The late, great... Douglas Adams.

Even as I start typing this, I am quietly chuckling to myself. How can I not? This was the creative genius who gave us The Bugblatter Beast of Traal, Pan-galactic Gargle Blasters and Marvin The Paranoid Android. Oh, and don't forget, without Adams we would never have realised that the meaning of life was 42!

When most of the planet was going sci-fi crazy after watching Luke Skywalker thwart the evil machinations of the not-yet-paternal Darth Vader whilst mooning over his gorgeous secret twin sister, Leia, Douglas Adams was working on a piece of fiction which would turn around and say, “Actually, you know all those aliens out there? Well, they're rather like us, just a bit dafter.” I am, of course, referring to The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.

The thing which I enjoy most about the books is the way that Adams could take totally mundane items and bend them to his surreal imagination. A fish became an intergalactic translation device. A pint of beer became a relaxant for a teleportation device. A bureaucratic demolition official could torture you with his god-awful poetry. I think this approach to writing is something which inspired me as an author so, in The Casebook of Sam Spallucci, I ended up fashioning actors from a suburban sitcom who were in fact inept Satanic cultists, a vampire who liked dressing up as Spock from Star Trek and a keeper of a children's zoo who (when the moon was full) transformed a crazed werewolf. In short, if it wasn't for Adams, I would not be writing today.

Hitchhiker's was a work that went through a number of transformations. It started out as a radio play, then became the ever-growing trilogy of books. For a while, it was a computer adventure game. (I slaved over that for days on my old Atari 800xl. Never got anywhere.) Then, finally the film was released in 2005, a few years after Adams's died in 2001. It's because of this huge legacy which he left that many people forget that he worked on a number of other projects. There was Dirk Gently, and The Meaning of Liff to name but two books. We must also remember that be worked on Doctor Who. Shada, which was finally turned into a radio play for the eighth Doctor by Big Finish, was originally penned by Adams. He also wrote The Pirate Planet and City of Death for the fourth Doctor.

As well as his writing, he was also committed to his personal beliefs. He described himself as “radical atheist” and was a good friend of Richard Dawkins. He also had strong feelings regarding environmentalism as was shown in his radio series Last Chance To See and various other activities he undertook promoting awareness in our environment, such as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro dressed in a rhino suit!

The world definitely became a tad drearier when Adams died, I just hope that whenever people read, watch or listen to his works, his legacy will uplift their spirits and empower them to stand up against (or lie down in front of`) the impending bulldozer.

Thanks for reading this blog. If you like what you see, please click on the “follow” button.

Also feel free to visit my website (www.aschambers.co.uk), follow me on Facebook (A.S.Chambers) or stalk me on Twitter (@ASChambersUK) where you can find various bits and bobs regarding books, films TV series and whatever drops into my lap.

If you fancy a bit of bedtime reading then please drop in on Amazon and purchase The Casebook of Sam Spallucci. (It's only £1.53 on Kindle – what a bargain!)

Book Review of the Week - All My Friends Are Dead

So, when is a kids' book not a kids' book? This can be quite a poser these days. Okay, so we have the likes of Harry Potter and other such books (The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell and Terry Pratchett's fantastic Only You Can Save Mankind, for example) but these sorts of books are almost purely text and, as such, naturally draw an adult following. However, when you have something like All My friends Are Dead which is presented in cartoon illustrated format the first thing that goes through your head is “kids' book.”

How wrong you would be.

This book (and it's sequel All My Friends Are Still Dead) provides little scenes of cartoon characters lamenting the demise of their acquaintances and the repercussions that it has on their lives. Hmmm... That makes it sound far too serious. It is anything but. Avery Monsen & Jory John have created a pair of little gems that will have you wickedly chuckling from cover to cover, from the dinosaur of the cover to the tree who realises that his so-called friends would rather be tables right through to The Grim Reaper saying joyfully how his job makes him feel so alive.

I can highly recommend this book to anyone who has that attack of modern life glums. When its raining and your boss is on your back, just open it up, sit back and smile. And, if you're in the shower, just remember this – the angels are watching you (the dirty little pervs...)

My personal favourite, though, had to be the computer guy with all his friends. Just remember this next time you are socialising on Facebook ;-)

Thanks for reading this blog. If you like what you see feel free to visit my website (www.aschambers.co.uk), follow me on Facebook (A.S.Chambers) or stalk me on Twitter (@ASChambersUK) where you can find various bits and bobs regarding books, films TV series and whatever drops into my lap.

Book Review of the Week: Star Wars - Lost Tribe of the Sith.

