The Salted Peanut

The Light at the End

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:31:00 +0000

You’ll have to pardon me, but I’m having a major nerdgasm right now.

For the past several days, Big Finish has tweeted and posted some rather cryptic references to “The Light at the End”. Turns out that light is not an oncoming freight train. It’s actually the name of a special release for Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary.

Big Finish is finally giving me the epic multi-Doctor story I’ve been longing for! Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Paul McGann will all appear and it looks like they’ll be interacting with each other à la The Five Doctors.

Writer/director Nick Briggs also hints that the first three Doctors will also figure in the story.

Big Finish posted this tantalising image on their Facebook page.

There will also be a full slate of companions – including the welcome return of Charley Pollard. And the Master turns up too! Just thinking about it makes me squeal in a completely undignified, but thoroughly ecstatic fashion.

The Light at the End will be released in November 2013 – and I cannot wait! It will be available in both a standard edition (pre-orders priced at $25 for the 2-disc set and $12.99 for download) and a Limited Collector’s Edition (pre-orders priced at $65 for the 5-disc set and $25 for download).

You can read all the details here.

REVIEW: A Christmas Homecoming by Anne Perry

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:33:00 +0000

Reading one of Anne Perry’s Victorian Yuletide novellas has become a December tradition for me. While A Christmas Homecoming doesn’t have much holiday atmosphere and its mystery seems almost an afterthought, I actually think it’s one of the better books in the series.

What it’s about

Alice Netheridge has penned a stage adaptation of Dracula. Her millionaire father hires a small troupe of actors to travel to his home in Whitby and perform the play on Boxing Day. While they are rehearsing, a stranger arrives seeking shelter from a winter storm...

Fans of Perry’s long-running Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series will find some familiar faces in this book. Charlotte’s mother Caroline and her actor husband Joshua Fielding take centre stage in this little adventure which features a nice bit of sleuthing from Caroline.

Why I love it

At its core, A Christmas Homecoming is an exploration of the themes found in Bram Stoker’s classic novel. Perry really gets to the heart of why Dracula and vampires in general appeal to such a mass audience.

It’s also a mini master class in storytelling. As the actors rework Alice’s amateurish script, they slowly strip away all the extraneous material. I love the way Perry actually shows how to get to the heart of both characters and plot – and because it’s in a story form it feels organic, never dry or stilted. I was so deeply absorbed in this facet of the book that I was actually a bit disappointed when the dead body turned up and halted rehearsals.

A Christmas Homecoming really delivers value for money. It's a vampire essay, a writing class and a nice dose of pure entertainment all rolled into an easy-to-read 212 page package.

I do hope that one day Perry writes a book about writing. As her expansive back catalogue attests, she knows a thing or two about crafting stories.

READ-ALONG: Farmer Boy (Part One)

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:26:00 +0000

Time for another meeting of the Two or Three Book Club Time for another Two or Three Book Club meeting hosted by Enbrethiliel at Shredded Cheddar.

As usual I’m late getting this up, but this time I have a valid excuse: My keyboard died on me. While I suppose it is possible to compose a post with a keyboard on which half the letters work sporadically and the space bar doesn’t work at all, I’m pretty sure it would be hard to read. <grin>

Enbrethiliel posed some rather challenging discussion questions (you can find them here and here). As this is a catch-up post, I’m going to recuse myself from the education questions (my father spent 37 years teaching in parochial schools) and only address the questions that provoked a strong response from me.

Do you think a child's rebellion is an inevitable part of growing up or just another modern shibboleth?

Adolescent rebellion is as old as humanity. Rejecting at least a few of our parents’ standards and practices is as much a rite of passage as learning to walk and talk.

However the imagery of the rebel without a cause is certainly a modern invention. While there have always been “rebels” (later in the book we’ll see one of the Wilder children reject the parents’ lifestyle), it’s only in the postmodern era that young people – and society as a whole – have the leisure to indulge in increasing infantile acts of rebellion.

When you were a child, what made you happy to be a girl?

The simple answer: Absolutely nothing!

Although they’ve never said it outright, I get the feeling that my parents were disappointed when I turned out be to a girl. Additionally, I was raised in an ultra conservative and deeply misogynistic religious culture. So it should be no surprise that I am a tomboy through and through.

