tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50174422466774651962024-02-21T04:01:37.522-08:00Backdoor Divasfor those who love men who love men...Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-19760788190979099742013-06-29T15:27:00.000-07:002013-06-29T15:27:46.028-07:00Compulsion (1959 film) Review<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><i>Compulsion </i></b></div>
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<b>Director/Studio/Author:</b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> Richard Fleischer/20<sup>th</sup> Century Fox/Meyer Levin, Richard Murphy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Original theatrical release date:</b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> 1959<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>DVD release date: May 23, 2006<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Format, Genre and length:</b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> DVD/Film Noir/103 minutes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Publisher/Industry Age Rating:</b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> NR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Overall Personal Rating: </span><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">★★★</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">★★<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>Compulsion</i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> is the fictionalized account of the crime of the century—the kidnapping and murder of a young boy by two bored and wealthy young geniuses—which led to the trial of the century in which one of the most famous attorneys ever argued for their lives. This is the film version of that book, which came out in 1959, the year after Nathan Leopold (aka Judd Steiner) was paroled and released from prison.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Having recently acquired an interest in Leopold and Loeb, and having read and reviewed the book <i>Compulsion</i>, it seemed only natural that I should watch and review the film with a critical eye toward seeing how well the book was translated onto the screen. I must say it was done very well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We first meet Judd Steiner (Dean Stockwell) and Artie Straus (Bradford Dillman) as they are</span></div>
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gallivanting about in Judd’s Stutz Bearcat and Artie tries to run down a drunken man who’s walking down the road. This sets the tone, not only for the film, but for their relationship. Judd grabs the wheel and averts the potential murder, so Artie tells him to drive (keep in mind, it <i style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">is</i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Judd’s car), and then orders him to run the bum down. Judd comes close, but at the last moment swerves, which angers Artie. To keep peace, Judd swears he’ll do anything Artie wants. </span><i style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Anything. </i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">And although we don’t know it yet, a murder is about to be born.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Martin Milner (later famed for his role in Adam 12, among other things) plays Sid Brooks (a fictional character, based on Meyer Levin), a fellow student at the university with Judd and Artie, and a fledgling reporter for the newspaper. Chance involves him in the case, and also his girl Ruth, who develops a relationship with Judd and later testifies at the trial.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">This is a very faithful adaptation of the novel and captures the flavor of it very well. The cocksure attitude of the young geniuses who took the life of a young boy because they could, and to prove that such a thing could be done with great deliberation and no emotional involvement. We never see the victim, not even in the morgue, nor do we get a real sense of who he was. These things were not shown back then, too graphic. Today, I’m sure there would be a lot more gruesome scenes, but the film does not suffer for lack of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">They came close to getting away with their crime, but a pair of eyeglasses was the crack in the facade that became the first clue, and that ultimately led to them. E.G. Marshall plays the prosecutor, Horn, who is determined to see these two boys hang for what they’ve done, despite their tender ages—18 and 19—and despite the fact that never has the state put to death anyone below the age of 21.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">The boys’ very wealthy parents hire the best attorney they can find—Jonathan Wilk (Clarence</span></div>
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Darrow, in real life)—flawlessly played by Orson Welles. In a brilliant ploy, Wilk withdraws their plea of not guilty and changes it to guilty, with mitigating circumstances, thus eliminating the trial by jury. And despite the best efforts of the prosecutor, he does not plead insanity, as that would bring the jury back in. And as he explains to the boys’ parents, he’d rather plead for their lives before one man, the judge, than twelve, in the form of the jury.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Welles’ performance is riveting. Despite being very familiar with him as an actor, his persona disappears and he becomes Wilk/Darrow, and his very eloquent summation speech is some of his finest work. That is the hallmark of a great actor, when you stop seeing the man, and only see the character.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Although physically I thought the main characters were mis-cast, as Dean Stockwell resembled Artie more, and Bradford Dillman Judd, in terms of performance, they got the nuances of the characters down pat. Artie, the effervescent know-it-all who dominates Judd, and has to be in on everything, including “helping” the police with the case. The quieter, more introspective Judd, who allows Artie to control him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">What you won’t see in the movie that isin the book, and what is barely hinted at in the film (and you really need to be looking for it to catch it) is the true nature of the relationship between Judd and Artie, namely that they were lovers. Any mention of what the book presents has been excised, probably due to the sensibilities of the times. I don’t think it would have played well, and probably would have muddied the waters. Today? Another story altogether.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">One comment on the opening music—although probably good for its time, now it sounded to me very 50ish and jarring, but perhaps that was the effect the composer was going for. It’s jazzy and discordant, so maybe that’s the right feel for two young men out of step with society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Look for Richard Anderson (Six Million Dollar Man) as Judd’s bossy older brother Max. And a young Gavin MacLeod (Captain Steubing on the Love Boat) as Horn’s assistant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Also on the DVD were the theatrical trailer and a teaser and two trailers from other Fox films—St. Valentine’s Day Massacre (Jason Robards Jr) and Murder Inc. (Stuart Whitman and Peter Falk).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">One last comment on the film. As I said before, Judd was just beginning a relationship with Ruth Evans, who was Sid Brooks’ girl, and I think that goes a long way to show his innate humanity, as opposed to Artie and his black book, his love ’em and leave ’em philosophy. There is a very intense scene between Judd and Ruth in the film.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">On the whole, I was very pleased with the film, and highly recommend it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-20993735245743125692013-02-13T00:01:00.000-08:002013-02-13T00:01:01.196-08:00Wednesday Briefs: Sebastian Laguerre<br />
Happy Wednesday! It's not only Hump Day, but it's time for a weekly dose of flash fiction from the authors who write the Wednesday Briefs! This week, most of our prompts had a Valentine's Day theme. Those were: "Love makes the world go round" or use hearts or Cupid or "If ever I would leave you..." or "I give to you and you give to me... true love..." (That's an old Dean Martin song btw lol) or anything having to do with Valentine's Day and/or candy!<br />
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Because of the theme, I set Stan and Ollie aside for a week, but never fear, they shall return. Instead, I offer this, which has the working title of Sebastian Laguerre. I'd love to hear what you think of this, as I have hopes of expanding it. So, please enjoy! And don't forget to visit the other Wednesday Briefers, whose links follow my tale!<br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Sebastian Laguerre</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;">And judging by the jangled lyre sounds emanating from his smartphone, it was his distant cousin and bandmate. When Sebastian caught up with Orpheus, he was going to have to hurt him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“Who’s that, baby?” The voice was muffled, its owner’s face buried in the thick pillows of the hotel’s double bed. Sebastian couldn’t remember his name—that was inconsequential; an unimportant detail, nothing to clutter his mind with. But whoever he was, he had a very delicious ass, one that Sebastian was thoroughly enjoying plowing. At least until the moment had been so rudely interrupted.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“Fuck me,” he muttered under his breath, before deigning to reply to the question. “Someone. I won’t be long. Just lie there.” He pulled out, irritably, and slid off the other man, wrapping the sheet about him, ignoring the shiver his action produced. He grabbed the phone and stalked into the bathroom, firmly shutting the door behind him before answering.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“This better be damn good. I was busy—”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“I can only imagine.” A throaty chuckle from the other end of the line.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“Why don’t you find Cupid and torture him if you’re bored?” Sebastian searched his image in the mirror. The lighting was harsher than he might like, but he still looked damn good. That was one of the benefits of being a demigod. Maybe he hadn’t gotten the looks that some of them had, particularly the bastard offspring of Aphrodite, his own father’s consort. But Sebastian was certainly beautiful in his own right and he knew it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">He pushed back unruly locks of curly black hair that came just to the nape of his neck. Twisting his head for a better view, he decided to let it grow out a little more. The trace of sexy stubble that he maintained above his full carmine lips and along his jaw was pleasing to him—he’d keep that as it was. His cool grey eyes were carefully lined in black. A perfect vision of loveliness. He blew a kiss at his reflection and smiled.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“Stop admiring yourself.” Orpheus laughed again. Sebastian scowled at the phone and turned from the mirror. “You know I can’t do that. The man’s busy, or have you forgotten what today is?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">It wasn’t so much that Sebastian had forgotten, he simply didn’t care. He found Cupid to be annoying, for the most part. Going on and on about love all the damn time. Like it really existed. Like it really mattered. As if it wasn’t anything more than hormonal urges that produced a vast mass hysteria. A hypnosis that muddled the brain and threw it into a tailspin from which it seldom recovered. It ruined lives, and made fools of normally intelligent men. The only useful byproduct was that it was also responsible for a great deal of violence, and had launched many a war.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Sebastian Laguerre loved no one but himself.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">And thank the gods he was beyond Valentine’s Day.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"> “Go bother my brothers, why don’t you? I’m busy,” Sebastian repeated. Okay, technically Phobos and Deimos were half-brothers, but whatever.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“You’re the only one that likes to hang with them,” Orpheus pointed out. “Normal people avoid them.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“Are you saying I’m not normal?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“You’re you and I love you for who you are, Sebby.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“Zeus’s beard, don’t call me that. I’m going. Go fuck yourself. Literally.” He clicked off the phone without waiting for the smart reply he knew was imminent and exited the bathroom. He let the sheet fall away from him as he wound his sinuous way back toward the bed; it trailed behind him until he stepped from it. Dropping onto all fours, he crawled across the bed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“I’m back,” he purred in a sultry voice. The other man shivered in anticipation, lifting his head at Sebastian’s return, although he was well trained enough that he did not turn to look. “Miss me, love?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“Mmm, yes, I did. Missed your cock up my ass. So much…”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“Of course you did.” Sebastian wore a very self-satisfied smirk. “Roll over, pet.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“Is it time, then?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“Mmmhmmm.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">He had a nice body, Sebastian admitted. Darryl? David? Dan? Something with a D, he was fairly sure. He was young, early twenties. Young and eager to please. And so far, he’d done a decent job of it. But, alas, all good things must come to an end. Sebastian wasn’t going to let that stop him from enjoying himself thoroughly.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">He positioned himself between the boy’s legs—Dirk? Devin?—and took himself in hand, pumping his cock a few times. Orpheus’ ill-timed interruption had brought it down slightly, but a little well-applied pressure restored its former tumescent state.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“Now where were we?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“About to reach glory,” the innocent supplied.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“Ah yes, just so.” He thrust inside of that tight channel in one hard stroke, producing a gasp of pure pleasure. Hot velvet surrounded his cock, a sensation heightened by the tightness of this boy’s muscles that clung so deliciously. “Touch yourself,” he instructed and the boy obeyed, grasping his cock and pumping.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“Not too fast,” Sebastian cautioned. “And don’t close your eyes. I want to see.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">The lids fluttered open again. Sebastian drove into him again, over and over, watching for the right moment. He’d know it by the boy’s responses. He’d see it in his eyes. He’d laid his instrument within reach; when he was ready he picked it up, looped the silk necktie about the boy’s neck and began to tighten it slowly, slowly…</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Sebastian could see the play of emotions in the boy’s blue eyes as he spun into euphoria, until his orgasm was inevitable, and Sebastian had wrung out all that he could. As the boy came, he tightened the tie completely, until all breathing ceased.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">* * * *</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">The body was discovered in front of a café near the Eiffel Tower, the heart in a small box beside it, along with a note—Happy Valentine’s Day, Inspector.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">to be continued...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">Now go check out the other Wednesday Briefers:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="yiv568912716apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;"><a href="http://nephylim-author.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;" target="_blank">Nephylim </a> </span></span><span class="yiv568912716apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;"> m/m</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://lilysawyerbooks.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;" target="_blank">Lily Sawyer</a> m/m </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="yiv568912716apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; outline: none;"><a href="http://talismania-brilliantdisguise.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;" target="_blank">Tali Spencer</a> </span></span><span class="yiv568912716apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; outline: none;"> m/m</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="yiv568912716apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;"><a href="http://ciasstories.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;" target="_blank">Cia Nordwell</a> </span> m/m</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://inadreambeyond.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;" target="_blank">Elyzabeth VaLey </a> m/f</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="yiv568912716apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; outline: none;"><a href="http://machurch00.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;" target="_blank">MA Church</a> </span></span><span class="yiv568912716apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; outline: none;"> m/m</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.mchoule.com/" rel="nofollow" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;" target="_blank">MC Houle</a> <span class="yiv568912716apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;"> m/m</span></span></div>
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Until next time, take care!<br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">♥ Julie</span></div>
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Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-41953947349247972072013-02-11T08:59:00.000-08:002013-02-11T08:59:50.843-08:00Revelations is here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This day has long been waited for, and anxiously, by a number of people, including myself and my friends and loyal readers.And now it's here! Revelations is a happening thing! Friday was release day and it's time to party. Like it's 1999 or 1699 or even 99 BC!<br />
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Revelations is available <a href="https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=657&category_id=69&manufacturer_id=293&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1" target="_blank">here</a>!</div>
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This book has been more than forty years in the making. No I didn't spend that long writing it. It took a great deal of thought. I know I've told this story on other blogs, but I'm going to tell it here, so make yourselves at home!<br />
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The idea was born many years ago. Over forty, actually. When
I was a teenager. Back then, it didn’t have a name, and it had no real shape.
But I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to tell the story of Judas Iscariot.
The trouble was I didn’t know how. </div>
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What drew me to Judas, is probably what you’re asking
yourself, and that’s a valid question. Ask anyone else who Judas is and you’ll
get answers that are probably all variations on a theme of betrayal. I’m not
sure exactly when I began to question that, but I do know that when I saw Jesus
Christ Superstar performed live back in 1971 (or thereabouts), I had an
epiphany regarding him. I saw him, not as the bad guy as often portrayed, but
someone who not only believed in Jesus but was willing to do what he needed him
to do. For without Judas’ “betrayal” of Jesus, the story would not have worked
out the way it did. It needed to happen that way. And if you read the Gospel of
Judas, he was the only apostle who trusted Jesus enough to do that for him.
Gives one food for thought, doesn’t it?</div>
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Very interesting, but where’s the story, I wondered. Was I
going to take an historical perspective, research the man and his life? Easier
said than done, especially back then. We had no Internet. We didn’t even have
computers. Research was all done through books. Libraries had card catalogs, a
far cry from today when you can log onto your library website and browse their
selection, then request what you want. So I looked and I found bupkus
(nothing). I had the Bible, of course, but it tends to be limited on
information, as well as a bit biased.</div>
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So nothing was written, and I let it go, as my thoughts
formulated in the back of my head. In the meantime, I was reading, watching…
and learning. King of Kings was my first Biblical movie, and I loved it.
Jeffrey Hunter’s portrayal of Jesus is very moving, and I was very enamored of
the film. Jesus Christ Superstar – I think I know all the words, I’ve listened
so many times. I liked the stage version, but the first film not so much. </div>
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Besides watching these things and others, I read.
Christopher Moore’s Lamb, The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal.
