Mithril Wisdom - Geek culture blog

Wordplay with Nika Harper - a creative writing vlog from Geek and Sundry

2013-05-22T06:10:00.000+01:00

Writers that are struggling for inspiration, fear not! Geek-centric super channel Geek & Sundry, creators of the epic Tabletop (which is responsible for my Munchkin collection and Sword and Laser shows, have expanded their repertoire with a series of Geek & Sundry vlogs. The aim of these vlogs is to get more members of the geek community involved in sharing their different passions with the rest of us.

The first G&S vlog, Wordplay, is from writer Nika Harper, whose bi-weekly vlog shares creative writing tips and gives an insight into the process of writing. She also ends each vlog with a writing prompt so you can get involved over at the Geek & Sundry forum.

For a lot of writers, the prospect of 'throwing your work out there' is a daunting one, even with the friendly and inclusive communities we have on the blog-o-sphere. Hopefully this will encourage more prospective writers to take the plunge. I'm thinking about doing a piece of flash fiction based on her topics for this week - unbridled enthusiasm and a guy walks into a bar. I might expand a little on the piece I wrote for Cherie Reich's Lightning flashed blogfest.

The G&S channel are also looking for more geek vloggers to be a part of the new channel, mentored by Felicia Day. If you're interested in going for it, check out the Geek & Sundry vlogs website for submission details.

About the author
Jamie Gibbs is the overlord of Mithril Wisdom as well as a terminal geek and great lover of sandwiches.You can follow him on his Google+ or Twitter profiles for a daily dose of fanboy rants.

Reviver by Seth Patrick [book review]

2013-05-20T07:49:00.000+01:00

Reviver by Seth Patrick
Published by Pan Macmillan
ARC - 409 pages
Published June 2013
Review copy provided by publisher

Before I set on my path as a die-hard fantasy fan, I was very much into the horror genre, especially stories dealing with the supernatural. I've not really read much horror in a long time, but after reading Reviver, I'm seriously considering having another crack at it.

One of the key factors of being a Reviver is the emotional exchange between the Reviver and the person being revived - there is complete empathy between the two, and Patrick excels in portraying this emotional connection. He uses this to great effect when Jonah starts experiencing memories and emotions of people he's revived, long after he should. Patrick uses this emotion to ramp up the tension with great effect.

Another thing I really enjoyed about Reviver is the mix of scientific procedure and supernatural elements. There was a point where I feared that the novel would take a harder, more sci-fi route, but I was pleased when it remained in the realms of fantasy and took an unexpected turn. Reviver does for ghosts what Blade did for vampires; it gives it a slight rationalisation that makes it believable but still retained an aura of mystery.

My only issue with the novel was the pacing. I sped through the first third of the book due to the high tension that was built, and the finale was pretty explosive and pulled you along for the ride. The middle portion, however, sagged slightly and was more focussed on answering questions and filling gaps ready for the final scenes.

If you're looking for a good fantasy/horror crossover with a bit of crime thriller thrown in there for good measure, then definitely check out Reviver. It's intense, a little creepy and a hell of a lot of fun.

Free short stories from Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking trilogy

2013-05-17T16:26:00.002+01:00

I've become quite a fan of Patrick Ness over the past year or so. After reading Monsters of Men as part of the Indie Lit Awards a few years back, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it (being a YA sci-fi, it should have been everything I disliked) but I was hooked.

I was also lucky enough to give away copies of The Knife of Never Letting Go as part of World Book Night this year, and a good number of people who took a copy from me were equally enthralled by his writing.

After all that, how pleased was I to see this Tweet from Patrick Ness pop up in my feed?

Announcement time! The brand new Chaos Walking short stories are now available electronically for fans o' the books. #chaoswalkingstories
— Patrick Ness (@Patrick_Ness) May 16, 2013

The stories are available from www.chaoswalkingstories.com, and once you sign up you'll be sent an email to download the three short stories from the Chaos Walking trilogy; A New World, The Wide, Wide Sea and Snowscape.