I didn’t enjoy being a girl at all until at age 20 I unexpectedly discovered the power of feminine wiles . . . but that's another story. <smiles mysteriously>

If you grew up on a farm, what did town or city children have that you really wanted? If you grew up in a town or city, what did farm children have that you really wanted?

Growing up I had the best of both worlds. I grew up in small towns in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, but my roots are in Nebraska’s farmland.

Grain silo at my grandparents' farm in Lancaster County Nebraska.

Some of my happiest childhood memories are walking in the cornfields and feeding the pigs with my Great-uncle Clark.

Great-uncle Clark (1907-1996) seated at his kitchen table.
Photo taken in 1994 during a visit to the farm in Saline County Nebraska.

Some random thoughts about Farmer Boy.

A lot of Little House fans view Farmer Boy as the ugly stepchild – and that’s a pity because it’s every bit as good as the rest of the series.

Almanzo Wilder was my first literary crush and I’m not ashamed to admit that I still have a little candle burning for him deep in my heart.

The more I learn about the real life Almanzo, the more I think it’s high time someone wrote his biography (or at least a thorough history of the Wilder family). For example, did you know that Angelina Day Wilder (Almanzo’s mother) was James Wilder ‘s second wife? You can read about this little known fact here.

Finally, every time I revisit this book I am amazed at how much a famer boy can eat!

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 18:57:00 +0000

READ-ALONG: Little House on the Prairie (Part Three)

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:12:00 +0000

Holidays distractions kept me from joining in the Two or Three Book Club discussions about the second half of Little House on the Prairie (you can find them here and here). However I did want to share a few more thoughts about this book before moving on to the Farmer Boy read-along.

Let’s start with a little rant.

I’m slowly replacing my old Little House paperbacks with hardcovers (you can read why here). When I learned Enbrethiliel was hosting this read-along, I saw it as the perfect excuse to buy the 75th Anniversary Edition of Little House on the Prairie featuring full-colour versions of Garth Williams’ illustrations.

The book is every bit as beautiful as I hoped, but why oh why does it have to be slightly smaller than the other volumes?

I swear publishers do stuff like this just to trigger my OCD

Well, life on the prairie certainly wasn’t dull, was it? Fever . . . fire . . . panthers . . . powwows . . . Laura Ingalls Wilder really did experience every aspect of the American pioneer experience. No wonder this book continues to captivate readers.

When I read this book as a child, I saw it as a thrilling adventure. It inspired me to do endless Indian war dances, much to my mother’s annoyance. But there was always one thing that puzzled me, something I’ve never spoken about until today.

I’ve always been a literal kind of person. When Ma said she was thankful the Indians didn’t steal the furs because the plow and seeds were in them, I thought she meant that Pa had hidden an actual plow in that bundle. I also thought that Indian must have been very stupid not to feel the plow.

The whole scene made no sense to my eight-year-old brain, but I didn’t ask anybody about it for fear they’d think I was too young to understand the book and take it away from me. I’m embarrassed to admit I was twelve when it finally dawned on me that Pa was going to sell the furs to pay for the plow.

I’m still pretty literal, but now when I read Little House on the Prairie I see some of the nuances in the story. One of the subtle themes I found this time is power of the individual to make a difference.

Three times in the book, a single person has a profound effect on the Ingalls family.

First, there is Doctor Tan who rescues the Ingalls from death’s door. (You can learn more about the real life Doctor George in a fascinating podcast hosted by Sarah Uthoff.)

Then there’s Mr. Edwards, risking life and limb to give two little girls a Christmas, an act that would be immortalised in what is surely one of the best holiday stories ever written.

Finally, there was Soldat du Chene, galloping through the night to stop the massacre of the settlers. (You can learn a bit about the mystery of who this Indian chief was here.)

The other thing that struck me was the Ingalls’ lack of pessimism. After pouring a year of blood, sweat and tears into their little house on the Kansas prairie, they had to leave behind everything they had built. Amazingly, they did so without self-pity. While there was sadness at the thought of the rabbits eating the garden they’d planted, they could laugh that they were leaving Indian Territory richer by one mule.

