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Joe Goodhart (27 KP) rated A Boy and His Dog in Books

Nov 30, 2020  
A Boy and His Dog
A Boy and His Dog
Harlan Ellison | 1969 | Dystopia, Film & TV, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was very saddened to hear the news of Harlan Ellison's passing. While I didn't agree with him on some things, I did agree with him on a great number of them. Cantankerous, but not snarky or mean-spirited, in his writings and conversations. I found him to one of the best writers on the planet. Now, he's joined the likes of Shakespeare, Emerson, Vonnegut, all at God's assembled roundtable of literary greats! :)

Okay, that's enough of my tribute-of-sorts to Harlan Ellison. Now, for my review of A BOY AND HIS DOG.

This was a a quick, fun read. Quite literally, it is the adventure of boy (Vic) and his telepathic dog (Blood). The two rely on each other, sharing bond that comes through in all of their exchanges. A four-legged friend who became so much more than just a "canine companion".

The tale was written in 1969 and was later adapted for film by L.Q. Jones. Despite the time written, the book still reads as if written yesterday. And that was something unique about Ellison: his writing felt timeless, as if it was not tied to any particular time during which it was written.

Yes, the language can be deemed coarse at points, but still far less offensive than anything written today. The use of profanity is given to the way Vic speaks, a product of the post-apocalyptic world he was born. It never feels forced or anything approaching offensive. It just feels, for want of a better word, natural.

Again, this is a fun short story about a boy and his dog. It may not appeal to everyone, but I surely liked it and I hope that maybe you will, too.

Also, stick around after the story, as "AHBHU: The Passing of One Man's Inspiration and Best Friend". It is Harlan Ellison's tribute/memorial to his rescued dog, a Puli (essentially, a Hungarian sheep dog), and how much he meant to him, so much so that he was whom Ellison based Blood's character on. I challenge you to NOT tear up by the conclusion!

By all means, good people, please check this one out!
  
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Oct 26, 2020  
Today on my blog, I'm featuring the Christian romance anthology THE KISSING TREE by Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Amanda Dykes, and Nicole Deese. Enter the GIVEAWAY on my blog to win a custom wooden sign and/or a print copy of the book - six winners total!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2020/10/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-kissing.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
In this Texas-sized romance novella collection, courting couples, decades apart, leave a permanent mark of their love by carving their initials into the same oak's bark.

Regina Jennings: "Broken Limbs, Mended Hearts"
When a young man from her past returns and upends their small town with a new invention, schoolteacher Bella Eden is reminded of the heartbreak she suffered years ago under the old oak tree. When her job is on the line, can she trust the man who disrupted her life to help her fight for a brighter future?

Karen Witemeyer: "Inn for a Surprise"
Determined to keep love alive for others, Phoebe Woodward builds an inn that caters to couples. When her father sends a property manager to help make it a success, she finds her whimsical vision thwarted by his stodgy practicality. Finding the right blend of romance and reality is a challenge, and her spinster heart may be in for a surprise.

Amanda Dykes: "From Roots to Sky"
WWII airman Luke Hampstead found comfort in letters from the sister of a lost compatriot. When he visits Texas to thank her, he discovers her constructing a project with surprising ties to his letters . . . and that she herself is even more surprising. While a promising opportunity awaits him elsewhere, will what they've shared be enough to give their future flight?

Nicole Deese: "Heartwood"
Abby Brookshire's world is turned upside down when the historic tree she's strived to preserve as the head groundskeeper at the Kissing Tree Inn is put in danger of removal. Making matters worse, the only way to protect its legacy is to partner with the man she's been ignoring since he left town years ago. Will she have the courage to move on from the past and start a new beginning?
      
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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time in Video Games

Oct 29, 2020  
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
2020 | Platform
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Video Game Rating
Crash Bandicoot is back and better than ever in Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time.

This time around the lovable Crash must face his most challenge obstacles yet as he navigates various locales each with an abundance of timed precision jumps, enemies, traps, and more.

Aside from his speed, Crash can slide, jump, and spin to fight or avoid enemies and obstacles and this time around he can phase objects at certain locales which allows him to pass through them. This is often tricky as he has to phase out an object to jump but must phase it back in order land on it but cannot do so before allowing ample space to land.

Patience is required as there are frequent dangers that require precise movements to complete and nothing is more frustrating than biting it with a checkpoint in site.

The game also offers up some interesting variety not only in a plethora of level designs but by also allowing players to play as other characters in the game. Being able to zap objects to complete levels vs the traditional running and jumping does bring an interesting new dimension to the play and keeps things fresh.

The graphics are pleasing and Crash is such a fun and charming character it is easy to stick with him even when the level becomes so rage inducing you want to quit in a hailstorm of profanity.

What really makes the game great are not only the clever and creative levels but the sheer variety of them. From a junkyard with gears, fire, and shark like creatures to a frozen landscape where slipping off the ice is commonplace, the level designers combine sadism and genius to create a truly fun and challenging gaming experience.

The game is not only lots of fun but is ideal for players of all ages and offers plenty of great gaming moments. This is a great return for Crash and hopefully we will see him again soon as I would love to see a new game designed from the ground up for the Next-Generation systems.

4 stars out of 5