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“Pet Sematary” Review

September 15, 2013 / Kyle A. Massa

Image courtesy toomuchhorrorfiction.blogspot.com

What is the most frightening book Stephen King has ever written?

According to the man himself, it’s Pet Sematary. I picked it up for exactly this reason, having never seen the movie and having only the foggiest idea of the plot. I wouldn’t say it’s King’s scariest work, not compared to the short story Children of the Corn, for instance. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good read, and that definitely doesn’t mean that it’s not scary.

Pet Sematary starts innocently enough with a family named the Creeds moving into a new house in Ludlow, Maine. They’re a typical suburban family, with a father (Louis), mother (Rachel), daughter (Ellie), son (Gage), and cat (Winston Churchill, better known as Church). The Creeds’ house is located right beside a busy highway, but they don’t think much of it. Louis quickly becomes friends with old gentleman neighbor Jud Crandal, who’s lived in Ludlow for all his life. Just when everything seems to be going well, Church is run over by a truck on the highway. Jud offers to help Louis bury the cat in the Pet Sematary behind the Creeds’ house, and then the impossible happens––Church returns, alive and well…or so it seems.

Pet Sematary is undoubtedly frightening. It starts out slowly, builds well, and ends in a disturbing, terrible, shocking coda. King creates a story that is not only horrifying, but deeply tragic. When Gage dies, I found myself close to tears. You want things to be alright in the end. You want Gage to come back and be fine. But that never happens, and it makes the book all the more heartbreaking.

The pacing is admittedly slow toward the beginning. I know I had a hard time getting into it at first, but patience pays off with this book. The deliberate pace helps to make the rest of the story even more shocking, and the mundanity of the first half provides a strong counterpoint to the supernatural elements of the second half. It’s sad to see such an ordinary, likable family destroyed so utterly. But of course, it wouldn’t be much of a book without that.

The best (and scariest) part of Pet Sematary is what is left unexplained. I’m talking about the Wendigo, and the nature of the Sematary itself. Louis sees some giant creature roaming the woods, but we don’t know if this is the thing that rules the burial ground, or if it’s the thing that comes back instead of Gage, or something else entirely. It’s this ambiguity that truly makes the book spooky. King doesn’t give us too much. He gives us just enough.

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Pet Sematary is a creepy, atmospheric tale about the consequences of death. While it does drag at times, the slow pacing is mostly an asset rather than a detriment.

Rating: 9/10

P.S.: I just watched the movie…the book is better.

“Wizard’s First Rule” Review

September 1, 2013 / Kyle A. Massa

Image courtesy sot.wikia.com

When most people think of multi-volume fantasy epics, they invariably think of the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. Without a doubt, it’s one of the most popular and enduring series in the genre, spawning twelve novels and a short-lived live-action television series. Wizard’s First Rule is the original entry in the series, so I thought I’d give it a shot to see what all the fuss is about.

After four months of tedious on-and-off reading, I stillI don’t understand the fascination with this series. The writing isn’t particularly impressive, and neither is the world or the characters or the themes or really anything else in it. I felt like I was reading a patchwork of fantasy. Richard is a stereotypical male hero; Kahlan is halfway decent compared to others, but ultimately uninteresting; Zed is exactly what you think of when you think of a wizard. There’s nothing very original about this book, nothing to differentiate it from everything that’s come before.

Let’s start with the rules of the world––there are way, way, way too many. Everyone is bound by magical law to do one thing or another, and it seems like more and more rules are added to the list with each passing chapter. To illustrate my point, there are probably around five to ten campfire conversations where everyone sits around and chats. But instead of telling scary stories boy-scout style, they all try to explain to the reader how things work in the Midlands. They usually go something like this:

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ZEDD: So Richard, you’re the Seeker, which essentially means that you walk around with a big sword looking for truth.

RICHARD: Looking for truth? What does that mean?

ZEDD: I don’t know. And no one’s going to explain it. There are like twenty more books left for readers to figure out what the hell’s going on.