What a rebuke to my modern cynicism.

REVIEW: Scoundrels by Timothy Zahn

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 11:00:00 +0000

I admit it: I judge books by their covers. And the awesome wraparound cover of this much anticipated book promised a lot.

Happily, Timothy Zahn delivered a smart story that exceeded all my expectations.

Here’s the setup: Han Solo is hired to retrieve a stolen fortune of credits and puts together a team to help him pull off the heist. Basically it’s Star Wars meets Oceans Eleven.

If you’re new to the world of Star Wars Books, this is a great place to start. Because it’s set shortly after the Battle of Yavin, this stand-alone story is accessible to anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of the franchise.

And if you’re a long-time reader of the Expanded Universe, you’ll find Scoundrels a refreshing departure from the usual Star Wars plotline.

Scoundrels is and engaging and entertaining read. It’s one of those intricate tales you can’t really talk about without giving away spoilers. So I’ll just say that it is great to see Han, Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian return to their rogue roots.

Despite the numerous twists and turns, I never had a problem following the story. There are a few too many scoundrels for my taste though. The plot would have been just a bit tighter with a smaller cast.

Still, I heartily applaud Zahn for bringing something new to the Star Wars table. It was a gamble and it paid off big time.

I received an advance reading copy of this book.

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:06:00 +0000

Walkers in a Winter Wonderland

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Warm holiday wishes to you all!

Carols Aboard the USS Enterprise

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:00:00 +0000

As sung by Jean-Luc Picard to the tune of Let It Snow:
     Oh, the vacuum outside is endless,
     Unforgiving, cold, and friendless,
     But still we must boldly go—
     Make it so, make it so, make it so!

As sung by William Riker to the tune of Deck the Halls:
     Here's a vexing Christmas riddle
     (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la)
     Why must I play second fiddle?
     (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la)
     How can I impress Deanna
     (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la)
     When I'm number two banana?
     (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la)

As sung by Wesley Crusher to the tune of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen:
     I'm at Starfleet Academy,
     And I'd just like to say
     I miss the opportunity
     To weekly save the day.
     To make things worse, I have to be
     In some dumb Christmas play!
     Yes, I'm bright, though I'm just a teenaged boy,
     Only a boy,
     And the Enterprise was my most favorite toy!

As sung by Worf to the tune of The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire):
     Phasers flashing in the depths of space,
     Ripping up an airtight hull;
     Signs of fear on your enemy's face,
     And life-support signs reading null!
     Ev'rybody knows a Romulan's a spineless foe
     Who lacks the Klingon will to fight!
     Phaser beams set his torso aglow-
     He'll find it hard to breathe tonight!
     He knows that Worf is on his way!
     And soon he'll be the object of the verb "to slay"!
     And ev'ry slinking Rom and Pakled spy
     Will soon become the subject of the verb "to die"!
     And so I'm offering this simple threat
     To Roms, and all Ferengi, too:
     You'll be as dead as a life-form can get—
     Merry Christmas to you!

As sung by Data:
     Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way!
     Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh . . .
     or so I am reliably informed; lacking a subjective and intuitively perceived
     referent for the term "fun" I am able only to report the phenomenon as
     experienced by others, whose individual perceptions somewhat color
     the . . .
     Yes, sir.

READ-ALONG: Little House on the Prairie (Part Two)

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 18:55:00 +0000

Time for another Two or Three Book Club meeting hosted by Enbrethiliel at Shredded Cheddar. Today we’re covering chapters 8-14 of Little House on Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

First off, let me share a gorgeous image that turned up in my Facebook feed yesterday:

Can I get a round of applause for Garth Williams and his simple yet beautiful artwork!

There’s a new Library of America annotated edition of the Little House series out, sans the Garth Williams illustrations. It seems almost sacrilegious to separate Williams’ images from Wilder’s prose.

In 1953, Harper printed revised editions of the Little House books with all new illustrations by Williams. (These editions, which are still being reprinted today, are the ones most of us are familiar with.)

Before beginning work on the project, Williams met with Wilder and also visited Little House sites. When she saw the artwork, Wilder sent her publisher a telegraph stating that “Mary, Laura and their folks live again in these illustrations.”

