Lego Harry Potter Teaser Trailer [HQ] (Rate This Game)

Just got this for the Wii...oh yeah! (Alright, my son just got it for the Wii but I hope he'll let me play too!) For those of you have not played them before, the Lego video games are great fun for kids and adults alike.

This And That

Kraken by China Mieville hit North American bookshelves yesterday and will very soon sit atop my ever growing pile of books, that each week seems more and more to resemble the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.

I started plugging away at one of my most anticipated books of the year, The Passage by Justin Cronin. I'm sure when I finish it in three weeks I'll have a very enthusiastic review. Or not.

Two films are out this week at Blockbuster, THE CRAZIES (2010), along with PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF. Looking forward to checking out both.


Hitting the big screens is THE LAST AIRBENDER. This is the new M. Night Shyamalan movie based on a kick ass cartoon television show about a band of youngins who must save the world from destruction at the hands of the Fire Nation. Judging by the trailers, THE LAST AIRBENDER looks to be a fun film, for me, you and the kids.

FATHER'S DAY PICS! (PART 2)

Here are some more pics. The lady in the white hat is my wife, Brenda (you can't see her too well, what with the hat and sun glasses but she's beeuteeeful :) ) The big boy is Aidan, my daughter is Dani and the little dude is Owen. The woman in orange is Boogie, my mother-in-law. The second picture down is The Drop Zone. I swore a long time ago I would never go on it. This day I did it twice and both time I closed my eyes.

FATHER'S DAY PICS!

On Father's Day myself and the rest of the family went to Canada's Wonderland. Since we live two minutes away and have season's passes, Wonderland has become something of a second home the last few weeks. I've been taking the kids after school to visit Planet Snoopy, or ride The Vortex roller coaster.

On this particular occasion I finally got to ride The Behemoth.The Behemoth, in case you don't know, is one of the biggest roller coasters in North America. And unless you're an astronaut, skydiver, or super hero secret spy agent, then this ride is going to knock you're socks off! The first time I rode it my heart started to pound because it just got higher and higher. Then the drop. Dang! What a rush.

The Behemoth is, without a doubt, the greatest ride I have ever been on. It's thrilling, and very smooth. This isn't our father's old rickety wooden deathtrap. This monster rides the rails fast and sleek, going like a bat out of Hell. It's the Lamborghini of roller coasters. This is the stuff of roller coaster legend.

But I digress.

All in all I had a wonderful Father's Day at Wonderland. Here are some pics to prove it:

 

REVIEW

If you have already read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played with Fire (Vintage) then you probably don't need to read this review of Stieg Larsson's finale to the Millennium trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, to know how amazingly fun these books are.


Hornet's Nest begins right where Played With Fire concluded. In essance the two books follow the same story lines, where as the The Dragon Tattoo was more or less a closed story (except for some surviving characters, obviously).

The third volume is a bit of a different beast, however. Unlike the second book, which is action packed, Hornet's Nest is more of a chess game between a nearly defunct secret spy agency and savvy media types and honest officers of the law. The beautiful (in that wild and crazy way) Lizbeth Salander takes a bit of a back seat in this one, giving page time to those around her, who over the course of the three books, have become her friends, whether she realizes it or not.

As Blomkvist and the rest of the Knights of the Idiot Table (the name the very likable journalist gives to those fighting to keep Salander out of prison) use every tool at their disposal to track down and trap those who are perpetrating one of Sweden's grandest displays of injustice, Salander has her own personal battles to fight. After the conclusion of the last book Salander finds herself sharing a hospital floor with the man she hates more than any other, her father. The Russian spy and criminal, Zalachenko, brutalized her mother for so many years and is the source of Salader's life long struggles. With Zala hellbent on Salander exiting the hospital via the morgue, our femme fatale must find a way to defend herself before its too late.

More than anything THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST is about showdowns. The last hundred pages are as satisfying as any I've read in a long time and any of you waiting for an excuse to jump into this final installment need look no further than this review. I had my worries about how it would all end, given that the author is deceased and this was originally planned as a ten book series. However, I had nothing to fear. Most everything is tied up at the end. There are a few loose threads that make one wonder what direction Larsson may have ventured in future books, but unfortunetely, it is not to be. A shame. I could read a hundred more The Girl Who books and never get bored.