I'm looking forward to getting stuck into these myself, once I've reduced my TBR Tower a little.

Dragonslayers by Joseph McCullough [book review]

2013-05-15T07:05:00.000+01:00

Dragonslayers by Joseph McCullough

Published by Osprey Adventures

Paperback - 80 pages

Published April 2013

Review copy provided by publisher

The second part in the Myths and Legends series that starts with Jason and the Argonauts, Dragonslayers takes a look at some of the most famous historical figures to against the evil winged serpents.

Beowulf and St. George, as the title suggests, form part of the main focus of the book, which sets to give the narrative tale of each dragonslayer without all the Olde Worlde flowery language or any intense academic discourse that leaves your head reeling.

What makes Dragonslayers different to the first book in the series is that is offers tales from all around the world and across time periods, showing that dragon lore shares common traits that span continents. Most cultures have some form of belief when it comes to dragons and the heroes that deal with them.

It was also fun to spot little snippets from old tales (mostly Norse) that formed part of the mythology for Tolkien's Middle Earth, such as the broken sword that was reforged and flamed when wielded (sound familiar? It should; that's the origin for Anduril, Aragorn's sword).

The text is written in a straight, no nonsense style that gives you the story without any extra fluff. There are images and tidbits of information pulled from historical sources should you wish to delve a little deeper, and the original artwork by Peter Dennis is superb.

My only beef with these books is that they're too short for my liking, but I'm greedy like that. If I get my hands on something that makes complex mythology accessible, I want more. For readers with less voracious appetites, these form a perfect introduction to the dragon mythos.

Dragonslayers has continued the trend started by Jason and the Argonauts in providing a highly accessible and succinctly written collection of mythological tales that serve as a fantastic entry point into the topic without scaring away non-academics. Short but brilliant.

About the author
Jamie Gibbs is the overlord of Mithril Wisdom as well as a terminal geek and great lover of sandwiches. He started out as an Egyptologist before changing tack and delving into the digital world, where he now blogs by day and blogs by night.
You can follow him on his Google+ or Twitter profiles for a daily dose of fanboy rants.

Share your top survival item and win zombie books [giveaway]

2013-05-13T06:59:00.000+01:00

It's that time again, folks. After the extra books in my April book haul, the bookshelves in my flat are starting to bow like nobody's business, so it's time to clear a little space and have a giveaway!

This giveaway is all about the zombies (everyone loves zombies, and the one's who say they don't are lying) and there are three books up for grabs - The Return Man by V.M. Zito, Juggernaut by Adam Baker and The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga. Three great reads for three awesome winners.

Take a look at the Rafflecopter widget to see how you can enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

That's it! Good luck, everyone, and may your feet be swift against the shambling hordes! Drop me a line if you've any questions of problems with entering.

PelleK - Ocean of Opportunity [album review]

2013-05-10T19:31:00.001+01:00

PelleK - Ocean of Opportunity
Released May 2013
Self-released album
Running time 48:09
Promotional copy provided by band management
Preview Ocean of Opportunity on iTunes

Ocean of Opportunity tells a compelling story about a Norwegian civil clerk who, after the untimely death of his wife and the news of his own impending demise, embarks on a fantastic voyage around the world; first by sea towards Russia, through China and onto West Coast America, then taking to the skies in a hot air balloon.

The story is ultimately optimistic in its telling; the protagonist has a thirst for adventure and a spirit that can't be broken. This is brilliantly played out in the uplifting power metal melodies and in the four-octave range vocals for which PelleK is best known.

There are elements of progressive and symphonic metal to add gravitas to the narrative where needed (like in Stars and Bulletholes), and there are ethnic touches here and there to emphasis the vast expanse of the journey.

