All posts by ntbadmin
Megamind
Hal’s Back
Double Trouble
(Hal Spacejock #8)
by Simon Haynes (2018)
Hal Spacejock dons a flash suit, hypershades and a curly earpiece for a stint as a secret agent, while a pair of Clunk’s most rusted friends invite him to a ‘unique business opportunity’.
Inevitably, things turn sour, and it’s all hands to the pumps as the good ship Spacejock springs leaks from stem to stern.
The last in the series ‘Big Bang’ was from 2014. I thought the series was over, but not only has #8 turned up, but #9 is also due this year. In addition the author has a new series, ‘Harriet Walsh’.
Hal and Clunk are up to the usual mis-adventures. Hal stuffs things up and Clunk rescues him. This is light on the science fiction an easy read. Recommended for anyone who likes comedic science fiction.
Brokenkites
From the furthest reaches of space, err….. Antarctica ??
According to the blurb…
Brokenkites writes thematic electronic soundtracks for the movie of your life. It’s music for time travelers, spacepersons and rogue secret agents. Brokenkites is currently stationed in Antarctica and is documenting the secret development of a trans-dimensional gateway device.
Wherever they come from, (and whoever they are) they make chilly post-rock albums (about 40). And most of them are free…….
Tunguska
Tunguska Electronic Music Society
This community from Russia was created by several musicians and composers on the threshold of centenary of the Tunguska phenomenal catastrophe, in order to capture the public attention to such an extraordinary event.
The musical component in the work of community is the melodious instrumental and electronic music. Mainly in the chill-out and downbeat categories, there are almost 70 albums on bandcamp.
Holo-Plaza
Always interesting to come across something unique you like.
This sounds like chill jazz played at the back of a large space (like a mall or plaza) with lots of reverb and interference. It has a laid back feel, but with sophistication, a few vocals and lots of style.
Bobiverse 3
(Bobiverse #3)
by Dennis E. Taylor (2017)
They’ve created enough colonies so humanity shouldn’t go extinct. But political squabbles have a bad habit of dying hard, and the Brazilian probes are still trying to take out the competition. And the Bobs have picked a fight with an older, more powerful species with a large appetite and a short temper.
Third and final in the trilogy. This is very similar to the second, with its multiple first person narratives.
It doesn’t have the impact as the first and the final battle doesn’t have the intensity it could due to the author sticking to sub-light speed travel.
Still a good read and a satisfying conclusion to the series.
Asian Spec-Fic
15 x Tor
Rampage
Rampage is a 2018 American science fiction monster film directed by Brad Peyton, loosely based on the video game series of the same name by Midway Games.
The film stars Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Malin Åkerman, Jake Lacy, Joe Manganiello, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. It follows a primatologist named Davis Okoye (Johnson) and George, an albino gorilla who turns into a raging creature of enormous size following a rogue experiment.
This film embraces its B-movie origins. It’s a very derivative plot, simple characters but a rather weak villian. However knowing all that, it pulls it off with competence. Technically there is little to fault. The CGI effects are well done, the monsters have the feeling of weight and inertia lots of other movies lack.
There is a surprising about of humour, however most of it comes from the gorilla.