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.

pride and prejudice

Jane Austen was bangin' out the hits back in the day, and Pride and Prejudice is one of her best known. Sense and Sensibility, and Emma are others she is probably most famous for. They were published in the early 1800s, with help from her brother, and here's where I want to kick a trash bucket across the floor; No one knew who wrote them until after her death, even though the first runs of many of them sold out right away.

Pride and Prejudice is written from the POV of Elizabeth
Bennet, and gives a marvelous glimpse into the mind of a young, English woman of the upper middle class--the daughter of a gentleman, as she is described in the text. Eliza is intelligent, quick-witted, bold, and is not the type to lie down and let the men in her life tell her what to do. She is, however, able to make her feelings known, and is certainly not above love and caring for men.

As the title indicates, Austen seems to be making her own thoughts clear on the silliness of the separation between the classes, who one assumes, looked upon her and her own family, as they look upon Eliza Bennet and her family, with both too much pride and distinct prejudice. Given that Austen was born in England just a few months before America declared its independence, one can imagine that she grew up in a society that was rapidly evolving amidst that struggle against aristocracy.
Pride and Prejudice celebrates those both inside and outside the aristocracy who rebelled against these societal sins.

That societal struggle is what underlays this story, but the principal narrative is one of relationships, love and romance, peppered with jealousy, envy, obstinance, stupidity, shamelessness, scandal, absent-minded-zealotry, scoundrels, and mean girls. whateverrr Its fresh and timely still, which must explain why it has been adapted so often for movies and plays.

Read this book. I've read it before, that's why is on my 'great' list, to the right. And I'll probably read it again.

man in my basement

The Man in My Basement is a novel by Walter Mosley, an author best known for crime novels and historical fiction. This is neither of those things but there are influences from both genres. As to what genre this book actually is, I guess I’d call it Gothic. I’m reminded of Poe in the darker, introspective bits. But it’s also a wonderful portrait of a complicated man. 

Charles Dodd-Blakey lives alone in the family home somewhere in the Carolinas. His parents are gone, his job is gone, he doesn’t have a girlfriend and his only friends are beginning to slip away. It’s at that point that a would be boarder knocks on his door to ask about renting his basement for a few weeks during the summer.

Our man Charles is not all that wild about the idea, but the man who'd like to stay with him is rather insistent, and leaves Charles with an offer to consider, which may help to alleviate some of his pressing financial problems.

The struggles that Charles Dodd-Blakey works through in the weeks and months of summer are what make Man in My Basement worth reading. Mosley does a great job of taking us inside the mind-messy as it is--of his character.

bishop's pawn

The Bishop's Pawn is the 13th book in Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series. I've read a bunch of these, usually I grab one from my wife who has probably read more of them that I have. Maybe its a sign that the series is running out of steam that Berry has gone the route of a prequel with this one. There is a 14th book out now as well, and I'm not sure if that is a prequel or not. Bishop's Pawn is also the first in the series, and from what it sounds like, Steve Berry's first foray into first person POV.

One of the recent Jack Reacher stories I read was also a prequel, and I wasn't all that wild about that one either. Part of the problem (I think) is that the character grows, and develops during a long series, and it may be hard for the author to divorce themselves from the changes their character has gone through, which leave that character hanging out in their own past, either too evolved, or not evolved enough for the story, the readers, or maybe both.

I guess what I'm saying is: I hope this isn't a trend we're looking at. The literary equivalent of jumping-the-shark, or the more subtle introduction-of-the-niece-or-nephew to a worn out TV show. yeah, Chachi, Scrappy-Doo, I'm looking at you

The Bishop's Pawn takes Cotton Malone back to his first gig for the Justice Department, and Stephanie Nelle, before the advent of the Magellan Billet. The people and materials he's is chasing down in this one, take their cues form history, as many Berry stories do, but this one is even more difficult to swallow, perhaps because it is so current (mid 20th century) makes it even harder to believe that it could have remained a mystery that Malone needed to chase down, and even harder to believe that we live in a universe where none of that information has ever leaking out.

As I've probably said before, if you're a fan, you'll probably enjoy this. In my case, it was definitely better than reading a clothing catalog until I get to the library.

new patriots logo for 60 year anniversary

click on image to see large scale

The Patriots logo has changed a number of times over the years; but each of the two major logos has had about a 30 year run. Old logos never die though, you still see them, fans love them, and they remind us of the rich Patriots history.

So with that in mind, and the 60th anniversary of the Patriots coming up (1960 - 2020) we've got plenty of time to roll out a new logo. We can still using the Flying Elvis for the 2019 season, before he is retired to hang out with Pat Patriot, on T-shirts, banners, and beer cozies for all eternity.

So this is my entry into the running, which no one has announced, and most people don't care about. I've created this updated, and simplified version of the Patriots logo for a number of reasons. The current 'Flying Elvis' logo still tries to hang on to the image of Pat Patriot, by keeping the head of a man in a tricorn hat, but also tries to incorporate some flag imagery, which smacks of the failed Bicentennial attempt at a new logo that fans booed into oblivion in 1980 when it was unveiled. The current imagery of a flag, trailing behind and tapering down at the rear, gives a great sense of forward motion and patriotism. And the blue of the tricorn hat with the white star recalls the blue field of the flag. But Flying Elvis is a little corny, and he really doesn't recall Pat Patriot that well if his name is Elvis.

So I tried to simplify, keep what works, eliminate what doesn't, and clean up the graphics, making it even easier to put on shirts, helmets, and video screens. We've had Flying Elvis since 1993! What else happened in 1993? The World Wide Web was turned on at CERN so some geeks could share test data, President Boris Yeltsin was saluting the dying USSR with 9:00 AM vodka shots, and Mrs. Doubtfire was playing at the theater for $4 a ticket! You got a better idea?

LETS GO!

Take a look here for a history of the Patriots logos over the years, including the ones that didn't hang on nearly as long as some of the others.

Let me know what you think, and I'd love to see some other designs. Lets do this!