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David McK (3673 KP) rated Earth Unaware (The First Formic War, #1) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
A prequel to Orson Scott Card's classic [b:Ender's Game|8782597|Ender's Game|Frederic P. Miller|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348614228s/8782597.jpg|11571577], with the events of this taking place before Ender is even born.
This thus takes the opportunity to flesh out the background to that novel, filling in the gaps of what had previously happened, in particular how the First Formic War had come about. It was also, I believer, written alongside a comic-book series, which might explain the sometimes fractured nature of the narrative!
While not the best 'new' (to me) sci-fi book I've read, this is also not he worst: I also have to say that, picking it up for only £1 in a local Bargain books I can't really complain!
This thus takes the opportunity to flesh out the background to that novel, filling in the gaps of what had previously happened, in particular how the First Formic War had come about. It was also, I believer, written alongside a comic-book series, which might explain the sometimes fractured nature of the narrative!
While not the best 'new' (to me) sci-fi book I've read, this is also not he worst: I also have to say that, picking it up for only £1 in a local Bargain books I can't really complain!
EmersonRose (320 KP) rated A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man in Books
Nov 20, 2019
I read this book as a precursor to reading Ulysses and it was recommended to me by a professor. I enjoyed reading this book a great deal. James Joyce has an amazing sense of voice in his work and his writing is beautiful. Knowing a little bit about Ulysses made it interesting to go back and read about the character’s beginnings. I also thought it was really interesting that this book was written first, although often called a prequel because of the success of Ulysses. I at times found it hard to connect to the main character and his struggles which in turn would pull me out fo the story but the writing is so magnificent that I couldn’t put the book down.
David McK (3673 KP) rated Bumblebee (2018) in Movies
Apr 28, 2020
Prequel film to Michael Bay's Transformers series of films based on 80s cartoons, and a strong contender for the best of the bunch!
With Michael Bay handing over directing duties to Travis Knight, it's actually possible to see what is happening on most of the action sequences now, with those sequences not as frenetic or as bombastic as before.
This is also smaller in scale, with only Bumblebee (that's the yellow Transformer) himself and a few Decepticons sharing the screen, although Optimus Prime does get a cameo and a few mentions!
I also got a very 80s, very Amblin-esque vibe from the whole thing, very much due to it's small self-contained setting and themes of family and growing up!
With Michael Bay handing over directing duties to Travis Knight, it's actually possible to see what is happening on most of the action sequences now, with those sequences not as frenetic or as bombastic as before.
This is also smaller in scale, with only Bumblebee (that's the yellow Transformer) himself and a few Decepticons sharing the screen, although Optimus Prime does get a cameo and a few mentions!
I also got a very 80s, very Amblin-esque vibe from the whole thing, very much due to it's small self-contained setting and themes of family and growing up!
First Touch
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Can she find the missing girl before it’s too late? Detective Shannon Martin believes Autumn...
David McK (3673 KP) rated The King's Man (2021) in Movies
Feb 12, 2022
Much delayed by the pandemic (roughly 2 years), this is the third Kingsman film, abandoning the modern-day setting of the first and second for a World War One era prequel.
Which proves to be a good move, injecting a spot of interest into the movie - I, for one, struggled with the second entry - and allowing a mishmash of history and fact to play out on screen.
This also has a shocking moment about roughly 2/3rds of the way through, during the period of the movie in the trenches that almost feels like it belongs to a different film altogether.
It also has an absolutely bonkers fight scene involving Rasputin: it's a pity, I feel, that he does not have a larger role than he does!
Which proves to be a good move, injecting a spot of interest into the movie - I, for one, struggled with the second entry - and allowing a mishmash of history and fact to play out on screen.
This also has a shocking moment about roughly 2/3rds of the way through, during the period of the movie in the trenches that almost feels like it belongs to a different film altogether.
It also has an absolutely bonkers fight scene involving Rasputin: it's a pity, I feel, that he does not have a larger role than he does!
Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated To Have and To Lose (Deathly Beloved) in Books
Sep 7, 2022
Aurelia is a fairy princess with the world on her shoulders. For as long as she can remember there has been war it's down to her to end it all.
I love Miranda's writing it's always one that captures me and makes me want to read more, I'm always disappointed when I get to the end of one of her stories.
This is the prequel to death do us part and is pretty gut-wrenching in parts. It's a fast-paced book with some rather hot sex scenes and a lot of blood.
I can't say too much without giving away what happens and nobody likes spoilers!
I hope you read it and enjoy it as much as I have.
I love Miranda's writing it's always one that captures me and makes me want to read more, I'm always disappointed when I get to the end of one of her stories.
This is the prequel to death do us part and is pretty gut-wrenching in parts. It's a fast-paced book with some rather hot sex scenes and a lot of blood.
I can't say too much without giving away what happens and nobody likes spoilers!