What a fabulous book! I loved it! So much I bought the special edition. And I
read The Gospel of Judas! Forty years ago I’d never heard of such a thing. Of
course I read the DaVinci Code, and watched the movie. And everything began to
percolate inside my head…</div>
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Then one day it happened. Judas spoke to me, for the first
time. And I simply began to write it down, not knowing what he might say, or
where his story might lead. It turned out to be quite the story and took me on
quite the journey, and led to places that I didn’t expect it to. If he’d have
spoken forty years ago, I would not have been ready to receive his message. But
my life up until the moment that I first heard him speak prepared me. And the
result is Revelations.</div>
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The original title was Kyrie Eleison, a tribute to the
Mister Mr. song, Kyrie. Kyrie eleison means Christ, have mercy on us. But then
fellow author Marie Sexton, who was reading Kyrie for me at the time, suggested
a simpler title. A better title. Revelations. So Revelations it became.</div>
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I know there are people who will not like Revelations, and
by extension, me. People who will not see the message it carries, only that it
does not follow what they believe. But ultimately, no matter what you believe, Revelations
is a story of love. Love is the message, and love is something that binds us
all together.</div>
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Revelations is love.</div>
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I'd like to celebrate Revelations release with you. Oh, I almost forgot! I have a book trailer: </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3Hhhwhess-A" width="420"></iframe><br />
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I hope you like it! I'd like to giveaway a copy of Revelations to someone! All I ask is that you comment, and tell me what you think about the book, or anything related to Revelations. And don't forget your email address!<br />
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Also, as part of my celebration, I'm guesting at two blogs: <a href="http://christikat.blogspot.com/2013/02/julie-lynn-hayes-revelations.html" target="_blank">Chris T. Kat</a> and <a href="http://mariesexton.net/the-making-of-revelations-by-julie-lynn-hayes" target="_blank">Marie Sexton</a>. Stop by and say hello!<br />
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I'll announce the winner in a week. And I haven't forgotten the Backlist Bloghop. I'll be announcing that soon too!<br />
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Until next time, take care!<br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">♥ Julie</span>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-63120865746978746332012-07-22T08:56:00.002-07:002013-02-11T08:57:02.691-08:00Serial Killer Sunday<br />
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Today I'm doing something a little bit different for Serial Killer Sunday - I'm posting a poem I wrote a long time ago that I recently ran across. I hope you like it! Don't forget, you have until the end of the month to join in the Blissemas in July fun and enter for a chance to win A Special Christmas!</div>
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Beware</div>
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By Julie Lynn Hayes</div>
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You can call me Charlie, </div>
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You can call me Ted.</div>
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Glance over your shoulder,</div>
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Check under your bed.</div>
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Search the smiles of total strangers—passersby you meet,</div>
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But don’t forget that loves ones, too, sometimes do feel the heat.</div>
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Underneath we are the same, you and I.</div>
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And I can go by any other name; haven’t I?</div>
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Landru, Gacy, Dahmer,</div>
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Madeline Smith and Mary Bell.</div>
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A cavalcade of honorees</div>
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Whose tales we know full well.</div>
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Berkowitz and Whitman,<br />
Wayne Williams and Richard Speck.</div>
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Lizzie Borden raised an axe,</div>
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Whacked Daddy in the neck.</div>
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Somewhere there is lurking</div>
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A man well known to you,</div>
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Behind the public face he wears</div>
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A secret smile – what did he do?</div>
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Perhaps you’ll never know. </div>
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Can you watch him all the time?</div>
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You’ve got your own life to lead,</div>
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And so do he and I.</div>
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A secret rage burns deep inside of many hidden hearts,</div>
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A time bomb measured in increments of broken body parts.</div>
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Think twice before you pick a fight, or flip someone the bird.</div>
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For there are far worse things in life than an unpleasant word.</div>
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The bell keeps tolling,</div>
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The body count growing.</div>
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Just remember this,</div>
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As you live in ignorant bliss,</div>
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Only the worst among us has been caught,</div>
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The best are still at large.</div>
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Until next time, take care!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">♥ Julie</span></div>
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Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-87360964901193481572012-07-08T08:50:00.000-07:002012-07-08T08:50:14.740-07:00Sunday Salute - Happy Birthday, Percy Grainger<br />
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On July 8, 1882, one of my favorite composers was born - Percy Grainger - and to celebrate his 130th birthday, I'm going to salute him today. Most people today will not know who he is, or what he did, but he was a very prolific composer and extraordinary pianist. He was very popular in his day, comparable to the rock stars of today. He was very good looking and very charismatic. But deep within, there was a lot more to Percy than that, including having to care for his ill mother from an early age (she'd contracted syphilis from her husband and it wasn't curable then), and his predilection for the whips. He was also well known as a collector of folk songs and an arranger, as well. Next time you hear Irish Air From County Derry, you might be listening to one of Percy's arrangements. Don't know that song? Maybe you know the more popular title - Danny Boy.</div>
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I first became interested in Percy and his life and music in a roundabout way - through the film Moulin Rouge. How does that connect to Percy Grainger, you ask? Well, I fell in love with the Duke, and the Duke was played by actor Richard Roxburgh. Naturally, I had to look up more of his films, and one of those was something called Passion, which co-starred Barbara Hershey. It was a bio-pic of composer Percy Grainger. I bought the movie and fell in love, began reading books about Percy, including the marvelous John Bird biography, and the rest, as they say is history. For more information, go visit the <a href="http://percyproject.com/" target="_blank">Percy Project</a>.</div>
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So, happy birthday, Percy, and many happy returns. You are, and shall ever be, close to my heart!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Percy Aldridge Grainger is the most famous composer/pianist ever to emerge from the Australian continent - an enigmatic, complicated man whose amazing talents produced far-reaching effects on the musical world, and yet who remains vastly unknown today, even in his native land. He was born on July 8, 1882 in Brighton, a suburb of Melbourne, to John and Rose Grainger. Although originally christened George Percy Grainger, he began to use the name Percy Aldridge Grainger, somewhere around 1912, in tribute to his mother's family. One can only speculate as to his feelings toward his father at that point. John Grainger was an engineer/architect of considerable ability, most noted for his design of the Princes Bridge in Melbourne.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Percy was primarily raised by his mother Rose, a strong, intelligent woman possessed of musical ability whose family hailed from Adelaide, and who had visions of her son as a gifted musician even before his birth. From the ages of five to ten, she painstakingly tutored him on the piano, instilling a deep and abiding love of music in the boy which never flagged during his lifetime. His only formal education was a brief stint of a few months at the Misses Turner's Preparatory School for Boys in South Yarra, a time during which he "ran home madly as soon as school was out, to avoid fights with other boys", sometime about 1894-95. Other than that, Rose handled his general education. Even as a child, Percy was fascinated by the sounds of nature, and had many happy memories of the time spent at his beloved Albert Park in Melbourne, watching and listening to the waves of the Albert Park Lake, which in time led to his interest in and development of his Free Music...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">By 1890, John Grainger had moved out of the family home, never to return. Rose turned Percy's musical education after the age of ten over to Dr. Louis Pabst, feeling that she had taken her son as far as she could, and on July 9, 1894, Percy made his public debut at Melbourne's Masonic Hall to excellent reviews.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The next year, after a hugely successful farewell Benefit Concert in The Melbourne Town Hall, Rose Grainger moved the two of them to Germany, so that Percy could have better study opportunities with the finest teachers in Europe. There he formed some of the friendships which were to last throughout most of his life among his fellow students - Roger Quilter, Balfour Gardiner, Cyril Scott, and Norman O'Neill. This group of young composers, along with Percy, became known as the Frankfurt Five. They called him Perks, encouraged one another in their compositional ambitions. Here Percy also met another lifelong friend, Danish cellist Herman Sandby, who saw great things in the music of this wild-haired young Australian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">At this time, Rose Grainger's health was not the best. Known only to her young son, she suffered from syphilis, which she had contracted from her alcoholic, womanizing husband, and which at that time was incurable. The disease would flare up from time to time and she would find herself unable to make a living for herself and her son. On top of that, she had an accident in which she slipped on some ice, coupled with a nervous collapse, which left Percy as sole provider for the family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">He performed at recitals, accompanied singers and gave private piano lessons, while Rose was forced to recuperate for months, nursed chiefly by her son. In 1901, Rose and Percy bade farewell to Germany and set their sights on making their way in London. The thirteen years that they were to spend there saw Percy firmly establish his reputation as a world-class pianist. He gave many recitals, frequently in the homes of the well-to-do. He was not fond of doing this, much preferring to compose rather than put himself on display for what he considered to be the idle rich. But it was what he had to do to keep himself and Rose, as well as his ailing father.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">He made many useful contacts in this way, and met fellow composers who became his friends - Grieg, Delius, Vaughan Williams, among others. Cyril Scott had come to London before Percy and they happily resumed their friendship, although Rose kept a firm hand on Percy's time and energies, controlling every facet of his life, including his love life. Percy had a patroness, Lilith Lowrey, a fortyish married member of society, who insisted that he become her lover if he wanted to continue to receive the benefit of her patronage, and he had no choice but to obey, losing his virginity to her at the age of twenty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Percy loved his mother very much, and was a very dutiful son. He had taken on the responsibility of caring for her since the departure of his architect father, and was determined to put Rose above everything else. Through his friend Sandby, he met and fell in love with a young Danish woman, Karen Holten, and they continued a close relationship for eight years, primarily via correspondence, and vacations taken together about once a year. Percy realized, however, that he could not marry Karen or any other woman at that time, for no woman would consent to take a back seat to his mother, and he could not abrogate the responsibility which he had taken upon himself. So reluctantly he let Karen go and she married another, although they maintained a friendship until her death in 1953. He composed a piece of music on the occasion of her marriage, Bridal Lullaby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">It was during his time in England that he developed an interest in folksong collecting, an enthusiasm also shared by his friend Cecil Sharp. He spent much time going about the English countryside, particularly in Lincolnshire, gathering the songs of the folk singers and recording them on cylinders, a practice not much used before. One of his arrangements of the song Country Gardens eventually became the best known of his works, overshadowing his other compositions, and it brought in a comfortable income until he died. This was to his chagrin, for he was dismayed that people would remember him for such a light piece, and never get to know the other more important things that he had done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In 1914, with the war in Europe breaking out, Percy and Rose decided that it was not safe for them to remain there any longer, and feared an untimely end to Percy's budding musical career if he should have to fight in the army. A pacifist by nature, he did not believe in the unsportsmanlike, unmanly way in which modern wars had come to be conducted, and wanted no part of them. So he and Rose left the country, coming to America, which had been of interest to him for some time. There, he was embraced by the American public and his career took off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">He took as an agent Antonia Sawyer, who became a good friend as well. In 1917, amid the jeers of people back in England who called him a coward, he decided to enlist in the army, bought a soprano saxophone and marched off to Fort Totten. He enlisted under the name of PA Grainger, and was immediately transferred to Fort Hamilton, South Brooklyn, as a member of the 15th Band of the Coast Artillery Corps under band leader Rocco Resta. Because there was a surplus of saxophones, Percy was given an oboe to play and contentedly played in anonymity until at one of the band's concerts, he was recognized by a reporter and flushed out for who he really was. He spent the war years giving concerts and helping to raise funds for such organizations as the Red Cross, for which he made a lifelong commitment of assistance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Percy's stint in the army led to his interest in composing for wind bands, and he was one of the first composers to realize their potential. He wrote a beautiful suite, Lincolnshire Posy, based on several songs he had collected. Besides Country Gardens, some of his other successful compositions included Molly on the Shore, Shepherd's Hey and Irish Tune From County Derry (Danny Boy).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In 1921, Percy purchased a home in White Plains, New York, for himself and Rose, whose health was deteriorating. His next door neighbors were Tonie and Frederick Morse (Tonie was Antonia Sawyer's niece, and eventually became Percy's manager, while Frederick acted as secretary and wrestling partner). Percy and Rose had never been separated for more than three weeks at a time throughout his life, even while he was on tour, but in early 1922, she was unable to accompany him on a two-month tour of the Pacific coast and Canada. Perhaps Rose felt that her control of Percy was slipping, perhaps she agonized over his need for a wife versus her need to be the most important person in his life, or perhaps her syphilis had become too overwhelming for her to handle any longer. There were also rumours of an incestuous relationship existing between her and Percy, the result of a bitter ex-girlfriend who blamed Rose for the breakup of her relationship with Percy. Whatever the reason, on April 30, 1922, she plunged from the eighteenth floor of the Aeolian Building in New York, where Antonia Sawyer had her office. Percy was conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the time. When he reached his dressing room, a telegram awaited him stating that his mother had died. It was only on the train trip back to New York that a distraught Percy learned the details of her death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Rose's death was a blow from which Percy never fully recovered. He traveled and went on tours, collecting folk songs in Denmark with Evald Tang Kristensen. In Norway, he saw Frederick Delius again for the first time in many years, and was saddened at the state of his friend's deteriorating health (Delius also suffered from syphilis). In 1924 Percy became a vegetarian (he referred to it as meat-shunment, part of his blue-eyed English - a quixotic attempt to expunge the English language of all words of Latin and Greek derivation). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In 1926, while returning to America from Australia aboard the RMMS Aorangi, he met and fell in love with a Swedish poet/courtesan - Ella Viola Ström. It was love at first sight for the heartsick Percy, but he did not immediately win over the girl of his dreams. He courted her assiduously, visiting with her at her home in Pevensey Bay, England, while she communicated with her Japanese lover, Iyemasa Tokugawa, as to ending their relationship and marrying Percy. Apparently he gave his consent, for they were wed at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles on August 9, 1928, before a crowd of some 20,000 who had attended Percy's concert there. For the occasion, he wrote a piece of music for his bride - To A Nordic Princess. They remained married until Percy's death in 1961. This marriage produced no offspring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Some of Percy's more ambitious compositions include The Warriors (Music for an Imaginary Ballet), Random Round, In A Nutshell, The Jungle Book among others. He was one of the foremost pianists of his era, and his skill is still evident in the CDs which are available of his works, which were originally recorded on cylinders and on Duo-Art Recording Piano rolls He spent many years working on his concept of free music, building machines which would eliminate the need for a performer, and he developed the forerunner of the modern synthesizer. He also developed the idea of beatless music and in 1908 came up with a prototype of the modern sports bra, so his lover could comfortably run with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">He remained very outspoken in his views, and often contradicted his words with his actions. He championed composer Henry Cowell when others turned their backs on him for what was at that time viewed as moral turpitude, kept in touch with him while Cowell was in prison and allowed him to be released to his guardianship, where he employed him at the Graingers' White Plains home. He was very publicity conscious, and this too coloured the things that he did. Viewed by some as a racist, he actually liked all people, and worked assiduously to introduce the public to types of music not commonly heard - claiming that music was dominated by the Germans and Russians, to the detriment of other nations - Polynesians, Africans, Asians, to name a few.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">He was a champion of physical fitness, and stayed in top form throughout his life. He designed clothing from colourfully patterned towel material, as well as beaded necklaces. He loved Kipling, and spent over fifty years on his musical studies of the Jungle Book, which contain some of the most beautiful choral music ever written. He had an affinity for writing startlingly compelling chromatic harmonies which is equaled by few composers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">He began building a museum for himself in Melbourne in 1932, in order not just to collect the pieces of his life, but to help to understand the influences that came to bear in making him the person that he was. A prolific archivist, his correspondence is simply amazing to behold, and is currently in the process of being catalogued. Also in the Grainger Museum are many of his instruments and memorabilia from the people in his life, including life-sized dummies wearing their original clothes (which he requested from his friends, as well as copies of all correspondence).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Percy Aldridge Grainger was a man ahead of his time in many ways. If he had been born at a later time, today he would probably be a cultural phenomenon, gracing the pages of supermarket tabloids worldwide with his striking Adonis looks, his immense talent for the keyboard as well as his talent for being controversial, and for his antics both on stage and off - including his various athletic leaps upon the stage, being mistakenly arrested for vagrancy (more than once), moving pianos on stage, his espousal of blue-eyed English, his relationship with his mother and his proclivity toward the use of whips in his sex-life. Percy Grainger was indeed one of a kind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p>Go to YouTube, go to your library, start listening to Percy's music now. You'll be glad you did! You'll see why I love this man so!</o:p></div>
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<o:p>Until next time, take care!</o:p></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">♥ Julie</span></o:p></div>
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</div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-59018149592073040862012-04-23T11:47:00.001-07:002012-04-23T11:47:26.861-07:00Saying Goodbye to Barnabas Collins<br />
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A few days ago, we were rocked by the sudden demise of Jonathan Frid, our beloved Barnabas Collins. He did live a long and amazing life, and he'll be sorely missed by us, his fans. I fell in love with him when I was about twelve, when I discovered the world of Dark Shadows. I began my love affair with vampires upon reading Bram Stoker's novel, one that continues to this day. I cut pictures of Barnabas from the fan magazines and taped them to my wall. Every night, before I went to bed, I kissed him good night. There is a place in my heart where he'll always live. We are blessed to have had him. I'm introducing him to my daughter Sarah, and she too is saddened at his loss.</div>
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Today I'm going to post pictures of him, in his memory. Rest in peace, dear friend, and thank you for all that you gave to us.</div>
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This is the portrait of Barnabas that hangs in the foyer of Collinwood. Or, rather, of his "ancestor". Funny how they look exactly alike, isn't it? And that when the present day Barnabas shows up, he has both the ring and the cane.</div>
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Suspicious much?</div>
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At times, Dark Shadows could be a bit hokey and campy, but it was well loved. Look in early episodes and you'll see the shadow of the boom mic.</div>
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Barnabas with Dr. Julia Hoffman, the psychiatrist that became his staunchest ally and best friend. She had a huge crush on Barnabas, but it could never be because of his obsession with his lost Josette.</div>
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The show liked to take forays into the past at times, and the cast would sometimes play other versions of themselves, or different characters. In one incarnation, Julia was Magda the gypsy. Barnabas was always himself.</div>