RICHARD: But––

ZEDD: Moving on. There are these boxes, right? And this dude named Darken Rahl wants them because if you open all three before winter, you get, like, limitless power and you can open up the underworld and stuff.

RICHARD: Who made the boxes? And why does this guy want to open the underworld?

ZEDD: Don’t worry about it. Point is, you need to kill this guy because he killed your father…well, the guy you think is your father. Spoiler: it turns out Darken’s your daddy.

RICHARD: Hey, wasn’t that already the major plot twist in Star Wars?

ZEDD: Uhh…

…

Okay, I admit it, this isn’t really what their campfire chats are like. They’re a lot longer, and there are far fewer logical questions being asked. The world is based on rules that seem to change depending on the situation the writer finds his characters in.

For example, at the end of the novel, when everything seems lost, Kahlan goes into this sacred rage called the Con-Dar, setting up Rahl’s downfall. It isn’t explained or even alluded to until the very end of the book, and as a result it comes out of nowhere and seems incredibly convenient. Talk about deus ex machina.

As I said earlier, for a series that’s supposedly character driven, the characters of Wizard’s First Rule are anything but compelling. They feel mechanical rather than organic, acting because they’re told to and not because they choose to. They don’t have very much agency, and as a result become monotonous, if not downright boring. And to make matters worse, many of them are noticeably derivative.

The best example of this problem is Samuel. Let me describe him to you, and you tell me who he sounds like. Samuel is a wretched, tortured little man who runs around on his arms and legs like a dog. He used to be a normal being, but he was twisted by the magic of an ancient artifact and is now hopelessly bound to it. His purpose in the story is to illustrate what will happen to the protagonist if he should fail in his quest.

Sound familiar? That’s right folks. Samuel is Gollum.

The only halfway unique or interesting character in the whole book is Denna, a torturer hired by Darken Rahl to break Richard. Though at first she appears to be merciless and cruel, she and Richard develop an unlikely bond of love. Just when she begins to get really interesting, guess what happens? Richard has to kill her.

The best thing I can say for Wizard’s First Rule is that I could finish it. It’s just interesting enough that you want to know what happens, but the payoff is just like the first 600 pages: completely derivative. I was really hoping that Darken Rahl wouldn’t turn out to be Richard’s father. I really was. Having the antagonist be the protagonist’s father became instant cliche when they did it in Star Wars…so why do it again?

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Wizard’s First Rule might be somewhat engaging to someone who’s never read a fantasy novel before. But if you’re at all familiar with the genre, you’ll recognize every character, every theme, and every plot twist.

Rating: 3/10

Game of Thrones Season 3 Premiere

April 2, 2013 / Kyle A. Massa

Image Courtesy the1tvjunkie.com

Winter is here!

Just watched the Season 3 premiere of HBO’s Game of Thrones. This season will be based on A Storm of Swords, the third book in George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series. SoS is by far my favorite of the five books out now, so I’m hoping that this will also be my favorite season. And yet, the premiere was just…underwhelming.

Disclaimer: I was watching this with friends who’ve never seen the show before, and so trying to explain the plot while still watching. I might’ve missed some things.

We began with a nice little zombie sighting, followed by the introduction of the much talked about Mance Rayder. Though I had early reservations about the casting choice, veteran Irish actor Cirian Hinds seems to be a good fit for the character. His scene with Jon Snow and Tormund Giantsbane was one of my favorites from the book, and they nailed it.

But from there, it just didn’t seem to go anywhere. Tyrion’s scenes were especially disappointing. Even his entrance lacked the bad-assery of last season’s. I get that he was almost killed by his sister and had everything taken away and all, but come on! This is Tyrion Lannister we’re talking about. Where were all the snarky witticisms?

Davos survived, but I was personally more excited to see Sallador Sahn again. The actor who plays him is excellent. Then we see Robb and Catelyn doing whatever they do – I’m pretty much over them. Dany’s story really takes off in this part of the series, though not quite yet. There was a pretty nasty nipple-cutting scene – never though I’d say that – and she was joined by Barristan Selmy, who was always one of my favorites. All cool, but all on the dry side.

