New site (for sure this time)

So I finally got around to purchasing hosting for a site, meaning that I will no longer update this WordPress blog. Instead, I will update the blog at mouseandcat.com. It’s the same blog, with all the same content that has already been published on this blog, but it has a different look. Also, hosting my own WordPress blog rather than running one off of the WordPress site allows me to play around with the design and various elements, tweaking them as I see fit.

So, to summarize:

I will no longer be updating this blog. Instead, I will post updates at mouseandcat.com. That is all.

Swashbuckle, indeed.

Image courtesy theclockworkcentury.com.

Title: Boneshaker

Author: Cherie Priest

Genre: steampunk, zombie horror, sci-fi, fantasy

Last month, I finished reading Cherie Priest’s “Boneshaker”, a sort of sci-fi/horror/fantasy novel published earlier this year. The novel is heralded for its use of steampunk aesthetic – goggles, gas masks, mechanized contraptions powered by steam – as well as other elements that play heavily in the plot, most notably airships and zombies. It is certainly no literary masterpiece, looking deeply into the soul of man and listening for whatever echoes might reverberate outward. It does, however, hold plenty of adventure, and the various characters are vibrant in their own ways.

In “Boneshaker”, an alternate timeline exists in which, during the Civil War, settlers travel to Seattle with the promise of gold buried in the icy land. An inventor, Leviticus Blue, is commissioned to create a machine that can dig beneath the ice and bring up the riches. Thus, he creates the Boneshaker, a monstrous drilling engine.

There will be Light.

Some time ago, I learned about The Protomen. The premise behind the band intrigued me: They perform a rock opera based on the plot and characters of the classic video game franchise “Mega Man”. While one might expect a huge nerdfest that lacks real artistic merit, what is found instead is a solid act that builds on the framework of its 8-bit origins and expands it into an epic tale of conflict and drama.

Pardon me if I get a bit too verbose about this particular topic. I will do my best to keep from going on for too long.

Image courtesy protomen.com.

Album: Act II: The Father of Death

Artist: The Protomen

Genre: indie rock, rock opera

Sounds Like Maybe: Muse, Meat Loaf

Gateway Track: “Breaking Out”

Four years ago, The Protomen made their mark when they debuted with their self-titled album. The music tells the story of Dr. Thomas Light, a troubled man in a city held in check by the authoritarian rule of Dr. Wily and his robot army. Light, believing that humanity has the potential to fight back and stand against oppression, constructs a new robot to battle Wily’s minions. Light’s plan ultimately fails because of the people’s complacency toward resistance. Though the story is loosely based on a video game from the ’80s, it hits on heavy subjects, such as the strength of humanity and the cost of not standing up for one’s freedom and basic rights.

This past September, The Protomen released Act II, a prequel that explains how the city fell under Wily’s control. The tale is highly emotional, and that emotion is expertly conveyed by the band. The album is a rock opera in every sense of the word, complete with vocal and instrumental flourishes that punctuate a powerful delivery. At the same time, Act II is a separate sort of beast compared to the band’s first album, taking on a different style of music and expressing itself in new and interesting ways.

Moon: Sam Rockwell talks to himself

Image courtesy impawards.com.

Title: Moon

Directed By: Duncan Jones

Genre: Science Fiction

Starring: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey

Duncan Jones’ directorial debut, “Moon”, plays like a Ray Bradbury novel, the sort of science fiction that dwells not on the peculiarities of the genre but rather on their impact on the human condition.

The film starts with Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell), the sole worker on a mining facility based on the moon. For the past three years, he has watched over the process, his only form of interaction being his conversations with the artificially intelligent GERTY 3000 (Kevin Spacey) and one-way recordings from his wife and newborn daughter. As the end of his shift and his return to Earth approaches, the psychological trauma of Sam’s stay on the moon is evident. The minimalist living quarters are covered with pictures and permanent marker scrawl, and Sam’s grasp on reality appears to be slipping. His computer companion, GERTY, fuels his paranoia by appearing to hide important details from him.

Halloween in Athens 2009

In my post a few days before Halloween describing my reasons for going on hiatus for the month, I stated an intent to post about the festivities and about my efforts for National Novel Writing Month. The bad news is that despite being so busy that I couldn’t update about either thing, I must admit now that I did not come close to finishing a novel in November. The good news is that, though it’s been over a month since Halloween, I am now going to share with you what went down that night.

To start off, I take Halloween very seriously. Throughout the year, I am thinking up what sorts of costumes I could put together for the next October 31st. While I’m certainly not adept at tailoring or any related crafts, I prefer to make my costumes rather than purchase pre-made ones – though my creations are usually just a combination of items in an attempt to construct a particular look.

Click the jump for highlights of Halloween and a bit of costume history. NOTE: This article is a bit image-heavy.