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And now Tim Burton is set to release the remake of Dark Shadows on May 4th. At first I thought it might be good, that Johnny Depp might do justice to the role. Until I saw the pre-release photos, and then I saw the trailer and I thought I was going to be ill. This movie is a mockery and a travesty. I hope it fails; it deserves to. It takes Dark Shadows and makes a huge joke out of it. Dark Shadows was Gothic camp, not humorous camp, like Lost in Space. I just lost my respect for Tim Burton as a filmmaker. And Johnny? Really? Didn't you find it to be over the top in the wrong way?</div>
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Rest in peace, dear friend, you will be greatly missed. Thank you for everything you gave us.</div>
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Until next time, take care!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">♥ Julie</span></div>
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</div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-84574185614841621502012-02-05T10:24:00.001-08:002012-04-15T10:12:22.900-07:00Sexy Villain Sunday; Jim Profit's the Man<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The definition of a villain lies in the eye of the beholder. According to Merriam-Webster, a villain is "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">a character in a story or play who opposes the hero." But what if the villain <i>is</i> the hero? In other words, the protagonist. Does that change anything, such as the perception we have of him? Conversely, does it make the good guys the heroes? I guess it depends on your point of view.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">I just finished watching the pitifully few episodes of Profit that were made. It was never picked up for a second season, and never given resolution. At one time, shows had the plug pulled and never had the opportunity to wrap everything up in a neat little package, knowing they'd been cancelled. Hence, we left the brave castaways still shipwrecked on Gilligan's Island ('til many years later, when the miracle of TV movies rescued them at long last). The bad thing about this scenario is that we don't find out the answer to the burning questions we have regarding our favorite characters. Of course, on the other hand, some series that were allowed to do this, did it pretty ridiculously and we'd have been better served if they'd simply avoided it. One example of this is St. Elsewhere, whose resolution involved an austic boy's dream. The entire series. Seriously? That's worse than the Bobby-dream sequence season of Dallas, which was horrible too, but at least we only lost one season. In the case of St. Elsewhere, it was all in a child's head, nothing more.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxsCQDC6bvtfb5RoSOzIQyGHhJ4DUj3k4w5YMnkeWPdFgQP3znhM0CUpq2Af10UMgr29rrlJ8VkmqKv6ePreDn-u3nFJlobpFXtl-3rxKkHxRuLoSuklwOaw6JF8eQW9P8WSZWoQ9EZ3A/s1600/profit_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxsCQDC6bvtfb5RoSOzIQyGHhJ4DUj3k4w5YMnkeWPdFgQP3znhM0CUpq2Af10UMgr29rrlJ8VkmqKv6ePreDn-u3nFJlobpFXtl-3rxKkHxRuLoSuklwOaw6JF8eQW9P8WSZWoQ9EZ3A/s320/profit_5.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Profit was the brainchild of David Greenwalt and John McNamara, produced by Stephen Cannell. The trouble with Profit is that it was ahead of its time. Cable networks weren't what they are now, and although it was picked up by Fox, it proved to be too edgy for mainstream television audiences. I'm convinced, to quote Judas in <i> </i>Jesus Christ Superstar: <i>If you'd come today, you would have reached a whole nation.</i> Okay, maybe he was talking about Israel in 4 B.C., but you get the point. If Profit were to air now, it would be quite successful, of that I have no doubt.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZbYSS-rbidEuStHPoqybpwVVY2kj7mLd5bPU2X-LdTKN60LmYyOlTu6IGiXz10rtZQ09X0msOG5v3Ok-LtQzYmO5F98uLgxCtkNgcd1JhAC59HIP-68dTPjFJQm3hRdxEVikB63f1LZE/s1600/Jim+Profit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZbYSS-rbidEuStHPoqybpwVVY2kj7mLd5bPU2X-LdTKN60LmYyOlTu6IGiXz10rtZQ09X0msOG5v3Ok-LtQzYmO5F98uLgxCtkNgcd1JhAC59HIP-68dTPjFJQm3hRdxEVikB63f1LZE/s1600/Jim+Profit.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">The protagonist of Profit is, of course, Jim Profit, played by the delectable Adrian Pasdar. He is the hero, but arguably he is also a villain. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants - power, wealth, control - inside of G&G, Gracen & Gracen, his employers.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">****SPOILERS****** A little background first. Jim Profit was born Jim Stawowski in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His father was worse than neglectful, he was abusive. He stuck the year old child into a large cardboard box, with a slit cut out through which he could view the television; once a week he threw in food and supplies. The television was Jim's only contact with the outside world. He grew to hate it once he became an adult. He decided to make a place for himself at G&G - not surprisingly, the box was one of theirs, the only family he has really known. As the series began, Jim has just received a promotion following the death of the former VP of Acquisitions at G&G. G&G is a family-owned business. Chaz Gracen is the CEO, bumbling brother Pete is Senior VP of Acquisitions; Jack Walters is married to their cousin, and is President of Acquisitions (but not for long); Joanne Meltzer (Lisa Zane) is Jack's ex and the obsessive head of Security who is determined to destroy Jim Profit at all costs.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQes6jTDVBmltJDnIp65Ir3SqBO4CquWAH1DAbrP-9VZUgOIfAu_JeZValN5sWzfYnAhGlV0lUHn0IuiQYtdew3pWWKNNc6VGes0SYQYGm_1wbAmszzGbLL2rOlzIRn6l6PO7sUG4bvTH7/s1600/profit101a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQes6jTDVBmltJDnIp65Ir3SqBO4CquWAH1DAbrP-9VZUgOIfAu_JeZValN5sWzfYnAhGlV0lUHn0IuiQYtdew3pWWKNNc6VGes0SYQYGm_1wbAmszzGbLL2rOlzIRn6l6PO7sUG4bvTH7/s320/profit101a.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">And then there's Bobby (Lisa Blount). We first see her in the pilot, at the end of the first hour. Jim is told he has a visitor in his office. He enters, sees her and closes the door, whereupon the woman practically throws herself into his arms and they proceed to kiss rather warmly. When they finally pull apart, she greets him with, "Hello Jimmy," and he responds with, "Hi Mom". Yeah, right. I was very amazed myself at first, until it's revealed that she's his stepmother, not his biological mother. However, I learned when I watched the extras on the dvd that originally Bobby was his mother, and that the reason for the first rejection of the series was due to that. Fox picked it up, but before it was actually shot, they requested the change to stepmother.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqBUXX-lnK-r63Oeukcx6IvahZlvO1C4BGgHkkITNP0rZ0zMJOIsSXivqESklLOkEajZYh-0k91pnZYW0I87JJUi8dKaHNg-JZeLe0KqoGWHAr-6WhOm-2GIu9fHUQZ7au7oytPZehUbr/s1600/profit-secretary-whisper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqBUXX-lnK-r63Oeukcx6IvahZlvO1C4BGgHkkITNP0rZ0zMJOIsSXivqESklLOkEajZYh-0k91pnZYW0I87JJUi8dKaHNg-JZeLe0KqoGWHAr-6WhOm-2GIu9fHUQZ7au7oytPZehUbr/s320/profit-secretary-whisper.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="285" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Every good villain needs a sidekick, right? For Jim Profit, it was Gail Koner (Lisa Darr). She's Jack's assistant, and a nice person. But he learns her secret (everyone has at least one) - she's skimming a few cents here and there, in order to make her mother more comfortable in the nursing home she's in. Jim thinks that's an admirable motive - as he tells her when he reveals his knowledge of her crime - and would she please do him a favor? Thus begins their relationship. Gail ends up as Jim's assistant, and he leads her down the path of... well, that's for you to decide. Personally, if that were me, I'd have no problem doing what he asks of her. He's charming, sexy, handsome, intelligent. Did I say drop dead gorgeous? Is Gail a good guy or bad guy? I guess that depends on how your moral compass swings. And how you view Jim Profit. In just the few episodes made, you can watch her evolution from unwilling accomplice to trusted sidekick, her dreams of being a player in this world shattered by indifferent corporate execds - until Jim Profit takes her in hand. . I like to believe that under Jim's tutelage, someday she achieved her goals. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXusGd_hYKxLACorAK9nOAsRLI5GgFJSSnJIcNxhY4etdRdNyXPiU1SqLctSLFRIH1xgdBWPt7mVms7Z3jITYD-M7xmD_lUWayfD1J84-cEYl2yZFHywwFJ2uf4jDnEPvIZCgVrMHpQjMI/s1600/At+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXusGd_hYKxLACorAK9nOAsRLI5GgFJSSnJIcNxhY4etdRdNyXPiU1SqLctSLFRIH1xgdBWPt7mVms7Z3jITYD-M7xmD_lUWayfD1J84-cEYl2yZFHywwFJ2uf4jDnEPvIZCgVrMHpQjMI/s1600/At+window.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Jim uses whomever he needs to use. He exploits the loneliness of drunken Pete's wife Nora, becomes her friend, hints at more, plans a romantic assignation, but at the last minute tells her he cares too much to do that to her.(But he manages some mighty fine manipulation in the process) When he finally kills his father - an action begun when he was fifteen (Jim handcuffed him to the bed and set the trailer on fire, then took off), he thinks he's rid of his stepmother, but the plucky Bobby has other ideas. She's loud, brash, loose and amoral. She loves to live high on the hog but she doesn't want to do any more work than is involved in spreading her legs. And she knows the value of an audio recording. So he tolerates her, and has to give in to her demands, material and otherwise, for now. And yes, he continues to service her as well. At least he goes through the paces. You just know she broke him in, years ago. Theirs is a love/hate relationship, as much as Jim can feel love. Which isn't much.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8RIkNjbj7tvTHBCYBMZsHhvl1yrUx0VgbLtsyITEI_tSWvIc0Y1doJbPke_gulP7esu-6hpe9Gil0VhiGtVxbP_ktwm_pi7UXpn44xhWwL0MsAI_M7rS4ez1tyW0NrHkiUz0RNoN4SVU/s1600/computer+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8RIkNjbj7tvTHBCYBMZsHhvl1yrUx0VgbLtsyITEI_tSWvIc0Y1doJbPke_gulP7esu-6hpe9Gil0VhiGtVxbP_ktwm_pi7UXpn44xhWwL0MsAI_M7rS4ez1tyW0NrHkiUz0RNoN4SVU/s1600/computer+image.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">One of the most shocking, haunting, mind blowing images you'll ever want to see occurs at the end of the pilot. Throughout the series, you see Jim at home at his computer, sitting before it in the nude. He has a secret area in his apartment, where no one is allowed, where he makes his Machiavellian plans. You might think he's attempting to wrest control of G&G, but you'd be wrong. He doesn't wish to step into the light, he chooses to remain in the shadows. To be the power behind the throne. To eliminate everyone who gets in his way. In the pilot, he gets a program, thanks to Gail, which gives him virtual access to G&G, and everyone's files, including digital representations of everyone there. He delights in blowing up these 3-D images as he destroys each person. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsMbqbSE-2BK9f1ssg1MkIKWkaKqOoBF3dUjO9ugCNsB5_QTQbDQAhbgTD_jHM4xVIkmB_st_zDzyzuJ1qqpakLuUg3yAOPUGEWZqnLS06_97ZiNgW_JfH_BfLqejsk9XnJWPmS2WnXm0/s1600/profit1box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsMbqbSE-2BK9f1ssg1MkIKWkaKqOoBF3dUjO9ugCNsB5_QTQbDQAhbgTD_jHM4xVIkmB_st_zDzyzuJ1qqpakLuUg3yAOPUGEWZqnLS06_97ZiNgW_JfH_BfLqejsk9XnJWPmS2WnXm0/s320/profit1box.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">But about the image. As I said, he spends a lot of time at this computer, scheming, sitting there in the nude (if you're hoping to see something, remember - this was shown on Fox, not happening). At the very end of the pilot, when he calls it a night and retires, we see what we haven't seen before - he has THE box, there in his little sanctuary. The one he was brought up in. (If not the very one, then the same type, we're never sure, but it's definitely a G&G box). And he curls up in it and sleeps there, every night. I'm telling you that was one hell of a surprise, and that image is indelibly burned into my brain. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">I realized while watching the extra something that probably explains at least part of my attraction to Jim Profit. It's that whole power behind the throne angle. Just like the man who's my historical crush - Cardinal Armand Jean Duplessis Richeileu. Although he virtually ruled France for many years, he was content to appear to be the king's right-hand man. Richelieu was a very complex and fascinating character. And yet if you ask most people today about him, they'll say he was a villain. Why? Most likely because Alexander Dumas painted him that way in his Musketeer books, a portrayal which has been replicated in the film versions.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"> It's all a matter of perception.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">So there you have it - Jim Profit is my modern day Cardinal Richelieu. No wonder I'm attracted to him.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Sinner or Saint? You make the call. There is no right or wrong. I recommend that you check out Profit - you'll be glad you did.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Until next time, take care!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">♥ Julie</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div id="wrc-float-icon" style="background-image: url(safari-extension://com.avast.wrc-6H4HRTU5E3/21225443/images/float/green-3.png); display: none; height: 42px; left: 15px; position: fixed; top: 15px; width: 42px; z-index: 2147483646;"></div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-2371498614864906682012-01-29T11:43:00.000-08:002012-01-29T11:43:11.702-08:00Serial Killer Sunday - Red Dragon Review<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My favorite fictional serial killer is Hannibal Lecter. This was his debut, Thomas Harris' <b><i>Red Dragon</i></b>.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0v9_szAllDGZEBQXo4Bm9P73N-4-1NeyLc5zi1lo_DbRpO2vlW7SamFusOWAOm0MQg7slDUrg6SKsZF8dEzA8Rz3BIsSHusBQhSwY-9VnRnx_qinuOa-8IHQz-C8XsvLntcNPcFQBD9kp/s1600/Red+Dragon+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0v9_szAllDGZEBQXo4Bm9P73N-4-1NeyLc5zi1lo_DbRpO2vlW7SamFusOWAOm0MQg7slDUrg6SKsZF8dEzA8Rz3BIsSHusBQhSwY-9VnRnx_qinuOa-8IHQz-C8XsvLntcNPcFQBD9kp/s320/Red+Dragon+cover.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="181" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Red Dragon <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Author:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Thomas Harris<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Publisher:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Berkley (reprint, originally Dell)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">American release date:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> January 6, 2009<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Format/Genre/Length: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Novel/Thriller/464 pages<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Publisher/Industry Age Rating: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">NR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Overall Personal Rating: </span></b><b><span lang="JA" style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">☆☆☆☆☆</span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Similar series or titles to check out: </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Silence of the Lambs</span></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">, <i>Hannibal</i>, <i>Hannibal Rising</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what FBI agent Jack Crawford wants of Will Graham—especially with the headlines blaring about the two murders; one in Atlanta, the other in Birmingham. More than enough reason for Crawford to come down to Florida, to get the consultant’s take on the killer. The choice of locale is deliberate—when he shows Will the photos of the deceased families, children included, he can’t help but contrast that with his own wife and stepson. How can he refuse to help catch someone who hurts children?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Synopsis:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Will hasn’t been with the FBI since before he met Molly, leaving the Bureau after his unfortunate encounter with a particular serial killer by the name of Hannibal Lecter—an encounter he almost didn’t survive. Nonetheless, and against Molly’s wishes, he agrees to help the FBI find the killer the media has dubbed the Tooth Fairy. First he travels to Atlanta, to the house the Leeds family had lived in. Everything is still in place, waiting for them, as if expecting them home at any moment. Will looks at their life, in situ, trying to piece together what happened to them so he can determine what sort of person did this and create a profile for the FBI to use in order to look for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It’s the little things that speak to him, cause him to ask questions. He tries to make sense of the bloodstains, figure out what happened when. Why did the killer move the family around? Was there a purpose to his madness? And by any chance when he did, did he leave a fingerprint behind?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The murders each took place during the full moon, which surely isn’t coincidence, and which means they only have less than a month til the next one. Before the next full moon, they not only have to figure out who this guy is but who his next victims will be, before it’s too late. Will gets more and more engrossed in the chase, while somewhere in the Midwest a man is planning his next move—and his Becoming. Will decides he needs to consult with someone, the only person he knows that can shed some light on this killer—Dr. Hannibal Lecter himself. Will this encounter end better than the last one? And will the good doctor deign to cooperate?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Add to the mix a sleazy tabloid reporter with a penchant for stirring the shit so it hits the fan, and a killer with a deep seated admiration for Dr. Lecter—you’ve got a sure fire recipe for death and mayhem!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Commentary:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In this first volume of Thomas Harris’ Hannibal series, we get a glimpse of his extraordinary character, Dr. Lecter. I think he is undoubtedly one of the greatest characters ever created, with a great deal of depth and far more to him than meets the eye. There are things we won’t even learn about him in this volume; it’s just a teaser for what comes later. This book is Will Graham’s story and how he deals with having met Hannibal in the past and his need to consult him in the present. It’s about his desire to preserve his way of life balanced against the desire to save innocent lives from a deranged madman. Which side will win?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It’s brilliantly written, fast paced and well executed. The character of Francis Dolarhyde is well drawn, and not above eliciting sympathy for what he cannot help. His unraveling is fascinating to behold—and he does not go down alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is a must read introduction to the world of Hannibal Lecter—it sets the stage and sets it well for what comes after. Not to be missed at any price.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-31145266274766584552012-01-22T08:29:00.000-08:002012-01-22T08:29:52.232-08:00Winter Demon volume 4 Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwO29uqSzIvjEbdcWCOPXI7smgmSZHcnb5Jxn8wJzSRRRYBVBcClpssUzJHbh21EfoEzdnypmXYkwoGQ1dXm5lezz-__Wpmf5BDrT37SzJ2JhQ-D-hokQwv1fCTvBbH5IA38JTWTgJdLw/s1600/Winter+Demon+Volume+4+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwO29uqSzIvjEbdcWCOPXI7smgmSZHcnb5Jxn8wJzSRRRYBVBcClpssUzJHbh21EfoEzdnypmXYkwoGQ1dXm5lezz-__Wpmf5BDrT37SzJ2JhQ-D-hokQwv1fCTvBbH5IA38JTWTgJdLw/s1600/Winter+Demon+Volume+4+cover.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Winter Demon, Volume 4 </span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Author: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Yamila Abraham<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Distributor:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Yaoi Press<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">American release date:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 2008<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Format/Genre: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Manga/Yaoi<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Publisher/Industry Age Rating: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Mature<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Overall Personal Rating: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Mincho';">★★★★</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Similar series or titles to check out: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 9th Sleep<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ever since Lord Ryuuto took mortal form to help Doctor Takuma heal the soliders, they have been growing closer, even though the timid Doctor will go no further than kisses with the demon. He is so afraid of what will happen, that he tries to keep his last patient as long as he can, but Ryuuto dismisses him, so now they are alone, other than for Takuma's ill sister. Their solitude is broken by the approach of a demon- it's Fuyu, bearing Hakuin in his arms, begging the doctor to please heal him. And as Takuma does so, two couples are left to take the measure of one another, to observe - to watch and to learn, one couple from the other.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Synopsis:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Takuma observes the tender relationship between Fuyu and Hakuin and wonders can he and Ryuuto have the same thing? Fuyu, aware now of the purification of himself that has been practiced by Hakuin without his knowledge, wants to ascertain that even without it, he would love and cherish the monk. Both demons have fears of losing themselves somehow by being less demonic, and both fear hurting the ones they care about.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ryuuoto and Fuyu have a demon to demon talk, and Ryuuoto decides to try the purification thing. But somehow it doesn't go quite as planned. And Fuyu has Hakuin cease with his purification treatments- with its own backlash. To further muddy the waters, Priest Shidan informs Fuyu that he really needs to service Figaru - he has this once a month need to be sexed up thing going on. But Fuyu, who is happy in Hakuin's love, doesn't want to mess with that. Although, now that he's not purified, things aren't running quite as smoothly as before.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Will Figaru be the monkey wrench that bolluxes everything up, or the savior that is just what everybody needs?<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <b><u>Commentary:<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">And now we complete our journey in this fourth volume of <b><i>Winter Demon</i></b>. There is a great deal going on here, much to think about, lessons in love that everyone can take to heart and consider. If there is an underlying theme here, I think it is that of partnership - one person cannot do and be everything for another, but together, the sum is greater than the individual parts. Fuyu, when he loses Hakuin's purification, is not himself, but when he has it, the two of them have it all. It has to be the purity of their love that makes it so, not just the spell itself. And after all, is that such a bad thing? Takuma and Ryuuto too must face their own personal demons, and learn from them - Takuma learns trust, and Ryuuto learns temperance, and taking it slow and easy. Together, I think they can make it. If Ryuuto can explain the Figaru thing, that is.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The last volume of the series is a very satisfactory one, leaving you to bid a fond farewell to these two couples, with great hopes for their future together. If you've read this far, for heaven's sake, don't stop now. This is a gotta read volume. If you're just starting, go back to the beginning, or you'll miss out on a great journey. I still am not totally enamored of the artwork, but I've gotten used to it, and although it doesn't showcase the writing as well as I'd wish, it's adequate for what it's meant to do. For after all, the story's the thing. And the story is well told. So simply enjoy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-3867364322504267672012-01-15T08:19:00.000-08:002012-01-15T08:19:07.767-08:00Serial Killer Sunday: Double Dexter Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKLTmWOkyqGpWnBiNw7c98u6Qno6qhX017fjDfeCcjFYCNlBad1IUX4dx-9xOnk8UbPb7zmgnGat5aacgtksGiPyjafR5lCQPSpWt_f5PNt3cZEwsnuLFCyQx4RbjqewFkeDvWRdOn2Q/s1600/Double+Dexter+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKLTmWOkyqGpWnBiNw7c98u6Qno6qhX017fjDfeCcjFYCNlBad1IUX4dx-9xOnk8UbPb7zmgnGat5aacgtksGiPyjafR5lCQPSpWt_f5PNt3cZEwsnuLFCyQx4RbjqewFkeDvWRdOn2Q/s320/Double+Dexter+cover.