Okay, so before I start, I have to put my hand on my heart and say that right from the first time I saw Darth Vader’s Imperial Star Destroyer swallow up the small, rebel blockade runner back in 1977 I have ben a fan of the Dark Side. Let’s face it: it’s just cooler. They have the smarter uniforms, the more powerful weapons, that air of mystery, RED LIGHTSABERS and (allegedly) cookies. So when I found out that the Sith were returning in theFate of the Jedi series, my heart leapt higher than the forest moon of Endor. Then, when I found out that a series of novellas were being penned to fill in back story, my heart went totally Alderaan! John Jackson Miller’s collected volume of these stories was placed firmly on my Amazon wish list and I hovered by the front door waiting for its arrival.

I actually read it in conjunction with two other books: Crosscurrent and Riptide by Paul S. Kemp. Between them they told the story of the catastrophic space battle that caused the Sith dreadnought Omen to be hurled through space to the uncharted planet of Kesh and what happened to the Lost Sith during their isolation there. We see the intricacies of an abandoned people who are used to dominating all that they survey when they are marooned on an apparently resourceless planet. We watch how they gradually eliminate unwanted elements of their own culture and subdue the indigenous people until, finally, a new civilisation evolves which, although definitely Dark Side in nature, is a civilisation of culture and beauty – a thousand miles away from the likes of Darths Sidious, Vader, Caedus et al.

It is a classic “What If…?” scenario.

Certain things really appealed to me. The first was the characters which Miller built. They came across as memorable and believable and set a good grounding for the likes of Aaron Allston and Christie Golden to build upon. The other thing which really made me smile was that lack of metal ore on the planet. This was genius! All too often I get the feeling that characters in books get a far too easy ride of it. They get stranded somewhere and they just cobble something together. It always feels like a bit of a cop out to me. However, here on Kesh, the Sith had to depend on the resources that the planet provided and that meant working with the natives and eventually drawing them into the Tribe. I loved the way that glass became the main resource of choice for manufacturing tools and materials over the precious metals which were scavenged from the derelict Omen. It showed an ingenious race developing over 5000 years until they encountered Ship in the Fate series and were brought back to the galaxy at large.

If I have one criticism it’s that I wanted more, more, more. 5000 years is a long time to cover in one book and, at times, the jumps between stories left me wondering what had happened in the intervening years. But then, is that really a bad thing? Sometimes a little mystery can really whet the appetite, leaving the reader hungry for more.

So, if you are a fan of the Star Wars universe, get out there and read this book. I would especially suggest you read it 1) before you start the Fate of the Jedi series as it really does give that needed back story, and 2) before Disney let Abrams loose on the franchise and he reboots the lot into some sort of corny force dream (or whatever they are planning).

Thanks for reading this blog. If you like what you see feel free to visit my website (www.aschambers.co.uk), follow me on Facebook (A.S.Chambers) or stalk me on Twitter (@ASChambersUK) where you can find various bits and bobs regarding books, films TV series and whatever drops into my lap.

What ever happened to... Avery Brooks?

 

 Now, when people are asked to name a captain from a Star Trek series, there are normally two which beam down straight to the tip of their tongue: James T Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard. Played respectively by William Shatner and Patrick Stewart, these two characters have become icons of modern science fiction. One, for his devil-may-care, blast-the-to-hell attitude and one for his refined, calm, Earl Grey drinking demeanour.

For me, however, there is one Star Trek captain who is constantly overlooked and that is uber-cool Benjamin Sisko, played by the marvellous Avery Brooks.

For those of you who never saw Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9 to those who want something a bit snappier), Sisko was the captain of a space station that stood between the constantly arguing/warring races of Cardassians and Bajorans, one race being the former oppressor of the other. Not only that, but just outside the vast panoramic windows stood a wormhole that led through to a distant part of the galaxy that was inhabited by the power-hungry, shape-shifting folk called The Dominion. Oh, and there were god-like temporal beings in the wormhole too, just for good measure.

So there, in the midst of all of these disparate parties, stood DS9 captained by the good captain Sisko. Not exactly a job one would cherish.

I always felt that Brooks played the role with real gravitas. He had that deep baritone that rumbled like distant thunder and a grin that flashed at just the right moment with either glee or thinly-veiled malice. What is more, unlike any other Star Trek captain, he had a hero’s “death” in the last ever episode. However, after DS9 and Sisko parted company, Brooks seemed to vanish from our screens. Shatner and Stewart both went on to have careers post-Star Trek, so what happened to Brooks?

Well, film-wise, not a lot. According to imdb he starred as Detective Leon Jackson in 15 Minutes, a 2001 film with Robert DeNiro as the leading man, then after that Brooks simply vanished from our screens.

It would appear that the cinema’s loss has been the stage’s gain as Brooks returned to his theatre roots. In 2003 he appeared in the The Oedipus Plays. In 2005 he starred asOthello for the RSC. In 2007 he starred in Marlowe’s Tamburlaine. In 2008 he appeared in Miller’s Death of a Salesman. Then in 2008, he took the tile role in Paul Robeson.

