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Neat cloud phenomenon
25 Oct 2011 11:08 amA really, really neat phenomenon that I'd never heard of (or seen) before - it's not camera trickery.
( YouTube under here ... )
( YouTube under here ... )
25 Oct 2011
Books Read
25 Oct 2011 07:48 pmYeah, I've been awful about posting what I've read. So:
Foundation, Intrigues and Changes (The Collegium Chronicles) by Mercedes Lackey
First up, these are more YA novels than most of Mercedes' other work. They span roughly the first year at the Collegium of an new Herald trainee (if you don't get the references, don't worry ... knowledge of the rest of the Valdemar novels is not a requirement). I like Lackey's stuff, the characters are interesting, but these three books feel a bit thin on the plotting. I'll also give a pair of minor not-quite-spoilers so you don't throw the third book across the room when you finish it: Meg's central mystery that keeps being mentioned every couple of chapters does *not* get resolved, and I'd guess that there's another trilogy in the works of Meg as a herald because there are far too many loose ends left.
First up, these are more YA novels than most of Mercedes' other work. They span roughly the first year at the Collegium of an new Herald trainee (if you don't get the references, don't worry ... knowledge of the rest of the Valdemar novels is not a requirement). I like Lackey's stuff, the characters are interesting, but these three books feel a bit thin on the plotting. I'll also give a pair of minor not-quite-spoilers so you don't throw the third book across the room when you finish it: Meg's central mystery that keeps being mentioned every couple of chapters does *not* get resolved, and I'd guess that there's another trilogy in the works of Meg as a herald because there are far too many loose ends left.
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, all of 'em from Storm Front through Ghost Story.
I'd started this series twice before and couldn't make it through; apparently one of those times I'd gotten a copy from an alternate universe because I remember a very, very different set of complications (The Merlin being the (secret) head of the Black Council, and Justin DuMorne having been one of the Denarians, for instance). Maybe that was in the TV series; I barely remember any of those and might have mixed 'em up.
I still find them a bit tedious, at least back to back, and rely on momentum to carry you across some plot holes, but they are a lot of fun. I was pleasantly surprised by Ghost Story breaking out of the cycle of Harry's ever increasing power with each book. It doesn't stand on its own, but as a part of the series it's the best of the bunch. Not sure how successful the new story arc will be, but I'm curious enough to want to read it when it comes out.
I'd started this series twice before and couldn't make it through; apparently one of those times I'd gotten a copy from an alternate universe because I remember a very, very different set of complications (The Merlin being the (secret) head of the Black Council, and Justin DuMorne having been one of the Denarians, for instance). Maybe that was in the TV series; I barely remember any of those and might have mixed 'em up.
I still find them a bit tedious, at least back to back, and rely on momentum to carry you across some plot holes, but they are a lot of fun. I was pleasantly surprised by Ghost Story breaking out of the cycle of Harry's ever increasing power with each book. It doesn't stand on its own, but as a part of the series it's the best of the bunch. Not sure how successful the new story arc will be, but I'm curious enough to want to read it when it comes out.
The Wess'har series by Karen Traviss (City of Pearl, Crossing the Line, The World Before, Matriarch, Ally, and Judge)
I'd suggest that you read the first two -- City of Pearl and Crossing the Line -- and stop there. It makes for a nice tragedy with some excellent world building and neat characters, even if not everything is resolved. While the next four books do pretty much resolve all the threads, I thought they were confusing and muddled. This is certainly a case of less is more.
I'd suggest that you read the first two -- City of Pearl and Crossing the Line -- and stop there. It makes for a nice tragedy with some excellent world building and neat characters, even if not everything is resolved. While the next four books do pretty much resolve all the threads, I thought they were confusing and muddled. This is certainly a case of less is more.
Books Read
25 Oct 2011 07:48 pmYeah, I've been awful about posting what I've read. So:
Foundation, Intrigues and Changes (The Collegium Chronicles) by Mercedes Lackey
First up, these are more YA novels than most of Mercedes' other work. They span roughly the first year at the Collegium of an new Herald trainee (if you don't get the references, don't worry ... knowledge of the rest of the Valdemar novels is not a requirement). I like Lackey's stuff, the characters are interesting, but these three books feel a bit thin on the plotting. I'll also give a pair of minor not-quite-spoilers so you don't throw the third book across the room when you finish it: Meg's central mystery that keeps being mentioned every couple of chapters does *not* get resolved, and I'd guess that there's another trilogy in the works of Meg as a herald because there are far too many loose ends left.
First up, these are more YA novels than most of Mercedes' other work. They span roughly the first year at the Collegium of an new Herald trainee (if you don't get the references, don't worry ... knowledge of the rest of the Valdemar novels is not a requirement). I like Lackey's stuff, the characters are interesting, but these three books feel a bit thin on the plotting. I'll also give a pair of minor not-quite-spoilers so you don't throw the third book across the room when you finish it: Meg's central mystery that keeps being mentioned every couple of chapters does *not* get resolved, and I'd guess that there's another trilogy in the works of Meg as a herald because there are far too many loose ends left.
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, all of 'em from Storm Front through Ghost Story.
I'd started this series twice before and couldn't make it through; apparently one of those times I'd gotten a copy from an alternate universe because I remember a very, very different set of complications (The Merlin being the (secret) head of the Black Council, and Justin DuMorne having been one of the Denarians, for instance). Maybe that was in the TV series; I barely remember any of those and might have mixed 'em up.
I still find them a bit tedious, at least back to back, and rely on momentum to carry you across some plot holes, but they are a lot of fun. I was pleasantly surprised by Ghost Story breaking out of the cycle of Harry's ever increasing power with each book. It doesn't stand on its own, but as a part of the series it's the best of the bunch. Not sure how successful the new story arc will be, but I'm curious enough to want to read it when it comes out.
I'd started this series twice before and couldn't make it through; apparently one of those times I'd gotten a copy from an alternate universe because I remember a very, very different set of complications (The Merlin being the (secret) head of the Black Council, and Justin DuMorne having been one of the Denarians, for instance). Maybe that was in the TV series; I barely remember any of those and might have mixed 'em up.
I still find them a bit tedious, at least back to back, and rely on momentum to carry you across some plot holes, but they are a lot of fun. I was pleasantly surprised by Ghost Story breaking out of the cycle of Harry's ever increasing power with each book. It doesn't stand on its own, but as a part of the series it's the best of the bunch. Not sure how successful the new story arc will be, but I'm curious enough to want to read it when it comes out.
The Wess'har series by Karen Traviss (City of Pearl, Crossing the Line, The World Before, Matriarch, Ally, and Judge)
I'd suggest that you read the first two -- City of Pearl and Crossing the Line -- and stop there. It makes for a nice tragedy with some excellent world building and neat characters, even if not everything is resolved. While the next three books do pretty much resolve all the threads, I thought they were confusing and muddled. This is certainly a case of less is more.
I'd suggest that you read the first two -- City of Pearl and Crossing the Line -- and stop there. It makes for a nice tragedy with some excellent world building and neat characters, even if not everything is resolved. While the next three books do pretty much resolve all the threads, I thought they were confusing and muddled. This is certainly a case of less is more.