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Double Dexter </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Author: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jeff Lindsay<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Publisher: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Doubleday<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">American release date: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">October 18, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Format/Genre/Length: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Novel/Horror/352 pages<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Overall Personal Rating:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="JA" style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">★★★★</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dexter Morgan is very meticulous and very good at what he does, making sure to follow the Code of Harry in picking whom to focus his attentions on. Steve Valentine certainly fits the mandatory profile—subhuman, pedophilic killer of innocent boys. He never sees it coming. Dexter has planned everything to the nth degree for Valentine’s demise. What he hasn’t counted on is being witnessed in the act.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Synopsis:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">From the moment that Dexter realizes he’s been spied on, things in his life take a downward spiral. A policeman has been found dead—completely bludgeoned to death, horrifically so, the killer apparently having broken every bone in his body while he was still alive. The corpse is virtually unrecognizable, until Deborah manages to identify him by his bald spot. Rita is acting strangely, even for Rita, and Dexter notices she’s drinking a lot of wine. And giving him strange looks for no apparent reason. Astor needs and receives braces, and proceeds to moan about them every chance she gets. And Brian begins carting the family around on real estate tours, as Rita is convinced that they need a bigger home. And yet she finds problems with every single house they look at. And her cooking, the staple of Dexter’s existence, is becoming more and more non-existent.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8AEUfD5_IuC3mN3DiLXCSTzFRNSQ8COd3Tk1ye7-HInnjsrh0Y7gFZxztuo-IcIgXokdmTm_l6olt-QXkLzIGjofurOBFQi0klhHU2NMgbJM9wD-t70dvXl9zcyyvcOun_-wvkCesgh2/s1600/DoubleDexterFeature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8AEUfD5_IuC3mN3DiLXCSTzFRNSQ8COd3Tk1ye7-HInnjsrh0Y7gFZxztuo-IcIgXokdmTm_l6olt-QXkLzIGjofurOBFQi0klhHU2NMgbJM9wD-t70dvXl9zcyyvcOun_-wvkCesgh2/s320/DoubleDexterFeature.png" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Can things get any worse? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Yes, and they do. Dexter is determined to discover the identity of his unwanted witness, especially once the guy in question begins to taunt him with the knowledge of his actions. According to Dexter’s instincts, this guy’s gotta go, but he has to find him first. When Dexter unexpectedly becomes a suspect in the continuing cop killers, he has no one to turn to—Doakes is hot on his case, along with his newest bestest buddy, Detective Hood.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When did Dexter’s life get so complicated? Can he bring it all back to normal again, before he’s indicted and convicted for murders he didn’t actually commit?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Commentary:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Another fine entry in the Dexter Morgan series. I still think it’s a shame that the Showtime series diverged from the books, because I like having brother Brian around at times, and Rita too. This time we find Dexter less than in charge of the situation, and getting a little bit flustered, revealing more of his human side. But being Dexter, we can’t help but know that he’ll find a way out of it somehow. Even if he has to ask for help to do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">One thing that bothered me in this, and kept my attention long after it was necessary, was the issue with Astor and the braces. She didn’t want them, abhorred the idea of having a mouth full of metal, which is understandable, especially in a child of her age. But I kept asking myself—why don’t they get her invisible braces? Plastic ones? Braces have come a long way since the days of the metal monsters, and Dexter takes place in modern times. It’s a minor point, I know, and the only reason I can see for it is to make Astor crankier, but I kept asking myself: Why metal braces? And I still have no idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you’re enjoying the series, you’ll like this addition to it. And if you like to read more about serial killers, give Thomas Harris’ Hannibal Lecter books a try. They’re sure to please.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-66328763003990938232012-01-08T08:39:00.000-08:002012-01-08T08:41:54.531-08:00Serial Killer Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdTglTE-rpusS1fXiT39mJ-lJOss4hOsNg6RG0ZBBwaS4pdT8WWgk76sF5icpfk6rB4o_uHjz1HZXzVf67-SlyGnhyphenhyphenAY18sx9YLFaiO2K6wm8U0MUx4KuX1VMcjK-BWiFR7WX4MIzHo8/s1600/HH-Holmes-Devil-in-the-White-City-Leonardo-DiCaprio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdTglTE-rpusS1fXiT39mJ-lJOss4hOsNg6RG0ZBBwaS4pdT8WWgk76sF5icpfk6rB4o_uHjz1HZXzVf67-SlyGnhyphenhyphenAY18sx9YLFaiO2K6wm8U0MUx4KuX1VMcjK-BWiFR7WX4MIzHo8/s320/HH-Holmes-Devil-in-the-White-City-Leonardo-DiCaprio.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I admit to having a certain fascination with serial killers, both actual and fictional, and so I've decided to indulge that interest in these pages on certain Sundays, and share it with you all. I just learned today that plans are under way to film The Devil in the White City, and to place Leonardo di Caprio in the leading role of H.H. Holmes. Rather karmic for me, having utilized Mr. Di Caprio's name in one of my stories - Leonardo di Caprio is a Vampire. My interest was doubly piqued as I was already familiar with the story of H.H. Holmes, so I'lll start with him as the first serial killer that I intend to look at.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4NgCCjIjQZ0AOBK_duVEot_JrJp_4Mf2O0Hag0j4GTtpZSOnIkPal7CQYBA7z8DSmP2Kff46TCWYx1adeAyxrYDymfGSi40A6lcHgOAWBwTcnIUEsziDReMm9bRul8Fu6tHErA_NVHGx/s1600/holmescastle001-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4NgCCjIjQZ0AOBK_duVEot_JrJp_4Mf2O0Hag0j4GTtpZSOnIkPal7CQYBA7z8DSmP2Kff46TCWYx1adeAyxrYDymfGSi40A6lcHgOAWBwTcnIUEsziDReMm9bRul8Fu6tHErA_NVHGx/s320/holmescastle001-1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">H.H. Holmes was born Herman Webster Mudgett in 1861, moving from his native New Hampshire to Chicago, Illinois, to the suburb of Englewood. He became involved in a drug store there, and when the owner died, he ingratiated himself to his widow. She disappeared. He bought the lot across the street and built a boarding house. He was in the right place at the right time for the 1893 Exposition. Many people needed a place to stay, much as the visitors to the St. Louis World's Fair would in 1904, and it was not uncommon for people to rent out rooms in their houses.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LDm6AqiKQhgmqRZqgicWoCIeA8egZK7EBjhhu78DL6iDJnQ-uBFe8Ho83QWmHnbcAjnMC2Z0S_Qz7sOy9vSJwInOM5dGSrBRXhiA_ElRje1jmJFurXPZ5_o5yXh0Z4emPMmq1WSyvMQY/s1600/diagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LDm6AqiKQhgmqRZqgicWoCIeA8egZK7EBjhhu78DL6iDJnQ-uBFe8Ho83QWmHnbcAjnMC2Z0S_Qz7sOy9vSJwInOM5dGSrBRXhiA_ElRje1jmJFurXPZ5_o5yXh0Z4emPMmq1WSyvMQY/s320/diagram.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The difference here was that H.H. Holmes had a very unusual house. And the people who stayed there were never seen alive again. He counted on their transience, and the fact that no one knew where they were to cover up his deeds. The house itself, known as the Murder House, was very unusual, his own design. Hallways that went nowhere, and secret entrances and compartments. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Besides being America's first serial killer, Holmes was also a bigamist, marrying women without benefit of divorcing the ones before. I saw a fascinating film about him on Netflix, This is filmmaker's John Borowski's <a href="http://www.hhholmesthefilm.com/" target="_blank">site</a>, containing a lot of information on Holmes as well as his film. It is well worth watching.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XKfv1dET9yRcTm3HGJbmKO-Rj87lrGfy9H7muHj8p_gW5PcmPjjyGrITr-SXmj7DhbddgUxLdCbJsQWu00IalryZpeA8Kt719bf2U1fvj6n6FIcW1rgZEu1XJ-ubWpGZWXyC8kLXm-V0/s1600/Devil-in-the-White-City-Leonardo-DiCaprio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XKfv1dET9yRcTm3HGJbmKO-Rj87lrGfy9H7muHj8p_gW5PcmPjjyGrITr-SXmj7DhbddgUxLdCbJsQWu00IalryZpeA8Kt719bf2U1fvj6n6FIcW1rgZEu1XJ-ubWpGZWXyC8kLXm-V0/s320/Devil-in-the-White-City-Leonardo-DiCaprio.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">There is also a book, Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson, the one they're making into the film with Leonardo di Caprio. I have yet to read it, but it's on my request list at the library, and is available at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Devil-White-City-Madness-Changed/dp/0375725601/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326039769&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I will keep you apprised regarding the film as I learn more about it, and will review the book after I read it.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Until next time, take care!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">♥ Julie and Sui</span></div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-6930793208652622222011-12-31T08:41:00.000-08:002011-12-31T23:47:03.260-08:00Happy New Year!!Getting ready for 2012, so we thought we'd leave you with a few of my favorite inspiration pics of 2011 and wish everyone a Happy New Year!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-wGAgVonz1-lfHpKmkT9kOGt4aZ4h5FDMz4UIuIrWYR9F-Eosr4FAfRwAnFczZ1fF9dO5OHPPmMIjmEmSm-ooDj7mKdAGJRx5gThyphenhyphenNwdrx0ORZPSLWGRhF0jcI6QEBLWVNWFOQbXvNu4/s1600/photo_292_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-wGAgVonz1-lfHpKmkT9kOGt4aZ4h5FDMz4UIuIrWYR9F-Eosr4FAfRwAnFczZ1fF9dO5OHPPmMIjmEmSm-ooDj7mKdAGJRx5gThyphenhyphenNwdrx0ORZPSLWGRhF0jcI6QEBLWVNWFOQbXvNu4/s320/photo_292_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> I hope you've enjoyed this inspirational walk down memory lane. I'm sure there will be many more beautiful hot gorgeous men in 2012.<br />
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Wishing you Love and Butterflies AND a HAPPY NEW YEAR,<br />
Sui and Julie~~Sui Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710282986658859962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-14126679217405464422011-12-11T12:10:00.000-08:002011-12-11T12:10:45.563-08:00Sci Fi Sunday - A Salute to the Men OF DS9<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Happy Sunday and welcome to another edition of Sci Fi Sunday! Today we are going to take a look at those wonderful men from Star Trek Deep Space Nine. Enjoy!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXkAJTBpdkGBC48ZyN2Ol_VEmuD3asCin6aOEc0x1uAlT6_Xdcqj-Z9HibIaSQJQ_SakNeinRhVPGX1mYzMZmZvqVAH4SC6CD1f6q3NbBp3-VrTlk3PAduVV1IeXAk-SIm6Xaa81FZv6-/s1600/Sisco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXkAJTBpdkGBC48ZyN2Ol_VEmuD3asCin6aOEc0x1uAlT6_Xdcqj-Z9HibIaSQJQ_SakNeinRhVPGX1mYzMZmZvqVAH4SC6CD1f6q3NbBp3-VrTlk3PAduVV1IeXAk-SIm6Xaa81FZv6-/s320/Sisco.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Avery Brooks as Commander Sisco, commanding officer of DS9. He started the series with hair, but somewhere along the way he shaved it off. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Not sure what this is from, but it's a good picture of him.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Officer Odo was in charge of security. He was a shapeshifter, before the term was applied to other creatures, such as werewolves. He was able to shift into objects of any kind, and had to spend a certain amount of time in a bucket in a liquid state. Hard to recognize Rene Auberjonois under that make up!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqfyvymP9GQ5YUITaSmpU7ZSyS66ojde4tIY-mK2Q2uoyBuIQNk1-0CotjgmWUrSEK8GywOizk5Sr_rF-K6YdWgVt10AkpCY_MvYICUEYWSFOmtuXbH5uETnVgc4fnaeexgwmP9vO5ga-/s1600/Odo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqfyvymP9GQ5YUITaSmpU7ZSyS66ojde4tIY-mK2Q2uoyBuIQNk1-0CotjgmWUrSEK8GywOizk5Sr_rF-K6YdWgVt10AkpCY_MvYICUEYWSFOmtuXbH5uETnVgc4fnaeexgwmP9vO5ga-/s320/Odo+2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">There was something obviously between Odo and Kira Nereis, but Odo wasn't much of one for romance. Or relationships. He was always trying to catch Quark in the act, but by the end of the series, he gained a grudging respect for the Ferengian bar owner.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Everyone liked the genial Doctor Bashir, who could be rather naive at times. He had a thing for Jadzia Dax, but she ended up marrying someone else. I believe he ended up with Ezri Dax later. I could never warm up to her.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here is Dr. Bashir and his good friend Chief Miles O'Brien, engineer for DS9.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">O'Brien was on Next Gen before DS9. He was married to Keiko, and they have a little girl named Molly. You can find him on AMC's Hell on Wheels as a ruthless railroad builder.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Can't forget Q, also seen on Next Gen. He was mischievous and troublesome. And charming.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here's Commander Worf. I know some people thought him standoffish, but I liked him.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Yes, he's the one who stole and married Jadzia Dax.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Garak. On the surface a simple tailor on DS9. In reality, a spy for the Obsidian Order. Very complex, and very fascinating. He became a good friend of Doctor Bashir. Played by Andrew Robinson, who was the bad guy in Dirty Harry, and was also in Hellraiser.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Now for my favorite character of all - Quark. Unscrupulous, sharp, businesslike and opportunistic, still - he had something good deep inside. Best character ever.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnayjZmY5Hv0PoyJxkLRUy1X_5GWf9kJyhWtAPXd8-shPkdGPLbtMwRvoCNRrfkV9Dl1YbZBmOLDsf2layom9BlSVH2t7H3RJTh1GML5Yq78PgNQFErc-bPaz7fqR9VNbJSrk8nLF39WT3/s1600/Star_Trek_Deep_Space_9_1993_-_1999_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnayjZmY5Hv0PoyJxkLRUy1X_5GWf9kJyhWtAPXd8-shPkdGPLbtMwRvoCNRrfkV9Dl1YbZBmOLDsf2layom9BlSVH2t7H3RJTh1GML5Yq78PgNQFErc-bPaz7fqR9VNbJSrk8nLF39WT3/s1600/Star_Trek_Deep_Space_9_1993_-_1999_10.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFGhVdFIZlVKSgpQTexDarw8vQQLvDx1EglYqPHBO83Ca7LWhb7ZYWpX6LXnaSpC_0cpUCSKL_iUDnFcD5oAWCYtW6iY7DIqN2ggT4x9AOw3Gy6s4hFfgHOwsXAv4Z5fFpAVbTl4Jxo2K/s1600/quark.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFGhVdFIZlVKSgpQTexDarw8vQQLvDx1EglYqPHBO83Ca7LWhb7ZYWpX6LXnaSpC_0cpUCSKL_iUDnFcD5oAWCYtW6iY7DIqN2ggT4x9AOw3Gy6s4hFfgHOwsXAv4Z5fFpAVbTl4Jxo2K/s320/quark.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Quark was played by Armin Shimerman, whom you might remember from Beauty and the Beast. Usually seen beating on the pipes belowground.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Who's your favorite DS9 character? I'd love to know!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Don't forget to visit Sue Lynn's <a href="http://suidlynn.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">2 Cents</a>, and my blog <a href="http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com/">Full Moon Dreaming</a>!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Until next time, take care!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">♥ Julie and Sui</span></div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-32700104148710301652011-12-04T06:26:00.000-08:002011-12-04T06:26:13.085-08:00Steampunk Sunday - Hugo Review<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Good morning and Happy Steampunk Sunday! Yesterday, Sarah and I went to see Hugo at the theater. Let me tell you about it!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwGTg4Y-m9f7-BcrI4feVt9lCUtsejVAsM7QcHszrcdxKIAkEgfQX_Lx6EuuG4Dm6ZkI2A7w4GAH_mcqsaE6_7RmuhinpO7ijpfija7mvX43bPp2TyVwG9QQCTOuIkDECCvFTGAIal2p3/s1600/Hugo+Cabret+French+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwGTg4Y-m9f7-BcrI4feVt9lCUtsejVAsM7QcHszrcdxKIAkEgfQX_Lx6EuuG4Dm6ZkI2A7w4GAH_mcqsaE6_7RmuhinpO7ijpfija7mvX43bPp2TyVwG9QQCTOuIkDECCvFTGAIal2p3/s320/Hugo+Cabret+French+Poster.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hugo <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Director/Studio/Author:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Martin Scorsese/GK Films/John Logan<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">American release date:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> November 23, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Format, Genre and length:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Theatrical Release/Fantasy/127 minutes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Publisher/Industry Age Rating:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> PG (</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">for mild thematic material, some action/peril and smoking</span>)</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Overall Personal Rating: </span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">★★★★★<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">At the age of twelve, life is difficult for Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield), and all he is allowed to see of it is what he spies from behind the scenes of the clockworks in the Paris train station. Taken in by his drunk uncle (Ray Winstone) on the death of his inventor father (Jude Law), Hugo is stripped of everything he’s known, including school, and friends, and forced to work, keeping the clocks running. All that remains of his father is an automaton, and a notebook filled with his notes. In order to fix the automaton, which his father had been in the processing of restoring before his death, Hugo steals parts from the toy store in the station, that is owned and operated by the crotchety Ben Kingsley. When he catches Hugo stealing from him, he takes the notebook away from him and threatens to burn it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Synopsis:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A desperate Hugo goes to the man’s house, where he enlists the aid of his goddaughter Isabella (Chloë Grace Moretz). He bravely approaches George and strikes a deal with him—he’ll work around the shop to make up for what he’s stolen, and <i>maybe</i> he’ll give him the notebook back. He’s still going to take care of the clocks, as his uncle has disappeared, and he knows what happens to orphaned children who are caught by the Station Inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen)—they end up in an orphanage!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Solving the mystery of how to fix the automaton draws Hugo and Isabella into a greater mystery, one that might lead to dire consequences, as he tries to cling to his father’s legacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Commentary:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Right off the bat, let me say—bring Kleenex. If you’re like me, you’ll need it. This might be considered a children’s film, but it’s of interest to all ages, as evidenced by the various age groups of the people in the theater. It’s a beautifully done film, and even though the pace isn’t breakneck, and almost slow at times, it most certainly works. Asa Butterfield did a wonderful job as Hugo. I last saw him in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, another tearjerker. Sacha Baron Cohen as the Station Inspector was wonderful. During the course of the film, he spends a lot of time chasing after Hugo, along with his Doberman Pinscher Maximillian, determined to catch him. He’s as stiff as his leg, which is encased in a mechanical device, courtesy of the Great War. He has a crush on the flower girl (Emily Mortimer) at the station, and doesn’t know how to talk to her, but receives advice from Madame Emilie (Frances de la Tour of Harry Potter fame, Madame Maxine). Also from the Harry Potter films is Richard Griffiths (Harry’s Uncle Vernon), who would like to get to know Madame Emilie, but her dog seems to have taken a dislike to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Look for Christopher Lee as a kindly book store owner as well. I’d know him anywhere by his voice, and I have to say he’s looking great. Speaking of books, pick up the book by Brian Selznick.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hugo was produced by Johnny Depp; it has quite the pedigree. The look of the film is amazing. It has a definite steampunk feel to it. The special effects are wonderfully done. This is sure to become a classic, and well worth acquiring on DVD when it comes out. In the meantime, go see it at the theater to get the total experience. I did not see it in 3D, by the way, so cannot comment on that. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> Don't forget to check out Sui Lynn's blog,<a href="http://suidlynn.blogspot.com/"> 2 Cents</a>, and my own <a href="http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com/">Full Moon Dreaming</a>!</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p>Til next time, take care!</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">♥ Julie</span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-4073680765836834592011-11-13T11:13:00.000-08:002011-11-13T11:13:11.862-08:00Winter Demon Volume 3 Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdu6jIwwDhxKE-Tevkrmllt8nI1AzrCf_hVJubk9BolcGw9tLxDrGBZknB2ePbAQmCV8qdQH7gYjTLCsJQNlZqRtwpczkn2_dzpvv8i6FUGPAVm635xbH3zHFvEr0kscYLmBgPosRLek/s1600/Winter+Demon+Volume+3+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdu6jIwwDhxKE-Tevkrmllt8nI1AzrCf_hVJubk9BolcGw9tLxDrGBZknB2ePbAQmCV8qdQH7gYjTLCsJQNlZqRtwpczkn2_dzpvv8i6FUGPAVm635xbH3zHFvEr0kscYLmBgPosRLek/s320/Winter+Demon+Volume+3+cover.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Winter Demon, Volume 3 </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Author: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>Yamila Abraham<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Distributor:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>Yaoi Press<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">American release date:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>2008<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Format/Genre: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>Manga/Yaoi<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Publisher/Industry Age Rating: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>Mature<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Overall Personal Rating: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 13px;">★★★★</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Similar series or titles to check out: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>9th Sleep<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hakuin and Fuyu deliver the healed girl to her home, which is in the monk's village of Morikoku.<span> </span>Fuyu wishes to spend the night, to get a chance to fondle Hakuin in privacy now that the girl is gone, but the monk insists they<span> </span>need to get to Priest Shidan to fix the demon whip, so Fuyu contents himself with telling Hakuin, in very graphic language, just what he would like to do to him, as they go on their way.<span> </span>As they near the priest's house, they run into another demon - one who has eyes for Fuyu!<span> </span>It turns out to be none other than Figaru.<span> </span>It seems that Shidan cannot fix the weapon, he must take it to his mentor, who cannot abide demons, so only Hakuin<span> </span>may accompany him.<span> </span>Which leaves Fuyu alone with the horny incubus!<span> </span>Although Shidan does contain him in a magic circle, the only concession he is willing to make to Fuyu's safety.<span> </span>Thanks a lot, Priest Shidan!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Synopsis:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Alarming news arrives the next morning, and the two demons set off after Hakuin and Shidan.<span> </span>Which is just what Shidan's mentor wants, for this is a trap she has laid purposly for the Winter Demon - she has a score to settle with him for some past wrongs.<span> </span>In the aftermath, Hakuin broaches a rather delicate subject - that Figaru needs Fuyu to heal.<span> </span>To what lengths will the demon go in order to please his little monk?<span> </span>And what of his new knowledge, of things he wasn't meant to know?<span> </span>Hakuin isn't healing properly, he needs to see a doctor, so he asks Fuyu to take him back to Morikoku, to Doctor Takuma.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the <i>Epilogue</i>, we meet Doctor Takuma, who is searching for a particular medicinal leaf he needs to help heal his sister; his supply is out so he is searching in a dangerous area, as there is said to be a demon there.<span> </span>But he is determined to help his sister.<span> </span>He is discovered there by the demon, Lord Ryuuto, who takes him to help his ailing wife - but he wishes her taken out of life, not brought back!<span> </span>(As a healer, he could cure her himself, but he cannot kill her)<span> </span>When Takuma eases her from her pain, Ryuuto says he can use the spring whenever he likes, but he won't agree to heal Takuma's sister.<span> </span>The doctor returns to avail himself of the wonderful hot spring, and he finds himself fascinated by the conversations he has with the demon. Ryuuto realizes that the doctor feels an attraction for him, and he is certainly attracted to the human,<span> </span>so he makes him a rather unusual proposal - of marriage!<span> </span>The confused doctor returns home to think.<span> </span>But his ruminations are interrupted by news of a battle - there are wounded coming, lots of them.<span> </span>And he receives assistance from an unexpected source!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span><b><u>Commentary:<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">By now, the story of the Winter Demon has wrapped itself about my curiousity and my need to know.<span> </span>The character development is good, as we follow these two in their courtship.<span> </span>I hope that Fuyu's newfound knowledge won't queer things for them - no pun intended.<span> </span>And I hope tha the will be able to overcome his past.<span> </span>To err is human, to forgive divine.<span> </span>Does this go for demons too?<span> </span>There are some interesting questions brought into play in this volume about relationships, intimacy, and sex versus love.<span> </span>This is probably the same school of thought used by those who seek out sex therapists, the rationale being that it's medicinal, not sexual.<span> </span>You'll have to decide that for yourself.<span> </span>But there's certainly stuff to mull over in this volume.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The addition of Doctor Takuma is an interesting one - now we have a potential new couple on our hands, and a rather comely one at that.<span> </span>Ryuuto seems to have promise, but at the same time he's a bit of a bad boy; automatic turn-on for a lot of women.<span> </span>I am curious to see how this thing with him and Doctor T works out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Winter Demon</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> has not only founds its pace, Yamila Abraham is hitting her stride, and hitting it well.<span> </span>The action flows smoothly, with a good balance between action and introspection, never leaving out that element of heat, in the form of the demon's narrated fantasy (with visual aids, of course!), which is pretty damn hot.<span> </span>I, for one, hope Fuyu gets his way, I'd surely like to see that.<span> </span>At the end of the volume there is a preview for Volume 2 of another Yaoi Press offering, <i>Dark Prince</i>.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We're almost to the finish line, enquiring minds need to know - will Fuyu prove that his love for Hakuin is genuine, and will the purification mumbo jumbo prove to be just that, and not the glue that binds them together?<span> </span>Stay tuned, yaoi lovers, for the last exciting volume!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-47438843300496412282011-10-31T08:12:00.000-07:002011-10-31T08:12:15.425-07:00It's Halloween - and have we got a treat for you!In honor of it being Halloween, we're giving you our salute to the holiday with some sexy men in costume - some with more costume than others! Hope you enjoy them all, and happy Halloween to you all!<br />
