by the trauma.
Abigail, married and newly pregnant, helps others through her work for the Department of Children and Families. When a new client with epilepsy unexpectedly forces her to re-examine the past, Abigail realizes she’s the one who needs saving. Stephen has struggled emotionally, physically and spiritually after losing the love of his life, and the long-term effects of his grief have kept him from truly living and finding love again.
As the two search for redemption and the power to heal, their paths cross once again. Emily’s presence so long ago still has meaning in their own lives, teaching them the meaning of true friendship and what’s really important. Drawing on her own experience with a close friend with epilepsy who died, author Laurie Bellesheim raises awareness about the disease in this compelling tale told partially through flashbacks.
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Review: Surviving Emily
Young lives that are cut short is never an easy subject to write about. You can speculate forever about what might have been for those that have been lost. In Laurie Bellesheim’s Surviving Emily we have two narratives running concurrently of two people struggling to pick up the pieces following the death of someone who was a best friend and a lover respectively.
The novel begins with the death of Emily from SUDEP (Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy). Emily is staying with her best friend Abigail Hooper at the time. Twelve years on and Abigail is married and expecting a baby but unable to move on from what happened to Emily. Elsewhere, Stephen Sparks, Emily’s boyfriend, is in a new relationship but has not forgotten the love of his life who he had hoped to marry. As the story unfolds both Abigail and Stephen try to move on with their lives and minimise the impact their struggle has on those around them.
As you will have guessed this is a very emotional story. Emily’s tragic death rips the hearts out of Abigail and Stephen. The three were once inseparable – Abigail and Emily almost identical – while Stephen had planned to marry Emily and always be with her. Abigail’s work with the Department for Children and Families leads her to taking on the case of Nancy and her child Marie. Nancy suffers with epilepsy and this becomes a pivotal moment for Abigail to face the past and try to move on from her grief. Abigail’s pregnancy is also a key part of the novel. Her baby is due in December but she dreads it being born early in November, the same month that Emily died.
Stephen is in a long-term relationship with Carolina who works in the maternity ward at the local hospital. Though Stephen loves Carolina he cannot fully commit to her much to both his girlfriend’s and her parents’ horror. Stephen is an artist that has survived the aftermath of Emily’s passing when he turned to alcohol for solace and managed to push away the one person who truly understood his pain – Abigail. The question is can both Stephen and Abigail get their lives back on track? Will they be reunited?
Of the two narratives I found myself more engaged by Stephen’s tale. Abigail’s story was moving and although the thread with Nancy and Marie was good and has a surprising turn, I felt the pregnancy hindered the story somewhat. Complications inevitably arise when Abigail reaches November and tragedy is just round the corner but then the story seems to be resolved with the click of a finger. It’s a good ending but I just felt it was a bit too easy. Stephen’s story has a resolution of sorts too but that still showed some fragility which I felt made that narrative better than Abigail’s. These are minor quibbles from what is still a good story.
Surviving Emily is a tragic and emotional journey, the sad story of a girl who dies too young and of the two most important people in her life nearly destroyed by her death. Though aspects of Abigail’s narrative seemed a bit too simple and a little melodramatic for me, I still thought the book as a whole worked well and addresses a very serious issue in the dangers of epilepsy especially if it goes untreated.
Verdict: 3/5
(Book source: reviewer received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review)
Book Review: Surviving Emily – Laurie Bellesheim | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
December 18, 2012
Book Review: Life on Air – David Attenborough
[image error] For fifty years David Attenborough has entertained, educated, and generally enchanted millions worldwide with his pursuit of the secrets of life in its many guises. For such groundbreaking television series as Life on Earth, The Private Life of Plants, and The Life of Birds, he has traveled to the ends of the earth to give viewers their first (and often only) close look at some of nature’s wonders–from the great wildebeest migration to the blooming of desert cacti. Now Attenborough invites readers to travel with him once more, as he reflects on a life at least as interesting as any he’s managed to capture on camera.