So it would appear that far from leading a quiet retirement communing with the Prophets in a wormhole, our former Captain Sisko has indeed been very busy and I, for one, hope that he will tread the boards over here in the UK sometime soon so that I can catch a glimpse of that smooth coolness he brought to a great sci-fi franchise.

Thanks for reading this blog. If you like what you see feel free to visit my website (www.aschambers.co.uk), follow me on Facebook (A.S.Chambers) or stalk me on Twitter (@ASChambersUK) where you can find various bits and bobs regarding books, films, TV series and whatever drops into my lap.

DVD Box set of the week: Police Squad

The name's Sergeant A.S.Chambers, lieutenant detective of Police Squad...

Ah, I wish. As much as I might aspire to have my own spoof TV cop show, I think I'll leave it to the experts and nobody ever made one quite as expertly as Messrs. Zucker, Zucker and Abrahams (of Airplane fame).

I recently picked up the DVD of Police Squad and was amazed that it only ran for six short episodes. I had in my sepia-tinted memory a series that ran for... well for ever. I can only guess that I must have started to blur it into the Naked Gun Movies and the cider commercials that it spawned.

But what a six episode run it was! For those not familiar with the show (and shame on you for that!) Police Squad was a spoof of 1960's/70's cop shows such as Ironside and Hawaii-five-oh with clean-cut cops chasing villainous hoodlum or murderers. It was also given a first person commentary which was voiced by the main character, Frank Drebin (played by the marvellous Leslie Nielsen). Being full of Airplane-style sight gags and verbal puns, the viewer definitely had to stay sharp in case they missed something.

Possibly its most famous elements were the opening credits. I still giggle maniacally at the police station erupting into a hail of gunfire and the plain clothes cop running through while on fire (small things do amuse me, I know), and the ubiquitous shot of Rex Hamilton as Abe Lincoln is a hoot. I often wonder if that was his real name and did he do any other work? If someone knows, please drop me a line. The other great part of the intro was the “guest appearance” which usually involved said guest getting stabbed, shot or done over in another amusing fashion. William Shatner was my fave one of these. The look of glee on his face is unmistakable.

There are quotes from the series just make me roll on the floor. Here are some of the best:

Frank Drebin: We're sorry to bother you at such a time like this, Mrs. Twice. We would have come earlier, but your husband wasn't dead then.

Frank Drebin: Now do you think you can beat The Champ?

Buddy: I can take him blindfolded.

Frank Drebin: What if he's not blindfolded?

Buddy: I can still beat him.

Frank Drebin: When I got home I received a call from Mimi Du Jour, she wanted me to come to the club right away. Since I had no idea where the Club Rightaway was, I suggested to go to the Club Flamingo. She agreed.

"Mrs. V": That was nice work. You took a big chance doing that.

Frank Drebin: Well, you take a big chance getting up in the morning, crossing the street, or sticking your face in a fan.

Anyway, I'll shut up now and let you head over to Amazon or some other such site where you can pick this little gem up at a real snip. It's really good “cheer-yourself-up” TV. Don't take it too seriously. Just sit back and enjoy the gags as they come thick and fast.

Thanks for reading this blog. If you like what you see feel free to visit my website (www.aschambers.co.uk), follow me on Facebook (A.S.Chambers) or stalk me on Twitter (@ASChambersUK) where you can find various bits and bobs regarding books, films TV series and whatever drops into my lap.

Classic films I love to watch: Young Frankenstein

Classic Films: Young Frankenstein.

Back in 1974, there would have been a conversation that went something like this:

Film Director, “I want to remake Frankenstein.”

Guy with money, “Okay. Been done to ad nauseam that one. How are you going to make it different?”

Director, “It’ll be a comedy.”

Money Guy, “Riiiiiight….. A comedy, you say?”

Director, “Sure. It’ll be a hoot! I’ll parody loads of the original material, stick in a few double-entendres and silly accent – people will love it!”

Money Guy, “I’m not so sure… I mean, Frankenstein is a classic.”

Director, “Okay, if you’re worried, I’ll shoot it in black and white; make it more authentic.”

Money Guy, “Okay. Okay. That might work.” Laughs nervously. “I mean, it’s not like you’re gonna have the monster dressed in top hat and tails singing Putting On The Ritz.”

Awkward silence from Director.

Money Guy, “Oh, dear God…”

Okay, so the conversation between Mel Brooks and the guys at Fox may not have been precisely like that, but I can see there having been some raised eyebrows when he raised the idea. As it was, he got the go-ahead and a movie gem was born. I first encountered Young Frankenstein about twelve years after its release when it was screened as part of a Mel Brooks season on TV and I immediately fell in love with it’s insane frivolity and it’s ability to throw all common sense to the wind in order to grab a belly-full of laughs. Even now I struggle to watch serious adaptations of the book. Two years ago, I went to watch the Danny Boyle production of Frankenstein starringBenedict Cumberbatch. When they reached the scene with the blind man all I could think of was Gene Hackman setting fire to Peter Boyle‘s thumb! I got some very annoyed looks as I had to stifle my giggle loop.