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Calling Doctor Love! The perfect treatment for any ailment! He wants to check you out!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16mqdGgP687FM9hB2GqbJPuYqRm19Rk6ziB5Gw70AFvop1pp_yLkLmZ12VwTP6owUizfjhU-0HHhsMJa9EQ-t-XOphyphenhyphenIcQIic_mGrHii2BRVsZ7GIj3jTYRjA9trBi9hGRUTpQYG6FYo/s1600/GoGo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16mqdGgP687FM9hB2GqbJPuYqRm19Rk6ziB5Gw70AFvop1pp_yLkLmZ12VwTP6owUizfjhU-0HHhsMJa9EQ-t-XOphyphenhyphenIcQIic_mGrHii2BRVsZ7GIj3jTYRjA9trBi9hGRUTpQYG6FYo/s320/GoGo2.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>Ready to go clubbing? This go-go boy wants to shake his thing - just for you!<br />
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It might be a little early for Thanksgiving, but we invited our Native American friend to feast with us! Make him feel welcome, will you? And tell him that the loin cloth is purely optional!<br />
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Shades of 300! This Spartan warrior's away from home, just looking for a good time. Anyone want to help him out?<br />
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This guy brings a whole new level of meaning to Fantasy Island! Shades of Ricardo Montalban! Da plane, da plane! This guy says he's ready to make your fantasy come true!<br />
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In the Navy, we can sail the seven seas! Well, double your pleasure, double your... fill in the blanks yourself with this sailors delight!<br />
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I'm not sure what his costume was, since I caught him in the midst of taking it off, but I'm not complaining!<br />
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Hope you like them, Happy Halloween and take care, til next time!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">♥ Julie and Sui</span>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-36800461552206210462011-10-30T07:13:00.001-07:002011-10-30T07:13:54.490-07:00Sci Fi Sunday - Leviathan Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mO0L2s20xPIK6tevQVs61crTIXrson2IWz-imrFgPu8QI9j6pxtjLglt3BLOrHTtIPRY5g-Lrzqti5Jw5eaPtmSLFenuhDW_EudHzLoCuO_oC5ikNE4o6fv1ayBkAaQOHnm99f_k3-g/s1600/leviathanusfinalsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mO0L2s20xPIK6tevQVs61crTIXrson2IWz-imrFgPu8QI9j6pxtjLglt3BLOrHTtIPRY5g-Lrzqti5Jw5eaPtmSLFenuhDW_EudHzLoCuO_oC5ikNE4o6fv1ayBkAaQOHnm99f_k3-g/s320/leviathanusfinalsmall.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">According to the bard, <i>"Some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them".</i> Young Alek is one of the latter.<span> </span>Although born to a royal lineage, his claim to the throne is disreputed because of the lowborn status of his mother.<span> </span>Which means nothing in the scheme of things, life simply going on as it invariably does,<span> </span>until his parents are unexpectedly assassinated when they travel to Sarajevo, all hell breaks loose and nothing can ever be the same again, as he finds himself the object of an intense manhunt by the Germans and Austrians both, and all that he now possesses is one Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men between himelf and<span> </span>certain death - and his own strength and intelligence!<span> </span>Having been awakened in the middle of the night by his fencing master and his master of mechaniks on the pretext of a training mission, he is now in a deadly race to the Swiss border and the freedom of that country's neutrality in the face of impending war - a war which will change not only the shape of Europe but the whole world forever, a war of global proportions and magnitude never seen before.<span> </span>Meanwhile, a young British girl named Deryn Sharp has disguised herself as a boy named Dylan in order to enter the British Air Service, finding herself upon the whale airship Leviathan, the most magnificent beast in the entire fleet, engaged upon a secret mission to the Ottoman Empire.<span> </span>And thus we enter the world of Scott Westerfeld's <b><i>Leviathan</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Highlights<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">When Deryn begins her quest to enter the royal air service, she only wishes to serve as best she can, to be as useful as any lad, and not forced into what she considers to be the lame world of women, with their skirts and their cooking and their,<span> </span>to her, <span> </span>inability to do anything exciting.<span> </span>Assisted by her older brother Jaspert, who is himself a member of said service, and who helps her to train toward her goal, she becomes a recruit and now must pass the midshipman's test, which is being given at the airship field at Wormwood Scrubs.<span> </span>Her brother hints that the recruits will be tested on a sense of "air sense", but Deryn puts that down to his trying to rattle her cage, when lo and behold they find themselves shown an actual Huxley ascender - a tentacled creature, the first fabricated creature designed, a far cry from the modern giant living airships of the day, with their gondolas, engines and observation decks.<span> </span>The Huxley, also known as a medusa, is formed from the life-chains of jellyfish and other venomous sea creatures, and is not an easy beastie to deal with.<span> </span>When Deryn sees the pilot's rig which hangs beneath it, she has an idea what is going to happen, and when the Flight Captain thins their ranks of the Monkey Luddites - who wish nothing to do with the beast - and seeks a volunteer to be first to take the ride with the Huxley, Deryn does not hesitate to step up!<span> </span>And what a glorious experience it is, until she is aloft and spots a storm coming their way which those on the ground cannot see, and she finds herself and the Huxley in a perilous situation, which only her quick wits and natural abilities prevent from becoming tragic!<span> </span>In the course of her adventure, she is blown far off course, over the English Channel itself, and ends up being rescued by none other than the Leviathan!<span> </span>She thinks she is dreaming when not only does she become Midshipman Dylan Sharp, but is assigned to duty on the very vessel which rescued her!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Meanwhile, Alek is finding it difficult to come to grips with the swiftly drastic changes that have occurred in his life, beginning with his parents' deaths, and his leaving his home in the middle of the night,<span> </span>and even briefly wonders if he is being kidnapped for some reason.<span> </span>When he first espies the six-legged majesty of the machine that is S.M.S. Beowulf, his first thought is that they have been searching for him, in order to effect his rescue, an idea which is quickly dispelled when they open fire upon Alek and his stormwalker, and he and his people are forced to flee for their lives!<span> </span>Luckily, Count Volger is a resourceful man and has had an escape plan in place for a very long time.<span> </span>When Alek asks, he confesses that he began planning it when Archduke Ferdinand married Sophie, a commoner, as they hole up in a ruin of a castle high in the Alps. In the meantime, Deryn is learning the ropes as a midshipman on the Leviathan, and their current mission has begun with the unthinkable - they have landed the huge ship in the middle of Regent's Park to pick up a boffin and her mysterious cargo, and are to take her to the Ottoman Empire for reasons unknown!<span> </span>Because of the weight of this cargo, all but two of the middies are let go, and Alek ends up as almost a personal attendant for the boffin, Dr. Barlow,<span> </span>who turns out to be a woman!<span> </span>The woman is too sharp, by far, and Deryn fears for a moment that her secret is revealed, but she finds herself safe for the moment - just as German aeroplanes hove into view, and force the Leviathan into a snow mountain landing!<span> </span>From his protected fortress, Alek espies the crash, and wishes to<span> </span>help, but Volger refuses to allow him to do so, fearing for his safety.<span> </span>A stubborn Alek slips out in the middle of night, taking first aid kits with him, in case they are needed - or is it just a curiousity to see what has happened?<span> </span>As he nears the wreck of the strange beast/airship, he discovers the half frozen body of a young boy - none other than Deryn Sharp!<span> </span>And in assisting Deryn, he finds himself a captive of the Darwinists, the avowed enemy of the Clankers!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Overall<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Steampunk is a genre which contains elements of fantasy and sci-fi along with speculative fiction, and is generally set in an era where steam power is predominant, such as the Victorian era, and<span> </span>often involves inventions being put into place before their true time, such as those found in the fertile imagiinations of HG Wells and Jules Verne,<span> </span>or alternative realities where history has taken a different path.<span> </span>It came to some prominence in the 1980's and 90's,<span> </span>and enjoys a secure niche in the loyalty of its readers even today, and has even made the transition to the big screen in such films as The Wild Wild West and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.<span> </span><b><i>Leviathan</i></b> is set just on the cusp of World War I, and draws on actual events and people, interweaving them cleverly with the author's own imagination.<span> </span>The British Darwinists have discovered the `life chains which make up all life, and have learned to combine the best of various species into entirely new creatures.<span> </span>For example, the Leviathan itself is a symbiotic system which involves not only the whale but a host of other animals.<span> </span>The bats, which feed on insects and fruit and<span> </span>metal flechettes, are used as weapons, excreting the flechettes onto the enemy.<span> </span>And bees have been bred which do not sting!<span> </span>It is a natural system, as opposed to the world of the German and Austrian Clankers, which involves steam engine machinery and hydraulics.<span> </span>The two words are clearly at odds with one another, so it is no wonder that a global conflagration is in the works.<span> </span>And, as usually is the case, each sides believes their way to be right, while the other is totally wrong.<span> </span>But when the two forces meet via the Leviathan, forced to become allies in the face of the common enemy that seeks to destroy them both, then there are indeed lessons to be learned, lessons in cooperation, and friendship and compromise.<span> </span>By the end of the book, Deryn's secret identity is intact, but how long can that last when she had begun to have strange feelings about Alek?<span> </span>What is she to do with those?<span> </span>And how long will Dr. Barlow be clueless as to her actual gender?<span> </span>And what is so important about the cargo that Dr. Barlow carries, that she is taking it to people who are professed Clankers?<span> </span>Leviathan is categorized as teen fiction, but I think it possesses the same sort of universal appeal that the<span> </span>Harry Potter<span> </span>series does, and no one should be discouraged from reading it for that reason.<span> </span>Teen Fiction is not what it once was, it has certainly grown, welcoming many excellent writers into its fold,<span> </span>and certainly shouldn't be overlooked.<span> </span>Scott Westerveld draws us into his characters' stories from the very beginning, and the skillful way he makes use of history is fascinating, bringing it very much to life.<span> </span>After all, the things we do today are what the students of tomorrow will learn as history, and those who think it is a dead subject are sadly misinformed!<span> </span>And lest I forget, the book is richly illustrated by Keith Thompson - his drawings take<span> </span>my breath away, as he so wonderfully portrays the world which Scott Westervelt writes about!<span> </span>I look forward to further installments of this series!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I wholeheartedly give Leviathan </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">★★★★★</span></div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-61060613420814152532011-10-16T05:14:00.000-07:002011-10-16T05:14:56.231-07:00Sci fi Sunday - Gail Carriger's Heartless<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWbOIWOJqC30YQON7h5rbZN24MfFeMhjWoALIL-dH6-TiDOxgFP6RVd9XwT0sYu3yMOHKrSLwPVuIS7LGdQMFnkNTim4mTM4q52ksntLKKZiEzcXBb8lGQGSwgyMlAhv6zOpKBB1rVoA/s1600/Sci+Fi+Sunday+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWbOIWOJqC30YQON7h5rbZN24MfFeMhjWoALIL-dH6-TiDOxgFP6RVd9XwT0sYu3yMOHKrSLwPVuIS7LGdQMFnkNTim4mTM4q52ksntLKKZiEzcXBb8lGQGSwgyMlAhv6zOpKBB1rVoA/s320/Sci+Fi+Sunday+logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Hello and happy Sci Fi Sunday! Today, I want to complete the reviews of the Parasol Protectorate with my own review of Heartless, the fourth book in the series. The fifth book, Timeless, releases in February of 2012, and trust me, I shall review it then.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCwElK6uZa_fIsxDmXytxZsA6jeeXTdHbRyL7ws0gw-VtFXCmUeFupOegFLTgSRJQYgeXfoq9-Qt0wFf9jdiPu7mp8pO4FJ30MCZ0xx_cOxL-m53JIFTZ3zxyTLfj5aKQGu5k7GBu2DmE/s1600/Heartless+Parasol+Protectorate+4+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCwElK6uZa_fIsxDmXytxZsA6jeeXTdHbRyL7ws0gw-VtFXCmUeFupOegFLTgSRJQYgeXfoq9-Qt0wFf9jdiPu7mp8pO4FJ30MCZ0xx_cOxL-m53JIFTZ3zxyTLfj5aKQGu5k7GBu2DmE/s320/Heartless+Parasol+Protectorate+4+Cover.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="196" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Heartless (Parasol Protectorate #4) <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Author:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Gail Carriger<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Publisher:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Orbit Books<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">American release date:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> July 1, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Format/Genre/Length:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Novel/Paranormal Steampunk/374 pages<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Publisher/Industry Age Rating:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> NR/Suitable for teens and up<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Overall Personal Rating : </span></b><b><span lang="JA" style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">☆☆☆☆☆</span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It seems that Alexia’s unexpected (and hitherto considered impossible) pregnancy has thrown the supernatural world into something of a tizzy (now that her husband has removed his head from his nether regions long enough to realize that the child is indeed his and none other’s). But it seems they have a plan. Lord Maccon, Lord Akeldama, and Professor Lyall, that is. They’ve been hatching their idea for five months, and have decided that now’s a good time to let Alexia in on their little scheme. (Nice of them, considering it’s her child they’re talking about). In light of the fact that Alexia has become the target of numerous annoying and inconvenient assassination attempts, she must give the child up. To Lord Akeldama;s care.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Men!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Synopsis:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Not surprisingly (except in the minds of the three gentlemen in question), Alexia does not fall in with their plan with handclapping and enthusiastic cheers. Rather, she’s totally against it. What mother would wish such a thing, to give up her child from birth? Really, gentlemen, be serious! But, with time to think, she, as always, has a better plan, one that will have the same result and not get her thrown out of her child’s life at one and the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Alexia’s idea is to relocate herself and her husband into the townhouse next to Lord Akeldama’s, and to have a secret access to his home whereby they actually will live in his home, near their child, but for appearance’s sake, their address will be next door. Simple, eh? The hive’s fear centers around the child and what he or she may be capable of—namely their destruction. They feel that if said child were to be under Lord A’s tutelage, said crisis could be averted. However, just because a decision is reached doesn’t mean everyone has gotten the memo, and for now the attacks continue. Including one involving zombie hedgehogs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nothing in Alexia’s life is ever easy. Young Biffy, formerly one of Lord Akeldama’s drones (and the love of his life), now part of the Woolsey pack, is not adapting to his new condition well, and causes a great deal of trouble around the time of the full moon. Alexia’s sister, Felicity Loontwill, has taken it into her head to espouse women’s suffrage, and decides now, of all times, that she must be independent and free—while living with and dependent upon her sister. Madame Lefoux seems troubled to Alexia, but she isn’t sure why and the inventor isn’t confiding. Perhaps it is because her beloved aunt, Formerly Lefoux, the ghost, is about to end all existence at any time. But what is that derby-shaped contraption in Genevieve’s basement all about?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Then there is the ghost who shows up unexpectedly with a message for Alexia, warning of danger to the queen. Just when Alexia is in need of her wits the most, she finds that her advanced pregnancy has addled them, not to mention her increased bulk makes getting about fairly difficult at times. Especially when under fire. But that doesn’t keep her from impersonating a cook in search of unemployment, as she and Floote scuttle about the neighborhood, searching for clues.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Can anything else possibly go wrong in Alexia’s life?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Of course it can…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span><b><u>Commentary:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The fourth volume in the Parasol Protectorate series is every bit as engaging as its predecessors, filled with the wit, the action, the suspense and the manners which we’ve come to expect from Gail Carriger. I have to say that as a mother, the solution which the gentlemen proposed at the beginning of the book set my teeth on edge. I understand why Alexia compromised as she did, but I would never be happy with such an arrangement, and I’d fight tooth and nail to keep my child. That being said, I have hopes that something will happen in the final volume to allow the family a normal life. That’s a relative term, by the way, as we are talking about a preternatural and a werewolf here, and who knows what the child will be?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">My next consideration of ponderance is why on earth Biffy and Lord Akeldama can’t still be together, even if they are different species? Alexia and Conall manage quite well. It’s a matter of the heart, and if they work at it, I don’t see why it can’t be done. Perhaps the answer will lie in the next book.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Gail Carriger has drawn her characters superbly. Each and everyone pops out at you distinctly; there’s no mistaking one for another. Even the annoying ones, such as Felicity (whom I wish to beat down on a regular basis). At least we are spared the presence of Alexia’s insipid Mama and the rest of her mindless brood. Please let that last!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Carriger has given new meaning and depth to the steampunk genre, combining it with paranormal romance and coming up with one whale of a tale. Alexia Tarabotti Maccon is one of the best heroines ever. Were I ever to find myself in a fight, I’d definitely want her on my side. And her hubby certainly gives new meaning to the phrase sexy beast!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I read somewhere that there’s been a bit of dissension regarding the novel’s cover. I must say that I quite like the colors, and think they are rather fitting. I also like the backdrop of Woolsey.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I highly recommend this series to everyone. I’m greatly looking forward to the next volume; I’m sorry that it will be the last. However, take heart. Another series is about to begin—The Finishing School. I’m sure it shall be great fun too! Rest assured, I shall review that as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Join us next week for another episode of Sci Fi Sunday! Don't forget to check out Sui's blog, <a href="http://suidlynn.blogspot.com/">2 Cents,</a> and my blog,<a href="http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com/"> Full Moon Dreaming</a>!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Until next time, take care!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-79001011905570294662011-10-09T04:55:00.000-07:002011-10-09T04:55:18.465-07:00Sci fi Sunday - Gail Carriger's Blameless<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Happy Sci Fi Sunday! Continuing with our steampunk theme, I offer you my daughter Sarah's review of Gail Carriger's Blameless, the third book in the Parasol Protectorate Series. Enjoy!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYsX5WJT29oXYXg-G9pji9-_YxFPjWdZpJhpTYBdBxyuOIDi1CD8iHuwS7cojTb9fUCTLyvUdb7fJFPX0pJ8Y3eFkPRy6s7V6TXY-_Rhyphenhyphenr3T5ayxaf_IF8DGlxdm7F7F4hyphenhyphenyzxg7P3qgN/s1600/Blameless+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYsX5WJT29oXYXg-G9pji9-_YxFPjWdZpJhpTYBdBxyuOIDi1CD8iHuwS7cojTb9fUCTLyvUdb7fJFPX0pJ8Y3eFkPRy6s7V6TXY-_Rhyphenhyphenr3T5ayxaf_IF8DGlxdm7F7F4hyphenhyphenyzxg7P3qgN/s320/Blameless+cover.