Life on Air begins when, at twenty-four, Attenborough throws over what looks to be a staid future as a “gentleman publisher” for an uncertain position in the BBC’s fledgling television service. An adventure in itself (with primitive equipment and unpredictable personalities), broadcasting work involves the Cambridge-educated naturalist in hilarious attempts to improve the upstart Talks Department. Then the discovery of a coelacanth fish off the Comoro Islands offers him his first chance as a producer, and his career introducing wildlife to the public takes off in earnest.
From his first expedition–a junket to Sierra Leone to find the elusive Bald-headed Rock Crow–to his most recent, Attenborough conducts readers on a life journey as instructive as it is enthralling. Rich with insights into nature and behind-the-scenes glimpses into broadcasting history, it is also filled with adventure and humor. Attenborough’s storytelling powers are legendary, and they don’t fail him as he recounts how he came to stand in rat-infested caves in Venezuela, confront wrestling crocodiles, abseil down a rainforest tree in his late sixties, and wake with the lioness Elsa sitting on his chest. His story ranges from British Guinea to the Zambesi, from Borneo to Madagascar, from the darkest depths of caves to the canopies of the loftiest trees. With quiet erudition, searching curiosity, and generous wit, the world’s best-known and most beloved naturalist documents a life that reflects his changing time and our natural world as well as his own irrepressible character.
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Review: Life on Air
Sir David Attenborough is one of the true British greats. His voice is known worldwide and his vast array of work, including many memorable wildlife documentaries, have long since cemented his place as one of the finest presenters. An amusing but modest man, Attenborough kindly shared an autobiography of his life ten years ago. Although I knew a lot about him I was soon to find this book had a lot more to say about David’s story.
Attenborough’s autobiography covers more than 50 years of his time spent with the BBC. Having been rejected for a place on BBC radio, David’s CV was picked up and he was offered a chance to move into fledgling television, which was in a very primitive state in those days, especially with the cameras and the ability to film scenes. Most homes didn’t even have a television! Attenborough began his career in 1950 and by 1952 had a full-time position with the BBC, though he was not considered camera friendly due to his teeth! David began very much behind the scenes but as the autobiography progresses he begins a path towards documentaries that would see both his face and voice become known across the globe and propel him to his position today as one of Britain’s national treasures.
The first point about the autobiography is Attenborough’s excellent memory and sense of humour. He can recount so many moments, conversations in his long career, it is startling. It’s hard to believe Attenborough was pushed more towards production than presenting. He focussed on non-fiction programmes and worked on the likes of Animal, Vegetable, Mineral? His affiliation with natural history began with zoo animals that were brought into a studio. This led to Zoo Quest (1954-63), a programme heading out into the wild to collect specimens to be broadcast live in the studio. Ironically, Attenborough had to present the first programme when his colleague Jack Lester fell ill. By the sixties, Attenborough was a controller on BBC2 but negotiated a contract that allowed him to still make programmes throughout the world. It was clear the wild was in Attenborough’s blood and you will shudder when he describes the threat of an admin position at the BBC. After all, the BBC didn’t imagine he’d want to be travelling the world in his fifties or sixties! As we all know, Attenborough is still doing this work in his eighties!
The highlight of the book is undoubtedly Attenborough’s work on the epic Life series. This nine-part series is Attenborough’s masterpiece, beginning with Life on Earth (1979) and ending with Life in Cold Blood (2008). Not only did he present these programmes, Attenborough wrote and pitched the ideas to the BBC and sometimes had to tussle over the titles, especially Life in the Undergrowth (2005), which was initially rejected due to connotations of darkness! Attenborough won this exchange when no one could think of a better title! The autobiography never dwells for long on moments, giving us as much of Attenborough’s life as possible. His modesty is amazing. He is surprisingly humble about the iconic footage of the mountain gorillas that climbed all over him and casually describes the many parts of the world and conditions he has encountered such as volcanic mountains, dense jungle and torrential downpours. I couldn’t help but laugh at suggestions from some of the audience that the BBC were being evil for still sending a man around the world at his age!
If there are any issues with Life on Air, it’s that it’s too short. As I read of Attenborough’s early career I was glancing at the page numbers and thinking there isn’t much room to talk about the Life series and Wildlife on One here! That said, I think the brevity of the events works better and what Attenborough has managed to cram into this book is a fascinating career. The book is accompanied by a series of amazing images and the author’s passion for both his work and for the developing technology is wonderful to read.