Say the word “prairie” and this is the image that automatically pops into my head:

Source

As Enbrethiliel observed, the covered wagon – and this image in particular – captures the spirit of Wilder’s book and the spirits of countless other pioneers who built their own little houses on the prairie.

Okay, on to the discussion questions.

1. What "useless" ornament can make any place you live in feel like home?

First of all, I find it amazing that Ma’s little china shepherdess survived all the family’s travels intact. I can’t even transport a box of Christmas ornaments up the stairs without a mishap.

My china shepherdess equivalent is this “Montana” lithograph by artist Patrick Nagel. It’s just so me!

2. When all is said and done, do you think the decision to live on the prairie was unfair to Ma?

There’s no denying that life on the prairie was hard. But we need to remember that life in the Big Woods was no picnic either.  And it wasn't like Pa threw his kicking and screaming wife into the back of the wagon! <grin>

When the Ingalls They were in the prime of their strength (Pa was 33 years old while Ma was 30), and had every reason to be optimistic about the future.

In many respects, Ma’s life wasn’t all that different on the prairie. The daily tasks of cooking and cleaning were no more onerous in Kansas. However, I suspect being separated from family did take an emotional toll on her.

Enbrethiliel confessed that she had a hard time not doing a feminist read of this book. Oddly enough, although I am a feminist (which I define as someone who, to quote Rebecca West, “expresses sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat or a prostitute”), I have no had issue with the Little House books. Perhaps it’s because Pa isn't the least bit domineering. Instead, to the best of his ability, he treats Ma like a queen (we’ll see a good example of this in Chapter 15).

The Ingalls followed the cultural norms of the day in the division of labour and I can understand why some might see Ma as merely a domestic drudge. However I see her as half of the Dynamic Duo. Ma and Pa were a team, both of them using their individual skills to create a home.

So what do you think? Should Ma have refused to leave the Big Woods? Should Pa have washed his own shirts? Post your thoughts in the comment section.

Who's Coming for Christmas and Why I Hate Spoilers

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:50:00 +0000

There's a good chance American fans of Doctor Who will be spending at least part Christmas Day in couch potato mode.

The viewing kicks off at 10 AM Eastern with a 13-hour marathon of K-9 on Syfy.

This spin-off show features a revamped version of the robotic dog that travelled in the TARDIS during the 1970s. It's a kids' show, sort of a budget version of The Sarah Jane Adventures. It's not a BBC production, so there is no mention of the Doctor.

Here's a promo:

As you can see, it's not essential viewing, but still worth a look-see. I'll probably have it on in the background while I cook Christmas dinner.

Of course, Who fans have this engraved on their memory:

What I wish wasn't etched in my mind was the knowledge that this is the debut of the new companion. I much prefer to be surprised as the story unfolds.

Sadly we live in the Age of Spoilers, sweetie. Almost every day some titbit is posted online, often by the BBC, and then spreads like wildfire through the Doctor Who Facebook community.

These spoilers have robbed me of the discovery of at least three things I won't mention for fear of spoiling someone else's fun. To avoid any further spoilers, I've had to impose an Internet blackout until the episode airs.

Meanwhile, for your viewing enjoyment, here are the two prequels to The Snowmen:

READ-ALONG: Little House on the Prairie

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 04:33:00 +0000

It’s time for another Two or Three Book Club meeting hosted by Enbrethiliel at Shredded Cheddar. Today we’re covering the first seven chapters of Little House on Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Before I get to the discussion questions, let me talk about one of my biggest literary peeves. Little House on Prairie (first published in 1935) is NOT the second book in the Little House series. That spot is claimed by Farmer Boy (published in 1933).

Somewhere along the line, someone had the bright idea to rearrange the order and it irks me to no end. Stylistically and thematically, Farmer Boy is the perfect compliment for Little House in the Big Woods. Having it shoehorned between two later works really interrupts the flow of the story arc.

<end rant>

Well, the Ingalls have packed their belongings into their wagon and journeyed to Indian Territory . . . which brings us to the first question:

1. How bad would things have to get for you to uproot yourself from where your family and friends have always lived and to move so far away that you will never have the chance to see them again?