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Blameless: Parasol Protectorate book 3 </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Author: Gail Carriger</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Publisher: Orbit Books</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">American release date: September 1st 2010</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Format/Genre/Length: Novel/Fantasy/374 pages</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Older Teen</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Overall Personal Rating: A</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Similar series/titles to check out: the Sookie Stackhouse series; Kieli; Last Exile</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Alexia Tarabotti thinks her life is hard enough living as a preternatural socialite in steampunk Victorian England - but when her werewolf husband kicks her out of their home, she loses her position in the Shadow Council, and there are evil mechanical ladybugs trying to kill her, things go from bad to unbearable. There's only one option left to Alexia if she wants to stay alive - road trip to Italy, anyone?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Synopsis:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">After finding herself in a most delicate condition—something that should be impossible given that Lord Maccon's supernatural state disallows breeding of any type—Lady Alexia Maccon-Tarabotti now finds herself kicked out of Scotland and her husband's familial home and back into the not-so-loving arms of her own family, who have no qualms about letting Alexia know how they feel about having such a scandalized individual under their roof. Angry at Lord Maccon and now unceremoniously cut off from the protection of both the clan and the Shadow Council due to a curt dismissal from the Queen herself, Alexia turns to the usually comforting presence of her vampire best friend Lord Akeldama—only to find the man missing, leaving behind only a vague message about looking after his cat. When a mini-plague of mechanical ladybugs, along with practically all the vampires in London, force Alexia to protect herself in a most unladylike fashion, England starts looking less and less safe for a pregnant preternatural. With her father's faithful butler Floote and the French inventor Madame Lefoux at her side, Alexia embarks on a road trip of steampunk proportions with the final destination being Italy: an ultra-religious country openly hostile towards supernatural beings and filled with Templars and delicious pesto galore. Who would ever guess such a place would be the best sanctuary for Alexia Maccon to seek answers about her preternatural state? But even the very orange landscape of Florence conceals some of the greatest dangers that Alexia has ever faced.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As Alexia and her jolly 'parasol protectorate' find themselves getting deeper into a whole mess of mysteries in Italy, back in London the arrogant and heartbroken Lord Maccon has decided to treat his state of mind by getting thoroughly hammered, much to the chagrin of his beta, Professor Lyall, who is forced to hold together the Woolsey werewolf pack in his elective absence - which means handling everything from challenges from lone wolves to dealing with the pressure of an irate Shadow Council. But when the Woolsey pack find itself being pulled into the inner political business of vampires, mainly the disappearance of Lord Akeldama, Lord Maccon will have to sober up quick if he wants to help find his wife's good friend as well as get back into his beloved's good graces (if Alexia will still have him). That is, if Maccon can stop acting like an arrogant buffoon long enough to realize the worst kind of truth there is: that he was totally and utterly wrong.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Commentary:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Do you like fantasy books in alternative Victorian England where the technology and fashion of steampunk is part of everyday life? Do you like your werewolves and vampires and other supernatural things to wear fancy dress and follow the old fashioned rules of etiquette, usually to humorous effect? Do you like reading about a well-read half-Italian woman who isn't afraid to speak her mind and wields a parasol like a weapon (because it is)? And . . . you're not reading the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger, now at three books and ongoing? For shame! Right now, there hasn't been a better time to jump into this excellent series, especially since the third book kicks off so many plots and subplots that will continue the story through several more volumes - all of them wickedly interesting and sure to make great reads in the next year. Plus, more Alexia Tarabotti! And that can never be a bad thing.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In the third book of the series chronicling Alexia's adventures in both the abnormal and the mundane, Blameless, she finds herself in a bigger pickle than ever before: her husband has deserted her; there's an impossible baby on the way; she has to live with her odious family yet again; her vampire BFF has gone AWOL with no clear reason why; it seems like everyone is pretty much out to kill her - including, of all things, mechanical ladybugs with very dangerous antennae. As usual, the amount of paranormal nonsense Alexia must go through on a daily basis is always strange and vastly interesting - as well as the fact that Alexia is less scandalized by these things happening to her as much as the fact that protecting herself from them means ruining all her best skirts and gowns in the process. In this volume, however, she has one more thing to worry about - she's pregnant. Her conversations with the 'infant-inconvenience' growing in her body are terribly amusing, and it makes one wonder what kind of mother Alexia will make if/when the child is born - or for that matter, what kind of father Lord Maccon might be.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Another new thing in Blameless is the new attention on Lady Tarabotti's preternatural soulless state, now more curious than ever seeing that she's with child by a werewolf, and such a union is rare if not impossible. As readers, we have spent two books following Alexia's life without a soul and have gotten used to her 'condition', so seeing characters like the German scientist Mr. Lange-Wilsdorf (who insists on addressing Alexia as the 'Female Specimen') and the church's preceptor (who in turn calls Alexia 'My Soulless One', capital letters and all) examine her like a slide underneath a microscope's gaze is unsettling in the strangest of ways. It's a good sign that Alexia's soullessness is going to become part of the ongoing story in a big way and I look forward to seeing how everything is resolved, if anything is. Add to this the dynamics of werewolf packs and vampire hives as well as the inner workings of England's high society set against a very gears-and-cogs world and it's plain to see that all the world-building and details built up in the first book are greatly paying off.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So, let's add it all up, shall we? In this book alone, a fearlessly stubborn and pregnant soulless female lead is dodging killer insects and odious vampires currently swarming a most steampunk London set in the Victorian age before being forced to flee with her stiff upper lipped butler and French inventor female friend to the land of tasty green sauce and dementedly religious Templars while her husband skulks around drunk on 'pickling' liquid and his beta is forced to pick up the pace of running the pack - and somewhere in the English countryside a fabulously distressed vampire is looking for his favorite drone and a research center disguised as a hat boutique is being overrun by ugly headgear by an unwitting Ivy Hisselpenny and her board-treading husband. With all theseawesome exciting things going on, you'd be demmed foolish to not give this book a whirl.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Overall Grade: A</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The Alexia Tarabotti books continue to bring it in terms of adventure, humor, and stylish steampunk - whether in Victorian England or Templar-infested Italy.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In the Radius: Fans of Parasol Protectorate's steampunk-styled action should check out the anime series Last Exile, a sci-fi show created by Studio GONZO which has also been reviewed on the Anime Radius site.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Until Next time, take care!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">♥ Julie</span></div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-81840683981454431132011-10-02T05:05:00.000-07:002011-10-09T04:54:44.138-07:00Sci fi Sunday - Gail Carriger's Changeless<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Good morning, and happy Sci Fi Sunday! Today, we bring to you the second review of Gail Carriger's steampunk novels, this one of Changeless, again reviewed by my daughter Sarah. Enjoy!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmRS0VDoLxeezoCeN1L4XhzVPmVTyaH0x_x00_O4HZhvWbr18djxu7Kc3EYj81VJbbWjaCgzMyDLsP_Lz9W_UnmuePAarZ1tYdgus-DAuA6dxYdjuT69FxTWgLRr9UN2HCOIIYxUWPxMN/s1600/Sci+Fi+Sunday+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmRS0VDoLxeezoCeN1L4XhzVPmVTyaH0x_x00_O4HZhvWbr18djxu7Kc3EYj81VJbbWjaCgzMyDLsP_Lz9W_UnmuePAarZ1tYdgus-DAuA6dxYdjuT69FxTWgLRr9UN2HCOIIYxUWPxMN/s320/Sci+Fi+Sunday+logo.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7Eve33r8uqcJTDPKbTO_pTLVxNyi1b7waqf7MF50ySGHYsD0MkFeqMa-4ygKo9iQ1eEVLhbS6NMPSJQXqV-70jWx8tEoEQeHfkd0CeO2Zd1mjJeYYlKDOuAlHTFdMSeIyg0IrzS0bYo/s1600/Changeless+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7Eve33r8uqcJTDPKbTO_pTLVxNyi1b7waqf7MF50ySGHYsD0MkFeqMa-4ygKo9iQ1eEVLhbS6NMPSJQXqV-70jWx8tEoEQeHfkd0CeO2Zd1mjJeYYlKDOuAlHTFdMSeIyg0IrzS0bYo/s320/Changeless+cover.jpg" width="197" /></a></div><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Changeless: Parasol Protectorate book 2 <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Author:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Gail Carriger<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Publisher:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Orbit Books<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">American release date:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> March 30th 2010<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Format/Genre/Length:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Novel/Fantasy/374 pages<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Older Teen<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Overall Personal Rating: A<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Similar series/titles to check out:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Leviathan; Discworld; the Sookie Stackhouse novels (Southern Vampire mysteries)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">When the supernatural aren't feeling so supernatural anymore, Alexia Tarabotti will have to venture into the darkest depths of a most backwater land to find the truth, braving strange foods and insidious in-laws at the same time - and that place is Scotland.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Synopsis:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Alexia Maccon, half-Italian muhjah and wife of a werewolf as well as a woman with no soul who loves food and her parasol, once again finds herself in a bind when she is awoken in the early mid-afternoon by her husband, who instead of sleeping peacefully like a werewolf should be is instead shouting angrily into the air. He then storms out of the house with no real explanation as to what's going on. What she finds instead of answers is an entire regiment of werewolves camped out on the lawn of her house on order of Lord Maccon himself - and as her dinner party is coming up as well. Now BUR and Queen Victoria are on her tail when large swaths of London's supernatural suddenly go pre-natural with no explanation - therefore putting all the suspicion and blame on Alexia's soulless shoulders. Luckily for her, she meets Madame Lefoux, female French inventor with a keen mind and an even keener mind for making a very exciting and combative parasol for Alexia's use. However, not even that will fully solve the case of the pre-naturals gone human, and unfortunately it leads to a place Alexia does not necessarily want to go to: Scotland, home of her beloved husband and where the heart of her investigation lies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Naturally, Alexia can't do anything without some social complications, especially when her mother dumps one of her sisters on her right as she's about to leave for Scotland, Tunstell and Ivy decide to tag along despite Ivy being engaged and Tunstell smitten with Ivy, and Madame Lefoux joins the expedition in the name of scientific curiosity. The dirigible trip itself brings all sorts of excitement and dangers for the group, but is nothing compared to what lies in store on the rainy plains of Scotland. In a world run by werewolf dynamics and a very Scottish version of social mores, it's going to take all of Alexia's skill and wit to get to the heart of the mystery and still find time to stay sufficiently mad at her runaway husband.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Commentary:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The first book of the Parasol Protectorate series, <i>Soulless</i>, had held much promise for me as a reader but only scored a C rating for a multitude of flaws, partly a growing pains sensation of having to introduce such a wide universe of supernatural steampunk Victorian London in so many pages. I had indicated in my previous review that its sequel, <b><i>Changeless</i></b>, was one I would be looking forward to in anticipation of seeing Gail Carriger earn her popularity and acclaim by fans and reviewers alike. Now that I've read the second book in the Parasol Protectorate series, I can now say one thing: it was totally worth getting through <i>Soulless</i> to read this book. In fact, by the time Alexia was beating the everloving bejeezus out of a petulant werewolf soldier, I was pretty much in love with this book and thinking myself a proud tea-drinking member of Team Alexia (and Team Akeldama for the win!). I think if you join now, you get a spiffy badge and a free parasol (weapon accessories not included; contact Madame Lefoux for an appointment ASAP before everyone else gets wind of it). If the second book is a marker of the places this series can go, then I look forward with fangirlish eagerness to the further adventures of the Parasol Protectorate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In this book, Alexia and her core gang of merry supernaturals (and the occasional mere mortal) are truly at top form, embroiled in more drama than ever before, from Ivy's romantic entanglements to Alexia's husband problems. People who are fans of his wolfness Lord Maccon may be disappointed: he appears briefly in the first chapter, runs out to take care of business, and is not really seen until the dirigible lands in Scotland. That's quite alright - it gives Alexia more of a chance to shine solo, show why she is the perfect protagonist for this series. She's headstrong and dead set on getting things done her own way - that is, by wielding a parasol like a champ and answering the evils of London with her signature sharp wit - and if you don't love Alexia by the end of this book, you'd do best to stop reading the series 'cos Alexia is the life blood of the books and especially <b><i>Changeless</i></b>. She might just yet rocket to the top of my most favorite fictional heroine list if the third book manages to top this one.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">There were several things tackled in <b><i>Changeless</i></b> that were truly memorable, one of them being the steampunk elements of the book. In my previous review, I had complained about a lack of essential steampunk and felt what little there were seemed more like window dressing than actual elements. However, my fears of this being a steampunk book without merit of holding that genre tag have been completely blown away. In this book, there's cogs and gears and magnificent steam-powered science. The dirigibles and the aethographer, which are so SP in essence, are essential plot points and don't seem tacked on in the slightest. Add to that Alexia's wonderful new parasol, and the series has finally come into its own as a steampunk work - although I kinda like referring to it as teapunk, for obvious reasons. Another issue tackled by the series is, surprisingly enough, a topic not exactly laid out in the open in Victorian times: sexuality. It isn't overtly addressed until the end of the book, but astute readers will certainly have their suspicions over the leanings of a certain character - and this time, it isn't the flaboyantly fabulous Lord Akeldama. And personally, I love Carriger for including more LGBTQQI characters in her work, especially since the Victorians weren't exactly known to be nice to those parts of society and I'm sure Miss Carriger will treat the issue of such characters in Victorian society with the respect they will deserve. The fact that the LGBTQQI characters do not suffer from flat personalities and are treated as worthy additions to the character roster feels my bisexual cisgendered heart with glee and squee.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The very end of <b><i>Changeless</i></b> is possibly the most incendiary and thrilling part of the book, and when you read it, you will be hopping mad at certain characters and be frantically searching for your own copy of <i>Blameless</i> - and no, it's not out yet, but it will be out in September of this year. Books that invoke that sort of reactions in readers? Always a top pick in my mind. If <i>Soulless</i> was the necessary stepping stone to set up the main story and cast of characters, then <b><i>Changeless</i></b> is the book that makes the series into a spectacular must-read for all fans of books looking for something out of the ordinary. After all, there are steampunk books, and there are supernatural books, and there are Victorian comedy of errors . . . and then there is Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series, which if it's not on your bookshelf right now, it should be.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Overall Grade: </span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> A<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A wonderfully paced story full of mischief, mystery, and manners that is finally and utterly deserving of the genre tag steampunk.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In the Radius:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> If you enjoy your supernatural tropes turned on their head with a good dose of humor, you should check out the Southern Vampire/Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, currently being adapted to television as the ongoing series <i>True Blood</i> on Showtime.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p>Don't forget to check out Sui Lynn's blog at<a href="http://suidlynn.blogspot.com/"> 2 Cents</a>, or my blog at <a href="http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com/">Full Moon Dreaming</a>!</o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p>!</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p>Until next time, take care!</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">♥ Julie</span></o:p></span></div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-35109088689609425012011-09-25T05:21:00.000-07:002011-09-25T05:21:44.508-07:00Sci Fi Sunday - Gail Carriger's Soulless<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmRS0VDoLxeezoCeN1L4XhzVPmVTyaH0x_x00_O4HZhvWbr18djxu7Kc3EYj81VJbbWjaCgzMyDLsP_Lz9W_UnmuePAarZ1tYdgus-DAuA6dxYdjuT69FxTWgLRr9UN2HCOIIYxUWPxMN/s1600/Sci+Fi+Sunday+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmRS0VDoLxeezoCeN1L4XhzVPmVTyaH0x_x00_O4HZhvWbr18djxu7Kc3EYj81VJbbWjaCgzMyDLsP_Lz9W_UnmuePAarZ1tYdgus-DAuA6dxYdjuT69FxTWgLRr9UN2HCOIIYxUWPxMN/s320/Sci+Fi+Sunday+logo.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Good morning and welcome to Sci Fi Sunday! At least for now, Reality Check is done. It's been subbed and we're awaiting the results. In the meantime, we'd like to discuss Steampunk, and the new story we're working on. Never fear, you'll hear of Reno and Kay again, but we have new boys to bring you! And theirs is a Steampunk world.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My daughter Sarah wrote a review of Gail Carriger's novel Soulless, first in her Parasol Protectorate series. It's the first modern Steampunk I'd read, and I can directly attribute my reading it to my daughter's review, so here it is, and enjoy!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhtkUpInDuU1GAeTCmwRYQThHJuUnnXvly7pmCyHdfnqhSFS0iHwTLSdM360MJnHwvfFPlvxvn3T5Y3iCgMjQtZEOrV8ObPtCuap8Hz2JxCDohilup7YA90Bu04UoJW_VwU72YyBOc3JE/s1600/Soulless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhtkUpInDuU1GAeTCmwRYQThHJuUnnXvly7pmCyHdfnqhSFS0iHwTLSdM360MJnHwvfFPlvxvn3T5Y3iCgMjQtZEOrV8ObPtCuap8Hz2JxCDohilup7YA90Bu04UoJW_VwU72YyBOc3JE/s320/Soulless.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="197" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Soulless: Parasol Protectorate book 1 <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Author: Gail Carriger<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Publisher: Orbit<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">American release date: October 1st 2009<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Format/Genre/Length: Novel/Supernatural/357 pages<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Older Teen<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Overall Personal Rating: C+<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Similar series/titles to check out: Leviathan; Discworld; the Sookie Stackhouse novels<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In an alternative Victorian-era England where werewolves and vampires are accepted occurrences and steampunk reigns supreme, it takes a young woman from high society who has no soul to cut through the nonsense and get to the important matters - like when the treacle tart is to be served.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Synopsis:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Alexia Tarabotti, half-Italian spinster with no soul who loves food, is greatly offended when she is attacked by a half-starved vampire during a social outing, a terrible breach of etiquette not to mention not very good for her health. She manages to kill the vampire with her parasol and a wooden stake/hair pin, thus bringing the attention of BUR (Bureau of Unnatural Registry) on her as well as the queen of a nearby vampire hive. Luckily one of BUR's top officials arrives in the form of the dashing upper crust rogue/werewolf Lord Maccon, who is ordered by the Queen herself to investigate the matter; he is already an acquaintance of Miss Tarabotti and swears to protect her from those who wish harm on her - well, if they could stop squabbling at each other and work together in peace. Accompanying him is Professor Lyall, second in command and the arguable voice of reason among BUR, who honestly thinks Alexia and His Lordship could be very close friends if they gave their silly games a break for just one minute.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It soon becomes evident that the problem facing London's supernatural society is bigger than imagined as vampires unregistered and unrecognized start appearing around town, while registered vampires who are associated with known hives are disappearing without a trace. And it isn't just the vampires in a frenzy, as BUR's werewolves are finding out the hard way. Even Lord Akeldama, the foppish gossip king of London, doesn't know what's going on. As a soulless - someone who can drain the paranormal abilities of a vampire or werewolf with just a touch - Alexia becomes an unwilling target for all the blame, and she's not terribly pleased about it. As danger looms nearer, it's up to Alexia Tarabotti to unravel the mystery of these disappearances before her reputation is ruined forever and her status as a soulless is revealed - or worse, a painful and unbecoming death.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Commentary:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I must confess: I have not read much steampunk. I am also not the biggest fan of either werewolves or vampires. I also do not read a lot of Victorian lit, either from the era or inspired by it. Having said that, you would think I'd avoid a novel like <b><i>Soulless</i></b> by author Gail Carriger, which combines all of the above into one work. I picked the title up in the name of morbid curiosity, and found myself drawn into a solid story with some bumps in the road that kept it from being excellent. Not terrible, but not golden. Having said that, fans of the genre of fiction that centers around characters of the paranormal persuasion will love this book. Each race of fantastic creatures each have their own mythos that is slightly different than the ones paraded around in <i>Twilight</i> and <i>The Vampire Diaries</i>. Not to mention, they are all terribly polite to the point that it plagues the rules of their species - an amusing side-effect from being born in times of Victorian niceties. In an era of novels like <i>Pride and Prejudice and Zombies</i>, it's nice to see someone play the bloody tropes straight and have their world of petticoats and hansom cabs accept the presence of werewolves and vampires without having to outright wage war on them.