I hope you read it and enjoy it as much as I have.
David McK (3673 KP) rated Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) in Movies
Jun 9, 2024 (Updated Jun 9, 2024)
I kinda get why this was subtitled 'A Mad Max saga'.
That was to get the punters in.
I kinda don't.
He isn't in it, in either incarnation (Mel Gibson, or Tom Hardy)
Instead, we have a prequel to the breakout character from Fury Road - that of Imperator Furiosa - but here re-cast to be played by Anya Taylor-Joy instead of by Charlize Theron.
This also takes place over a longer period of time - something like 15 years - than Fury Road does, and so sacrifices the break-neck speed of that previous film for something a bit more sedate.
We also, here, have Chris Hemsworth absolutely chewing up the scenery (and loving every second of it!) as the villain Dementus!
That was to get the punters in.
I kinda don't.
He isn't in it, in either incarnation (Mel Gibson, or Tom Hardy)
Instead, we have a prequel to the breakout character from Fury Road - that of Imperator Furiosa - but here re-cast to be played by Anya Taylor-Joy instead of by Charlize Theron.
This also takes place over a longer period of time - something like 15 years - than Fury Road does, and so sacrifices the break-neck speed of that previous film for something a bit more sedate.
We also, here, have Chris Hemsworth absolutely chewing up the scenery (and loving every second of it!) as the villain Dementus!
David McK (3673 KP) rated Transformers Rise of the Beasts (2023) in Movies
Dec 1, 2024
I heard this is something like the 7th entry in the main 'Transformers' non-cartoon movie series.
7.
I still remember the first.
This is also a prequel, of sorts, set during the 1990s instead of the more contemporary setting of the earlier (mid 2000) movies, with a new cast of human characters alongside the Autobots and - here - the Terracons and the Maximals.
For some reason, however, I found it not to be as engaging as those earlier (maximum Bayhem!) entries, even though it is clearer on just what is happening - maybe it's the fusion of sound and vision that's missing?
Anyway, it's not bad but I still prefer the first two entries in particular (before it all went massively downhill).
7.
I still remember the first.
This is also a prequel, of sorts, set during the 1990s instead of the more contemporary setting of the earlier (mid 2000) movies, with a new cast of human characters alongside the Autobots and - here - the Terracons and the Maximals.
For some reason, however, I found it not to be as engaging as those earlier (maximum Bayhem!) entries, even though it is clearer on just what is happening - maybe it's the fusion of sound and vision that's missing?
Anyway, it's not bad but I still prefer the first two entries in particular (before it all went massively downhill).
Kristin (149 KP) rated Before (Betwixt, #0.5) in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
"Before" is an aptly-titled prequel to "Betwixt", and here we get to learn more about Dale and what happened in his life prior to the events of "Betwixt." I must say, when I initially read "Betwixt," I found myself wanting to know more about Dale's history and how he got to be the way he was: moody, stand-offish, an outcast from the school, etc. Thankfully, Melissa read my mind and gave us this prequel!
Dale is the second child of a loving couple who only want what's best for him, but he sees it as a bunch of rules to keep him down, all based around what his dad's congregation would think if the preacher's son went off the rails. Funny thing, that's exactly what all the rules make him do, and he just gets wilder and more reckless the more they try to tie him down. He's tired of being compared to his older sister, the model of normalcy and obedience, and he's determined to make his own decisions, no matter the consequences. His friends (if you can call them that) encourage this behavior in him, and it isn't long before things spiral out of control.
If you enjoyed "Betwixt" or have a desire to read it but haven't gotten around to it yet, I would definitely recommend you read this one. Dale's story is really interesting, and it helps set up his involvement in "Betwixt" and also explains more about why he chooses to play the part he does in that story. Well done!!
5 stars =)
"Before" is an aptly-titled prequel to "Betwixt", and here we get to learn more about Dale and what happened in his life prior to the events of "Betwixt." I must say, when I initially read "Betwixt," I found myself wanting to know more about Dale's history and how he got to be the way he was: moody, stand-offish, an outcast from the school, etc. Thankfully, Melissa read my mind and gave us this prequel!
Dale is the second child of a loving couple who only want what's best for him, but he sees it as a bunch of rules to keep him down, all based around what his dad's congregation would think if the preacher's son went off the rails. Funny thing, that's exactly what all the rules make him do, and he just gets wilder and more reckless the more they try to tie him down. He's tired of being compared to his older sister, the model of normalcy and obedience, and he's determined to make his own decisions, no matter the consequences. His friends (if you can call them that) encourage this behavior in him, and it isn't long before things spiral out of control.
If you enjoyed "Betwixt" or have a desire to read it but haven't gotten around to it yet, I would definitely recommend you read this one. Dale's story is really interesting, and it helps set up his involvement in "Betwixt" and also explains more about why he chooses to play the part he does in that story. Well done!!
5 stars =)