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David Gemmell is/was one of my favourite authors.
However, he passed away in 2006 while finishing the final novel in his <i>Troy</i> trilogy (<i>Fall of Kings</i>), which was then finished by his second wife Stella.
<i>The City</i> is her first fully solo outing. Following recent trends, this definitely weighs in on the 'epic' side of the fantasy scales: think 'A Game of Thrones', where one novel is the size of three what I would term 'normal' reads. Indeed, the novel itself is split into various sections: personally I feel that it could have been split into two or maybe three separate books rather than under the one cover.
<i>The City</i> of the title (which is never actually named) is ancient and bloated, locked in an endless war with its enemies. Built over centuries, it reminded me somewhat of a passage in one of Pratchett's Discworld books (I forget which, and referring to Ankh-Morpork), something along the lines of:
'the main thing Ankh-Morpork is built on is Ankh-Morpork'.
That could be a pretty fair description of The City as well!
I also found some sections to be slow-moving, and while I never lost interest in the story, it also never really grabbed me, seeming to lack that certain something to turns a good story into a great story.
Would I read more by Stella Gemmell? At the moment, I'm undecided.
However, he passed away in 2006 while finishing the final novel in his <i>Troy</i> trilogy (<i>Fall of Kings</i>), which was then finished by his second wife Stella.
<i>The City</i> is her first fully solo outing. Following recent trends, this definitely weighs in on the 'epic' side of the fantasy scales: think 'A Game of Thrones', where one novel is the size of three what I would term 'normal' reads. Indeed, the novel itself is split into various sections: personally I feel that it could have been split into two or maybe three separate books rather than under the one cover.
<i>The City</i> of the title (which is never actually named) is ancient and bloated, locked in an endless war with its enemies. Built over centuries, it reminded me somewhat of a passage in one of Pratchett's Discworld books (I forget which, and referring to Ankh-Morpork), something along the lines of:
'the main thing Ankh-Morpork is built on is Ankh-Morpork'.
That could be a pretty fair description of The City as well!
I also found some sections to be slow-moving, and while I never lost interest in the story, it also never really grabbed me, seeming to lack that certain something to turns a good story into a great story.
Would I read more by Stella Gemmell? At the moment, I'm undecided.
PhotoShow Gold - Video Editor HD - Movie Maker - Live Photos
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Sawyer (231 KP) rated The Man in the High Castle - Season 1 in TV
Dec 19, 2017
All the thrills and twists and turns of a good spy story (1 more)
Lots of Awesome Easter eggs and references for history Buffs
The man in the High Castle is a beautifully crafted story of an alternate 1960s timeline where the axis won worldWar 2 now America has been split in the middle by the Germans and Japanese incorporating their culture and beliefs into everyday life the story follows a few different individuals who's lives are changed forever when they come across and watch propaganda films that show a very different outcome of World War 2 these films inspire hope and are quickly becoming the strongest weapon in the resistance Arsenal
Stephen (210 KP) rated Glass (2019) in Movies
Feb 28, 2019 (Updated Mar 2, 2019)
The Tale Continues...
I was really looking forward to watching ‘Glass’ as I thought ‘Split’ and ‘Unbreakable’ were fantastic films. ‘Glass’ is here to round off the storylines from those two movies, and it sets out to achieve that. However, I just couldn’t seem to connect emotionally to the film, despite outstanding performances from the cast. I also felt the film could have done with being shorter, and I also found myself getting confused with certain parts of the plot. Overall it’s a good movie, but I feel the ending let the whole thing down - there is a slight twist, then everything takes the safe and boring route to end the movie.
I really enjoyed this series and I feel like it was just the right length.
I liked the split between present day and their time in Australia as the left you trying to guess how they had got to the present day situation. At the start I did make a prediction that was right but only because it was obvious but it was the how they got to that point that was the reveal not the event itself.
My loyalties were switching between people as new bits of information and backstories were revealed.
I would recommend this series if you are looking for a short drama especially one with a bit of crime/ mystery.
I liked the split between present day and their time in Australia as the left you trying to guess how they had got to the present day situation. At the start I did make a prediction that was right but only because it was obvious but it was the how they got to that point that was the reveal not the event itself.
My loyalties were switching between people as new bits of information and backstories were revealed.
I would recommend this series if you are looking for a short drama especially one with a bit of crime/ mystery.
David McK (3600 KP) rated Celtic Warrior: The Legend of Cú Chulainn in Books
Jan 30, 2019
I'm always surprised that the story of Cu Chulainn, The Hound of Ulster, isn't better known; not as well known as, say, The Legend of King Arthur and his Knights, or of Robin Hood and his outlaws.
Based primarily around the Cattle Raid of Cooley at the end of Cu Chulainn's life, this graphic novel is a mythic retelling of that story, split into 6 distinct chapters. Interestingly, nearly every chapter includes a flash-back (shown in gray-scale) to an earlier part of Cu Chulainn's life, taking in how he got that name (from his birth name Setanta) and his training to become a warrior, for example.
Short? Yes.
Did I enjoy this? Also yes.
Based primarily around the Cattle Raid of Cooley at the end of Cu Chulainn's life, this graphic novel is a mythic retelling of that story, split into 6 distinct chapters. Interestingly, nearly every chapter includes a flash-back (shown in gray-scale) to an earlier part of Cu Chulainn's life, taking in how he got that name (from his birth name Setanta) and his training to become a warrior, for example.
Short? Yes.
Did I enjoy this? Also yes.
Ross (3284 KP) rated The Boys Volume 6: Self Preservation Society in Books
Oct 29, 2019
Some action and some character backstory at long last
Again, this volume is split in two - we have the story of when Payback (one of the corporate machine's top money-makers) are sent to give The Boys a message, and end up getting their bottoms handed to them. This story is good fun, with some thrilling action, more ridiculous superheroes being walloped.
The second half gives us some well-deserved backstory for some of The Boys - MM, Frenchie and The Female all get their origin story. These are at time sobering (MM), and at other times just flat out hilarious (Frenchie), but all serve to put some meat on the bones of these unusual characters.
The second half gives us some well-deserved backstory for some of The Boys - MM, Frenchie and The Female all get their origin story. These are at time sobering (MM), and at other times just flat out hilarious (Frenchie), but all serve to put some meat on the bones of these unusual characters.