Life on Air is a great read about a remarkable man whose work will remain timeless. Now in his eighties, it’s hard to imagine natural history documentaries without David Attenborough’s presence. Given the globetrotting he still does to this day, I’m convinced David Attenborough will live forever. This is a delightful read.
Verdict: 5/5
(Book source: reviewer’s own copy)
Book Review: Life on Air – David Attenborough | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
December 17, 2012
Game Review: Midnight Resistance
I first came to own Midnight Resistance by chance. Returning a faulty game to Microfun, which once traded in Barnsley, my mother asked the staff to recommend a game for her juvenile son (that’s me by the way!) and they picked Midnight Resistance. What a good choice it turned out to be and what a privilege to be revisiting it more than twenty years later.
A mad scientist has abducted a family leaving two sons to take up arms, infiltrate his lair and rescue them. The game is either one or two player and you are left to negotiate the scientist’s many obstacles including his army as well as a plethora of mechanical threats.
Midnight Resistance is a side scrolling shoot ‘em up and you begin life with a trusty rifle which does its job but there are better weapons awaiting you. The majority of enemies simply run at you and are dressed either in blue or yellow. Those in yellow drop keys of which you can carry up to six. At the end of each level you enter a weapons store and can use keys to acquire weapons from cabinets. Of course, certain weapons and ammunition require a specific amount of keys. The best weapon is the 3 way which fires what look like laser balls only you get three streams of them shooting at once which is pretty handy given how crowded the area can get.
Midnight Resistance is heavy on the action and the set pieces are terrific. Not only do you fight tanks, blow your way through conveyor belts and take on contraptions with a multitude of saws, you have two great encounters which are the best in the game for me. The first sees you reach the top of a ladder to be greeted by a sumptuous sunset only to see 10 planes in the distance. Seconds later these planes fly over one by one and you have to take each out in turn. Once each plane has flown over, they can be seen again in the distance before launching their next wave of attacks. The other encounter is against a battleship which is made trickier by your character sliding from left to right. Only when you’ve taken out the battleship’s many guns do you send it to the bottom of the sea.
The graphics are showing their age a bit but in terms of gameplay Midnight Resistance is still great fun. I do recall finishing this when I first owned it but it was a steep learning curve at times. It isn’t a long game but there may be one or two obstacles that trip you up when you first play through. It’s equally fun in one or two player mode too.
Midnight Resistance is one of the memorable games from the late eighties and early nineties. It boasts some terrific battles against bizarre bosses and even has some catchy background music to go with it as well. Games such as this will always retain some charm amongst veteran gamers even compared to the visual masterpieces of today.
Verdict: 4/5
Game Review: Midnight Resistance | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
December 16, 2012
Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week: Christmas in Smurfland
I think most of us will be familiar with the Smurfs, whether it’s the original comics, the TV series in the eighties, the recent film or Donnie Darko educating his friends about the world of Smurfs. Here at Tweedling HQ we’ve been enjoying some great festive songs in the run up to Christmas and we weren’t hard pushed to select Christmas in Smurfland as our song of the week. Tweedle Dee in particular is delighted with this news.
Released in 1978 the song charted well in the UK and is one of many popular Smurfs songs performed by Father Abraham. Listening to it today, one cannot help but remember their childhood. Yes, it’s very cheesy but it’s from a time when Christmas songs were like that and although we’d frown on such compositions today, they were very welcome in the seventies and eighties. I’ll let the Smurfs take over now.
Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week: Christmas in Smurfland | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
December 15, 2012
Game Review: Final Fantasy X
[image error] Final Fantasy X is the first title in this landmark RPG series to be released for the PlayStation 2. The main characters are Tidus, a star of blitzball (a hugely popular sport in the Final Fantasy universe) and Yuna, who has learned the art of summoning and controlling aeons, powerful spirits of yore. These two people of different backgrounds must work together as they journey through the world of Spira. This instalment of Final Fantasy has a distinctly Asian influence, bringing a fresh feel to the characters, music, settings, and story.
