Day 17, Holiday Reviewarama: The Holy Qur'an

I know a lot of people who claim to know what the motives of those who are followers of Islam are. And, even should they be the least bit correct, I've never met one who knows anything about the religious words of the belief system of Islam, nor, the history of it. I try, as I did yesterday with George W. Bush's memoir, Decision Points, to give people a good reason to buy or acquire as a gift or loan an item. In this case the lack of knowledge regarding Islam in the West is vast, and the need to understand Islam is great. What better way to grow, intellectually, and perhaps spiritually than to read the Holy Qur'an?

At least the debates in America about religious centers, Ground Zero, and terrorism will be enhanced by even the smallest addition of knowledge. Because people who are on the left and right of the political spectrum all demonstrate remarkable lack of understanding of the religion and its followers.

I'll return tomorrow with something neither religious or political. So if the last two entries didn't please you, come back and check.

Day 16, Holiday Reviewarama: DECISION POINTS George W. Bush

I try to avoid overtly political posts here, for the reason that politics do not unite, don't create consensus and politics rarely help us come to any sort of moral decision. More and more the world is divided amongst groups and cliques and tribes, and no matter how modern we are, the US and Western countries are just as likely to separate on the lines of politics, religious faith and world view as any other...

But I think this book, however well written or not, is important. It isn't because I agree with the acts and decisions of former President Bush. Because I truly do not. It isn't because I am looking for ammunition for eventual arguments with people who don't agree with my views, from the left or right. It is because the world was subject to the decisions of this man, and for years we've been given his motives from bits and pieces and talking heads on television and radio and internet. In my life I've seen great presidents and bad. And I know people who thought Bush was tainted by impossible obstacles to success, and others who say he created such obstacles, and he made the situation worse than it would have ever been.

As a degreed historian I am quite sure that his decisions will be laid bare for motive and result for the next century. But cause and effect in the present and recent past are hard to distill no matter the motive of the scholar. So, for however right or wrong the author Bush is, at least the words come from him, directly, and if you hate him or love him, you can be assured that this is going to be a subject for debate beyond polite web discussions.

If you dislike him just get it from the library. If you like him, buy a dozen copies. I am not interested in how you get it, but for the discussions in the future, get it...

Day 15, Holiday Reviewarama Button Man by Rebellion UK

BUTTON MAN
John Wagner & Frazer Irving
"Book IV: The Hitman's Daughter"
2000 AD #1551-1566, 2007

The Publisher

Harry Exton is a Button Man. One of a number of them. These "Button Men"are part of a dangerous, deadly, violent game. A voice directs them to the others, and the hunt begins. The object of the game is to kill your opponent obviously, but if they capture the opponent they take a finger, or joint. Once three have been taken, the result is death. But while Harry Exton is a Button Man, he is not altogether like the others. He isn't totally crushed by the work he does. He still has some ethics, if not, altogether, morals. This volume of the overall story follows a double cross between friends, alliances between otherwise enemies, and personal decisions that make this a wild ride and violent game.

This book was very well written and illustrated. It was a cinematic work, with very able story telling. Very impressive. But, for the great quality of it, it has an expensive cover price. But, for anyone enjoying the spy genre, or action films, this is one very fun ride.

Day 14, Holiday Reviewarama Judge Dredd the complete case files volume 15

Judge Dredd: Complete Case Files v. 15
John Wagner, Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon

The Publisher REBELLION UK


Writing about each story would be rather impossible for me, not because they weren't good, but rather because there were so many of them, and so many aspects of them that make that consideration a book unto itself. When the publisher calls this the complete case files, they mean COMPLETE.

Judge Dredd goes back a long way, and there are various works collecting his appearances, and this is devoted to his self titled series, and the Judge Dredd Megazine. When you think vigilante you think Batman. When you think protector of everyone you think Spider-Man. When you think keeper of the law, you either think of Superman or Judge Dredd. As such you need to keep in context the world of Judge Dredd as it does affect the law he lays down. Mega-City is as violent and crazed as possible, being a satirical version of future New York, with the odd takes of culture from the perspective of writers and artists from the UK.

This is fun book, it is violent and humorous, and goes way beyond entertaining, but, in buying it for yourself or others you still should take into account the audience. If you like violent stories this is good. If you prefer more cerebral work, this is not your series.

The art and story both are incredible, and again Rebellion kicks much butt with their standards of production.

