Far East

Ooh! Ooh!

I so want to see the animated film A Scanner Darkly, now under production. Coincidentally, I just picked up a collection of Dick novels that include same, and currently reading it. Funny and scary.

Creepy Time

Casting about for something good to read, and came across lost boy lost girl, by Peter Straub. Good idea to turn on all the lights when reading this one. It only has ghosts, a serial killer, suicides, and a haunted house. More cheery winter reading from Mr. Straub.

More Good Reads

When you hear the phrase 'Cold War spy novel', the name that immediately pops into your head is John Le Carre. In Absolute Friends he has written something that is up to his excellent standards, but a far cry from his earlier works. It's anti-war, anti-authoritarian, and just about every other anti- out there. What he seems to be saying is that 1984 has arrived and there's nothing you can do about it. Pretty bleak, though very gripping.

Another fine bit of holiday fare is Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke's first work. All about magic in England at the time of the Napoleonic wars. It earned high praise from author Neil Gaiman, which should be recommendation enough. Only just started it (it's a huge volume), but very good so far. There's even a web site for the book, complete with reader forum. Well worth your time.

Good Holiday Reads

If you've ever read anything by William Gibson or Neal Stephenson, then you're sure to like Bruce Sterling's Distraction. It makes Stephenson's Snow Crash seem sane. And that's quite a feat. He imagines our present world, well 2044, but many similarities to today, and shows how image is so much more than substance. So prescient that it's scary.

All Time Faves

From Jane Austen:

As they walked across the hall towards the river, Elizabeth turned back to look again; her uncle and aunt stopped also, and while the former was conjecturing as to the date of the building, the owner of it himself suddenly came forward from the road, which led behind it to the stables. They were within twenty yards of each other, and so abrupt was his appearance, that it was impossible to avoid his sight. Their eyes instantly met, and the cheeks of both were overspread with the deepest blush. He absolutely started, and for a moment seemed immovable from surprise; but shortly recovering himself, advanced towards the party, and spoke to Elizabeth, if not in terms of perfect composure, at least of perfect civility. She had instinctively turned away; but stopping on his approach, received his compliments with an embarrassment impossible to be overcome. Had his first appearance, or his resemblance to the picture they had just been examining, been insufficient to assure the other two that they now saw Mr. Darcy, the gardener’s expression of surprise, on beholding his master, must immediately have told it. They stood a little aloof while he was talking to their niece, who, astonished and confused, scarcely dared lift her eyes to his face, and knew not what answer she returned to his civil inquiries after her family. Amazed at the alteration of his manner since they last parted, every sentence that he uttered was increasing her embarrassment; and every idea of the impropriety of her being found there recurring to her mind, the few minutes in which they continued were some of the most uncomfortable in her life. Nor did he seem much more at ease; when he spoke, his accent had none of its usual sedateness; and he repeated his inquiries as to the time of her having left Longbourn, and of her having stayed in Derbyshire, so often, and in so hurried a way, as plainly spoke the distraction of his thoughts. At length every idea seemed to fail him; and, after standing a few moments without saying a word, he suddenly recollected himself, and took leave. The others then joined her, and expressed admiration of his figure; but Elizabeth heard not a word, and wholly engrossed by her own feelings, followed them in silence. She was overpowered by shame and vexation. Her coming there was the most unfortunate, the most illjudged thing in the world! How strange it must appear to him! In what a disgraceful light might it not strike so vain a man! It might seem as if she had purposely thrown herself in his way again! Oh! why did she come? Or, why did he thus come a day before he was expected? Had they been only ten minutes sooner, they should have been beyond the reach of his discrimination; for it was plain that he was that moment arrived—that moment alighted from his horse or his carriage. She blushed again and again over the perverseness of the meeting. And his behaviour, so strikingly altered—what could it mean? That he should even speak to her was amazing!—but to speak with such civility, to inquire after her family! Never in her life had she seen his manners so little dignified, never had he spoken with such gentleness as on this unexpected meeting. What a contrast did it offer to his last address in Rosings Park, when he put his letter into her hand! She knew not what to think, or how to account for it.