I suspect this move had more to do with Charles Ingalls’ chronic restlessness than with any specific problem. The Little House books undeniably romanticise the way Pa dragged his family from pillar to post.

But then I’m not one to point fingers. When I was 19, I loaded all of my valuables into my car and moved from Arkansas to Michigan. I didn’t know a soul in Michigan . . . which was exactly why I went there.

It wasn’t that things were bad in Arkansas. I just felt hemmed in by the expectations of others (perhaps much the way Pa felt hemmed in by his neighbours). It was just assumed that I would attend the church-run college, become a teacher or a nurse, get married, have kids, etc. I didn’t want any of that, so I struck out on my own . . . but with the safety net of having my parents only a phone call away.

Charles and Caroline Ingalls operated without that safety net, which makes them far braver than I will ever be.

2. And in that far-off land, what "pointless" way of doing things would you insist on keeping?

You have to feel sorry for Ma. She didn’t like Indians and, reading between the lines, probably didn’t want to be in Indian Territory. But even if she was forty miles from civilisation, she had no intention of letting standards slip!

We all do things out of engrained, often subconscious habit. This is the one time of the year that I’m really aware of my family’s “pointless” traditions.

For the last thirty years, we’ve listened to the same music on Christmas Eve. Why? It’s just what we do. The nuts are always served in the same dish, the cookies laid out on the same increasingly faded tray. And, in a tradition going back at least three generations, we open our presents on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas morning.

There is something wonderfully comforting in silly traditions. Perhaps that’s why we observe them.

3. How absolutely awesome is Jack?

In some ways, this book could be called “Little Dog on the Prairie” because Jack is such a vital – and totally awesome – part of the Ingalls family!

I always thought it was rather heartless of Pa to make Jack cross rivers and streams on his own instead of taking him into to the wagon. That’s certainly not the way I would treat my pet! But as I was re-reading this last week, it finally occurred to me that Jack was not a pet. Instead, he’s a working dog, earning his keep by guarding the family and their livestock.

I don’t have a cainine Jack, but I do have a cat with that name. Here’s gratuitous photo of him.

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 11:00:00 +0000

READ-ALONG: Little House in the Big Woods (Part Two)

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:56:00 +0000

Time for another meeting of the Two or Three Book Club hosted by Enbrethiliel at Shredded Cheddar. Today we’re talking about the second half of Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Let’s start with the discussion questions:

1. What "wonderful machine" currently in your home do you think children sixty years from now will find quaint?

Ah yes, the “wonderful machine” that could thresh four separate crops of wheat in less than a day. No wonder young Laura was impressed!

Thanks to my father’s enduring passion for old farm equipment, I am very familiar with type of machinery Laura would have seen. Currently, my father is curator at a non-profit Agricultural Museum. If you’ll forgive me for a little shameless promotion, here’s a clip of my dad demonstrating one of the many items in the collection.

I’m pretty sure that most of the things I use today won’t end up in a museum. Sadly, modern marvels are designed to be disposable. But if by some miracle my ipod does last for sixty years, I’m sure it and its contents will qualify as quaint.

2. If you had to take the job of Domestic Scientist / Home Economist / Household Manger tomorrow, would you be able to hack it?

You might not know this, but I love homemaking. I’m sort of a nerdy version of Martha Stewart (well without all the fussiness and the rap sheet). One of these days, I’m going to quit blogging about books and write about domesticity instead.

Homemaking is perhaps the world’s most underrated skill. It’s also the most stereotyped. People seem to think that homemakers are all married middle class women who stay in the house all day with their 2.5 kids. In reality, you don’t need a husband, children or even an apron to be a homemaker. All you need is the desire to create and maintain your own abode, be it a 50-room mansion or half of a dorm room.

But I digress.

While I have no problem running my 21st century home, I would fail miserably if I were entrusted with running the Ingalls household. I don’t know how Ma did it. Not only did she have few labour-saving devices, her to-do list contained a lot of items most modern homemakers don’t have to contend with (feeding livestock, gardening, butchering, etc). Caroline Lake Quiner Ingalls, you were a better woman than I will ever be!