The film just works on so many levels, especially with the casting. Boyle played the towering creature with such believability. Gene Wilder, as Frankenstein (sorry, Fronkenshteen), was as hapless in love as he was in re-animation. The sadly-missedMarty Feldman was just perfect as Igor (Loved the Abby Normal gag, and the movable hump had me on the floor it fits). Even the side characters seemed to fit together perfectly as a complete comedy jigsaw with no annoying missing pieces.

For me, the overall quality that Brooks brings to this film is that it is okay to laugh, even when the subject material is what many would consider to be dark. This has influenced me a lot in my own writing, especially in The CaseBook Of Sam Spallucci. Yes, we need serious moments in our lives which we have to ponder about and stroke our proverbial beards over, but we also require moments that reduce us to tears of complete and unadulterated mirth. This is why I regard Young Frankenstein as a classic film and why I have watched over and over again, sharing with anyone who happens to listen. I say to you now, if you’re feeling blue, just watch the following clip. You’ll never listen to the music of Irving Berlin again without smiling.

Thanks for reading this blog. If you like what you see feel free to visit my website(www.aschambers.co.uk), follow me on Facebook (A.S.Chambers) or stalk me on Twitter (@ASChambersUK) where you can find various bits and bobs regarding books, films TV series and whatever drops into my lap.

Weekly Book Review: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter.

Weekly Book Review: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter.

Okay, before I start rambling, I need to clarify two things. First, this is a review of the book by Seth Grahame-Smith, published by Corsair and not the film of the same name which achieved a certain cult fan-base last year. Second, being a tea-drinking, tweed-wearing Brit, my knowledge of American history is somewhat patchy so I apologise in advance for any historical inaccuracies I might make.

When the film came out last year, I was mightily intrigued. One of the most famous presidents of the US a secret hunter of the undead? That film’s for me, I thought. However, when I discovered that it was based on a fictional-historical novel, I decided that I should read the novel first. Well, as usual, life and a multitude of other stuff conspired against me and I have now only just gotten around to reading said book in the July of 2013. Having said that, it was well worth the wait and I shall soon be purchasing the DVD of the film to compare plot-lines (I’m sort of creepy like that…)

The thrust of the book needs no real explanation as it is all there in the title; Abe Lincoln, as well as being the President during the American Civil War, spent his life driving the vampire scourge from his beloved nation. How the author illustrates this is through diaries which he claims to have come by from the hands of a former vampire friend of Lincoln. By using these diary inserts, he weaves a web of fiction and reality which really starts to knit into one big terrifying blanket where you do start to puzzle as to what in the book is real and what is a fictional creation.

Grahame-Smith’s descriptions of the vampires are, for me, the best elements of the book. They are merciless, black-eyed fiends who are using the slave trade for their own nefarious gains as they plan to turn the human race into one big cattle farm. In league with politicians, they manoeuvre themselves into positions as puppet masters of influential characters of the time period. I also loved the small cameo of Edgar Allen Poe who befriends Lincoln in the story. I felt that this was nice little nod to one of the founders of the modern horror genre.

I do have two small criticisms of the book. The first is the Introduction where Grahame-Smith portrays himself as an out-of-luck shop owner who is given the diaries by the vampire, Henry Sturges. Ever since Stephen King gave himself a pivotal role the Dark Tower series, I have been seriously uncomfortable with the idea of a novelist using him/herself as a character and I swear on my gran’s macaroons that I will NEVER insert myself in my Sam Spallucci novels. My second criticism is that once Abe married and settled down then the book did slow down somewhat and I kept longing for some good old-fashioned axe-swinging. Having said that, these are both two small niggles and probably down to my personal taste.

I would seriously recommend people to go out and buy this book. It is a great antidote to the sparkly vampires that have been shoved down our throats in the last few years and it is a mighty fine piece of pseudo-historical storytelling.

Thanks for reading this blog. If you like what you see feel free to visit my website (www.aschambers.co.uk), follow me on Facebook (A.S.Chambers) or stalk me on Twitter (@ASChambersUK) where you can find various bits and bobs regarding books, films TV series and whatever drops into my lap.

Welcome to my Blogger blog.

Greetings to everyone out there in cyberspace!
I thought I'd give Blogger a go, so here is my first of hopefully many ramblings.
As long as I have the time to multitask, I will be posting reviews of books, films, DVDs and other things that draw my interest. I will also be keeping followers up to date with details regarding new publications and book signings.

Feel free to follow me here, on Wordpress, Twitter or Facebook.

Chat later :-)