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Micky Barnard (542 KP) rated Gilded Cage in Books

Jan 26, 2019 (Updated Jan 26, 2019)  
Gilded Cage
Gilded Cage
Vic James | 2017 | Children
5
8.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Disappointing
This was a book with big aspirations but patchy execution. I thought I was getting into some kind of dystopia with 'special skilled people'. On the one hand, that's what I got, on the other it was much more than this, almost too much of many other things. This is a hugely political read, which I am not adverse to but it was inherently confusing due to an overly large cast of characters, many of similar importance; I didn't know where to place my focus.

The start to the book is gentle (post-prologue), introducing a family who are about to do their ten years time in subservience. Hierarchy is the name of the game in GILDED CAGE and if you're not skilled then you have to forfeit your rights as a person and serve the skilled for ten years in slavedays. This family were from Manchester and as a Mancunian myself, I was piqued at this facet to the book. Manchester had a slaveday town called Millsmoor and this was described as a dark, pre-industrial revolution kind of inhuman place; definitely a contrast to life outside.

Lots about this book interested me, the Equals (skilled) and their way of life. What I found was that almost all of the Equals in this book were obnoxious in one way or another. There was no upstairs/downstairs feel to the story, despite some suggestion of kind dispositions. Do not get me started on the sadomasochistic keeping of a man-dog.

Whilst this is the first book in a trilogy and there is much more to come, the story did not weave together for me at all. I don't feel invested enough to continue with the rest of the series.
 
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
  
Show all 13 comments.
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Chloe (514 KP) Jan 27, 2019

Yeah I don't know where to put it though I only have a small room
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Charley (64 KP) Jan 27, 2019

Ah that is a puzzle haha
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Awix (3310 KP) rated Star Trek Adventures in Tabletop Games

Apr 26, 2020  
Star Trek Adventures
Star Trek Adventures
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Tabletop Game Rating
The latest in a very long line of Star Trek role-playing games is also one of the best. You too can don the velour jumpsuit of a Starfleet officer, explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilisations, etc. Not a good choice if you are looking for a generic science fiction roleplaying experience, as the game is specifically designed to replicate the feel and philosophy of classic Star Trek - phasering the opposition into submission is unlikely to work, using your brains and working together should produce better results.

The basic system is sound and relatively straightforward, with players and GMs having a number of ways to influence the action. However, some of the more complex mechanics and systems do take a little bit of effort to get your head around (it's generally worth it though), and I wouldn't want to embark upon even a simple ship-to-ship combat engagement without everyone involved having some kind of cheat sheet to hand. I'm not sure how many people will be looking for a 'classic' Star Trek role-playing experience, but for those who are, this is a very good bet.
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated Battleship (2012) in Movies

Mar 7, 2018 (Updated Mar 7, 2018)  
Battleship (2012)
Battleship (2012)
2012 | Action, Sci-Fi
4
5.5 (17 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
Zombie reflexes in the Hollywood blockbuster machine sputtered into a grisly half-life and pondered the question 'if movies about the Transformers toys make so much money, what other toy/game based rubbish can we railroad audiences into going to see?' And the answer that came back was 'let's do a movie based on Battleship, featuring the pop-star Rihanna'.

Utterly dimwitted action blockbuster and Michael Bay pastiche; the weird thing is that Michael Bay pastiches are marginally better than actual Michael Bay films, mainly because if your starting point is a Michael Bay film the only way is up. This is still insultingly stupid. The actors deserve some kind of credit for getting through the film with straight faces, given it includes a laboriously contrived sequence where the characters are basically playing real-life Battleships against the aliens. Somehow made even worse by the way it fawns over members of the military (subtext being that it's unpatriotic not to like this movie). The special effects are not too bad but considering this is a movie with a $210 million budget that's like saying they remembered to put film in the camera.