This ranges from banjos played during God's Pocket (as the protagonist sails passed Canada and onto America) and the use of the combination of the Oriental Riff and trumpet/bugle at the beginning of Stars and Bulletholes to highlight the Chinese mining population living in San Francisco (during what I assume is the gold rush of the mid-19th Century). This attention to the detail of the story hidden in the music is what makes Ocean of Opportunity so compelling.

Whilst the story itself is both powerful and imaginative, each track takes on a purely narrative route that tells the story like it is. There isn't much use of metaphor and emotional response of the protagonist that are the mainstays of contemporary concept albums. This would have added another level of impact to the music and the vocals in the telling, but each song is strong as it is.

PelleK has created a concept album that combines my favourite bits from the genre; the symphonic aura of Kamelot, the imaginative concepts of Sonata Arctica and the structure of Seventh Wonder, all added with PelleK's own talent on top. Ocean of Opportunity is a true portrayal of the spirit of adventure, with music that will stay with you after you've finished listening.

Track list:

Elucidation
Northern Wayfarer
Sea Of Okhotsk
Brigantine Of Tranquility
God’s Pocket
Stars And Bullet Holes
Sky Odyssey
Transmigration
The Last Journey

Music video for "Northern Wayfarer"

New additions to the book tower from April

2013-05-09T06:18:00.000+01:00

If you're reading this in Google Reader, Feedly, Bloglovin or some other RSS type aggregator, the image won't be interactive. Come read the post on the site itself for full interactive magic!
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When it rains it pours; eight new additions to my TBR Tower. The shelves are starting to bow under the weight, I tells you. It might be time to shed some literary weight, and that can only mean that a giveaway is imminent. I've a few more book reviews to post up from last month too; it's been a busy month!

I'm particularly excited about Ganymede and The Inexplicables by Cherie Priest. After these steampunk lovelies hit the UK, I've become a bit of a fan, eagerly devouring both Boneshaker and Dreadnought with relish (not literal relish, that'd be weird).

The Bone Season was a bit of a surprise from Bloomsbury, but it looks interesting.

Some of the keen eyed amongst you will spot that I now have a second copy of Red Moon and Tomorrow the Killing, which means that a giveaway is definitely on the cards. Watch this space.

Hover over the icons in the interactive image below to find out more about my latest haul!

What books are on your TBR pile this month?

Exclusive teaser trailer for Edgar Wright's "The World's End"

2013-05-08T06:47:00.000+01:00

The final installment of Edgar Wright's epic Cornetto Trilogy is imminent, and here's the first official teaser trailer to whet your appetite. What began with Shaun of the Dead and continued with Hot Fuzz now ends with The World's End, complete with fence jumping gag.

<A href="http://video.uk.msn.com/?mkt=en-gb&vid=4b4fcd19-78bc-45aa-b969-02421955a50e&from=shareembed-syndication&src=v5:embed:syndication:" target="_new" title="Exclusive The World’s End Trailer">Video: Exclusive The World’s End Trailer</A>

"20 years after attempting an epic pub crawl, five childhood friends reunite when one of them becomes hell bent on trying the drinking marathon again. They are convinced to stage an encore by mate Gary King, a 40-year old man trapped at the cigarette end of his teens, who drags his reluctant pals to their home town and once again attempts to reach the fabled pub, The World’s End. As they attempt to reconcile the past and present, they realize the real struggle is for the future, not just theirs but humankind’s. Reaching The World’s End is the least of their worries."

The World's End stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead), Martin Freeman (The Hobbit), Paddy Considine (The Bourne Ultimatum), Eddie Marsan (Sherlock Holmes).

The World's End is due to hit UK cinemas on August 14th.

Jason and the Argonauts by Neil Smith [book review]

2013-05-07T06:21:00.000+01:00

Jason and the Argonauts by Neil Smith
Published by Osprey Adventures
Paperback - 80 pages
Published March 2013
Review copy provided by publisher

UPDATE: It's sadly ironic that I posted up this review today that legendary visual effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen, whose work includes the 1963 movie adaptation of Jason and the Argonauts, passed away today. This review is dedicated to him.