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fans of steampunk, I'm sorry to say, should find their cogs and gears fix somewhere else. The most steampunk elements of the book are the interest in science running rampant through academia, an apparent interest in the steampunk aesthetic demonstrated by both vampires and werewolves, the dirigibles in the skies over London (which just remind this reviewer of the zeppelins in the alternate universe on <i>Doctor Who</i>), and Alexia's parasol, which is designed to protect her against unwholesome beasties. Aside from that, there are no grandiose steampunk-esque machines or experiments until the tail end of the book. Alexia, although an avid bookworm and thinker, never rolls up her sleeves and tinkers with machinery. Nothing about average Victorian society apart from the dirigibles suggest a steampunk atmosphere - and it confounds me that they would use it as a <i>selling point</i> when I can't really see it in the text. The bloody cover is more steampunk than the book itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">(And as for the cover itself? Alexia Tarabotti looks slim and pale skinned, not the lightly tanned and curvy Rubenesque young woman described in the novel. Plus, she is wearing a stereotypically steampunk hat that isn't even hers. This isn't the kind of whitewashed cover that Justine Larbalestier's <i>Liar</i> got, not by a long shot, but it pretty much wipes out the fact that Alexia is half-Italian with a complexion to match and is not a 'perfect hourglass' figure.)<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Having said all that, <b><i>Soulless</i></b> is not without its merits, despite it sounding like there are none. For example, it is obvious that Derriger did a metric ton's worth of research on the intricate details of Victorian era living, from the foods and clothing to the dining etiquette and social manners that were so prevalent during that period. Like any good English Victorian novel, it is packed with dry wit (which, as I hear from self-declared Brit John Oliver, is something the English invented themselves) and manages to make even the most simple social slip-ups remarkably hilarious. I love that when Alexia is in the face of mortal danger from a vampire her biggest worry is on the lines of how scandalous her untied hair must seem or that she really picked a bad day to wear her best evening gown.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Alexia Tarabotti herself is the perfect kind of main protagonist you want narrating a tale of supernatural going-ons in prim and proper London. She is a spinster with a dark complexion and curves to spare, a woman who loves to read and is far too intelligent for her own good - aka the kind of woman their mother despairs over because she'll never marry, and society pretty much dismisses her as a never-do-anything because of it. Does it bring her down? Of course not. She does what <i>she </i>wants, is capable of protecting herself thank you very much Lord Maccon, and once she sets her mind on something that something usually gets done no matter what. Alexia is stubborn and clever in a pinch and her constant snarky Victorian-era point of view as she straddles upholding social standards in all situations and navigating the waters of the vampire/werewolf realm brings a clarity to some of the more convoluted aspects of the time. Even the golden age of scientific discovery, it seems, can't stop society from upholding ridiculous moral and social attitudes that make things overly complicated, even for someone who was used to it. It's a shame that, in ostracizing Alexia from society and thus making her a candidate for BUR's meddling, that they over-emphasize her Italian features and body shape. I understand that it is a Victorian viewpoint and it is Alexia herself telling the story, but there must be more subtle and better ways of separating one from the pack without resorting to overly describing her physical characteristics. (There's also the fact that the prose seems confused on whether she is barely tan or very much tan, but that could be another thing chalked up to the narrator's own self-perceived flaws.)<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Alexia's foil presents itself in the form of Lord Maccon, and the back blurb of the novel describes him perfectly: <i>loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf</i>. I often find that when a writer tries to integrate the wolf-aspects into the human form's personality, it doesn't end well and seems painfully forced, but for Lord Maccon his werewolfish tendencies while still looking very much a human are a delight to read. He is just as stubborn and snarky as Alexia, and every time they butt heads over BUR policy or a social disaster you can practically smell the romantic tension building up between them. I found myself cheering for their very dysfunctional romance, and I'm not the type to cheer for the main characters to become couples straight out of the gate. When Alexia learns via Professor Lyall that Lord Maccon has actually begun courting her werewolf-fashion, her responses to his advances from then on are some of the most amusing and titillating scenes in the book. Yes, things get very steamy between our Victorian heroine and her dashing rogue friend, but never does it become embarrassingly explicit or unnecessarily detailed. After all, it's not a smut book, it's a mostly-general supernatural fantasy set in steampunkish Victorian England, dang it! This is the era of the Brontë sisters and Wilkie Collins; fade to black or be gone with you!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The only other time that <b><i>Soulless</i></b> outright addresses sexuality is through Lord Akeldama, whom upon meeting him for the first time you'd be foolish not to notice that he is English, intelligent, and gayer than a tree full of monkeys on nitrous oxide. It is never expressed in those words, but you'd have to be blind, living under a rock, and have never interacted with any sort of media to not realize Lord Akeldama prefers vampires his own gender - and probably those who share his extremely vibrant and garish taste in clothing. Reading Derriger's descriptions of his usual outfits, you can imagine how many times Alexia has to look away from the vastly technicolor nature of his design. But Lord Akeldama is also one of the most intelligent and clever people in the entire novel, someone who has ears practically everywhere in England and is a very useful informant when Alexia or BUR needs some intel on what's what. This is why, when Akeldama admits to Alexia that he doesn't know what is going on with the disappearances, you can feel that <i>it's not right</i>. Akeldama, the man who knows too much, knows nothing? The fact that this happens only briefly after first meeting him and yet has the power to affect the reader's perception of the problem at hand should highlight some of the skill in which author Derriger wields her control over the ongoing drama than runs through the main narrative; under all the English humor and romantic situations there is always a hint of danger on the horizon, a clue that something more sinister and dangerous is approaching for the cast that will test the lot of them in unthinkable ways. This is what kept me reading page after page despite its flaws: Derriger made me want to know what would happen next. An author who can effectively grab a reader's attention and then slowly pull them in like a sinkhole until the very end is one to be remembered with great respect.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The second book in the series, <i>Changeless</i>, is on my list of books to read. I think that as a second book, it will be more satisfying that the first as it will be a story with an already establish universe and therefore will not suffer from the growing pains that are evident in the world-building process that goes on throughout <b><i>Soulless</i></b>, at times reading more like mindless exposition than thoughtful background information. It's clear that Derriger took great pains to set up this alternate universe of machines and manners and beasties all meshed together, but the effort getting there seems to have seeped through the actual prose <i>too</i> well. I can't help but think that if she had laid off on revealing some of the information introduced in the first chapter until it didn't seem like such a pile of info that the entire process would have read a lot more smoothly.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In all, <b><i>Soulless</i></b> is a solid read for fans of the biologically strange and socially astute, and is a fascinating look into a world hopefully expanded upon in the following books of the series. I can't help but be intrigued and attracted to the character of Alexia Tarabotti, and as long as she is headlining this steampunk world of high society and secret magics, I will continue to follow her continuing adventures until their conceivable end.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Overall Grade: </span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> C+<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">An intriguing tale of paranormal dilemmas in steampunk London, led by a fascinating main protag; not much steampunk to actually qualify the tag, descriptions of certain characters were jarring and at some points flat out unnecessary.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</u></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This review was just to whet your appetitite, there'll be more, I promise. Any questions? Any comments? I'd love to hear from you!</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Until next time, take care! Don't forget to check out Sui Lynn's blog, <a href="http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com/">2 Cents</a>, and my blog, <a href="http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com/">Full Moon Dreaming</a>!</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">♥ Julie and Sue</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-27070250480267120802011-09-22T00:01:00.000-07:002011-09-22T00:01:01.080-07:00Touching on ThursdayAs Three Dog Night once said, One is the loneliest number. Love exists in twos - hope you enjoy this loving look at some very loving - and hot - couples. <br />
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Mmmm, your ear looks good enough to eat!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PlvHWZbThWFFkEnSKuNh-DMBr8cvHZtfNw2cGk7kGpu_rkK6JDJqxAHLWjJryY8C-O2HAqn5kAHiHUOk0PB8vulTk9Z_81eXR3JnaiKP2SCPFe2qiB73CH5iFcZHKm3RjHA6I5VPBBA/s1600/0006p18r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PlvHWZbThWFFkEnSKuNh-DMBr8cvHZtfNw2cGk7kGpu_rkK6JDJqxAHLWjJryY8C-O2HAqn5kAHiHUOk0PB8vulTk9Z_81eXR3JnaiKP2SCPFe2qiB73CH5iFcZHKm3RjHA6I5VPBBA/s320/0006p18r.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I could lay here with you like this forever...<br />
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Let me hold you as long as I can, lover.<br />
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Let me help you with those, dear.<br />
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Sittin' in the love chair with you, nowhere else I'd rather be.<br />
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If you like these guys, let us know! There's more where they came from. If you love men who love men as we do, we'd love to hear from you! And don't forget to check out our other blogs - Sui Lynn at <a href="http://suidlynn.blogspot.com/">2 Cents</a>, and myself at <a href="http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com/">Full Moon Dreaming</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Until next time, take care!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">♥ Julie</span>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-27414424726090458632011-09-21T05:04:00.001-07:002011-09-21T05:04:43.937-07:00Silver Flash Wednesday - More Two for the Price of One<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Happy Wednesday everyone, and happy Hump Day!Thanks for coming back for another week of flash fiction with the authors of Silver Publishing! This week we have our very first Guest Prompt Diva - Reese Dante, our lovely cover artist, who has given us: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">: ...will you stop doing that! I can't concentrate when you're ....</span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And the alternative prompt, from our very own Ryssa Edwards is: </div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</b></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;">This could lead to some rather interesting possibilities, don't you think? As for myself, I have brought both my series to the table again this week, unable to choose between them. In Lust Never Sleeps, the plot thickens as we learn more about the slippery Sawyer, while in Scent of a Wolf, Cameron and Jareth come face to face... or is that nose?</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;">Don't forget to check out all the divas, their links follow my tales!</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47Me9ssG6-janFxjeejTFM6GpA-vORMckQkB56PkM7kaiieoR1X1TpM55bITcJ9QYsei20jhlHfibEVUrz4sYHb0yvcJ5TWxqkN58K4axMxx9CBMa8-D04m_PPHWTKr1NYOE2nxoWMmi1/s1600/Silver_Flash_Site_Badge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47Me9ssG6-janFxjeejTFM6GpA-vORMckQkB56PkM7kaiieoR1X1TpM55bITcJ9QYsei20jhlHfibEVUrz4sYHb0yvcJ5TWxqkN58K4axMxx9CBMa8-D04m_PPHWTKr1NYOE2nxoWMmi1/s1600/Silver_Flash_Site_Badge.JPG" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;">Scent of a Wolf 4</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">For a moment, the startled Cameron forgot to breathe, staring into those dark velvety eyes. But when the admittedly good-looking man drew closer to him, practically inhaling him, then Cameron automatically reacted, pushing the intruder summarily away. Shifter or not, he didn’t care for the man’s far too intimate manner. And the unhealthy way he was eyeing Cameron up, like he was some cut of Grade A Choice Beef snack. Raw, and on the hoof, so to speak.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">“Hey man, what’s your trip? Ever hear of personal space?” He jumped up, debating with himself whether fight or flight should be the order of the day. While not afraid of fighting, this wasn’t necessarily the venue for it. Especially without a better reason than this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">“Excuse me…” Another country heard from. Hopefully a saner nation. Perhaps it was the other man’s keeper; that would explain much. Where the first was tall, dark and handsome—as clichéd a stranger as any found within the pages of a romance novel—the second man was blonder, stockier, and seemed to at least possess something of his own wits about him. Whereas the first man’s sole mission in life seemed to be to get as close to Cameron as he could get, his nose twitching at him in an almost sensual way. Cameron found that it turned him on, in spite of himself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">“I’m sorry, I must apologize for my friend,” the blond began. He grasped his companion by the forearm, pulling him back. The well-dressed brunet strained against his keeper’s tenuous hold, and Cameron found himself carefully backing away from him. ‘”He’s not himself today. Jareth!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">To Cameron’s surprise, the blond placed his hand over Jareth’s nose, pinching it shut, a move which made no real sense to him. But for some reason it worked, as he instantly ceased from making any untoward movements in Cameron’s direction. That was a start.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">“What the fuck?” Cameron growled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">“Shaw, must you do that?” Jareth protested, reaching for the offending hand. Suddenly he stopped, his own hand arrested in mid-aid, staring about him with confused eyes. “Where on earth are we? And why?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">“He’s why.” Shaw nodded at Cameron. “I don’t have time to explain where. Or anything else. I suspect his pursuers are either close at hand, or waiting just outside.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">“My what?” Cameron looked between the two men. Someone was certainly crazy around here, and it wasn’t him. They were very lucky that it wasn’t any closer to the full moon, for at such a time, he was less prone to self-control.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">“Look,” Shaw said, attempting to be as patient as he could under the circumstances. Between having to keep a tight rein on Jareth’s nose and watching out for the gruesome twosome, he wasn’t exactly in the mood to play professor. “We know what you are. I don’t know why Jareth is so damned attracted to you, but he is. That’s beside the point. You’re in grave danger from two hooli—“<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Just then, Jareth’s nose came loose from its imprisonment. He leapt toward Cameron.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">“You know what? I hear your loony bin calling, they want you back,” Cameron murmured, before he did a quick vault between the two men, just as Shaw threw himself toward Jareth. Thanking the powers that be for his wolf reflexes, Cameron leapt down the stairs three at a time, banging his elbow painfully against the wall as he did so. At the bottom, he hurtled himself through the front door and back out into the miserable drizzle which was still falling, calling an apology over his shoulder to the owners of the establishment. With any luck, they wouldn’t ban him from the premises for this lunacy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">It was definitely time to go home. He’d had more than enough excitement for one day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Too engrossed in evading the melodrama that was no doubt playing itself out on the second floor, Cameron failed to take note of his surroundings. A most grievous error on his part. A hand emerged from nowhere, clamped itself about his upper arm. Cameron’s head whipped backward. He felt a shockwave of pain run down his arm, as he was jarred into momentary immobility.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">The hand squeezed tightly; Cameron winced, drawing on what inner strength he possessed to fight the pain. He changed his mind—he wished it was the full moon. He’d rend this bastard limb from limb, given the chance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">From the corner of his eye he saw a long lean man with weasel’s features. He opened his mouth, revealing sharp pointed teeth. “The show must go on, dear boy,” he said, grinning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Cameron pulled as hard as he could, one foot coming up in a self-defense kick which caught his captor in the groin. He doubled over, and Cameron ran. He dashed across the street, glancing about for some means of quick escape. A bus was approaching; he feared that would not do. He turned into an alley instead, hoping to lose himself in the shadows.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">His arm began to scream; he held it close against his body, his feet lithely dodging the accumulated detritus that blocked his way. An abandoned baby carriage. An upended garbage can. An empty suitcase. Collective pains in his ass.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">He dared a quick glance behind him—nothing. Veering course, he ducked down a second alley, speeding along it in desperation. At least he was on familiar grounds, hopefully an advantage his pursuer did not share.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Pursuer? That’s what the men in the bookstore had said. What the fuck?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Ahead of him, he spotted the entrance to an abandoned shoe factory, its workers long ago relegated to the unemployment line. If he could scale the iron gate, he could slip inside, catch his breath, and plot a course of action.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">He reached the top of the gate, swinging one leg over the top when he felt the arrow strike the base of his spine, toppling him. He fell to the ground, unconscious.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">“Excellent work, Chambers!” Rutledge hooted.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">to be continued</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47Me9ssG6-janFxjeejTFM6GpA-vORMckQkB56PkM7kaiieoR1X1TpM55bITcJ9QYsei20jhlHfibEVUrz4sYHb0yvcJ5TWxqkN58K4axMxx9CBMa8-D04m_PPHWTKr1NYOE2nxoWMmi1/s1600/Silver_Flash_Site_Badge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47Me9ssG6-janFxjeejTFM6GpA-vORMckQkB56PkM7kaiieoR1X1TpM55bITcJ9QYsei20jhlHfibEVUrz4sYHb0yvcJ5TWxqkN58K4axMxx9CBMa8-D04m_PPHWTKr1NYOE2nxoWMmi1/s1600/Silver_Flash_Site_Badge.JPG" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Lust Never Sleeps 11: What is the Real Truth?</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“Wait, wait, wait! Let me understand what you’re saying,” Amandine protested, holding up one gloved hand, as if to dam his words. “You let the actual diamonds out of your hands? And into theirs? Sawyer, how could you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“Amandine, please, this is no time for reproach. You can beat me over the head later. First things first, my dear, and that is to retrieve my diamonds.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“<i>Your </i>diamonds?” She arched a silken red eyebrow at him, receiving an annoyed scowl in return.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">Brushton let out a long low whistle. “Bugger, Sawyer, I hate to say it but I think you’re royally screwed. The thing I don’t understand is how you’re still alive? I mean seriously, I’d have thought Sue would’ve flayed you like a prime filet for losing the family jewels. I know that forgiveness is a nunly trait, but honestly, that goes above and beyond—“ He paused in mid-sentence, setting his half-empty glass of champagne onto the table so abruptly it imitated a drunken sailor, sloshing onto the tablecloth. “She doesn’t know, does she?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“Of course not, that’s why he’s here.” Amandine glared at her ex, who refused to meet her gaze.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“No, she doesn’t know,” Sawyer reluctantly admitted. His eyes fell upon Brushton, whose hand was busily scratching at one of his udders.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“Will you stop doing that! I can't concentrate when you're playing with yourself in public like that!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“Am not,” he insisted, continuing to rub away at the large teat, “but this damn suit itches. There are worse places I could be scratching, you know. Want me to show you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“NO!” Amandine and Sawyer cried in unison.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">Darryl was having difficulty in following the back and forth and give and take among these three people, who obviously possessed a great deal of very interesting history among them. It was like watching a tennis match without knowing anything about the sport, or any idea what the rules were—a lot of pointless head turning with himself none the wiser. He cast his eyes upon Sawyer, who kissed him softly, as if that explained everything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">Brushton released his hold on the udder, reaching for his glass, to a collective consensus of relief. “I say, old beaner, you’re in a bit of a jam here. I mean it’s not like you can just go up to them and ask for them back, now can you? Say pardon me but you filched the real thing and not my fakes, would you hand them over, please.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“Hardly.” Sawyer snorted derisively.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“Fakes?” Darryl echoed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“Sawyer’s the best forger that ever was.” Amandine praised her ex, who did his best to appear to be modest, but somehow failed. “He’s so good, he leaves his victims feeling that they all have the real deal, no questions asked. Of course, they’re forbidden to show them to anyone either. Part of the price they pay for having such expensive trinkets in their collection. So no one can compare notes. Or figure out just how many copies of everything Sawyer’s sold.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“As long as I keep track of who has what, no harm done eh?” Sawyer insisted. “The point here is what can I do to get back what is rightfully mine?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“Yours and Sue’s,” Brushton pointed out helpfully.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“Let’s not quibble about semantics,” Sawyer brushed away his assistance. “Let’s think of something.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“”What about your…” Darryl didn’t know what to call the ability which Sawyer seemed to possess. But he’d seen him touch people and bend them to his will, at least to some degree. So why not use it on Schrodinger and Salisbury?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">Sawyer frowned. “That’s a simple parlor trick,” he replied evasively, “of limited usefulness. I would if I could, my love, I assure you. But those gentlemen are too savvy to fall for that.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“In other words, they caught onto him in that regard a long time ago,” Amandine laughed. Sawyer flushed, but he didn’t deny her words.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“So let me see if I have this right.” Darryl fought to make sense out of the disjointed bits of information. “You forge things and sell them to these two men? Yes? But for some reason they ended up with the real thing, and not the forgeries? Do I understand the situation correctly?