Sadly, there wasn’t enough time to fit in Arya, The Hound, Jaime, or Brienne. Overall, there was just a lot of exposition and not much else. But it’s early yet, with nine more episodes to go.

Let the game begin!

Colin Kaepernick and the Phenomenon of the Mobile Quarterback

February 9, 2013 / Kyle A. Massa

Let’s go back to the start of the 2012 NFL season. If you had to choose who would be the starting quarterback for the NFC in the Superbowl, who would you have chosen?

If you knew something about football, you probably would’ve guessed someone like Aaron Rodgers. You might’ve said Matt Ryan or Tony Romo, maybe even Eli Manning for a second year in a row. If you had said Alex Smith, you would’ve been close.

If you had said Colin Kaepernick, you’d be omniscient.

Kaepernick basically came out of nowhere to lead the 49ers to the Superbowl, and in large part he did it with his legs. His success marks the beginning of a new era in the NFL: the era of the mobile quarterback.

The NCAA has seen its share of mobile quarterbacks. Of the three Heisman finalists this year, two were quarterbacks with more than 1,000 rush yards. But the NFL has never been a running quarterback league, with the exception of a handful of special cases, such as Michael Vick.

The difference between the mobile quarterback and the pocket passer is obvious; while the pocket passer may have the superior arm, the mobile quarterback has a second dimension to his game. If everyone is covered downfield, a Colin Kaepernick type player can run for the first down. Compare that to a Tom Brady, who is indeed a far better passer, but really can’t do much if everyone’s covered. Furthermore, the mobile quarterback can roll out of the pocket to buy time for receivers to get open.

I’d trace the seeds of the mobile quarterback phenomenon back to April 28^th, 2011. More specifically, this was the day the Carolina Panthers took Cam Newton number one in the draft. Newton was the Heisman winner in his senior year at Auburn, racking up running back type rush numbers (1473 yards and 20 touchdowns). Rushing was and still is a big part of Newton’s game, and his mobility helped him to win the 2011 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. The 2012 Award went to Robert Griffin III, who ran for 815 yards and added 7 touchdowns. Clearly, it seems that the league is moving in a different direction.

The conversion to mobile quarterbacks only continued with this past season. On November 19^th, 2012, Niner’s starter Alex Smith was ruled unable to play with a concussion. Coach Jim Harbaugh selected an unknown rookie named Colin Kaepernick to start. Kaepernick had already replaced Smith in the previous week against the Rams, putting up decent numbers, but only managing to earn a tie. Against the Bears, however, he put on a clinic; 16 for 23, 243 yards, 2 touchdowns, no interceptions.

After the game, Harbaugh expressed interest in the possibility of starting Kaepernik again, even if Smith was healthy. “Usually tend to go with the guy who’s got the hot hand, and we’ve got two quarterbacks that have got a hot hand.”

Sure enough, Kaepernick started again the following week against the Saints, despite Alex Smith being cleared to play. He led the 49ers to another win, going 16 of 25 for 231 yards with one touchdown and one pick, also adding a touchdown on the ground. It was assumed that Coach Harbaugh went with Kaepernick because he could throw the ball downfield, and also because of his explosive mobility.

Kaepernick’s ability to run was proven yet again in the playoffs against the Packers, when he set the NFL postseason record in rush yards by a quarterback, a stunning 181 yards with two touchdowns. In the Superbowl, Karpernick added 62 more yards on the ground, along with the longest touchdown run by a quarterback in Superbowl history, a 15 yard score.

But Kaepernick and Newton aren’t alone. There’s the aforementioned Robert Griffin III from Washington, and fellow rookie Russell Wilson from Seattle, who had 489 yards on the ground. In fact, among the top five quarterbacks in quarterback rating this year, two were mobile quarterbacks with more than 450 rush yards.

So the question is, why now? Why are we seeing so many quarterbacks who are more mobile than ever before?