Good bye Blomkvist and the rest of the Knights of the Idiots Table.

Good bye Lizbeth, you more than all will be sadly missed.

(Once more Reg Keeland does a commendable job of translating the text from Swedish.)

FULL DARK, NO STARS

North American cover for King's fall release, FULL DARK, NO STARS. Who's not looking forward to this? Several recent releases, in my opinion, have shown something of a resurgence for the master of the dark and strange. FULL DARK, NO STARS is very much on my radar. Since it's not out for a while you have plenty of time to catch up if you've been missing out. Each of UNDER THE DOME, DUMA KEY and BLOCKADE BILLY, are good reads.

Oh yeah, and those of you who have been following the Bookworm know I recommended you go out and find THE LONG WALK from THE BACHMAN BOOKS.

WIMPY KID 5!

My oldest son will be very excited to see this! Book five is slated to hit shelves in November. If you haven't been introduced to the series, it comes highly recommended by Aidan, my son. We went to the movie based on the first book and both loved it. A wonderful movie for kids and adults who can remember the awkwardness and comedy of middle school. Check it out if you can.

Funnah!!! ;)

 

New cover art for Cherie Priest's DREADNOUGHT. Some of you may or may not have read Priest's last release, the zombie steam-punk extravaganza BONESHAKER. I got it on my pile to read, so...Anyway, cool cover and it this info is courtesy of The Mad Hatter's Bookshelf and Review.

Okay, you asked for it! ; )

World of Quest Theme Song

This one is for friend Shrews who always reminds me of Quest (the big dude with the swords). One of my favorite kids shows on the telly. This and Johnny Test kick much butt.

APOCALYPTIC SUMMER

It looks like this summer is shaping up to be apocalyptic. Joining a handful of other 'end-of-the-world' novels coming out is Terry DeHart's THE UNIT. This one sounds like it will be quite good.

Here is the blurb:

 All cars stop running, and everything with a circuit board is fried.  The sky turns yellow-brown, and the era of American comfort, peaceful commerce, and civility has reached its end.   Set on the West Coast after a terrorist nuclear attack, THE UNIT by Terry DeHart chronicles a running battle in Northern California between a suburban family and a group of boys who have escaped from their juvenile detention facility.

The boys think of themselves as modern-day pirates as they prey upon refugees traveling the interstate.  When they attack the Sharpe family and kidnap the teenage daughter Melanie, each member of the family must make previously unthinkable choices as they fight for their individual survival and for each other.  The father, Jerry Sharpe, is a Marine veteran of the disastrous 1983 mission to Beirut and will stop at nothing to rescue his daughter and lead his family to safety.
Set in a world made toxic and silent by radioactive fallout, nuclear winter and the electro-magnetic pulses of nuclear detonations, THE UNIT explores the bonds of family and the power, limitations and ultimate courage of human trust.

 Tell me that doesn't sound like a great read? With Cronin's THE PASSAGE, Romero's THE LIVING DEAD to fill in until THE UNIT's release on July 14th, there's a lots to keep one happy.

Thanks to Bookgasm for the heads up!

GAME OF THRONES - TRAILER (HBO) - Winter is coming...

Haven't given this much attention since it was first rumored to be in the works. Why? Because like a new book by George R.R. Martin, I'll believe it when I can hold it in my hands. But, look below. Evidence that this is going to happen. Very cool. Unfortunately it doesn't give a lot to whet the appetite but sharp looking none the less. Check it out.

LOOK INTO THE FUUUUUTURE!

Brenda, my love, said I had to finish some of my book backlog before I could buy any new ones. Above are just a few of the books near the top of my pile, and which I would like to review in the near future. Maybe if I can get through those she will give me back my "irewards" card. There are other books...many...many others that may slip in between these and that's okay. As long as I get the pile to more manageable height.

I would also like to review some kids books that I particularly enjoyed. Those of you with little ones stay tuned!