Features include voice-overs for the first time in the series (utilising the “Facial Motion System”), high polygon, motion-captured player characters designed by Tetusya Nomura, and a camera that automatically adjusts its perspective to correspond with the movements of the characters, a feature now possible due to the title now being largely polygonal.
Voice-overs will be featured for the first time in the series, utilizing the Facial Motion System
High-polygon, motion-captured player characters, designed by Tetsuya Nomura, bring lifelike realism to the screen
The camera will automatically shift its perspective to correspond with the movements of the characters, a feature now possible due to the title being largely polygonal
Characters will be able to rotate in and out of the party even in the heat of battle, allowing a tag team approach to fighting!
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Review: Final Fantasy X (PS2)
My first taste of Final Fantasy came in 1998 with Final Fantasy VII. That was superseded by Final Fantasy VIII which remains my favourite game to this day. Final Fantasy IX soon followed and though it was superb it wasn’t up to the standards of the previous two instalments. Final Fantasy X was the first in the series to be released on the Playstation 2 and I bought a copy as soon as it was released but looking back how does it stand up compared to today’s games?
As usual, the storyline is fantastic. It begins in the futuristic city of Zanarkand where blitzball player, Tidus, is following in the footsteps of his father, Jecht, who disappeared ten years before. During a blitzball match the city is attacked by a mysterious monster called Sin. Tidus and his friend Auron, who has watched over him for the last decade are consumed by Sin. When Tidus wakes up he finds himself in another world known as Spira or what seems to be another world. Here Zanarkand is a city that has been in ruins for a thousand years while Sin haunts the coastlines of every land. Tidus’ adventures bring him to Besaid where he meets Yuna, a summoner following in the footsteps of her father, Braska, who was also a summoner and defeated Sin ten years before. Tidus joins Yuna on her pilgrimage to pray at the many temples before facing Sin in a final battle. Complications arise for Tidus in that he falls for Yuna and she reveals that ten years before her father was joined on his quest by a man named Jecht!
Final Fantasy X opens spectacularly and once Tidus has been transported to Spira the game takes on a whole new dimension. Swimming through water we are treated to underwater battles which work really well while the world of Spira is rich with culture, races and gorgeous landscapes. The island of Besaid is a delightful paradise, Luca is the home of blitzball, the crystalline Macalania Woods are poignantly sombre and Mt Gagazet is home to the Ronso. This is a world divided by religion. The majority of races have faith in Yevon which ordains that its followers must live a simple way of life without many types of technology. Machines known as “machina” are the source of all the world’s woes, the heavy use of this technology giving rise to Sin a millennium ago and being a severe punishment against the world. In contrast to Yevon are the Al Bhed, a minority group who use machina extensively and are reviled by much of the world. Amidst this incredibly structured world Tidus struggles to adapt but his love for Yuna keeps him committed to supporting her cause to rid the world of Sin once and for all. The characters are very engaging once more. Tidus is very loudmouthed but he has a good heart. Yuna seems fragile in the early stages but her grit and determination in the face of so much death and her duty to carry her father’s legacy drives her on. Lulu and Wakka helped raise Yuna and both have lost one man, Chappu, to Sin. Chappu was Wakka’s brother and Lulu’s lover, leaving the two with a somewhat frosty but loving relationship. Kimahri is a Ronso that has cared for Yuna since her childhood and despite his lack of words he is strong and loyal. Rikku is an Al Bhed that joins the group and is the weakest of the characters. Auron joins the party too and we learn that he knew the fathers of Tidus and Yuna, journeying with them ten years before to defeat Sin. Some great villains are on show too here, in particular Seymour whose gentle voice does not befit the malice in his heart.
This instalment contains the usual random battles but the variation in the fighting whether it’s underwater or up in an airship makes for a thrilling adventure. Characters are enhanced via the Sphere Grid where they travel along lines of nodes, some empty, but most with enhancing abilities such as spells, strength and HP. Power, Speed, Mana and Ability spheres are used to activate these nodes and build up your characters. It’s a fun way to progress through the game. The cut scenes are out of this world, pushing the PS2 to its limits and one scene in particular is possibly the finest I’ve ever seen, absolutely incredible stuff here. Final Fantasy X pushed all the boundaries and in many ways. It looks better than its predecessors, Spira remains the most richly realised of all the Final Fantasy worlds and the characters are fantastic though I do have a soft spot still for Cloud and friends from Final Fantasy VII, and Tidus and Yuna’s romance is very moving but I prefer Squall and Rinoa from Final Fantasy VIII personally.