For one, I think it has to do with a recent influx of college coaches to the NFL. Many teams are hiring coaches from huge programs, such as Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco, Pete Caroll in Seattle, and even more recently Chip Kelly in Philadelphia. These coaches are bringing college style offenses with them, and the mobile quarterback thrives in the college system. Guys like Kaepernick might’ve once been dismissed in a pro-style offense. In the college style, they are embraced.

Also, I think that the success of Michael Vick in 2010 really opened the door for mobile quarterbacks. After returning from a two year, highly publicized jail term for dogfighting, Vick became the starter for the Eagles in 2010 and never looked back. He put up career highs in completion percentage (62.6%), touchdown passes (21), and quarterback rating (100.2), all the while showing the league that mobile quarterbacks can be successful. Cam Newton followed the year after, then Kaepernik, Wilson, and Griffin, and the phenomenon began.

Will the rest of the NFL catch on to the trend? Remember, the AFC’s representative in the Superbowl was Joe Flacco, and he’s anything but fast. Most of the league is still composed of pocket passers. Furthermore, this isn’t the first time that running quarterbacks have been all the rage in the league.

A few years ago, the Wildcat offense was sweeping the NFL, and many mobile quarterbacks appeared seemingly just for the package; players like West Virginia’s Pat White, Missouri’s Brad Smith, and even Florida’s Tim Tebow. The package seemed to work well enough for the Dolphins in 2008, and Tim Tebow had a very impressive run with the Broncos in 2011. But since then, this batch of mobile quarterbacks seems to have dwindled. White hasn’t been in pro football since 2010, Smith only occasionally gets playing time at quarterback, and Tebow gets even less. Even the once prolific Michael Vick seems to be at the end of his career, largely due to injury.

I think the key difference between these old mobile quarterbacks and the new ones is the balance between throwing and passing ability. The old mobile quarterbacks were all speed. For example, Michael Vick was never great at passing, having a lifetime quarterback rating of just 80.6. But Vick excelled because he could run, setting the single season record for QB rush yards at 1039. Tebow and White were the same; mostly running ability, but little passing ability. And in the case of Vick, all that running led to big hits outside of the pocket, making him a huge injury risk.

The new mobile quarterbacks augment their passing game with their running game rather than relying on it. It’s like a delicate recipe; a little running ability mixed with good passing is better than a little passing and good running. And if the legs aren’t the primary weapon, the player is less likely to be injured.

League wide, support seems to be mixed on the running quarterback. Aaron Rodgers, starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, was recently asked what he thought of the new “pistol” offense that many mobile quarterbacks run out of. Rodgers said: “I think the league is cyclical. Things have come back around that have been used 20, 30 years ago. But this, too, I think, will pass. Some of the pistol, read-option stuff will eventually pass.” However, in that same interview, Rodgers went on to say, “The athletic quarterback, I don’t think, is going to pass at all.”

Will the mobile quarterback survive? Only time will tell. Personally, I think that the mobile quarterback is indeed here to stay. Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson are just rookies, and Colin Kaepernick and Cam Newton are just second year players. The incoming talents of Kansas State’s Colin Klein and Texas Tech’s freshman sensation Johnny Manziel will only add to the already growing number. In a few short years, the mobile quarterback may very well be what all the teams are looking for on draft day.

Gangster Squad Review

January 26, 2013 / Kyle A. Massa

Image courtesy oldfocals.com

What can I say? I’m a sucker for gangster movies.

Some people may tell you that Gangster Squad is all style and no substance, that is has a lackluster script, and that it doesn’t really add anything to the genre.

Ok, yeah, that’s all kind of true. But is it entertaining? Absolutely.

I thought that the style was very cool. Clearly they were going for the film noir/Warner Bros.’ gangster atheistic, and they nailed it. The script, the performances, costumes, music, sets, all of them created a gritty, moody affair. There were solid performances as well, particularly from Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, and Mireille Enos.

No, this movie isn’t going to de-define the genre, it isn’t an in depth character study, and it isn’t going to win any awards. Gangster Squad is a gangster movie, and doesn’t try to be anything else.

