The Best Technology Writing, 2009: 2009
Book
"The ubiquity of the digital lifestyle has forced us to write and think about technology in a...
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Twin Peaks - Season 1 in TV
Sep 7, 2019 (Updated Sep 7, 2019)
I wasn't overly excited to watch an early 90s show that on the surface seemed like a run of the mill murder mystery. I had heard to the odd thing or two, about how it was actually quite unsettling etc.
But I wasn't prepared for what I witnessed - a truly great series of television - as mentioned, on the surface, a murder mystery, sometimes verging into lighthearted sitcom territory, bit with some seriously disturbing undertones.
Twin Peaks made my skin crawl on more than one occasion. As I slowly fell in love with the quirky characters, and beautiful American log town setting, I found myself almost constantly on edge. Mainly because of Bob. Goddamn Bob.
The first time Bob graces the screen will stick in my mind for the rest of time.
The unsettling nature of Twin Peaks, woven so lovingly with the less serious moments, and woven again with the just straight up bizarre moments, proves that David Lynch is a master of his craft.
Angelo Badalamenti's musical score elevates the show to even greater heights.
It's hard to truly describe Twin Peaks - but it's something I'm damn glad I was made to watch.
Gimme Gimme Gimme
TV Show
This outrageous flat share sitcom takes the 'odd couple' scenario and augments it with a hefty dash...
Stalkers: True Stories of Deadly Obsessions (Dark Webs True Crime #3)
Book
Deluded narcissists. Obsessed fans. Sinister internet trolls.Stalkers who turned deadly A young...
True Crime
Size Matters Not: The Extraordinary Life & Career of Warwick Davis
Warwick A. Davis and George Lucas
Book
Published to coincide with his highly anticipated new sitcom - a mockumentary follow-up to Extras...
I'll Be There for You: The One about Friends
Book
This definitive retrospective of Friends incorporates interviews, history and behind-the-scenes...
Egg and Soldiers: A Childhood Memoir (with Postcards from the Present) by Damien Trench
Book
Miles Jupp (News Quiz presenter, star of Rev, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue and The Thick Of It) delves...
The Guncle
Book
From the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus and The Editor comes a warm and deeply funny...
Ross (3282 KP) rated Sword of Destiny in Books
Jul 26, 2018
While this time there is no over-arching story linking them together this is to the book's credit. I got annoyed with the Last Wish/Season of Storms's clumsy attempt to sew together a number of different stories - like those old episodes of a sitcom that was just a hashing together of different flashbacks. Though it does mean you could struggle with the chronology, but I think assuming the stories are after the Season of Storms is a safe bet.
All of the stories are reasonably exciting, but Sapkowski does have a tendency to start these stories with the Witcher's triumph over another creature, and focus on the aftermath - sometimes you long for the thrill of the preceding hunt.
The final story, which I feel is the main link into the first book, includes a number of sections where the Witcher is hallucinating. The segue between these isn't always clear, and while this adds to the atmosphere and feel of the Witcher being drugged, it does leave you a little confused at times (though this passes briefly).
A good set of stories and a decent translation with few clunky parts.
I would recommend these are read after the main books (i.e. in published order) - while I haven't read those, I have probably taken some characters/stories for granted and not appreciated how they feed in to the overall canon of Witcher works (without googling for spoilers).