Day 12, Holiday Reviewarama Gunnerkrigg Court Volume 2 from Archaia

Gunnerkrigg Court Volume 1 and 2
Thomas Siddell

Someone told me once that my reviews were more like PR with a slight difference that I brought my opinions into works and hoped to give people reasons to like what I was discussing. My buddy Michael May said my reviews were like a carrot, and a person who wrote, rather negatively upon his then site Comic Book News was like the stick. I rather agree, but not that reviewing is actually either/or, since the person I'd read for reviews is Michael May, who is both carrot and stick. You can smash people over the head for the creative talent or publishers not doing what you like, or give them reason to do it well by supporting them when they succeed.

Thereby, I am at a loss here, because I think this is a really good work, but it really DIDN'T strike my taste zone. It involves students in a bizarre magic training school, somewhat like the Harry Potter books but suitably different to be its own work. But, having referenced the Potter books, I didn't like those much, and this work is not the same so, entering in to read I had hope. The writing was intelligent and worth praising, the characters seemed well developed and the dialogue and plots were very nicely done. The art mixes animé fusion and straight forward western comic book styles. It is pleasant to look at.




But, ultimately, while I think that this is a work that is sincerely done, smartly aimed, intelligent and nice to look at, it isn't my taste being written towards. So, I give it a full recommendation to someone who likes Harry Potter, but add Johny Test from Cartoon Network and then wrap it in some beautiful production work by Archaia.

My guess is the target audience is more female, is young adult, and would be a welcome addition to most high school libraries across the US and the English speaking world.

Day 11, Holiday Reviewarama JAPANESE CULTURE

Today’s recommendation comes from a desire to share something that changed my life. In 1991 when I graduated from university I had no idea what I would do other than write. I wanted to make a living sure but, my skills and talents were nowhere near what the real world wanted. I could write poems well, and I knew about history. Big deal. I’d sent out hundreds of resumes and frankly, I never was a great employee, but even with a college degree living in a place where that was rare, no one wanted me to even think about working for them. So I decided to take the time I had to reinvest in my self. I read hundreds of books and dove directly in to Japanese culture. Doing so gave me a mindset to address some issues I had, gave me a hope of how to use my skills and talents, and led me to getting accepted in Grad school where I finished a Master’s degree and led to further things down the road. I viewed my religious life, academic life, private life, sexual life all through a very different lens. And I am grateful to have done so.

So here are some works to consider if you wish to change your life similarly, or, just to give a fan of the culture something to smile about.

THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS

Author link
Buy It




THE SWORD and THE MIND

Author link
Buy It



JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY

About the Ceremony
Buy It



THE SOLITUDE OF RAVENS

Photographer link
Try to Buy It

Day 10, Holiday Reviewarama DAYS MISSING from Archaia and Roddenberry

DAYS MISSING
Phil Hester, Frazer Irving, David Hine,
Chris Burnham, Ian Edginton, Lee Moder,
Matz, Hugo Petrus, Dale Keown

Steward is a being who has existed through history, changed human event, manipulated things so that humans could go on, also, so that events that happened might not. As a result of the futzing with human events, there are "Days Missing" from existence, entirely. As in zapped. YOINK.

The stories told in this volume are really very interesting, and, more interestingly, tell the stories that are perhaps tangential to a central theme, a broad single minded plot. And, it is to me a very fresh approach. I don't really always like a story or universe idea enough to read episodes in the development of the grand tale. But here, I see the world around the edges, I see a portion and fragment here, a piece there. And by doing so I am able to see more, without being force fed a plot or idea. Instead it is an organic organization of information.

The writing and artistic talent on this work is stellar, and the production standards show in the nearly perfect presentation here. For an introductory chapter of what will be a longer work, I think it succeeds brilliantly.

However, I suspect some people require force fed story, force fed recognizable pathways. So, if you aren't the sort to enjoy differently told tales, this might not work for you. But I promise if you let it work, it does, and nicely so.

From the Publisher

Since the beginning of time, there has existed a being whose interaction and interference with mankind has shaped human history. His powers of time and intellect have allowed his secrecy and resulted in certain days being absent from any historical record. Their stories have never been told. Their details have never been documented. Their existence is not remembered. But, the occurrences of these days have forever changed the course of humanity's evolution. These are the Days Missing from our existence, and they are about to be revealed.