The storyline in Final Fantasy X is extremely sad and it is a massive salute to Square for managing to move gamers as much as they have. It’s hard not to feel something when Tidus and friends reach the ruins of Zanarkand and he looks upon a city he’s only ever known as alive and lit up against the night sky. The music that accompanies the arrival in Zanarkand – Someday the Dream Will end- is flawless and as you look upon the ruins for the first time with that background music it’s a powerful moment. The worst is saved till the end though. The conclusion to the game is arguably more sad than the death of Aeris in Final Fantasy VII and I’m convinced that Square had upset gamers so much that they were forced to make a sequel to address that ending. Sequels to Final Fantasy games hadn’t occurred prior to this one and Final Fantasy X-2 did make things happy again but whether that was to the detriment of this masterpiece I’m not sure. Although I enjoyed Final Fantasy X-2 it didn’t feel like a Final Fantasy game and I have to say with great sadness that Final Fantasy X represents the end of an era for me. I’ve yet to play Final Fantasy XIII but I did go through Final Fantasy XII which was a visual treat but story and character wise it failed for me. Fans of the series that haven’t played Final Fantasy X should go back and live through the experience while they can. Do I love this more than Final Fantasy VIII? It’s very close, mere fractions in fact, but I narrowly favour Final Fantasy VIII, but only just. It would have been interesting had both games been released on the PS2 that’s for sure. What isn’t in doubt is that Final Fantasy X is the PS2 game that comes closer to perfection than any other. Square reached unrivalled levels with this magnum opus and they’ve sadly never been remotely near this ever since.
Final Fantasy X is nigh on perfect with the best world ever seen in the series, a great bunch of characters, an incredibly moving storyline and visuals that are out of this world even a decade later. I’m proud to still own Final Fantasies VII, VIII, IX and X and will continue to play them until my PS2 finally packs in. The day that happens will be a sad day indeed but these games inspired me to be a writer in the first place and Final Fantasy X represents the last injection of inspiration that this series gave me and it will remain one of the gaming masterpieces of all-time for me.
Verdict 5/5
(Game source: reviewer’s own copy)
Game Review: Final Fantasy X | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
December 13, 2012
Classic Screen Scenes: Only Fools and Horses – Del & the Bar
Great films appear every year and with them are potentially classic scenes that may become more famous than the film itself. The shower scene in Psycho, the chariot race in Ben Hur, the chest bursting moment in Alien, and the opera music sounding across the prison yard in The Shawshank Redemption are just some of the examples of the classic celluloid moments that we may be familiar with even if we’ve never seen the film. I’ll be sharing my favourite film scenes, some you will know others may be unfamiliar, but hopefully they’ll be moments you enjoy as much as I do.
Only Fools & Horses (1981 – 2003) – Del & the Bar
One of Britain’s most-loved sitcoms, Only Fools and Horses might almost never have been after poor viewing figures for the first series.
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The BBC kept faith with John Sullivan though and the antics of Del Boy and Rodders gradually took hold of the UK public and by the time Christmas specials were being shown in the mid-nineties the sitcom had become a national institution. What’s the greatest moment though? It is tricky to decide. The broken chandelier, those blow up dolls, Batman and Robin, a rendition of “Crying” without the use of ‘R’ or Rodney posing as a 14 year old on a family holiday. So many great moments but one in particular never fails to make me laugh. It seems an obvious choice I’ll admit but it’s just too funny not to pick!
In the opening episode of series six entitled ‘Yuppy Love,’ Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) meets future wife Cassandra (Gwyneth Strong) at evening school while Del Boy (David Jason) has become obsessed with the film Wall Street and has decided to go all Gordon Gekko. This new lifestyle means sacrificing the local Nag’s Head for a posh wine bar across the road from where Rodders is doing a computing course. Del Boy struggles to mingle with the posh sorts and on one particular visit he is joined by Trigger (Roger Lloyd Pack).