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If you’re expecting an Oscar-winning drama out of Gangster Squad, expect to be disappointed. If you’re expecting a fun movie that doesn’t require a lot of thought, then expect to be entertained.

Rating: 7/10

“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” Review

January 19, 2013 / Kyle A. Massa

What makes a human a human? What separates us from nature, from artifice, even from each other? Are some non-human entities just as human as we are?

These are all very compelling questions, all posed by author Philip K. Dick in his novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Serving as the inspiration for Ridley Scott’s 1982 blockbuster Bladerunner, Dick’s book follows Rick Deckard, a San Franciso bounty hunter working to eliminate a new model of android, one that is more humanlike than any previous.

Besides Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, this was really my first endevour into the world of science fiction. I must say, it was quite an introduction.

First thing I’d like to say; this book is one the most thought provoking novels I’ve ever read. It’s more than a science-fiction story. It’s an examination of what it means to be human, to be a living being with thoughts (and perhaps more importantly) feelings. It’s about the beliefs that survive and the beliefs that are destroyed in the midst of change.

The themes and ideas explored in this book are excellent. As alluded to before, this one really makes the reader think. It challenges you to put yourself in Rick’s situation and wonder about what you yourself would do. Perhaps the same thing, perhaps something different. Only you (the reader) can decide.

My main criticism of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is its length. At only two hundred and ten pages, it’s not very long at all, and reads more like a novella than a novel. I would’ve liked to see just a little more, maybe a few other viewpoints, just to see the world from a few more angles. The rules are certainly established, but I feel that they could be fleshed out even more.

I also feel that the character J.R. Isidore is underused. He is quite compelling, and yet he has very little effect on the plot and really doesn’t get all that much attention. Isidore is a symbol of the destruction caused by “World War Terminus,” and yet he’s barely in the book at all. A small detail, really, but nonetheless, one that deserves attention.

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Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is an excellent piece of science fiction. A fascinating premise combined with interesting themes make for an excellent read.

Rating: 9/10

“Gardens of the Moon” Review

January 10, 2013 / Kyle A. Massa

I picked up Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erickson pretty much on a whim, not really knowing what I was in for. I’d seen it near the top of some random best fantasy series list, so I thought I’d try it.

Gardens of the Moon is the first book in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. It focuses on the multi-continental empire of the Malazan, specifically on their campaign on the continent of Genabackis. Here we meet the Bridgeburners, an elite company of Malazan soldiers, as well as the people of Darujhistan, last Free City standing in the way of Malazan control over Genabackis.

In a word, it’s sprawling. Erickson rivals Tolkien in his world-building. Not since The Lord of the Rings have I read a fantasy novel with such a massive scope, and that includes A Song of Ice and Fire. (That’s not a knock on GRRM as much as it is a pat on the back for Erikson). It’s a lavish world, packed near to bursting with characters and races and plots and subplots. There is so much going on and so many different forces at work that it’s almost unbelievable that only two guys made all of it up (Erickson created the world of the Malazan with fellow author Ian Estermont, originally conceiving of it as an environment for Dungeons and Dragons). It’s truly an incredible feat of world-building.

But the scope of Gardens of the Moon is a detriment as well as a strength. There is so much content that I spent the last third of the book being thoroughly confused. Maybe it’s because I listened to most of it on audiobook, but it seemed very difficult to follow. It was hard to remember who was working for who or who had done what, especially because the narrative focuses on one character and then doesn’t return to that character for many more chapters. This is one of the few problems I have with A Song of Ice and Fire as well, and here it’s only magnified. More characters and more things going on make it invariably more confusing.

I think another area where Gardens falls short is on characterization. Some of the characters come so close to being compelling, but few ever achieve that status. I wanted to like Whiskeyjack, I wanted to like Captain Paran, and I wanted to know more about Anomander Rake––but there just wasn’t much there. To be fair, there are still nine books left in this series, and I’m sure Erickson builds on his characters further. But still, a little more attention to them in this volume would’ve been nice to see.