Incidentally, today is Caroline Ingalls' birthday. She was born on December 12, 1839 in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

Additional Thoughts

One of the things I love about Little House in the Big Woods is how the narrative follows the flow of the seasons. Winter slowly gives way to spring. The summer sun shines for a time and then is blown away by the chilly winds of autumn. There’s no rush. Life moves at nature’s pace, each season bringing new tasks and unique pleasures.

Nowadays Americans are completely out of sync with the seasons. We overheat our building in winter and overchill them in summer. We buy spring fashions in January and Christmas decorations in September. No wonder we’re so frazzled.

So what do you think? Post your insights and observations about Little House in the Big Woods in the comment section. I’d love to hear from you.

Well, it’s time to bid adieu to the little gray house made of logs, but don’t fret. The Two or Three Book Club will be continuing to follow the Ingalls family as they travel west. Visit Shredded Cheddar and join the journey.

REVIEW: Blades of Winter by G. T. Almasi

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 18:25:00 +0000

Blades of Winter is a dizzying mashup of spy thriller, alternative history, sci-fi, kick-ass comic book action and girl power.

Here’s the basic setup: Nineteen-year-old Alix Nico, codename Scarlet, is a member of ExOps, a covert agency that produces physically augmented spies and assassins.

Alix is great protagonist, an action heroine full of attitude with a snarky sense of humour. The story is written in first person from Alix’s point of view so we get access to her thoughts. Surprisingly, underneath the tough as nails demeanour, she’s just a girl struggling to get along with her mom and missing her daddy who was killed during an ExOps assignment.

Almasi’s world building is also noteworthy. Set in an alternate 1980 where Germany was victorious in WWII, it’s an interesting twist on the reality we know.

If you’re looking for a high-octane escapist read with a full-throttle pace, Blades of Winter is a solid choice.

Reader Advisory: This story is drenched in blood and laced with profanity.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.

Watch an interview with G. T. Almasi

READ-ALONG: Little House in the Big Woods

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:39:00 +0000

Five months ago I read Little House in the Big Woods (find my review here). Ordinarily I wouldn’t consider revisiting a book so soon, but when Enbrethiliel at Shredded Cheddar suggested it for her Two or Three Book Club, I wanted to join in the fun.

There is truly something magical about the Little House books. And because Christmas figures so prominently throughout the series, they are a wonderful choice for the Advent reading season.

To get the conversation started, Enbrethiliel posted three discussion questions.

1. What are your favourite "earthy" traditions? What is the value of keeping them alive?

It sounds like I’m taking the easy way out, but I really do love gardening. There’s something wonderfully therapeutic about digging in the soil and nurturing tender plants to maturity. It gives you a whole new appreciation for vegetables when you raise them yourself.

In this age of pre-packaged genetically modified food, the value of wholesome ingredients simply prepared should be self-evident.

2. Which essential skill from the past do you wish you could do?

I really have no need to be a crack shot and absolutely no desire to slaughter a pig, but I would love to have Ma’s talent with a needle. Caroline Ingalls crafted much of her family’s wardrobe, a feat I could never manage. The image of Ma sewing is one the threads that holds the series together. My favourite description of Ma’s talent is in These Happy Golden Years where she fearlessly cuts into a delicate length of lawn.

3. Do you still remember your first encounter with the Little House books?

My first clear memory involving these books is my older sister slapping me because I dared to touch her hardcovers. Ah, the joys of family!

Love Little House? Click here to join the discussion.

Darkness is Coming

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:56:00 +0000

Here's the teaser trailer for the upcoming Star Trek film Into Darkness.

I'm in! Anybody else planning to see this?

Shopping Alert!

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Love British television? Love a sale? Then take a peek at Barnes and Noble's website.

Through 10 December, hundreds of titles - including Sherlock, Downton Abbey, Merlin and Doc Martin - are 50% off the list price.

And now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to browse their selection of classic Doctor Who episodes.

Who's on the Cover of TV Guide!

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 21:49:00 +0000

The issue will be on sale in the USA later this week.

Obsession: A 13 Step Process

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:35:00 +0000

Newbies have is so easy these days.

