Westworld

Like many other people, I finished watching the first series of Westworld earlier this week, and I've got to say...I was impressed.

I remember being entertained by the original, where Yul Brynner wrought havoc across a wide swathe of the Western adventure park, trying to run down his victim. And while I thoroughly enjoyed that 1973 original, THIS is something completely different.

Provocative. Thoughtful. Intelligent. Dark menacing.

The new rendering is all that and more.

I love storylines that make you work and keep you guessing. Even better if they can catch you by surprise along the way.

The cast - in my humble opinion - did a marvellous job in portraying the inevitable turmoil you'd expect to take place if anything like this really existed.

Super-advanced synthetic androids struggling with the process of becoming aware through the experiences we humans take for granted ...and so often waste.

And what about those human beings - arrogant and superior atop their lofty perches - refusing to see the obvious because..."It just isn't possible! That can't happen!"

Backbiting. Politicking. Hubris.

It's all there.

I thoroughly enjoyed this first series and am looking forward to where the second series takes us. (And I do hope we get a twist with Ford showing up - somehow).
You'll see...

Purrrfect Strangers?

Meet some of the gang.

(L - R Stripes, PG, Lugosi, Beauty & Tiggy Mummy)

As some of you know, I spend some of my spare time looking after stray cats. These particular ones are living within the grounds of one of the hotels on Kos. Obviously, during the summer months they get lots and lots of food and fuss from the customers. Once things shut down, however, that's it. They either have to hunt or starve.

So, one of the things my wife and I do is drive round to various spots and feed the cats. It's not gourmet cuisine, but it's enough to keep them alive until next summer.

I chose this particular family of cats, because some of you already know one of them.

Do you remember Pepe?
(The one who was repeatedly shot in the face and all over his body - 14 times in all - by brain-dead morons?)

Well, on Christmas Day, he'll have been with us for a year.

And although he can't see properly, this is what he looks like now.

And this is his son - Lugosi (After Bela Lugosi, as his fangs stick out a lot) - and his grandson - Paintbrush (Look at the tip of his tail on another photo)

Lugosi and Paintbrush are still at the hotel. 

As are their friends.

Harlequin

Feeding Time

Tiny at the back

(See the tip of Paintbrush's tail)

Anyhow, these are just a few of the 60 odd cats my wife and I feed every day. And though we don't do a great deal, hopefully it'll see them through another winter.

So there you go. They're quite a good audience when it comes to trying out my stories, so if they like the stuff they hear, in the book it goes.

Until the next time...

Surprises in Strange Guises

This past week I've enjoyed some rather unexpected fun

I recently started watching The Expanse on Netflix. I liked it so much that on a rare week off, I binged a bit and ended up watching all ten episodes of the first series in very short order.

(Damn you Netflix for making it so easy)

What a great series. It's a kina Whodunnit in space set 200 years in the future in a fully colonized solar system. By that time, there's a bit of an inevitable frictional divide between Earthers, Mars - who are very militaristic - and The Belters who live, work, and often die out in the far reaches of our own system on space stations or inside asteroids.
The story starts innocently enough when a Ceres cop (Joe Miller) is given an assignment to find missing socialite Juliette Andromeda Mao.

Meanwhile, the ice trawler, Canterbury, is involved in what people believe is a tragic accident and explodes. With me so far? Good...

Because - it's NOT an accident. What happens to the Canterbury was quite deliberate. And it's not until the series starts to evolve that you realize everything is linked to a massive - and deadly - conspiracy that could destabilize peace talks between Earth, Mars, the Belt, and more.

And no, I can't explain more otherwise it would give the game away. HA!

Think of a semi Blade Runner setting. It's futuristic, but the tech is identifiable enough you can instantly relate to what's going on.

I love the Joe Miller character.  He's a petty thief born in the gutter who dragged himself up to become a sharp detective whose nose for investigating ends up getting him in trouble. (You'll see). Fred Johnson is another one to look out for (The Butcher). An ex UN Marine colonel who is now Chief of Operations on Tycho station and the man responsible for overseeing the construction of mankind's first ever starship.

(But where - exactly - does his allegiance lie?)

A superb example of how good mystery/drama science fiction can be...

Try it - you won't regret it.

(And now I have to wait until 2017 for series 2) Grrrr

What's Hot & What's Not

As the weather outside gets colder, I've been curling up with a few good books and the odd series here and there to pass the time. I thought I'd let you know how I got on.

Dexter

I'm still getting into it, but I have to admit, I love the semi autobiographical style of this show. The way Dexter engages the audience adds that certain sense of detachment that, I think, adds to his cold, clinical detachment. A Great find I wish I'd gotten into sooner.

Luke Cage

I'm a fan of the Marvel franchise. I like a lot of what they've done, although I think certain TV shows have lost their magic a little. (Agent Carter for one). And I'm sorry to say it looks like I might be adding Luke Cage to that list of 'near misses'. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the setting and the atmosphere the show captures. Some of the characters are savvy and sharp and just what you need for a setting that's supposed to represent everything mean & moody, but for goodness sake - its slow. (Or is it me?). 