One last thing: I really admired Erickson’s intentionally anti-Tolkien take on fantasy. Much like Martin’s work, there isn’t any central quest, nor are there any heroic figures. Rather, it’s a bleak, violent world consumed by war. It doesn’t look like there’s any light at the end of the tunnel, either. I always appreciate a fantasy series that isn’t a Tolkien retread, and thankfully, the Malazan Book of the Fallen series is anything but.

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Gardens of the Moon is an astounding feat of creative imagination, if a little confusing at times. The characters seem somewhat flat too, especially when compared with those from A Song of Ice and Fire. However, the world by itself is enough of a reason to recommend it.

Rating: 8/10

This Coming Offseason

January 8, 2013 / Kyle A. Massa

2012 was obviously a disappointing season for the G-Men. Failing to make the playoffs is never fun, especially when you won the Superbowl the year before. They had a typically good start followed by a typically bad mid season slump, but this time they just couldn’t get there. Close, but no playoffs.

First thing on the to do list for the off season: re-sign Victor Cruz. No questions. Whatever he asks for, they need to give it to him. The guy has more catches through two seasons than any other Giant receiver in team history, plus he’s a ridiculous deep threat and is only 26 years old. They’d be insane to let him walk.

There are a lot of other free agents that GM Jerry Reese will need to take a look at as well. Osi Umenyiora, Kenny Phillips, and Martellus Bennett will all be unrestricted. Bennett looked great for the first half of the season, but then sort of petered out with the rest of the team. I think he’s got potential, however, and the Giants should re-sign him. Though Kenny Phillips has had injury issues, he’s a formidable option at safety when healthy. He’s another guy that the Giants should bring back.

I’m not so sure about Osi. He’s made it pretty clear that he’s not happy, and that he wants a pay increase, one that the Giants probably won’t be giving him. Plus, I think his best years are behind him. Time to move on.

With the number 19 pick in the draft, I think Jerry Reese and company should look at the defensive side of the ball. The secondary looked kind of weak by the end of the year, especially Corey Webster. Prince Amukamara has injury issues, as does Aaron Ross. Perhaps they take a cornerback?

If they don’t go that route, linebacker would be the next best bet. They’ve been missing a big defensive presence up the middle ever since Antonio Pierce retired. A guy like Notre Dame’s Manti Ta’o would be perfect, though I don’t know if he’ll fall that far.

I think the offense should be set for next year. Eli has plenty of solid receivers, and with the emergence of David Wilson and Andrew Brown, they look pretty stacked at running back. A few late round picks at guard or tackle would be a good way to provide some depth for the O-line, which suffered its share of injuries in 2012.

Here’s hoping for a good offseason, a great season, and an even better postseason!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Review

December 29, 2012 / Kyle A. Massa

I just saw The Hobbit a couple of nights ago, and my first thought upon leaving the theatre was…what was wrong with that?

I’ve heard mostly bad things about this new installment, and I’m not entirely sure why. Criticisms range from slow pacing to tonal incongruence with the Lord of the Rings trilogy to Radagast the Brown (he’s already getting Jar-Jar Binks comparisons). I suppose I’d agree with the pacing argument, but only at the end of the film. Otherwise, I’d say that it was excellent. Not as great as the original trilogy, of course, but still pretty damn good in its own right.

Firstly, the effects were astounding. I know special effects don’t make a movie but…wow. They were just jaw dropping. No, literally. When the new and improved Gollum came on screen, my jaw actually dropped. I used to say that Avatar was the pinnacle of CGI. No longer. Right from the opening prologue scene, I was blown away.

I thought the film had a typically good script from the trio of Jackson, Phillipa Boyens, and Fran Walsh. Guillermo Del Toro even got a credit, which was nice to see. They did a good job weaving in some of the threads from The Silmarilion, and also expanding on other scenes. Some cameos by Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Ian Holm, Elijah Wood, and Christopher Lee were nice additions as well.