My obsession with Doctor Who started during the Wilderness Years of the mid-1990s. No BBC America. No Netflicks. No DVDs. All I had were six VHS tapes full of fuzzy episodes recorded from various PBS stations. But it was enough!

Convention Scrapbook

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Here is a random sampling of photos I took at Chicago TARDIS 2012.

Captain Jack had a big smile . . .

but Paul Spragg revealed some of Jack's shortcomings.

There were many incarnations of the TARDIS . . .

Several models of Daleks patrolled the corridors . . ..

The Cybermen and Sontarans invaded the lobby .

Sylvester McCoy talked to fans in Main Programming . . .

and Sophie Aldred checked out the Dealers' Room.

Colin Spaull, Nicholas Briggs, Simon Fisher-Becker and Ian McNeice puzzled over a particularly difficult question from a fan . . .

and K-9 trundled down an empty hallway as the convention came to an end.

Chicago TARDIS 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 04:36:00 +0000

By in large, fandom is a solitary experience for me. I don’t really interact with other fans. Oh I read a few blogs, listen to a few podcasts and watch the odd (sometimes very odd) video, but that’s about all this painfully shy girl can manage. But each November, I gather my courage and brave the crowds to celebrate my love of Doctor Who at ChicagoTARDIS.

Here’s a rather lengthy rundown of my experiences at this year’s convention.

I attended several of Tony Lee’s panels. (Don’t know who Tony is? Click here to learn about this bestselling and award winning author.) He gave tips on writing, explained how comics are scripted, expounded on his love of MacGyver, and generally entertained the audience.

While I like a lot of Tony’s work (check out Doctor Who: The Forgotten), it is his irreverent humour that really draws me.

During his uproarious Liar’s Panel, Tony spilled the beans on next season’s Doctor Who (Davros abandons his chair and takes to riding K-9 like a pony) and how Torchwood will cash in on the popularity of The Walking Dead by bringing back Ianto Jones.

He led an audience participation skit during the Masquerade intermission that ended up with a villain having to kill Captain Jack and Rory. When Tony quipped “This could take awhile,” I laughed so hard tears came to my eyes.

Tony Lee ... or is it Tony Stark in disguise?

Laughter was a definite theme at the con which featured the North American premiere of Toby Hadoke’s one-man show My Stepson Stole My Sonic Screwdriver. (Click here to learn more about Toby.)

At the 2011 con, I ended up alone in an elevator with Toby a couple hours before he preformed Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf. (Just to clarify, we weren’t together in any sense of the word. We just both happened to be heading to our separate rooms at the same time.) I wanted to tell him how much I was looking forward to the show and to wish him good luck. But I was too shy and too afraid that I’d bother him so I kept quiet . . . and I’ve regretted it ever since.

Moths just blew me away. At last someone was expressing how I felt about Doctor Who, its demise and its rebirth. The show was funny and poignant; I was so moved by it that the next day I bought the CD version in the dealers’ room and stood in line for an autograph. While Toby was signing, I stuttering and stammered about how much I enjoyed the show. (He no doubt thought I was a lunatic with a speech impediment.)

Anyway, this year I made it a point to get in an autograph queue BEFORE the performance so I could tell him how much I was looking forward to it. (And I barely stammered at all.)

I was not disappointed by My Stepson Stole My Sonic Screwdriver. If you ever get the chance to see it, do so! You don’t have to be a Doctor Who fan to enjoy it. There are a lot of references to the series, but it’s really about loss and new beginnings and trying to connect with people.

Toby Hadoke: comedian, father and walking Doctor Who encyclopedia

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you already know I’m a huge fan of Big Finish Productions. So you won’t be at all surprised when you learn I attended a couple of their panels, bought a bunch of their CDs in the Dealers’ Room (sold to me by Jason Haigh-Ellery himself) and joined the queue for their autograph signing session.

Now, I have a bit of a confession: I never really warmed to Hex. I struggle to decipher his strong accent and frankly, he sounds like a girl. But it only took ten minutes of experiencing Philip Olivier in person to make me a fan.