INCEPTION Trailer 3 - Official HD

If there is one movie I want to see this summer...

READ ALL ABOUT IT!

The big blog news around town this weekend was Tor Books inviting folks into their home for a sneak peak at Brandon Sanderson's mammoth THE WAY OF KINGS, book one of a projected ten book series. If you have any foot in the fantasy door then you know Brandon Sanderson is one of the genre's big up and comers that will one day stand next to some of fantasies biggest names. Some his titles include ELANTRIS, WARBREAKER and the MISTBORN series.

I've had a tough time with Sanderson in the past, once trying both ELANTRIS and MISBORN only to be left cold from the experience. I felt frustrated both times because these books sound awesome and are generally well liked. So, I'm going to give Sanderson one more try before giving up for good.

THE WAY OF KINGS hits stores this August 24th, and reports say it clocks in at just over one thousand pages. It's a foot crusher, alright. So it has one thing going for it. I do love my doorstoppers.

Pre-order here.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Welcome to the world of Suzanne Collins' THE HUNGER GAMES! Okay, straight up, this book rocks. Ten out of Ten. Sure, there are couple of things that could have been executed better, but on the whole, THE HUNGER GAMES is right up there for honour of 'The Best Book I Read All Year' award.

Remember when your read Stephen King's THE LONG WALK? Remember how you got half way through that novella and you thought, "Damn! This is GOOD." THE HUNGER GAMES is that good. Oh, you haven't read THE LONG WALK? Are you nuts? Well, you don't know what you're missing. Get up off your butt and run to the store and pick it up. I give you my word, you won't be sorry.

THE HUNGER GAMES takes place in a post apocalyptic country called Panem, formally North America. After a great war the remains of America are broken up into Districts. Twelve. Each one beholden to the Capitol. The Capitol won the war and now control the rest of the twelve Districts and one way they keep the rest in line is through The Hunger Games. The Games are a deadly tournament that pits twenty four kids (two from each of the twelve Districts...a boy and a girl) in a survivalist game to the death. Twenty four kids enter the 'arena', a kind of massive out door pavilion, but only one may leave...alive.

THE HUNGER GAMES is a nail biter, from start to finish, as we follow along with the story's narrator, Katniss Everdeen. Oh! Okay, there is my first problem. Wait, problem isn't really the right word. You can probably guess why having the book written in first person would take some of the wind out of the books sails. Twenty four kids enter the arena and only one can leave. Doesn't take a genius to figure out who's going to win.

But, and it's a big BUT, The Hunger Games are run by the Gamemakers, a sadistic bunch who can change the rules of the Games at their whim. They can alter the landscape of the arena, the weather, and its inhabitants. Inhabitants?? That's right. Not only do the contestants have to worry about the rest of the contestants, but the arena is full of some pretty nasty critters. Muttations anyone? What's a muttation? Read the book to find out.

Once the Games began I could not put this book down. Like King's THE LONG WALK, I had to know how it was going to end. Other than a few stretches where Collins lets the action simmer down to a near crawl, THE HUNGER GAMES is a real pressure cooker.

Though the book crosses the line at 379 pages, THE HUNGER GAMES could have been much bigger. For one, Collins gives very little space to more than three quarters of the contestants, who become little more than fodder for the main characters, often times giving nothing more than the District number and sex of the player. Many deaths, particularly at the very start of the Games are given very little focus. Most of this is understandable as the main character can't be everywhere at once, but I found myself wondering how the lesser known characters bit the dust and who killed them.

Collins writing is crisp and clean. Nothing fancy but enough personality to draw you in and keep you reading to find out how it will all turn out. There are lots of surprises in THE HUNGER GAMES and moments of teeth grinding tension.

The series continues with CATCHING FIRE and this summer's release of MOCKINGJAY (August 24). Both are high on my 'to read list'. My source at Wikipedia let me in on a little secret. Lionsgate Entertainment has picked up the rights to the book and will adapt for film. Buzz on the Internet says THE HUNGER GAMES are the next big YA books to follow the TWILIGHT series.

To order click here.