I'm a great believer in the slow buildup - but this? Someone light a fire under Luke's finely honed butt - and fast - or the flames of marvelesque passion will soon die out.
(I've even started watching re-runs of Jessica Jones to try and keep inspired)

Neverwhere

I just finished reading Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. On the basis of that, I ordered a bunch of his other books. (American Gods, How the Marquis Got His Coat Back, Fragile Things, Trigger Warnings.)
Nuff said?
Now here's a story that's as quintessentially English as afternoon tea and mad dogs at midday.
A superbly warped and twisted mind presenting a version of what is - I'm sure - a sample of his everyday life for our entertainment. I wish I'd gotten into Neil's work sooner. Brilliantly evocative, and as Britishly humored as they come. I'd be his Padawan apprentice any day.

So there you go, just a few of the mundane musings of an English guy living abroad.

Coming soon...Films & Series:

Star Trek - Into Darkness, Doctor Strange, Fantastic Beasts (and where to find them) - Supergirl, The Expanse series 1, Suicide Squad. (How's that for a mix?)
I can't wait... Let it snow, let it snow. I'm staying indoors.

The Best Things in Life Are Free

And that includes The IX Audiobook.

Free?

Oh yes. 

Between now and noon (EST) on Friday 11th November, readers of this blog will have a chance to leave their names in the comments section below or message me on Facebook. Next Friday, I'll get my wife to select FIVE names from the list who will then be sent a code by which they can download a copy of this amazing audiobook to enjoy, completely gratis - free of charge - and at no expense.
(Get the idea?)

Please - feel free to take part and most of all -
enjoy.

Have YOU Heard the Call to Arms?

Fight or Die

*********

What could unite a Roman Legion and the Caledonian army they are fighting?

Or a US Cavalry Company with the Native American tribes arrayed against them?

How about a highly trained and motivated Special Forces unit and the terrorists they have been sent to wipe out at all costs?

Yes…

What could such a diverse and mutually aggressive group possibly have in common?

Arden – and the Horde, that’s what!

Arden, home to a culture that has existed for thousands of years and which spans dozens of worlds. Regardless, their sophistication cannot prevent calamity at the hands of an unstoppable nemesis. Known only as the Horde, this enemy has proven relentless. They have not only stripped the outer colonies bare, but now threaten the existence of the entire Ardenese way of life.

Realizing there is nothing they can do to prevent the inevitable march toward extinction, the Ardenese governing body comes to a drastic decision. They gather together at their capital city, Rhomane, and place their remaining genetic heritage in a vast underground ark, in the care of an advanced AI construct called the Architect. Its mission? To use Rhomane’s dwindling reserves and safeguard their race by reaching out across time and space toward those who might be in a position to help reseed a devastated world at some time in the future.

That’s how soldiers from varying eras and vastly different backgrounds find themselves together. Snatched away from Earth at the moment of their passing they are transported to the far side of the galaxy. Thinking they have been granted a reprieve, their relief turns to horror when they discover they face a simple but stark ultimatum:

Put aside your former animosities and preconceptions in order to survive. Yes…

Fight or die!

How does this group of mismatched and antagonistic misfits fare? 

Do they survive?

Find out for yourselves, in the first audiobook of The IX Series.

Like them, you’ll discover death is only the beginning of an incredible adventure.

*********

Narrated by British Classical Actor Rob Goll

The IX Audiobook

Available from Amazon – Audible.com – iTunes 

The IX Audiobook

Have YOU Heard the Call to Arms?

Fight or Die

*********

What could unite a Roman Legion and the Caledonian army they are fighting?

Or a US Cavalry Company with the Native American tribes arrayed against them?

How about a highly trained and motivated Special Forces unit and the terrorists they have been sent to wipe out at all costs?

Yes…

What could such a diverse and mutually aggressive group possibly have in common?

Arden – and the Horde, that’s what!

Arden, home to a culture that has existed for thousands of years and which spans dozens of worlds. Regardless, their sophistication cannot prevent calamity at the hands of an unstoppable nemesis. Known only as the Horde, this enemy has proven relentless. They have not only stripped the outer colonies bare, but now threaten the existence of the entire Ardenese way of life.

Realizing there is nothing they can do to prevent the inevitable march toward extinction, the Ardenese governing body comes to a drastic decision. They gather together at their capital city, Rhomane, and place their remaining genetic heritage in a vast underground ark, in the care of an advanced AI construct called the Architect. Its mission? To use Rhomane’s dwindling reserves and safeguard their race by reaching out across time and space toward those who might be in a position to help reseed a devastated world at some time in the future.

That’s how soldiers from varying eras and vastly different backgrounds find themselves together. Snatched away from Earth at the moment of their passing they are transported to the far side of the galaxy. Thinking they have been granted a reprieve, their relief turns to horror when they discover they face a simple but stark ultimatum:

Put aside your former animosities and preconceptions in order to survive. Yes…

Fight or die!

How does this group of mismatched and antagonistic misfits fare? 

Do they survive?

Find out for yourselves, in the first audiobook of The IX Series.

Like them, you’ll discover death is only the beginning of an incredible adventure.

*********

Narrated by British Classical Actor Rob Goll

The IX Audiobook

Available from Amazon – Audible.com – iTunes 

The IX Audiobook