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Anyone who knows me will know that I'm a huge fan of mythology in all its forms - as the historical basis to the fantasy genre it's a great source of inspiration. It was it great excitement that I started reading Jason and the Argonauts since I'd never read the tale in full (and I'd never seen the movie).

Mythological narratives usually follow two routes - either the translated text in full, complete with diversions, tangents and idiosyncrasies of the original author and of the translator, or you get a weighty discourse on the historical context of the tale that is so bogged down by academia that the narrative is all but lost.

Smith's take on Jason's story is, thankfully, neither of these. What you get instead is the story without the distractions so you can properly follow in the adventure and have the thrill of reading Jason's exploits. In this edition, the story comes first, and I really enjoyed that.

That's not to say that Smith doesn't put things in its historical context. There are sidebars and information boxes that offer other tidbits of information about goings on during Greece at the time, which versions of the tale say what etc. You can gloss over these if you want a pure narrative, but they add an extra dimension without interrupting the reading of the story.

I really liked the use of illustrations, both from historical sources as well as new images from illustrator Jose Daniel Cabrera Pena to give a more in depth look at what sights Jason would have seen.

Jason and the Argonauts is an excellent read for fans of historical epics, and it's a great first book to kick off the Myths and Legends series. What you get is a concise, easy to digest version of the tale that keeps the storytelling elements and strips the fluff of academia. A must have introductory read.

Iron Man 3 is explosive, witty fun [movie review]

2013-05-03T06:45:00.000+01:00

Iron Man 3
Director: Shane Black

Screenplay: Drew Pearce and Shane Black

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Ben Kingsley, Guy Pearce

Studio: Marvel Studios

Distributor: Walt Disney Studios

Running Time: 130 minutes

Released: May 2013

2D tickets bought at Cineworld, Cardiff

Everyone knew that The Avengers (or Marvel Avengers Assemble) was a tough act to follow. The surprising and overwhelming popularity of the movie meant that anything that came afterwards would be set in the shadow of Joss Whedon’s slice of fried gold.

Iron Man 3 is and always has been Robert Downey Jr. When he says “I am Iron Man” you know he believes it. He owns the role as Tony Stark and returns to the role with the same charisma and assholic charm that we've come to know and love.

When Stark is left vulnerable and sans-suit thanks to an attack on his home by The Mandarin (a part brilliantly played by Ben Kingsley in one of the most entertaining reveals I've seen in a while), he comes into his own and proves that Tony Stark doesn't need the suit to be Iron Man.

Shane Black’s humour and wit is evident throughout. He took the feel of the first movie and amped it up a couple of notches. From a guy whose writing credentials include Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and the Lethal Weapon movies, what do you expect? Even during the final confrontation when tension is being wound up, there are still plenty of funnies to keep you entertained.

One thing that Iron Man 3 was lacking in was drama or much in the way of an emotional impact. They touch on the possibility of Stark suffering from PTSD after the end of The Avengers, but it never goes much further than that. Iron Man 3 is more about quickening the blood than pulling the heartstrings. It does it well, but I was left feeling that there could have been a little more heart to the story.

Another thing I will say is that the theatrical trailer is completely misleading. For the most part I understand this, but the trailers partially made it out like Iron Man's suits turned against him and he had to fight his own creations. This was a bit of a red herring. If you're hating me right now because you thought that was a spoiler, trust me. The real twist is still to be seen (and it's a doozy).

A fast paced, explosive movie; slick and funny in all the right places. Iron Man 3 holds its own and shows that there is still room for individual heroics post-Avengers. Go see it. Twice.

As always, don’t leave until after the credits for a fun cameo, and bonus points if you spot Stan Lee on the first viewing.

Why I'm backing out of future blogfests [IWSG]

2013-05-01T06:12:00.001+01:00

So yesterday was the final post in the A-Z Blogging Challenge for 2013. With the exception of Sundays, the idea was to blog each day of the week corresponding to a letter of the alphabet.