Standing by the bar trying to find women to chat up, Del Boy suddenly draws a stare from one woman and a brief smile which seems the perfect invitation. Del Boy tells Trigger to ‘play it cool’ just as one of the staff lifts the hatch behind the bar leaving a gap! Still clutching his drink Del Boy leans back and falls through the bar. That’s funny enough on its own but Trigger really makes the scene. He turns to talk to Del and is stunned to find he’s disappeared. He looks around aimlessly for his friend just as Del emerges from behind the bar looking worse for wear but amazingly with some wine still in his glass. Trigger is briefly surprised by Del’s sudden reappearance before being told it’s time to leave as he’s cramping Del’s style! Beautifully timed and endlessly funny.
Classic Screen Scenes: Only Fools and Horses – Del & the Bar | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
December 12, 2012
Book Excerpt: Treason – S. M. Boyce
Today S.M. Boyce stops by as part of her Blog Tour to share an excerpt from her book, Treason.
Excerpt from Treason
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In the hidden world of Ourea, there are too many beautiful places to name: rose-covered cliffs tower miles over the valleys and forests below, cities thrive in submerged ecosystems beneath the sea, and the dragons that once ruled volcanoes are now but fossils in a cave. The creatures of human myth flourish in Ourea. Trees are this world’s skyscrapers. Magic is its currency. And while the rest of Earth forgot what it means to dream big, Ourea kept alive its wonder.
At least, that’s how Kara saw it.
She sat on a ledge in a cave, a dozen feet or so above an indoor river littered with rapids. Green sunlight poured through a crack in the ceiling, its rays tainted green from the branches which blocked her view of the sun. The light danced across the river, illuminating the white foam that splattered into the air as the water rushed by below.
Kara dangled her legs over the edge, listening to the chorus of water roaring through the cave. The ledge on which she sat served as a catwalk through the cavern. Several more ledges lined both sides of the cave, but she hadn’t yet figured out how to get to them. She stared up at the ledge ten feet above her, her eyes following the natural walkway until she came across a missing chunk a few yards off. Maybe she could climb that someday, but all she wanted now was to relax.
Her ledge wound around a bend in the cavern wall and toward a waterfall that fed the river. Behind the waterfall was a flight of stone stairs that led to a dirt trail, which curved through a forest for about a mile before it opened out into the Vagabond’s village—her village. And there, somewhere in the myriad of empty houses and vacant rooms, Braeden was probably starting to realize she’d ditched their sparring practice for the day.
Kara eyed her satchel, which lay empty against the cave wall. Flick—the red, teleporting ball of fur that he was—was out and about exploring the cave. The Xlijnughl (Zyl-LEYN-guhl ) could find trouble anywhere, so she hoped he would stay close. She would just have to keep an eye out for him.
Her stomach growled. She glanced through the tree branches above to take a guess at the time, but she couldn’t even see the sun through the leaves. As much as she wanted to believe Braeden wouldn’t find her little haven, she knew better. Braeden could track anything. That prince could track a month-old trail if he wanted. There was no escaping him, not that she would ever really want such a thing. Not after all he’d done for her.
She sighed and leaned her head against the cave wall. Pebbles broke off as she pushed against it, so she grabbed one as it fell and chucked it over the edge.
Braeden had guarded her while she visited the yakona kingdoms. He’d helped her bring them together in a loose sense of the word. He’d saved her life when she fled Hillside. She shuddered—her brush with Gavin had been too close. He’d tried to trick her into wearing a poisoned tiara that would have made her his slave.
She scoffed. None of this even sounded real. This world couldn’t be real. She would wake up from her coma any day now. That had to be it. A secret world hidden beneath the human race’s collective nose couldn’t be real.
Right?
“You scrunch your eyebrows when you’re lost in thought.”
She blinked her eyes back into focus. Braeden sat next to her, even though she hadn’t even heard him on his way across the ledge.
He watched her with that half-cocked grin of his. Black hair framed his face, longer now than when she’d first met him a couple months ago. A few beads of sweat rolled down his temple, tracing his olive skin in a pattern she wanted to mimic with her finger. His dark eyes caught her in their gaze, and she forgot how to breathe for a moment.