Frankenstein: Lost Souls by Dean Koontz (trailer)

Lightning and spooky woods and creepy houses! Next Tuesday marks the release of Koontz's latest Frankenstein book. I guess I better get reading parts two and three, eh?

THE LIVING DEAD by GEORGE A. ROMERO

Coming July 1st is George A. Romero's zombie book THE LIVING DEAD. Not much in the mood for straight up zombie books lately, but this one, for obvious reasons, I will pick up. Though his last couple of films have been less than thrilling, Romero's original 'OF THE LIVING DEAD' trilogy remain the champions of the zombie film genre. I'm very interested to see how Romero handles the change from director to novelist.

This, I believe is Romero's first solo novel (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong!). THE LIVING DEAD is also, according to Wikipedia, the first of two 'Dead' books from Grand Central Publishing.

To order in Canada just click here.

OUT TOMORROW, AND COMING SOON!

Hitting stores tomorrow is the eagerly anticipated Justin Cronin book, THE PASSAGE. It's been ripping up the blogosphere and to say I'm stoked would be an understatement. I don't think I've been this excited about a book since King's UNDER THE DOME. Okay, that was only a few months ago, but what the hell.


And don't forget STORIES, the new anthology from Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio. There are some big names in this one and some personal favorites, not the least of which is Joe Hill!

And doesn't that cover rock?!

WHAT I'M READING NOW

BLOODY GOOD FUN!

Christopher Farnsworth's BLOOD OATH is an adrenaline fueled thriller in the same vein of many successful urban fantasy novels, like Larry Correia's MONSTER HUNTER INTERNATIONAL and Jim Butcher's DRESDEN FILES mixed with a pinch of X-FILES. It takes the premise that there are real monsters, real badies that go bump in the night, stalking our world and hell bent on bringing about the apocalypse.

In BLOOD OATH Nathaniel Cade is the President's Vampire, a creature of the night who is used like a secret agent, with benefits. He can be shot, cut, beat to hell and he doesn't die. Cade defends the free world from the Other Side. And in BLOOD OATH the Other Side comes in the form of the mad scientist Doctor Johann Konrad and a jihadist nutball named Khaled who has plans to assassinate the President through occult means, i.e. badass zombie soldiers. Along for the ride is Cade's new liaison, Zack Barrows, who is tagged to take over the reins from Cade's previous handler, Griff, whether he wants to or not. Zack reminded me of a young Fox Mulder, with his wit and sarcasm and determination. We are also introduced to Tania, a hot and luscious vamp babe, who may or may not be on Cade's side.

It doesn't take long to realize BLOOD OATH is a foundation book. By that I mean Farnsworth uses BLOOD OATH to lay the foundation for the larger story to come. But that doesn't mean BLOOD OATH doesn't deliver. Oh, it delivers alright, by the bloody bucket fulls!

Along the way we are introduced to characters and items that hint at a grand, dark, world behind the curtains of everyday life. Who is Control really and who is pulling his strings? He is not FBI or CIA but something else, something off the books. And why does Cade keep the werewolf's jaw bone and other items beneath the floor of the Smithsonian? Are they just souvenirs or is there something more behind his strange habit of keeping tokens from his finished assignments?

Farnsworth's characterisations are a little on the slim side but we do get to know Cade better than most, through a series of flashbacks and interesting vignettes that head some of the chapters. The story of Cade's transformation into a blood sucker was, for me, one of the most frightening points in the book.

I'm looking forward to the further adventures of Cade and Zack. And while Doctor Johann Konrad and Khaled's zombie soldiers were interesting and formidable opponent, I look forward to Zack and the President's Vampire facing something truly epic and other worldly.

For the book website and trailer click here.

RELEASE THE KRAKEN!

Another book I want. I've never read China Mieville, but how bad could a guy with "evil" in his name be?

Since I don't have access to an ARC I can't review it for ya just yet. Graeme, of Graeme's Fantasy Book Review, however, lives somewhere that the book is already on the shelves. Dang Brits! ;)

Check out what he has to say here.

For those who like a good fantasy book blog, Graeme's is top.