It was a fun challenge, and it has been ever since I started back in 2010.

But it's made me realise that I don't think blogfests are for me anymore, at least for a little while.

Don't get me wrong, I love participating in blog hops, blogfest etc. In fact, I co-hosted the Level Up! Blogfest with Allison over at Geek Banter, which was all kinds of fun.

Blogfests are a great way to connect with people outside of your usual spheres and make friends in the most unlikely of places. It's all about community, and isn't that why we're all here?

Stepping aside for now

However, doing this year's A-Z Challenge made me realise that I wasn't giving it my all, and my blog was suffering for it.

There was no time, more than anything else (a lame and overused excuse; I could have made time) but it was all I could do to quickly write out a post and hit 'Publish' every day.

I had no time to comment on other people's blogs. I had no time to reply to comments on my own blog.

Anyone who gets this reference gets 100 bonus points.

Eventually the backlog became too severe and I was constantly playing catch up. And because of the way blogfests work, with people so busy replying to those who comment on their blogs that those who don't comment elsewhere are left behind, hasty and ill-thought out posts were being written for a dwindling audience.

That's why I've decided that I'm ducking out of all blogfests for now. This will be my final blogfest entry for a while. It's not a comment on my readers (you're all awesome. Seriously.) but a comment on my own failings to organise my time, create the most interesting and entertaining content for you guys and also to be around to share, support and generally be there.

It saddens me somewhat. The IWSG has been a great source of inspiration and has introduced me to many new friends, and so I felt it fitting to stop here.

I want to see if I can build an audience on other strengths rather than the reciprocal nature of bloghops (those who comment most get commented on most, which is only fair). Who knows how long I'll last before I start participating again? Could be weeks, could be longer. We'll see.

This post is part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, a monthly blog hop set up by the Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh. It's a place where writers and bloggers can share their anxieties and insecurities with one another, offer advice and support one another. You can find full details and a list of participants on the Insecure Writer's Support Group page, and you can also follow it on Twitter at #IWSG.

[keys on counter]

ZZZAP! [A-Z of retro kids' TV]

2013-04-30T09:16:00.001+01:00

And so we come to the end of the A-Z Challenge 2013. It's been a fun ride, and I hope you've all enjoyed this month-long trip down memory lane. My final post is a British interactive comic book called ZZZap!

What's it all about?

ZZZap! was a slapstick comedy sketch show that ran from 1993-2001 that featured characters on a giant interactive comic book. Each character had their own panel and their own sketch show, from the very silly Cuthbert Lily to the game show-esque Daisy Dares You.

Favourite episode?

More like "favourite character?" I think that'd have to be Daisy Dares You. Each week she'd challenge a bunch of school kids to be better than her at an obstacle course / eating competition / some other challenge. Sometimes she'd win, sometimes the kids would win. It was good fun to watch.

Intro video

It was a pretty nifty idea; I'm surprised that one one's attempted a remake yet.

So that's the A-Z 2013 challenge completed! See you again next year!

You Can't Do That On Television [A-Z of retro kids' TV]

2013-04-29T06:10:00.000+01:00

This A-Z Challenge 2013 post is Canada's answer to Monty Python, at least for kids. It was completely bonkers but every kid who watched it loved it. This is You Can't Do That On Television.

What's it all about?

You Can't Do That On Television aired from 1979-1990 (plus a reunion special in 2004), and featured a bunch of kids doing comedy sketches, throwing water at one another and getting slimed. It was pretty crazy.

Favourite episode?

There's nothing specific I can recall, but I remember that they'd often do an "Opposite Sketch" where everything said it the opposite of what they intended. They sometimes used this to tackle kids' issues like divorce and adoption.

