39 steps

I’ve heard the title The Thirty-Nine Steps before but I think that’s because they made a movie with that name years ago. This volume has two short stories by John Buchan but I hadn’t heard of the second one or of Buchan either. The blurb on the back cover talks about how Richard Hannay is the proto James Bond but I’m not sure what that is based on. I was under the impression that Ian Fleming based the Bond stories loosely on his own observations while working for the British secret service.

Both of those stories follow a similar story arc and are led by similar protagonists, the reluctant hero; a man who is clearly a patriot, has certain latent skills, is a gentleman (obviously) and who happens to find himself in the right place at the right time to prevent a calamity that would certainly mean the end of Britain as he knows it, and may perhaps mean the end of the civilized world. What’s a man to do? what, what

Each of these short stories is broken down into a series of chapters that play like mini episodes or adventures in the overall story. The chapters have names like The One-eyed Red Mustachioed Groomsman or The Weeping Lady in Ermine so you have good idea where our man be headed or at least who or what he may run into along the way. yeah, I made those chapter titles up.

These two tales were fast-paced and fun and I can certainly see the similarities to Fleming’s Bond. Makes me want to go back and read some of Fleming’s stuff, it’s been years since I have.

A quick look at Wikipedia tells me that Richard Hannay appears in a total of 5 Buchan stories, and that The Thirty-Nine Steps first appeared in Blackwood's Magazine in 1915.

The second story in this slim volume is called The Power-House, and follows the adventures of Edward Leithen, a British MP and lawyer, who I think also appears in a number of Buchan stories. Unlike Richard Hannay, Leithen is more of a home-body, rather than a man-of-action as Hannay is. Leithen seems to use his brains, and careful consideration to take care of business. You won't find this guy hiding in a tree, in borrowed pants, out on the moors waiting for an execution squad to wander past in the night. You're more likely to find Leithen at the club, chatting up some credulous acquaintance whilst sipping a whiskey and soda.

Both were fun. Read this book

patriots logo update

My son suggested that I add the name of team to my new logo design for the New England Patriots. The Pats rolled out a new team name design, or wordmark logo, in 2013 that is basically old timey football jersey lettering arranged as though its written around the inside of a cylinder (or a stadium?) Maybe its supposed to represent team members standing in a huddle? Who knows, but its a little goofy, and Flying Elvis is pasted on the bottom like an afterthought. Is this the first part of a new logo phase in? Man I hope not, if its going to be more like this.

The pre- and post-2013 Patriots wordmark

We need something new, bold, clear, and bright. That both respects the heritage of the team's 60 year history, and looks forward to the next generations. I do think the newer wordmark is clearer than the old one, but there has to be a better way of tying it to the logo without just jamming it in there, and old time font isn't helping.

till we have faces

Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold is a novel by C.S. Lewis, who (as everyone knows) is the author of the Chronicles of Narnia. What I was surprised to learn is that Lewis was mainly an author of non-fiction, did a little bit of fiction, and other than Narnia, wrote almost nothing else for children.

Till We Have Faces is a retelling of the Cupid and Psyche story, who earliest known rendering was put down by Lucius Apuleius Madaurensis (or Platonicus) in his Metamorphoses in the second century BCE. Lewis uses the myth as a starting point, or what he calls a 'source' for his novel in a note in the backmatter of the book.

In Lewis' version, the story does not focus on Psyche or Cupid, but is rather told from the point of view of one of Psyche's sisters. In the original story, Psyche is the youngest, and most beautiful of three sisters, daughters of a king. When she meets Cupid in the original story, she falls in love with the god, and her sisters, jealous of her good fortune, contrive to trick her into betraying the command of her lover to never look upon his face. Lewis has the oldest daughter, the story's protagonist, visit Psyche alone, and unlike the original story, can not perceive (or even conceive) the splendor and love in which her sister now lives, and thinks she is victim of some horrible trickery.

