Sorry, folks. I got a little burned out from all the talk about lady-parts that dominated this place for a couple weeks, and then I completely went off the radar over the weekend, so I missed a whole lot of drama around these parts. In the interest of pretending that never happened, here are some nerdy things that are piquing my interest today:
1. A friend sent me this post about the suggested order for viewing the (supposedly six) Star Wars films. As an avowed hater of Episode I and all that it stands for (which I think is, ultimately, not much), this really tickled me. I mean to try it out on my other half as soon as reasonably likely. And, on a related note, I shared this over at Kyle’s place a little bit ago, but there’s another fun blog post kicking around out there about how to reinterpret Episodes IV-VI in light of I-III. It’s worth a look if you haven’t seen it and freaking out over Star Wars continuity is your bag.
2. There’s a new trailer for season 2 of Game of Thrones up. Spring is coming. I’m pretty stoked, and I’m looking forward to my Blu-ray of season 1, which should be arriving soon.
3. A book recommendation. If you’re a fan of fantasy-type lit, and especially if you’re a fan of the “gritty realist” kind (or whatever you call Game of Thrones), I cannot endorse The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie enough. It’s a standalone novel about a three-day war that takes place in the same world as Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy. I haven’t read that trilogy (although I now plan to do so), but I had no trouble following the action (of which there is a lot). Frankly, though, the best thing about the book is that, unlike the other things in its genre (Game of Thrones, Prince of Nothing, etc.), it’s actually really funny. It was the fastest 500+ pages I’ve read in a very long time.
And a question! I have a lot of these kinds of things that sort of percolate up, and I’m never quite sure what to do with them. They aren’t always adequate for a front-page post, and sometimes I’m less interested in breaking up a certain rhythm that’s taken shape around here. Should I consider a sub-blog? Write guest posts for other people’s sub-blogs? Throw caution to the wind and become an “Andrew Sullivan intern”-esque front pager? What do folks think?
If you wanted to guest-post these sorts of things at NAPP, you’d be welcome to. A lot of what you’re talking about is also good fodder for Mindless Diversions.Report
‘Sorry, folks. I got a little burned out from all the talk about lady-parts”
Um, dude… Â You’re about to get married. Â I’ve got some potentially bad news.Report
To be fair, I’m marrying someone who actually HAS lady-parts. She speaks with some measure of authority.Report
If it makes you feel any better, even those of us with lady parts got a little burned out.Report
Post them to the front page. They’re perfectly fine.Report
You’re welcome to shunt anything over to Mindless Diversions that you feel belongs there.Report
Yes, absolutely. We would *LOVE* to have these kinds of posts at Mindless.Report
Abercrombie was/is a film editor and his action scenes I think benefit from this background. The Heroes is pretty good, and has his trademark humor, not quite as good as The First Law trilogy, but tighter than Best Served Cold which drags in parts. But all of his books are better than most other fantasy.
I will also plug Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. Lynch’s personal life seems to have turned into a country-western song, which has limited his writing, but the two books he has out are outstanding.Report
I read the first one, which I guess is The Lies of Locke Lamora. I found it pretty entertaining, although I much preferred the crazy Ocean’s Eleven-style hijinx to the more “gritty realist” elements. It’s getting increasingly difficult for authors to do the “And now I will torture my main character!” plot without instantly turning me off.Report
Yeah, things turn to ashes in the first book, but there are so many outstanding moments in it. Also, I think the Wicked Sisters are the best named fantasy weapons since Stormbringer.
Report
I endorse the Machete order for Star Wars viewing but suspect I’ll never have cause to use it since everyone already knows everything about Star Wars.Report
Star Wars: Â Watch original edits in release order, except stop after Episode VI.
Since we’re on the subject of The Godfather, watch that in release order as well, the whole thing. Â Don’t watch any bonus footage or listen to any Coppola commentary until after you’ve done the original edits in release order.
Do these things and you will be happy.Report
Personally, I dig these stringed together ideas posts.Report
What’s a lady part?Report
The part the state should regulate and control.Report
Umm. . .more like this would be awesome wherever you manage to put them, Ryan.Report