Intro video

A deliberate homage to Terry Gilliam's animation style, making the whole thing seem even more Python-esque

X-men [A-Z of retro kids' TV]

2013-04-28T08:48:00.000+01:00

Todays A-Z Challenge 2013 post is a little late, but it's a show worth waiting for. Most of you know it in some form or another, so introductions aside, let's crack on. This is X-Men.

What's it all about?

Based on the Marvel comic books, X-Men follows Professor X and his band of mutant superheroes as they battle with the followers of Magneto, the anti-mutant Sentinals, threats from other planets and more besides. The show ran from 1992-1997.

Favourite episode?

I was a big fan of Morph in the TV series, but then I became acquainted with a mutant called Remy LeBeau. Gambit instantly became my all-time favourite X-Man, and any episode with him in it counts as my favourite.

Intro video

Intro video

A mix of "Creepy" and "Let's Investigate!" - pretty damn good theme tune

Thor 2 trailer shows the God of Thunder team up with an old enemy

2013-04-23T08:30:00.003+01:00

If you're looking for my A-Z Challenge "T" post, click here.

Looks like Thor's taking part of his fight off-world in Thor: The Dark World, and he's having to team up with Loki in order to fight a much bigger threat to both Asgard and Earth.

A common idea for a Marvel Sequel (Blade II, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer etc.) but it looks pretty damn exciting. Plus, with Natalie Portman reprising her role as Jane Foster, what's not to like?

[via io9]

Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles [A-Z of retro kids' TV]

2013-04-23T06:49:00.000+01:00

My entry for the A-Z Challenge 2013 challenge today is a firm favourite with kids across the world, so much so that they've several movie incarnations, reboots of the TV series, reboots of the movie versions, and others besides. This is Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles.

Don't you mean Ninja Turtles?

Nope. When it was shown in the UK, the show was re-titled Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles because censors were worried that "ninja" was synonymous with "violence" - the name was changed, the lyrics of the intro song were changed, and Michelangelo's nunchucks were changed to a grappling hook.

The UK seemed to be having a problem with nunchucks at the time and so didn't want to encourage kids to use them (nevermind that Leonardo repeatedly beat his enemies with a friggin' sword, but there we go).

What's it all about?

You all know the story by now. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is about four humanoid turtles who live in the sewers beneath New York with their master Splinter (a mutant rat). They are taught martial arts and the art of ninjitsu, and spend their time eating pizza and protecting the city from the likes of Shredder. The original series ran from 1987 and 1996, and was based on the comic by Mirage.

Favourite episode?

This is an easy one. The Incredible Shrinking Turtles is an episode that sticks in my memory. The turtles uncover a mystical artifact that miniaturises them, so a single slice of pizza is enough to feed them all. On the flip side, almost everything around them is giant sized and tries to kill them.

Intro video

Intro music

I couldn't find the intro theme; it's likely been wiped off the face of the earth. The best I could find is this foreign language clip from the show. You don't need English to see how creepy it is.

999 [A-Z of retro kids' TV]

2013-04-16T08:00:00.000+01:00

**First, a quick word to say that my thoughts are with the people who are affected by the incident in Boston yesterday. At the very least, it sounds like the people of Boston have bandied together and have shown great strength to face this tragedy**

This A-Z Challenge 2013 post isn't strictly for kids, but it was a show that most kids I knew watched all the time. Forget Goosebumps or Are You Afraid of the Dark?, this show did the job of terrifying kids across the country because it was partly real. This is 999.

What's it all about?

999 was a docudrama that ran from 1992-2003 and featured reconstructions of real emergency calls made by firefighters and paramedics. Unlike many modern shows that follow the emergency services, 999 did it's best to ramp up the tension in its reconstructions.

Favourite episode?

The one that'll always stick with me is the episode where a group of scouts go caving and part of the cave involves going through an underwater tunnel. One of the group gets sidetracked and gets lost inside a small pocket that's quickly filling with water. The reconstructions pits it as a race against time before the rescue team can find him.

Intro music

Something about this music raises the hairs on the back of my neck still.