“No, don’t stop. It’s cute,” he said.
She laughed and punched his shoulder. He teetered and reached for her, grinning as if he was about to pull her over with him, only to scoot a little closer once he righted himself. Though he would never throw her off a cliff, Kara pulled her feet onto the platform all the same once he started laughing, too.
“You shouldn’t push people who are sitting on ledges, you know,” he said with a wink.
Kara smiled. “You’d heal instantly.”
He nudged her shoulder. “Doesn’t mean it wouldn’t hurt.”
“Well, I’m sorry then.”
“Ungracious apology accepted.”
She laughed. She couldn’t help it. Even if her mind had created Ourea as some elaborate defense mechanism, she would stay just to be near him.
But Ourea was real. She’d escaped armies, decapitated shadow demons, and had too many scars for it to not be real—and the gravity of her dangerous new life sent bile into the back of her throat. The people vagabonds loved died. Every time. Thus, why she couldn’t have Braeden.
“You all right, Kara?”
She caught his eye and forced a smile. “Yep.”
He narrowed his eyes as if waiting for her to crack under the pressure. She wouldn’t. She wanted what she couldn’t have. It was as simple as that.
About Treason (2012)
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Ourea has always been a deadly place. The lichgates tying the hidden world to Earth keep its creatures at bay—for now.
Kara Magari ignited a war when she stumbled into Ourea and found the Grimoire: a powerful artifact filled with secrets. To protect the one person she has left, she strikes a deal that goes against everything she believes in. But things don’t go as planned.
Braeden Drakonin can no longer run from who—and what—he is. He has to face the facts. He’s a prince. He’s a murderer. He’s a wanted man. And after a betrayal that leaves him heartbroken, he’s out for blood.
To survive, both Kara and Braeden must become the evil each has grown to hate.
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About S.M. Boyce
S.M. Boyce is a fantasy and paranormal fiction novelist who also dabbles in contemporary fiction and comedy. Her B.A. in Creative Writing qualifies her to serve you french fries, and she updates her blog a few times each week to keep you entertained.
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Book Excerpt: Treason – S. M. Boyce | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Game Review: Head Over Heels
I remember playing Head Over Heels when I was still at primary school. It was full of complex puzzles and frequent hazards to kill the two heroes. It was a game I never finished so the chance to go back 25 years later (that doesn’t sound right!) was too good an opportunity to miss.
The storyline involves Head and Heels who have been imprisoned in Castle Blacktooth and must not only escape, they must seek out planets that are being held prisoner by the evil Emperor. The game is divided into dozens of little rooms each one with a potential puzzle to solve or enemies to evade.
Head Over Heels has a terrific concept in that you have to switch between your two characters who have different abilities. Head can jump really high and can fire doughnuts at enemies to temporary paralyze them. Heels is better at climbing staircases and he has the ability to carry objects such as platforms to help build mini towers to reach different areas. Your characters initially begin in separate parts of the Emperor’s prison and their first objectives are to locate their respective abilities – a hooter for Head to fire doughnuts and a bag for Heels to carry objects. Once your friends are reunited you must have them work together to solve puzzles and clear the rooms.
There are many threats to your characters including crazed robots and what look like the heads of deep sea divers! Head Over Heels is nothing if not random. There are parts of the room that are lethal for your characters to walk or land on and you must either jump across these spaces or find another way round. Due to your characters different abilities, they often have to split up and take different paths to the same room. Sometimes they can make these journeys solo, other times one may need to manipulate the surroundings to help the other along. It’s all about teamwork for Head and Heels.
It’s hard to believe this is more than 20 years old. Yes, it looks very basic compared to today’s games but it was so much fun to play back then and remains so today. It’s still mind boggling with the puzzles and the weird and wonderful highlights including stairways made out of dogs and what looks like a dalek with a human head are just brilliant.
Head Over Heels is yet another great trip down memory lane. All those years ago games were so inventive and needed a lot to make them classics. I sometimes feel today that visuals are more important to some gamers than anything else. I prefer games like this which are fun to play and don’t try and wow you with fancy images and effects.
