Media Junkie

In Print: Magician: The Author's Preferred Edition

Magician: The Author's Preferred Edition
by Raymond E. Feist
Doubleday
681 pages
First Published: 1992 (this edition)

In 1993, Sierra On-line subsidiary Dynamix released a game based on Raymond E. Feist's popular fantasy novels set in the fictional world of Midkemia.  This game, the computer RPG Betrayal at Krondor, was critically hailed for its unique gameplay, large world, and most of all, its enthralling story.  Though Feist himself had little hand in writing the game's story, it was later canonized in the novel Krondor: The Betrayal, while the game itself remains one of the best examples of the genre, as well as one of my all-time personal favorites.
 
Because of my devotion and love for Betrayal at Krondor, I purchased the first two books in Feist's Riftwar Saga, Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master in my early teens, at the height of my interest in fantasy books and Dungeons & Dragons campaigning.  I must admit, I failed at grasping Magician.  While Feist's Midkemia had been built as an alternative, thus was obviously somewhat inspired by, Dungeons & Dragons-based worlds, it was vastly different in style to the beloved Dragonlance books I had been weened on.
 
Instead of the action-packed high fantasy of Dragonlance was a more subdued work, heavily infused with politics.  Despite the book's title, its main character, the young squire Pug, only used his magical abilities once during my time with Apprentice.  It wasn't long before the long-winded political discussions and overall lethargic pace of the novel bored me and I put it on my shelf, thinking perhaps I'd revisit it someday.

Much like Tolkien's seminal Lord of the Rings, Feist's publisher had insisted on splitting the extremely large novel into two smaller books.  After they proved financially and critically successful, Feist revisited Magician many years later, adding in some deleted text that appeared in the European editions, but was excised in the United States, and making it a singular work once more.  It may have seemed a self-defeating prophecy to attempt to read an even longer version of a book I couldn't finish years earlier, but this Author's Preferred Edition sparked my interest in Feist anew and I finally decided to give Magician a second chance.

In Print: Bioshock: Rapture

Bioshock: Rapture
by John Shirley
Tor Books
432 Pages
First Published: 2011

2K Games' Bioshock is one of the strongest examples of how the medium of video games can be used to tell intriguing, meaningful stories.  Creative director Ken Levine's tale of the dangers of objectivism, a self-serving philosophy outlined by the controversial and polarizing author Ayn Rand in novels such as Atlas Shrugged, in a city built under the sea is original and provocative, and deals with complex moral dilemmas seldom found in the medium. 

Rapture, the undersea would-be utopia built by industrial mogul Andrew Ryan, is a fascinating place, and the game's breathtaking visuals bring it to life even in its declining state.  Noted author John Shirley attempts to capture the rise and fall of Rapture in this prequel, but it doesn't entirely survive the shift in mediums.

Book Review: Dracula the Un-Dead

Dracula the Un-Dead
by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt
Dutton Adult
432 Pages
First Published: 2009

Matt's Journal

7 September, 2009: Joyous day!  I have discovered there is a sequel to my favorite book, Bram Stoker's legendary and influential gothic horror novel Dracula, written by a descendant of the famed author himself!  It appears a noted Dracula historian is co-authoring the work.  Surely with such a pedigree, the authors will finally do justice to arguably the greatest horror tale ever put to paper!  I can barely contain my excitement and have pre-ordered the novel on Amazon.com.  Hopefully it will arrive soon after it's October 12 release date!

15 October, 2009: My package has arrived!  What an evocative cover!  I love the gothic imagery of the shadowy horse and carriage!  I shan't waste any more time writing in my journal today.  It is time to begin reading!  But first, I must warn any readers that the entries that follow will, no doubt, spoil most - if not all - aspects of the story.  If you wish the read the book yourself, it may be best if you stop reading from this point forward until after you've finished.  (Annotation: A second warning to those reading this journal: DO NOT READ THE BOOK!  Please, save yourselves!  I wish I could erase from my memory having read it myself, but at least it allows me to warn you, dear reader, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK! - Matt)

16 October, 2009: Hmm, curious.  The early-goings of this book are rather slow.  It seems as though the authors are suggesting that Bram Stoker's characters are, in fact, as real as Bram himself (who also appears as a character in the book), but they have all fallen into varying states of disgrace.  The heroic Jonathan Harker is little more than a vile and lecherous drunk, and it seems they have retroactively changed Bram's original story to match that of Francis Ford Coppola's film adaptation with regard to Mina's relationship with Dracula.  Strange; the film should not be considered canon.  There was also a chapter I didn't much care for involving the sadistic and oversexualized Elizabeth Bathory, this novel's villain.  It almost seems as though the authors are more concerned with writing pulpy, gruesome erotica than a horror novel.  I'll venture on and see if it improves.

In Print: The Dracula Dossier

The Dracula Dossier
by James Reese
William Morrow Publishing
350 Pages
First Published: 2008

It may seem as though I'm not much of a reader, judging by the fact that this is only the second novel I've reviewed since beginning this blog a year and a half ago.  The truth of the matter is that I love to read, but I'm easily distracted, which often makes for slow-going.  The slightest noise will break my concentration, or my mind will wander to other matters, forcing me to reread passages I had glazed over, but not fully comprehended. 

Not so with James Reese's latest novel, The Dracula Dossier, which tells the story of on Abraham Stoker, better known to the world by his more casual name - Bram - and his (fictional) involvement in arguably the greatest, most horrible series of crimes ever committed - the Jack the Ripper murders.  Combining two subjects I have been fascinated with since my youth, quite frankly, I found it difficult to stop reading.

In Print: The Ultimate History of Video Games

The Ultimate History of Video Games
by Steven L. Kent

It's no secret that I'm a gamer.  I've been gaming for as long as I can remember; since I was old enough to hold a joystick.  I grew up with the Atari 2600 and I still have four shoeboxes full of cartridges in my basement.  I still own the original NES Control Deck, complete with the all-gray Zapper and R.O.B. the Robot.  I still own a Genesis with a Sega CD and a 32X attached, and there are currently no less than seven gaming systems hooked up to my television at this very moment. 

I spent a good portion of my youth in arcades, while my poor mother who was good enough to take me sat on a bench, reading books until I was out of money.  I love video games, past, present, and I'm sure I will love them in the future.