It has nothing to do with the way he looks (although he IS easy on the eyes). What endeared him to me is the fact that he’s so hyper (even more than me!) and so willing to share his hilarious struggles to learn how to dance (as someone who often can't tell left from right, I can relate).

Fun with Big Finish. From left to right: Philip Oliver (Hex); Amy Pemberton (Private Sally Morgan); Lisa Greenwood (Flip); and Jason Haigh-Ellery (BF executive producer)

The panel that really resonated with me was a performance by the Well-Tempered Schism, a group of Chicago-area musicians. (Click here to learn more.) It was a delight! They did some witty song parodies, a suite from City of Death (one of my favourite episodes) a beautiful harp version of Death Comes to Time and a rousing refrain of I Am the Doctor.

As a musician (strictly amateur and well below their level of expertise), I appreciate the hours of practise that went into creating that performance. They truly offered the audience a gift of their talent, time and passion for Doctor Who and I’d like to express my gratitude.

From left to right: Dr. Philip W. Serna, Matthew Eberle, Andrew Edwards, Annette Bjorling

The programming at ChicagoTARDIS 2012 was wonderfully varied. There were several writing panels, as well as panels about Star Trek: The Next Generation and Sherlock Holmes. And of course there were lots and lots of Doctor Who discussions with fans, authors, and actors.

I've rambled on far too long. No doubt your eyes glazed over long ago. But I'd like to quickly highlight a couple other weekend highlights.

I got a face to face moment with (and autograph from) Burn Gorman, Paul Marc Davis and Anjili Mohindra.

From left to right: Burn Groman (Torchwood); Angili Mohindra (The Sarah Jane Adventures); Paul Marc Davis (guest star on Doctor Who, The Sarah Jane Adventreus and Torchwood)

I got to see the lovely Sophie Aldred and the exuberant Sylvester McCoy who talked a bit about his role in a little upcoming film called The Hobbit. (In case you’ve been living under a rock, he’s portraying Radagast the Brown.)

Philip Olivier and Sophie Aldred watch Sylvester McCoy get up close and personal with fans.

I skipped the Cyberkaroke (it was way past my bedtime) and skipped the bar (too expensive for a wallet depleted by repeated visits to the Dealers' Room).

Sunday morning in the hotel lobby, I overheard a young lady telling how she had hooked up with a guy the night before. Needless to say, I failed to hook up with anybody. In fact, I didn't even muster up the courage talk to any of my fellow fans until Saturday evening.

I did, however, have a little thrill. Richard Dinnick (who is now my favourite author) told me I looked like Elisabeth Sladen. Alas, I fear Mr. Dinnick needs a check-up from his optometrist. Ms. Sladen was beautiful, charming and gracious while I am . . . not. But I was very flattered. (Click here to learn more about the wonderful Mr. Dinnick and then go out and buy his work!)

Andrew Cartmel (left) and Richard Dinnick pose for photographs at Opening Ceremonies

49

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Forty-nine years ago today, the BBC debuted a new series entitled "Doctor Who".

Radio Times, November 1963

Here's to 49 more years of adventures in the TARDIS.

Happy Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 11:00:00 +0000

REVIEW: A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow

noreply@blogger.com (Shaz) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:29:00 +0000

I'm always on the lookout for mysteries with smart plots, colourful characters and picturesque settings. The Kate Shugak series looked particularly promising. I got hold of the first instalment, A Cold Day for Murder, and settled in for an evening of reading.

It isn’t exactly the gripping read I hoped for. I’ve been slogging through it for two weeks and I’m only to page 130.

There has been precious little mystery in those pages. Oh sure, there’s the repeated vague reminder of the missing park ranger, but there’s no sense of urgency to Kate’s search. Instead she just talks to people – a lot of people – about random subjects.

The characters are about as colourful as a black-out. Everybody is either angry, drunk, horny, or a combination of all three. Kate in particular rankles. I think the author intended her to be tough, but she comes across as bitter and rather bitchy.

What little plot there is moves slower than a glacier. Even worse, the Alaska backdrop is reduced to the stereotypical image of cold and snow. There’s no sense of place, of the grandeur of the land.

There are only 70 pages left in this book, but I won’t be finishing it. I’m moving on to something more enjoyable.