Verdict: 5/5
Game Review: Head Over Heels | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
December 11, 2012
Book Review: Wicked Wives – Gus Pelagatti
[image error] When I was an eight year old boy I overheard adults in my South Philadelphia neighborhood discussing 17 disenchanted and unfaithful neighborhood wives who murdered their husbands for insurance money, love and lust. This was a fascinating topic for an eight year old boy eavesdropping on adult conversation. The adults were discussing the true story of Philadelphia’s infamous 1938 murder scandals. My fascination led to obsession. I knew that I had to write about these wicked wives someday.
After I became a trial lawyer in 1964, I researched the poison murder cases in the law library and obtained newspaper accounts of the scandals dating back to October, 1938. Thereafter I conducted interviews with judges, lawyers, police, witnesses, sheriff deputies and neighbors who knew the defendants.
One of the chief conspirators was a tailor who seduced, then persuaded at least twelve wives to poison their husbands for insurance. The setting for his seductions was the couch in the rear of his tailor shop, located two blocks from our family home.
A fascinating conspiracy unfolded in these murder cases. The poison gang’s colorful and hilarious characters helped to deep-six a minimum of 20 husbands. The supporting cast includes Giorgio, “The Don Juan of Passyunk Avenue. ” Aside from scheming Lillian, “the society wife”, the wives include Rose, the “Kiss of Death Widow, ” Eva “the nymphomaniac” and the “hopelessly in love, ” Joanna.
After many comical episodes, intriguing detective work and two suspense filled high profile trials, 12 wives plead or are found guilty of murdering their husbands. Two male conspirators were executed in the electric chair.
“The Wicked Wives” gleefully explores the sins of lust and greed, and the disappointments that love often brings. The characters, although they commit murder and adultery, are extremely likable, and often amusing. Writing “The Wicked Wives” was a true labor of love.
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Review: Wicked Wives
Femme fatales often make for appealing crime thrillers and some of the women in Gus Pelagatti’s Wicked Wives could qualify for that description. Based on a true story of murder scandals in Philadelphia in 1938, Pelagatti recreates a complex network of lies, deceit, greed and murder but is it any good?
This is unsurprisingly a busy plot with one of the main bad guys being the Cassanova-esque Giorgio DiSipio who seduces the wives of rich men and helps them to mastermind their husband’s deaths in order to claim insurance money. Not that it’s that straightforward and not that the wives of the book’s title are innocent parties. Investigating the murders is Tom Rossi, a district attorney, leading the prosecution. Tom risks his career and the woman he loves in trying to bring the criminals to justice but does he succeed?
Tom has the unenviable task of working his way through a complex tapestry of murder, greed, lust and conspiracy. One of the suspected wives is Lillian Stoner who is not only sleeping with Giorgio but her uncle, Bill Evans, the deputy mayor who is determined to protect his niece even if it means destroying Tom. Tom’s cause isn’t helped by his relationship with a nurse, Hope Daniels, who is half negro and perfect fodder for Evans to target Tom with. Tom pushes on regardless despite Hope’s insistence that she doesn’t want to be the reason his career is ruined.
Giorgio is a true Casanova, juggling Lillian Stoner, Eva Russo and Joanna Napoli before having them join him in a conspiracy to murder their husbands. Joanna is probably the least harmful of the wives, hopelessly in love with Giorgio, but he isn’t content with one woman. Lillian has an opium addiction Giorgio helps her with while Eva is even more brutal. There is also Rose Grady who has killed three husbands and Sadie Lamb who sleeps not just with her husband but three lodgers in the house as well. It would take too long to explain how Tom even tries to get to the heart of these conspiracies but he must find the answers.
You have to have nothing but sympathy for poor Tom who is determined to do justice but stands to lose everything if he does. The trials towards the end of the book are very intriguing and it was great to speculate about the verdicts that would be delivered when some of the wives were being sentenced. There’s even a few twists and surprises before the final pages so the reader can see if they can tie up all the threads themselves.
Wicked Wives is a good read, pretty fast-paced with lots of murder, intrigue and some good characters as well with Giorgio, Eva and Tom being the highlights for me. That it is based on a true story makes it all the more shocking.
Verdict: 4/5
(Book source: reviewer received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review)
Book Review: Wicked Wives – Gus Pelagatti | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