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“Yes and no,” Sawyer equivocated. “I brought the real diamonds to bait the trap, but once I learned who the client was, I intended to give them the fake ones. It’s worked beautifully before. Jewels, paintings, sculpture…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“You can do all that?” Darryl was impressed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“And more.” Sawyer broadly winked. Darryl flushed at the implications inherent in that simple motion, his groin tightening with desire.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“So what happened tonight?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“Good question,” Sawyer glumly replied. “All was going well, until that thief and his bosom companion had to interfere.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“What about the gypsy who killed the thief? Can you be sure he took the diamonds to those two men? Maybe he kept them for himself?” Darryl was trying to cheer up his lover by looking at the cup as being half full, not half empty. But even he wasn’t sure if that was a better idea or not.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“Milosh? No, he’s one of theirs. As is Mondo.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“What do you mean, one of theirs?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“I mean he’s a creature whose purpose is to do their bidding. A servant to do their dirty work. As for Mondo, I’d swear that he’s a golem, actually, although I’ve no real proof of that.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">A distinct shiver traversed Darryl’s spine. Or it might have been because of Sawyer’s blatant hand pressing </span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">against his crotch.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“Darling,” Amandine interrupted their tête-à-tête, “I do hate to be crass, and while I do adore the free bubbly, I’m not quite as enamored of watching you and your dear darling Darryl mindfuck one another. Is there a reason why I’m here? Other than to be admired, of course?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">Before Sawyer could either explain or apologize, their ears were assaulted by a maddening din.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">“AIR RAID!” Brushton screamed. “Everybody dive for cover!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><o:p>to be continued<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Now visit the other intrepid Silver Flashers and see what they have to offer!</span> </o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://lilysawyerbooks.blogspot.com/">Lily Sawyer</a> m/m</span> </o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://www.ryssaedwards.net/blog">Ryssa Edwards</a> m/m</span> </o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://catrianasmuse.blogspot.com/">Catriana Sommers</a> m/m</span> </o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://www.victoriablisse.co.uk/">Victoria Blisse </a> m/f</span> </o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://chrisquinton.com/">Chris Quinton</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"> m/m</span></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://wthornhillauthor.blogspot.com/">West Thornhill </a> m/m</span></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://www.ichbineinteufel.blogspot.com/">Lindsay Klug</a> m/f</span></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://inadreambeyond.blogspot.com/">Elizabeth LaVey</a> m/f</span></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://lmbrownauthor.blogspot.com/">LM Brown</a> m/m</span></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://freddymackay.blogspot.com/">Freddy McKay</a> m/m</span></o:p></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I hope you're enjoying our humble efforts. Feel free to drop a comment, make a request, or just say hi!</span></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p>Until next time, take care!</o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">♥ Julie</span></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><strong style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br />
</strong></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-68359059632779594622011-09-18T13:27:00.000-07:002011-09-18T13:27:16.381-07:00Sci Fi Sunday - Reality Check Continues<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Hello and Happy Sci Fi Sunday to you! Today we have more of Reality Check to offer you - can two men find love on a planet far far away when they appear to be so very different? Or are they more similar than they realize, at least in matters of the heart? Don't forget to check out Sui Lynn's blog, <a href="http://suidlynn.blogspot.com/">2 Cents</a>, as well as our joint blog - <a href="http://backdoordivas.blogspot.com/">Backdoor Diva</a>s!</div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As you'll recall from the last episode, Reno was supposed to come to the royal palace to pretend to court Kay's sister, Luci. But a family emergency has kept him at home, and Kay has come to find his beloved and see what the problem is.....</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmRS0VDoLxeezoCeN1L4XhzVPmVTyaH0x_x00_O4HZhvWbr18djxu7Kc3EYj81VJbbWjaCgzMyDLsP_Lz9W_UnmuePAarZ1tYdgus-DAuA6dxYdjuT69FxTWgLRr9UN2HCOIIYxUWPxMN/s1600/Sci+Fi+Sunday+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmRS0VDoLxeezoCeN1L4XhzVPmVTyaH0x_x00_O4HZhvWbr18djxu7Kc3EYj81VJbbWjaCgzMyDLsP_Lz9W_UnmuePAarZ1tYdgus-DAuA6dxYdjuT69FxTWgLRr9UN2HCOIIYxUWPxMN/s320/Sci+Fi+Sunday+logo.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Reality Check</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Chapter Five</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Fear skitters across my spine. My Kay is here? <i>Oh Guardian, we had an appointment. A chance to be together and I’ve blown it already.</i> He’s a prince and certainly not the kind to take to being stood up lightly. Jaou places a reassuring hand on my shoulder.<br />
<br />
I marshal my thoughts into some semblance of order. “Please go check on Dorian and I’ll go talk to Kay. I’ll try and get him into my rooms before Mother sees that he’s here.”<br />
<br />
“Are you sure, Reno?” Jaou nervously shifts from foot to foot.<br />
<br />
“I’m sure. If she’s out there too, I’ll be sure and get you. Now go check on Dorian!” I point in the direction of the door as an incentive.<br />
<br />
“Fine!” Jaou stomps off in high dudgeon, but I can’t worry about him right now. I’ve other concerns.<br />
<br />
<i>He must be here to tell me what I can do with my suit.</i> I can feel depression setting into my soul, <i>I can’t… I won’t let him get away.</i> He’s just going to have to deal with my familial obligations. I mean, I know he’s a bit selfish, but surely he’ll see reason? It’s my brother’s life… I couldn’t just leave Dorian. I had to save him… Surely…<br />
<br />
I know, I’m procrastinating. There’s no way of knowing what he’ll say unless I let him in. What choice do I have? I surely can’t leave him standing just outside my door.<br />
<br />
I walk down the short hall and slide the door to the side in order to admit my love. The sight which meets my eyes is both terrifying and awe-inspiring at the same time. Kay’s beauty and dishevelment are all rolled up into one lovely but grimy mess. His clothing, obviously once regal and probably quite expensive, is now dirtied and rather the worse for wear. Dust streaks his face, giving it an odd off-balance appearance, but he counters it by being so glorious it’s all I can do not to wrap him in my arms and spirit him away.<br />
<br />
“My Prince, Welcome to my home.” Without thinking of what I do, I drop to one knee quickly before him, then regain my feet.<br />
<br />
§§§§§<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br />
Am I foolish for thinking a serious question deserves an actual answer? Or did I hallucinate seeing someone at all, and am I simply addressing my question into thin air? Or perhaps I’ve hit my head harder than I imagined, though right now I can’t actually remember doing so. Does that make me dizzy, then? Yes, that must be it, I’m dizzy with desire. Desire to see my Reno.<br />
<br />
As if some provident god has heard my wish, the thin-ass door, which a mere kick would send sprawling without much trouble, opens, and I see him standing before me. My first thought is thank the stars I’m in the right place. The second one is please kiss me before I die.<br />
<br />
I stumble toward him. Stumble being the operative word, as I seem to have lost the ability to walk. My legs have suddenly gone numb, and every muscle in my body aches. I feel like a damn baby, trying to take his first steps. The point is I’m going down, even as I reach my arms toward him. “Reno! You’re here!” Then the world goes momentarily black...<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> §§§§§<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br />
<i>Sandplats!!</i> <i>He’s falling!</i> I make a quick and well-coordinated grab for him even as he heads in a definite downward spiral, and gather him into my arms just before he crumples to the floor. What can have happened to my princeling! I hold him against me, relishing the sensation of having him in my arms once more. His forehead seems a bit warm, and he appears flushed... Where’s Swy? Why isn’t he looking after him? I’m going to have to have words with my prince’s bodyguard. This is most definitely conduct unbecoming, and nothing I will tolerate. Not when his personage is so important to me. I bend down and slip an arm beneath his legs, lifting him, enfolding him into myself, holding him tight against my chest. I really do need to get him out of here before Mother sees that he’s here.<br />
<br />
I nudge the door; it slides gently closed. I turn and dash down the corridor with my prince snuggled against my chest like the treasure he is.<br />
<br />
“What could’ve happened to you, my Prince?” I mumble into his ear. I push the door to my rooms open with my foot, making sure they close behind me before I take a seat on the bed, my Kay in my arms. I brush back the hair from his face. Only then do I realize what he’s done since last I’ve seen him. He’s colored his tresses the most beautiful hues—violets and blues that are most becoming with his gray eyes. If they would just open…<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> <br />
“Kay, my prince...” I gently brush my lips against his. How I ache for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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I hear his voice: it’s him, it’s Reno. I know I’m not imagining that. It’s his arms that hold me, his lap I’m resting so very comfortably in that I almost—but not quite—forget my aches and pains, the ones I’ve gained on my tortuous journey. A journey I shall most certainly have to tell him about in great lengths.<br />
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I make the effort to open my eyes, even though I feel that to do so might lead to a blinding headache, but no, it’s alright. Reno’s here. He’s here, but he looks so worried. Why? Is something wrong? Please don’t let anything be wrong.<br />
<br />
His kiss. It’s his kiss I feel, how wonderful his lips, they give me life.<br />
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“I waited for you,” I murmur, my tongue feeling thick in my mouth for some reason. “You were supposed to come, to court me. I mean Luci. But you didn’t... and I was afraid...” I’ve never admitted fear to anyone in my life before, and yet I spill my heart’s contents as easily as a news reader might slip out the scandals of the day—without hesitation. I trust him, I love him, what else is there to say? “I was afraid you’d.... changed your mind.”<br />
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There. I’ve just admitted my biggest fear to Reno. Bared my soul to him. And right now, I just want to curl up against him, and never move. Ever.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> §§§§§<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br />
He must have some story to tell, and I want to hear all the details but my first thoughts are to apologize to him for being so lacking , in manners and in punctuality, and in anything else I’m guilty of by not appearing when I was scheduled to be there for him.“I’m so sorry, Kay. I meant to be there... We meant to be there. But you see we’ve run into a bit of an emergency. My brother’s been hurt. Jaou and I were needed to help resuscitate him. Jaou’s in the garden with Dorian now.” I tremble slightly, not from fear of losing my brother... but from the proximity of this hot sexy man I’m holding in my arms. I want nothing more than to ravish his lips but he’s so delicate, I don’t want to hurt him. I lean in and gently kiss him, moaning into his open mouth as I slip my tongue between his lips, tasting my princeling.<br />
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It feels like it’s been forever since I last sampled those lips and tasted his sweet hot mouth. “If it wasn’t for my brother being at death’s door, I’d have been at your side, I swear it. Now tell me, my beauty, what has befallen you since last we met? Why do I find you here and in this alarming condition? And where is that miserable Swy?”<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">What do you think of Reality Check so far? What would you like to see happen? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear from you!</span></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
</span></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Have a great week and we'll see you next week!</span></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
</span></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Until next time, take care!</span></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
</span></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">♥ Julie and Sui</span></o:p></div></div></div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5017442246677465196.post-12720335031369555922011-09-11T07:30:00.001-07:002011-09-11T07:30:38.915-07:00Sci Fi Sunday - A Lost in Space Retrospective<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Good morning and welcome to another edition of Sci Fi Sunday. Kay and Reno are taking a break, so today I'm going to discuss what I basically began last week - my look back at Lost in Space: the TV show vs the movie. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehARkulhXMtCcDAP3ABjyS4726AwG8pTbmRSTs-FS6J2rMzd8-v-Z0GYfZTRLD-bR7vbvvDRaA6QUz8RlwQS2oy7rsYuvkLl2Mvld5kTabqwTAbPepFuyPH9s41L6OHPVgyVBpchKfLOd/s1600/lost_in_space-show.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehARkulhXMtCcDAP3ABjyS4726AwG8pTbmRSTs-FS6J2rMzd8-v-Z0GYfZTRLD-bR7vbvvDRaA6QUz8RlwQS2oy7rsYuvkLl2Mvld5kTabqwTAbPepFuyPH9s41L6OHPVgyVBpchKfLOd/s320/lost_in_space-show.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In 1965 CBS launched a science fiction series created and produced by a filmmaker who would come to be known for his disaster films - Irwin Allen. As I said last week, it concerned the voyages of the family Robinson, searching for a planet circling the closest star, Alpha Centauri, in order to see about colonizing it. They were to be the pioneers in this brave new world. How odd that they only sent one person who was not a family member (Dr. Smith doesn't count, he wasn't send, he was trapped onboard). Makes you think of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden - they had two sons, Cain and Abel. How did they populate the world? Also, don't think it's a coincidence that the family's name was Robinson - obvious shades of the Swiss Family Robinson.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It began in black & white, and went to color during the second season. Only running for three years, by the end of its short run, it had evolved from a sci fi adventure into a campy sci fi series, similar to Batman. Do any of you doubt that Batman was done tongue-in-cheek? Hello, have you ever watched it? From Adam West's deadpan delivery to Alfred's dusting of the Batcave to Aunt Harriet's naivete - it was all meant to be taken in fun and in no way reflects the graphic novels.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Interestingly, the character of Dr. Smith was intended to be killed off, but they saw the error of that course of action and he remained a staple of the series and of its plots for the entire run. In fact, he evolves over those three years from determined, cruel and vicious saboteur to whining, cowardly, good-hearted (if you search real hard) millstone/albatross about the Robinsons' collective neck - and the most interesting character in the series for sure. The parents were pretty well dull stuff - Professor Robinson (played by hunky Guy Williams) had little to do. He was a stern but distant father, who spent a lot of time not at the ship, doing scientific type stuff. His wife Maureen (played by veteran Lassie actress June Lockhart) was matriarchal, concerned and protective, but her role was limited. She does stand up for Dr. Smith on a regular basis, but she's been known to tell him off when the occasion warrants, and seems to be surprised when he shows his true nature yet again.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUwud0wc1XL8o4LgXwBtVivETbk5HA2z2P2zcnCXpm0GFqU-axHo3sCVogKQSWcVeqEdKLiZhK8ANXXFGZHjj73Y17buLDXbLEDb0EsxQ7NVZ0mt35G3hR_HLbEEg2KuI_ia9JCx6E_1J/s1600/lost+in+space+carrot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUwud0wc1XL8o4LgXwBtVivETbk5HA2z2P2zcnCXpm0GFqU-axHo3sCVogKQSWcVeqEdKLiZhK8ANXXFGZHjj73Y17buLDXbLEDb0EsxQ7NVZ0mt35G3hR_HLbEEg2KuI_ia9JCx6E_1J/s320/lost+in+space+carrot.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Of the two daughters, Penny is far more interesting. Judy (Marta Kristen) is just there, and for the most part just wants to go home and get her old life back again. Penny (Angela Cartright, also of Lost in Space and Make Room for Daddy) is a companion to Will, and often accepts Dr. Smith as a mentor. I remember when they found her a pet - a bloop (looked a lot like a chimpanzee!) that she named Debbie. Penny had a tendency to daydream, and some interesting episodes came from those musings (including one featuring Michael J. Pollard, of Bonnie and Clyde fame). Major Don West (Mark Goddard) was the co-pilot of the expedition and Judy's fiance. He got to fight and steer the ship. He especially hated Dr. Smith, and would gladly have booted him off the island. Er, spaceship. In a parody of The Defiant Ones (Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier), West and Dr. Smith find themselves chained together after having escaped a chain gang on a prison planet. Interesting episode.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">That leaves the core of the show - young Will (Billy Mumy, later of Barnes and Barnes who gave us the memorable song "Fish Heads"), Robot (Bob May) and Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris). Will was at an impressionable age, and he needed his father, but John Robinson was just too busy, so in absentia Will turned to Dr. Smith for guidance/mentoring. It seems an unlikely pairing, but it worked well, and provided a great deal of Dr. Smith's humanity. Will was also very fond of the Robot, and was often responsible for his programming. He treated him like another person, rather than a mechanical object, which was something that Dr. Smith often failed to do, although he also had no compunction upon calling on the Robot in times of need. Or in forcing him into laboring for him. Dr. Smith was rather lazy, and loath to do anything that was beneath him, including manual labor. When forced to do so for the sake of the party, or simply because they forced him into it, he was prone to complain about his aches and pains. Even now, his cries of "The pain... the pain..." resonate in our memories.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdwjkpBvz143cQ8Hd_UP2OiFIHNn5R5PpJ0nnwB8zp2TeGWLvpFfpK7AWzkuqNRGakT0O-_zcuSrGT8bHWIbCAro2dhaV4zvWsJXvhyiw1aOunI44xCztw66v-OS8zeM-ycqWYk-tjtOE/s1600/lost+in+space+movie+cast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdwjkpBvz143cQ8Hd_UP2OiFIHNn5R5PpJ0nnwB8zp2TeGWLvpFfpK7AWzkuqNRGakT0O-_zcuSrGT8bHWIbCAro2dhaV4zvWsJXvhyiw1aOunI44xCztw66v-OS8zeM-ycqWYk-tjtOE/s320/lost+in+space+movie+cast.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="313" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So then in 1998 New Line Cinema made Lost in Space into a film. It did not do well. Looking at the cast, one would be surprised at that. Until one watched the film. I confess that I've seen it a few times and own it, but that's because of who's in it - Gary Oldman - and for no other real reason, despite my liking for the tv series. If only the writers of the movie had bothered to pay attention to the TV series, they'd have done better. The trouble was that they had pretensions of being a serious film, which Lost in Space should never have been. It should have followed its origin and inspiration and stayed true to its roots - camp, pure camp. Just because the movie plot went into the ludicrous and stupid doesn't make it camp by any means. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Gary was the best thing in the film but alas, even he could not save it. There had been talk of a sequel, but that was scrapped when the film didn't make what they'd hoped it would. Or anything. But let's play a game for a minute, shall we? Let's pretend that I've been given the project of writing the sequel so Lost in Space, and that we have a green light to go ahead with it, carte blanche to do as we wish. So what will I do? Let me tell you.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Okay, the film opens on a strange planet, naturally, where the Jupiter 2 has either crash-landed or been brought down on for some reason or other. Not a space station, but an actual planet in a far off galaxy or whatever. (Yeah, I'd look up more details if I were really writing it). First thing I'd do is send John and Maureen Robinson off to do some adult stuff/scientific stuff, never or barely to be seen throughout the rest of the film. Why? I'll tell you why. Because frankly they stunk up the screen first time around. Mimi Rogers, as Maureen, was incredibly bad (you might remember her for a not memorable role in the first Austin Powers film). William Hurt as John Robinson - I love William but his performance was spotty at best, and at its worst, was phoned in. So get rid of them early on. Buh-bye, don't let the door hit you in the ass. Yeah, let them have the Chariot, I don't care.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Okay, now we take Will and Doctor Smith and sent them out so that they get themselves into a situation where Dr. Smith is forced to protect Will (and maybe a little of Will protecting him), but it reinforces the bond between them, developing their almost father/son relationship. Here is the crux of the plot. These two will interact with natives of the planet. There will be danger. There will be laughs. There will be fun. Oh, and they get to take the Robot, no question about that.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Meanwhile, back at the Jupiter 2, we have Judy (Heather Graham) and Penny (Lacey Chabert) and Major West (Friends' star Matt Leblanc). Just for fun, we take Penny, who is a pubescent teenager, after all, and have her crushing on Don (the only non-related male for miles around). Poor Don is stuck between these two women/sisters and has to maneuver through this tricky situation and come out intact and still engaged. Fun and laughs there, perhaps some tender/serious moments. Ditto with Will and the good Doctor.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I haven't decided who or what the aliens are, or what the primary crisis will be, but there you have it. The first movie focused on gadgets and science and took itself far too seriously. It lost its humanity. The series was done with fun and love, the movie with massive fail. I'm fairly confident there will not be another movie, at least not in the foreseeable future. Maybe in time, and then, alas, probably not with my Gary. Their loss.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The TV show had a lot of guest stars, another trait it shared with Batman. One of my favorites involves Michael Rennie as the Keeper, a sort of collector of specimens about the universe. That was a two part episode (as was the pilot for Star Trek, starring Jeffrey Hunter as Commander Pike). Sorry, rambling now. Werner Klemperer (Colonel Klink of Hogan's Heroes fame) is in an episode as well. I'd like to take a moment to note here that the Robot in Lost in Space is NOT the robot from Forbidden Planet. That was Robbie. They both spoke, but they look nothing alike. Forbidden Planet is a great sci fi film, I'll have to talk about that another time.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So if you're new to Lost in Space, and are interested in watching it, let me suggest that you watch the TV show, by all means, and then if you're still interested, give the movie a try. But I did warn you.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">For those of you who've seen it, what did you think of either the show or the movie? What were your favorite episodes? Favorite characters? Least favorites? I'd love to hear from you!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Until next time, take care!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">♥ Julie</span></div>Julie Lynn Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574029767523627749noreply@blogger.com0