This is Lewis' view of man trying to understand the magnificence of God, and failing. He even describes the relationship between Cupid and Venus, his mother in terms similar to the Christ story. In some cases they are one in the same, being both mother and son, shadow and light, ravager and savior. The telling is similar to the original only in its beginnings. The story itself focuses on the struggles the eldest sister has in life and her relationship with the gods. She even sets her will against the gods, but in the end accepts that the gods are great, and indeed beyond our understanding, even if they do things that enrage as well as enrapture us.

This was an interesting read. I don't know that the happy ending I hoped for, or even the tragic ending that can also occur in myth, ever came to pass. The story just sort of ended when it was over. If one was reading it for its Christian overtones, one may have a different opinion of the ending, but I'll leave that for others to decide.


Update: I forgot to mention that I picked this book up from a 'Little Library' in Dracut, located at the rear of the town hall parking lot. Leave a book, take a book.

time's convert

Deborah Harkness has written a follow up to the All Souls Trilogy; this one is called Time's Convert, and it takes place in the same universe as the original trilogy. Is this the fourth book in the trilogy, the first book in a second trilogy, or is it just another tale from this universe Harkness has created? Who knows. I assume Deborah Harkness knows

I'm pretty sure I said I'd keep an eye out for Harkness' next book, but I'm also pretty sure I figured she'd be on to something else. I'm not saying that this was bad, I was just looking forward to seeing what else she could do.

Time's Convert follows on pretty quickly after the Souls trilogy, but the focus moves off of the couple who were the focus of the trilogy, and onto the next generation.

[PAUSE]

So I went back and read the review I wrote for the last book in the trilogy, and I did give it a good review, and I actually said that I'd 'keep me eyes peeled' for her next book. I also mentioned that she'd left things open for a follow up, so... I guess I'm a genius. that's all I'm saying

This IS a pretty good follow up, I just wish it was something else. I think Harkness has the talent to do something else, presumably in the historically influenced fiction/fantasy genre, but who knows? If you enjoyed the All Souls trilogy and you're looking for more, I think you'll like this one. The overall goal of the plot isn't as grand--in the end its just busy work and waiting--but it was fun.

days of rage

Pike Logan is compared to Jason Bourne, Jack Reacher, and Jack Bauer, by an author name John Lescroart, according to a quote on the front cover of this paperback. I don't know who Lescroart is, and I've read a few Jason Bourne stories, and a few more Jack Reacher stories, and in my opinion, Logan doesn't compare to those two characters. I'm pretty sure Jack Bauer is the Keifer Sunderland character for the 24 TV show, but I never watched that, so I don't know.

Pike is also a nickname. The character's real name is Nephilim Logan. Reminds me a little of the character name Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch. I think the idea with historic names like these is they bring their history--and some juice--along with them. The Nephilim were early angel/human hybrid beings of immense size and power. So Pike Logan is a big dude, who talks about himself 'being the weapon.' I guess its pretty clear where Brad Taylor was going with this one. typed 'giant' into google is my guess Logan is just 30 pounds or so lighter than Jack Reacher if memory serves, and both Reacher and Jason Bourne were also pretty handy without weapons, so perhaps that's where the comparisons originate.

What is missing in Pike Logan is a framework that we can credibly hang all of the disparate, in not contradictory, personality traits upon. Logan is at once sweet, and thoughtful, and prone to black-out-rage killing. yeah, not sure I can relate He is leader of men and women, and cares deeply about them as people, but also has trouble being led, or following orders. The chain of command is import to him, yet his often disobeys, and is in a sexual relationship with a woman who is essentially a subordinate. He both encourages his girlfriend kill when necessary, while telling her not to worry when she fears the effects killing has on her. He clearly worries about her physical safety, but dismisses her mental safety. To all of this, add that he seems to attack most jobs blindly, and struggles along by will and grit alone. Everyone around him seems to die, including multiple team members. I can't imagine why anyone would go to this guy, never mind when the mission is absolutely critical, which is apparently his specialty.

Days of Rage is not a crappy book, but it certainly wasn't the best thing I've read recently, and it certainly wasn't the best think Brad Taylor has written that I've read. I guess I'd give it a myeh.