Archive for September 21st, 2007

 

Book Review – Hollywood Tough – Stephen J Cannell

Book

A cop finds himself invited to a Hollywood party and bumps into a small time crook who he had busted in the past. Before you can say Hollywood Nights, the cop is up to his eyebrows in moving making, mafia, a gang war and a new drug on the streets.

A very twisting and unpredictable plot threads its way through the book as the main characters, Shane Scully, detective, his wife, Alexa, boss of the detectives, and his son, Chooch are all well formed and enjoyable. Some of the smaller characters are just as interesting, especially American.

I f0und the name dropping at the start of the book was a little overdone but I guess in setting up the scene of Hollywood, you need a couple of star names.  It also took a little time to get into the book, trying to decide how serious it was supposed to be.

This is a good book, one that sneaks up on your and captures your attention while you are just enjoying the story.

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Posted by on September 21st, 2007 2 Comments

Sci Fi September # 21 – Reign of Fire

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A hibernating dragon is woken and within 20 years the world is being ravaged by hundreds of dragons. A small group of survivors are alive and hiding in a castle until a group of American soldiers threaten to disturb their careful peace.

Starring Matthew McConaughey as the American Van Zan and Christian Bale as Quinn, Reign of Fire is a gritty tale of survival against creatures that appear to be all powerful. If you watch closely you also see Gerard Butler before he became King Leonides in 300.

What more could you ask for than a sci fi movie about a grim future plus dragons. It is such a good idea and thankfully it is brought to fruition carefully and passionately. The dragons are believable, frightening and incredible. They look and act like real dragons, not the lilac creatures that some people think dragons are.

The survivors look like they have been kept alive for the last twenty years by their wits. It hasn’t been easy and they haven’t been sitting around complaining about the weather, they have been working out plans, a system and even teaching the children a prayer on how to survive the dragons.

Reign of Fire is serious as a heart attack and a brilliant alternative future of a world populated with dragons and hearty survivors who refuse to roll over and die.

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Posted by on September 21st, 2007 No Comments