Another thing I liked were the homages to the original trilogy, both in the script and visually. For example, the shot where Frodo slips in the Prancing Pony and the ring falls onto his finger is copied exactly in The Hobbit, only this time with Bilbo instead of Frodo. Also, Azog comments on the dwarves smelling of fear. A similar remark is made by the orc Gothmog in Return of the King. A lot of franchises reference themselves, Pirates of the Caribbean, for example, but I found this to be a much more subtle and much more enjoyable way to do it.

Martin Freeman and Ian McKellan certainly stood out as Bilbo and Gandalf, respectively. Freeman brought the same energy to the role that Ian Holm had, plus an extra ounce of neurotic humor for good measure. And of course, Ian McKellan just was Gandalf. Great performances there.

As I alluded to at the beginning, the end of the film really dragged for me. Without spoiling anything for those who haven’t seen it, there was a lengthy, exciting action sequence that seemed like the logical climax and ending of this first installment. But in the words of Gandalf and Thorin, the party comes “out of the frying pan and into the fire,” immediately engaging in another skirmish. Faithful to the book, yes, but on film I thought it became anti-climactic. And not only that, there were still about fifteen minutes left at that point. Could’ve been much more exciting if they’d just ended it a tad sooner.

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Overall, I thought that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was too harshly judged by critics and audiences alike. Sure, there were some problems with the tempo, but nothing so heinous that the film was ruined.

Rating: 8.5/10

“Red Country” Review

December 25, 2012 / Kyle A. Massa

A fantasy-western hybrid. Sounds fun, right? That’s what Joe Abercrombie’s Red Country. Set in the disputed, gold-ridled landscape of the Far Country, Red Country tells the story of Shy South and her step-father Lamb. When their farm is burned down and Shy’s brother and sister are taken, the unlikely pair go on a quest to get them back. But Lamb isn’t who he seems, and the quest becomes more than they bargained for.

I think it only took me two or three days to finish this baby up. I had such high expectations. Some of those expectations were met. Others…not so much.

The thing that bothered me right away was the prose style. I read a few of Abercrombie’s blogs about his inspiration for the book, and most came from old western novels. Red Country has the kind of sentences that you’d expect to see in those books, full of run-ons and poor grammar and shifting tense. It was definitely a good way to establish the tone and the world, but in general I found it distracting. There were a few instances in which I had to go back and re-read a single sentence two or three times before I could understand what the hell it said. I get that he was going for Western-style prose, but at least for me, it was kind of annoying.

I must say that I did enjoy the return of Logen Ninefingers, even though Abercrombie really didn’t answer any of the questions I had about him. Well, at least this volume didn’t raise any new questions; it just left me with the same ones I had before. In any case, it was great to see The Bloody Nine back in action. In my opinion, he’s one of Abercrombie’s top three greatest creations, along with Caul Shivers and my personal favorite, Sand dan Glokta. Nicomo Cosca used to be up there, but not after this book.

The Cosca of Red Country was the ugly cousin of the Cosca from The First Law. I think old, bitter, and psychotic are the three best adjectives to describe Red Country Nicomo Cosca. After finishing the book, I remember thinking: What the hell happened to this guy??? Where was the lovable rogue of The First Law? Red Country Cosca was not nearly so fun. He lacked all of the humor and much of the wit that made him so memorable in earlier volumes. And his moral complexity? Nowhere to be found. It used to be that he tottered on the line between good and evil. In this book, he was so far on the evil side that he was probably having afternoon tea with Hitler and Satan.

But Red Country was not entirely without its charms. It was really fun to see Shivers again, albeit in a cameo. His introduction was about as bad-ass as you can get. And the part with the dragon was pretty intriguing. I’ve heard speculation that Abercrombie might write another trilogy next. Could this dragon make another appearance?

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This one was tough for me, because it was the first Joe Abercrombie book I’ve had mixed feelings about. While the book did have strong characters and a few memorable scenes, the flat story and slow pacing made it far less enjoyable than it could’ve and should’ve been.

Rating: 6.5/10

Kyle A. Massa